Bucket List

Do you have a "Bucket List" - you know that list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket. Well I do have such a list and yes I am working through it. One of my "Bucket List" entries is to travel around Australia in a Camper Trailer. Shane and I have been planning it for quite a few years, every year we would head off to the "Caravan & Camping Show" and dream over all the tent trailers, camper trailers, motor homes and all the bits and pieces that go with them. But our last "Caravan & Camping Show" was the decision making time - we decided it was time to make our purchase. We bought our new camper trailer but had to wait 6 months to have it built. Yesterday was our day to go and pick it up. It is pretty easy to tow, but as it was brand new and we were in peak hour traffic on the way home we were both a bit nervous. But we got it home and now it's time to really start planning for our "Bucket List Trip". Although it won't be a huge trip for a while yet seeing I am enjoying my "Year In Daylesford" at the moment.

So True

"A Baby is Born with a Need to be Loved

and Never Outgrows it"

- Frank A Clark

Paradise Day 7 to End

I have had so many Internet issues the last few day I haven't been able to update my blog. At one point I wanted to throw my laptop at the wall. So I will give it another try - hopefully it won't take an hour to load a photo!!
Our last island visit to Noumea was cancelled as there was a cyclone brewing and the captain decided it was just not a good idea for the ship to visit the port. So we had an extra day at sea, but as there was so much to do on the ship the days were filled with fun. On our last day we came into Sydney Harbour at day break and another spectacular sunrise. I am not sure why but there is something very emotional being on a ship sailing underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

"Wednesday's Thought"

"Life Really Is To Short To Waste On People That Make You Forget How To Smile"

Thank you Alice for today's quote, it is so very TRUE.

"Todays Success"

As I have mentioned in a past post I have started doing some swimming and really enjoying it. I was amazed with myself just to swim 3 laps as I had never even swam one before.

My aim has been to get up to do 20 laps and this morning I did it.

Yes I swam 20 laps - thats 500 metres - 1/2 a kilometre -

546.806649169 Yards - 1640.41994751 Feet -

19685.0393701 Inches.

Yeah, I am a swimmer.

"Friends and Acquaintances"

Yesterday I had a lovely lunch (a pre baby lunch for Kaye) with a cherished group of friends I worked with at the Tasmanian Travel Centre. I have known most of them for over ten years and I am glad they have been in my life to share lots of laughter and some tears. While soaking in my "Bubble Bath" tonight I got to thinking how some people come into our lives and stay for many years and some come into our lives for fleeting moments. I truly believe that no matter how long we have someone in our lives - 10 years or 10 minutes - the meeting is for a particular reason. I can easily name some that have been there to help me through some tough times and some that I have been there to help. But not all meetings are for monumental reasons, I believe some reasons may be as small steering us in a direction we need to follow. I really try to make a conscious effort to connect with everyone I meet cause you never know what might happen and life is just to short to miss out on anything.

So remember tomorrow when someone crosses your path, say hello

or just give them a smile - if nothing else the smile will make you both feel good.

"FUFOY Year"

With all my craft endeavours in mind I have had a lot of passions throughout my life.
My passions have included knitting, leather work, decoupage, paper tole, porcelain doll making, folk art, pottery, sewing, woodwork, patchwork/quilting, painting, calligraphy, cross stitch, jewellery design/making and many many varied misc. crafts.

At the moment the favorites would be

photography and scrapbooking.

I don't think there is anything wrong with having lots of interests through your life, cause as we grow our tastes and challenges change - but the problem with so many interests is with me being a "procrastinator" I have lots and lots and lots of things almost finished.

So my one and only New Years Resolution this year was to make 2009 a FUFOY

(Finish Unfinished Objects Year).

I made a deal with myself that any UFO's that I still have on January 1st 2010 will either be given away or thrown away. It wasn't until I listed down all of my UFO's that I realized just how many I have. Now any crafters out there would know we get really attached to our projects - even the unfinished ones. So I am trying my hardest to complete things so I don't have to face the time when I have to say goodbye to them. This could be another reason why I have started a blog - if I have to say out loud I am going to do something it makes me more accountable.
To prove to my doubters and to myself I will add the items I finish to my slideshow - so keep a look out.

P.S Happy Birthday Kaysie for last Friday -

By the way did I say it is going to be my birthday this Wednesday (25th).

