Capturing the last day of Winter on my walk near the lake today.If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.
Sunday 31 August 2008
Silent Sundays
Capturing the last day of Winter on my walk near the lake today.If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.
Friday 29 August 2008
Michael Phelps and Me
hell
This is the longest I have gone without writing on my blog since I started it in January this year. Well you know I have been kind of busy......living and...... seemingly dying. In fact, over the last three weeks I have been wired up, strung out, revved up, laid low and revived again.
First, my sister and her family visited from London. It was ‘well good’ (oh yes, I now speak like an English teenager!). My young nieces and nephew were teaching me the latest IT concepts as well as the latest slang it seems. Now my Blackberry, Ipod and laptop can do things I would never have thought possible.
Then of course there was the 24 hour Olympic coverage. I have never seen so many perfect bodies doing things I never thought possible either. I have previously posted about how I come from a sports mad family. Well we were all a little sleep deprived for a couple of weeks. How many replays can one person tolerate? A lot it seems, particularly when it came to watching one Usain Bolte. But it was another person who got me all inspired. No need for guesses. Michael Phelps was simply amazing. How could you not be inspired. He won more gold medals than most countries will ever see in their Olympic lifetimes.
While everyone else was out joining gyms, buying the latest gym gear and signing up their toddlers to the Institute of Sport I was more serious about following in Phelps' footsteps. Well sort of, in a round about way. I was sitting on the couch working hard on consuming 12,000 calories a day. I have to say he makes it look way easier than it is. In fact, it may have been easier to put the Olympic size pool in the backyard and perfect my strokes for hours on end.
Then my beautiful daughter visited and while I loved seeing her she arrived with something unexpected. The flu. And, as she has always been the generous sort she also managed to share it with anyone and everyone in her path. It stopped my Olympic training in its tracks. I mean what was the point of strenuous carb loading if I became just another statistic (after all, 36, 000 people die from the flu every year). Oh and I was dying too and I was so happy to share it with anyone that asked me how I was feeling. In her state of guilt, my poor daughter left me with half the products off the pharmacy shelf. In the end it got too exhausting popping pills, measuring cough medicines, taking steam baths, rubbing evil smelling concoctions on every centimetre of exposed flesh I could comfortably reach and sucking on lozenges until my teeth ached. Finally, I just hid under the doona with a box of tissues until the worst passed. Thanks, my dear, you are the gift that keeps on giving.
Then, while still in the throes of the deadly flu a friend dropped by with some of her positive thoughts about how she has managed to find calm and inner peace in her life. Just what you need at times like this.... The trick to feel more calm and peaceful apprently is to finish off all the things you have started. “Sounds great”, I said through sniffs. “ I think I will give that a go...tomorrow, next month, next year....”. So when I finally shut the door, I looked around the house to find things I had started and hadn’t finished. There was a bottle of Merlot, the Chardonnay, Baileys, the Vodka, the packet of Pringles, the lemon lime cheesecake, box of chocolates, Valium......thank goodness I decided that peace of mind could probably be better achieved in other ways......like finishing all the flu medications lying around the house.....and getting well.
Today I feel a whole lot better. After nearly two weeks you would expect so. I even decided to finish something I had started a few weeks ago. I finally booked the trip to Thailand in November. And the Phuket resort we will be staying at has three huge pools (and those beaches). You know what that means don’t you? Oh yes, I have to get back on to my Michael Phelps training schedule – except, I have now faced reality. The Olympic fog and euphoria has now vanished and Lycra is so....so damn unforgiving. I may have to cross off a zero – 12,000 calories may have to become 1,200 calories instead.
I will just meditate on this peaceful scene below and start crossing off the days...somehow, I think I will find some inner peace.......after all. You have got to love friends with positive thoughts though....they are truly worth their weight in gold!
This is the longest I have gone without writing on my blog since I started it in January this year. Well you know I have been kind of busy......living and...... seemingly dying. In fact, over the last three weeks I have been wired up, strung out, revved up, laid low and revived again.
First, my sister and her family visited from London. It was ‘well good’ (oh yes, I now speak like an English teenager!). My young nieces and nephew were teaching me the latest IT concepts as well as the latest slang it seems. Now my Blackberry, Ipod and laptop can do things I would never have thought possible.
Then of course there was the 24 hour Olympic coverage. I have never seen so many perfect bodies doing things I never thought possible either. I have previously posted about how I come from a sports mad family. Well we were all a little sleep deprived for a couple of weeks. How many replays can one person tolerate? A lot it seems, particularly when it came to watching one Usain Bolte. But it was another person who got me all inspired. No need for guesses. Michael Phelps was simply amazing. How could you not be inspired. He won more gold medals than most countries will ever see in their Olympic lifetimes.
While everyone else was out joining gyms, buying the latest gym gear and signing up their toddlers to the Institute of Sport I was more serious about following in Phelps' footsteps. Well sort of, in a round about way. I was sitting on the couch working hard on consuming 12,000 calories a day. I have to say he makes it look way easier than it is. In fact, it may have been easier to put the Olympic size pool in the backyard and perfect my strokes for hours on end.
Then my beautiful daughter visited and while I loved seeing her she arrived with something unexpected. The flu. And, as she has always been the generous sort she also managed to share it with anyone and everyone in her path. It stopped my Olympic training in its tracks. I mean what was the point of strenuous carb loading if I became just another statistic (after all, 36, 000 people die from the flu every year). Oh and I was dying too and I was so happy to share it with anyone that asked me how I was feeling. In her state of guilt, my poor daughter left me with half the products off the pharmacy shelf. In the end it got too exhausting popping pills, measuring cough medicines, taking steam baths, rubbing evil smelling concoctions on every centimetre of exposed flesh I could comfortably reach and sucking on lozenges until my teeth ached. Finally, I just hid under the doona with a box of tissues until the worst passed. Thanks, my dear, you are the gift that keeps on giving.
