End of one season, start of another

(this is where I spent half of January)

So that was Summer, eh?

I love Summer but there are parts of Winter I love too, just not as much as Summer.  I'll miss the sitting out in the sun after dinner with a cool drink, not having to take forever to get dressed in the morning, not waiting for days for the washing to dry, being outdoors without having to take a coat and umbrella and getting social just because its sunny outside.

Winter has its good points too. There's comfort food and the fact that its actually enjoyable to cook, that its lovely to get snuggly in bed (unfortunately really difficult to get out of bed though), there's no sweating so its good to get out and get active and there's comfort food (did I mention that already?).

But I didn't come here to talk about the weather (ho hum), I wanted to say I'm on an 'up' today (as opposed to yesterday where it was all too hard). It may be because its Friday, or because I had a productive day at work and feeling that I've got a little more of a handle on things.  I'm also excited at the prospect of promoting not only the great stuff the people at my new workplace are doing for kids, but also promoting Mr Moneymaker's new business and life long dream.

He's selling the stuff that he loves, at last. A life-long lover of sport (not to mention the Nugget's personal Sports Manager), he has set up his own sport equipment brand, Cigno Sports and his days consist of choosing, selling and generally playing with, Soccer Balls (did you know that cigno is the Italian word for swan???).  I've even spent quite a few hours entering HUNDREDS of contacts into his database and though its been a bit of a risk (to the point where I may have to change his name from Mr Moneymaker to something else), its starting to build up.  The majority of business will be coming from Soccer Clubs in Queensland, NSW and Victoria so if you're involved in purchasing equipment for your club and you want quality, give him a call (don't forget to tell him I told you first!).

As for my new role, I'm so proud to be working for a company that has such a great concept and that can really make a difference to a young child's life.  The company is called Yoga To Go Kids and it takes the philosophy of mindfulness and well being along with a great habit for young children to take into their adult life. I've been there about four weeks now and I've been talking to the schools and the yoga teachers and seeing feedback coming back from the kids and the school teachers. Its wonderful what they're saying about the effects the classes have had on all the kids - the quiet ones, the loud ones, the hyperactive ones and the troubled ones. I'm really impressed and I want to tell everyone.

Yoga To Go Kids

Now my next move is to get the word out there about both businesses, not so much through this blog (though I will put a couple of buttons on the side here), but to promote through Facebook and Twitter.

Now if only they could afford to sponsor me to go the Digital Parents Conference in March! Oh well, that boat may have to leave without me. Literally.

*Joining With Some Grace for FYBF*

Sand and Horses

Its good to be home but gawd its good to go away. I've realised that I can now appreciate the moments when I'm just relaxing under a tree, by a pool or strolling along a deserted beach and realise that there's nowhere I need to be or rush to and I don't have to get up early to stress about getting to work on time, getting all the work done and getting home at a decent hour. There's nowhere else I need to be.

As the kids get older, holidays get easier. They don't have to be constantly entertained any more, as long as there's a pool, beach or other kids to socialise with, they are pretty right. So add wine and its the same things I require for a good holiday.

I've also been more relaxed these holidays due to the fact I'm starting a new job this year!  I'm very excited about it and as time goes on I will be talking more about it here, but for the moment let's just say I'm doing something I can believe in and feel passionate about.  I have lots of new ideas stirring around in my head and for once I am feeling positive about my work.

image from here

2014 is the Year of the Horse, according to the Chinese Zodiac.  I was born in a Horse Year (I won't tell you which one but I'm sure you could work it out).  Susan Levitt (the first Chinese zodiac blogger I came across in Google) describes those born in a Horse Year:

People born in Horse years (2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930, 1918, 1906) are bright, cheerful, popular, and fun loving. They find people and crowds exciting, and love parties. Horse’s childish innocence, sunny disposition, and natural charm attract many friends. Horse is a highly intuitive animal, so people born in Horse year follow their hunches. Their keen judgment and natural intuition often help them make the right decisions throughout their life. Usually they don’t need to struggle in order to succeed and obtain the fine things life has to offer.

