Annie's Visual Diary

Friday Evening

2012-01-20T03:35:00.001-08:00

A lazy Friday evening drinking tea and journaling.

By Request

2012-01-09T21:17:00.000-08:00

No cup of tea - but Jack is just as lovely!

20/11/11

2011-11-19T23:06:00.000-08:00

King protea from the farmers markets.

2 Faced Day

2011-11-07T18:07:00.000-08:00

I took these photos last weekend, literally within seconds of each other. On one side, I saw this...

Then I turned the other way and saw this...

Weekend camping trip

2011-10-25T02:42:00.000-07:00

Wild roses growing by the road just out of Palmer

Abundant yakka trees just out of Palmer

Ollie enjoying and icy pole in Woodside

A fencepost in Milendella

Old Pictures

2011-10-13T21:49:00.000-07:00

I was going through my pictures of my most amazing adventure to Nepal, India and the Maldives the other day and having a play around with photoshop. I found this gem. It still gives me goosebumps remembering the morning I took this. I had spent half the previous day trekking up a hill, the mountains were completely obscured by fog. The following morning, there they were, in all their glory! This is Annapurna South.

Birthday!

2011-09-29T18:49:00.000-07:00

What a way to put a smile on my slightly older face! Andy is working nights at the moment, so I woke to an empty house (well, I had a little cuddle from Jack, but he was a bit nonplussed by my uncharacteristic display of early morning affection), but then came to work and took delivery of a beautiful bunch of flowers from him!

Glorious Saturday

2011-09-23T21:51:00.000-07:00

What a stunning way to spend a Saturday! Kate and I hit up Willunga Farmers Market for brekkie, followed by a quick stopover at the Battle of Bosworth Winery.
They have lavender brownies at the farmers markets! Mmmmmm!!!!

Wedding in the Wilderness

2011-09-20T04:56:00.000-07:00

What an amazing weekend! Gorgeous location, awesome couple! More pictures to follow (Craig & Anne get first look though!).

Playing!

2011-09-13T05:56:00.000-07:00

A good friend showed me a picture not long ago where someone had made love hearts out of all the out of focus lights. Challenge accepted! Here are the results. I am very excited, I am shooting my second wedding this weekend and I am going to try and work this in somehow!

Favourite corners - 5 minutes from the beach

2011-08-14T18:19:00.000-07:00

Making the most of living 5 minutes from the beach by taking a Sunday arvo walk and enjoying a bit of early spring sunshine!

Favourite corners - my quiet spot

2011-08-12T02:20:00.000-07:00

This is where I sit to read a mag and have a quiet cuppa. During the day, sunlight pours in over my shoulder.

Favourite Corners - Walk in robe

2011-08-06T20:40:00.000-07:00

This is where I channel my inner Carrie Bradshaw!!!

Favourite corners - Tea and Coffee Jars

2011-08-04T05:07:00.001-07:00

Tea and coffee jars - the essential ingredients to any home where conversation happens! Anyone who's been to my house knows that you seldom escape without a cuppa in your belly! I get it from my Mum, who's kettle is never cool!

Favourite corners - The pergola

2011-08-01T03:09:00.000-07:00

Sunday lunch under the pergola. Most dogs sniff food - Jack listens to it.

Favourite Corners - The Bookshelf

2011-07-26T04:25:00.000-07:00

This is a part of my bookshelf. Books are something that make me feel grounded and homely. I've read pretty much everything on my bookshelf, so technically, I could take them to a book exchange, but I've grown attached to so many of them. The framed postcard was given to me by my friend Kate, a fellow book lover - in fact, many of my books were inhereted from Kate when she moved overseas.

Coming Soon!

2011-07-25T15:52:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone. Life has been a bit nuts since we moved, so I've been slack on the photo front. This week, I am going to do a 'series' of photos of my favourite corners of my new house. Keep watch!