Then, while still in the throes of the deadly flu a friend dropped by with some of her positive thoughts about how she has managed to find calm and inner peace in her life. Just what you need at times like this.... The trick to feel more calm and peaceful apprently is to finish off all the things you have started. “Sounds great”, I said through sniffs. “ I think I will give that a go...tomorrow, next month, next year....”. So when I finally shut the door, I looked around the house to find things I had started and hadn’t finished. There was a bottle of Merlot, the Chardonnay, Baileys, the Vodka, the packet of Pringles, the lemon lime cheesecake, box of chocolates, Valium......thank goodness I decided that peace of mind could probably be better achieved in other ways......like finishing all the flu medications lying around the house.....and getting well.
Today I feel a whole lot better. After nearly two weeks you would expect so. I even decided to finish something I had started a few weeks ago. I finally booked the trip to Thailand in November. And the Phuket resort we will be staying at has three huge pools (and those beaches). You know what that means don’t you? Oh yes, I have to get back on to my Michael Phelps training schedule – except, I have now faced reality. The Olympic fog and euphoria has now vanished and Lycra is so....so damn unforgiving. I may have to cross off a zero – 12,000 calories may have to become 1,200 calories instead.
I will just meditate on this peaceful scene below and start crossing off the days...somehow, I think I will find some inner peace.......after all. You have got to love friends with positive thoughts though....they are truly worth their weight in gold!
Monday 11 August 2008
My Quest to become a Christmas Goddess
OK folks it's now 47 days to Christmas and my dreams of becoming a Christmas Goddess are on their way.
My aim is to make this Christmas a bit more meaningful by personally making decorations, sweets, biscuits, presents and whatever else I can find. I have always been too busy to do too much other than decorate the house but it has always been a dream to put more creative thought into the festive season. I am a late developer when it comes to the Domestic Goddess role but, given we do not know what the future holds on the economic front, I think the time is right to get into this role sooner than later.
When I was a child my mother used to hand make most of our Christmas presents staying up late into the night. I still have the many dolls, clowns and bears she made. Of course my own daughter had very different Christmas experiences and very different expectations. When she was two she asked Santa Claus for a red racing car. On Christmas her little face was notably disappointed at the large toy car. She was expecting the real thing. She has since bought her own.
My mother is very accomplished in many ways and would make and decorate the most amazing Christmas cakes, sweets and puddings that you could imagine. Christmas in Australia is in the middle of summer so we tend to have BBQs and seafood rather than traditional Christmas fare (although it still happens). I have spent Christmas in the UK, Germany, the US and Canada and have experienced how wonderful White Christmases are also. Regardless of the weather, or what part of the world you spend it, it's a wonderful time to reflect on the season's true meaning and spend time with our families.
I must say that I am totally inspired by all the creative bloggers out there who just do the most amazing crafts and decorate their homes into Christmas wonderlands. I am going to start small but over the next few weeks please join me on my latest project and my quest to be a Christmas Goddess. And of course, if you have any favourite things you make, or traditions you follow, please let me know. I could do with all the help I can get.
I actually made crackers last year as we had a large family celebration and I wanted something special to give to each person. Store bought crackers or bonbons are a waste of money really. They are expensive and all you get is a party hat, a joke that usually isn't funny and perhaps a small trinket which most people throw away.
Making the crackers yourself enables you to personalise the contents for each person. It is so much fun! And great for the children to get involved in too!
You'll need
Fillers for the crackers, cellophane bag, cardboard, Christmas paper, glue or tape, bonbon snaps (the pop!), ribbon
The Fillers
You can put whatever you want in the crackers. I personalise them for each person and use small gifts for females such as makeup and perfume samples, jewellery, bath sachets, chocolates, miniature size bottle of Baileys (or a beverage they prefer), lottery ticket, pretty handkerchief, small painting I have done, photo, movie tickets, quotations, etc etc. For males I use miniature bottles of alcohol, golf balls, candy, lottery tickets, puzzles, vouchers, etc.
Finding the items for each person is the fun bit. You can make them then as cheap as you want or as expensive as you want. You can also make your cracker as your main gift to others if you wish. And of course don't forget to add handmade hats and find some appropriate jokes too.
Assembling your crackers
1. I put the contents into a cellophane bag first to keep them secure and to enable them to be packed more easily into the cardboard roll.
2. Cut cardboard and make a roll which covers the packet of contents snugly. Tape the roll so it is secure.
3. Put the cellophane packet into the roll of cardboard.
4. Cut some Christmas paper out so that it is twice as long as the cardboard roll and wide enough to roll them completely with some left over.
5. Place the cardboard roll in the middle of the paper with a good length of paper on either side. If you are using the bonbon snaps (available at craft stores) and are a must I think, tape one to the outside of the cardboard roll. Make sure that the middle of the banger is in the middle of the cardboard, so a bit pokes out at either end.
6. Roll up the whole lot carefully in the Christmas paper and tape down the end.
7. Tie ribbon on either side of the cracker being careful not to rip the paper.
8. Decorate the outside of the cracker in any way you want. It's a tradition in my extended family that the youngest children always hand out the presents and the crackers. Therefore, I usually put photos of who the crackers are for on the outside to make it easier for the small ones who do not know how to read. You can use Christmas themed name tags.
