6WS - Short and Sweet, just like me

My aim is to write a quick, concise and not too wordy post. Don't laugh out loud, people will think you're odd (I've been known to do this at work - laugh out loud - whilst reading other people's blogs).

I know I have a problem with conciseness becaue I like words, I like writing and I also like talking - so quick and consise for me is a bit of an oxymoron - doncha love that word?

My boss says I do 98% of the talking at any given time and he just fills in the remaining 2%.

Let me serve my week up to you in dot points to assist me with keeping this post brief

• Work dinners and 'extraordinary' amounts of alcohol for me are not conducive to productive Saturdays - my brain still hurts 24 hours on from the work dinner. 
• I'm amazed at how many people I now know within our business of 2500+ employees because of my new communications role, and how many of them now know me by name. It's all about networking isn't it?
• I received very positive responses from two Senior Managers at work this week in terms of how well my communications presentations are being received (my ego thanks them)
• Doggy obedience school starts tomorrow for our furkid, I really, really wanted a sleep-in. 
• Five more sleeps until I head for the Riverland to see my family. Temperatures predicted in the low 30's so looking forward to taking the furkid swimming in the river as we soak up the last few warm days before the cold weather sets in.

That's my week and with the aim of keeping my wordcount low, both for conciseness and so I can take my weary body off to bed, I will say goodnight. (For the record, I think I missed my keep-it-brief goal)

So tell me what's happened in your part of the world that 'amazed' you or 'surprised' you this week?

Cheers, Fi

The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause ~ Mark Twain

Monsterly long weeks stink!

Yay Friday! – This week has been a monsterly long (okay so monsterly is not technically a word, but it works for me.

The weather today is delightful and it seems a shame to be stuck indoors on the first floor (can’t even open the window when you’re in a high rise) I want to be outside sitting on the grass, with the breeze in my hair and the sunshine on my face. It’s honestly that good today.

My boss is off sick today; and truly the weather is too good to be sick. As a team we’ve all lovingly shared the cold bug in the last few weeks. You might remember I was sick a week or two ago – I’m sure someone in this building shared it with me though. Those are the joys of working in a corporate office.

I’m writing this post in my lunch break because tonight I’ll be throwing on my glad rags and hitting the town. In other words I have a work function and the reality is I’ll possibly be curled up asleep in the corner by 8pm. Our direct team all grabbed rides in to work today (we all live up to an hour away from the office) and we plan to get ready at the office and then go for drinks prior to dinner. 

Our new office has the benefit of showers and nice flash bathrooms, so it’s very handy and good that we don’t need to make the trek home and battle the peak hour traffic to turn around and come back to the city again.

Six more sleeps until I’m off to Renmark for the Easter break, I’m so looking forward to seeing my family and just relaxing. More of this weather over Easter will do me nicely thank you very much. 

So what are you up to for Easter, holidaying, relaxing, or are you one of the unlucky ones like my hubby - who has to work?

Cheers, Fi

Sometimes the most urgent thing you can possibly do is take a complete rest ~ Ashleigh Brilliant

Brain Overload

How does it get to be 10pm (two nights in a row) before I can sit down and 'blog'? At least the beast (laptop) is not as slow as a slug tonight and is behaving. I think last night my laptop was updating in the background - but really there's a time and place, the laptop gods obviously aren't good at time management.

I've just re-read that paragraph and realised the irony of it. I'm bagging the laptop gods for lousy time management and then pondering how it gets to be 10pm before I get here. Mmmm hmmm.

I'm tired - that's the only excuse for my ramblings tonight. Actually Jenn wrote a TOL post today - a thinking out loud post. I like that. Jenn - am I allowed to steal that idea / concept? Is it really asking if you're already stealing someone's idea and posting about it. Yeah probably not.

So anyway here's some more of my stolen 'thinking out loud' concept.

I started off my morning rather flat. No, actually I drove to work happy and then arrived at work and the person who made yesterday a kick-a-fence kinda day tried to smooth things over (he apologised yesterday) but I was not in the mood for more of it today. People know when they've stuffed up.

Then I went into a brainstorming session with my boss on change impacts to the 2000 plus users of the new sytem being implemented. Working with other people who don't get change sometimes makes it extremely hard to get motivated about what we have to do. By the end of the first hour, boss and I were arguing over what the meaning of a rebate was in the context it was being used in our documentation. Stupid subject, even more stupid disagreement!

