Remedy

I was a little down in the dumps today - no reason, just general malaise and a bit of wear and tear. I have talked many times (here, here and it all started here) about my awe of the work of the Landmine Museum and School in Siem Reap When I got back from our trip to Siem Reap, I set about finding a way to help them. I rang airlines to see if I could pay an attendant to carry books over for me. I tried to see if I could get book depository to post there for me. A friend's daughter was going to go there on a school trip but then it fell through in the last minute. Fast forward almost three years later and a friend is going for work. She has offered to take the bag of donations over for me (please note she will pack the bag herself and I've purchased a new bag that can be left with the charity.) I have rung the embassy who has assured me it is fine to bring in a suitcase of donations/gifts for the charity as long as I have a copy of the correspondence with the charity. Given the items are pencils and toothpaste, we will be well under the value limit for importing gifts anyway.

Which brings me back to my mood. Feeling a little fragile, I decided I would go out and purchase the bag she will take over. I then came home and packed it with the items already donated by friends. It made me feel so good. My mood has shot back up and currently is slightly elated. You see, now that I've managed to fulfill this small dream, three years in the making, I've decided to aim higher. On their wishlist page, where they have a link to donate  via paypal for simple things like hair brushes and laundry detergent, they also have this: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MAJOR DONATION TO HELP US BUY A NEW TRUCK TO TRANSPORT THE KIDS, CONTACT US DIRECTLY AND WE EXCHANGE DETAILS.

So I've decided I'm going to get them a truck. I have no idea how, as of yet, but it's a worthwhile project. They say helping others makes you feel good. I have to say even just the idea of helping others seems to lift your spirits.

So I'm adding it to the list. And if there is any big business that needs a tax write off or wants to help some fabulous kids and people in need of transportation, please contact the Landmine Museum and Relief Centre.

Torshlusspanik List:

1. Shooting (check)
2. Fencing (check)
3. Play croquet at Croquet Club
4. Laser skeet
5. Off road buggy driving
6. Play Assassins Creed
7. Jetpacking (check)
8. The Color Run (check)
9. Invent something
10. Cooking Masterclass (check)
11. Master a Masterclass (check)
12. Perform a rap song (check)
13. Trampoline adventure (check)
14. BMX Riding (check)
15. Do a cart wheel (check)
16. Ride an Electric Bike (check)
17. Astonish Myself
18. Write a book.
19. Participate in a distance event (check)
20. Climb Sydney Tower (check)
21. Dance in a dance class (check)
22. Trust a stranger

23. Get a truck for the Landmine Museum and Relief Centre in Siem Reap

Linking with #IBOT & #TwinklyTuesday #FortheloveofBLOG #StayClassyMama

Sunday Lunch

On Sunday I took some time out with some girlfriends for a lunch at Sake in Double Bay. 2 hours of free flowing champagne and a Japanese feast, we talked and laughed and escaped our normal lives. Not wanting it to end, we retired to the roof top bar for a final hurrah.

Lovely views and a relaxed setting were not marred by the inclement weather. For a few hours I was truly loving life!

When was the last time you spoiled yourself?

Linking with.#OurWorldTuesday #TravelTuesday #Thrumylens #WordlessWednesday #LovinLifeLinky #WednesdayAroundtheWorld

Look again!

See the exotic flowers of the Malaysian jungle?

Look again.

They're Lego, planted amid the real garden at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore.


Linking with #WeekendReflections (see the dome structure reflected in the pond?) Also #PictorialTuesday #MySundayPhoto #WordlessWednesday #PointShoot #OutdoorWednesday  #TheRandomAnd #SundayBest

“Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden.” ― Phaedrus

A blow to the ego

I entered a story competition, and I quite liked my story until I had a dream where I got a very detailed rejection letter telling me all that was wrong with the story. I actually wished I'd got the letter prior to submission, as I would have 'fixed' it. Clearly my brain knows what a good story is when it's in subconscious mode. Talk about an inner critic!

The winners were announced and the person who came first, also came second. So they wrote two stories way better than mine. Even though I already knew my story was no good, thanks to the dream, for some reason it seemed more of a blow to the ego that the same person could rustle up two award winning stories on demand while I struggled with one...Wonder what my subsconscious will say about that?!

Linking with #Littlethingsthursday #OpenSlather #MummyMondays

Monkey see, monkey do

While in Thailand, on a beach on one of the many islands in Phang Nga Bay, I learnt that monkeys eat crabs and oysters, and are excellent swimmers. Apparently this is common knowledge. They use tools to crack open the oysters. This massive monkey was on the beach we visited, slurping away. Given the size and the ferocious teeth, I zoomed closer, and stayed a safe distance. I know how quick they are on land and didn't want to test the speed in water.








Linking with #WednesdayAroundtheWorld #SundayBest #MySundayPhoto #PointShoot #TravelTuesday #Thrumylens
#TheRandom #OutdoorWednesday #WordlessWednesday #LNRSeasons

Regret, it piles up around us like books we haven't read

While in Singapore, we went to the Children's Biennale at the National Gallery. As we went floor by floor to the installations, my map reading ability and lack of familiarity of the building's layout was challenged. In my defence the gallery spans across two buildings, but I am also a little deficient in this area.  At one point we stop to ask a guide where the work was and she pointed us in the other direction. As we cross the gallery, I realise she has to be wrong, so we return, this time asking 'kid's biennale?' and pointing past her. She then nods in surprise, bemused that we were wanting to see it, and points around the corner from where she is standing. In Singapore, apparently, adult tourists without kids with them would not be interested in the whimsical art works of the Children's Biennale.

The work in question was Lynn Lu's Duplet. You sit under the cloud and answer questions. The first question was 'What do you most want to do in life?'
The second question was 'Why haven't you done it?'

At which point we fled, not to be made to feel bad in our inadequacy by an artwork.


The simplicity of it is confronting. You have a dream, you just need to do it. That is basically all that holds you back. Your lack of action. The question strips you of your excuses, because it's quite hard to listen to your excuses out loud.

Ironically, the experience with the guard highlights that on occasion, other people's expectation of you holds you back. We clearly wanted to behave like children in the eyes of the guard, but we did it anyway. We could have easily skipped that work out of embarrassment. However I learnt long ago not to miss out for fear of looking foolish. 

So to avoid regret, I ask you:

What do you most want to do in life and why haven't you done it?

(This is a funny one for #LovinLifeLinky but for three hours as we roamed the gallery, I was so delighted by the whimsical installations that I was truly loving life! See the link to the Biennale in the opening paragraph for the colourful, quirky photos)

Linking with #KALCOLS #fortheloveofBLOG #TwinklyTuesday

First of the Month Fiction - October

Very quick one, as school holidays are fast upon us. The blog will be shut until the 12th of October but First of the month fiction will be open until then. So you have a few weeks to add your story in 100 words exactly or less than 30 words.

Mine is inspired from a conversation overheard in the bathroom in Singapore.

The sari clad beauty reapplied her pink lipstick in the hotel foyer bathroom, her eyes fluttering with irritation. "I have no idea why my eyes are so dry here. I wonder if it’s the constant air conditioning? I don't understand it.” She paused, then shrugged “But when was life was ever meant to be understandable?" 

Her friend laughed in agreement, washing her hands carefully.

Three strangers also at the mirror turned towards her in unison, awed that her offhand comment instantaneously put their lives into perspective. A hush fell over the room as each woman became lost in her thoughts.

Add yours in the comments then link your blog (please note you can only link you're blog after writing a story). Have a fab few weeks, everyone.

Linking with #OpenSlather #MummyMondays #LifeThisweek

An InLinkz Link-up