I am addicted to the Next Blog button.
There is probably an unwritten rule that I am breaking here - Thou shalt not idly flit through Blog Land.
But I can't help myself.
I used to play that game on trains: Who are you Strange Lady with your red dress and your pink stilettos? What keeps you awake at night? What is your deepest joy? Who do you laugh with?
Next blog... next blog...next blog...
A moment in someone else's life, a glimpse at family, hopes and dreams, passions, successes and failures... Just for a moment, a glance at a life I'm not living.
It reminds me how big and broad life is, how many choices there are, how many ideals and beliefs. And yet, it also makes me realise we're all living the same lives - as parents, spouses, siblings, sons and daughters, friends... We all want to love and be cherished, protect our children, laugh with our friends, work and play. We all have emotions and fears no matter where we live or what we do.
The world isn't quite so big when there's a Next Blog button.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
School holidays are exhausting
The boys are loving their holidays, but amazingly, they're more tired than when they're at school. They still get up at the ridiculous time of pre-6am, but they're sound asleep on the couch half an hour before bedtime. Surely, when they're at school their brains and bodies are more active! We're not even doing anything too exciting - a trip down to the park is about as good as it gets!
Today was one of the first gorgeous days of spring so we took the boys down for a run at the castle playground. It was swarming with hordes of kids which, was only to be expected on a rare sunny day in the holidays. But the playground is huge and the boys had a glorious time playing hide and seek and managed to get themselves completely coated in wood chips - it was even in their hair! We did eventually find a quiet, shady spot for a picnic - the highlight of the day.
The boys just get better and better as they get older, but I wonder if I'll look back on these as 'golden years' when the boys played hard, were easily amused and weren't embarrassed to be seen out in public with their parents! I'm loving every minute of it, anyway.
The boys were certainly in bed early tonight. I've just realised that daylight savings starts this weekend - goodness knows what that will do to their systems!
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| Xavier asleep on a chair |
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| Absolutely nothing more comfortable than Daddy |
Today was one of the first gorgeous days of spring so we took the boys down for a run at the castle playground. It was swarming with hordes of kids which, was only to be expected on a rare sunny day in the holidays. But the playground is huge and the boys had a glorious time playing hide and seek and managed to get themselves completely coated in wood chips - it was even in their hair! We did eventually find a quiet, shady spot for a picnic - the highlight of the day.
The boys just get better and better as they get older, but I wonder if I'll look back on these as 'golden years' when the boys played hard, were easily amused and weren't embarrassed to be seen out in public with their parents! I'm loving every minute of it, anyway.
The boys were certainly in bed early tonight. I've just realised that daylight savings starts this weekend - goodness knows what that will do to their systems!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Letters across time
Have you ever written a letter to your future self? I tried it when I was 17, and tucked it away in my diary for ten years. When it was time to open it, I was terrified. I well remembered the tremendous spirit of hope and optimism I had written it in, confident that my future would be bright and beautiful. Pausing to tear open the envelope, I could only tremble knowing so few of my plans had come to fruition.
My next encounter with future letters was just before I turned 30, when I was on a school camp watching 200 Year 12 students lie on an auditorium floor and scribble out letters due to be mailed to back to them twelve months later. Lovely, I thought, watching them write out their hopes and dreams, the secret thoughts for their eyes only. Six months later, I listened to one of those letters being read out at Valedictory - heartfelt and hopeful words from a beautiful girl whose life had been cut so short. Her words reverberated through our souls.
Today, almost a decade later, I spoke to a student who is about to leave behind his schooling and step forward into the rest of his life. This morning, he had opened a letter that he had written a year ago. Unfortunately, he had not taken the exercise too seriously last year, and had written a random, irrelevant sentence. He came to thank me today for finishing off his letter for him. I had written beautiful things, and he was very grateful. Ironically, I had forgotten doing this and have no idea what I wrote to him! But he was touched and I was delighted that my words had had such an impact.
