Day 31 of 365

Aren't old friends wonderful!

Dinner tonight with two ladies who went to school with Richard. It's always good to see them as we always have a laugh - far too often at Richard but still a good time is had by all.

It was so hard to get motivated to go after a day at work knowing I have a full week ahead of me. I definitely had too many cocktails for a Monday but hey, we are only young once!

Day 29 and 30 of 365

I missed yesterday as I headed to Newcastle to spend time with my partners, my sister, my nephew and nieces. I love my family but it's just magical to be a part of these 3 little people's lives.

Harrison Beau
Paige Hayley
Charlotte Merridy


Thank you also to Charlotte for bravely letting me hang out with you without additional adult supervision. Love you

Day 28 of 365

After going out for a lovely dinner at one of our favourite couple restaurants Montezuma's in Crows Nest we went for a twilight wander through St Thomas' Rest Park in Cammeray.

This incredible former cemetery is now a gorgeous park. Its really old (1845, which for Australia is old, heck we only became Australia in 1901) and its a really touching idea, that Alexander Berry gave St Thomas' the land for a cemetery when his wife Elizabeth died.



It may sound morbid but I find old cemetery's incredible. They are, to me, such a strong reminder of how fleeting life is but how we can leave little parts of us behind.

Photo credit

Day 27 of 365

I am grateful that Richard, Rory nor I were burned when the sausages we are having for dinner caught on fire!

Rule of thumb, if your sausages catch on fire they will be good. Trust me, I'm Australian

Day 26 of 365

Happy Australia Day!

With less than a month to Conference I spent the day working but luckily I was able to do so from home. I love being home with Richard. Its wonderful to spend time with him just chatting and laughing. Getting a kiss in the middle of the work day isn't half bad either.

Personally, I am very proud to call Australia home. We may be a million miles from everywhere and get the rough end of the stick sometimes (e.g. still costs more to buy software in Australia though no one knows why, especially when its a download) there is something magical about it. Read more about Australia Day's history here

Day 25 of 365

No matter what happens when I am away from home, coming home to Richard and Rory is the best part of everyday.

One month to Conference and I am no where near ready - there is always so much to do in the month before such a big event.

Day 24 of 365

It is currently 10 pm in Sydney and its 28 Celsuis inside my apartment. When I do go to bed I will be grateful for the portable air conditioner that will make my home cool enough for sleep

Day 23 of 365

I made this today to go on my wall at work to remind me to stop spending money on random things and to save for the things that I really want.

Since what we want is an international holiday and a house. One day we'd also like to get married and have children. All of which cost $$$$ and lots of it.

Day 22 of 365

There is nothing like being home with your man and your cat! They make me laugh and remind me that there is more to living than work.

Day 21 of 365

Richard and I went to see The Kings Speech this evening. It really is a brilliant film. I am a massive fan of royalty (in particular the British royal family), I've loved Colin Firth since Pride & Prejudice and as an Australian I am a huge fan of Geoffery Rush. The performances are surprising and it is such a wonderful variation on a story we've all heard from a 1,000 different perspectives. Go see it!

I am so grateful for cinema. Not just because it is a medium for telling great stories but because when you are there you get to sit in the dark and immerse yourself in someone else's life. It was decided today that this week had not been one of the best at work and so to go and hide like that was just what I needed. Especially when you think about the fact that I personally am very unlikely to have to play out my embarrassing tales as publicly as a member of the royal family. I can stuff it up completely and its ok because in the end the only person who ever really remembers the story is me. So the escape is something to be grateful for.

Quick side story - actually two side stories.
1 - when my mum and I were in Kensington Gardens years ago there was a commotion and what I thought was Hugh Grant. Turns out that it was Hugh and Colin filming the scene in Bridget Jones Diary 2 where they chase each other around Kensington Gardens!!!! When Mum and I saw the film we nearly died!

2 - I used to volunteer at TropFest and one year I was in the VIP tent and Geoffrey was a judge. When I met him he was the nicest guy, just a genuine person there to enjoy some great films. Was such a treat.

Day 20 of 365

I am glad to be home ... started work at 7.50am and left it at 9.45pm. Way too long a day but does make you grateful to be home.

Ok, in the essence of honesty that is actually a photo of my parents house but I consider it home too.

Day 19 of 365

I would absolutely define myself as a Gleek! (its a real thing, see Urban Dictionary) I love the show and I have all the music. Last year, I would have gotten Glee for Kris Kringle - if I hadn't already bought everything from iTunes.

I am grateful for Glee for reminding me of some truly brilliant songs, in particular the vivacious Britney Spears. I am a Britney girl!! I have loved her since I first saw Hit Me Baby One More Time in 1998 (I was 17 so its ok). Much like the Spice Girls whenever I hear her songs I am reminded of the freedom of being a teenager in the 90s. It was really great time and as my generation start to take over the world its great to see these hits back in fashion.