5th July 2011

2011-07-05T19:45:00.000-07:00

Today, Jack, Andy and myself covered a total of 17km both walking and bike riding (Jack runs alongside the bike, he's not yet developed the dexterity to ride the BMX we bought him). Come bed time, Jack still wanted to play fetch.

20th June 2011

2011-06-19T22:10:00.001-07:00

Jack - I challenge you to not be melted by this face!

A Morning in Wittunga

2011-06-13T04:02:00.000-07:00

In the interests of getting some practice at photographing people, I took a couple of friends down to Wittunga Botanic Gardens for a shoot this morning. These are just a couple of my favourites with a persimmon thrown in for good measure.

Technical Issues

2011-06-07T06:20:00.000-07:00

Due to technical issues (ie. My computer and My camera are not on speaking terms for some unknown reason) I haven't posted for a while. I have been taking lots of photos though. I will hopefully get this issue sorted soon.....really soon, I am shooting a wedding in less than 3 weeks!

I know, about bloody time!

2011-05-02T02:32:00.000-07:00

Stunning sunrise over the Murray

Some red thing at Woodside

The Oscar W at dawn

Sunlight bouncing off my flowers from Judy

Second Valley

2011-04-20T06:16:00.000-07:00

I will be back, loyal lookers. It's just that life went a little crazy and I haven't had time to shoot or post much. Heading away for the Easter break, will come back with some rip snorters! Promise! :-)

Comin' at ya from the Couch!

2011-03-29T18:05:00.000-07:00

I've been stuck inside the last week having had my knees done last Thursday, so I haven't had much chance to keep up with the daily shoot, but here is some that I managed to slip in before surgery and since I have been marooned!

Supplies to keep me sane!

My beautiful new lens from Kate.

Playing with matches (don't tell Mum!)

This is the war memorial on the corner of North Terrace and Kintore Avenue. A bit chuffed with this one!

The Daily Shoot

2011-03-18T19:35:00.000-07:00

My friend Brad (bradism.com) directed me to this fantastic website that gives me a new photography challenge each day. I am going to do my best to take a daily photograph and post them here each week with an explaination of what the project was. It's been great fun learning new techniques and making myself take photos that I wouldn't ordinarily 'choose' to shoot. This can only be benificial to my craft!

Convey warmth in a photograph today.

Show your own hand in a photograph today doing something. Reaching, holding, touching, or making a sign.

Make a photograph outdoors without an obvious horizon line.

Today's color is green. Make a photograph dominated by green today.

Make a photograph today that illustrates the idea of freshness to you.

Make a photo of two complementary objects arranged in a pleasing composition, one large and one small.

Make a photograph that illustrates a role of technology in your life.

18th March 2011

2011-03-17T23:10:00.000-07:00

This is what public holidays are all about!

13th March 2011

2011-03-12T19:50:00.000-08:00

Look who popped by for Sunday lunch!

5th March 2011

2011-03-04T23:36:00.000-08:00

Andy's birthday is Monday, so I surprised him with a night away in the Adelaide Hills. There was beer tasting! There were many smiles.

13th February 2011

2011-02-12T17:59:00.000-08:00

Toga party - all things Grecian.

And a special bonus photo. I have started a photography course, so I will probably be posting all my 'homework' shots up here!

7th February 2011

2011-02-07T01:35:00.000-08:00

Another one for the collection! Thanks Andy! :-)

26th January 2011

2011-01-27T00:12:00.000-08:00

A glorious sunny Australia Day saw my family and I head down to Goolwa for a putt along the Murray on the Oscar W paddlesteamer. A great day out!

23rd January 2011

2011-01-23T03:00:00.000-08:00

A spontaneous gift from a new friend. Only Carly Simon people get it.

16th January 2011

2011-01-15T14:40:00.000-08:00

This is a fabulous double headed agapanthus that popped up in our garden a few weeks back and is still pumping out bloom! My Mum reckons it looks like one of the Queen Mother's hats.

9th January 2011

2011-01-09T14:19:00.000-08:00

A ride down to Brighton for Sunday night coffee, ice-cream and a beautiful sunset.

