30 Day Challenge, Day 30! Anything I want to Write about!

September 2, 2015 raphaela996 Comments

I have a myriad of wondrous things to write about today!

Firstly I want to tell you about Tiny Notes. My daughter and I discovered a pink post-it-note on the window of the train carriage when we sat down. Beautiful people place them around Sydney, and the recipients Instagram the notes upon their discovery. It certainly gave us a lift this morning!

‘I am Jack’ by Susanne Gervay was inspired by her son, who had been bullied at school. It resonated so widely that it was turned into a play by The Monkey Baa Theatre Company. My daughter and I were thrilled and stunned by the performance. It was funny and heart-wrenching. As a parent, it offered a window into life from a child’s perspective. Get along and see it if you can. We had a great talk afterward, about how important it is not to bottle things up, and the need to share your worries.

We found an extraordinary room at the Casula Powerhouse, filled with chandeliers offering an eerie light.

I finished reading ‘Here comes the sun,’ about an Australian band called The Sunnyboys and singer and guitarist Jeremy Oxley’s battle with schizophrenia. He and his wife Mary overcame a great deal and managed to thrive. It is an inspiring love story and study of a talented man regaining his health.

We also saw a koala, frogs and many other animals at Wildlife World. It has been a great few days in my household!

We are going to have a little break away to go camping. We will be staying at a place filled with Koala Bears, parrots and dolphins. I look forward to sharing the experience with you late next week!

30 Day Challenge, Day 25. Who would I rather date?

August 29, 2015August 30, 2015 raphaela99Leave a comment

The challenge today is to answer the question, would I rather date someone plain with an amazing personality or someone beautiful with a plain personality?

Firstly, I would like to ask, what is plain? To my mind, it is purely subjective. What you find interesting and beautiful, I may not and vice versa. Attractiveness is not only skin-deep. It is the quality of a person’s thoughts and the beauty in their heart. It streams forth from their eyes and aura like a beacon. Who hasn’t felt an angry person’s vibe, long before they speak? I would rather date somebody with a stunning personality, absolutely! One that speaks not about others and the minutiae of their lives, but speaks to me of concepts, creativity, philosophy and love.

30 Day Challenge, Day 24. Seven Things that Cross my Mind

August 29, 2015August 29, 2015 raphaela993 Comments

Seven things that cross my mind a lot…

“I need Coffee!”

“Where has the day gone?”

“My canaries have the voices of angels!”

“Blowing a raspberry inside my head at that mean person!”

“I need to sleep!”

“ouch! my spine hurts, a lot!”

“You can do this kid; I’ve got you.”

30 Day Challenge, Day 23. A Letter to Someone

August 28, 2015August 28, 2015 raphaela997 Comments

(Letter to my Daughter)

My darling little girl,

We have just celebrated your ninth birthday. Where did the time go? I want you to know that there is no need to do anything to make me happy. I love you in your petulant moments, through your anger and tears and also in your joyous times. There is no award or trophy you need to gain to win this love. My darling, this world has already tried to box you in, and label you. We wont let them. You are just as defiant as I, already with a finely-tuned inbuilt detector for nonsense. You are not just “pretty,” “dramatic,” “artistic,” “athletic,” “good at maths.” These are components of what makes you who you are, but my darling, you are not one-dimensional. I pray you never pay mind to anyone that says you are. You came to me perfect, with a grand purpose for your exquisite life. It’s great fun slowly uncovering what that purpose is, watching as your destiny is unfurled through a series of clues. It presents as your interests, the songs and movies you love, the colours and books you adore. It presents in the things you say. Hold onto your sense of self, and take pride in being an individual. Your kind heart and sensitive soul will hold you in good stead. I will love you forever. I knew you long before you were born. I knew you from my dreams. With all my love, Mummy xxx

Real Neat Blog Award

August 26, 2015 raphaela9916 Comments

Dear Kitty has nominated me for her Real Neat Blog Award! Thankyou my friend! She writes: “Late in 2014, I made this new award: the Real Neat Blog Award. There are so many bloggers whose blogs deserve more attention. So, I will try to do something about that 🙂

It is the first award that I ever made. I did some computer graphics years ago, before I started blogging; but my computer drawing had become rusty 🙂

The ‘rules’ of the Real Neat Blog Award are: (feel free not to act upon them if you don’t have time; or don’t accept awards; etc.):

1. Put the award logo on your blog.

2. Answer 7 questions asked by the person who nominated you.

3. Thank the people who nominated you, linking to their blogs.

4. Nominate any number of bloggers you like, linking to their blogs.

5. Let them know you nominated them (by commenting on their blog etc.)”

My seven questions are:

1. Where do most visits to your blog come from?

The United States, Australia, UK and Canada. Also heavily featured are Spain, Japan, Netherlands, Malaysia, Italy and many more beautiful places!