Here is an example of a finished Christmas Cracker I made today for my daughter. I like to make them in white, gold, silver or sometimes red and use complementary ribbons. Try them because they are so much fun and everyone loves them, because they are personalised and they have wonderful treasures inside.
My aim is to make this Christmas a bit more meaningful by personally making decorations, sweets, biscuits, presents and whatever else I can find. I have always been too busy to do too much other than decorate the house but it has always been a dream to put more creative thought into the festive season. I am a late developer when it comes to the Domestic Goddess role but, given we do not know what the future holds on the economic front, I think the time is right to get into this role sooner than later.
When I was a child my mother used to hand make most of our Christmas presents staying up late into the night. I still have the many dolls, clowns and bears she made. Of course my own daughter had very different Christmas experiences and very different expectations. When she was two she asked Santa Claus for a red racing car. On Christmas her little face was notably disappointed at the large toy car. She was expecting the real thing. She has since bought her own.
My mother is very accomplished in many ways and would make and decorate the most amazing Christmas cakes, sweets and puddings that you could imagine. Christmas in Australia is in the middle of summer so we tend to have BBQs and seafood rather than traditional Christmas fare (although it still happens). I have spent Christmas in the UK, Germany, the US and Canada and have experienced how wonderful White Christmases are also. Regardless of the weather, or what part of the world you spend it, it's a wonderful time to reflect on the season's true meaning and spend time with our families.
I must say that I am totally inspired by all the creative bloggers out there who just do the most amazing crafts and decorate their homes into Christmas wonderlands. I am going to start small but over the next few weeks please join me on my latest project and my quest to be a Christmas Goddess. And of course, if you have any favourite things you make, or traditions you follow, please let me know. I could do with all the help I can get.
PROJECT 1: CHRISTMAS CRACKERS
I actually made crackers last year as we had a large family celebration and I wanted something special to give to each person. Store bought crackers or bonbons are a waste of money really. They are expensive and all you get is a party hat, a joke that usually isn't funny and perhaps a small trinket which most people throw away.
Making the crackers yourself enables you to personalise the contents for each person. It is so much fun! And great for the children to get involved in too!
You'll need
Fillers for the crackers, cellophane bag, cardboard, Christmas paper, glue or tape, bonbon snaps (the pop!), ribbon
The Fillers
You can put whatever you want in the crackers. I personalise them for each person and use small gifts for females such as makeup and perfume samples, jewellery, bath sachets, chocolates, miniature size bottle of Baileys (or a beverage they prefer), lottery ticket, pretty handkerchief, small painting I have done, photo, movie tickets, quotations, etc etc. For males I use miniature bottles of alcohol, golf balls, candy, lottery tickets, puzzles, vouchers, etc.Finding the items for each person is the fun bit. You can make them then as cheap as you want or as expensive as you want. You can also make your cracker as your main gift to others if you wish. And of course don't forget to add handmade hats and find some appropriate jokes too.
Assembling your crackers
1. I put the contents into a cellophane bag first to keep them secure and to enable them to be packed more easily into the cardboard roll.
2. Cut cardboard and make a roll which covers the packet of contents snugly. Tape the roll so it is secure.3. Put the cellophane packet into the roll of cardboard.
4. Cut some Christmas paper out so that it is twice as long as the cardboard roll and wide enough to roll them completely with some left over.
5. Place the cardboard roll in the middle of the paper with a good length of paper on either side. If you are using the bonbon snaps (available at craft stores) and are a must I think, tape one to the outside of the cardboard roll. Make sure that the middle of the banger is in the middle of the cardboard, so a bit pokes out at either end.
6. Roll up the whole lot carefully in the Christmas paper and tape down the end.
7. Tie ribbon on either side of the cracker being careful not to rip the paper.
8. Decorate the outside of the cracker in any way you want. It's a tradition in my extended family that the youngest children always hand out the presents and the crackers. Therefore, I usually put photos of who the crackers are for on the outside to make it easier for the small ones who do not know how to read. You can use Christmas themed name tags.
Here is an example of a finished Christmas Cracker I made today for my daughter. I like to make them in white, gold, silver or sometimes red and use complementary ribbons. Try them because they are so much fun and everyone loves them, because they are personalised and they have wonderful treasures inside.
Friday 8 August 2008
True Love
An Australian by the name of John Rendall is about to release a new book (his first was published in 1972) about the time he and his friend Ace Bourke shared their lives with a lion called Christian.
John and Ace bought the lion cub from Harrods Department store in London in 1969 (in the days it sold exotic animals....and obviously before the animal rights movement was born). Christian's parents belonged to a zoo in England. While living with John and Ace he travelled by Bentley, ate in fine London restaurants and spent his days lounging in a furniture shop.
Christian was beautifully behaved but he grew from 35lbs to 185 lbs within a year. He was fast becoming a problem which was growing every day. It was clear he could not stay with his owners forever.
His future was decided by a chance encounter - when the actors Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna (remember they starred in Born Free?) walked into the shop to buy a pine desk. They immediately suggested that George Adamson, the African conservationist might be able to help. John and Ace took Christian to Africa in 1970 even though George had warned them that Christian may not be able to be rehabilitated back into the wild because of his lavish urban lifestyle.
John Rendall and Ace Bourke continued to make sporadic visits to Kenya, but mostly they followed Christian's adventures from afar. Finally, in 1974, George Adamson wrote to say that Christian's pride was self-sufficient. Christian was defending it. There was a litter of cubs. They were feeding themselves and they rarely returned to camp.
John and Ace decided to travel to Africa one last time, in the hope of being able to say goodbye, although Adamson warned them that it would almost certainly be a wasted mission.