3rd January 2011

2011-01-02T21:58:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Took the motorbike to Clarendon to 'our spot' (which is probably many other couples spot too) and had a sushi picnic. Such a glorious day to be out with the wind in ones hair!

18th December 2010

2010-12-18T04:50:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Pip of "Meet me at Mike's" for this awesome Christmas craft idea! Now my baubles will stay toasty warm all Christmas (which is good, Summer has bypassed Adelaide entirely!).

8th December 2010

2010-12-08T03:06:00.001-08:00

I indulged myself today. Not by eating sweet stuff, but with creativity. Here, I am working on "pee pee teepee's" or as I prefer to call them "Todjer Tents", a request from a friend who's due to give birth to a baby boy any day now.
Note the fabulous light in my sewing nook! There were birds singing an a lovely fresh breeze floating in the window! Bliss!!!

3rd December 2010

2010-12-03T00:34:00.000-08:00

Destiny is finding the perfect shoes, in the perfect size for the perfect price! I found these gorgeous little morsels in the $29.95 bin!

21st November 2010

2010-11-20T21:54:00.000-08:00

Moses, our little gender bending budgie.

Favourites from Sculpture by the Sea

2010-11-15T19:29:00.000-08:00

These are some of my favourite images from Sculpture by the Sea, a lovely day out with my friend Amy, during my recent mini-break in Sydney. Bondi is amazing! Even apart from the sculpture, the natural rock formation is incredible!

11th November 2010

2010-11-11T02:43:00.000-08:00

Remembrance Day. Lest we forget.

20th October 2010

2010-10-20T19:49:00.000-07:00

I love living where I live!

10th October 2010

2010-10-10T02:09:00.000-07:00

Went on an impromtu bush walk with my Mum today and saw many beautiful things. This was just one of them!

5th October 2010

2010-10-05T03:12:00.000-07:00

Pichi-Richi at Woolshed Flat.

A long winding road just south of Tarlee (oh the places Geo-caching takes you!).

21st September 2010

2010-09-21T05:46:00.001-07:00

I am finally the proud owner of a Nikon D3000! This is a picture from one of my first outings with it. Watch this space for plenty more visual experimentation!!!

20th September 2010

2010-09-19T22:34:00.000-07:00

Tea should always look like this. And cupcakes should always taste like the one I devoured before I thought to photograph my special moment in the middle of a work day!

14th September 2010

2010-09-13T21:05:00.000-07:00

I entered a photography competition a while back and while I didn't win, I did find a place in the top 500 images with the top and bottom pictures. The middle one is a personal favourite, so I have put that in for good measure. All of these pictures were taken in Belair National Park.

5th September 2010

2010-09-06T17:12:00.000-07:00

Mount Bold Reservoir.

29th August 2010

2010-08-28T20:48:00.001-07:00

Today was beautiful, so I weeded the garden.

18th August 2010

2010-08-18T01:01:00.000-07:00

Unperturbed by my unsuccessful baking attempt on Sunday, I got back on that horse, or rather, in that kitchen, today and made lemon curd. With the leftover egg whites, I whipped up some meringue and made little lemon meringue pies. I haven't tasted them yet, but if the sum of awesome + awesome = superfricken awesome (Marshall,A. 2010), my dinner guests are in for a treat!

15th August 2010

2010-08-14T20:59:00.000-07:00

Sundays are for baking!

11th August 2010

2010-08-10T16:04:00.001-07:00

Recovering from having all my wisdom teeth extracted has given me time to indulge in my favourite quiet time activities on the big red couch.

5th August 2010

2010-08-05T03:03:00.000-07:00

Chocovino at Hahndorf Hill Winery - Yes, chocolate and wine! Genius!

25th July 2010

2010-07-24T16:35:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Ecuadorian roses from Victoria Flowers, King William Road, Hyde Park. (yes, this is a shameless plug, I know the owners!)