My own letter from the past had not been as terrifying as I had feared. I might not have achieved some of my career goals, but my seventeen year old self was surprisingly wise. She trusted my decisions and, most importantly, she had wished for happiness for me. And I was happy, delightfully happy.
With much relief, I sat down and wrote another ten-year-letter. It's now been sitting in my diary for more than 12 years. Unopened. It turns out that one future letter per lifetime is quite enough. I may still open it, one day - when I get over the fear of my past self.
The ghost of Who-I-Was is strong and formidable, far too powerful for the gentleness of Who-I-Am.
Time to leave future letters where they belong - in the hands of the young.
My next encounter with future letters was just before I turned 30, when I was on a school camp watching 200 Year 12 students lie on an auditorium floor and scribble out letters due to be mailed to back to them twelve months later. Lovely, I thought, watching them write out their hopes and dreams, the secret thoughts for their eyes only. Six months later, I listened to one of those letters being read out at Valedictory - heartfelt and hopeful words from a beautiful girl whose life had been cut so short. Her words reverberated through our souls.
Today, almost a decade later, I spoke to a student who is about to leave behind his schooling and step forward into the rest of his life. This morning, he had opened a letter that he had written a year ago. Unfortunately, he had not taken the exercise too seriously last year, and had written a random, irrelevant sentence. He came to thank me today for finishing off his letter for him. I had written beautiful things, and he was very grateful. Ironically, I had forgotten doing this and have no idea what I wrote to him! But he was touched and I was delighted that my words had had such an impact.
My own letter from the past had not been as terrifying as I had feared. I might not have achieved some of my career goals, but my seventeen year old self was surprisingly wise. She trusted my decisions and, most importantly, she had wished for happiness for me. And I was happy, delightfully happy.
With much relief, I sat down and wrote another ten-year-letter. It's now been sitting in my diary for more than 12 years. Unopened. It turns out that one future letter per lifetime is quite enough. I may still open it, one day - when I get over the fear of my past self.
The ghost of Who-I-Was is strong and formidable, far too powerful for the gentleness of Who-I-Am.
Time to leave future letters where they belong - in the hands of the young.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Laughter and tears
On one of the wettest and most miserable days in decades, I heard two amazing speakers - Robyn Moore and Anh Do. They were both very funny and very inspiring.
Robyn talked about the importance of living in the moment, about choosing our attitude and recognising how extraordinary we are.
Anh talked about life being a blessing and about his father's philosophy about time: 'There's now and there's too late.'
Both Robyn and Anh work with people in terrible circumstances. They told us stories that were sad and hopeful and so, so human. They made me cry.
They said things that felt true. They made me thankful. They made me joyful. They made me want to laugh more.
(But they didn't stop me complaining about how cold and wet I was! Must work on that...)
It's a blessing to be able to have time to hear these ideas and to think about them. It's a blessing to talk and chat and laugh with friends. And it's really, really nice to be reminded that the work we do is important and that it does make a difference in the lives of others :)
Laughter and tears... a beautiful day.
Robyn talked about the importance of living in the moment, about choosing our attitude and recognising how extraordinary we are.
Anh talked about life being a blessing and about his father's philosophy about time: 'There's now and there's too late.'
Both Robyn and Anh work with people in terrible circumstances. They told us stories that were sad and hopeful and so, so human. They made me cry.
They said things that felt true. They made me thankful. They made me joyful. They made me want to laugh more.
(But they didn't stop me complaining about how cold and wet I was! Must work on that...)
It's a blessing to be able to have time to hear these ideas and to think about them. It's a blessing to talk and chat and laugh with friends. And it's really, really nice to be reminded that the work we do is important and that it does make a difference in the lives of others :)
Laughter and tears... a beautiful day.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to vote we go ♪ ♬♬
I think I’m doing this election in reverse. From the moment they called this one, I’ve been exhausted by it, and have tried to block it out as much as possible. However, now that it’s just ‘one more sleep,’ I’m actually excited. Gillard and Abbott are so busy trying to amaze us with their personalities that it has become quite hypnotic. I’m sure they’re both promising the same things, so does it matter which one lands the top job?