2. What is your favourite sport?

Um, I don’t have one! I was never a sporty kid, although I admire many sports people. I do like baseball. There is something quite magical about it, as depicted in Field of Dreams and the movie about Babe Ruth.

3. What has been a special moment for you so far in 2015?

So many! Celebrating my daughter’s birthday, beginning our home schooling journey, watching my daughter play Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, happy times with friends, and starting work on Siren Empire, a beautiful website.

4. What is your favourite quote?

I have many! A recent favourite is, “My life is perfect, even when its not”-Ellen DeGeneres.

5. What was your favourite class when still at school?

Art and English.

6. Anything you had wished to have learned earlier?

To love myself, and be kinder to myself.

7. What musical instrument have you tried to play?

Keyboards.

My nominees are:

4. Favourite quote?

5. Favourite song?

6. when did you start your blog, and why did you start it?

7. Are you nocturnal or do you have the most energy in the day?

30 Day Challenge, Day 22. A picture of what you wore today.

August 25, 2015August 28, 2015 raphaela992 Comments

I was doing a talk in the evening for The Development Effect . You can’t go wrong with a black dress and a foil jacket!

30 Day Challenge, Day 19. A list of all the places you have lived at.

August 25, 2015 raphaela991 Comment

This could take a while! I lived in the Western Suburbs of Sydney as a child, and then (in order):

Guildford-I rented a room from a friend. There were three families living in one little house!

Balmain-I rented an old stable here. It was converted into a series of one bedroom flats.

Parramatta-I rented a unit.

Katoomba- I lived in two different houses, though eventually came off the mountain as the cold affected my breathing.

Bexley-I rented a unit.

St Peters-I had a terrace.

Nth Ryde-I rented a house.

Newcastle-I rented a townhouse.

Hurstville-I rented a lovely old three bedroom house which was knocked down in the name of progress.

Taren Point-I lived in a share house.

Sans Souci-I lived in a rat-infested house where some of the walls were patched up with cardboard and the hot water system was designed for a shed, not a house!

Since then, I have lived in many other homes. Some lovely, and some nightmares. I really believe that each move is a step closer to my forever home!

30 Day Challenge, Day 18. Name the TV show you have become addicted to.

August 23, 2015 raphaela993 Comments

I can’t say I have one. I would have to sit still for long enough! That was quick! I tend to watch a little of a lot of shows. The season has ended now, but I adored Love Child. It was set in the 60’s to early 70’s, my favourite era!

30 Day Challenge- Day 17. What do you want to be when you get older?

August 22, 2015August 22, 2015 raphaela994 Comments

I want to be an independent woman with enough financial security to provide me freedom. I want to continue writing and speaking and have time to dedicate to making art. When my daughter is older, I would quite like to be a counsellor or work in the funeral industry, consoling the grieving. I would love to age as these majestic ladies have aged!

30 Day Challenge-Day 16. If the world were to end tomorrow…

August 22, 2015August 22, 2015 raphaela992 Comments

If the world were to end tomorrow, what would you do with your remaining time on earth?

I would let go of all the extraneous stuff we fool ourselves into thinking are important. You know, stuff on the to-do list that we panic about accomplishing. Stuff like remembering to pick up bread, file your nails and shoot off an email. The world wont end if we don’t do this stuff. I would fire up my car and seek out my local friends. I would tell them all how much I love them and what a difference they made to my life. I would send messages to friends far and wide (no phone calls as that would take far too long out of the day). I would eat fairy bread with my daughter, then we would play board games. We would go to Lush and fill up a basket, then I would buy her the most beautiful dress and shoes. I would celebrate that I don’t have to do any housework by opening a bottle of 1907 Heidsieck. I would relish the sound of the cork popping, and drink it slowly. I wouldn’t have any regrets. It has been quite a ride, this life. I wouldn’t have missed it for quids. Ironically, I would probably have the best slumber of my life, knowing that I did the best I could.