Drinks on a school night - 29th March 2012

Loving the angel on the beer keg

I really like vodka... the way it takes the edge off and makes the world a happier place. I make a habit of not drinking much on school nights, because quite frankly, I fear I may like it too much and develop myself a little problem. Taking the edge off and all that. 

But tonight I indulged for a worthy cause - dinner with friends. I'd forgotten just how much fun impromptu dinners are. Good company, food, wine and conversation. It made for a very happy Thursday. 

I did wonder why I felt a little tipsy when we got home though, given I'd only had a couple of glasses of wine at dinner. It must have been the two vodkas I inhaled at the pub before we got there. Yep, that would do it.

Building blocks - 28th March 2012

I stumbled across this quote today and I simply love it. To me, it's the perfect reminder to always try and take a positive out of a negative situation. You may not feel the benefit immediately, but it does strengthen your foundation.  

I want a Panda dog - 27th March 2012

I desperately want a panda dog...

Some days you just need a good laugh, and today, a chain email and some crazy Chinese pet owners gave me just that. The email read, "A new trend has EXPLODED in China’s upper class where people are transforming their pets into miniature versions of animals or just dyeing them crazy colors but Pandas seem to be a big hit and obviously their favorite. It’s become a huge industry and people are spending THOUSANDS on professional hair dyes, salon cuts, accessories, you name it”.

... or a tiger dog

Needless to say, I want a Panda for Christmas!

Bad day good life - 26th Mach 2012

This little quote doesn't need much explanation. It is simply a good reminder of the perspective you need to get through some days. They can't all be brilliant. Some days you just need to ignore the idiots, bite your tongue and get on with it. A good life has many a bad day. They just make the good ones sweeter.

Poppy Power - 25th March 2012

The Boy's Club. Zander and Poppy John at his Christening

There is something truly special about watching your parents play with their grandkids. Their love is so tangible, their attention so focused and their joy so pure. Today I watched my Dad as he spent ages pulling funny faces to make my nephew Zander laugh, then cuddled and rocked him to sleep on his shoulder. Grandparents get the best deal, all care and no responsibility. I appreciated the opportunity to see my parents in a different light today - the way my niece and nephew see them. They aren't the people who impose the rules and set the boundaries. They are the people who make the fun and bend all of the rules. They also let you eat lots of lollies.

The Ps - 24th March 2012

Big P and Mini P

Spending time with my niece is one of the greatest pleasures in my life. As regular readers of this blog will know, Payten and I are part of a mutual admiration society of which we are the only two members. Big P and Mini P. I love the way she reminds me of myself as a child, the curiosity with which she explores the world and the way her mind works. I find it so intriguing to effectively watch myself in the mirror. Today she melted my heart when she announced she was going to read me a story from "the best book in the world". It was the dictionary.

True perspective - 23rd March 2012

Today I read a fantastic article about a situation that is nothing short of a tragic reflection on our society today. Trayvon Martin, a 17 year-old black teenager in the US was shot and killed as he walked home from the store. It appears he was shot for no other reason than ingrained racism. The shooter claimed Martin looked “suspicious". There are a whole raft of other issues I have with the way this situation unfolded, but read the article and make your own judgment. http://www.smh.com.au/world/trayvon-martin-a-killing-too-far-20120323-1vnl7.html#ixzz1qBg2pHNw 

Just as disturbing as the story were some details within the article, including "the fact black men in America are more likely to be stopped, searched, arrested, convicted and executed than any other group. With almost one in 10 black men behind bars there are more of them in prison, on probation or on parole today than were enslaved in 1850."

This story has made me eternally grateful for the boring 'Brady bunch' life I have been so lucky to live. I cannot imagine being persecuted for something as simple as the colour of my skin. I am also thrilled that people are still passionate enough about injustice to attend these rallies and speak out for someone who no longer has a voice. This tragedy has immediately put my little complaints about life right into perceptive. 

