23 Sunday Dec 2018
Posted in all about me
06 Thursday Sep 2018
Posted in creativity, more to life
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The Aged Care organisation that I work for has a strong culture of wellness and enablement for both clients and staff.
Each month, our office has a theme that encourages team work, inclusion, communication and encourages us to regularly get away from the desk for a few minutes.
In August, the theme was “Creativity”. We had lunch time sessions on origami, doodle art, zen-tangle, paper creations, toilet roll quilling, paper clip characters. We got knotted with a team macramé challenge. Colleagues shared their own creative passions and we had fun experiencing new crafts.
This month, the theme is “Air We Breathe”. As well as breathing exercises, lunch time singing sessions, we have quick challenges to roll the dice and complete the numbered task. We each have a pot of seeds to grow through September. We are all happy to take our seedlings for a short walk outside, to blow bubbles along the balcony or beside our desks. This is the most relaxed office I have worked in 🙂
02 Sunday Sep 2018
Posted in all about me, photography
I haven’t posted much in recent weeks. I haven’t read other blogs. Life has been busy and hobbies have dropped by the wayside for a while. I’m hoping that longer days and the start of spring will give me renewed enthusiasm for blogging and taking photos.
It’s now 4 years since I started this blog. Initially as a way of sharing news and photos with family and friends back in the UK, as we moved to Tasmania. I had no idea how enjoyable blogging would be, how many friendships would grow from this online community.
It is also 4 years since I started taking a “photo a day”. Some photos represent my day, others relate to a daily prompt from an online PAD Group. There have been lots of blue skies and bright colour days during these happy years.
Just glancing at this collage is bringing back joyful memories of ordinary days and special days. I’m feeling inspired for another twelve months of photos and blogging 🙂
31 Tuesday Jul 2018
Posted in photography
It’s the end of another month. July has been a month of celebration…. Our 30th wedding anniversary, a mini break, a new job. We decorated our drift wood tree and wine was consumed.
I have lots to learn in the Aged Care organisation where I now work , including how to drive this rather scary photo copier machine! 
The office is in a good location near Kangaroo Bay.
On weekends I’ve relaxed by walking on the beach and balancing pebbles.
It’s been a mix of mild sunny days yet with snow on the mountain. There are flowers in bloom.
Tasmania loves any excuse for a public winter bonfire. The annual “Festival of Voices” concluded with “The Big Sing”, an outdoor stage, various choirs, singers, everyone joining in. All keeping warm near two huge bonfires.
The Mid-Winter Festival also involved bonfires, local food and wine, cider, wassailing the apple orchards, Morris dancing.
As life settles down, I hope to have more time for blogging, to post and to read other people’s posts. This is my contribution to Su’s Changing Seasons.
20 Sunday May 2018
Posted in remembering / musing
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On occasion, I forget that I live in this small island at the bottom of Australia.
Yesterday was one of those days. In my mind, I was on the other side of the world, back in the UK, joining in the royal wedding, along streets that I have walked, in a castle that I have visited.
A three-way message chat with my two daughters lasted several hours. Hobart to Sydney to London, our Aussie evening to a UK morning.
The conversation began…..
“What are you wearing?”
“Pj’s at the moment! Why?! Are we supposed to be dressing up?”
We then enjoyed watching the guests arrive, commenting on their outfits, those we were pleased to see, the Clooneys, the Beckhams, James Cordon, the co-stars from “Suits”, Priyanka Chopra in her stunning outfit, the Royals.
There were some fun comments made by my Aussie Husband and my Aussie son-in-law. I’m pleased that both my girls proudly displayed their British heritage for the day. Between us, we had English treats on our menu, from scones, strawberry jam and cream, to roast beef.
It was such a joyful occasion, a display of love, inclusion, a modern twist to such a traditional event.
Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Thank you for including us in such a perfect day.
26 Monday Mar 2018
Posted in all about me, weekly photo challenge
Right now, my favourite place is being at home, watching our grandson, as he practices his crawling and standing skills.
This week’s photo challenge is Favorite Place
21 Wednesday Mar 2018
Posted in 100 word challenge, all about me
Later today, a very important visitor will arrive, to spend a week with us.
He is travelling more than one thousand kilometres, taking his first ever flight.
This visit has required some additional preparations, some specific equipment.
A travel cot and high chair have been borrowed, a baby car seat hired.
Supplies have been purchased, including a few small toys and books.
Our apartment is now “baby proof”, ornaments and books moved out of reach, our driftwood tree relegated to the communal hallway.
Yes, our seven month old grandson is coming to stay 🙂
11 Sunday Mar 2018
Posted in all about me
As I have one daughter in Australia and one in the UK, I get to celebrate two Mother’s Days.
This is the fabulous card I received from my younger girl in London. As well as the # on the card, there have been numerous other hash tags in conversations and messages …
#youturnedoutamazing
#properadult
#arrivedintime
#putitinyourdiary
#proudmum
#mykidsmakemesmile
Also a message from my Sydney girl this morning… “Happy UK Mother’s Day !!! 😘 your card’ll arrive in May 😉”
Love you girls!!! xxx
27 Tuesday Feb 2018
Posted in 52 challenge, all about me, more to life
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I’ve just ticked off one of my “18 things for 2018”. I’ve experienced a floatation tank and I loved it.
“Floatation therapy helps calm the mind and body with the experience of zero gravity.”
The floatation pod was like an enclosed bath, but large enough to lie in a star shape without touching the sides. The water was at body temperature and contains 500 kg of Magnesium Sulfate in 1,000 litres of water, replicating the sensation of floating in the Dead Sea.
The pod can create a sensory deprivation environment once the lid is closed. Soft music played for the first ten minutes and restarted during the last five minutes, while the remaining time of the hour-long float was silent. There was a button to switch off the soft coloured light leaving the pod in darkness.
Just wearing ear plugs, I naturally floated in the water. As my ears were below the water line, I was conscious of my heartbeat. It was easy to relax, follow my breath, switch off my mind, let thoughts just float away.
The benefits can be physical, spiritual and mindful – easing pain, lowering blood pressure, alleviating stress or anxiety, improving sleep, increasing concentration levels, improving consciousness, eliminating effects of jet lag.
After a shower to wash off the Epsom Salts, a cup of green tea in the lounge area helped me acclimatise back to the outside world. It was certainly an experience to relax, reboot, recharge.
23 Tuesday Jan 2018
Posted in days out, one with nature