We were both spoiling for a fight and then a project information presentation to a group of employees at 10 this morning was the absolute last thing I felt motivated to do or was in the mood for. But you know the thing is - I'm passionate about my subject, I believe in what we're doing and it's one of the best presentations I've done for this group.

My boss and I came out of this session both hyped up and feeling like we'd finally got through to people. We rocked. Goes to show that the right audience can do wonders for morale and understanding of what you're trying to get across.

Know your audience, know your message and help them see what's in it for them. My favourite quote for the week. Those that matter don't mind and those that mind don't matter. I just need to reach the ones who matter.

Oh my, the thinking out loud theory in my case is actually a brain dump, but I do feel lighter.

That's me done, time for bed.

Cheers, Fi

Time = life; therefore, waste your time and waste of your life, or master your time and master your life. ~ Alan Lakein

It's a kick-a-fence kinda day

We all have them, the kind of day when you want to kick a fence, or a tree and sometimes even a person. Today was one of those sort of days, more so the kick a person kind of day. So I logged on tonight to quickly voice my frustration on my blog.

Quickly is the key word here - it's late (almost 10pm) because my days are pretty crazy at the moment and I discover my laptop is going at the speed of a slug.

Slower than a slug actually, my fingers are about 10 letters ahead of what's appearing on the screen. Does it not realise that I'm in a hurry - quick post tonight, no time for messing around. EEErrrggghh!

Back to my fence kicking kind of day - well the reality is that the slow as a slug laptop just caps off the day. Anyway, the project at work is currently making me feel like I'm trying to run uphill and backwards, and the ground is also moving in waves under my feet as I try to run.

In other words I'm getting nowhere fast in running up the mountain or achieving what I feel like we need to achieve on this project. Through no fault of our own and that's the reality of the situation, not just my misguided belief in my ability (or my bosses).

Change Management is a pretty sucky kind of thing to educate people about, to get people involved in, to basically get anyone to actually grasp or want. Yet change is inevitable.

My life has had a lot of change in the last few years in terms of career and work and promotions etc etc. My home life, while very much resembling a roller coaster ride, has not really been about change. Just lots of the same rubbish (and good times) in waves of the good times and bad.

So what am I really saying? - I, like many others, am in essence a creature of habit. I drive the same route to work, no variation. I do the same things week in, week out. I have lived in the same house for 18 years, despite living in numerous houses in different towns and states for the first 20 years of my life.

Change is not big in my life, same, same - is good because it's comforting.

I understand change, I really do - I see the need for it at work. Now if we consider my fence kicking kinda day - no one else seems to get change, or the need for it. Despite kazillions of articles and recommendations about the need for change in a project like ours, no body wants to think about it. They're happy to follow the same path, the same patterns, the same ol' way of doing things.

The project indicates that they really have no choice. Whether they want to or not, they will be doing many different things in many different ways to what they currently do.

Days like I had today and I wish (really wish) that I was strong enough, brave enough even, to just sell up everything and go romping around the world for a year or two. My day will come, believe me on that one. For now though, I'll just lace up my steel cap boots and give the fence a solid big kick every now and again and then I'll move on with the job that needs to be done.

Welcome to my world, how is yours looking this week?

Cheers, Fi (I can still smile, so life is good)

Change is the only constant. Hanging on is the only sin. ~ Denise McCluggage

6WS - The blogosphere is a judgemental place

I like to think of myself as a fairly positive and reasonable person. Yes, I can be quite forceful and abrupt at times, but I would never negatively comment on another person's activities and / or beliefs in a public forum.

Blogging is a public forum and some of the obnoxious and rude comments I have come across on other people's blogs are quite amazing.

Two separate blogs in the last two days and perfectly innocent and seemly harmless posts are met with extremely harsh judgements. Why do people see fit to judge and lecture others about what they are doing?

What makes these comments more appalling are when there are references to god in terms of retribution for the bad behaviour. I might point out that the comments are not related to 'true' bad behaviour other than in the misguided perception of the commenter. WTF?

I don't follow set religious doctrines, but I definitely have my own spritual and moral beliefs and I also believe in honesty and the theory of 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you' which is a useful concept.

What ever happened to the belief that if you don't have something nice to say then don't say anything? (This theory doesn't count with this post because I'm on my soapbox over this one)

Let me say this in respect to those people:- making rude, derogatory and judgemental comments on a person's personal blog is not something I see as being approved by anyone's 'god' - you twits need to stop using your religion to denigrate and abuse others.

