The simple life

Why is it that the simplest things can often bring you the most joy.

Like a piece of bread with lashings of butter:

An unexpected kiss from a loved one:

Hearing a favourite song on the radio:

Or when kids sleep peacefully until break of dawn:

What are your simple pleasures?

Time machine at the Sydney Entertainment Centre

Last night, I was transported back a couple of decades as I saw Tears for Fears and Spandau Ballet in concert. It was a helluva lot of fun (despite all the older ladies who'd had a few too many chadonnays and insisted on some crazy dance moves).

So on this lazy public holiday, kick back and check out this film clip. It's one of my faves.


Tears For Fears - Head Over Heels
Uploaded by manon42. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

ANZAC day

Growing up I had a little picture book about Gallipoli, I just loved it. I read and re-read it, fascinated about the tales of the landing, Simpson and his donkey and the ANZACs tricky escape.

As I got older the fascination remained. I watched the movie Gallipoli, The Lighthorsemen, the ANZACs mini-series. I read anything I could get my hands on about it. One day I hope to travel to Gallipoli and see the historic peninsula for myself.

I've enjoyed commemorating ANZAC day in many ways over the years  – attending the dawn service in Martin Place; playing two-up; watching the march in lots of little country towns; drinking beers at the RSL with returned servicemen and listening to their tales. This year we'll probably just make a batch of ANZAC bikkies and take a moment to remember.

As the girls get older, I'm sure we'll take them to the dawn service and tell them about their great grandfathers who fought on the Kokoda Track, in the Pacific and France. I want to help them develop understanding and respect for the day.

Lest we forget.

 

Click the picture to make these yummy bikkies.

Win!

Well, I just discovered I won this week's Blog This challenge with this post. It seems my freaky life is just freakish enough to entertain blogland.

Thanks to everyone who voted!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

10 in 2010 update

Well I thought it was about time I should revisit my 10 in 2010 and see how I'm going.

1) Eat healthy and drink less (or not at all). I'm not eating super healthy (though I generally do eat pretty well anyway), a little bit too much chocolate is recent weeks. I haven't had a drop of alcohol in three weeks, so that's pretty good.

2) I want exercise to be a regular part of my day (yawn... I know, I know all very boring stuff but necessary). I've been extremely slack when it comes to exercise. Definitely need a kick in the bum.

3) I want to pamper myself more - take more time out for just me; buy myself clothes; do my nails; spoil myself with a pretty bauble now and again; get my hair done regularly. Hmm have probably done better at this than this time last year, but still a lot of room for improvement.

4) Take some singing/music classes. I have been wanting to do this for so long, but now I want to find a way to make it happen. Again, have been slack. I need to find something I can afford to do. It's all a bit out of my price range.

5) Have a beach holiday with my family. I can tick this one off. We had a wonderful 10 days away up on the north coast.

6) Start a long-term saving/investment plan. Still in progress, but plans are being made.

7) Finish my backyard (it's been a project in progress for two years!) and make it a lovely place to be. This one can almost be ticked off too. My yard should be done by early next week. Hurrah!!

8) Plan an overseas holiday for 2011 - either New York or France (or both!). Hmmm this is looking pretty unlikely. I don't think it will be achieved.

9) Cook a sensational three-course French meal for Skip (doesn't really go with number 1, I know). Have been stealing wonderful ideas from Pink Patent Mary Janes. See her lemon tart here .

10) Find a wonderful dream to chase and start chasing it. This one is coming to fruition too. Definitely a few steps further on number 10, which was the most important of all the resolutions.

This is the incentive I need to get a move on the others. How are your resolutions going? Have they been long forgotten? Or already achieved?

Image: www.freedigitalphotos.net 

Looking for answers

My three-year-old is at the stage of asking questions – lots of them, incessantly. I know this stage drives a lot of parents crazy and I can understand why, but I actually like it. I love how their little minds are trying to process the big world. I love how their questions reveal their perspective. I love the naivity, the purity, the curiosity.

Skip would probably say it's because I'm quite a curious person myself. He's always laughing at me as I can't let things rest until I find out how they work. I need to know what, why, where, who and how. I have to admit that I love the fact that my iPhone lets me Google things on the go.

Anyway, back to Lil-lil's questions, there have been some that I've loved explaining the answers in great details. Others I've wondered about where they've come from in her little brain. A few that have left me scratching my head. Some of the corkers that have come out in recent days include: Why do tears come out of your eyes when you're sad? Where does water come from? And my current fave: What sound do zebras make?


If anyone knows the answer to that last question, please let me know! Even Google doesn't have an answer that will satisfy a three-year-old.

Point & shoot

Saturday, 17 April, 2010 - 6.10am

Here is a pic of my littlest waking up on Saturday morning. I was actually trying to snap her asleep with her little bum in the air, but she turned and stretched as I took it. I think I love it more as a stretch and you can still see the dreamy look on her face.