"Good Days - Bad Days"

Isn't it amazing how the "bad day gremlin" can just sneak up and bite you on the bum!! Well mine snuck up yesterday. Nothing I could do would make it go away. I tried all of my positive thinking - didn't work. I tried placing my crystals in all of the appropriate places - didn't work. I tried being creative by doing some scrapbooking - didn't work. So I just put my head down and did some work (an exciting mail out) and popped myself into bed nice an early.

When I woke up this morning I thought I will get ready before another one sneaks up. I organised my work schedule early so I really didn't have to think about it to much. When I finished work I coloured my hair a different colour, took myself for a little bit of shopping, painted my nails and after I get my Dads dinner tonight I am going to sit myself down and be crafty in front of the telly. Might I also say that the "bad day gremlin" hasn't dared show her self today.

I guess we all have them from time to time, maybe we just have to do what we have to do and wait for tomorrow.

"13 March 1982 "

27 years ago today at 2.09pm I gave birth to my beautiful daughter Rachel. At the time I told myself that I really didn't mind if I had a girl or a boy, but as soon as she was born I realised I really did want a girl (already had a boy - Shane 18 months earlier). I was only in labour for 2 hours as Rachel really wanted to be in this world. We have always said she came out fast and has been fast ever since, she has always been our little hurricane. Now that she is an adult, I must say she is not only still my baby girl but my best friend. We spent the day shopping and eating today. Last week we had our nails done - how pretty do our feet look!! Now she is of to see the band "Kings of Leon" tonight. We both just love birthdays - especially our own.

Not to stray away from tradition - once Rachel has had her birthday we concentrate on mine. I am turning 56 on March 25th. So as of tomorrow I will mention it once or twice to anyone who is within earshot. Tonight I am of to see Brian Cadd and Russell Morris with a couple of friends. Thank Mos for the tickets. Should be a fun night.

"My Dear Old Dad"

Not sure how much I will be able to write for the next few days as "My Dear Old Dad" is in hospital with heart problems. He went in by ambulance yesterday, almost kicking and screaming (he really did not want to go to hospital) but luckily it was his Dr. who told him he had to not me.
When you have an elderly parent (90) you try and prepare yourself for the future, but its weird how when things get tough you forget all of your so called preparation. OK I am of for an early night tonight - goodnight lovelies.

"My Weekend"

What a weekend I have just had the range of things I did was huge. Saturday I had lunch with people I worked with 27 years ago at the Motor Registration Branch (now RTA). We had a really nice time at Stuzzi Cafe in Northcote with lots and lots and lots of chatter. It's amazing how with all of our life experiences we all have changed but basically we are still all the same people.

Then Saturday night I had a night of mystery out with Melissa, Robyn & Alice. Melissa had organised everything and not told us what we were doing. First we went out for dinner to a restaurant called "Melissa's", food was quite nice. Then we headed into the city to "HULKA MANIA", yes it is as sounds it was a Male Strip Night. Now if I was 25 I may have been really excited about the proposition of watching guys get their gear of, but at 55 I have been there and done that. Plus as my son is 28 I have always made the deal with myself of not perving on guys that are younger than my boy and they would all have been younger than him. I sort of feel like I am doing something illegal. After all the naked body excitement we headed to the Clifton Hotel for some more drinking, dancing and listening to a pretty good band. Let me just say I am getting to old to stay up until 2.30am. I was a little delicate on Sunday morning, but I know one of the girls (I won't say who) was broken not just delicate.

Then Sunday afternoon I went to Paul (my ex) and Betty's house for lunch. Yes that is right my ex's house. I can hear you asking WHY!! Because our son Shane was down from QLD, it was a chance for us both to spend time with him and our daughter Rachel. We do really get on OK, life is to short not to. It was quite a nice afternoon, Betty and I had fun pointing Pauls faults out to him. Now to today, I had the pleasure of going to the dentist. I must say I really really don't like dentists. So after all my fun and games over the past 3 days I put myself to bed this afternoon and had a nana nap. The rest of my week is pretty busy with work so that should keep me out of trouble.

What's your Favorite Animal?

Can you guess mine?

Yes it is in fact a wombat.

I just love them, from babies to big old grumpy grand daddies. These shots were taken when I went to Flinders Island with Flavio on a work Educational. She was only a baby and had been left alone when her Mum was killed by a car. The lady who ran the refuge had about four baby wombats in here care. Flinders Island is quite a beautiful place to visit. The only thing that puts people of is that you can only get there in a small plane. Didn't worry me though I loved it. On the flight home I got to sit in the front with the pilot - oh my goodness it was so cool.

Not sure how much blogging I will get to do over this weekend,

I have a lot of socializing to do this weekend.