21st July 2010

2010-07-21T00:27:00.000-07:00

Wattle harbouring a fugitive.

17th July 2010

2010-07-17T03:15:00.000-07:00

Joy of joys for my 5 year old nephew! Doughnuts from the Port Elliott Bakery!

15 July 2010

2010-07-15T06:27:00.001-07:00

Monarto Zoological Park - South Australia
Amusingly, this picture was taken after the guide had told us that giraffes are seldom seen sitting down.

8th July 2010

2010-07-08T05:46:00.000-07:00

This is part of a rusty old pump that is in a grassy reserve round the corner from my house. I can't wait to get a 'proper' camera so I can do the colours more justice!

1st July 2010

2010-07-01T06:38:00.000-07:00

Moss growing fat on a stationary stick.

30th June 2010

2010-06-30T01:12:00.000-07:00

I took some time out today to be the centre of my own universe. My local pub has comfy chairs and a lovely fireplace where I could bury my face in a book for an hour or so and the world just let me be.

27th June 2010

2010-06-26T17:13:00.000-07:00

This is how we spent Saturday night. Perfect!

20th June 2010

2010-06-20T02:28:00.000-07:00

When it grows up, it's going to be a skirt. Gosh I wish I had been alive in the 70's!

14 June 2010

2010-06-14T01:57:00.001-07:00

This book is going to change my life.

(I didn't actually take this photo...sorry!)

5th June 2010

2010-06-04T17:38:00.001-07:00

My baby just cares for me! :-)

29th April 2010

2010-05-29T00:37:00.000-07:00

Winter time, it's not so bad!

18th May 2010

2010-05-18T20:31:00.001-07:00

I had a short trip to Darwin this week to say a final goodbye to a dear friend. While I was there, I got to see all the things that I miss about the place, like psychadelic plants. I do not miss the humidity though!

10th May 2010

2010-05-08T21:51:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted for ages because I have been busy getting myself wed and honeymooning! What better reason for a 'bumper post' with a few of my favourites from the honeymoon in New Zealand!

1. Duck searching for goodies at Willowbank Wildlife Park, Christchurch

2. Mitre Peak, Milford Sound

3. Autumn tree in Chinese Gardens, Oamaru

4. Christchurch Cathedral, Christchurch

11 April 2010

2010-04-11T00:41:00.001-07:00

Sunday afternoon cuppa at my new favourite cafe! Bliss!!

Easter Weekend 2010

2010-04-04T03:48:00.000-07:00

I was honoured to be invited to a friends wedding this weekend that was held on the grooms parents cattle farm on the Fleurieu Peninsula. I took this photo while on a hay ride between the ceremony and the reception. A truly unforgettable wedding!

2010-03-23T14:52:00.000-07:00

For those who are interested, I have undeleted the wedding blog and placed a bit of a rant up there! http://a-teamwedding.blogspot.com/

23rd March 2010

2010-03-23T01:16:00.000-07:00

The fruits of my toil in the veggie garden. Thanks to Claire and Josh for giving me the plant for my birthday last year!

20th March 2010

2010-03-20T16:24:00.001-07:00

My newest friend.

Lloyd Brothers Olive Grove, Mc Laren Vale South Australia.

15th March 2010

2010-03-14T23:18:00.000-07:00

Enjoying some final summery ray's while waiting for my lunch date in the square.

Sunday 7th March 2010

2010-03-06T22:43:00.000-08:00

Cape Jervis, South Australia

Wind farms fascinate me!

1st March 2010

2010-03-01T02:53:00.001-08:00

Just a handful of my beloved Kombi model collection. I dream of one day owning the real thing and roaming the countryside in it!!!

20th February 2010

2010-02-19T17:12:00.000-08:00

After a really busy week, I spent this morning in my kitchen baking 72 scones for Judy & Andrew's engagement party. With the Audreys playing in the background and my apron wrapped around me, I was in my element. It was actually a really relaxing way to spend the morning!

18th February 2010

2010-02-18T03:57:00.000-08:00

New red shoes always make the world a brighter place.

