Share Your World Archives

Share Your World 2015 – Week 17

May 2, 2015May 2, 2015 inspiringmax

What is your most favorite smell/scent?

I don’t focus on smells I am more of a visual person. Although at the end of a long day at work, I love to walk into the house and smell that someone has cooked dinner—I don’t care what it is I love them for it. My favourite perfumes are Beautiful by Estee Lauder and Opium.

Do you prefer long hair or short hair for yourself?

I have never had long hair. My hair has always reached a certain point and grown out rather than down. It gets more puffy. Today, it is shoulder length as this seems to be the right length for me. If I want to put it up I can and it drapes well around my face to soften it.

Do you plan out things usually or do you do them more spontaneous (for example if you are visiting a big city you don’t know?)

I like a mixture of both. If I need to do something specific I plan it but I often just go exploring and see what gems I can discover as I go. My experience teaches me, the more I plan even a little the less time is wasted, but the less of the actual city I see as I am too focused on getting from A – B.

What is your favorite outdoor activity?

I love spending time with nature in any way. Different seasons different ways. Walking on the beach, skiing, bush walking, ice skating, swimming, sailing and cycling these are all fun activities I have enjoyed over recent times.

http://ceenphotography.com/2015/04/27/share-your-world-2015-week-17/

Share Your World – 2015 Week 15

April 20, 2015 inspiringmax

Regarding your fridge, is it organized or a mess inside?

My fridge usually starts off the week organised as I clear it out every Sunday to co-inside with the weekly garbage collection. I have my own system to keep it organised—dairy on the second shelf, leftovers on the third shelf, chocolate on the bottom and large items on the top shelf. My husband however doesn’t care for my system and put things wherever he can find a space.

Have you ever been a participant in a parade? What did you do?

When I was a teenager in the 1970’s I participated in the Mattara parade in Newcastle. Mattara was held during the last week in September and celebrating the people of Newcastle and the arts. This festival is over 50 years old and includes people from all walks of life. I remember feeling very proud to march in the parade representing the Girls Brigade.

How do you stand out from the crowd?

It depends on which crowd I am in as to how I stand out. I don’t deliberately try to stand out but I usually find my own way based on my personality. If |I am interested in what is going on I will start talking and using open sentences give people enough information that they are interested in finding out more. If not I like a chameleon will blend in with the environment and not let others know anything specific about me.

How many bones, if any, have you broken?

I broke my right arm skate boarding when I was 15, my right little toe in the Newcastle earthquake and my right foot when a girls gymnastics beam fell on it about 7 years ago during agynastics set-up.

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 that I recovered from illness in less than 24 hours.

This week I am looking forward to celebrating 100 years of the ANZAC spirit.

http://ceenphotography.com/2015/04/13/share-your-world-2015-week-15/

Share Your World – 2015 Week 14

April 12, 2015 inspiringmax

What type of music relaxes you the most or do you prefer silence?

I love silence. Working in mental health I spend most of each day talking so the days I come home to no one and can control the noise even for 15 minutes are a blessing.

Show us a two of your favorites photographs? Explain why they are your favorite. If you are not a photographer, think of a two favorite scenes in your life and tell us about them.

I love this photo I took on a moving dog sled ride in Canada last year. It shows the beauty of the area and the action of the dogs as they excitedly pull our sled.

My second choice today is in contrast—it is taken on Hyam’s Beach on my birthday last year. It too was a peaceful way to spend time with nature.

What is your favorite tradition? (family tradition, church tradition, whatever)

My extended family has a colour theme for Christmas every year. It is voted in by all members of the family—there are over 30 and once the colour is chosen everyone dresses in the colour theme. No excuses. My sister who is queen of Christmas baubles, decorates her house in the colour theme matched with contrasting silver or gold. It is a great day and some of the clothing is outstanding. This years theme is berry—any colour you can find in a berry is allowed. The photos below are from our – 50 shades of red theme – a few years ago.

If you could go back and talk to yourself at age 18 what advice would you give yourself? Or if you are younger than 25 what words of wisdom would you like to tell yourself at age 50?

