Saturday night at The Meadows

You may ask where and what The Meadows is? Well The Meadows is one of the two greyhound racing tracks in Melbourne and is situated about 26 km (26 mins) from Melbourne CBD. It's also where four girlfriends and I had our Christmas night out last Saturday night. I'm not much of a gambler but this is a pretty entertaining night which includes entry to the venue, and a buffet dinner, which was quite nice. We were lucky our table was situated right at the windows and looking straight at the finish line. I really like greyhounds and would like to adopt one but it's a bit pointless while we are still in our travelling mode. I have been friends with Alice, Melissa, Robyn and Wanda for around 15 years and cherish their friendship, and we always have a lot of fun when we venture out. I did have a win and a couple of placegetters so I came out about even.

Davine, Robyn, Alice, Wanda and Melissa out for a great night

Here they come

This little beauty won me some money 

As night fell the sky turned the most amazing colour

Seeing we have finishing our travels for a little while and staying home for Christmas I have decided to do a bit of exploring in my own city, Melbourne. So I will be doing some posts on what beautiful attractions Melbourne has to offer. 

I'd love to wish all my readers a very merry Christmas and the happiest New Year. 

I have also just started an online Photography and Social Media course with UTAS (University of Tasmania) and we have to keep a journal on our progress. So I have decided to do my online journal on 53 Buddhas and also on a Tumblr site I am in the progress of setting up. 

Christmas is coming

We are now having a couple of lazy days in a suburb called Toowoon Bay, situated between Sydney and Newcastle. Once again we had to stock on a few grocery items so headed to the shopping centre down the road. After lunch we wondered into a Christmas Pop Up shop. I looooove Christmas, I love decorating my house inside and out so this shop was a little bit of heaven. It wasn't a very big shop and it was absolutely jam packed with Chrissy stuff. I have never been in any sort of shop so full of stuff. I may have to go back tomorrow as the amount of stock overwhelmed me a bit and I didn't buy anything. 

Christmas 2014

Well Christmas Day for 2014 is done and dusted, how was yours? Mine was fantastic as I got to spend it with my whole family. We had the day at my daughter Rachel's house and she did such a wonderful job organising the day for 18 people - although my car was pretty full of food, alcohol, crockery, cutlery and various other items needed to accommodate all those people. Attending was Rachel her fiancee Luke and daughters Clare and Mikayla. Luke's Dad Ian and brother Chad, Dianne and their new baby Marly. My son Shane his wife Stacey and their boys O'Shea and Finn. Also my ex-husband Paul with his wife Betty and their two sons Nick and Dean. Back 21 years ago when Paul and I were divorced who would have thought that we would someday be spending Christmas together. Even though it was a pretty civilised divorce I would never have thought life would become so comfortable. It's a shame as I know of so many families that are so filled with hatred they can't see the damage their hatred is doing to their loved ones around the such as their children. I know of some situations where one of the couple do their utmost to turn their adult children against the other parent. Why! Why would any parent be so cruel as to to do that to their child, small or grown. Life is to short to have any hatred, spite or revenge burning inside you. Don't get me wrong there were times when I wanted some sort of revenge. Like the time I wanted to cut one of the legs of his Hugo Boss suites but all I could think about was how expensive they were. So what did I do?? I took them outside and jumped on them. It got my frustrations out and I was once again relatively settled. But getting back to my point. Sitting at the table on Christmas Day with my whole family I realized that way back when our hurt was so bad Paul and I did the right thing for our children and now we both get to enjoy our two wonderful grown children with their partners and their children. All I can say is "Who would have thought"??

If their is anyone out there going through the crap of separation/divorce please try and remember that that hatred is really only hurting you and your children if you have any. I'm not saying you can't dislike the other person more than any one else on this earth but please don't let it govern your future. Wishing you all the very best Christmas Wishes. 

Mikayla (19 months) enjoying the sunshine

O'Shea (3) having fun spraying the cool water spray on his face

Finn (1yr) enjoying all the fun going on around him

Clare (3) running, dancing, singing, laughing etc.!