I've been blogging for roughly 18 months and have always considered the blogosphere to be a very supportive and positive place. I find myself totally appalled with what I have witnessed in the last few days.

The saddest thing of all of this - these are comments being placed on 'mommy' blogs, they are not highly controversial blogs which probably could expect more of this sort of thing. How tragic and empty must people's lives be if they have nothing better to do than make horrible comments and judge others?

Have you ever had to deal with judgemental or derogatory comments on your blog and if so how do you deal with it?

Cheers, Fi
(definitely cheery because I have a full, balanced life and don't feel the need to denigrate anothers actions - how 'bout you?)

A mode of conduct, a standard of courage, discipline, fortitude and integrity can do a great deal to make a woman beautiful.  ~ Jacqueline Bisset

 
I'm linking up with Cate who gives us all a place to visit and connect. Want to play along with Six Word Saturday, it's easy? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing

Value for money

These three words perfectly describe my hubby. He will only buy something if he thinks he's getting value for what he spends. Not a bad trait to have. He also likes to buy things, not a bad trait to have either. Combined with his love of machinery, motors and cars - it can be a problem.

We currently have 5 cars in our front yard in addition to his work van. Only three of us in this family drive, you do the maths - that's 6 vehicles and 3 drivers. My workmates joke that I have a different car for every day of the week.  Hubby will point out that every single one of them was a 'bargain' and massively good value for money. Of course!

Car number 5 actually arrived to day - he 'bought' it for me ~grin~. It's a little Ford two door hatchback. I've had the station wagons and the bigger cars that will take all of our boys, their bikes, their fishing gear and all of their sporting gear and their mates where ever they've needed to go over the years.

I've been openly hinting about a smaller and more economical car for a while, a long while, especially with the now forty five minute plus drive that I have to and from work. Eldest son is out of home, middle son is driving himself everywhere and youngest is on his bike, a bus or relies on older brother a lot of the time. So it's me and my dog mostly in the car these days, oh and occasionally hubby.

The newest addition has had two lady owners, is in immaculate as new condition and has a full service history from new. The latest owner has only had it for a few months - she bought it from a workmate for her daughter, however the daughter can't drive it because of shoulder injury and no power steering.

It was an $800 bargain, this one out does itself in value for money.

Our front yard is full of similar vehicles - hubby can't help himself. These are all secondhand cars, in extremely good condition that he picks up for a song. He has a similar affliction when it comes to buying anything with a motor - from lawnmowers to lathes and everything in between.

He's decided we probably need to sell a few of the cars, although I won't hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

My indulgence is books - I have a lot. I'd possibly have more if I had somewhere to store them and could afford to buy more. I try to restrain myself.

Do you or your partner go a little crazy and can't resist buying certain items?

Cheers, Fi

A book worth reading is worth buying ~ John Ruskin

Busy Days

If this blog and writing on it keeps me sane – does that mean that on the days that I don’t get time to write that I’m in a flux of insanity? Yeah - please don’t bother answering that question.

Two crazy days have just passed where I feel like I’ve been running around like a crazy woman doing things for my husband, my children, the dog, or just plain worrying about all of them.

Two days, so that by the time I finally sit down at night I’m too gosh darn exhausted to even turn on the computer.

As a consequence, I’m writing this post in my lunch break.

I’ve signed up for an online course and besides downloading the information – I haven’t had a chance to read more than the first section. I also have an e-book I’ve downloaded and another series of downloads all taking up space on my laptop and as yet they are unloved and untouched.

Roll on Easter and a seven day break. All being well, I plan on heading up to Renmark to see my family, show off my new puppy and spend lots of hours resting and relaxing. After all, someone has to do it. I might just leave all of the males at home and go visiting on my own. The kicker - hubby has said I can’t take the dog. Remembering, this is ‘my’ dog that he didn’t want me to get.

This is the dog that I pleaded and begged for months to be able to get. His argument is that he spends more time with the new puppy than I do. In other words he’ll miss her. Amazing how a little ball of fluff can melt the hardest heart. Warning - any of our friends who read my posts and mention this to my hubby are also off my Christmas list – ~grin~.

It seems that I have several weeks of fast talking to do so that I can take her visiting. Men - who needs them?

So what’s happening in your world – what does your partner do which is in total contradiction to what they say?

