Tag: Blogging

Coffee Catch-up #7

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If we were having coffee I would tell you about how proud I was on Wednesday evening when I was presented with my new Toastmaster badge that places the letter ACB/CL after my name. Although I was pleased to have completed the manuals, the feelings that developed when I actually saw them in print did surprise. They brought home to me the importance of presenting awards as soon as possible after completion. The fact that when I first finished my CC award several years ago, it took me over 12 months to get it recognised by anyone probably also played a part in my feelings.

If we were having coffee I would tell you about my run in with my exercise coach after which he disrespectfully dismissed me and told me I could finish up 4 weeks earlier than my original date. Given the circumstances this was probably the only option as there was no comprise possible.

If we were having coffee I would tell you how I enjoyed swimming, running in the water and relaxing in the members only spa this afternoon for the first time in 8 years. I would also tell you that I am looking forward to the greater options in my new exercise program including aqua aerobics, my long time favourite.

If we were having coffee I would tell you how I am catching up on many long time overdue jobs at work, which is inspiring to think about new systems to make many tasks easier.

If we were having coffee I would tell you what a great meal we had last night with one of my Toastmaster clubs social event at Thai Garden House. The food was fresh, light and flavoursome which is why in 2013, it was awarded Sydney Metro’s best Thai restaurant.

If we were having coffee I would tell you that I am excited to be back on track with my Blogging from A – Z challenge this week. It has taken a lot of work over the weekend especially as I am also keeping up with my regular features but so worth it. From my experience, the more I write the better and quicker I get at it.

If we were having coffee I would ask you what you have been up to this last week, let me know in the comments.

C – Cockington Green Gardens

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Cockington Green Gardens located in Canberra—Australia’s capital is home to meticulous crafted and highly detailed miniature buildings and landscapes. It is a wonderful place full of creativity with replicas of many international known buildings or scenes. If your ever visiting Canberra take a couple of hours and enjoy a roam around the gardens and be inspired.

Coffee Catch-up #5

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If we were having coffee I would apologise for missing our coffee catch-up last month. Then we would make a plan to get together more regularly as we miss each others company. We would also use this time to remind ourselves that somethings need prioritizing. To help me with this task, this morning I discovered the  #weekendcoffeeshare  community and plan on joining in the fun.

If we were having coffee I would tell you about a minor work accident which resulted in my wedding and engagement rings needing to be cut off my finger in the emergency department on the 27th anniversary of meeting my husband. I was absent mindedly closing the sliding door behind to make sure confidentiality was maintained as I left the room, when it shut so fast that my left hand smashed against the metal plate totally squashing my rings into my hand. Fortunately, the diamonds don’t seem to be damaged.

If we were having coffee I would tell you that after a meeting with my collaborator we have decided to change the name of my book on eating disorder recovery from Inspiring Hope to “I’m so over this…” —practical ways eating disorder recovery is possible, which we are quite excited about. Feedback from patients has been great, as they all agree this is a statement that personally resonates with them.

If we were having coffee I would tell you I achieved my Advanced Communicator Bronze as well as my Competent Leadership Awards over the last two months. I am embarrassed to say that my CL actually took 5 years to complete due to my slackness.

If we were having coffee I would tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed Easter Sunday last week. We had a small immediate family gathering and two Easter egg hunts — one for the adult kids and one for the parents. It was great fun with lots of laughs. After a BBQ lunch, we played Wii games which nicely finished with each team—ours, my son’s team and my daughters team winning a game. It couldn’t have been fairer if we’d tried.

If we were having coffee I would ask you what you have doing in the last few months. Let me know in the comments? If you are interested in previously coffee catch-ups see the link below.

Coffee Catch-up #4

https://wordpress.com/tag/weekendcoffeeshare

Perspective

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We each inhabit a specific vantage point from which we blog. What’s yours?

