Calm after the storm

Crescent moon

pre-dawn walk with ink-black-silver water - me and my beloved dog - 

cooling air

early morning sun over our boat ride

today was a good day.

Frogs croak inside the office at my new workplace. I'm surrounded by good people, who value health and healing in the same way that I do. Passion for natural health, integrity, respect, work-life balance, family, social responsibility... they are all up there, held as the pillars of our striving. It was so worth the wait. Thank goodness the tea shop didn't ever respond to my letter. If they had, I wouldn't be hearing the croaking frogs, coming to me live from the extensive internal gardens and external herb gardens.

Life has sent us a few curly ones this week.

Equanimity

Equanimity

Equanimity

What will you be doing this weekend?

(I'm sure that's not how I left it)

We will be going car shopping.

One little girl's Vanishing White Matter

This isn't a flippity pippit blog post. 

I have never met Chloe Saxby but I do have the pleasure of knowing her beautiful Aunt Nic. If Chloe is anything like her aunty, being a sparkling disco duck with the warmest heart and biggest sense of fun would be a piece of cake.

Chloe is a 4 year old with a rare and degenerative brain disease. It's called Vanishing White Matter Disease. Her life expectancy is now 5-10 years. 

Chloe and her family live in Wollongong, NSW Australia. If there is anyway you could help to make Chloe's life more comfortable, or assist her parents in their journey and provision of Chloe's increasing needs, please direct your energies and resources their way. You'll find more information at

www.chloesaxby.com.au

Thank you for visiting this blog today.

Not the new girl I used to be

Ahhhh, you're still here? Lovely.

She is so tired, the lady of Lazuligreen. Her arms hurt, her eyelids are droopy, her ears are ringing (what? don't yours?) but she thought she'd just pop in for a quick helloooo-o-o-o-o.

I've just been having a quick squizzy at http://philosophyoflists.blogspot.com.au/ for a little update on how Nancy is going in her new nurse life. She's reminded me of my delicious week in London, this time last year, and I'm feeling a tad nostalgic. You know, I scored that ticket because:

a) my dad is very generous, and 

b) my dad can't stand the cold. 

I'm soooo glad I could go for a little trip to London in winter. I would say YES! to just about any free trip to London (and other world cities) but the chilly air on my usually sun-kissed face, just briefly, is a treat to behold and cherish.

I can't see any little trips surprising me this year, but you never know. I like to think of myself as an optimist.

Today was the first day of my second year back at uni (6th year in total if we're tallying life years at uni, but who's counting?). It felt so different to the same day a year ago. Back then, I felt so panic-stricken about being a hated mature-age student that I thought I would vomit on the library stairs. Then I asked myself... What's the worst thing that could happen here today? Being Australian, in Australia, (rather than any nationality in an American educational institution) I decided that the worst thing that could happen on that particular day at that particular moment would be me getting my period, unexpectantly, having it run down my legs and then me falling unceremoniously down the stairs outside the library, in front of all those brand new 18 year old uni students and have everyone laugh at me. Once I'd come up with that imagery, I could logically see how unlikely that was, tuck the thought of vomit back down into my belly and march on through my day.

But today.... Oh there was none of that. The sun shone. My boots, they did march themselves right on over to the lecture theatre, quite happy and relaxed. I embraced my friend, Mary, happy to see her after the summer break. After our lecture, in we boldly went, straight into the Staff Cafe. Hilarious! As Mary assured me when we met last year: No-one is going to ask us for ID in there! 

We enjoyed a rather grown-up lunch ("You ARE a grown-up", Noah pointed out. Hmphh) with a beautiful view through leaves in a quiet spot. And with that I've ticked off one of my 2013 campus missions, on day one.

Eat in Staff Cafe.
Because I can.
Because 38 is great.

Namaste

I honour the place in you that

is the same as me.

I honour the place in you where

the whole universe resides.

I honour the place in you 

of love, of light, of peace and of truth.

I honour the place in you

that is the same in me.

There is but one.

Namaste

Days on bikes and water

Somedays, sometimes, 

"I am, I am, I am Superman, and I can do anything"

as R.E.M. so aptly sing. Well, I'm sure they do. I can't find that song now that I'm looking for it. Does anyone know which album that is on?

I recently had a day with some of those Super(wo)man moments. I carried 3 bikes in to the boat. Yes, "carried". Hitched 'em up and stepped on into it. They then needed to be off-loaded, along with the children at the Point, after 3 big hearty waves to the Water Police (in their newly decorated swish boat).

My little boys and I then rode along the shore to one of our favourite bayside parks where we played with friends. The ride took about 25 minutes and was mostly flat for my little Chooch, who hasn't mastered the hand-brake on his big bike. Oh how I wish I had a photo of those skinny legs, skinny arms, flat strong back in purple T-shirt, big head in funky helmet - so happily cruising around on his newly acquired yellow BMX. That memory is gold to me.