Christian hadn't been near the camp for nine moths and George didn't know if he was alive or dead. John and Ace decided to make the trip anyway. Strangely, Christian turned up at the camp the night before they were due to arrive. That visit was to be their last and Christian has never been seen again.
The following is a video of John and Ace's reunion with Christian a year after they left him with George in Africa.
If you would like to read a 2007 press story about Christian click here or if you would like to see a recent interview (1.8.08) with John and Ace click here and here . A truly heartwarming story.
Wednesday 6 August 2008
Not Happy Google
I wasn't ready for my close up!!My daughter rang me this morning.
The phone call went like this.
"Hi Mum, I think I have ESP. Who is that guy standing in your front garden?"
"What are you talking about?" I said. "What guy? Are you taking something you shouldn't be? Are you sleeping enough? Working too hard? What is going on?"
"No, I'm serious", she said, "I really want you to go and look outside in the front garden and see if someone is there".
So up I get, open the front door and look in the garden as directed (and don't ask the obvious question about why I do exactly what my daughter says, particularly when she lives on the other side of the country. It's just the way of the world and its too late to argue about it now...).
"No", I finally tell her. "I cannot see a man in the garden. Why are you asking me that?"
"No worries Mum, I'll send you a link which will explain all. Love you. Bye."
Just another one of those cryptic 2 minute phone conversations I sometimes have with my daughter (which mostly feature in my Message from your Mother posts).
Several minutes later, I get an email from her.
With just a link.
I click on it.
There is a picture of my home, with a truck parked out the front, cars in the driveway and what's that? There is a man standing in the front garden.
Welcome to the world of Big Google, private eye....
From yesterday, Australians can go beyond having a bird's eye view of their neighbourhood through the Google Earth service and zoom in to street level for a 360-degree view. It is not real time...yet!
The service, Google Street View Australia, is the result of a massive six-month photographic project covering hundreds of thousands of kilometres of roads.
Here is a link so you can see what I mean if you haven't already used this facility (not a link to my home or anyone else's - if you happen to know any addresses in Australia have a look or just key in Bondi Beach or the Opera House).
The scope of this service surpasses Google's efforts in France, where you can take virtual strolls along the Tour de France cycling route and in the US where it has mapped about 50 cities.
Many of the original photographs that were part of the US Street View launch were taken down following privacy concerns. They include a woman in a G-string, a man striding into an adult bookshop and a man relieving himself on a pavement.
Since then, Google has supposedly developed technology to blur faces and number plates in the Street View photos, although it acknowledges the automated process is not foolproof. Privacy conscious users who notice any potentially invasive images on Street View can report them to Google using an online form.
So let's see how good the technology is in disguising people.
Here is a partial picture of the house as seen on Google street view. Note the man in the front garden on the right.
OK, so you may find it hard to see him clearly. Well we can zoom closer ....much closer....now there, you can probably see him clearly now.... no, your eyes are not playing tricks...
now, if we zoom in closer to the veranda you will see this...err, um, very unattractive sight, not sure who that could be.......yes, it looks like a deer in the headlights it seems.
and then if we zoom to the left, we will see the next door neighbour Barry in his front yard doing goodness knows what... looks suspiciously like he is posing for the Google camera as he's out collecting his newspaper...oh for goodness sakes Barry..
I am too disturbed to do any more prying up and down the street - behind closed doors while sitting at the computer. I fear for what else I might see. But you can bet millions of Aussies are doing just that - looking up every address that they know around the country. I find it just a little bit creepy...and wrong.
And while it may be true that if George Clooney was really in my garden I may not be necessarily asking Google to take down those pictures, in all seriousness I think this new Google-aid is going to cause all sorts of privacy issues.
What do you think? Are you an American whose city already has Google street view?
The phone call went like this.
"Hi Mum, I think I have ESP. Who is that guy standing in your front garden?"
"What are you talking about?" I said. "What guy? Are you taking something you shouldn't be? Are you sleeping enough? Working too hard? What is going on?"
"No, I'm serious", she said, "I really want you to go and look outside in the front garden and see if someone is there".
So up I get, open the front door and look in the garden as directed (and don't ask the obvious question about why I do exactly what my daughter says, particularly when she lives on the other side of the country. It's just the way of the world and its too late to argue about it now...).
"No", I finally tell her. "I cannot see a man in the garden. Why are you asking me that?"
"No worries Mum, I'll send you a link which will explain all. Love you. Bye."
Just another one of those cryptic 2 minute phone conversations I sometimes have with my daughter (which mostly feature in my Message from your Mother posts).
Several minutes later, I get an email from her.
With just a link.
I click on it.
There is a picture of my home, with a truck parked out the front, cars in the driveway and what's that? There is a man standing in the front garden.
Welcome to the world of Big Google, private eye....
From yesterday, Australians can go beyond having a bird's eye view of their neighbourhood through the Google Earth service and zoom in to street level for a 360-degree view. It is not real time...yet!
The service, Google Street View Australia, is the result of a massive six-month photographic project covering hundreds of thousands of kilometres of roads.
Here is a link so you can see what I mean if you haven't already used this facility (not a link to my home or anyone else's - if you happen to know any addresses in Australia have a look or just key in Bondi Beach or the Opera House).
The scope of this service surpasses Google's efforts in France, where you can take virtual strolls along the Tour de France cycling route and in the US where it has mapped about 50 cities.
Many of the original photographs that were part of the US Street View launch were taken down following privacy concerns. They include a woman in a G-string, a man striding into an adult bookshop and a man relieving himself on a pavement.
Since then, Google has supposedly developed technology to blur faces and number plates in the Street View photos, although it acknowledges the automated process is not foolproof. Privacy conscious users who notice any potentially invasive images on Street View can report them to Google using an online form.