10th February 2010

2010-02-11T18:42:00.000-08:00

I've been called many things for this; a dag, sad, weird, sick, old (even by people 10 years older than me, go figure!)....but I went and saw Cliff Richard and The Shadows the other night and let me tell ya, they haven't enjoyed 50 years of success without reason (even if 69 is a little too old to still be wearing leather pants!)!

7th February 2010

2010-02-06T18:20:00.000-08:00

I think this is koala sign language for "Sod off an let me sleep some more!"

5th February 2010

2010-02-04T17:46:00.000-08:00

Marooned at home feeling poorly, I decided to sort out my photos...all 29 years worth! So far, they're sorted into piles such as family, teenage years, childhood, pets, nephews, other peoples children, other peoples weddings, there is even a special ex-boyfriend pile (not a very big one)!

28th January 2010

2010-01-28T00:26:00.000-08:00

I hate to say it, but this crazy American woman is onto something. Looking at this, you wouldn't guess that the rest of my house is a shambles! Try it....you'll like it! www.flylady.com

26 January 2010

2010-01-25T19:17:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted for a long time because I have been on a spiritual quest with monks. That is all I am prepared to say....

8th January 2010

2010-01-08T14:28:00.000-08:00

Lisa's peacock friend who arrived on her cocktail at Chow's Thai Review.

7th January 2010

2010-01-06T23:24:00.000-08:00

Picnic in the park with my lunchtime girls

6th January 2010

2010-01-06T01:45:00.000-08:00

Picnic tea in Belair National Park, our little oasis in the middle of the week!

5th January 2010

2010-01-05T13:47:00.000-08:00

This was one of my DX-mas presents, a colour changing candle! It is WICKED!

4th January 2010

2010-01-04T02:24:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when I go back to work and leave Andy unsupervised....the boy goes shopping.....but what a way to wind down after my first day back!

3rd January 2010

2010-01-03T15:55:00.000-08:00

Final sunset of my summer holidays.

Saturday 2nd January 2010

2010-01-01T17:38:00.001-08:00

Brunch and honeymoon planning at Brighton.

New Years Day 2010

2009-12-31T16:18:00.000-08:00

I've decided to take a different approach to blogging this year. Instead of rambling on with words, I am going to take pictures of happenings in my days and upload them. A picture, so they say, says a thousand words. I hope my pictures speak to you!

Happy 2010 everyone. Hope this year brings lots of happy surprises and exciting challenges.

Take the pressure down!

2009-12-23T17:19:00.001-08:00

Cause I can feel it! It's rising like a storm!

It's been rising since late September when the decorations hit the stores and the push to start Christmas shopping began. Don't get me wrong, I am no Grinch, I love Christmas, but it really has lost a lot of meaning and I am not just talking about the commercialism. That goes without saying. Red and green pamphlets start arriving in the mail, telling us what we "must have" at Christmas this year, what million dollar toy is going to enrich your child's life!

One of the biggest pressures on people though, is family. Now for the record, I have a fantastic family, 2 of them in fact! I will be seeing them all at Christmas time, but this year, we're spreading it out over Christmas and Boxing day. I thought this would alleviate all the pressure to be here, be there, see this person and that etc etc, but it has brought a whole new set of issues! We are seeing Andy's family on Christmas day and then my family on Boxing day. Both days will have the same proceedings; present opening, laughter, togetherness, food, pudding, wine, tinsel and Dad's aged anywhere between 30 and 85 falling asleep in chairs. (Only my family will have the Mario Lanza Christmas album though!) but they will just occur one day apart.

I now have people looking at me with great sadness written on their faces saying "You parents are going to be all alone on Christmas day!"
Yep, they are. They're all alone today, but that seems to be ok. They'll be all alone on the 27th, but that's ok too. On the 5th of March, 14th of November, 23rd of August....there'll probably just be the two of them those days as well, but that's ok, because it's not the 25th of December! Sure, if I wasn't seeing them at all, if they were going to be all alone for the whole season, then I would feel bad, but Andy and I, my brother and his wife, my two nephews, my eccentric uncle and our mate Luke are all going to be there on the 26th.....and if nobody looks at the calendar, nobody will know any different!

