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 #ParentPower (because I needed to read it and I may've dropped the ball on this with one of the kids this week...)

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 25th.


These holidays will be filled with music as I've managed to book a number of concerts.

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

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#HappyNow & #TalkaboutitTuesdays

Passions?

for RubyTuesday

I'm reading a lot of Jon Ronson - I love his books! I just started my 6th, having read five back to back in the last two weeks. I thoroughly recommend them all! Fiction or non fiction. He reads the audio books and I find him quite delightful.









In 'So you've been publicly shamed' a company is trying to flood the internet with a girl's positive foot print in order to move the shameful incident down the google ranking, and the technician asks her 'What are you passionate about?' and she didn't know how to answer it. She was in her mid twenties. I thought 'I don't know how to answer it either.' How have I traveled more than half my life and not know my passions straight off the top of my head?




I love to travel and I indulge in the arts but am I really passionate about it?

Could you answer the question? What are you passionate about?

Linking with a random collection of photos from the last week at 

There's no harm in asking....

Last year at the last minute, I decided I wanted to see the Norman Conquests Trilogy at the Ensemble, however, one of the plays was sold out on the day I wanted to go. I rang them and low and behold, there was one single seat left for me.

Fast forward a few months, I'd asked a friend to see Ronny Chieng with me. She took so long getting back to me that both shows sold out before I could get a ticket. In a disappointed sulk I clicked the browser shut. Then I thought I'd just ring and ask if I could stand up the back...and magically, I've found myself with a ticketed seat in the 5th row!

So this year, the new lesson is to just ask. Because all they can do is say no, and all it's cost me is a phone call or email.

Do you ignore the sold out signs?

This week I'm loving not giving up and not missing out! What are you loving?

Linking with #LovingLifeLinky

“Life takes you to unexpected places. Love brings you home.” - Melissa McClone

We have been showing friends from Canada the town, and thus been out every night and with the out of town wedding and party an hour away on the weekend, it's been 7 days since we've collapsed on the sofa in a heap and had time to unwind. Tonight, however, is the night!!

As much as I've loved the fun and frivolity, I've felt guilty about the kids as I try not to be out two nights in a row as a rule. I know it's only a blip but I still can't help feeling bad.

I am grateful this week for the excitement and good times, but I'm also grateful that I missed the mundane. I also missed time with my partner as while we were together, it feels like a long time since we were alone. We've been talking but haven't really talked. It's a little like a boat adrift, floating not far enough from the mooring to be an issue, but not tethered either.

I guess this week I'm loving that I still notice what I'm missing, even when what I'm missing is still there.

What are you loving this week?

Linking with #MCoW and #TravelTuesday 

 Thanks to @my_dutch_angle on Insta for introducing me to the quote in the title. I just love it.

Sydney - North, South, East and West (Share my snaps!)

This weekend I managed to find myself south in Austimeer,

East in Randwick,










North in Cottage Point


and (Nor)West in Kellyville (I forgot to take a photo while at the Ettamogah pub).

I also spent a very great day in the beautiful harbour.

What did you get up to?










Linking with #MCOW (this old post came up when talking about all the things I want to do once lockdown ends)

Twenty Years

Today is our twentieth wedding anniversary. Twenty seven years together in total. Sounds like a long time, but really doesn't feel like it, even with an extra adult in the house and a high schooler not that far of it...those little baby days still don't seem that far behind me. (In fact yesterday at the supermarket, I let a woman whose baby was crying jump the queue in front of me because the cries were bringing those hormonal tears to my eyes. When she thanked me profusely, I said 'My oldest is 18 and that sound still taps into those memories as if it was yesterday!')

We are off to a wedding tomorrow, and I just discovered it's formal. So I dug out my wedding dress and thankfully it fits. A little lumpy in the wrong places but I'll wear it, because I still love it and it looks great (not as great on me, just great). I'm glad I broke tradition for our wedding, and I'm glad I've had a many opportunities to wear it over the years.

Our big celebration & present was the trip to Bora Bora sans enfants (a first in forever!) so it's a low key celebration at home tonight. I'm popping into to his work for lunch together but we were out last night and the wedding tomorrow, so home tonight is where we will be. And home is what our life together has created, so I guess that's the most fitting place to be to and celebrate.

'Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads, which sew people together through the years.' Simone Signoret

or as my husband says "You get less for murder!"


Loving my life this week, in small ways and big milestones.

What are you loving?

Linking with #TimelessThursdays because I love all the memories that come flooding back when I wear the dress again!

Managing milestones

I've had a number of milestones lately - a child become an adult and finish school, a 20th wedding anniversary (where did that go?) and a HUGE milestone birthday. Rather than be sad at any of these events, I've celebrated excitedly. Though I have noticed with some friends, they've gone the other way, lamenting what they've lost.

I've had a few mother friends struggle with the end of school emotions, whereas I just saw it as an exciting new beginning. A few male friends become depressed at the idea of turning 50, where as mine was a huge party where I could thank all my 'village' for all that they'd done to get me through the hard times. 'The great thing about getting older is that you get a chance to tell the people in your life who matter what they mean to you. ' Mike Love

I think a lot of these feelings are to do with where you are at in life. My forties were filled with roughly six years of difficult and overwhelming problems. There was little respite, as year after year some new issue arose. I am now feeling clear of most of those, so I guess I am in a 'good place' comparatively and 50 is to be celebrated. However, if I was stuck in that swamp still, I would maybe see it as a bad thing, adding to my other problems.

I am old, there is no denying that. For me however, it's not a new idea - I've seen it in the mirror for years now, and reflected back at me at concerts where I clearly don't 'fit in'. I'm much more comfortable about 'owning' that than I used to be.

One of the cards that made me smile, was this from a faraway friend, as it felt at times I'd sunk permanently into the mire, yet obviously I hadn't :

And she was right. I had a wonderful party and loved the effort everyone made to dress up and dazzle. I followed it up with a wonderful weekend of all the things I loved with the people I loved most. And when I woke up on the Monday morning, I thought to myself 'If this is 50, it's pretty damn good!'

The upside of 50, as another friend wrote:

And better yet, make your friends join in! We are all in this together, one way or another, and a rising tide lifts all boats. We can't be up and happy all the time, but when we are, try to make it contagious!

Linking with #LifeThisWeek.