Adding to the excitement is the knowledge that after 20 years of moving all over the country, I’ve finally managed to be in an electorate that’s rated ‘marginal.’ My vote might actually make a difference! In fact, this will be the first time there’s actually a possibility that our sitting member might be ousted. We’ve had Peter Costello, who retired on his own terms, while Simon Crean and Bob Katter are both still going strong… Ahh, Bob I miss you. Every pollie we’ve had since has been utterly dull in comparison…
When I was at school, I was quite horrified to learn that voting was compulsory in Australia, but now I’m glad it is. It didn’t take me long at all to work out the value of the vote, and how lucky we are to be able to peacefully choose our own government. Besides, the weather’s so miserable right now, I can imagine being too lazy to leave my heater, rug and armchair in order to hit the polling booth!
And that's the only certainty. Will it be Liberal? Will it be Labor? I don't know, but it will be arctic!
Adding to the excitement is the knowledge that after 20 years of moving all over the country, I’ve finally managed to be in an electorate that’s rated ‘marginal.’ My vote might actually make a difference! In fact, this will be the first time there’s actually a possibility that our sitting member might be ousted. We’ve had Peter Costello, who retired on his own terms, while Simon Crean and Bob Katter are both still going strong… Ahh, Bob I miss you. Every pollie we’ve had since has been utterly dull in comparison…
When I was at school, I was quite horrified to learn that voting was compulsory in Australia, but now I’m glad it is. It didn’t take me long at all to work out the value of the vote, and how lucky we are to be able to peacefully choose our own government. Besides, the weather’s so miserable right now, I can imagine being too lazy to leave my heater, rug and armchair in order to hit the polling booth!
And that's the only certainty. Will it be Liberal? Will it be Labor? I don't know, but it will be arctic!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Small acts of kindness
The book, the DVDs and the chocolates were no doubt sent my way to cheer me up in what has been a difficult time. And it worked. It’s impossible not to feel loved when someone has taken a moment to think about you and send some kindness your way.
Belinda’s jam was a lovely thought – and a lovely enhancement on the ‘apple for the teacher.’ She made it herself and brought me a pot when I said I’d never tried rhubarb jam. I have now. It was delicious!
It’s the small acts of kindness that bring joy to our lives. They brighten a tough day and fill our souls with light and sparkle. They make us smile. They make us dance on the inside. They can bring tears to our eyes.
My own ‘acts of kindness’ do happen, although this week, they are probably more about responsibility: I volunteered to help out at my sons’ school BBQ on election day; I made cupcakes with my 8 year old in his quest to learn to cook; and, I arranged to babysit a six year old so his parents can have a day out…
I’ve had weeks where the list is better! Perhaps, that should be my focus for the coming week – random acts of kindness!
And now, let me finish with a quote from my new book - thanks Libster!
Good friends are good for your health.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Behold – Beef and Mushroom Pot Pie
Coming back to one income has turned visits to the supermarket into an adventure. We’ve made a pact that our evening meals will cost less than $10 to feed the four of us. We’ve become menu planners and list makers as we set out to use every ingredient we buy. No waste for us!
Simon has taken this as a sign he can release his inner-Masterchef and is trawling through the recipe books with great enthusiasm. We haven’t had the same meal twice and it’s all been amazing. We’re actually eating a lot better than we normally do – which is probably not going to be good for the waistline. I’m definitely going to need to exercise!
Yesterday - pot pie; today - chicken schnitzel with sweet and sour cabbage; tomorrow - ???
Simon has taken this as a sign he can release his inner-Masterchef and is trawling through the recipe books with great enthusiasm. We haven’t had the same meal twice and it’s all been amazing. We’re actually eating a lot better than we normally do – which is probably not going to be good for the waistline. I’m definitely going to need to exercise!
Yesterday - pot pie; today - chicken schnitzel with sweet and sour cabbage; tomorrow - ???
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