If I think back to some of my toughest times, reality is I didn’t know how I would get through them. But I did. And in hindsight they have made me who I am today. I definitely found strength that I never knew was possible because I had no choice.
Tag: Survival
Christmas Calendar 2016 # 21
Christmas Calendar 2016 # 12
Christmas Calendar 2016 # 9
Christmas Calendar 2016 # 8
Share Your World 2016 – Week 36
If you were given a boat or yacht today, what would you name it? Â (You can always sell the yacht later)
Choosing a name for a boat or yacht depends on it type. My father used to have a Hood 23, which he cleverly named Child. The rowing boat attached was called Baby. I loved it.
Photo Credit: Google Images
Which of Snow White’s 7 dwarfs describes you best?  (Doc, Happy, Bashful, Sleepy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey) Plus what would the 8th dwarf’s name be?
I think I am a mixture of Doc and Happy although there are times when I am tired that I could definitely be called Dopey. In my world the 8th dwarf would be called Techno. Although just for fun I asked my girls and their suggestions was Attitudy.
Name a song or two which are included on the soundtrack to your life?
I find music very powerful and the following soundtracks have been with me since they first hit the charts in the 1970’s. They have both gotten me through many hard times and remind me that I can do anything I set my mind to and to keep moving forward.
https://youtu.be/MUBnxqEVKlk
Complete this sentence:  I like watching…
PEOPLE! They are so interesting.
Bonus question: Â What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?Â
Last week I was grateful that the transition from Sydney to Newcastle is going so well with few hiccups. This week I am looking forward to getting some ideas for our home renovations from the Better Home and Gardens Show.
Share Your World – 2016 Week 36
Weekly Photo Challenge: Edge
Life on the edge of the Yangtze River is very busy. It was amazing to see people living on, feeding off and working on the world’s third longest river. It is stated that 1/3rd of China’s population live on this mighty river.
The Butterfly Story
Life is a personal journey. Others can help and support along the way however, they cannot do the work for us. When they rescue us, we never learn the skills required to save ourself when things get tough. Sometimes life has an odd way of putting the challenges we require in our path. But, it is important to notice what we learn from each experience — the good as well as the bad. The following true story of unknown origins explains the importance of struggles very well.
A man finds a butterfly cocoon, which develops a small hole. Over several hours, he notices the butterfly struggling to force its body through the small hole.
After a period, the man noticed that the butterfly appeared stop progressing. In trying to be helpful, the man decides to cut the cocoon open. The butterfly emerged easily however its body was swollen and it had small-shriveled wings.
The man continued to watch the butterfly expecting at any moment the wings to enlarge and expand enough to support the body.
Neither happened!
In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around the ground. It was never able to fly.
What the man in his kindness and haste did not realise was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle by the butterfly to break free was nature’s way of forcing the fluid out of the butterfly’s body and into its wings so that it is ready for flight when the butterfly emerged.
Like the butterfly’s journey out of the cocoon, the struggles, we overcome help to develop our strengths needed for later life. They allow us to overcome obstacles that would otherwise cripple us. Without them we are unable to fly.
All our journeys are unique experiences and remember, there are no maps.
T – Thunderbolt
Captain Thunderbolt also know as Frederick Ward was the last of New South Wales bushrangers. In 1863, he escaped from Sydney’s Cockatoo Island prison and began terrorising the high ways and byways of the New England region. Thunderbolt protected himself by living in the massive granite boulder outside of Uralla where he could see for miles. Known as the gentleman bushranger because he never shot anyone and at times shouted his victims drinks, Ward was shot and killed by Constable Alexander Walker on the 25th May 1870 at Kentucky Creek.
Thunderbolt’s Statue in the centre of Uralla
Thunderbolt’s Rocks
Thunderbolt’s Body and the Table he was laid out on
Thunderbolt’s Grave
G – Grawin and Glengarry Opal Fields
Last year on a road trip around northern New South Wales, my husband and I  discovered the unique Grawin and Glengarry opal fields.  Located 40 kilometres SW of Lightening Ridge — Black Opal Capital of the World — these fields mine seam black opal and were where opal was first found in the area back in the early 1900’s. It is a very rustic, natural area that makes recycling an art. Every one and everything is different and it is like nothing I have ever seen before.
The Grawin Golf Course
The Club In The Scrub
The Glengarry Hilton
This warning sign at the entrance to the area reminds everyone that you are entering an old working mine field, littered with dangers so keep to the tracks and beware.