Cheers, Fi

The mark of a successful person is one who has spent an entire day on the bank of a river without feeling guilty about it. - Author Unknown

In the heart of the individual

There's a saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so too then success is in the heart of the individual. Today I experienced several moments of success - well to me they were important.

I discovered how to fix my problem with viewing on-line video posts, given enough reason, any solution can be found. My mum sent me a link and provided the reason to fix it instead of tolerating it or ignoring it which I have been doing.

It was worth it, because that link is to a video and provides some of the answer to a question that I've been trying to understand for many years. That question is about what I want to be when I grow up, or the question could be what training course I next want to participate in to get me to that career goal I have but can't quite define.

Because while it would be nice, I don't think I'm ever going to earn a life sustaining income from this blog in it's current format. I've mentioned several times before that my 'current job' will expire in roughly three years time when the project is finished and while I'm reasonably confident that they would offer me something else within the company, I'm also pretty certain that it won't be in the direction which I want to go.

Thanks mum - many things to explore as a result of an interesting video link and once I get my head around it then I'll likely share it here with you guys.

One more thing which made me laugh this weekend...

I discovered if you want to get educated - then you need to listen to teenagers talk because they speak an entirely different language. My son had a post on his facebook page last night from a girl who calls herself his biffle - my mummy radar shot up here, what the hell is a biffle?

If you google 'biffle' you discover that it's "One's BFFL, or Best Friend For Life, it's supposed to be the opposite sex, whom one is JUST friends with, and wouldn't ever date."

As a result of my ignorance, I discovered this amazing link called Urban Dictionary, which is described as offering a daily dose of "useful translations" of hipster talk. I am so much more educated now.

Is it just me or is the divide between parents and teenagers bigger today than it ever used to be. I don't remember it seeming that way when I was a teenager. Although I'm sure my parents probably did.

Communication and words fascinate me, in case you hadn't figured that out by now. I'm intrigued by where these words come from, who creates them, who popularises them? Surprisingly, it sits perfectly with the concepts that I'm exploring from that choice little video that mum shared as well.

Serendipity perhaps, everything flows together eventually and oddly it makes some kind of sense.

Cheers, Fi
 

Serendipity. Look for something, find something else, and realise that what you've found is more suited to your needs than what you thought you were looking for ~ Lawrence Block

6WS - Time flies, the babies are growing

My own babies are no longer babies and trying to take photos of teenage boys requires too much effort and lots of pleading anyway. So I take photos of my grandson and my fur baby because they don't argue with me or hide their heads.

My grandson is almost 9 months old - how that time has flown. He came for a sleepover last night and I forgot to grab his bag of toys from my son's house. No need though, because it turns out that nani has fun toys anyway, a front load washing machine provides hours of fun because he's fascinated by the washing going around and around.

Plus nani has empty coffee cans that are fantastic fun to roll around. How easy it is to entertain and amuse babies? I pulled a handful of colourful silicone cupcake moulds, plastic lids and measuring cups out of the drawer and he was in his element. Who needs to spend gazillions of dollars on toys anyway?

Molly, our fur baby will be 12 weeks old tomorrow. She graduated from puppy school on Wednesday night and was the last puppy on the floor after a game of musical chairs (without the chairs). The aim was to walk in a circle with the music and then when the music stops they have to sit down. Last one to sit down each round is out of the game. She won.

She's captured everyone's heart and has a delightful personality. That's not to say that she doesn't have some annoying little puppy habits that we need to work on. Like chewing through the hose that runs from our washing machine to the front lawn, or chewing through the power cord on the pump in the fish pond.

Hubby has now replaced everything with heavy duty chew proof hose and a cover for the fish pond cord. We now also have all shoes in a cupboard and not by the back door. So we're puppy proofing the yard and child proofing the house for the grandson. Fun times.

Hope you've all had a good week

Cheers, Fi

If you get a chance, check out my post about the Power of Focus on Rainbow Dreams
  
Other things may change us, but we start and end with family ~ Anthony Brandt 

I'm linking up with Cate who gives us all a place to visit and connect. Want to play along with Six Word Saturday, it's easy? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. 

Every day I'm stretching

Everyday I get a little bit more confident and every day I stretch a little bit further. The writer in me is growing, stretching, exploring. She's always been there, but I silence her fairly regularly because I don't think she's as good as I want her to be.

