Kiama Ward Visit

In an attempt to fight the I-live-with-you-but-don't-ever-spend-time-with-you thing, last weekend the palatial ladies went on a bit of a road trip to Kiama. It was the most amazing day, and the most amazing trip. There is something magic about spending a day is a cute little aussie town with nothing to achieve and no place to rush off to.

We stayed in a room above the Kiama local pub (tick that one off the list) and spent the morning just hanging around looking at the local markets, checking out the blowhole and sitting dangerously high on the edge of the cliff.

These ladies that I live with have become some of my best friends in the world. Just today when I got in the car to leave for work I found the most lovliest card and a perfect gift sitting on my dashboard waiting for me. I don't think I have ever felt more spoilt in my life.

We were talking on the trip about the new season that we are all heading into, and I truely believe that God has put us all in this place and in eachothers lives for a reason. It is only when you really know who you are, and how much you are valued and loved that you are able to give that confidence and grace back to the world. I have been encouraged and loved, inspired and made stronger by these women who are the most amazing example to me. Thank you, more than words can say, thank you.

The Tetris Queen

We had a Tetris-off today. Yes yes... I am the best. I won. Not that it's about winning at all... :-)

Half an hour of intense competition, there was shouting, waving away of bosses attempting to steal my attention, I had to ignore the phone a few times, and at one stage actually did ask my boss to just hold off for a sec as I was about to win... but really could your lunch hour be dedicated to a better cause??? (ok, so maybe when talking about causes this doesn't seem so important, but you get what I mean.. right???)

This is the link..
http://www.macquariecentre.com.au/games.amx

The rules?
You've got 1/2 an hour, you must never have played this version before, and then you play as many times as you can to get the highest score you can in 30 minutes...

I got 24,452. Winner Winner Winner!!! Winfred would be proud...

If your keen let us know how you go... and no cheating.. and girls, if you're keen for a rematch I'm up for it anytime.

Alive again.. almost..

So this past week has been the biggest wipe-out ever... I think I have had the worst cold in the whole entire world and that no one, ever, like ever, has ever been as sick as I was.. or maybe that's an exaggeration.. maybe.. but I was sick.

And then last night, randomly, after a day of Sense and Sensibility, and Pride and Prejudice, I got off the couch. It was amazing, it all just felt better all of the sudden (maybe deep inside I was worried that I was going sitting through just a little too much Jane Austin, maybe it was self-preventatice). Anyway, just wanted to post a shout-out to my amazing flatties who took care of me, and loved my even though I was diseased. THANK YOU!

And to Kim.. so sorry I didn't get a chance to wish you the Happiest Birthday ever on your actual birthday... but I hope you had the most fantastical birthday ever! And hope that the party was awesome, looking forward to seeing all the photos (of all of the outfits!) Love ya lots lady, hope you got the v special day that you deserve! xxxo!

Compassion

I got my sponsor magazine from Compassion yesterday.

This was the photo of the little guy on the front



Is he not the cutest thing that you have ever seen?!

Brian gave the most amazing message last night, it was all about what he called the Justice Generation. I was so inspired, so encouraged.

In an month from yesterday I am going to meet my little compassion child, his name is Thembo. I keep finding myself trying to imagine what kind of a life he lives, what his house looks like, what his parents are like, his brothers and sisters, his friends, his school, everything. To be honest I don't think the picture I am coming up with is going to be even remotely accurate.

I am being asked a lot what I am going to do when I come back from this trip, where I am going to live, what job I am going to have, and if I am going to finally go and finish / start my education. These are all really good questions, but also questions that I really don't want to answer. I don't want to lock myself into something now that I am going to feel obligated to complete when I come back. I want this trip to change my view on things, I don't want to come back the same. I want to learn, I want to grow, I want to be even more inspired that ever to make a difference in the world I live in. I have no idea how that is going to be outworked, but I do believe that if you ask for a heart for injustice, if you ask for eyes to see what is going on in the world, it will be given to you, and that can only be a good thing.

Candid Camera

I was walking down to get some fresh bread yesterday morning, and was thinking about how long I have been living here, and how little I knew about the local area. So we went to have a look around, and found the most amazing beach ever. It's tucked away in Port Botany, there were the upside-down trees, white sand, shells, clear water, planes flying close in over head coming into land, massive big ships, a port with big container things and cranes, and a pelican, all within a 50 meter radius. It was all a bit random, but awesome at the same time.