No matter how bad your day is sing along to this and you will be happy - I just know it!

Day 18 of 365

I love that moment where the book you are reading turns awesome. You know the point where all of a sudden there is nothing more important than finding out what happens nxt.

I am so busy at work right now that the only time I get to read is right before bed. I'm not reading anything that great but I was pondering today just how awesome it is to know you have all the time in the world to sit in the best seat in the house reading that new great book.

This is a photo of a small portion of my book collection! I love books and I imagine I always will

Day 17 of 635 (yes, I missed day 16)

Somehow I have managed to injure my neck. Its the sort of small injury that actually ends up making you feel miserable.

That said I am very grateful for the lift home and my lavendar wheat bag. I got it whilst in the Barossa Valley from a lavendar farm Lyndoch Lavendar and it was originally a gift for Richard. However I have gotten more use out of it than he has I think.

Day 15 of 365

My partner Richard and I met doing a media degree at UNSW. I will admit that is not why I went to uni but if I am truly honest with myself finding a man was the best thing to come out of uni.

Being a uni student is hard. I was one of the uni students who worked part time and lived out of home so it was tough. I am not complaining but I will always remember what it is like to do the maths and realise you only have enough money for two minute noodles and the bus to work (the budget just couldn't stretch to getting the bus to uni as well).

Of course, I am also grateful for the opportunities having a degree provide me now and in the future. I even appreciate that the Aussie government loaned me the money so I could attend. So the annual loan repayment hurts but still at least I can say I did it.

Oh and that I found my man

Day 14 of 365

Its Friday so the thing that so many of us are grateful today is home time.

There is something so very wonderful about knowing that when I go home I don't have to go in and face anyone/anything that I don't want to. Now I have brought work home to do over the weekend but the only person that I have to interact with is Richard and I like him.

Hmmmm, weekend - a word so full of possibility.

Day 13 of 365

I was having a bad day today at work. I was in my work email inbox and accidently ended up on my sister Ellen's email. To see her name there made me smile in the midst of my bad day. Since she is my sister I felt it only right to tell her she had helped.

Then, just as I was sitting down to write this post I got a call and it was her. She had just jumped on her email and was just checking in. We don't get to see each other all that much - she lives a few hours north of me and we both have busy lives so it was wonderful to talk to her, not about anything important just the people we love.

Day 12 of 365

Ok I know it seems strange but I am in fact grateful for Google. Or perhaps another way to look at it is that I am grateful that I live in world where someone/some company created something that makes knowledge so accessible. I mean how cool is it that I can be inspired to know something or get in an argument with someone and I can easily find the answer.

I am also mighty impressed by thongs like Gmail and Google Reader. Google Earth is fun. Google Maps (in particular street view) are awesome.


I am sure loads of people have similar tales, but the man wipper-snipping the roadside in the screen cap is my Pop! The man is 81 and he got a real kick when we had a look at where they lived on Google Maps only to see him hard at work. It gave us a real kick too.

Heck, I am even using Blogger to post this. Can't help but be even just a little bit grateful for that.

Day 11 of 365

Today I have to be grateful that my family and I are all safe and dry and not effected by these incredible floods in Queensland.

I have been trying to get into a flood effected area myself once. Though the flooding then was no where near as bad I remember how frightening it was for my family as I attempted to get into Newcastle. I was traveling up to the Hunter Valley to attend my sister in laws baby shower for my nephew Harrison and although it was raining in Sydney it was nothing compared to what awaited my in Newcastle. I will always be thankful that my brother in law, father and partner all worked together to keep me up to date on what was happening and to help me get home safely.

The map is from the Aussie Bureau of Meteorology

Day 10 of 365

My parents are two of my best friends and I am grateful every day that I have them to talk to in good times and bad. They make me laugh and always provide a fresher/wiser perspective on my problems.

Sometimes they drive me bonkers but after not living at home for almost 10 years now I think I appreciate and understand them better. Nothing like having to pay your own power bill to understand why Dad would stomp through the house turning out all the light or just how wonderful it is for someone else to cook dinner :)

The photo was taken of my parents I believe by my late grandfather on a family holiday in the 70s before I was born. A really sweet photo that always makes me smile

Day 9 of 365

Back to work tomorrow after 2 weeks leave. I feel like a kid the night before the first day at school. Its nerve wracking but I am looking forward to seeing my colleagues and friends.

Today I am grateful for quiet times at home. Just watched some TV, looked at things through Google reader and spoke to my parents.

The bridge is the a gorgeous old bridge here in Northbridge where I live - yes, we are north of said bridge, not a cleverly named suburb I must say. Funny story, nearly 10 years ago when my Dad drove me to Sydney (how awesome are Dad's? If yours is anything like mine they are) to officially move here we took the wrong turn off the freeway and ended up driving across this incredible bridge. We did eventually find the place I was going to live and it wasn't too far from the bridge. I looked for it for years and on one fateful night I finally found it - it was the night of my partner Richards birthday party, the night he and I got together. So a pretty special bridge.