Writing is about being confident, it's about having a story and finding the best way to put those words on the page (or on the screen) and then having enough belief in your own ability to put it out there for others to read.

I was eight when I first decided I wanted to be a writer, my greatest dream at that time was to purchase a typewriter of my own - to me that was the symbol of being a writer, to have your own typewriter.

Over the years I've owned several typewriters and then computers became an everyday household appliance. The thing is I still don't truly believe in me, and I've discovered owning a typewriter or a computer does not make you a writer. No more than owning a race car makes you a racing car driver.

I went back to school to finish my education when my boys were little and then I went to university and majored in English. I was going to be a writer after all, with a degree then surely it would happen. I finished my degree 5 years ago, I'm still waiting to miraculously 'become' a writer.

The reality I'm quickly discovering, is that all the tools and education in the world won't make you a writer if you don't believe that you can be one. It's about writing, every day, over and over again. Like the athlete who trains everyday to improve their skills, so too must the writer. Write every day and challenge themselves against others to hone their skills.

I'm now reaching out, stretching myself and making myself write. I'm exploring critique groups and writers forums to help build my belief in myself and I'm writing, writing, writing.

One day real soon I will pull the 80,000 plus words from the bottom drawer of my dressing table and I will do something with it. Because I am a writer, I am worthy and I will be published.

Just for the record - the stats say "Romance fiction is estimated to generate $US1.36 billion ($A1.31 billion) in sales each year and a 2008 survey showed that 74.8 million people around the world read at least one romance novel in that year"

So see, there's plenty of opportunity for me to be spectacular, I just have to believe I can be.

What are your goals and what prevents you from achieving them?

Cheers, Fi

Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally ~David Frost

Shake it off...if only

Watch a dog when you spray it with water and see how it shakes it off with a quick little flick of its body. I want that ability - I want to be able to shake off the cares of the world with a quick, measured little shake of my body.

I take on others problems, I worry for them and about them and I try to fix the problems. In fact their problems cause me stress and they shouldn't because it's not my responsibility. We're talking primarily about my children here of course.

One is an adult and another is super close to being an adult and I'm not sure as a mother how you remove the need to nurture, to care and to worry about them. I know I definitely don't do them any favours by trying to save them from themselves. Hubby is also quick to point out my 'failing' as well, but I'm still not sure how to just step back.

I know it should be simple. It's not!

Today my body feels like it has been battered and beaten. Body Balance is hard work for a body that has seen the ravages of time and not faired so well. Were I to try and shake off the cares of the world at the moment then I would probably do myself a serious injury because some parts of me are protesting rather loudly today.

My friend and I are divided over the Yoga class versus Body Balance class - both have their benefits, so we've decided to do alternative weeks. I will get fitter and healthier if it's the last thing I do. My chiropractor will possibly hate me for what I'm about to do to my body, or love me for the extra income it brings him.

Tonight my delightful little newest family member, the four legged furry one who does exactly what I want as long as she gets a treat, graduates from puppy school. If only children were so easy to 'train'. Tomorrow I might share photos of how much she's grown.

Cheers, Fi

Some shrugged their shoulders as if to shake off whatever chips of responsibility might have lodged there ~ Helen Hudson

Little things, big difference

I'd love to be one of those people who exercises effortlessly and loves it. Alas, exercise is a huge effort. 

I'm making an effort though and tonight I'm off to a Body Balance class.

Consequently, the post 'Viral Outbreaks' below is one which I wrote for my company blog today and I thought I'd share it with you (I'm cheating yes, but the subject fascinates me and is so applicable to everyday life)

I read the book mentioned at the end of this post (my boss has amazing resources which he shares) and I was amazed at the simplicity of the idea and how it all works. If any of my co-workers are reading this then apologies for the double up of blog posts.

I'm going with the thought that when an idea is important then you should repeat it at least three times, to ensure that someone gets the message, so this is only the second time.

Viral Outbreaks

Change can often happen quickly and unexpectedly. New concepts or ideas that were unaccepted yesterday or last week can suddenly become runaway successes and we hear sayings like ‘it’s gone viral’ through news reports and social media outlets.

Ideas, behaviors, messages and products can behave just like outbreaks of infectious diseases and spread rapidly. So what brings about the change in thinking and behaviour that suddenly promotes acceptance of a new concept or way of doing things?