Follow your gut instincts and believe in yourself. You know what to do and your life will be a success. Accept who you are and don’t worry about if you are going to be popular or not. Your unique personality makes you popular where it counts and the rest is often fake and doesn’t matter.

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 inspiration on ways to move my chapters around and make them flow better.

Next week I am looking for ward to remembering 100 years of the ANZACS on Saturday.

http://ceenphotography.com/2015/04/06/share-your-world-2015-week-14/

Share Your World – 2015 Week 13

April 7, 2015 inspiringmax

What was your favorite subject in school?

I don’t remember having a favourite subject at school. School was school. How much I liked each class varied with regard to who was teaching it, the others students and the style of teaching used. In the end it was my life experiences more than my schooling that got me my job in psychiatric nursing all those years ago.

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away” (George Carlin). When have you had such a moment?

I am constantly living in the moment—enjoying what is happening around me. For me the last big moment was when we left Canada’s Parliament House and our first snow storm had begun while during our visit. The landscape was suddenly transformed and everything was blanketed in white—just beautiful.

What’s your choice: jigsaw, crossword, or numeric puzzles?

I am a visual person so love doing jigsaw puzzles. We have many in the garage but unfortunately no time to complete them. Like blogging you start them and suddenly realise that hours have flown by.

If you found an obviously abandoned car with $50,000 in the back seat, what would you do?

I would hand the money in to the police and hope nobody claimed it so I got to keep it. I would be to concerned if I didn’t that I would be found out and charged with something myself.

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 thankful for the four-day Easter break and the amount of editing I got done on my book. I majorly changed its order and feel that the flow is even better now. This week I am looking forward to getting back into routine and seeing where it takes me. I have no plans.

http://ceenphotography.com/2015/03/30/share-your-world-2015-week-13/

Share Your World 2015 – Week 11

March 23, 2015March 22, 2015 inspiringmax

List 2 things you have to be happy about?

I am happy that my family is happy and healthy.

Today I printed of a draft copy of my book and it is starting to come together nicely. I must admit however I am very surprised at how much time the editing process takes.

Do you prefer ketchup or mustard or mayonnaise?

I do not prefer any of the above chooses. My favourite sauce is chilli BBQ—a combination of chill and barbeque sauce. It has only been in Australia for about two years but I am eternally grateful.

If you were to paint a picture of your childhood, what colors would you use?

A picture of my childhood would use a mixture of dark and light colours. It definitely wasn’t all sunshine and roses—there were many thunderstorms. My experiences were varied however they pathed the way for a bright adult life and gave me a great base for my work in mental health.

Do you prefer a bath or shower?

I shower daily that is out of necessity. When time permits and I have access to a spa bath I will indulge myself. Many years ago we had one in our home and it was a great way to relax on the weekend complete with a glass of champagne.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

Last Sunday I traveled to Newcastle and caught up with my extended family. I only get to do this about 3 times a year due to the number of people involved and their busy lives. The older I get the more important this time is.

Next weekend I am looking forward to traveling to Lismore in northern New South Wales to get away for the weekend with my husband. I cannot remember that last time I visited the area so I am sure it has changed.

http://ceenphotography.com/2015/03/16/share-your-world-2015-week-11/

Share Your World – 2015 Week 10

March 17, 2015March 16, 2015 inspiringmax

When you lose electricity in a storm, do you light the candles or turn on the flashlight? How many of each do you own?

I personally would prefer to use candles, however my husband has a fear of them so torches it is. We actually keep three of them on the bookcase at the front door so they are easy to find if needed. Fortunately we rarely need to use them.

You are given $5,000 and the chance to exchange it for one of two envelopes. One envelope contains $50,000 and one contains $500. Do you make the trade? Why or why not?

I would definitely make the trade. The $5,000 was a gift so I believe it is okay to risk it. At worst I am $500 better off than I was before the gift and at best I have a large windfall. Life is full of risks and sometimes you have to take a chance. After all—nothing ventured nothing gained. I would also use a lot of positive thinking to will the preferred envelope into my hands.

What’s your first memory?