Day 8 of 365

Today I am grateful for hard work. Not that I like to do it but that I can.


I am also grateful for Richard, who despite being the current winner of our drinking game has called a time out so I can recover from my disastrous last shot. Oh vodka, how horrid you taste solo.

PS: Congratulations to Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark on the safe arrival of your twins.

Day 7 of 365

Despite being on summer holidays the year has started off particularly rainy. Finally, the sun came out and the wind warmed up and we could go for a swim!

With Richard's mum currently overseas we headed over to her place to use her pool. She has this incredible frangipani growing right next to her pool. As the wind blows it knocks flowers into the pool. There is something amazing about diving into a pool and popping up in the midst of a sea of floating petals. Its like an exotic island holiday without the airfare.

Thanks Wikipedia for the photo

Day 6 of 365

I am grateful that I make enough money so that once a week I can go to Pilates. In particular that I can afford one-on-one sessions.

Years ago my sister Ellen and I went to yoga together. We were having a great time but as sisters so often do we got a bit silly. If you have seen "What Women Want" starring Mel Gibson and the ever delightful Helen Hunt you may remember when he is at yoga, saluting the sun... well when we were saluting the sun I made a joke about the move and laughed so hard at my own gag that I injured my lower back. Although I couldn't stop laughing it was serious and still to this day it causes me grief.

I must admit here that I am overweight (something I will be working on in 2011) and that adds pressure to my lower back. But Pilates is doing a lot to help, both with my back injuries and as my first step into exercise.

My trainer Jo from Free Spirit Pilates (of course I am giving her business a plug, she is amazing) because its just us is able to tailor each session to focus on me. Of course that does mean no cheating. You know what I mean, when you are doing a class you can always do the easy version if it starts to hurt but when its just us Jo definitely keeps me honest.

I found the photo of Joseph Pilates here. Its on Jo's wall so felt appropriate for this post - gotta love his tighty-whitey's

Day 5 of 365

Aren't kisses wonderful. Real kisses that are a sign of true affection.

Although first kisses are full of excitement - that photo is my man and I only a few months into our relationship - a kiss from Richard now is so much more wonderful, even though we've kissed a thousand times and will kiss millions more time.

I love that my nieces and nephew are cautious about giving out kisses. Only those they love get them. I was one of the many that thought the no kissing rule in Pretty Woman was lame but maybe there is something to it. Maybe we should just keep kisses for those who deserve one and know that it means we care.

When I am lonely I think it is kisses that I miss the most. You can be hugged by a parent/sibling/friend and still get that support but no one can kiss you like a soul mate can - and lets be honest, anything else would be creepy/illegal

Day 4 of 365

I am always grateful for a cup of tea. Today I was grateful to share a cuppa with my man. He wasn't a big tea drinker before we lived together, but I've converted him :)

I was raised on the theory that there is no cure like a cuppa (heck, it once helped Doctor Who recover from his regeneration and he uses it a few times to save the lives of his companions). Funnily enough now that my mum is a grandma she is continuing the tradition. Paige, who is 2, has the good cuppa sigh down pat and is adorable. No matter how bad things may be a cup of tea will always help. For me it is the ritual of taking that moment to do something for yourself.

For me, the best teabag has to be Bushells Australian Breakfast (read how Bushells says to make a great cuppa) or for something a bit fancier you can't go past T2 Tea

There is some research out there that agress that tea has some true health benefits. But who really cares - as long as it works for me science really doesn't factor in.

As a matter of fact, I think I will have a cup of tea now.

I found this image on Higher Tea and I definitely want one. This year I most certainly should invest in a good teacup.

Day 3 of 365

Growing up in the country there are few things that you are raised to be more grateful for than rain. On the farm we had a tin roof, so when it rained you could hear each drop. Inside even light rain sounded like a storm overhead and a good Aussie storm would sound like the end of the world.

Being a city girl I mostly just find the rain annoying. I hate it when people say "don't complain we need it" when in reality I do not need it where I live. As long as the farmers and the dams get the rain we are all good. I pray they benefited from the rain today.

Photo thanks to The Mama Bird

Day 2 of 365

Today I am grateful for my cat, Rorschach/Rory! He is the funniest little guy and even if it is mean there are few things funny than seeing my cat showing off at the top of the stairs only to slide down them. He always gets bored when I am doing the washing so it was nice of him to entertain me whilst I put things in the machine.

Day 1 of 365

What better way to welcome a new year than by dancing ... even if it was with my gorgeous nieces to Glee Volume 4. Some great tunes for dancing, even Grandma and Grandpa got in on the act. Even better songs for going upside down.


Then, after all that strenuous activity to sit in the comfy chair and read my nieces and nephew a story. Thanks Golden Books who would have thought all these years after my parents read me to you, I would be reading you to some else.

I am eternally grateful for the chance to spend time with people I love