Housekeeping #Allseasons

More in this series here

This guy before the rain set in here.

I am going to be offline for the next 2 weeks. This #Allseasons will run until the 11th September while I recover from a medical procedure.

It has been great the rain finally stopped this weekend - All of Sydney seem to have mentally struggled with the month long downpour.

For those OS, Sydney just had the most recorded rain in a month.

Fingers crossed Spring is here with a burst of blue skies and warmth.

#Allseasons linky runs  from Thursday to Wednesday each week. (but this post runs for 2 weeks - add one post only per week)

Link one post that shows something seasonal. Traditional weather wise, a seasonal nature marker or a seasonal celebration. 

Make sure you link back to this  #AllSeasons post. 

Please comment on the post before yours and the host. Don't dump and run.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Good news is rare these days, and every glittering ounce of it should be cherished and hoarded and worshipped and fondled like a priceless diamond. Hunter S. Thompson

I posted a quote on my Insta shared by Jillfit and written by busayo_joan that read "I don't know which friend gave you PTSD, but you never have to hide your good news from me neither do you have to downplay your wins around me. Even when I'm going through a rough patch in my life, your joy doesn't offend me."

A friend commented that it was very generous of me, which took me aback as I assumed it was normal.  We discussed that a bit as I had written this piece about not hiding your good news when I was having a very stressful and  difficult time. I loved to be able to get hyped about other peoples good news, because it was like a little escape out of my headspace and stress, even if just momentarily.

She said "A lot of people can't bring themselves to celebrate someone else's good fortune". I am genuinely surprised by this. Though I will admit I do know a few people like that.

I'm not saying I'm perfect though, I am probably more the reverse. If I have a big problem, and you share a problem, while I'll be understanding, I might be thinking "That's not a real problem like mine is". Which is unkind and illogical as I know pain and grief aren't gradable - it impacts us as it impacts us. I am however aware of this and hope I pull myself up if I find myself in that situation and being unempathetic.

So all I'm recommending, if you are having a bit of a bad time, or feeling down in the dumps, jump on other people's joy and success as if it's your own. Celebrate and get excited. It will do as much for you as it does for them.

And we all need to feel good more often.

As Robert Kiyosaki said "The good news is that it doesn't cost much money to change your thinking. In fact, it can be done for free." And that is good news!

Linking with #SeniorSalonPitstop #YoureTheStar and #TheRandom

More August reading

I have mentioned previously that I'm not really a fan of Anne Tyler, but I persisted and now I am. I've found a book of hers that I really enjoyed. This is the story of family and ageing and our lifetime evolution. It looks at how we might push away from family but still be entwined regardless, how we might live a life different to family expectation but still fall into the patterns on our own. It follows a couple and their lives from youth to great grandparenthood, and their children to grandparenthood. I did find it quite sad, which was not the intent of the book, but more a reflection of my stage in life and diminishing role as a mother. There is a beautiful part where one couple get to look after their grandchild during Covid, and when the family moves back to normality, one spouse asks if they'll be better at the empty nest stage a second time around. It really struck me that it's not necessarily just a single stage in life. Lots to recommend in this book, I found it engaging and enjoyable. I listened to it from the library on Borrowbox.

This book is a mystery thriller style book and we know as much as the main character and narrator. Her husband disappears after a strange text message (and something else - no spoiler) and she sets out to track him down when the police won't help. It is not a brilliant must read but I was interested and engaged and it's light entertaining fun. I listened to it from the library on BorrowBox. It was perfect to make the 2 hour drive to & from the hospital each day fly by.

Dipped into a Miss Marple Christie - as a kid I read the Poirot and others, but for some reason veered away from Miss Marple. No idea why. All the charm of the other Christie books, with a meta moment when a character mentions the famous author Agatha Christie in a list of celebrated novelists, which made me chuckle.

I am listening to this in the car to brush up on my French - rather unsuccessfully. I understand a bit but seem to get lost quickly. I know some of the words they test you on. It's little discussions on places and events in France, like a film festival etc, and then they ask the meaning of words that were used in French, and then ask in English the French word for something. They're short little block lessons, so good for driving about on errands. From the Library on Hoopla.