The Soundtrack to my Childhood

2009-12-12T19:11:00.000-08:00

I found this on eBay the other day and it is on its way to me. It is the soundtrack to some of the best years of my life! Age 6 to 16. I remember crawling out of bed early on Saturday mornings to switch on the telly and watch Rage when all these songs were in the charts. I remember thinking it was strange that Sinead O'Connor had a shaved head, I remember thinking that Rick Astley was actually pretty cool and thinking it was funny when Cher was straddling the cannon because it looked like she had a doodle (childish giggle). Then later, I remember singing along to "Zombie" and thinking the Cranberries were the greatest band in the world, dancing to "Another night" at school socials, I remember the unhealthy obsession I had with Daniel Johns from Silverchair, even though initially, I wasn't all that sold on their music and I remember all the boys in my class learning how to play "Wonderwall" on guitar and thinking they were way cool.

Interesting how I look back on the times that I was listening to those songs and think "those were the good old days". They were good old days, but then again, there has been another 10 years since we first heard the Gallagher brothers beat out Wonderwall, another 10 years of songs and another 10 years of memories. Sure, the latest 10 year installment had probably had more trials than the previous 10 years, that is what happens when we hit adulthood, but then, I think back over those 10 years and they, in a different way, have also been "good old days". Every one has the occasional "annus horribilus", but on the whole, I reckon when I get to the end of my life, I am going to look back on most of it as having been the "good old days". Too often we spend too long looking back over the past, wishing it were the present, yet in doing this, we sometimes forget to make the present!

I know, I am always carrying on about living for the moment, but it is so important, because eventually, "right now" will one day become "back then" and the memories "back then" holds is entirely based on what you make of it "right now".

Right now though, cast your eyes over this list and see if you can remember what you were wearing and who you were singing and dancing with when you first heard these gems!

Europe – The Final Countdown
New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle
Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up
George Michael – Faith
Bananarama – Love In The First Degree
Taylor Dayne – Tell It To My Heart
Robert Palmer – Simply Irresistible
Transvision Vamp – I Want Your Love
Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy
Roxette – The Look
Alice Cooper – Poison
Cher – If I Could Turn Back Time
Sinead O'connor – Nothing Compares 2 U
Paula Abdul – Opposites Attract
Kylie Minogue – Better The Devil You Know
Faith No More – Epic
Deee-lite – Groove Is In The Heart
Londonbeat – I've Been Thinking About You
Extreme – More Than Words
Scorpions – Wind Of Change
Martika – Love…thy Will Be Done
Mr Big – To Be With You
Shakespear's Sister – Stay
Vanessa Williams – Save The Best For Last
The Cure – Friday I'm In Love
Sophie B. Hawkins – Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover
4 Non Blondes – What's Up
Johnny Gill – The Floor
Culture Beat – Mr Vain
Crystal Waters – 100% Pure Love
Bryan Adams – Please Forgive Me
Silverchair – Tomorrow
The Cranberries – Zombie
Real Mccoy – Another Night
N-trance – Set You Free
Take That – Back For Good
Everything But The Girl – Missing
Oasis – Wonderwall

Is it just me......

2009-11-30T17:49:00.000-08:00

...or does anyone else suspect Matt Damon of channelling "Mr Raditch of Degrassi Junior High" fame, in his latest film, "The Informant"

Filling my brain....but with what

2009-11-17T22:23:00.000-08:00

I am in a bit of a conundrum. I want to learn something. Long term, short term, I don't really care. I hate studying, but I hate not studying a bit more.
I have some ideas, lots of ideas in fact, many different coloured ideas. I have to chose one, just one, otherwise I will end up a jibbering idiot with Glandular Fever (been there, done that, got the t-shirt).
So here are my thoughts:

Theology - something I have wanted to study for ages, but never got around to it. It will screw with my head, it will make me question everything, but I also think it will rock my socks!