Martin's murder was largely ignored by the police, until people power took hold with numerous rallies taking place and forcing the issue into the public domain.    

Clearing the desk - 22 March 2012

While not my actual desk, this represents the progress made today. Hooray.

In a work sense, there is nothing quite as satisfying as reaching the end of the day and realising you’ve achieved every job you wanted to complete that day. It happens so rarely. Usually I find unexpected fires crop up, which need fighting, is usually late afternoon before I start working on the list of jobs I’d planned to knock off at 9am. 

But today was one of those little gems where it all went to plan. My desk, and my mind, looked like the top picture at the start of the day. By close of business, order was restored. I feel calm, relived and in control. Right now, I am savouring this feeling. Pure bliss.

Inspirational women - 21 March 2012

The inspiring Jess Fell

My darling friend Jess Fell is truly inspirational. She is on a mission to help driven women in their twenties realise their potential and ensure their dreams become realities. She has tapped into the fact that despite having big dreams and buckets of potential, many women get sidetracked or caught up in everyday life only and find themselves on a path that is a long way from their original life plan. 

Jess is about to launch her blog, ‘The Women We Want To Be’. She is identifying attributes that are key to personal and professional success and interviewing women in her life who possess these qualities. The aim is to tap into their life lessons and share the insights with those forging their own path.

Tonight we spent hours chatting over dinner about the need for drive and courage in the pursuit of success and happiness. It was such a positive experience to engage with someone who is on a similar journey, shares many of the same insecurities and is committed to taking charge of her future.

The biggest reminder from tonight was the need to surround yourself with positive people. Positivity is infectious. Ignore the doubters and follow your heart to turn your dreams into reality. Fortune favours the brave.

Turn Up The Base - 20th March 2012

Oh dear!

I am that person on the train who has their Ipod so loud the songs seep out of the headphones and annoy other people. It’s not intentional, I just like my music really loud. 

It seems this personal preference also extends to the car. I've accidently blown our front speakers by turning the volume up too high as I drive to work. Ooopps! 

This may explain some of the weird looks I get when stopped in traffic. I fear I may resemble a 19-year-old boy whose car makes shop windows vibrate.

The upside is the good laugh I got out of my own stupidity today. I really didn't think I could blow speakers up. Good effort! Plus, music is made to be enjoyed at high volume. It's good for the soul.

A little ray of sunshine - 19th March 2012

A little bit of hope shining through

I'm on a mission to de-clutter my life, streamline my finances and draw up a plan of action. Welcome to Operation Delilah. 

I’ve been waiting to use this code name since we travelled around Europe in a campervan, which I wanted to nickname Delilah. James put his foot down - something about it being an insane and overly girly name for a van - so here we are. As a side note, we called the van Keith. 

Often the best way to feel empowered is to take charge and just kick off the action you want to see happening in your life. Technically nothing has changed today, but I just feel invigorated because I've taken the first steps in gathering information and streamlining my life. The first ray of sunshine pierced through the sky for Operation Delilah today. So grateful to be focused on a new project!    

Where the magic happens - 18th March 2012

It's time to set out and up

The words of a classic Crowded House song caught me by surprise today. Despite singing them passionately and knowing them by heart, the true meaning of one phrase only grabbed me today. And it defines how I feel right now. "Still so young to travel so far, old enough to know who you are." 

I spent my twenties racing around the world in a big hurry to get somewhere. Now those glorious days are over, I feel I'm on the cusp of defining the next stage in my life. So what will 35 and beyond bring? 

One thing I do know is that I need to step out of my comfort zone. I’ve been weighting up some big life decisions of late and upon reflection, I'm allowing fear and caution to get in the way of brave decisions. What has happened to that girl who gave up a great job and boarded a plane with nothing to her name but the 20kgs of luggage under the plane (and another 5kg stuffed into James' bag)? It's time to channel that girl and step bravely into the zone where the magic happens. 