Hey how about everyone that reads my blog lets me know there favorite animal.

"Procrastination"

Sunrise Over Lake Tyers

The dictionary meaning of procrastinate is:
Procrastinate
1: to defer action; delay: to procrastinate until an

opportunity is lost.
2: to put off till another day or time; defer; delay.
This is me to a tee, I have developed this action down to a fine art.
I wish someone could hand me

"The five easy steps to combat procrastination".
But reading this definition really does sum up what happens when we procrastinate.
We delay something that we need, should and sometimes want to do.
It also hands us a LOST OPPORTUNITY.
While I was surfing the net last night I also found this great quote as well,

and it actually got me to move into action.

"Procrastination is the thief of time.
Putting things off robs us of the opportunity to accomplish something."

So I sat myself down and wrote 5 things I really wanted and needed to accomplish today. The reason 5 things? Years ago I did some sort of course where I was told that our brain can
only handle 5 tasks per day. One of my tasks was to go to the Gym, and surprise surprise I got
up and was down at the Leisure Centre at 7.45am doing water aerobics. To my surprise now, I actually got my 5 tasks completed.

I know it has only been one day, but that’s it, I have succeeded for one day.
Now my positive thinking is going to kick in and I WILL succeed tomorrow.

"You never discover new oceans until you leave the shore"

Yahoo I'm back on line

Yes I know I haven't written anything for a week and what a week it's been. I have had I.T issues (not completely solved), Family Issues (sort of solved), personal issues (working on them now).

With all the above issues I have also had a pretty good week as well.

Last Wednesday night I had my last "Picture Framing Class".

This photo is of my finished project. The subject is an etching of

Venice by the Venetian Lithograph Artist Ugo Baracco. It actually

looks so much better in real life. I had so much fun doing the

course and I am very very proud of myself. I am now preparing

to frame some more prints and paintings I have. It is cool that I

can now just go back to the studio and do my framing and only

pay for the board and wood I actually use.

On Friday night I picked up my gorgeous son Shane from the airport. He is in Melbourne for a weeks conference and on Saturday night we had a catchup BBQ. We ate, drank and played darts. Guess who won the last game of darts - ME!!!. I cannot play for nuts, maybe it had something to do with the alcohol my opponents had consumed???

It was so nice to spend the night with both of my kids, as Shane lives in Mission Beach in

Far North Queensland Rachel and I don' get to see him much.

"The Power of Positive Thinking"

Flinders Island

I know when my daughter Rachel reads this she is going to say

"Oh no here she goes again - she is such a hippy". Right Rachel?

I am always going on to my family about "The Power of Positive Thinking", because it really does work. I have proven it to myself and others many many times. If you tell yourself something is going to happen and you actually feel it inside yourself that it already has happened, most of the time it will happen. If I am out driving around and my dear old Dad is with me I really have to get a parking spot in a particular spot, either in the shade, close to the door etc. Even when I am out for work I see my parking spot in my minds eye and guess what 9 out of 10 times I get one just where I want one. I put "The Power of Positive Thinking" to the test again this morning. Twice I wanted car parks in the shade at 2 different supermarket car parks (we know how busy they can be) and yes I got them. Then I was walking into a Shopping Centre (not one I normally go to and not in my area) and told myself that I was going to see someone I knew. Low and Behold I ran into a girl I went to school with (that was a very long time ago).

So as far as I am concerned "The Power of Positive Thinking" works and I am going to just keep on visualising that million dollar cheque in my mail box.

When it arrives the "Riccadonna" is on me.

"Pull My Finger Out"

With all the sadness with the bushfires about this past week I have not felt motivated to do any much at all. It is weird I have sort of felt guilty that I can be happy and some people cannot. But last night I decided that I just have to "Pull My Finger Out". So I pampered myself in a "Bubble Bath", did my nails and told myself "Self if you don't look after your own life how can you help anyone else". Don't worry Rachel & Susie I haven't got to the point where I answer myself yet. So this week is going to be a good one for all, not just me.

"The Power Of Positive Thinking".

I am not going to dwell on the tragic events. But one thing I must say is how AMAZING are Australians. We as a nation have done so much to help our fellow Aussies, we can really be proud to be Australian.

