IF YOUR LIFE HAS TAKEN A TURN LEAN IN AND MERRY BEACH (2n May 2019)

If your life has taken a turn, remember to lean in. You never know what new opportunities might be waiting around the corner.

Ken Reid

from

3 Lies We Believe When We Grow Up 

I am waiting for something to turn up. I am hoping a new opportunity may be waiting for me around the corner. 

I was unexpectedly made redundant from my job 6 years ago at the age of 58 and I am waiting for something to turn up to take its place. I could have done some casual teaching at a local Catholic College, but just couldn't face it. In the past I have done enough casual teaching to last a lifetime. After many years I still have nightmares about it. And I have been out of mainstream teaching for too long to do any work in the state education system.

I had been working at a small 'last resort' school for year 10 students - students whose life circumstances meant they were unable to go to mainstream school. These were mostly kids who had been excluded from  schools because of their inappropriate behaviour.

I loved my work but I must admit that after 15 years I was becoming a little tired. Anyway, despite the fact that I had thrown my life into my work it was taken out of my hands and I had to finish. 

Since then I have tried a number of things. I have tried restoring old furniture; selling cosmetics; marketing on the internet which lost me money; and tutoring. For various reasons nothing really worked. Either a venture was just unsuccessful or caused me too much stress.

Way back in the 3rd century BC Epicurius said,  Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”

Should I just give up? Should I just accept things. But there are  are still things I want to do. I want to travel. I want to fix my house. My car has seen better days. I'm not quite ready to settle for things

My next plan is to try a more professional blog based on budget Plant Paradox compliant recipes for Australians.

In the words of Tony Robbins:“If you want lasting change, you have to give up this idea of just trying something, and you have to commit yourself to mastery. That means not just “dabbling,” but fully immersing yourself. Because your life is not controlled by what you do some of the time, but by what you do consistently.”And according to W.B. Murray,  “Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.”

So number one is commitment.

I need to commit. And I need to believe. Author David Schwartz  says, “Belief, strong belief, triggers the mind to figure out ways and means how to.” On the other hand he says, “Disbelief is negative power. When the mind disbelieves or doubts, the mind attracts reasons to support the disbelief.”


 So I need to set out on my new venture with commitment and the belief I can do it and 'lean in' to what comes across my path. So keep posted for my new blog.

A Trip to Merry Beach

Meanwhile we have been away for a few days to Merry Beach on the New South Wales south coast. We went at a moment's notice when we realised we had a week without appointments or commitments. Peter's daughter and her husband and three little girls were there so we enjoyed our time with them.

We went to see the movie Dumbo and had a game of mini golf. We also spent time at the beach.

We stayed in our little caravan and there were plenty of kangaroos around.

Our caravan is about 20 years old but very neat and clean. We bought it a few years ago

We had a lovely few days. It was beautiful weather. We realised that it had been about 2 years since we had been away in our caravan. I had forgotten what was in all the cupboards so it was like camping in a new caravan. Poetry Robert Frost is one of my favourite poets. I came across this poem in my reading. I love it and thought I would add it.

Mending Wall By Robert Frost

Something there is that doesn't love a wall, That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it, And spills the upper boulders in the sun; And makes gaps even two can pass abreast. The work of hunters is another thing: I have come after them and made repair Where they have left not one stone on a stone, But they would have the rabbit out of hiding, To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean, No one has seen them made or heard them made, But at spring mending-time we find them there. I let my neighbour know beyond the hill; And on a day we meet to walk the line And set the wall between us once again. We keep the wall between us as we go. To each the boulders that have fallen to each. And some are loaves and some so nearly balls We have to use a spell to make them balance: "Stay where you are until our backs are turned!" We wear our fingers rough with handling them. Oh, just another kind of out-door game, One on a side. It comes to little more: There where it is we do not need the wall: He is all pine and I am apple orchard. My apple trees will never get across And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him. He only says, "Good fences make good neighbours." Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder If I could put a notion in his head: "Why do they make good neighbours? Isn't it Where there are cows? But here there are no cows. Before I built a wall I'd ask to know What I was walling in or walling out, And to whom I was like to give offence. Something there is that doesn't love a wall, That wants it down." I could say "Elves" to him, But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather He said it for himself. I see him there Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed. He moves in darkness as it seems to me, Not of woods only and the shade of trees. He will not go behind his father's saying, And he likes having thought of it so well He says again, "Good fences make good neighbours."