It can be quite simple and takes only a few people who can start a wave of acceptance for change

• Connectors are those who have a knack for networking and bringing people together.
• Mavens are the information specialists who connect us with new information
• Persuaders are the charismatic people who have an indefinable talent for encouraging and motivating others.

So which people in your circle do you know who are Connectors, Mavens and Persuaders that can help you bring about a wave of change?

Cheers, Fi

Note: For more understanding of the concepts mentioned here and what brings about the ‘tipping point’ of change – I recommend the bestselling book The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell. It's worth the read to understand how small actions can lead to big changes.

Beware of curiosity

Curiosity killed the cat and also totally ballsed up my blog template. Playing with Blogger dynamic views when you're not sure what they do, without first saving the original setup, is plain dumb.

That's what happens when it's a public holiday and I have time to explore and experiment. There are certain elements of my blog which I really like so then why wouldn't I wipe them all out and have to start again.

When you mess with things you don't understand, this is what happens - oh well! Therefore some things are back to normal and some things are a little different. That's life for you.

Yesterday I had a moment after commenting on a blog when I came back here and wrote a little comment as an after word for being so darn positive and happy when another is suffering and doing it tough. Further to my words I realise that in reality we should never apologise for being happy.

After further thought though, I'm sure that posts about how super happy and fantastic my world is at the moment are entirely boring and unreadable. What is it in the human psyche that makes us more likely to want to read about doom and gloom and bad fortune.

Bad news days sell more newspapers and gain more viewers to news channels, so it stands to reason that bloggers who write about surviving doom and gloom are likely to be more popular than happy and positive 'my life is gold' blogs. A sad state of affairs really, but true.

It must be from my upbringing that the nasty, shitty moments in my life while alluded to and even hinted about here in these posts will remain private and not for general consumption. I'm not sure why some people feel comfortable about airing their dirty laundry for all to read and comment on, Facebook allows too much of that as it is.

So I'll settle for the mildly entertaining and a touch too positive posts rather than airing all the skeletons in my closet for the world to read about. I'm conscious that many friends, family and co-workers drop by here on occasion so I'll save the controversy and uncensored posts for a blog where no-one knows me. Now there's an idea.

Have a great week people

Cheers, Fi

Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will. ~ James Stephens

Feel good ripples

I love those little ripples of feeling good that you get when everything in your world is just right.

Don't get me wrong, my world is a happy one most of the time, but it also has it's rollercoaster ride of crap moments. This is reality after all.

You know what I mean by this though - don't you? There are times when you might be having a war of words with your partner, your children might be acting up, the weather might be dismal, work might be crazy busy.

All moments in your 'good' life which cause you to feel a splurt of tension or stress or even distress (or even a tidal wave as opposed to a splurt)

Then you have days like today - when the sun is shining and the weather is beautiful.

I had my grandson for a sleepover last night and he is all recovered from his gastro bug last week which took him on a visit to the hospital. He's now back to healthy and last night and this morning he was happiness personified.

All boy children in my world are behaving and are not arguing or causing any stress - this in itself is a monumental achievement in my house. Hubby is calm and relaxed, and that means no agro between us.

My cough is almost gone, I feel almost normal and I suddenly have energy again - hallelujah! As a result, my house is nice and clean and all of my housework is up-to-date. It's also a long weekend in Adelaide so I still have tomorrow to relax and have more 'me' time.

Time to write, read and be creative - enough to put a smile on anyone's face. Well anyone who likes reading and writing I guess.

I watched the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness" last night with Will Smith in it. The movie is based on a true story and it really brought home the fact that even in my hardest times when my children were young - we never really struggled or suffered. Times were tough but not as tough as for some. We live a fortunate life compared to many and for that I am very thankful.

Life is good in this moment, so I shall revel in it, enjoy it and even savour it. Hope you are too.

Cheers, Fi 

As a side note - I've just left a comment on someone's post and having re-read my post for today I feel sick to my stomach. I'm not even sure what the blog etiquette is surrounding this. I fervently hope that she doesn't visit my blog because I'm sure that she'd prefer a hint of the happy I feel, after the week she's had with a critically ill husband. Hugs, prayers and much of my happy are wished for you (you know who you are) if you are reading this.

The three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for. ~ Addison

You sleep in the bed you make

What makes a person either good or bad? What determines those who will be successful, those who will try but give up easily and those who won't even bother to try?

What makes the difference between a person who has ethics and morals and those who have none?

