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

Rain and Flowers

Back from a fabulous weekend in Singapore, having fun with the #30daysofleap on Insta, and school holidays are pending. Big thanks to Singapore Airlines who for some reason gave me an upgraded seat AND 2 empty seats beside me on the night flight home. So I actually arrived home feeling great!

First of the Month Fiction will hopefully open this afternoon and stay open until the 12th of October as the school holidays are upon us. Normal blogging will resume mid October. Take care and have a good break to those that are taking time off.

Linking with #FloralFridayFotos and #FridayBliss (ignore all the words, just the pictures)

Procrastination & Teens

One thing that happens in high school is change. One thing to keep an eye on is anxiety in your child. As the hormones and the workload increase at the same time, it can be difficult to see what is going on. Macquarie University holds fabulous free talks and I attended a brilliant one on procrastination recently. I lamented I didn't bring my child, who is currently needing endless reminders to do their work.

I'm not sure if this entirely fits the reasons why my child is preferring to game over doing school work, but I don't think it hurts to hear what might be an underlying issue, just in case.

The talk, Overcoming Procrastination in Adolescents by Dr Carolyn Anne Schniering in full is linked here. It is well worth a listen. The visual are the powerpoints, so listen to it while cooking or cleaning the bathroom (or driving in the car), you can always pause to look at the bullet points if you want to.

One of the most interesting things she says is that some people will never feel motivated. It's the action that creates the motivation, and leads to more action. I know for me, the blog post due Tuesday, only happens when I start writing because I know I have to post something. I'm not always inspired to write, but usually, once I start, some idea comes. Even if it means I delete what I've just written and start again.

She also states that we need to remember 'States of mind' are temporary. We can work with it - ride the wave of emotion until it subsides. Helen Mirren's 5 rules for a happy life speech says that 'Like a hangover, neither triumph or disaster last forever' same too with these emotions of panic or disengagement.

Basically, the short of it is, start to work often. You can study for a short period, it's the starting to study that rewires the neurons. Make it the habit. The more you start to study, the easier it is to study. The more we face our anxiety and fears, the less power it has. It will subside.

I really loved this talk, and I think she probably hits the underlying issue of what seems to be a pandemic of school refusal and anxiety regarding school work.

Linking this old post because it came up a few times this week so I think the video lecture might be useful for some people. Linking with

Me time & Housekeeping

 In a strange turn of events, I've found myself footloose and fancy free (due to last minute offer for a weekend away and no dog sitter available), so after I've helped out at the election and then high tea with friends, I think I'll take myself off to a movie. But which one? One of life's hard decisions....

I will be shutting the blog next week from Wednesday until the following Wednesday so I can get everything done before heading off to the Singapore Grand Prix (Go Kimi!).

Lastly, for the weekend reflection (see in the water), I'll leave you with Father Rod's words. "You may hear in the coming weeks all sorts of unkind things being said about you. Do not believe any of it. It is not true, it says nothing about you, and everything about those who are saying it."

Have a great weekend everyone!

Linking with #WeekendReflection #RubyTuesdayToo #WordlessWednesday #Nanahood

Also linking with #LovingLifeLinky because while I'm away I hope to be loving life!

Flowers

Feeling a little flat after a stressful few days, I treated my self to a quick trip into town to see the David Jones Spring Flower Show. 

I have no idea why it makes me so happy. The perfume hits you as you walk in the door, and seeing so many people enjoying the displays makes me happy to be part of this community, even for a fleeting moment.

This funny tradition officially  marks the start of Spring for me.

Linking with #FloralFridayFoto  #GardenAffair and #DND because I realised I would miss the David Jones Flower Show because we're in lockdown....

“All shadows whisper of the sun. ” ― Emanuel Carnevali

We sat under a sunshade and the tree cast mesmerising shadows. It is sinister and beautiful at the same time.

May we all cast glorious shadows.

Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. Abraham Lincoln

Linking with #SundayShadowShot

A little parenting reminder....

I misplaced my licence on Father's Day, and spent 3 hours hunting around the house to find it. I needed to drive to see my Dad, forty five minutes away. I thought I'd organise a replacement on Monday when I went to renew the rego, but at the last minute I googled what I needed to do and discovered I could replace it online, and that would get me an interim cover note. So I bit the bullet and did exactly that.

When I called the kids to get in the car, my Learner Driver questioned "But how are you going to drive without a licence?". In that instant I was relieved I'd done the right thing. I could explain about the interim licence and set the right example. 

We can't very well tell our kids to behave one way when we do another.

My intentions may not have been pure but I learnt my lesson regardless.

Some rules are not made to be broken.

Linking for #MummyMondays  #KALCOLS #FortheloveofBLOG & #GlobalBlogging
Update: I love that the licence turned up in the post when the sushi bar at the Fish Markets posted it back to me, and I love that the outcome was in my favour without more drama than 3 hours wasted pulling the house apart trying to find it. And as I've said, before 'it's the little things, and not expectation, that make life worth living'

Happy Birthday to #LifeThisWeek

Over the years, there have been many prompt led link ups, and they all seem to have vanished over time. I am happy to have #LifeThisWeek every Monday as it allows me to explore ideas or stretch - write something a little more poetic than usual or just see where it takes me.

Sometimes it's as simple as discussing a topic, like #Mindfulness or #Education.  Other times we can explore ideas, in any way we see fit - like #Belief. Some chose religion, I chose belief in oneself. Occasionally, in the process, I learn a little about myself. I start writing a post heading in one direction but midway through it, start over and end up somewhere completely different, like when we discussed #WhatCan'tYouLiveWithout?

My favourite prompt over the year was #HowMuchMoneyIsEnough? It took me quite a while to think about what I wanted to say on this topic. I enjoyed the memories I trawled to get there, and I'm happy I perhaps shared some good for well deserved charities in a country I adore.

So thank you Denyse for hosting a prompt led link up that forces me into directions I may not naturally take. I love seeing where people decide to go with the prompt.

Congratulations on a busy twelve months.

Linking with #LifeThisWeek