Sleeping Beauty and the body guards - 17th March 2012

Three little couch potatoes

James came home this afternoon to find me mid nap on the couch with my two little bodyguards. If sleeping were an Olympic sport, I would be a serious gold medal contender. Today was an absolute please because I did nothing, nothing at all. I love these days when I can indulge my inner couch potato. What a perfect Saturday - sleeping at leisure and waking up to watch qualifying for the first Formula One race of the season. I am so grateful for days like this.

The true mantle of character - 16th March 2012

Ian Thorpe delivers a masterclass in handling defeat

Tonight I had the privilege of witnessing a true champion in action. As I watched Ian Thopre in his bid to qualify for London 2012, I thought this post would be able the inspiration he provided by beating the odds and making the Olympic Team. The pre-race highlights package perfectly set the scene for his heroic return to glory. 

But he didn't. In the end he faded badly in the last 50m and failed to qualify. Dream over.

It turns out today's lesson in perspective came from the most unexpected of places - watching Thorpe handle himself in defeat. I know it's said the true mantle of ones character is the way we react when the chips are down. But I have always been uncomfortable with this notion - largely because I generally respond like a sulky teenager mid dramatic tantrum. Tonight Thorpe had every reason to swear, cry and throw a tanty as life gave him the rude finger. But he didn’t. Instead he was composed, rational and professional in the face of defeat and adversity. Ian Thrope I salute you and aspire to handle life a little more like you did.

Unexpected Serenity - 15th March 2012

The Serenity prayer is something I stumbled upon years ago. I remember thinking at the time, and on multiple occasions since, that it's such a great ideal but there is no way in hell I will ever achieve this state of being. The first and last points are the ones I struggle with. I have courage to make change in abundance, but I can't accept that certain things in life that are beyond my control. Wisdom is certainly lacking.

However in a surprise development, it appears I may have finally become a grown up. Today I found myself accepting several situations that in years gone by would have sent me flying into rage or caused steam to pour out of my ears like a cartoon character.  Instead a little voice in my head said, "Oh well, just let it go." And I did. Stop the presses.

I am perplexed by this development but wildly excited. It also appears the prayer is right. I felt a level of serenity today that does not occur when I am running around like the Coyote pissed off with the Road Runner. Let’s hope this wasn’t a one off. I like this new state of being. 

From terror to relief in seconds - 14th March 2012

In my head it looked something like this

There is no simpler way to say this. Today I am grateful to be alive. I know it sounds dramatic, but for about 20 seconds this afternoon I thought I was about to be trapped in a hotel as a plane crashed into it. In hindsight it's a bloody funny story, but at the time, it was terrifying.

As a colleague and I stood in the bathroom re-applying our makeup, the room was filled with the sound of a plane overhead. A plane that was so close it must have been metres above the building and getting louder by the second. In those few short moments, I imagined it hitting the building, formulated an escape plan (jumping over the balcony through a thick glass wall - not my finest moment) and wondered if I was going to die. My colleague and I stared at each other with looks of shock and slight panic. I was also starting to crouch down a little to somehow hide under the basin.

Just as I was bracing for impact (and possibly bursting into tears), the sound pouring into the bathroom changed from that of a crashing plane to a bloody song! It turns out my terror was the result of the introductory bars of what Beatles tune. Someone had turned on the music and it was coming through the speakers. Why would anyone think a crashing plane is a good start to a song? I will cut the Beatles a little slack, as it was recorded in a pre September 11 world, and I also thank them for giving me a whole lot to be grateful for today. 

You say you want a revolution - 13th March 2012

You say you want a revolution...

Until now I hadn't worked in an office where the radio is on during the day. The closest I've been is a TV fixed on a 24 hr news channel. Initially I thought the radio would be districting, but it turns out I love it. There is nothing like music to make your soul smile. 

Each day we listen to a different station, which guarantees the genres are many and varied. I am constantly amazed at the ability of a song to brighten my mood and inject some zing into my day. I've also caught myself doing a bit of chair dancing, which is no doubt amusing for anyone who happens to see me.