Is it our upbringing, is it our family and friends, is it something we are born with or is it a combination of all of them, or perhaps none of them at all.

Many of my thoughts above come from a conversation I had earlier this week about teenagers and peer group pressure and the people we eventually become. The other person in this conversation intrigued me with her insight and maturity and her understanding of people in her world - she is young after all.

I'm one of those people who has to restrain myself from staring and listening too intently to those around me. I think it must be the writer in me who is fascinated by human nature and what motivates people and makes them do what they do. I don't think I'm kooky in my fascination though (well I hope not anyway)

As I write these words I think I sound a tiny weeny bit freak-like, or maybe just a little bit strange. So be it, I am what I am. Me - I think I'm a melting pot of my upbringing and my family and I truly believe that some of who we are is in-built, maybe genetic, maybe ingrained through our childhood - I'm not sure. I'm no scientist.

I also believe the best upbringing in the world can be brought undone by peer group pressure, in the end though, I think our sub-conscious thoughts and our inner being will see us back towards the path we are meant to follow.

My thoughts possibly sound kinda idealised - but then so do a lot of my posts. That's the beauty of having your own blog - it's me, it's my thoughts and my opinions. It's not to help me win friends and influence people, although a little of that doesn't go astray.

Okay people, do you agree or disagree - what makes a person who they are?

Cheers, Fi

I believe in a higher power and I believe in good and bad, right and wrong. You sleep in the bed you make. ~ Leif Garret

I've taken the first steps

Coughing is exhausting and being home from work because I'm sick is proving to be expensive, not because I don't get paid (I do). Five years of accumulated sick days do pay off at times like this, but lying on the lounge and watching daytime television means I see things that I normally never see and spend money I normally wouldn't.

Last week on my sick day off, I bought a hair straightener / curler from the television shopping channel and today I restrained myself from buying a steam mop, but I did get serious. I paid for membership for the South Australian Writers Centre and noted the workshops in my diary which I plan on attending. I also made some preliminary enquiries about writers groups.

I can't have dreams and not start taking steps to make things happen. I also made enquiries about some of the courses that I want to do, so now it's about balance and fitting in the important things. In between all of this I coughed and slept and coughed some more.

Tonight I feel like I'm getting back on the road to wellness, I still have this hideous cough but it has improved and at least its forced me take steps to arrange an appointment to see an ear, nose and throat specialist because it's all sinus related and hubby has been at me for years to get it sorted.

I'm quite excited about the Writers Centre and the opportunity to meet some writerly minded people. Last year I wrote my first novel and still it sits in my bottom drawer. I'm not sure why, because I was happy with the content and I just haven't done anything with it. Fear - maybe, but more likely due to not knowing what to do next.

The other thing, the number one rule of writers, is to write every day. Other than work and this blog, I haven't been writing every day. I know that this theory works because when I was at uni and writing all the time then the creativity just flowed, same when I was writing my book last year - it just kept coming. I need to regain that zest.

Do you write, how often and what do you write. What gets the creative juices flowing for you?

Cheers, Fi

The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.

I have a dream or two...

Image credit

Being sick gives you plenty of time to lie around and think. That's about all I'm going to say about being sick because I am well and truly over it - I don't do sick, it frustrates the $%#@ out of me.

But it did allow me the time to think long and hard about life and what I want from it.

Brother and sister-in-law were down from Renmark Sunday night and I was definitely not the hostess with mostest (that saying sounds so stupid when you put it in words)

Lets just say that I wasn't feeling very lively or sociable but it was good to see them anyway.

I went to work yesterday and coughed all day, to the extent that I started feeling like I had a big 'infectious control needed' sign over my head. I felt very self conscious every time I coughed. So, today I lay on the lounge and did lots of thinking and not much else. I had no energy to read or surf the net or even read blogs.

Do you ever have moments when you think 'I could have done that, or I could be doing that now' I have those sorts of thoughts now and again. Don't get me wrong because I wouldn't change my life for a second, I've made my choices and I'm happy with them. But I still have moments when I think what could have been.

My biggest dream as a young girl was always to go into journalism and I still get those occasional flashes of what if, especially when I'm watching news reporters on television who fly into the thick of action stories around the world and bring us the news as it's happening.

There's something in me that still dreams of the writing and the travel. My first youthful dreams didn't come to fruition but I can guarantee that in some shape or form it will play a part in my future. I may be old, bent up and on a walking frame because of old age by the time it happens but I will do it in some way.