My handsome son Shane and his youngest baby Finn

My beautiful daughter Rachel and her youngest Mikayla

It was Papa's job to put the basketball ring together!
Look at that concentration!

Christmas in Augusta

Well that's another Christmas done and dusted. Mine was nice, quiet and certainly different than how I usually spend it. It was difficult being away from my beautiful family but at least I got to speak to them. I hope yours was all you wished it could be. I always look at the week between Christmas and New Year as a time of reflection on how my past year has gone. This years reflection week looks back on a year that has been pretty fantastic. 2013 started off on a bit of a rocky road with Shane being diagnosed with cancer, but after successful surgery he is now slowly on the mend. We were very proud and happy to have Mikayla and Finn join our wonderful little family. But probably the most life changing thing that has happened this year is our journey around Australia. I have learnt so much, not only about my country but also about me. I am definitely living my dream.

Cheers !!

It may have been a bit smaller than usual, but it was still yummy!!

Boxing Day - Fish n' Chips looking over the Blackwood River

Such a peaceful sight

What will 2014 hold for me? Who knows, but I do know it will be fantastic.

Escape the Heat

The last few days have been extremely warm here in Busselton, in fact from what I have heard from the locals this hot weather is quite unusual. But today the temperature has dropped to a comfortable 29c ish with a nice cooler breeze. As we don't have any air-conditioning in Myrtle (not that I want any) we spent a fair bit of time driving around the area in the air-conditioned car.
Sunday it was the day the local market was on. Lots of normal market stalls, some great fresh produce stalls and one that sold all sorts of local seafood. Of course we had to buy another kilo of prawns and very yummy they were too.

Some of the fresh produce at one of the local markets

A cuddle with Santa - he was a Scottish Santa and very sweaty!

 Yesterday we went for a drive to the Leewin Naturaliste National Park, out along the beautiful Geographe Bay coastline with it's white sandy beaches to the Cape Naturaliste.
Along the way we stopped at some beautiful beaches and also had lunch at one of the boutique breweries - Eagle Bay Brewing Co. Now I like the taste of beer so I thought I would give the Pale Ale a try. It was a very fruity brew in fact to me it tasted like grapefruit. I didn't really like it but the one Shane had a Mild Ale that tasted a lot better.

Just one of the beautiful white sandy beaches we saw

Family of Four at Dunsborough Beach

 

Eagle Bay Brewing Co. Mild Ale

I was surprised to see Santa and Rudolf in this farmers front paddock!

Merry Christmas from Bunbury

I've had a pretty quiet time the last couple of days as I've been a bit off colour. Not sure if I have a chest infection or it's just my asthma playing up. But I will be fine as I have plenty of time to rest up.
Well we had our Maron the other night for dinner and I must say they were pretty scrumptious. I wouldn't say they are any better than a nice big crayfish but they are pretty nice.

Our little table ready for our Maron meal

Yummy Maron

We are now packing up to head down to Busselton tomorrow all 64kms of travel. So needless to say we don't have to get up early to pack up. I'd  like to take this time to wish all my friends, family and readers a Very Very Merry Christmas and the Best 2014 you could possibly have. It will certainly be a different (lonely) Christmas for me as I won't be spending it with any of my family. The phone lines will be running hot. Oh by the way my new grand baby is due any day now - I awaiting a call to say Stacey (O'Sheas mummy) has gone into labour. I'm sort of hoping she holds off until Sunday as that will be my late Mums birthday.

My adorable grandson O'Shea enjoying his childcare Christmas breakup



My beautiful granddaughters Clare and Mikayla loving Santa

THANK YOU

Myrtles 1st Christmas

Christmas has arrived for our comfy little camper Myrtle.

Tonight she is smiling with all her lights surrounding her.

It's a bit hard to see but she looks really nice



This years Christmas tree is a lot smaller than what I normally have, but I love it.