Lastly, on books. At the hospital, they had a huge borrowing library, which given all the waiting around time for both patients and visitors, I thought this was a lovely idea. It did amuse me that one set of books needed to be returned. Obviously the donator was still attached to them.

We are funny about our books....

Linking with #Bookdate #StackingtheShelves #SundaySalon #SundayPost #MonthlyBookworm

Upside Down

 As you know, I'm a fan of flipping images upside down - seen here and here.

This bay walk collection were seen right way up here

and the carpark here.

Linking with #WWOT #MondayMusicMovesMe #SundayBest #WeekendReflection

Little Loves - August

This may be the last official Little Loves, so I'd like to thank Rachel Swirl for the format - I will keep doing it as I find it a shorter version of Taking Stock, which I find a little too long.

READ I saw this post on the Jindo Path and became obsessed with understanding the science behind it - how only twice a year if it's related to lunar cycles? 

I am also re reading Fahrenheit 451. It's such a great book. Opens with a description of a fire that is both the fire burning but also the fire inside the man, that eagerness that lights up fuelled with power and hate - and you see both clearly. Extraordinary writing. It also has the most beautiful description of effects of depression, without ever mentioning it. It's the paragraph that surrounds this line  "Two moonstones looked up at him in the light of his small hand-held fire; two pale moonstones buried in a creek of clear water over which the life of the world ran, not touching them." I am savouring the rereading of it, not for the story but the beautiful imagery. If you haven't read it, the story is engrossing and a terrifying look at our current life, where we feel connected with strangers on the internet but disconnected from those at the dinner table. Astounding that is was written in1953! If you don't have a copy, you can also listen to it through your library on Hoopla. (Read it, and listen to. There's so much in it to savour!) 

WATCHED I went to see three short Tennessee Williams plays, one of which had the line "the past keeps getting bigger and bigger at the expense of the future" which has been haunting me ever since. 

We also went to the kooky When Night Comes as the start of our Sydney Fringe Festival. There is an easily recognised Shakespeare speech but at another part, there is a speech that ends with "behind me I heard the tapping of a blind man's cane" and it's driving me nuts as I can't place it. I initially thought Poe but I can't think which one. So maybe Frankenstein or The Invisible Man (H. G. Wells not Ralph Ellison). If anyone knows, let me know.

On tv I'm watching Vice Principals (which is a cringe fest) but really nothing worth noting seems to be on at the moment.

HEARD I couldn't get tickets to Alex Warren so I've been playing him on repeat at the moment, making myself jealous of all those lucky ducks that got to go to what I'm sure would have been a fabulous concert.

 

I did get tickets to Chane Pena so I'm beginning to play him so that my husband wants to come too, as I know he'll like him. This is not his best song but it's filmed in Iceland and I want to go there so it's a visual treat for me!

WORE Sydney's endless rain is doing my head in. So cocktail dress with rain boots is the go!

AND LASTLY I love looking at the month to pick my three favourite things. It's hard to narrow it down! And that is a blessing. Listening to the fun my kiddo had at their birthday party - singing, dancing & laughter - all round good vibes. Sheng Wang was very funny and I keep getting a bit in my head every time I see berries at the supermarket, which makes me chuckle out loud, resulting in strange looks, which makes me laugh more. After a short music drought, I've seen gigs every Friday night so that always makes me happy. The high lights for elating fun with friends, has got to be the line dancing, the singalong and many meals out with friends. It's been a month of lovely catch ups! I am also beside myself with excitement at how my ice plant is progressing. I can't wait until I can eat it!

As always, my Insta is here and linking with #LittleLoves and #MuralMondays #GardenAffair #WeekendCoffeeShare #NaturesNotes

Share Four Somethings - August

The Sydney Marathon is soon upon us, and as it's now the Seventh Star, all the international runners are descending upon us. We are putting a number of them up, and entertaining a large group of them and locals who all know each other. So a very busy weekend approaches at the end of the month.