Writing - I love writing, but I don't think I am very good at it. Educating myself might make me gooder.

Finance/Insurance - Then I can be good at my job and have a career path of sorts.

So do I follow head or heart?

Truth

2009-11-09T18:56:00.000-08:00

"Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult - once we truly understand and accept it - then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters."
M. Scott Peck, Author, Psychiatrist and all round pretty cool dude.

In other words, sometimes your the pigeon, sometimes your the statue. It happens to us all, just slap a smile on and get on with it!

Boobs!

2009-10-01T03:10:00.000-07:00

October is breast cancer awareness month. A time where we girls are encouraged to get acquainted with our norks, check for lumps, make lifestyle changes to reduce our chances of getting it and get informed! My gym, my church and some of my friends will be honouring this month by hosting a "Girls night in", where a bunch of chicks get together and talk about things that girls talk about, eat pink food and drink pink drinks and raise money. If you read the fine print of the fliers put out by the Cancer Council, you'll see that these events are to raise money for "women's cancers", so we're talking cervical, ovarian, endometrial, gestational trophoblastic tumour, uterine sarcoma, vulva and vaginal as well as breast.

But all we see is breast!

It's fair enough that breast cancer gets a fair amount of publicity, it is the most common cancer in women, but what about women afflicted with the other types, the less visible and as I have heard it labelled before "less sexy" cancer. Ok, so there is nothing sexy about cancer, but we all have to agree (women included) that there is something sexy about breasts! What about an ovary? Is an ovary sexy? Possibly not, it's just a slimy little internal organ that causes us some pain once a month.

For a friend of mine, ovaries mean a hell of a lot more than that. Hers are gone, along with her uterus. When she was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she was given details for a support group, but every support grou paession she attended was focussed on breast cancer. Sy friend couldn't help feeling like she'd been left behind because she didn't have the big "BC". I put myself in her shoes, I reckon I would feel like the only one in the world with ovarian cancer! These support groups are designed to make people feel like they have an ally, yet by being completely 'breast orientated', she felt alienated. She never buys anything pink.

I suspect that breast cancer, along with being the most common, gets so much publicity because it is so visible! But I think it is time we recognised the invisible, silent cancers that effect so many women, ok, not as many as are effected by breast cancer, but these women are no less important, are no less sick, are no less thrown into complete limbo by their diagnosis. I'm all for changing 'breast cancer awareness month' to 'women's cancer awareness month', followed by a 'men's cancer awareness month'. Share the love people!

Got some of my info from here:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/womenscancers

I love you!

2009-09-15T04:33:00.000-07:00

I've had a couple of conversations with various friends about these three little words (if "I" even counts as a word). We hear them said all the time in various guises. Some people say it freely, other people (and I count myself in this category) are more conservative with our professing of love for others. It's not that I don't 'love' people, it's not that I've had 'love' thrown back in my face. The reason I don't say "I love you" that often is not what you're expecting. It's because I am a hopeless romantic and I believe so deeply in love that I see the words as sacred.
I don't think "I love you" should be tacked onto a farewell, just in case something happens and you never get another opportunity. Saying "I hope you have a great day, I'll see ya tonight" is my way of saying it to Andy as I walk out the door. In saying that, I am conveying that I want him to have a good day, because I want him to be happy and I am looking forward to being with him tonight, because (drum roll please) I love him. I cook him dinner because I love him and I want him to be healthy and nourished, he takes out the rubbish and does the folding because he loves me and understands that a fresh smelling kitchen and neatly folded clothes make me happy.
That's one sort of love, there are heaps of different types. Family, for example. My family very VERY seldom say it to one another, but I have never doubted for a second that they do and vice versa. We do things for one another, we cut articles out of magazines, we buy each other little gifts, we phone each other and we cook meals for each other. These are all tangible ways of saying a big fat "I love you and I have been thinking about you" to each other without ever uttering the words.
My friends know I love them and I know they love me, obviously, given that I have had these conversations, some of them say it to me. Others express it in different ways, much the same as my family, but I know they do.
So what's my point? I suppose I have come to realise that "I love you" is just words, much the same as any combination of words. They can mean everything or they can mean nothing. Make sure if you're going to say it, you say it because you mean it and not because you always have. Better still, don't say it...do it! (interpret that as you will....)