Today I was reading the holistic magazine Living Now and came across an article that just jumped out at me and I felt I just had to share with you. It was written by Josh Langley, writer, author, illustrator and professional daydreamer. I like that one Professional Daydreamer.

Celebrating The Heart

   - Word and Pic by Josh Langley

 

Let the randomness of life fill your heart with joy, allow strange and bizarre things to just unfold and celebrate those heart-filled moments where you're moved by spontaneity and a sense of curiosity.

Step out of your "head space" and find the quiet warmth of your heart and you'll notice it's a much more enjoyable place to be. When you're in that space, the fear lessons, the judgement quietens and you're more able to be who you want to be.

 

Here are some simple ways to celebrate your heart:

Use your imagination: it's how we thrive in the world. Daydream, wonder, be curious, go exploring, go wandering. Don't be afraid to get lost.

Be Creative: express yourself in whatever way you know how. Take cooking classes, paint, draw, write, make a sandcastle, dance like a free range chicken, read a poem to a tree.

Love: fall in love with yourself. Don't go looking for love "out there". Start right here in your own heart and become comfortable in your own skin and mind. Remember to do things that bring you joy and that you love doing. Celebrating the heart is merely learning how to listen to it, trust it and follow it. It can take time; so be gentle on yourself and enjoy the journey.

Transformation

My Medicine Wheel message for December is Transformation. Now I wonder what that means for me? I think maybe my whole life is in the process of transformation. This time of my life is definitely the best I have ever experienced so far. I am the happiest I have ever been, I am the healthiest I have ever been and I feel totally connected to myself and all that is around me. So all I can say is - OK Universe bring it on I am prepared for any transformation you would like to serve up to me.

What will the Transformation be?

There was no touristy stuff happening in my life today, it was all necessary stuff. After being in Melbourne for two weeks the camper cupboards were pretty bare, so it was off to the supermarket to get some supplies.

Way to much money was spent on groceries today!!

Usually around this time of year I am decorating my house with all manner of Christmas decorations. I really love Christmas and don't want to miss out on decorating just because we are in a campervan. So off we went to Bunnings and picked up some solar lights to decorate Myrtle.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... la la la la

We also have finally come across a car wash, which the HiLux was in bad need of. So she is now nice and sparkly clean. For a little while anyway.

Shane got a bit silly with the water and I got drenched..... ha ha very funny Shane!!

Perth to Melbourne

Here we are back in Melbourne a total of 3,417 kilometres (2123 miles) from Perth. No we didn't drive it, we flew in a big comfortable plane. We have come home for 2 weeks for some Dr's. appointments and some time to catch up with friends and families. It was a bit of a shock when we arrived as we came from 39c to 14c. The house is a bit crowded as we are staying (in my house) with my daughter Rachel, Luke, Clare and Mikayla. It was so nice to give my girl a hug after six months. Clare is now a typical 2 year old chatterbox. She spends her day asserting her developing personality, not always but mostly in a very cute way. I just love this age, I love the things that come out of their mouths and how they view things. Mikayla is the smiliest little six month I have ever held. I just melt into her beautiful little almond shaped eyes when she looks up at me.  

 

Mikayla - 6 months

Clare - 2 years

Yesterday Rachel, Clare, Mikayla and I went to Santa's Magical Kingdom. It was so beautiful to see little Clare's eyes light up as we walked in and she spotted all the lights and rides, but that was nothing compared to her smile when Santa arrived and talked to the children. I love Christmas and I always become a kid when it's Christmas time, but the true joy of Christmas is when there are little people around.  

Rachel, Clare and a Penguin

Mrs Clause, Davine and Clare

The snow from the snow machine intrigued Clare

My night babysitting the two girls last night took me back to when my two were little and one or both of them wouldn't want to settle down for the night. Clare was great and slept all night but Mikayla just didn't want to settle. She just wanted to be with someone, and that someone was me. So we spent the night in the Queen size bed together and she slept soundly. Needless to say I am a little tired tonight.