Horses have a carefree nature and need ample room for self expression. When constrained by rules, proud Horse will rebel, refusing to be corralled or tamed. Horses will tell you exactly what is on their mind; they are frank and dislike hidden agendas. So this is the time for issues to be out in the open, especially with family members. The time for secrecy was last year Snake 2013, not now in Horse year.

Sounds a little too much like me.  The prediction for 2014 for all of us from Susan is:

The Wood Horse year is a time of fast victories, unexpected adventure, and surprising romance. It is an excellent year for travel, and the more far away and off the beaten path the better. Energy is high and production is rewarded. Decisive action, not procrastination, brings victory. But you have to act fast in a Horse year. If you are not 100% secure about a decision, then don’t do it. Events move so quickly in a Horse year that you don’t want to gallop off in the wrong direction. 

Well that's a bit unnerving. This may or not be true, it depends on what you want to believe, but its nice to have a guess at the future, particularly if its positive!

*Joining up with Essentially Jess for IBOT*

The Summer of Becci

I love Summer.  Well, I used to when it actually felt like Summer.  I have no idea what's happened lately, it's like we should expect it to rain all through the holidays as it has been for the last few years.  So I'm linking up with Gemma from My Big Nutshell to tell you what my Summer means.

I don't know about you, but when I was a teenager, growing up on the beach, this is what Summer looked like there, Puberty Blues style. It was filmed in my hood and I can vaguely remember the hot girls hung out on the beach all day and went and bought their surf grommets icecreams in their bikinis.  I did not.  I was a bit daggy and rode around on my bike thinking deep thoughts, wishing I had a boyfriend.  I had one briefly while at school and my claim to fame is that surfboard used in the movie belonged to my brief boyfriend. I used to help him carry it to the beach because he was little and had a club foot. 

from here

But now my Summer looks like this:

(Nugget and Chicken last Summer, the first in this house)

It will be full of splashing, squealing, ice in drinks, fresh fruit, salads and seafood, barefeet, sunburn, wet towels, frangipani's, bbq's, champagne with friends on the back verandah at night, chilled white wine on the balcony in the afternoons and no rushing around every day of the week!  Bliss.

That's if the rain, rain, goes away.....

(waiting for my frangipani to flower)

What's your Summer?

Link up with Gemma from My Big Nutshell if you've blogged about Summer.

Hello Summer!

Before I start emptying the guff out of my head, I want to officially close the Panasonic competition and thank all of you that entered (some great comments including calling your husbands appliances(?)). I will be consulting with Emma from Soup to decide and announce the winner on Thursday. So keep watching!

There are days where sometimes I find a little patch of peace and can actually just relax and not think of all those things I need to do and all those things I haven't done. Yesterday was that day.

I finally found some time (and energy) to get out for my walk around the bay on Sunday at 10am but it happened to be the same time as a fundraising group which were wandering five deep on the path. Now, don't get me wrong, good on them and everything but maybe they could have started a couple of hours earlier when there are not so many walkers, joggers and bike riders. Also Sydney (the city, not my dog) really brought out the heat yesterday and alot of the charity walkers were finding it pretty hard going.

Well I was finding it pretty hard going. I hadn't done the bay in a couple of months due to some really valid excuses reasons. After weeks of rain, we then had visitors staying for the school holidays and for the following two weeks I was sick with the flu. This was the first day I could walk and breathe without wheezing but after trying to sprint on the road to get around the crowd, I was watching out for the fundraiser's ambulance that was doing the rounds. I realised for the first time that yes, women my age do have heart attacks with no prior warning. At least my canine companion would run for help - yeah right.

But I made it in one hour, 10 minutes off my old time! I ended up in the soccer park, lying under a tree with my mutt and listening to the lovely strummers at the fundraiser's event. And there I found peace for 30 minutes. Until the Moneymaker and his sidekick, the Nugget rode up on their bikes and wanted food.

Overall it was quite a great morning and I'm determined to keep it up so I can recover quicker from my op next week - eeekkK! In 9 days I will no longer have a womb and of course very cute babies keep popping up in my line of sight. Not that I wanted another one, but still, you know, liked knowing I could have one if I wanted.

ANYWAY! I'm getting off the subject again. What little space do you find peace, or do you find it difficult to switch off?