By Georgie! I think she's got it!

Week three of life with a new puppy and I think I have finally got it. She has most-certainly been a chaotic, energetic tour de force and I spent the first week shell-shocked.

She’s adorable and definitely a life-enriching addition to my house if not also a chewing fiend.

Not to go all “Cesar Millan” on you but the books all emphasise the importance of being pack-leader and consistency in puppy training. Yes that’s right. Books. I’m that type of person. Get a puppy, read a book and make a spreadsheet for good measure * wink *. Keep things organised, focussed and follow a plan.

Puppies don’t do plans.
Georgie’s following a more laissez-faire approach. Her aim is to bring a whole-new-sense of chaos to my world and find a way for me to embrace it.

It’s easy to list everything wonderful about life with a puppy – most of which can be summed up in eight words: cutest thing on the face of the planet!

The not-so-wonderful part has been sleeping. Or specifically the lack of sleeping at night. Three weeks in and up to last night, I was running on fumes, getting about 3 hours sleep a night (I’ll pause momentarily so new mothers to babies are free to poo-poo me, roll their eyes and mutter “if only she knew what tired was”).

The evil books of puppydom all said she must sleep in your room, crated or in a pen. So it is said, it will be done.

Good God. This has to be the worst piece of advice ever given. Literally the worst piece of advice.

After three weeks of cajoling, begging, ignoring and pleading, Georgie – the world’s most tenacious Shih Tzu – remained victorious and I would have said sleep deprived if she didn’t catch up during the day while I’m at work!

But the tide would turn last night. My inner Pack Leader would emerge. She now sleeps in the kitchen. Oh she wailed, barked, cried and moaned but she also slept and so did I! Hurrah!

The other part of the night involved me going without dinner and Georgie becoming an Oompa Loompa. Instead of sitting at the table (I was asking for trouble), I balanced my beef hotpot on my lap, got a playful but incredibly painful and unexpected bite from Georgie and tipped my dinner all over her and my white rug. Georgie became that browny-orange colour that happens when hotpot/Bolognese-type sauce hits Shih Tzu. I managed to clean the puppy but my rug has seen better days.

In short, three weeks in and we have found our balance. I can’t imagine or remember life before Georgie and I know before today is out, she will once again make me laugh and thank the stars she’s mine.

Today my Life Changed

Technically, if I wanted to be pedantic, my life changed at 5pm yesterday afternoon when I met, fell in love and bought my new puppy, Georgie. A gorgeous, lively and utterly adorable 8 week old Shih Tzu.

From reading the ad until I visited with the owner, I devoured everything I could (online) on Shih Tzu (a.k.a. the Chrysanthemum Dog, originally from China / Tibet!) and puppy training. Information overload with the very best of intentions.

You see, I'm one of those people.... the OCD über organised creature. The one with spreadsheets for groceries and alphabetised blu-rays! Less than 24 hours later and I can honestly say, not any more, and I couldn't be happier. This morning as Georgie leapt and tumbled around the house, I tried to feed her, my cat, shower, have coffee, get ready for work, remember to brush my hair etc and so on. It was a chaotic whirlwind of excited Shih Tzu, one blasé cat and me working out how I was going to get me and the pooch out the door (me being presentable for work) in the time required. As a result bags were left, hair was unbrushed and a rather emotional me left my gorgeous new puppy with my Mum as I headed off to the office.

This new topsy turvy wonderland of puppy-dom is going to be an adventure. I am sure Georgie will have me whipped into shape in no time!

Power of Rick Astley

This is brilliant.... 'nough said!

The Power of 10%

When I started my Weight Watchers journey, my 10% goal symbolised a weight, I thought I'd never be again. Undeterred, I thought I'd try anyway. And that brings me today.

I'm 10% lighter and feeling of top of the world!

Not only did I believe that I couldn't reach this goal, when I dared to envisage the possibility, I thought it would take years and not a mere 14 weeks. In fact that has been one of my biggest lessons from Weight Watchers (besides nothing tastes as good as thin feels!) - how quickly you see the difference as well as how a little weight lost can make a big difference in how you feel and how others see you. For the last few years, losing weight has felt like "mission impossible" but I realised it wasn't my mindset that was at fault, I just wasn't properly equipped.

So today I see the fruits of my hard work using the right tools at my disposal. If 10% wasn't enough to put a spring in my step, it was also measurement time. (Cue dramatic music) and in four weeks, I've lost 12cms (in total) off my measurements. No wonder my smaller sized jeans are feeling baggier!

So today I celebrate - not with cream buns and a lie-in - instead I'm off out to seize the day and whatever comes my way!

I Want .... Never Gets?!

I don’t know who first said, “I want, never gets” but I first heard it from my mother. Whenever I would pipe up starting with “oooohhhhh” followed by “I want…” she would inevitably finish the sentence with “never gets”.

At the risk of sounding like a really terrible greeting card, I firmly believe the important things in life can’t be bought. And true riches are felt in the heart. (I think I threw up a little in my mouth). Still, why do I want so much?!

So I’m a week into my personal shopping embargo – my vow, for the foreseeable future, not to buy things that are considered luxuries and those items that the world won’t end if I go without (let’s not even mention the non-Rapture!)

Admittedly the first week was easy but as it was the week leading up to pay day, I think it shouldn’t count and I definitely shouldn’t be patting myself on the back yet.

Today, however, is a whole new ball game. Pay day. The mother load. And so it starts. What is a necessity - despite the passionate pleas of my inner self, Chanel Rouge Coco Shine lipstick doesn’t qualify! At 36 however, my beloved moisturiser most definitely does!

