One third of the year is over...

I am surprised to learn that we are well into 2019. I feel it's just begun. I'm still trying to get our money back from the travel insurer for the trip that we cancelled in January...so in my head it's still the start of the year as I seem to be anchored in that period.

It has been a big start to the year with travel and milestone celebrations and plenty of concerts and parties.

There's been some health issues too, but hopefully they'll slowly mend or recover.

I'm not feeling organised or efficient these days, nor am I feeling I'm moving ahead.

So to write - I've not written either story I'd intended on the break. I've not done anything of purpose.
I will be mindful of the time for the next third, and hope to look back in 4 months and feel I've become a little more direction driven, instead of buffeting around as flotsam in the waves of the calendar.


“Time flies, whether you’re wasting it or not.” 
― Crystal Woods

May the force be with you

I was feeling down for no reason, but as I'd just had lunch with mum, it was safe to presume it was something to do with dad's death. I just couldn't shake the depresssed feeling, so as I drove home, I decided I'd stop in at the Powerhouse and check out the Star Wars Identities Exhibition. As a member, it was $11.50, so the fact that I only had 45 mins to charge through didn't matter so much. Ideally you want 75-90 minutes.



It did the trick. Time spent with a Wookiee usually does.










Seeing those familiar creatures that have spanned my lifetime since I was a child brought a spring to my step. Swiping my wristband, making choices as I created my character was enough to pull me out of my funk.

See the reflected exit man? #WeekendReflection

I would like to go back as I didn't have time to listen to the film displays which had a basis in psychology of what shapes us humans (At a cursory listen, they seem good for those with teens that are puzzling their behaviour or looking at careers) but for my purpose that day, the game part was perfect on it's own.


Tickets are $36 or $23 per child, and a family pass is $95. If you haven't been, why not plan a trip these school holidays? It's here until the 10th of June at the Powerhouse Museum.









I am loving that I can manage the ebb and flow of grief. As Qui-Gon Jinn says "Your focus determines your reality". Self care can come in strange forms. I am also loving  that I live so near the Powerhouse that I can 'pop in' for an hour. I will be sad when the Liberal government destroy something so wonderful for the sake of a land sale.

What are you loving this week?

Book tickets to the Star Wars Identities exhibition here

Linking with #OpenSlather #WeekendReflection

What I learnt from Dumbo

Without giving too much away, for anyone that doesn't know the story, there is a line in Dumbo that got me thinking:

'Your children don't need you to be perfect, they just need you to believe in them"

Now I know it's more complicated than that, this parenting business, but I'm watching people wanting to be actors and being pushed into degrees they really aren't interested in. I think perhaps we need to let them try, and possibly fail, then try something else. That's far more important than to regret not trying at all because our parents didn't ever believe in them enough. I don't think we really need to set out with a 'Plan B'. Like in the story that Mandy Patinkin told, maybe there's determination that we parents don't see through fear.  At least try when you are young, when you don't have dependants - that's the time to give these things a go.

Throughout the film, there are reminders to believe in yourself and others. Subliminal messaging and signage. Maybe it's time to back ourselves, and our children a little more.

Maybe it's time to let go of fear and our magic feather, and create the impossible.

As for the film, I liked it. My daughter found it very sad, I thought they'd dialed back on both the sadness and Tim Burtonesque appearance, which was a little disappointing but probably for appealing to the younger audience. Don't go in with expectations too high and you'll pass an enjoyable two hours.

Linking with #KCACOLS #StayClassyMama #TriumphantTales  #OpenSlather #DreamTeam and #TwinklyTuesday

April is about....

For me, April is about the school holidays. I am shutting the blog a week early so will be gone from the 7th until the 30th (though I may pop back for Share My Snaps! because I do love that one.)



These holidays will be filled with music as we're heading up to Bluesfest and I've managed to book three other concerts in on top of that.

I hope to write two short stories over the break, though we shall see. I seem to have lost that creative mojo completely. I want to read at least 2 books. I'm ploughing through the audio books but the actual reading paper books seems to have stalled.



Basically, I'm taking a break from online. I will still be on Insta but I need to unplug and recharge, I think.

What is April about for you?

Linking with #Lifethisweek, TheRandom and #WordlessWednesday

Choir of Man

Until the 7th of April you can catch the Choir of Man at the Sydney Opera House (and in Canberra from the 11th-13th April). The show is a fun night of music by talented singers and musicians (and dancers), it is little surprise they sold out at Edinburgh Fringe in both 2017 and 2018. 

You'll be singing, stamping and clapping along yourself - and quite possibly brought on stage for a beer at the bar. 



An uplifting and joyous show, you're bound to leave smiling, with a song in your ear.








Buy Opera House Tix or Canberra tix here.

Linking with #PictorialTuesday #WeekendReflection #MusicMovesMe #PhotoTunes #RubyTuesdayToo, #SayCheese and #WordlessWednesday

Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour

Last year I went to Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour and it was a lavish spectacular delight visually, audibly and in ambiance. This year, I was determined not to miss it again, and after missing a few days of rush tickets, I decided to buy a $99 ticket late in the day (as had both the people I was seated with) to see this year's production of West Side Story because the weather was perfect for it.








The back drop of the Harbour bridge and Opera House as the sunsets is enchanting, and the trees festooned with festive lights makes for a magical setting.


So as a late loving life, I'm loving living in this city with so many opportunities on our doorstep.





The show ends on the 21st of April so check the weather (as it's on rain or shine) and book at any of the following:

Opera Australia https://opera.org.au/whatson/events/west-side-story-on-sydney-harbour

Details on the $45 Rush tix https://access.intix.org/Article-Admin/todaytix-launches-in-sydney-with-australias-first-mobile-rush-ticketing-technology

Sydney Opera House insiders can avoid booking fee https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/events/whats-on/opera-australia/2019/west-side-story-on-sydney-harbour-tickets.html

Groupon https://www.groupon.com.au/biz/sydney/opera-australia-2

 

Linking with #TravelTuesday #WednesdayAroundTheWorld #WordlessWednesday #ThruMyLens  #OurWorldTuesday #MCOW #MyCorneroftheWorld
#GlobalBlogging #SharonsSouvenirs and #SundayBest

What three things bring happiness in your life?

Weird fog over Sydney

Weekend Reflection

There's a funny little game going around twitter at the moment. I don't know where the game originated, but I was tagged by Lisa Pomerantz who wrote one of my favourite posts ever (not happy favourite, but important insight) Invisibility on eating disorders. The game may have started with @ellegoesglobal but I'm not sure. (Just trying to give credit where due).

The tweet asks: What three things bring Happiness in your life? Let us know and then tag three others.

My answer is:
Travel
Having the 5 of us together for anything (movie, holiday, rare family meal)
Laughing with friends

I am getting much happiness seeing the answers pop up in my feed. We are interesting and diverse creatures.

How would you answer it?

Linking with #KALCOLS #StayClassyMama #DreamTeam #MCoW  &#TwinklyTuesday