"Photography Made Easy"

As well as my "Picture Framing Course" I have always wanted to do a one on one class with a photographer to try and improve my skills. Yesterday morning I had the chance to do one with Martin from "Photography Made Easy". It just so happened I was the only one doing the class so I had this amazing teacher/photographer to myself. I learnt so much about things I just didn't quite have a handle on and I also got a great history lesson of Melbourne. It was amazing I have lived in Melbourne all my life and there were things I had no knowledge of at all. It just shows we can always learn something from someone. I believe that is why certain people are put in our life path. Either we are to learn something from them or visa versa. So we really need to make the most of everyone we meet, we have obviously crossed paths for a reason. These photos are two of the shots I took, I am really pleased with them. Now I just want to get out there and take photos of everything so I can put into practice what I have been taught. Tonight I am of to my 2nd framing class, I am so looking forward to it.

Todays Ouote - "Creative Clutter Is Better Than Idle Neatness"

"We Can Help and Also Feel Good"

Today I was going to write about some of my craft activities but with the terrible bushfires around I just have to share with you all an email I have sent to all in my address book.

Hi all, Some of you know me and some of you don't, but this is an email I really really want you to read. If you act upon it, you will not only help someone, you will also feel really GOOD. I can promise that. With the terrible Bushfires in Victoria I fell compelled to ask everyone I know to try and find it in their heart and donate some money to the Victorian Bushfire Fund. I have just done a run around from each person in my family and donated it onto the website. Bless my dear old 90 year old Dad, he has donated $90.00. You can donate money on the Red Cross website or call 1800 811 700. We all get so many of those crappy emails with messages such as "if you fill out these details and send it to 10 people you will get your wish" or something too that effect. We all know they are just crap and they will never work in a million years. But we still answer them just in case. WHY!! Maybe now it is time we actually do something that does work. I know there are a lot of tragic things that happen in the world, but this has really affected me. Maybe it is because I know people who have been affected, or maybe because I used to live in Whittlesea and it has bought it closer to my heart. Maybe its not such a bad idea that every time we get a crap email, we delete it and go and do something for someone. Even if it is just to donate a piece of clothing we don't use anymore, or just put the spare change in our pocket into a money box and to take to a charity. I think in these really hard times for people, those of us who can help should, don't you? As well as donating I would plead with you to send this email onto everyone in your address book, on your face book list, your my space list, your blog anywhere we can get the word out to HELP someone. Thank you for listening to me and may you receive everything you wish for.
"Those who makes Excuses, make nothing else" Love to all Davine

What is going on with the weather!!!

Well anyone in Victoria today has done it tough. Melbourne has had its hottest day EVER reaching 46.4c!!. I am so glad I have just had my aircons installed. But even though us city folk have been sweltering, our hearts have to go out to all the people affected by the bush fires. I have been listening to reports as two of the bushfire locations are where I have friends and family. All is OK with them I am thankful to say. I cannot even imagine my house burning down and loosing ALL of my belongings. I suppose in the scheme of things they are only material, as long as no lives are lost. But still it would be the scariest situation.

Our beautiful country does have quite a range of weather - 46c and bush fires in Victoria and Queensland is currently getting terrible floods and Cyclones. My son Shane and his partner Stacey live in Far North Queensland and I keep calling him to make sure he is OK. He was pretty excited the other day when he realised he drove in his 1st cyclone - strange person my boy.

Anyway tomorrow is going to be something like 24c (crazy hey), here's hoping it helps the fire fighters - who are worth their weight in gold.

Work, Work, Work

Over the last few years my working life has changed totally. For over 10 years I was a travel agent at the "Tasmanian Travel Centre" in Collins St, Melbourne until the Tasmanian Government closed us down. It was a very stressful time as I really loved my job. My future had all of a sudden become so uncertain. Most people don't work somewhere and actually love their job. I was lucky enough to be approached by a travel wholesaler "Groups Tasmania" to offer me the position of being their "Victorian Sales Manager". I accepted and have now worked with David, Brett, Wendy and Garry for just over 2 years. It is a great job and a great company to work for. One of my duties is to meet with various people in the travel industry and basically try and get their business. Today was sort of one of those days and I had lunch with a few girls from the "Spirit of Tasmania" . We went down to St. Kilda and had Tapas at a restaurant called "Pelican". The food was really delicious especially the Moreton Bay Bugs. It was so nice down there not to busy and not to hot. There were people relaxing on the beach, walking along the esplanade and busily working. I just love "people watching". I gaze and wonder are they happy in their life, where are they going, where are the from??? It is very relaxing just sitting and looking at people just being. Tomorrow we are once again in for a hot one 43c !!!!! I think I might sit in my airconditioned room and do a few scrapbooking pages - maybe even drink the bottle of Riccadonna in the fridge.