Although I don’t believe money can buy happiness, I think it can buy a release of pressure, a roof over your head and basic human necessities (granted, not as pithy as the well-known phrase) but I’ve never been consumed by it. I’m not greedy and I don’t covet more dólares. Truth be told, I’ve primarily ignored that part of my life as I’ve changed continents and bought houses. My interest has only ever gone as far as to check if there was enough to take me on my next adventure.

Being the intrepid explorer that I am, I’m going to delve into this mystery world and come out with an understanding, healthier bank balances and hopefully more trips! So although I would desperately love to ‘treat’ myself to Chanel’s latest lippy, this broad has firmly marked that against the “I want” list and is excited to see where this latest adventure takes her.

The Awakening

As powerful as when I first read it many, many years ago....



The Awakening
Written by ... Sonny Carroll

A time comes in your life when you finally get it ...
when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity,
you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out ...
ENOUGH!
Enough fighting and crying and blaming and struggling to hold on.
Then, like a child quieting down after a tantrum,
you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes.
This is Your Awakening.

You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change,
or for happiness, safety and security to magically appear over the next horizon.
You realize that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale endings,
and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must Begin With You ...
and in the process a sense of Serenity is born of Acceptance.

You Awaken ...
to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always
love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are ... and that's OK.
They are entitled to their own views and opinions.

You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself ...
and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.
You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you -
or didn't do for you
and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.
You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say
and that not everyone will always be there for you
and that everything isn't always about you.

So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself ...
and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.
You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are
and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties ...
and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.
You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view.
You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and needing
and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown,
or should never have bought into to begin with.
You learn that there is power and glory in creating and contributing
and you stop maneuvering through life
merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.
You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity
are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era,
but the mortar that holds together the foundation
upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don't know everything,
it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing.
You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry
and that martyrs get burned at the stake.
Then you learn about love.
You learn to look at relationships as they really are
and not as you would have them be.
You learn that alone does not mean lonely.
You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes.
You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility
and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside,
smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.
You learn that your body really is your temple.
You begin to care for it and treat it with respect.
You begin to eat a balanced diet,
drink more water, and take more time to exercise.
You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty
and so you take more time to rest.
And, just as food fuels the body,
laughter fuels our soul.
So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in life
what you believe you deserve,
and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for
and that wishing for something to happen
is different than working toward making it happen.
More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success
you need direction, discipline and perseverance.
You also learn that no one can do it all alone,
and that it's OK to risk asking for help.

You learn the only thing you must truly fear is fear itself.
You learn to step right into and through your fears
because you know that whatever happens you can handle it
and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms.
You learn to fight for your life
and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.
You learn that life isn't always fair,
you don't always get what you think you deserve
and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people ...
and you learn not to always take it personally.

You learn that nobody's punishing you
and everything isn't always somebody's fault.
It's just life happening.
You learn to admit when you are wrong
and to build bridges instead of walls.
You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy
and resentment must be understood and redirected
or they will suffocate the life out of you
and poison the universe that surrounds you.
You learn to be thankful
and to take comfort in many of the simple things
we take for granted,
things that millions of people upon the earth
can only dream about ...
a full refrigerator, clean running water,
a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.

Then, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself
and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself
and to never, ever settle for less than your heart's desire.
You make it a point to keep smiling,
to keep trusting,
and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.
You hang a wind chime outside your window
so you can listen to the wind.
Finally, with courage in your heart,
you take a stand, you take a deep breath,
and You Begin To Design The Life You Want To Live
As Best You Can.

£13.35 .... and so it starts

The "Credit Crunch" sucks. Big time. There is story after heartbreaking story of job losses, companies closing and repossessed houses going up for sale. And as much as my heart breaks for everyone suffering, truly suffering, in this global recession, I am counting my blessings.

I have a home to call my own (well I think only the hallway belongs to me and the rest to the bank!), a job that pays the bills, friends and family who love me and I'm living in a country I love (not to mention I am still high on the Royal Wedding).

That being said, I travel. That's who I am. It's what drives me. It's my passion. I've been really lucky to have gone back home (all 11,000 miles away) as well as undertake a Deep South Heartbreak Tour for my Aunt to recover from a nasty divorce but I've not chosen a holiday for myself. One I am desperate to go on.

And so it brings me to today. Firstly I realised I've not sweated and saved then hopped on a 'plane to see my friends in the US (and some awesome country music shows) for a while. In fact for the duration of the time I've been in this job. Over two years!

That, my friends, in itself is unacceptable. (Although it may take the US two years to recover from one of those trips!)

Once that thought took seed, we entered the danger phase. The impulsive-but-I-wanna-travel phase. And before I knew it, I was googling Mohegan Sun just to see who was performing.

I'll only say four words. Chris Young. 4th June.
An idea was borne.

Since I couldn't afford to go for this show (believe me I checked!) and as airlines don't take IOUs, the Get-Her-to-the-Sun plan of action has commenced.

Rooting through my cupboards, I found a silver boot-shaped money box. Perfect. Next stop, hangbag and out comes the purse. Like a 5-year-old, pennies were a-flying as I emptied everything and started counting.

My friends, I have £13.35 starting my Chris Young Summer 2012 Concert Wish. Unfortunately I realise loose change just isn't going to cut it .... and regrettably I see a lot of homebrand baked beans in my future. But it'll be worth it. Friends. Sunshine. Country Music. I am already smiling.



Day One. £13.35.