Something I loved Been to a few great plays, lots of great meals out with friends and many all around good times. I went to the Musical Singalong at Grand Electric  and was amazed and what an elating afternoon it was. I don't sing in key but it was such a good vibe that I wasn't embarrassed and didn't care. It was fun and plenty of hilarity as well as that rousing emotion that songs tap into (looking at you Les Miserables). If it's on again, I'll definitely be back. You got to vote for the top 10, and most people had a few of their favourites in there. There was plenty of dancing, even from the 80 year olds celebrating a birthday and special applause to the people that enacted Ex-Wives from Six. There's been so much to love this month, it's a little hard to narrow it down. (My Insta clips are here).

Something I learned I have learnt about the Jindo Sea Path. I don't understand how it can only happen twice a year, if it's sort of tidal. A path of seabed is revealed and you can walk a few kilometres between the islands for an hour. It is a literal parting of the sea, caused by tide harmonics (I will admit I'm still searching for an explanation on that which I properly understand), the lunar gravitational pull, the rotation of the earth and the funnelling effect of the Myeongnyang Strait. I find the science behind this fascinating. It's not so much that it can happen, but only twice a year. I think it should be more frequent if the Lunar cycle is involved but science is not my strong point alas! So much to learn! The world is an AMAZING place. Instagram pictures a plenty here.

Something that went well My elderly mum had cancer and had a major surgery. She has recovered AMAZINGLY well for someone close to 90 and is back on her feet and finally at home. I marvel at both the human body and the medical expertise that can make this happen. They got all the cancer and it hadn't spread and they have decided no further treatment is required. She wasn't going to do radio or chemo anyway so I am glad she can just follow doctors orders.

Something I let go of  I wrote back in May that I had to let go of some friends. I did limp along making up my people pleasing excuses for them for about 12 months but I've now removed myself from the group chat and will just see those that want to see me on a smaller scale. I am at peace with it, except that perhaps I'm a little embarrassed that I should have done it about 10 years ago. I am happy to see them, but only if they instigate it. Since I started easing away, 18 months ago, I've really only seen the same few people who I still see now so it really won't make any difference to me, except a positive mental health one. In the Do you F***ing Mind podcast that I listened to yesterday, she spoke of rejection and it really hit home. She asked 'What boundaries to I need to put in place so I don't need to have to deal with that again?...What do I have to do so I don't find myself in that situation again?' The onus on taking control of the situation for self preservation.

 She said (and I'm paraphrasing) 'People will reject you a thousand times before they have to reject you verbally. And we allow ourselves to be rejected again and again. If someone has shown, based on their actions that they are not interested in seeing you, they're not interested in reaching out to you, instigating, initiating - none of that, repeatedly, that is a rejection. You are being told repeatedly, 'I am not interested in this friendship' and you need to accept that." Her advice (which is always so great) is to put your energy elsewhere, into other friends and peacefully tap out. Which is what I've done. I'm not angry, I'm happy to see them but I'm not only seeing them if I organise it. 

I am putting certain boundaries in place so I'm not in that situation ever again, with anyone. It's been done quietly so they won't even notice, so there's no need for anger or drama. It's just time to move on. I am quite proud of myself that I'm now at peace with it, as I've spent years being annoyed about poor treatment but I never actually called them on it. It really is that simple. As a friend said "If they don't appreciate you, why do you even want to spend time with them? Just spend time with us." People treat you how you let them, and I've let it go on for far too long.

I don't feel mean and petty (as I wrote in May) but I am ashamed I never spoke out. If my daughter had friends that did this, I would tell her to get better friends. As an adult, I allowed them to treat me this way, and kept footing the bill for people that clearly we were irrelevant to. It's been obvious for years but I just kept repeating the pattern, and allowing them to repeat theirs. I am too old to have put up with this. I'm embarrassed that in May I wrote about it (truth be told as a way to force myself to do it; once it's out there, I'm accountable) and it still took me 3 months to actually do it. And this is to do something that won't actually change my day to day in any way. It's shamefully pathetic. How am I so old but with so little courage and self respect? Lots to focus on there. That is the bit I can't let go of, but I guess I am finally working on that.

The other thing I've had to let go of is my Ginger Koskenkorva. I finished it and I don't think you can get in Australia anymore. Boo! 

A long one this month, sorry about that. It has been a great month regardless of weather and closing chapters. 

Linking with #ShareFourSomethings #TforTuesday

 #AwwMondays because of you know who!