The Redwoods call for a hug.
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Connect
Share Your World – 2014 Week 44
What is your most vivid memory of the kitchen in your childhood?
Exciting vivid memories elude me. My main memory is being required to wash and dry the dishes with my siblings every night. Not caring for the washing part—I was happy to dry. This usually made everyone else happy. They would rather wash or put the dishes away. It also meant I had control of any naughty tea towel flicking behaviours my younger siblings liked to try.
As a child, who was your favorite relative?
My father’s mother lived in a granny or in our case, nanny flat at the side of our home. She was always available to us if we needed anything and would wait for us to come home from school. I remember one year she told Santa that we would like a swing set, which Santa delivered.
What did you or did not like about the first apartment you ever rented?
The first apartment I rented was in Sydney after I was married. Having already purchased my home I did find that I was limited in where I hung pictures and what I could do frustrating. I was excited however, by the freedom of being able to move cities and set up a new life that renting gave me.
What kind of TV commercial would you like to make? Describe it.
I would like to make a television commercial about the power of positive thinking. How your actions can change your outcomes. It would include references to being in the present moment.
My hope would be that it would inspire people to recognise the power of their daily choices.
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
Last week I was grateful for the fun times I had at our work Christmas party. Catching up with people you don’t see often and remembering the year that was.
Next week I am looking forward to finishing work for the year at preparing for my Canadian adventure.
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Solitude
Writing Lessons
Yesterday I attended the NSW Emerging Writers Festival. The first session of the day comprised of 5 Australian authors giving their writing tips—Tom Doig, Delia Falconer, Benjamin Law, Laura Jean McKay and Walter Mason.
This was favourite part of the day. It lead me to think about what I have learnt on my writing journey—from book to blogging.
1. Begin by writing. Don’t worry about order—get your ideas down. Form and order come in the editing process. The more you write, the quicker and more naturally, form and order come.
2. Use every spare moment to write. Half of my book was written in 10-30 minute sessions on my daily train commute. I continue this habit with my blogging.
3. Believe in yourself. Self doubt can and will question your ability. I heard it and kept going anyway. I let my audience decide if my writing was good enough. So far, feedback has been positive.
4. Find ways to talk about your work. Initially, I didn’t know how to bring my work up in conversation. So I focused on it. The more I talked about it, the easier it got. Yesterday, I joined a panel at the writers festival to discuss my work and my ideas. It was fun. Afterwards I was surprised and excited by how natural it felt.
5. Prioritise your time. There will always be a reason not to write—too busy, too tired, somebody else needs something. Find a way to incorporate everything you want to do in a day. This is where writing in short sessions helps.
The secret is—find what works for you and keep doing it. If you really want to do something—you will find away.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Minimalist
Daily Prompt: Yoda
Someone or something you can’t communicate with through writing (a baby, a pet, an object) can understand every single word you write today, for one day only. What do you tell them?
Yoda we loved you—although I am sure that today is not the only we have been able to communicate with you. You can into our life after the tragic loss of your first owner. You settle in and seemed to know the rules very quickly— as if they were unsaid.
Your original name was Black Kid, but that was too hard for us simple folk so we changed it to Blackie—not for long. You were always so wise and there when we needed you. You had a way about you that was welcoming and even non-cat people liked you. Not long after joining our family, one of the children decided you looked like a wise old man, so your name was instantly changed to Yoda. You answered immediately and your personality developed more.
My daughter loved you so much she thought you were her baby and together with my husband, they bought you a high chair to eat off on special occasions. Being a loving cat, you played the game—which made your mummy very happy. You never tried to eat off any other table as if you knew this one was special for you.
As the least cat friendly person in the house you snuggled up to me and entered my heart without me even realising. It would annoy the others that if I sat in my chair, you would come, sit on me and stay for hours in the one position—leaving me to read and them to do the housework. Thank you. After all, the rule was that they wouldn’t move the settled cat because he looked so cute. They were very jealous that you never sat on them—I loved our special snuggles.
The one thing I wasn’t so keen on was you trying to help me write by sitting on my lap while I was on the computer. I tried to work with you but it didn’t work. I loved the fact that you wanted to help me and that you wanted to be a part of the family and were always around not hiding.
Thank you coming and sharing our life. Unfortunately when you came to us you were an older cat so your time with us was short. We miss you every day but we love to continue to seek your guidance in from your special place in the front garden watching over your friends in the street.
Bliss
I loved the Waikite Valley Thermal Pools in New Zealand. I stood mesmorized and watched them for half an hour—I found this force of nature blissful and relaxing. They were something I had never before experienced.
How high would the mud fly into the air? Where would the next bubble pop? Why does the mud change its composition? Did you see that one? These were my questions.
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Water
Springboard, platform and show diving has been part of our world for a decade. Supporting our daughter, diving has directed our holidays for many years including taking us overseas on four occasions. I took the above photo at Luna Park in Sydney, before her performance in the dive show—Sky Pirates.
The above see-through dive tank is one of only two in the world. The other is square also owned by Aqua World. It was a different experience seeing the lower half of a dive—the part that is usually covered by the sides of the pool.
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Favourite Holiday Memory
Two years ago my husband and I travelled to Wuhu, China. It was our first experience in China and we loved it. Wuhu, part of Anhui province is in regional China and has a population of only 2 million people—small by Chinese standards.
Few white people travel to Wuhu as it is a little difficult to get to. So, as the Chinese believe white people bring them luck—we became instant celebrities. Everywhere we went, we had Chinese people coming up to us and communicating any way they could that they wanted to take a photograph with us. We loved it. Because many were students, they also wanted to practise English, so we learnt from them about the area whilst extending their English skills.
While I was waiting at this temple gate for the sun to set, a Chinese mother was attempting to have her three year old daughter take a photo with me. The child however had other plans, screamed and wouldn’t let her. After a while the girl realised I wouldn’t hurt her, so she would run up to me, point at my camera, laugh and run away again—as if she was reminding me I didn’t win. She was very cute.
Another interesting part of our holiday was no access to Facebook and limited Google access. Both are regulated by the government. I actually found it a relief to not have to focus on anything from our usual world and just be present—in the here and now absorbing another culture.
Wuhu was easy to get ourselves around by taxis and walking, which gave us confidence. The city itself was old, full of history, culture and beauty. Our visit opened our eyes to many aspects of life in China that as Australians we had never considered. Travel definitely broadens your world.
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Street
Overlooking ANZ stadium. Can you see the smoke coming out of the chimney?
One of the many walkways in the area. Local park in the background.
Street scene with lamp post.
These photos of my local area were taken this morning just after dawn, about 0545. I saw one person and one car during the 10 minutes I was taking them. It was very peaceful. Note to self—take more walks at this time of day—it is glorious.
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