The Surprise of Lent

Truth is, I get a little twitchy when someone mentions religion to me. I'm always the first to say I'm not religious but spiritual although I am starting to think I am just in denial. But it has given me a warm reassurance to hear how many people - normal people - have chosen to give something up for Lent. It feels like a return to old-fashioned values and for some reason that I still can't pinpoint, brings me comfort.

So what am I giving up for chocolate. I'm going for a two-fer. Chocolate and Negative Thinking. Begone!

Sad News

To quote Elton John,

It's sad, it's so sad
It's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd...

It was only yesterday that the news broke that Oscar Pistorius had shot dead an "intruder" in his South African home.

I am still reeling over the news that Oscar Pistorius has now been charged with the premeditated murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. I hope this God-awful tragedy has just been an accident and not something sinister as eluded to in the press.

I was shocked to hear that nearly 50 people die in South Africa a day and I honestly can't truly comprehend living in an environment where there is a high crime and mortality rate. But I am anti-gun. For every case where a gun has been used to save someone's life, there are far too many other instances where it has taken lives by accident (mistaking someone for an intruder). For every case where a gun has been used to save someone's life, there are far too many other instances where it has been used in schools and taken the lives of children.  For me, that cost is too high.

This whole situation has left me bereft. A loss of a young life and questions over the intention of an international sporting hero who had done so very much to change our views on "disability". Tragic all round.

Photo a Day - Day 5

I've decided to be liberal about when I post my Photos a Day. Since I'm Australian, I figure I can post using Australian or British time :)

So Day 5 - Something I smelled. Parfum of course. Can you tell I have my favourites?

 

Mystery Solved... Richard III found!

It has been rumoured for a little while but today archaeologists confirmed the skeletal remains found under the Council carpark in Leicester is missing, disgraced King, Richard III. The skeleton shows severe trauma to the skull and an arrow in the back!

More news about this seriously cool story can be found here: http://news.sky.com/story/1047231/richard-iiis-remains-found-in-council-car-park

What an awesome find!!

Photo a Day: Day 4 - Hope

So day 4 asks for a symbol of Hope. My first thought was to capture a picture of Great Britain, Land of *Hope* and Glory but then I spotted my daffs. A symbol for the fight against Cancer as well as a bright sign that Spring is on the way.

 

Something Beginning with E

So Day 3 of the photo challenge brings us something beginning with E and immediately my Ewok-looking puppy came to mine.

Presenting Georgie Porgie!

 

My Not So Secret Crush

is of course Richard Armitage ever since "look back...look back at me" in North and South but the loving went up a notch or five when he sang in The Hobbit. He sings! *Thud*

In true geek style, I have downloaded it to my iPhone as a ringtone. Don't judge...

 

Oscar Predictions

After seeing both Les Misérables and Zero Dark Thirty, my Oscar predictions are:

Best Picture: Les Misérables (I know everyone else is saying it's been Django and Lincoln)
Best Actor: Hugh Jackman, Les Misérables
Best Actress: Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Best Supporing Actress: Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables
Cinematography: Life of Pi
Costume Design: Les Misérables
Directing: Lincoln
Film Editing: Zero Dark Thirty
Make-up and Hairstyling: Les Misérables (although The Hobbit is a close second)
Production Design: Les Misérables
Visual Effects: this is a close one ... Life of Pi or The Hobbit.. Mmm. I'm going with Life of Pi

We'll find out on 24th February!

Photo a Day: February - Day Two

Ok so I *meant* to start the February Photo-a-Day Challenge yesterday with much gusto and gay abandon. Then I forgot.

But I'm backkkkk and it's only Day Two. Today's theme? Pattern.

 

I love this challenge.

 

Magazine Kismet

I don't think I've ever experienced magazine kismet before!

For some reason the February issue of (UK) Glamour magazine caught my eye on eBay and I bought it. Today it arrived and the first page I open it to was all about Eddie Redmayne. Shut up!

 

Country Music Overload

Is there such a thing? I don't think so. Today I got my tickets to see Rascal Flatts (or the band with the little fat singer as my Mum calls them) in London. LONDON! Not London, Ontario; London, England baby!!

As well as Rascal Flatts, I'm seeing Chris Young (I come over all peculiar thinking of THAT nugget of yumminess in England!), Darius Rucker, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, Little Big Town and so many more! Squeak!

2013 just keeps getting better and better!

 

Photo A Day

February's list has been posted .... Are you up for the challenge?

 

A Sign of the Times

This sign is proudly by some roadworks in my little, sleepy village.

A sign of the times perhaps?

 

Les Misérables

What can I say about Les Misérables? Epic. Enchanting. Mesmerising. Captivating. Stirring. The casting was perfection (although Hugh Jackman and Eddie Redmayne particularly blew me away). I cried. I sang. And I clapped with the rest of the audience when it finished yet am bereft it's over.

Clean sweep at The Oscars please.

 

Nine Months Later....

So here I am, sitting comfortably, about to launch myself back into the Blog-o-sphere nine months after I left it so abruptly. We didn’t have a falling out. Nor did my computer go on the fritz (although I still twitch remembering the two weeks I was iPhone-less); life just took over.

And now I’m back.

So what did fill those nine months?

I returned to full health, albeit seven months after my surgery and five months after my last blog post. And it feels good.  

“When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless, and intelligence cannot be applied.”

 Herophilus

That being said I write today full of cold and not feeling so rosy but I’ll take common ailments over serious health complaints any day!

Another biggie was leaving the College and starting a new role at the University. The role and job offer came out of the blue and have become a major example of my philosophy that everything happens in perfect timing. I know it’s positively uncool to love your job but as I have never been one to follow trends, I am out and proud about my job love! The environment is nurturing and tranquil; the role interesting and dynamic; my colleagues are friendly and respectful and my boss is wonderfully encouraging and extremely easy to work for. If these weren’t enough in itself, I have wanted to work at the University for close to ten years so to finally be here and find it’s as wonderful as I had hoped ... well it’s a win-win-win for me.

A new year and a new opportunity to try new things and challenge myself. First cab off the rank? Yoga, baby!

 

For the girl who was unceremoniously dumped from ballet and physical culture (aged 5!) no one is more shocked that I am, as my teacher has called me, a yoga superstar! Don’t get me wrong, I am unable to turn myself into a human pretzel but I am loving the classes, trying something new and also improving each week.

Life is all about balance and the improvements in my life have been met with equal measures of difficulty. A large part of last year was learning the news that my brother was terminally ill and moving forward with this. I have grown a lot as a person since his diagnosis and believe we are all in a better place now than when we first learned the news. Call me Pollyanna but I have a strong positive belief we can overcome this and a brighter, better future awaits my brother.

Finally, I will leave you with this thought....