Last weekend my mum came to visit. It was so good to see her. I was feeling all proud of myself yesterday, as it had only taken me a week to get all the photos to her. Problem is, there were two photos of mum, 5 photos of me, and about 25 photos of the giraffes at the zoo. I really do like giraffes, but I like mum more :-)

I have this crazy tendency to get a little obsessed with things, and then take 1000 photos of that, and nothing of anything else. Like when we went to beach yesterday, I took 10 photos of this shell I like, and none of me, and just one of Em.

I am about to go on this massive trip, and I can just see me coming home with 100's of photos of trees or sunrises, and like none of my sponsor child, or all the friends that I am going to visit.

It was awesome when Kim was here, we would go somewhere, we'd come home, me with 20 photos of a rock or something, and her with all these great shots of us and the people we were hanging out with, as well a one or two of the rock.

Not sure where I am going with this, but I guess I am asking for help. When I see y'all on the trip, and get all interested in something on the ground, could you all please gentle tap me on the shoulder and remind me that in a few years when I go to look back on all these trips, the thing that I am going to want to remember most is all of you, and not the grass, lovely as it may be. :-)

All that being said, I did get some good shots of the giraffes...

ANZAC Day Dawn Service

So.. it was 2.30 am when my alarm went off this morning. It was 3.30 by the time we got there, and about 3.50 by the time that it started to pour down with rain.

There is something amazing about it, something profound. I was standing in the rain, getting wet, having umbrella wars, while thinking about people that all that time ago fought a war. How have we come to be so distanced from the past or even wars that are happening today. It all seems to0 foreign.

But these men fought. They sacrificed. And they lost. For what? For us? For what they thought was right? For what they were told to fight for? And who am I to judge?

I appreciate all that they did. Those wars fought yesterday have influenced our today far more that we acknowledge on a daily basis. How can you ever express gratitude to people who have died for their country? By keeping their memory alive? By choosing not to forget? By enjoying what we have, and stopping every now and then to think about what had to happen so that we could live like we do? Maybe, maybe all of the above, maybe it needs more, I don't know.


I don't know how I feel about war. Sometimes we are forced to engage in ways that we would not hold as an ideal. Often action does need to be taken. But who decides in what form that comes? They said this morning that 3,000 Australians are currently engaged in warfare. I live in a democracy, does that mean I sent them to war?

Of late I have been reading a bit about Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Jesus, all people who faced opposition, but chose not to engage or retaliate with violence. Is this what Jesus was saying about turn the other cheek? How do you balance that with standing up for what you believe in? Where is the middle ground? How many wars have started, and continue, because we all have different ideas about where that line should be drawn.

Do we live in a society with freedom of though? Or just freedom to think within the box that have been set and enforced by our society, politicians, teachers, parents and friends. I don't like to think that there are Australians at war. But I don't imagine that I can even begin to understand enough to comment on how we should engage otherwise. So I don't like it, but I can't fix it, so I say nothing. How many others are left in that position?

So there it is, there are my thoughts on war. I have written that much to say that I don't know what I think. What I do know is that I am glad that I know God. I am glad that I live where I do. I am glad that I have the freedom to live the way I choose. I am glad that I can learn, and that I have the option to choose what I believe. Today is a day to remember, and maybe just engage in a bit of thought about it all. Maybe one day I will be able to articulate what I believe about it all, maybe I won't. Maybe this is the kind of issue that doesn't have any clean lines.

No one is going to steal April!

So after a few months of some slack blogging I have decided to make a concerted effort to blog more.. There have been times when the randoms stories and events have seemed to flow, and it's not that they're not happening at the moment, it's just that they don't seem to be all that blog-worthy.. (and we're also being paid a lot NOT to blog about certain things.. hey Sue? :-)

But anyway.. after the last blog about the glorious sleepy Easter I had, I travelled off to another week of action and adventure in Melbourne. Geez I love that city.. Anyway, was able to catch up with some of the lovelies of this world and had a fantastic time. Thought I would shoot some photos below..

Don't know how I was able to do it, but I went to a wedding this weekend and spent a whole week in another city and managed to come home with 33 photos, and not one of them was of anyone I know. But I did get my favourite graffiti wall and Starbucks, and of course, about 50% of the photos were of sunrise/sunset.. best not challenge tradition too much :-0

I think I might have been tired...

It all started at Church on Friday morning.. I got there around 9 and was hanging out chatting with some of the guys. It was a great service. Got home at about 12, thought about what I might do for the day.. was feeling a little tired, so thought I would have a nap.

Woke up at 5pm.. was still a little tired, so went back for another little nap..

Woke up at about 11pm.. it was a bit too late to get up, so went back to sleep..