I can’t remember what my first memory is. I have several blurry memories from about the age of three but I am not sure which ones are triggered from photos. My early years were spent living in the managers cottage of a coal mine isolated from the rest of the suburb. We had no neighbours and had to entertain ourselves. At times we had wild animals—snakes, brumbies, dingoes, foxes and possums come down and visit the surrounding bush. There was no hot water to the house and I can remember on occasion going over to the coal mine to shower—a special treat—hot running water.

What do you do if you can’t sleep at night? Do you count sheep, toss and turn, or get up and try to do something?

It is rare for me not to be able to sleep. Usually the only time I have a problem sleeping is if I have something on my mind that needs sorting out. Therefore, the answer is simple—make a plan and solve the problem. Once I have done this I can easily return to sleep. If it is somebody’s snoring is the cause of my sleeplessness, I rip up a tissue and block my ears with it. Viola—I can sleep.

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 to have a day off on Friday which allowed me to catch up on jobs that needed doing including getting my hair cut and streaked for the first time. This week I have no plans so it will be a go with the flow week—something I haven’t had in a while.

http://ceenphotography.com/2015/03/09/share-your-world-2015-week-10/

Share Your World – 2015 Week 9

March 4, 2015 inspiringmax

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?

I think I would be a similar age to the one I am now. I am happy to be 52 and starting to count down the years to retirement or working part-time or casual instead of full-time. My life is more stable the older I get—I only need to plan what I want to do with my husband and not around the many children’s activities I had to arrange in my forties.

Are you left or right-handed?

I am right-handed. I have never really had the need to teach myself to do anything with my left hand although I do admire people who can use both.

If you HAD to change your name, what would you change it to?

I think the name I would choose would depend on what was going on in my life when I had to make the decision. Names are so important and they have to fit the person. My favourite names vary greatly. I don’t write my blog under my real name and choosing a name for it took me about a week—I am happy with it as it works for me.

Where do you hide junk when people come over?

Most of the time people come to our house we know they are coming so we tidy up. I use this as a great opportunity to sort out the papers I was always meaning to get to. If anyone drops by unannounced I am comfortable tidying up around them. My theory is that they have come to visit me—warts and all—not judge the state of my house. I use the closest closed-door to hide the junk and with a new kitten there is plenty of choice as most doors are closed.

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 that it was the cleaners week to come as I love coming home from work after they has been as the house smells and looks beautiful. To me as I rarely see the cleaners it is like the fairies come in and fix it up.

During the coming week I am looking forward to starting to work with my new exercise physiologists. I have never had a formal exercise program before and am looking forward to the challenge. I am using the move your body to move your mind premise. It should be fun.

http://ceenphotography.com/2015/03/02/share-your-world-2015-week-9/

Share Your World – 2015 Week 8

March 2, 2015 inspiringmax

Your favorite blog post that you have written? (add link)

My favourite blog post is Howling At The Moon. I am reminded of it every full moon—which is this week as I reaffirm my months goals. It is also one of my most popular posts last year. Last month I used it as the basis for my Toastmaster International Speech competition speech at club level and came third. I was pleased.

What do you feel is the most enjoyable way to spend $500? Why?

I love to go on a road trip with my husband and get away for a few days. Take the camera and explore areas close to home that we haven’t visited in years or on the odd occasion we find somewhere neither of us have been before. This month I am flying to Lismore, NSW to meet him and explore the area. It is close to the Queensland border but inland, so I am sure we will have fun exploring the hinterland.

If you could know the answer to any question, besides “What is the meaning of life?”, what would it be?

I’m not a big question asker, but if someone could honestly tell me what my future held I would be interested. I love going to fortune tellers and am often surprised by their accuracy. I would particularly like to know how successfully I will be able to market my book when I self-publish it later in the year.

Where do you eat breakfast?

I eat my breakfast every morning sitting at my computer working on my blog of the day or visiting my blogging friends blogs. It has become a happy ritual that starts my day of well.

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 being able to take part in Blogging U’s poetry course. Although I didn’t write a lot of poetry as it is new to me and I didn’t have a lot of time—it was great to learn about poetry. I also surprised myself and I am better at it than I thought.

During this week I look forward to starting to plan our holiday to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in September. We are still deciding where we will go but we are considering returning to Hawaii where we were honeymooners all those years ago.

http://ceenphotography.com/2015/02/23/share-your-world-2015-week-8/