Children riding free. Such blissful moments. I know I've always loved the freedom I feel on a bike. My home town is very hilly. That didn't deter us though as kids... we just spent more time pushing our 'pushies' than flying down hills on them. But there was a lot of flying too.

After a few hours of sun and water play we rode back and the boys were treated to ice-blocks, hot chips and jumps off the public jetty. Oh yeah... Mama's taking all the points today as holiday Mama extraordinaire! We then brought ourselves back home for a nana-nap before packing a picnic dinner and heading back to the water. Jetty jumps, dogs chasing cockatoos, picnic dinner... today was well and truly a gold star kind of day.

 Blue-tongued lizard in our backyard.

 I am Happy Feet dangling in warm, summer waters.

 Do I look like Superwoman? Who cares! Sometimes I just am.

They really were much happier than they look. Really. It was a gold star day.

Christmas 1986

Well hello there. I won't mention my summer absence, if you don't.

Here's a story about a bike. She cost my parents around $300. She was their gift to me for Christmas, 1986. I remember the first time I sat on her. I've always thought she was a beauty.

Two years ago, I gave her away. I thought she wasn't an island girl. I was wrong.

She's come home to me. Still mine. I love her.

In her heart, she's always been an island girl. Just waiting for me to realise.

Quite a big day

Sun number one, you know... the sailor, the fisher, the boat skipper, well I've told you about him many times before. He is one cool kid. He has strength and stamina that defies his slight frame and innocent looks. This kid has known me for 9 years (maybe much much longer) and he knows that his mother will not purchase electronic goods for him, for several years to come. Nor will she allow Santa to bring such items for Christmas, or his father or any other relative to provide them (they possibly wouldn't dare). 

Two years ago, Noah's 8 year old cousin received an iPod touch. Other friends already had DS's and also received iPods. Last Christmas, a younger friend arrived on Christmas day with his new iPod touch. So, on the 25th December 2011, Noah quietly resolved to save up his pocket money and buy his own iPod. He already had around $100 so he was well on his way. I hoped it would take a year or 2 so that he would be close to 10 years old before he had enough money for this great purchase.

Last month, the 9 year old's eyes danced and sparkled, while his body wriggled with glee, as he counted $228... indeed enough for an iPod touch.

We could have gone to our local shops, to a Kmart or Office Works, or some other rather unexciting chain and Noah probably could have nabbed a bargain and 'saved' himself some money. But we wanted this longed-for day to be authentic and pure and BIG. The Zimbabwean was quite sure that Noah's first Apple product should come with an 'Apple Experience'. So off we all trotted to the big smoke, to find THE Apple Store on George St, in the centre of Sydney... the journey had several phases: we took our boat to our communal mainland wharf. We then drove for half an hour to the nearest train station, took a train into the city (another half an hour), and then walked those little boys with the big blue eyes through the beauty of the Queen Victoria Building. Some were bouncing in their sneakers more than others (some days are tougher than others for the little 6 year old brother who gets dragged along for these momentous family days).

Finally we made it. All that glass! All that steel finish! The Zimbabwean's eyes were shining as much as his son's. We looked at products for much longer than we needed to (it was difficult to keep the father focused) but eventually the time came for me to unload Noah's cash, direct from his personal piggy bank, onto the counter and have the friendly sales guy graciously accept it and count out $117.85 in coins (the rest in notes) in the middle of that big city store. His name may have been Daniel. Let's say it was. Daniel was cool, calm and collected. He didn't roll his eyes or hesitate. He was completely cool about counting out all those coins. Other Apple store punters were clearly delighted at the scene: two little kids' faces waiting eagerly for the formalities to be over. Just give me the damn iPod already, is what Noah was secretly screaming to himself.

All in good time, my little one. 

Eventually the protective sleeve came off and now Noah is the SO proud owner of an iPod touch (on weekends. I am, afterall, still his mother, and he is still 9. I know. I'm a big fat spoil sport). So far he has spent about $14 on games and app's, and is getting great pleasure out of the ability to take photos and videos. He waits patiently while the Zimbo tries to figure out the best way to share our music libraries (who would have thought that could be so complicated? It seems we have a G5, an iMac, a laptop, 2 iPhones, and iPod shuffle and a family iPod to contend with. And we don't want Noah's iPOd to have access to any credit cards or our complete music library. The whole project is approximately 15 million light years beyond my technological capability.)

I'm so proud of Noah's resolve. He earned his minimal weekend allowance of electronic device time. May it bring him great joys and other benefits which may be beyond my comprehension.

NB. As previously stated, no member of this family is employed or sponsored in any way by Apple. We are just quite big fans and some rabbit on about their gifts to the world more than others. Believe it or not, I do not do the most rabbiting on about that particular topic.