Interesting sites  

1. Swedish glamping pod

Photo source

Nestled in the woods about 3 hours from Stockholm is this cute pod available for rent. Click here to read more.

2.  Over 30 uses you never thought of for WD-40

Photo source.

Click here to find about 30 uses for WD-40 that you never thought of.

3. The desert of ghost ships

Photo source

Thirty years ago the Aral sea was this planet's 4th largest inland water mass. Now it is bone dry and littered with ghost ships. Click here to read more.

ALL THE WAY TO BARGO!!

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." 

Galatians 6:9 NIV

 

 The last couple of weeks have been really busy. Tutoring and preparing for tutoring keeps me very busy, but it is very rewarding. I tutor a variety of students, most of them have some sort of reading difficulty.

 Because of limited time and finances  Peter and I have decided to explore some of the places closer to home. So we spent a weekend at Bargo - only 40 minutes away, on top of the mountain. Powered sites at the local caravan park were very reasonable at $28 per night.

We visited Wirrimbirra, a funny old nature reserve not far from Bargo. There were lots of swamp wallabies but not much else.....

......except for a couple of grey kangaroos........

 .......and a couple of emus....

But leasing land on Wirrimbirra was Bargo Dingo Sanctuary, 
which was really fascinating.
The Dingo Sanctuary is a public education facility for Dingoes and their preservation, run by the Australian Native Dog Conservation Society.

The Dingoes all had names and varied in personalities.

We learned that as well as the usual brown Dingoes there are also black Dingoes. 

We visited Thirlmere railway museum and took a ride to Buxton in an old diesel.

There were quite a few steam engines to see.

Below is the end of a carriage on an early mail train.

Last week I couldn't resist taking this photo of sunset over the mountains viewed from Peter's place.

I just posted some Fimo toadstools for sale on Platypus Creations 1.

I love making these.

 

My lovely friend Michelle, makes beautiful dolls and creatures from socks. Go over to Platypus Creations 1 and check them out.

Interesting sites

1.

Round houses suitable for hurricane areas

Photo source

Round houses seem to survive better in hurricanes.
Click here to check this out




2.

Tokyo Nights

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Photographer captures the bewitching, neon beauty of Tokyo on a dark rainy night.
Click to see more.

3. 

 How does a defibrillator work?

Photo source

Learn how a defibrillator works.
Click here.

MERRY BEACH

Photo source

It has been a few weeks since I last posted. Perhaps the most interesting thing we have done is take a trip to Merry Beach with some of P:-)'s family - a few sons and daughters and grand children.

We had a great time as we always do at Merry Beach, camped by the beach.

Our camp is pretty basic but we have all we need.

There were plenty of kangaroos around.

And lots of lorikeets....

...which were very noisy at times.

We toasted marshmallows....

...and visited Mogo Zoo.

We got a new barbecue for Christmas. It was great cooking by the beach side.

Alas, all too soon it was time to leave.

P:-) and I seem to be slow packing up but this time we managed it without too much of a rush.




Interesting sites
1.

 Earth sheltered houses

Photo source

The earth sheltered house uses the ground as insulating blanket which effectively protects it from temperature extremes, wind, rain and extreme weather events. An earth sheltered home is energy-efficient, quiet, freeze-proof and low maintenance. Aesthetically an earth sheltered home blends in with the natural environment, leaving more yard space and more space for wildlife.
 Click here to see more.

2.

