Thankful Thursday #8

Today I am thankful for the surprise package that arrived in my postbox from one of my dearest friends. I love surprises especially when they come in the form of presents. She reminded me how many awesome, thoughtful people I have in my life. It really made my day - her small, thoughtful gesture made me smile and made an already good day even better. 

So today I am most especially thankful for her. She knows who she is. She rocks. 

12 days! Go! Go! Go!

Monday again. Awesome. Last week I can only describe as most outstanding and I'm still feeding off the energy from it. Luckily energy is a great calorie burner too. Just riding that positive wave . That reminds me! One of my New Years resolutions was to learn to surf. Um. Better get on that.

You may recall I'm in the midst of a 12 week Challenge at my gym. We're into the final 12 days now and I'm contemplating moving into the gym. I'm not sure what it is about the thought of having to have my 'After Photo' taken that is terrorising me into increasing all my efforts. I've been consistent throughout. Trained hard, eaten correctly and everything else you are supposed to do. I'm happy with the results so far but for me part of the fun of this particular Challenge is pushing my limits and I am going to spend the next 12 days pushing them as hard as they can go. On the 13th day I will rest. Maybe.

This is what I want. Simple. 

                                               http://pinterest.com/pin/114349278010143216/

Thankful Thursday #7

Today I am writing this from a Starbucks in the city which - by the way - means I get to call myself a real writer. Maybe I am about to write my bestseller. Oh if only that was all it took: coffee, free wifi and a laptop.

It's been a great week for me. I've felt inspired, enlightened and passionate about things I'd long forgotten. I've pushed my limits, challenged my willpower and survived. I feel on top of the world right now. To quote The Carpenter's song : 'such a feeling's coming over me, there is wonder in most everything I see.'

So this Thursday I am thankful for this week. I love my life and I am excited for what the future holds.

Have a great day people and remember to be thankful!

Thankful Thursday #6

I've been in some sort of trance most of today. Woke up and felt instantly thankful to my Husband that he had been so thoughtful as to pass along a small taster of the cold and flu thing he's been delighted with all week. I really do enjoy a headache and sore throat - means I get to overdose on Olive Leaf Extract and other forms of Vitamin C and headache killing drugs. I am most thankful that they seem to have decided not to linger longer. One to Olive Leaf Extract -  Zero to Sore Throat. 

I am thankful to Kane for telling me I looked like I was glowing this morning while he was attempting to break me. Clearly sore throats and sweating through Pyramid sets makes me glow. Yes, I said glow.
I am thankful I didn't let him break me. Pyramid sets are hard but in an awesome kind of way.

I'm thankful that tomorrow is Friday. 

What are you thankful for today? 

Searching for Sugarman

As I write this I'm listening to an artist who has been with me in every significant stage of my life so far. It's a fact. A Cold Fact. I think every South African reading this has probably just guessed who this artist is. The astounding thing for me is that outside of South Africa, when I do reveal his name, most will still not know of him. His name: Rodriguez. Sixto Rodriguez.

My husband and I recently watched a documentary entitled 'Searching for Sugarman' . One of the most amazing Music Documentaries I've seen. I highly recommend it and not just for South Africans. I reckon every Music loving soul will feel uplifted by this story. I won't give away any of the story because the film will take you on a journey you need to go on. Someone once told me about another band that to really appreciate them, to understand their music, to connect with them, I needed to discover them for myself.  He was right and not just about that band. It is hard when you are passionate about something not to want to tell the world, make them see what you see, make them love it like you do. Yet, don't you always tend appreciate the things you find yourself just a bit more? Every kid wants to say "I found it first" or "I said it first" don't they? As adults I think we do too. So I'm going let you all watch it first. 

It confounds me that while I have carried his album, Cold Fact, with me through my entire life, this man is virtually unknown outside of South Africa. My Dad had it in his album collection and we would giggle at the line 'I wonder how many times you've had sex and I wonder if you know who'll be next'. It featured on my end of school holidays with friends - singing 'Sugarman' at the top of our drunken lungs from a moonlight beach. I played it for my flatmates in London - had to give them a break from my own out of tune singing. And now, it is here with me in Australia. 

Maybe this movie will change that. I hope so. Rodriguez should be heard. 

Thankful Thursday #5

Yesterday we welcomed a new baby girl, Amelia Zara, into our family. Today I'm thankful to be an Auntie to 4 nieces and 1 nephew : Yasmin, Gabriella, Luke, Charlotte and now Amelia!  Girl number 3 for my Big Brother. If she has as much personality and energy as her 2 Big Sisters and her Mom, my brother had better get used to being outnumbered and out-gunned in every future argument. Possibly used to it already. He may need to get a dog - they tend to listen and never argue.
I decided to use my Google skills to see if I could find him some advice from other Dads of Daughters. Even though he already has two sometimes just knowing someone else feels as you do can be gratifying and maybe you learn something in spite of what you think you know.

Anyway I discovered this beautiful blog written by a guy named Michael. He describes his blog like this:

'This blog is a combination of the parenting style I’m trying to adopt and my attempt to capture the numerous thoughts I have as the doting father of a beautiful and precious little young lady who I’d like to see grow up and mature into a strong and talented woman someday. When that happens, my hope is that she will look back fondly on her childhood and say that I added life to her years… she is certainly adding to mine.

For my first Father’s Day, Isabella gave me a mug that said I was the best daddy in the world. You probably have one too. If you won’t tell my little girl, I won’t tell yours.'

Is that not beautiful? Anyway Big Brother when you read this go read his 50 Rules for Dads of Daughters and see if you agree, pick up some tips or maybe you have your own to add?

I can't wait to meet this newest princess!

Early morning Adventures

3:30am Sunday morning I awoke to the familiar, yet unwelcome sound on a Sunday, Pink Panther Theme tune. I'd agreed in a moment of weakness, or madness, to join some fellow crazy people on a 12 km hike down on the Gold Coast hinterland.
4:20am. I'm waiting in the dark (I'm scared of the dark just for the record), waiting for my lift and imagining all sorts of Hobbly Gobblys lurking and waiting to eat me. Thankfully I was saved by a Yorkshire lass in a white car just as I was preparing to protect myself from the attack of some nasty creature creeping somewhere towards me. I could sense its evil presence.
5:45am. Arrive at meeting point and find other aforementioned crazy people. Let me tell you a little bit more about this hike. There is an event that takes place every year on the Gold Coast called The Kokada Challenge - this hike is only 6 km (they wouldn't turn around at 6km and come back they'd just keep going) out of that 96 km course and oh my. That is all. Oh my. It starts with a 2km uphill (gradient apparently 41, whatever that means, trust me it was pretty steep) then mixed terrain but mostly downhill for 4kms and then you get to turn around and climb 4kms uphill and end with the steep 2km downhill. Awesomeness!
Thankfully my company kept my mind off the journey. Laughing always makes everything easier. I still have the Wombles Theme song in my head.

9:35am. Back at base camp (I like calling it that, makes me feel like we climbed Everest). There are complaints of blisters, knee pain, back pain, tiredness but mostly there is there is this grand sense of accomplishment. Every person who got out of bed before the sun and attempted this hike, no matter how far they got before they turned back, I think should feel a little bit proud of their greatness. It is not something I would have thought I'd be able to do 2 years ago.

Me with some of the other Crazy People and Kommando Nate!

There is someone I like to thank. Without its help I may have gone ass over tit a few times. It appeared when I needed it most and I brought it home with me.

Meet Kierrie.

Oh and for the record my gluteus maximus has not fully recovered. Hot butt on the way!