Inspiring Max is inspired by my thoughts, experiences and  travels. It is a mixed blog that aims to think outside the square and encourage its viewers to consider a different way of looking at life. My blog is represented by a gray double rainbow that reminds me that even after the darkest storms comes the rainbow to assist us to change our perspective. Some of the values that I aim to share on Inspiring Max are

Positivity

Empathy

Real life

Sharing

Practical

Expressiveness

Creativity

Thoughtfulness

Individuality

Variety

Empowerment

 

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https://dailypost.wordpress.com/discover-challenges/perspective/

Snapshots of Fanta Wild, China

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Tell a broad story using a series of short, focused scenes.

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This was our day at Fanta Wild Adventure Park, Zhenzhou, China. We came to watch our daughter in the diving show and enjoyed immersing ourselves in another culture, creating many amazing memories  as we were stopped by many of the locals wanting to take a photo with us and practice their English as we toured the park.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/discover-challenges/snapshots/

Share Your World – 2016 Week #7

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What are you a “natural” at doing? 

I am naturally good at the balance sport—trampoling, roller skating and ice skating.

I am naturally good at resolving conflicts and being the go to person when people want a friend to talk to. I would get the ex best friends talking again and suddenly I was being ignored again.

I am a naturally good at knitter. The first time I created something my teacher didn’t believe that I had done it because it was too perfect and looked like my mother had knitted it.

Would you prefer a one floor house or multiple levels?

Having lived in both I definitely prefer an open plan single storey house.

What was your favorite subject in school?

I don’t remember having a favourite subject at school although possibly home science. I did okay at school but I had to work at it.

Complete this sentence: If only the rain.. would stop or turn into snow. This is what my husband and I said to each other last Christmas when we had traveled to Canada for a white Christmas and the rain kept washing away the small amount of snow we got.

 “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 many learn opportunities I had at work through mistakes made. This week I am looking forward to giving my 10th advanced speech and receiving my Advanced Communicator Bronze award at Toastmasters.

Share Your World – 2016 Week 7

Ageing Well

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What are your thoughts on aging? How will you stay young at heart as you get older?

I believe has two choices when it comes to ageing.

  1. Embrace it
  2. Succumb to it

Personally, I choose to embrace it.  My life has become my own since I turned 50. Suddenly I can do many things off limits before because the families priorities needed to be different. My time and money is my own so now I can:

  • Buy what I like when I like—not that I do but I can
  • Travel overseas
  • Go away for weekends with little notice
  • Eat out for meals without considering the cost
  • Spend hours blogging
  • Spend more hours writing my book
  • Cook when it suits me
  • Start planning my retirement
  • Have an I don’t want to do anything day whenever I need to
  • Control my own sleep

Yes this old body of mine can’t do everything it used to, but my mind can do a lot more. Over my 50+ years I have developed a lot of coping strategies and emotional intelligence that I plan on using to keep my body and mind as young and active as they can be for my next 50 years. As my brain like all of the muscles in my body needs to be used daily to keep it working I will continue to focus on the positive and follow Martha Stewart’s top 10 tips on how to age well.

  1. Eat well
  2. Maintain a healthy weight
  3. Be active
  4. Get quality sleep
  5. Wear sunscreen
  6. Collaborate with a good primary care doctor (GP) regularly
  7. Find a passion
  8. Connect with others
  9. Stop complaining
  10. Stay curious

What do you think is important to age well?

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/young-at-heart/

Three Wishes

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Remember those lovely genies who grant wishes? Well, you’re one and you’ve just been emancipated from your restrictive lamp. You can give your three wishes to whomever you want. Who do you give your three wishes to, and why?

 

Wishes

Trust

Hope

Respect

Empathy

Encouragenment

Willingness

Integrity

Self-reliance

Harmony

Enthusiasm

Safety

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/generous-genies/

V8 Supercars Sydney 2015

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After weeks of preparation the Coates Hire Sydney 500 starts today at Sydney Olympic Park. I was lucky enough to spend a few hours yesterday watching the last practice event. I took many photos from various angles and vantage points however in the end photographing cars speeding at over 200 kilometres an hour isn’t easy to get right.

The action continues off track down the centre with many displays and car style shops and merchandising vans. There was literally something there for most tastes.