Woke up at 10am.. thought I should really get out of bed.. so got up, watched a movie.. then went back for another nap..

Thinking I might have an early night tonight.. am still feeling a little tired.. who would have thought that all that sleep could go one and you could still be tired?

Either way, I feel a lot better now, and am very very thankful for the holiday!

THE Plan

So.. after 10 years of planning and over 1000 versions of my Itinerary.. I would like to announce the final (for the moment anyway) plan for my GRAND ADVENTURE!

8 June - Finish work!! can I just say that again?? on 8th June I am going to finish work!
12 June - Uganda
30 June - South Africa
20 July - London
13 August - Brazil
3 September - Canada
11 September - Leave Canada

And there you have it! A big fat trip around the world.

Can't wait to see you all! At the moment I am still working on plans for internal flights and trips etc. Most common theme at the moment is coffee, lots of cups of coffee and LOTS of catching up with everyone. Miss you all more than I have ever dared to express on this wee littl' blog of mine.

Kenny

Kenny would have to be one of the funniest movies ever. Even funnier than elf (ok, maybe, I'm not 100% sure on that one yet, that might have been an overstatement, can i take that back?) But it is funny.

Can't say I envy the job. Makes mine seem like a walk in the park.

Again I have nothing profound to say.. But I like this movie.. is that enough to blog about??

Easter Distributer Emergency Crew

This is him. This is the man. The Easter Distributer Emergency Crew.

Freudian slip?? maybe...

But it worked. I broke down, and Amy came and rescued me chocolate. And all seemed right again.

(for those who are confused I may have miss typed in the blog below.. maybe...)

One way to get on the radio...

I WAS ON THE RADIO THIS AFTERNOON!!!!

It went something like this:
There is a car broken down just outside of the Eastern Distrubuter in the middle of the three lanes of racing traffic. Cars are back up to the other side of Sydney, and the girl / damsel in the car is looking decidedly stressed. In other news...

It was eventful, that much is sure. Luckily the lovely Easter Distributer Emergency crew man came to help me. He took Clemmy for a ride to the Shell where the lovely NRMA man came and got the show back on the road so to speak. And then.. to top it all off, the lovely Amy lady came to rescue me at the Shell.. and it was a proper rescue too... wallet rescue as well as a chocolate fix! that's the sign of a true friend!!

There was one really good thing that came out of tonight. I took advantage of the knowledge of the NRMA man and showed him the bit that had been in the back of my car since i found it under the bonnet a few weeks back and guess what?!??!? It is just a spare. Aparently it is a fan belt, and he said that there was definately one there already. So winner! It's all ok!

God Bless the Eastern Distributer Emergency Care man! God Bless the NRMA man! and God Bless AmyLou!

Bank Error In Your Favour.. You (almost) Win $6,450

Almost. Almost I was rich.

Got a litte excited today when I got onto online banking. I was almost rich. There was a Credit Adjustment of $6450 in my account! Whooohooo!

Thought I should keep my head and remain calm and just clarify things before I stood, collected my bags and quit my job. So I went to the bank. Lucky I did. Turns out it was a bank error. Problem being in real life when they make a bank error in your favour it's not really in your favour at all. You spend lunch time and the bank trying to figure out what they've done and then they take the money back anyway!

Ahhh well. You win some, you loose some...

Hey-ho

So.. don't actually have anything to blog about. But have been thinking that it is about time that I get into the habit of blogging. So I am just going to write, and hope that something not so weird flows out.

It's been an interesting few months. Yesterday morning I did this crazy thing and got out one of my old journals to have a bit of a read. Scary thing. After a random selection I started reading this entry from the first week that I got back from the UK. Talk about a crazy head space.

So much has changed since then. I am in such a different place. Which is a good thing me thinks.

Funny how time changes things. Or actually, is it time? Or is it just the choices we make? I think that for some people the passing of time doesn't actually change their heart at all...

Someone asked me the other day when I decided to go on this big trip that I am planning. I couldn't tell her. Some decisions just seem to creep up on you, and for those, it is only the actions we take that show us what we have decided in our hearts.

I've been reading this thing lately that talks about thoughts being the deciding force behind our beliefs, and how our beliefs lead to our choices, and how those choices determine our actions. Interesting concept. It's puts the power straight back into our hands.

Anyway, I am not sure where I am going with this. It is just the thought process that I have been going throughlately. It's been putting me in a place where I am been actually thinking about the thoughts I have and the choices that I make, which can only be a good thing.

There it is, in all it's random glory (cheers to you Amy) Those are my first thoughts for March.