So let's see how good the technology is in disguising people.
Here is a partial picture of the house as seen on Google street view. Note the man in the front garden on the right.
OK, so you may find it hard to see him clearly. Well we can zoom closer ....much closer....now there, you can probably see him clearly now.... no, your eyes are not playing tricks...
now, if we zoom in closer to the veranda you will see this...err, um, very unattractive sight, not sure who that could be.......yes, it looks like a deer in the headlights it seems. 
and then if we zoom to the left, we will see the next door neighbour Barry in his front yard doing goodness knows what... looks suspiciously like he is posing for the Google camera as he's out collecting his newspaper...oh for goodness sakes Barry.. 
I am too disturbed to do any more prying up and down the street - behind closed doors while sitting at the computer. I fear for what else I might see. But you can bet millions of Aussies are doing just that - looking up every address that they know around the country. I find it just a little bit creepy...and wrong.And while it may be true that if George Clooney was really in my garden I may not be necessarily asking Google to take down those pictures, in all seriousness I think this new Google-aid is going to cause all sorts of privacy issues.
What do you think? Are you an American whose city already has Google street view?
Sunday 3 August 2008
Favourite things
1/9/2008 - I have been looking for what seems like months for a new makeup bag to put in my handbag - today I found this Longchamp leather bag for half price. How could I resist? It's a classic and will hold my personal makeup bits and pieces that I always carry with me. It took me ages to find because I only ever do plain colours such as black or red and I prefer leather because it will last for years. And what will I put in the bag? Let's see my basics are Dior mascara, Estee Lauder concealer, Chanel blush, Dior eyeliner, eye drops, eyebrow brush, tweezers, YSL touche eclat highlighter and Dior lipliner and lip gloss. Of course my professional makeup kit I use on others looks like the size of half a wardrobe but that's a whole different story.
30/8/2008 - I found this gorgeous bottle of LIMONCELLO today and it took me right back to happy times in southern Italy. I love it chilled and poured over a bed of crushed ice, or as an aperitif mixed with champagne, tonic or soda. It's also an excellent ingredient in ice cream, pancakes, sorbet and fruit salads. Try it. It's totally free from preservatives, additives or colourants.
Thanks to the gorgeous Henry - Soul Merlin - here is a link with more information about this alcoholic tipple.
Not only do I have to mind my Ps & Qs
but now I have to watch my Ls & Us
It's not what you write it's the way that you spell it and so begins this post.I had an email from a lovely reader who politely pointed out that some of my spelling was a bit odd and perhaps I should use a spell checker.
Mmmm, anything's possible.
Detail is not my strongest point unless I happen to be applying eyeliner.
It's also well known that the older we get the worse our spelling becomes because we just do not see the error of our ways..... BUT.... I was a five year old who could spell h-i-p-p-o-p-o-t-a-m-u-s for goodness sakes, how could I have lost my way?
Yet, on the other hand, I have to admit that I have always struggled with words like separate, gauge, occasion, definite, and Honorificabilitudinitatibus ( I just threw that last one in so you, too, could learn a new word).
So I am pleased that the concerned reader happened to give me a sample of my errors.
Let's see (my spelling is in red, the corrections in blue)
colour, color, favourite favorite center centre judgment judgement check cheque license licence jewelry jewellery pajamas pyjamas traveling travelling fulfil fulfill fulfilling fulfiling fulfilment fulfillment
Let's see (my spelling is in red, the corrections in blue)
colour, color, favourite favorite center centre judgment judgement check cheque license licence jewelry jewellery pajamas pyjamas traveling travelling fulfil fulfill fulfilling fulfiling fulfilment fulfillment
Well, it’s obvious isn’t it? I am using the British English spelling system and my reader is using the American English system.
So, I checked with my trustworthy fountain of knowledge. My Mother. Yes, she is the woman who used to correct my letters to her and mark them out of 10 (it is fortunate that she doesn’t know the address of this blog because I'm not so sure she would approve of what I do to the English language....and I would be forced to delete her many comments).
The Literary Oracle (yes, I guess she has an odd name) told me that the English language has never been standardised. She said that the differences only became noticeable when dictionaries were published. Many of the American English spellings were introduced by Noah Webster (Webster's dictionary). The English followed Samuel Johnson. Australians follow the British spelling system because we are part of the British Commonwealth. Hence the differences.
So we sometimes have two 'l's' in English and one in American... But, other times, we have one in English and two in American. Got it? Easy isn't it…! All of which goes to show what a pointless exercise it's becoming to try and get it 'right'!
However, I guess because of the amount of American-produced software, incorporating American English spell-checkers, it is becoming almost the norm to spell in American English. Microsoft has played no small part in this. Their software, even when sold in the UK, features spell-checkers which seem to have a habit of reverting their default to American even when set to what they call “English (UK)".
So to avoid further upsetting my readers’ spelling sensitivities, I am considering writing my posts in Aussie slang. This language will never be found in the English and American dictionaries (well outside of Oz anyway).
So, here is my tongue in cheek reply to the gorgeous reader who alerted me to this spelling conundrum. And of course for full effect you must read this in your best Steve Irwin voice. And to my very sophisticated mother, if you do ever come across my blog, it's at this point you should shut your eyes and save yourself the 'cultural cringe.....' because you won't be happy.
G’day Mate
What a bonza bloke you are for pointing out my bodgy spelling! No need to spit the dummy though. Not worth a blue hey? Strewth, I just got your email this arvo and being a bit of a dill, I was kind of stumped as to what you were getting at. I rang my mum on the blower in Brizzie to get the good oil.