 Instruments played by the wind

Photo source

There is a variety of instruments that are played only by the wind, ranging from those small enough to sit on your windowsill to massive pieces of modern art and poorly-designed skyscrapers. This is a really interesting look at some Aeolian harps and other noise making structures. There are some videos with good sound effects. Click here  to find out more.

3.

Photo source

In 2014, Germany’s capacity for wind power generation jumped to more than double the previous year’s figures, thanks to the work of 543 offshore wind turbines that have established Germany’s offshore wind power capacity at 2.35 gigawatts (GW). This is just a stepping stone for Germany on its way to a goal of having 6.5 GW of wind energy infrastructure installed and connected by 2020.

Click here to read more.

A TRIP TO MERRY BEACH

Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.

 Marcus Aurelius

The future can be a disturbing thing. I had my life mapped out when 10 years ago my husband dropped a bomb-shell and left what I thought was our very happy marriage of 30 years. He had met someone else. Wow! What a life changer. Everything changed. I lost my best friend. Everything changed emotionally - not to mention financially. I felt totally alone and I hardly knew what to do from one minute to the next.

But 10 years on I have built a new life. I learned that I am a much stronger person than I thought. Now the future never seems fixed for me. I have learned how things can change in a heart beat. But I have learned what things are important. And I have learned that I have the skills and the faith to get me through anything.

And I needed them when I was unexpectedly made redundant at the age of 58 - 2 years ago. After a year of uncertainty where it looked as if I would have to sell my house, with a lot of belt tightening, things have worked out OK......so far...

I no longer have a future mapped out. I take everything a day at a time and try to enjoy the small moments and know that with God's help I can deal with whatever comes my way.

A nice thing that came my way last week was an unexpected trip to Merry Beach with P:-) and his daughter M, son-in-law B,  grand-daughter S and a little niece J.

We were camped right on the beach front, and the evening we arrived there was a beautiful sunset.

Sunset from our awning.

Sunset from our awning

The sea was calm and the evening still.

Our first day the pleasant weather carried over. This photo below was taken just after we saw a pair of whales out to sea.

Flat sea on Day 1.

The next day the wind came up and the placid sea became rolling waves.

Big sea on Day 2

Rolling waves

One of the pleasant features of Merry Beach is the large number of kangaroos that frequent the camping area.

Kangaroos in  caravan park

Every now and then one can be spotted on the beach.

Kangaroo at the beach

The kangaroos have to be watched around the camp as they like to get into the food and garbage. Below is a picture of one taken through M and B's caravan window at night as it forages around outside our caravan. 

Kangaroo outside our caravan at night.

 The picture is a bit grainy, taken through glass and in the caravan night light.


Our caravan stood up well in the wind. One metal strut came unbolted but P:-) managed to fix it.

Our caravan at Merry Beach

We got the brunt of the wind since we were right on the beach front.



The girls enjoyed watching the ducks.

S,M and J watching the ducks

We had a lovely time. The weather wasn't great but our caravan is cosy. I am looking forward to our next trip.


 Interesting sites

1.

Fortune Cookie Tiny House

Photo source

Zyl Vardos has designed and built a mobile tiny home with a balcony for a client. And in this post, you’re going to get to tour the entire thing!  Click here to see more.



2.

 Whales in the desert south of Cairo

Photo source

The deserts of Egypt contain some of the best preserved paleontological sites in the world, one of which is Wadi al-Hitan or the Valley of Whales. This remote valley in the Western Desert, some 150 km southwest of Cairo, contains valuable collections of fossils and bones of a now extinct, suborder of whales, called the archaeoceti. These fossils explain one of the greatest mysteries of the evolution of whales: the emergence of the whale as an ocean-going
mammal from a previous life as a land-based animal. Click here to see more. 


3.

I choose freedom

Photo source

 "I live my life by this philosophy: I choose freedom. I choose to buy experiences, not stuff."
Click here to read more.