Farwell My Little Friend

2009-08-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

1999 - 2009

On Sunday, 30th August, Oscar slipped away peacefully. Unfortunately, I was interstate at the time, however I am assured that he chose his time so I wouldn't be too traumatised! It's very sad, it's always sad to say goodbye to a pet, in particular, one that has been with you for a third of your life. At the same time however, I am thankful that I have had so much time with him. Most budgies only last 5-7 years, so I count myself lucky to have gotten a bonus 3 years.

He's now peacefully resting under a little flowering shrub in the front yard, buried with his favourite mirror, a handful of seed and 10 purple daisy's, one for each year of his life.

Thanks for being in our life little guy!

New job update and a question on favouritism

2009-07-31T19:01:00.000-07:00

My new job is going great. I am two days in to working solo (my predecessor just left and the other team member is on 3 months leave, so it's just me and my boss) and have received a piece of paper that tells me how much extra coin I'll be getting for my trouble (:-D). It's challenging, it's constantly busy an every task is different from the last. It's what I have been missing, even from my last job, which I loved, I just wasn't busy enough.

One of the most thought provoking aspects of my new job is that of 'toilet cubicle favouritism'. See, I am working in the same building as I was in my last role, so as such, all the toilets throughout the building are in the same place, the same number of cubicles, the same colour scheme....just different floors. Firstly, I'm interested to know, do all people favour a cubicle, or is it just me? And secondly, does this favourite change, depending on the floor? See, on level 5, I always went to the Northern most cubicle, unless it was taken, but 9 times out of 10, I was a North cubicle user. On level 2, I gravitate towards the Southern most cubicle! Very strange.
I also favour a sink over the two others, but that is logical, the middle one is directly under the soap dispenser and the southern one sprays water all over my corporate suit. I don't think I've tried the other one yet......

Books Books! I LOVE Books!

2009-07-16T05:15:00.000-07:00

So I am on a reading frenzy....I have been on a reading frenzy for the past 18 months! Below is a list of all my reads over the past year or so. If you want opinions on any of these books, I'm your gal!
Optionally, if anyone has any suggestions of books you think I should read, please let me know!

Sea Glass - Anita Shreve
Heavenly Delights - Kerry Greenwood
Two Caravans - Marina Lewycka
Snow Falling on Cedars - David Guterson
Cloudstreet - Tim Winton
Miss Smilas Feeling for Snow - Peter Hoeg
The Shifting Fog/The house at Riverton - Kate Morton
Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time - Marcus Borg
A short history of Tractors in Ukrainian - Marina Lewyka
The God of Small things - A. Roy
The 5 People You meet in Heaven - Mitch Albom
That’d be right - William McInnes
The life of Pi - Yann Martel
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Sunday Best - Robbie Neal
Love Like Water - Meme MacDonald
Lines in the Sand - Anne Deveson
The Last Time I Saw Mother - Arlene J Chai
My Place - Sally Morgan
My Sisters Keeper - Jodi Picoult
44 Scotland Street - Alexander McCall Smith
Espresso Tales - Alexander McCall Smith
Love Over Scotland - Alexander McCall Smith
The World According to Bertie - Alexander McCall Smith
The Unbearable Lightness of Scones - Alexander McCall Smith
Breathing in Colour - Clare Jay

And just started Eat, Pray Love - Elizabeth Gilbert

I figure if I read a lot, I will draw inspiration from words, images, language and themes and one day have enough of this inspiration to write something myself. Until then, I read!