“Listen luv, you’re such a dag”, she said, “you’re an ace speller ok? Fair dinkum, everyone knows the drill right? I will say two words to you Lilly, Webster and Johnson. There’s your answer. We Ozzies follow the Queen’s English because we are still hanging on to the royal coat tails. And it’s the way of the world that everyone wants to stamp their own take on anything that moves, so of course the English language is a target. It’s getting to the point that no-one can tell what’s right or wrong. Plus, there’s a whole list of words used by the Pommies that are never used by the Yanks and vice verse. Then, there’s a whole lot more words which are the same but have deadset different meanings in different countries. Throw in different accents, pronunciations, slang and stutters and it’s a good thing we can communicate at all."
I reckon you need to chill out, pour yourself a cab sav or grab a cold one and RELAX!! Go on, give it a burl, too many of us are flat out like lizards drinking to get too hung up on stuff we can’t change.
Hooroo,
Lilly (oh and by the way that’s Lilly with two ls not one l)
Yes, I am sure you will agree, deviations in spelling are far more palatable than Aussie slang.....
What is your take on the American/British spelling systems or what misspelt words drive you crazy?
Saturday 2 August 2008
PAST LIVES - PART 11
Past Lives is a collaborative writing project involving bloggers from around the world. PART 1 of the story starts with a fictional Australian character named David. In an effort to understand and overcome his fears David undergoes Past Life Regression (PLR) therapy with the renowned Dr Harlowe. During each session a different blogger takes you back to reconnect David with one of his previous lives (links to these stories are on the left sidebar). Today David is seeing Dr Harlowe for a review session. After revealing nine past lives will there finally be enough clues to unlock David's present pain or will he have to reveal more past lives to find the missing pieces?__________________________________________________
"Ha-a! Sús-ki! Ó-ma-ta Há-wi-mo-o! Ó-ma-ta, Ó-ma-ta Há-wi-mo!"screamed David, repeating the loud, terrifying war cry of the Indian who had cut open his chest and ripped out his heart from his past life in Colorado in the 1830s.
Dr Harlowe sat in the dim light grimacing as he reviewed the tape from David Taylor's last session. No matter how many tapes Gregory Harlowe had seen, he still found it uncomfortable watching the pain and terror etched on his patients' faces as they described their deaths in previous lives.
David was definitely one of his more complex cases. While he presented with a straightforward phobia, his vivid past life memories would suggest that he has some deep-seated fears and traumas yet to be revealed. Dr Harlowe had now examined all the session tapes and had noted particular scenarios which may assist in resolving David's issues.
Dr Harlowe was well aware from his own experience, the toll that this therapy can have on patients. He had also connected with many of his own past lives over the years.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock and his assistant, Petra, opened the door and said, “Dr Harlowe, David Taylor is here."
“Send him in”, said the doctor as he switched off the tape.
His eyebrows shot up in surprise when he saw his patient's appearance. David's hair was unruly, his face showed a lack of sleep and the dark shadows under his eyes told a story of their own. David also seemed to be limping again.
"Hello David, he said, "I'm glad to see you. How are you feeling?"
David sat down heavily on the lounge and muttered, "Fine thanks", before taking a sip of water. He then spluttered, "Truth is Doc, the...the last session we had really rattled my cage and I've had nightmares all week. I only came here to get my claustrophobia cured, and now I've found out I've had more lives that the longest running character on Days of Our Lives. I've not only seen them playing like a movie in my mind, but I feel like I've been reliving them over and over for weeks now. I've got enough problems in this life, without a whole heap more! I'm not sure how many more blood curdling deaths I can take".
Dr Harlowe chose his words carefully. "I understand, David. Your last session was particularly traumatic and I think it's a sign that we are finally getting close to unravelling the puzzle. Unfortunately the journey is often a painful one and there's no easy way to dodge the bullets. At some point during the process most people feel the same way you do, so try not to let it overwhelm you. You just have to keep reminding yourself that the problems you have today are invariably caused by, and therefore have the potential to be healed by, those problems from your past lives.
David nodded and Dr Harlowe continued, "The other critical thing to remember is that not all the past lives you have connected with may necessarily be your own past lives. There is a possibility that the scenes you recalled may be from old movies you have seen and forgotten about or even books you have read, not to mention your own imagination. Some of your past life memories may not even exist at all".
"So, let's just take a quick look at some of the key scenarios you have remembered to date. We can see if there any similarities between your past lives and then look at them in the context of your current life. Is that alright with you David?"
David sighed, "OK Doc, given I've come this far I guess I should see it through."
"David", interrupted Dr Harlowe, "I can see some definite synergies between your past lives. Do you notice anything?"
"Yes, yes, I see what you mean, it's really incredible", said David as he intently watched the images flash before him.
"Look here and then there and then at this one", said the doctor as he pointed to various images on the screen. "Everything that happens to us somehow, somewhere, sometime, makes sense. If it does not make sense in the context of this current lifetime, then it always makes sense in the context of one of more past lives. We always carry our unfinished business, unlearned lessons and unresolved thoughts with us from life to life.
David, I have a few questions about your current life that I would like to explore further. Tell me, what was your life like when you were a small child?"
"Well", said David, "I was born near Ayers Rock. My father, Harry, was an Aboriginal ranger and my mother, Clara, came from Norway to work as a governess on a cattle station. I was an only child. In some ways I felt like I didn't belong. I have coloured skin and blue eyes. My mother taught me at home. I felt different from the aboriginal children I played with but I was very happy from what I can remember."
"So how do you feel about animals?" said the Doctor.