So do you have a youthful dream that may not have happened in quite the way you hoped due to life and choices you made but which you will adapt to suit your life circumstances and will still achieve in some shape or form?

Cheers, Fi

Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream preceded the goal ~ Pamela Vaull Starr

6WS - Please send me the good fairy

I think the sick fairy has waved her glitter wand over my family this week and said 'tag you're it' because we're not the healthiest bunch at the moment.

I very rarely get sick but this is the second time in 12 months I've been laid flat, after not having been sick in years and years.

My cold has eased up but I think it's moved to my chest so I now have a cough that could possibly dislodge one of my lungs if I'm not careful.

Yep, six months of not smoking and I can still bark like a dog. I thought healthy eating, no smoking and yoga was meant to be good for you - what gives?

Youngest still has a cold and my grandson has a gastro bug so I'm staying right away from him this weekend. A cough and the pukes - hmmm wouldn't be a nice combination for him or for me. Eldest son is dealing with a sicky bub and doing a super job, he's even given up tickets to Clipsal (V8 car racing) tomorrow to stay home with him.

So this Saturday night, my awesome cough (who's not very socially adept) and I are sitting in front of the television and watching "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" - the version with Jonhny Depp. Such a cute movie but so many lessons about people and personalities when you look at it from an adult perspective.

Tommorow I'm hoping the bark and the chest congestion take a vacation so that I can attend the Adelaide Writers Festival. It occurred to me when I considered whether I would go or not (aside from feeling like crap), that not one of my friends would probably be interested in going. None of my non-bloggy friends write, in fact a lot of them don't even read.

Sort of puts paid to my belief that we should surround ourselves with like-minded people who share the same hobbies and past times as we do. I think I need to make some writer friends.

This week is one of the most culturally diverse and interesting weeks in Adelaide's calendar and the town goes a little crazy with a massive influx of people. We have Clipsal which is a 4 day car race extravaganza, the Adelaide Festival which is 16 days of theatre, music, dance, comedy shows and activities and of course the Writers Week which runs in conjuction with the Festival.

You couldn't find two more different groups of visitors than for these. The crowd who drink wine and go to cultural shows up against the blokey blokes who drink beer and like the grid girls and fast cars. Excuse my extremely stereotypical descriptions because I'm sure there is just as much cross over between the two groups of people and the activities as well.

Plenty to do and not a week when you want to be sick or working for that matter. Too much to see and do.

What's happening in your world this week?
 
Cheers, Fi

I'm linking up with Cate who gives us all a place to visit and connect. Want to play along with Six Word Saturday, it's easy? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, try clicking here. Feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing. 

Short and sweet

You know that saying about the best laid plans, well I had such great plans when I created my other blog Rainbow Dreams - posts on a weekly basis, helpful and useful regular posts.

Then there's life and reality, so a big fat raspberry to plans I can't stick to. I'll just stick with updating when something grabs my fancy, when I feel a need and of course when I have the time.

So my first paragraph eventuated from the fact that I have written a new post which came about partly because of a post about changes and fear of them is on a blog I visit fairly regularly, because my work life is all about change management and associated fears of change at the moment and because courage and lack of fear is something all of us aspire to have.

Why not go and have a peek at my latest offering Courage doesn't need to roar and share your own tale of courage and / or facing your own fears. 

Cheers, Fi

Did someone see the truck?

I've spent the day on the lounge today, not sure whether it was youngest son or grandson who lovingly shared their cold with me but I had a disgusting sleep last night and woke up this morning feeling like I'd been hit by a truck.

So consequently I spent the whole day on the lounge and most of it sleeping. I had a shower and changed out my jammies about an hour ago, (in time for dinner). Not something I do very often. I'm still feeling less than ordinary and it's definitely the sort of weather to stay snuggled up indoors.

Can you believe that last week it was in the high 30's and this week it's cold, windy and we've had that much rain that most of the south-east of Australia is under flood watch with hundreds evacuated. 200 - 300mm of rain is a lot and luckily while we've had plenty of rain - at least where I am is not affected by flooding.

I had plans to go to an aqua aerobics class tomorrow night which seems kind of ironic when there is such wide spread flooding - but given that I'm still feeling less than ordinary, I think I'll pass this week.

Not feeling very creative or witty tonight so will make this a short post especially after last nights monster post.

Cheers, Fi