:-)

Opps.. Who stole February???

Ok, so it's been a while. I claim it's not my fault, and someone has stolen February.


Lots has been happening, too much to write... they say a picture tells 1000 words, here are 8 photos, that's 8000 words.. sounds like more than enough for my February blog quota :-)


This is the big-ass truck that we got to drive.. Didn't run over nor damage anyone or anything! How impressive is that!

These are of the palace. Nice hey. Took the one with the flower just for you Pees. At least you didn't have to stand in the middle of the road waiting for this one. :-)

And I am not sure that I could even find the words to describe the photos below. So I'll let them stand as they are.

Homeless..... Not Me - Take 2

So once again I am not homeless! Yay for having a place to live!

We are going to move into the Palace on Friday, but get the keys on Thursday. I have been thinking that maybe we should camp out on the first night just to stake our claim...

How uncanny is this... Last night we went out to celebrate in Coogee and had cocktails, I'm usually a daiquiri kinda girl but the need for a Singapore Sling over took me, and then when I got home, I got a text from my mum who was with my sister in Thailand also having Singapore Slings. Weird. I must have forgotten to turn the ESP off. But seriously, I haven't had a Singapore Sling since that fateful flight Elissa and I took back to London a few years back... Sorry, I digress..

Point of the story is that we are going to move into an awesome place, and I am totally excited!

Quote of the day

Ringo just sent me an email with this in it:

A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach.

I like it. Thought I would share. Good day to all xxo

Proud Mum to Concerned Parent..

So turns out Clemmy isn't doing that well...

The little oil light kept flashing.. so I did the good thing, went in a bought oil (even got the right kind! :-) but when I went to fill her up there was this strange rubber circle thing sitting on the top of the engine. Where did it come from?? Where is it supposed to go?? Is it a vital part of my car??

But then I thought about it, I had driven the car to the shops.. the rubber thing can't have moved while I was in BigW.. Clemmy must be ok with out it.. So I put it in the boot and drove home..

I keep thinking I can smell something funny in the car.. is it just me?? am I paranoid??

She keeps on keeping on.. 19 years that car has been going.. I don't think she is going to let some little rubber circle get in her way!

Simple Mathematics

This
Plus This

Equals This

And Then This Happens


Who would have thought that you could get

1 x mattress

1 x Bed Frame

1 x Suitcase

Many x Random Assortments of Crap

2 x People

all into Clemmy and then drive across town???

That car is a gem I'm telling you, a gem. I'm like a proud parent.

BTW - Tonights menu included tinned peaches, yoghurt, and baked beans on toast... Have a new theory that you can eat what ever random combinations you want as long as you leave enough time between courses... You've just got to think these things through sometimes.

Moving House..

So the time has come for me to leave the beach-side resort. It has been a good season. Lots of laughs, parties, slurpies and sunburn. I am currently having much dificulty bending my knees due to exccessive back-of-knee-burning (I've got nothing on your story though Clare, you win that one hands down!)

There is a lot to do when you move. Packing, organising, looking for houses, trying out the locals of the places you are considering, asking important questions, is there a local Bistro? Can we get a $5 meal? And for me, the big big one is, can I walk to the bakery?

When I wake up on a saturday morning I want to me able to walk, or scoot (on my new ELECTRIC SCOOTER), to the bakery. I want to be able to get there in that semi-waken state, with sleep still in the eyes, so I can come back home, make multiple cups of tea, and eat fresh fresh bread with vegimite and butter all without really waking up. That is life.

Anyway, please excuse me, I digress.

This moving out has forced me into action. I took down the fairy lights which i had been in the tree for the last few months, I walked around the house collecting all the Candy Canes I had hung like stockings with care, I even considered hoovering.

But the biggest problem so far has been the cupboard. There is so much random stuff in there. I really don't like moving food. Last time Rinnie and I moved it was a nightmare. Rinnie, Pees and mum got on the tube so heavy laden with stuff (I was forced to ride in the car, someone had to:-) and I blame most of the excessive weight on food.

So this time I have decided to eat my way through it. But it leads to some very 'interesting' combinations. Tonight for example, I had fish with garlic sauce, M&M's and a glass of coke for dinner. There has been excessive custard consumption going on also since we kinda over catered at the Orphans Christmas.

Is it good for me??? Well, who knows. But is it good eating?? For sure. Mum used to say that when I lived under her roof I was going to have to live by her rules. I used to tell her when I lived by myself I was going to eat chocolate for dinner. Never actually thought I would though... ahh well, desperate times, desperate measures :-)