"I've always loved animals. I think I have an affinity with them, sometimes moreso than with people. When I was a child my father would take me on his trips in the National Park. There were crocodiles, camels, snakes. You name it, I saw it. Julia my sheep dog was my best friend. When I was 12 my parents sent me to boarding school in Sydney which was something every kid from the outback has to do. During the first two weeks I was gone, Julia ate some rat poison. My father found her drowned in the Bay of Goat as she went searching for water. It was like losing my best friend and I felt guilty that I hadn't been there to save her. I never had another pet after that."
"So can you tell me when you first became aware that you were uncomfortable in enclosed spaces?"
"I was always scared of small spaces and my first memory of this is when I got lost in a cave when I was only a kid. Then I moved to boarding school and our rooms were tiny and cramped. I hated them. My fear just seemed to get worse over time. When I left school I joined the Navy because I've always been drawn to water which was kind of strange for a boy from the desert. I volunteered to work on submarines because I thought it might finally cure me of my phobia. But that didn't really work either."
"What about your health, how is that?"
"Well, I've always suffered on and off from pains in my legs and arms. Sometimes, if I get stressed I limp. The pain doesn't stop me working as its only bad at night. I don't sleep well and I have recurring nightmares, mainly about water. They say what you love the most is also what can cause you the most fear. So I guess it's true in my case. I've gone through loads of medical tests over the years but they have never been able to diagnose what's wrong. I think my last specialist thought I was 'nuts' - which I am kind of wondering about myself after all this.
Doctor Harlowe smiled and said, "David, you told me in your first session that you were single and divorced. Can you tell me some more about why your marriage ended?"
"Well, when I was 21, I was on duty in the Pacific and I met a beautiful girl called Tasha. Here look Doc, see this heart shaped tattoo on my left shoulder? I got that done the day after I met her. We got married within 3 weeks of meeting. We moved back to Sydney and within a year we had a baby....Simon. I had everything I ever wanted. ... yet ....I could never shake the depression, the pain in my limbs or the terrifying nightmares. It affected my life and my family. My wife left me when Simon was 2 and she took him to Ireland of all places. Since my marriage broke up I just have never been able to find the right girl. Maybe it's just not meant to be."
"David, thanks for that, it all helps", said the Doctor. "I am feeling very positive, very positive indeed. I believe we are close to finding the answers we need to overcome your phobias, explain your health problems and allow you to live whole again. However, while you may need a few more regression sessions, I also think it's important for you have a break. It's been harrowing and it will do you a measure of good just to relax and catch up on your sleep".
David nodded in agreement, still overwhelmed by what he had just witnessed. His mind was overflowing with thoughts about how his past lives and current life collide. Finally, after all these weeks, he could see how the therapy may indeed be able to throw some light on his current problems. However, while he was relieved, he was still a little nervous about where the next stage of the treatment would take him.
Dr Harlowe continued, "When we resume our sessions, I would like to take you back to the First Century AD if we can. The signs are all there David and all we need to do is find the missing piece or pieces which will solve the puzzle once and for all. I am extremely confident we can do that David. Extremely confident."
___________________________________________David is going to take a break from his PLR therapy for about 10 days to enable him to rest, get a haircut and more than likely finish the rest of his rum supply. Who knows what's in store for him. David's journey will continue with his 12th session scheduled for the 12th August at Soul Merlin's Flowers and Scorpions in England, United Kingdom. Something tells me David has seen NOTHING yet.....
If you would like to contribute to the story and join in David's journey, look for the clues and please email Lilly lillyslife@gmail.com or Vikki redchair@cox.net
Drawings - in the spirit of creative fun and having 'a go' which is what this project is encouraging us all to do, I thought I would draw and yes Tulip, I know Dr Harlowe has big hands but he also apparently has .....a big brain...too much fun!!
"Ha-a! Sús-ki! Ó-ma-ta Há-wi-mo-o! Ó-ma-ta, Ó-ma-ta Há-wi-mo!"screamed David, repeating the loud, terrifying war cry of the Indian who had cut open his chest and ripped out his heart from his past life in Colorado in the 1830s.Dr Harlowe sat in the dim light grimacing as he reviewed the tape from David Taylor's last session. No matter how many tapes Gregory Harlowe had seen, he still found it uncomfortable watching the pain and terror etched on his patients' faces as they described their deaths in previous lives.
David was definitely one of his more complex cases. While he presented with a straightforward phobia, his vivid past life memories would suggest that he has some deep-seated fears and traumas yet to be revealed. Dr Harlowe had now examined all the session tapes and had noted particular scenarios which may assist in resolving David's issues.
Dr Harlowe was well aware from his own experience, the toll that this therapy can have on patients. He had also connected with many of his own past lives over the years.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock and his assistant, Petra, opened the door and said, “Dr Harlowe, David Taylor is here."
“Send him in”, said the doctor as he switched off the tape.
His eyebrows shot up in surprise when he saw his patient's appearance. David's hair was unruly, his face showed a lack of sleep and the dark shadows under his eyes told a story of their own. David also seemed to be limping again."Hello David, he said, "I'm glad to see you. How are you feeling?"
David sat down heavily on the lounge and muttered, "Fine thanks", before taking a sip of water. He then spluttered, "Truth is Doc, the...the last session we had really rattled my cage and I've had nightmares all week. I only came here to get my claustrophobia cured, and now I've found out I've had more lives that the longest running character on Days of Our Lives. I've not only seen them playing like a movie in my mind, but I feel like I've been reliving them over and over for weeks now. I've got enough problems in this life, without a whole heap more! I'm not sure how many more blood curdling deaths I can take".
