2017 WEEK ONE

This quote links up with the current popular idea in psychology about 'being in the present' or 'mindfulness'. Often we are distracted and not enjoying the present moment, but I thought it was a bit much when I did a course recently about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and the homework given was to be mindful when you are doing the dishes and concentrate on every aspect of the process so you can really appreciate it - the shapes of the dishes; the feel of the water etc. 

I couldn't really see the point of this. Isn't it better to escape with your thoughts somewhere else when doing something so tedious and mundane as washing dishes? I do not enjoy doing dishes so why not make plans for the next craft project, or picnic or whatever, so that that experience becomes richer from the planning. At the same time I can 'escape' from the tedium of dish washing.

I think it is really important to appreciate the small moments in life because this is what life is made of, but there are just some moments I really can't enjoy. In fact there are times when I look forward, such as when my car has broken down, and I just think, "In a couple of hours this will all be over and everything will be back to normal and what seems like a big problem now will be solved." I must admit that while I wait for the NRMA I am in the moment playing 'Words With Friends.'

So on with 2017!

The first day of 2017 was spent at the Wollongong Botanic Gardens with some of Peter's family. (Please note that I have not shown people's faces so as to maintain their privacy.)

The duck pond was a highlight.

Going through the rain forest section was fun.

The oriental bridge was unusual but not ideal for a stroller.

Two cousins found a 'tent'.

Orchids in the greenhouse.

Grandson number 1 in the cacti house

Number 1 grandson outside with giant Cacti.

On 3rd January Peter's elder daughter came down with her two beautiful daughters and we went for a bike ride at Stuart Park.

We had lunch at Diggies and I had the most delicious mussels in wine sauce with sourdough bread.

I must cook some mussels again. Peter doesn't like them but they are high in iron and low in calories.

This was the view from our table, out onto North Wollongong Beach

My Vietnamese mint grows at a great rate and threatens to take over my garden so I picked a lush bunch and placed it in the kitchen window where I can pick the leaves at whim.

These sprayed candlesticks turned out well. I bought them at Vinnies for $5.

This is before:

This is after:

I have plans for them

Happy Birthday

Today is my wonderful daughter's 37th birthday. Life has been a bit of a struggle for her but she had always acted with a lot of integrity and never tried to take the easy path. Much of this is due to the support of her partner who is also her carer. I am not allowed to talk about her on this blog (which she prefers not to read) so if nobody tells her she won't know that I have told you that if you would like to see some of her artwork Google Jade Pegler. She is in the stable of artists at http://www.gallery9.com.au/ You can see some of her last exhibition at Gallery 9 here.

Here is just one example of her work from her last exhibition.

Rhiannon's garden

My daughter Rhiannon and her husband are gradually establishing a garden. They are up to their second raised veggie bed.

I love watching the progress they make. You can follow their progress here on You Tube.

And in deference to many of my family members I will leave you with this.

Interesting sites

1.

Solo Mountain Climber has no fear

Photo source

It is all to do with the amygdala. Click here to read more.






2.

 Automated car park

Photo source

Click here to view the video of this automated car park.




3.

 Vavasseur's cats

Photo source

Raphael Vavasseur does beautiful but unusual paintings of cats. Click here to see more.

Joyful

When you are joyful, when you say yes to life and have fun and project positivity all around you, you become a sun in the center of every constellation, and people want to be near you.  

 Shannon L. Alder

What makes you joyful? Spending time with family and creating things makes me joyful. (And Words With friends!)

And for my Christian friends don't forget to 'make a joyful noise unto the Lord.' Psalm 100.

A piggy picture

It has been a pretty uneventful couple of weeks.

I have started a new diet with Manshake Peter's son-in-law Ben has had great success with it so Peter and I have decided to give it a go. It has taken me a little bit of tinkering around the edges to work out what suits me. I found that just adding 400mls of water to 2 scoops of powder was a bit watery.

So now I mix 2 scoops of chocolate shake with 250 mils of soybean milk; 1 scant cup frozen blueberries; 1/4 cup oat bran; 2 teaspoons cocoa; 2 teaspoons instant coffee; 2 artificial sweeteners. I whiz it all together and get a lovely thick chocolate goo that has to be eaten with a spoon. I divide this into two - one for breakfast and one for morning tea.

I repeat the process for lunch and afternoon tea.

The meal replacement shakes do contain milk products and I have been moving away from animal products to a plant based diet. (Except for fish which apparently makes me a pescetarian.) But I think it is worth a try.

So far after about 5 days I have lost 2kg so that is pretty good going and I seem to be able to function quite well.

Megg and Ben live at Bundeena and Peter and I went for a visit.

Bundeena is a small town on surrounded by the Royal National Park. It is a ferry ride from Cronulla across the Port Hacking River.

The view below is from the road to Bundeena with the view of Sydney in the distance. The city cannot actually be reached by this road as the Port Hacking River lies in the way.

This is the drive to Bundeena. This is a view into the Sydney CBD. What can't be seen is the Port Hacking River between the trees and the city.

We had a family get together for Megg's birthday at a park at Engadine

Megg and Sophie made a delicious chocolate and apricot cake which had to be left in the container while the candles were lit to avoid the wind.

Many of us enjoyed a game of soccer. (When I say 'us' I don't actually mean me.)

More soccer below. I think the grandchildren have monopolised the ball.

Note the scooters used as goal posts.

Below is little 6 week old Lucy all rugged up to keep out of the wind.

 I don't usually post pictures of grandchildren, but their faces can't be seen in any of these photos. I am hoping the adults included don't mind too much.

Weeds keep growing along the edge of my driveway next to my herb garden. Peter keeps weeding it for me but I have decided to do something permanent about it.

  l decided to try planting some nasturtiums along the edge of my driveway. 

 

This is also along the edge of my herb garden so it will make a good edition to it as both the flowers and leaves of nasturtiums are edible.

I'm not sure if there will be enough room for them to grow. Last time I planted nasturtiums elsewhere, Peter 'weeded' them so I shall be careful to educate him this time. I think now is a good time to plant, just before Spring.

This is sunset from Peter's place. I can never resist a sunset.

Interesting sites



1.

 Dumpster Pool

Photo source

 This architect saved a lot of money by building a swimming pool out of a dumpster or large rubbish skip.
Click here to read more. 

2.

 Sand drifts in Shoyna

Photo source

 In the village of Shoyna in Russia, residents often have to dig their way out of their houses in the morning because of the drift of sand.
Click here to read more. 

3.

 Dirty Thunderstorm

Photo source

 Click here  to watch rock, fires and lightning coming from a volcano in Japan.