Today the Beatles 'Revolution' caught me by surprise and brought an immediate smile to my face. "You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world..." Oh yes we do, and music makes it a better world.

Sweet revenge and instant gratification - 12th March 2012

My new guilty pleasure

Patience is a virtue I clearly don't possess. It's time to admit it. I have a little problem with the need for instant gratification.

I've always been someone who reads the last page of a book soon after starting it. Why, I hear you cry! I don't really know. There is just something satisfying about knowing the end while I'm still immersed in the story.

Well tonight, I took it to a whole new level. Revenge is my new favourite TV series and until now I have been waiting patiently to watch the next suspense filled episode each Monday night. Tonight's show was so brilliant, I got over excited, decided I couldn't wait until next week, and ended up on the show’s website. Several clicks later and I know what happens for the next six episodes. Shit. While this brain explosion has brought immense pleasure to my world today, I fear I may have robbed me of considerably joy in the coming weeks. I really need to work on developing some patience.

A good horn honking - 11th March 2012

Seriously, how stupid are some people?

You would think I snapped this picture on a street in Bangkok. But no, it's a busy main road in Australia. What is it about Sunday that brings out the crazy drivers?

I don't consider myself an aggressive driver. Sure, I fantasise about being the next Ayton Senna (pre deadly crash), and I love a good horn honking when required, but I am most certainly not a road rager. That is until today. I now fear I am perilously close. 

I felt the need to honk passionately no less than five times today on a short drive to the airport. It wasn’t because I was hangover and insanely tired (read no patience). It’s because the quota of stupid people in the world is rising. I swear it’s true. 

Take the guy above for example. Who in the world would think it’s a great idea to strap a double bed mattress to the top of your little four cylinder car? And, don’t even get me started on the stupid woman who blocked the turning lane because she had no idea where she was going, then almost caused a crash as she came to a stop trying to work out exactly where she was.

Today's biggest laugh came from my realisation that I am using the car horn as a punching bag. It’s where I take out my frustrations. As my back seat passengers rolled around in fits of laughter, I beeped the horn long and hard at the first sign of any traffic infringement. 

The upside is everyone’s a winner. I feeling calmer post beep and the roads are safer as I’m keeping all of the idiots on their toes. I’m actually proving community service.

Perfect paella - 10th March 2012

Birthday paella for the boys

The London reunion had a distinctly European flavour thanks to the perfect paella. It was just like the good old days, with a slight tweak. The food was much better than the BBQ and pub burgers we lived on. The wine and the conversation were also a little more upscale! It also appears that babies and dogs have replaced exotic destinations as our favourite topics of conversation. But that is ok.

The one thing that hasn't changed is the brilliance of these friendships. Friends you make while travelling often do become friends for life. Despite now being at different stages of our lives and living miles (and states) apart, the girls can still talk for hours, while the boys can pick up the games and the shit talk right where they left off. Highlights of the evening included an eating content, a random bike riding display and the birthday boy posing with the three pregnant ladies and sporting one of the biggest bellies.

Today I am grateful for getting a slice of time with Tim, Debs, Murray, Susie, Bubble and Sophie all at once. I'm sad it doesn’t happen enough, but still savoring the great vibes that come from these awesome people.

One more sleep - 9th March 2012

The glory days in the French Alps with Susie

I am always grateful for the potential a Friday night brings. It's the chance to download the brain post working week and get ready to enjoy the weekend ahead. And this weekend is particularly special. For a few short hours, a big part of the London crew will be back together again.

The excitement is also at fever pith because it's the last time we will see our darling friends Murray and Susie before they become parents. I can't believe our little crew will gain a baby in a couple of months, and another one a few more months after that (courtesy of Bubble and Sophie). Boy how life has changed since those heady days in glorious London.

I can't wait for the excitement, the chatter, the stories and the laughter that tomorrow will bring.