Dr Harlowe chose his words carefully. "I understand, David. Your last session was particularly traumatic and I think it's a sign that we are finally getting close to unravelling the puzzle. Unfortunately the journey is often a painful one and there's no easy way to dodge the bullets. At some point during the process most people feel the same way you do, so try not to let it overwhelm you. You just have to keep reminding yourself that the problems you have today are invariably caused by, and therefore have the potential to be healed by, those problems from your past lives.
David nodded and Dr Harlowe continued, "The other critical thing to remember is that not all the past lives you have connected with may necessarily be your own past lives. There is a possibility that the scenes you recalled may be from old movies you have seen and forgotten about or even books you have read, not to mention your own imagination. Some of your past life memories may not even exist at all".
"So, let's just take a quick look at some of the key scenarios you have remembered to date. We can see if there any similarities between your past lives and then look at them in the context of your current life. Is that alright with you David?"
David sighed, "OK Doc, given I've come this far I guess I should see it through."
"David", interrupted Dr Harlowe, "I can see some definite synergies between your past lives. Do you notice anything?"
"Yes, yes, I see what you mean, it's really incredible", said David as he intently watched the images flash before him.
"Look here and then there and then at this one", said the doctor as he pointed to various images on the screen. "Everything that happens to us somehow, somewhere, sometime, makes sense. If it does not make sense in the context of this current lifetime, then it always makes sense in the context of one of more past lives. We always carry our unfinished business, unlearned lessons and unresolved thoughts with us from life to life.
David, I have a few questions about your current life that I would like to explore further. Tell me, what was your life like when you were a small child?"
"Well", said David, "I was born near Ayers Rock. My father, Harry, was an Aboriginal ranger and my mother, Clara, came from Norway to work as a governess on a cattle station. I was an only child. In some ways I felt like I didn't belong. I have coloured skin and blue eyes. My mother taught me at home. I felt different from the aboriginal children I played with but I was very happy from what I can remember."
"So how do you feel about animals?" said the Doctor.
"I've always loved animals. I think I have an affinity with them, sometimes moreso than with people. When I was a child my father would take me on his trips in the National Park. There were crocodiles, camels, snakes. You name it, I saw it. Julia my sheep dog was my best friend. When I was 12 my parents sent me to boarding school in Sydney which was something every kid from the outback has to do. During the first two weeks I was gone, Julia ate some rat poison. My father found her drowned in the Bay of Goat as she went searching for water. It was like losing my best friend and I felt guilty that I hadn't been there to save her. I never had another pet after that."
"So can you tell me when you first became aware that you were uncomfortable in enclosed spaces?"
"I was always scared of small spaces and my first memory of this is when I got lost in a cave when I was only a kid. Then I moved to boarding school and our rooms were tiny and cramped. I hated them. My fear just seemed to get worse over time. When I left school I joined the Navy because I've always been drawn to water which was kind of strange for a boy from the desert. I volunteered to work on submarines because I thought it might finally cure me of my phobia. But that didn't really work either."
"What about your health, how is that?"
"Well, I've always suffered on and off from pains in my legs and arms. Sometimes, if I get stressed I limp. The pain doesn't stop me working as its only bad at night. I don't sleep well and I have recurring nightmares, mainly about water. They say what you love the most is also what can cause you the most fear. So I guess it's true in my case. I've gone through loads of medical tests over the years but they have never been able to diagnose what's wrong. I think my last specialist thought I was 'nuts' - which I am kind of wondering about myself after all this.
Doctor Harlowe smiled and said, "David, you told me in your first session that you were single and divorced. Can you tell me some more about why your marriage ended?"
"Well, when I was 21, I was on duty in the Pacific and I met a beautiful girl called Tasha. Here look Doc, see this heart shaped tattoo on my left shoulder? I got that done the day after I met her. We got married within 3 weeks of meeting. We moved back to Sydney and within a year we had a baby....Simon. I had everything I ever wanted. ... yet ....I could never shake the depression, the pain in my limbs or the terrifying nightmares. It affected my life and my family. My wife left me when Simon was 2 and she took him to Ireland of all places. Since my marriage broke up I just have never been able to find the right girl. Maybe it's just not meant to be."
"David, thanks for that, it all helps", said the Doctor. "I am feeling very positive, very positive indeed. I believe we are close to finding the answers we need to overcome your phobias, explain your health problems and allow you to live whole again. However, while you may need a few more regression sessions, I also think it's important for you have a break. It's been harrowing and it will do you a measure of good just to relax and catch up on your sleep".
David nodded in agreement, still overwhelmed by what he had just witnessed. His mind was overflowing with thoughts about how his past lives and current life collide. Finally, after all these weeks, he could see how the therapy may indeed be able to throw some light on his current problems. However, while he was relieved, he was still a little nervous about where the next stage of the treatment would take him.
Dr Harlowe continued, "When we resume our sessions, I would like to take you back to the First Century AD if we can. The signs are all there David and all we need to do is find the missing piece or pieces which will solve the puzzle once and for all. I am extremely confident we can do that David. Extremely confident."
___________________________________________David is going to take a break from his PLR therapy for about 10 days to enable him to rest, get a haircut and more than likely finish the rest of his rum supply. Who knows what's in store for him. David's journey will continue with his 12th session scheduled for the 12th August at Soul Merlin's Flowers and Scorpions in England, United Kingdom. Something tells me David has seen NOTHING yet.....
If you would like to contribute to the story and join in David's journey, look for the clues and please email Lilly lillyslife@gmail.com or Vikki redchair@cox.net
Drawings - in the spirit of creative fun and having 'a go' which is what this project is encouraging us all to do, I thought I would draw and yes Tulip, I know Dr Harlowe has big hands but he also apparently has .....a big brain...too much fun!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)