It’s a little nod to Wayne’s World, but instead of ‘party time, excellent’ (if you are aware of the cult nineties classic) I will be diving into one WORD each day. It could be something I learned, something bizarre that happened, a favourite word that I have rediscovered or just a thought that won’t leave me alone.
If you’re joining in on today’s word, feel free to use this tag to connect your post to the series: #WaynesWord
Today’s word is PRIDE.
Following on from today’s Thursday Door post I thought ‘pride’ would be an adequate choice of word for today.
The word pride comes from Old English prȳde, meaning a sense of self-worth or dignity. At its core, pride is about feeling good about who you are and not hiding or apologising.
Happy Thursday everyone and welcome to another week of wonderful doors. This week I have an amazing door to showcase that I spotted in Surry Hills, Sydney a couple of months ago. I wanted to keep this door and its marvellous staircase until this time as it is now Pride month in Australia and I think in many countries around the world.
Each step is painted with a stripe from the Pride flag, like a welcome mat for everyone.
A little bit of information on the colours, as the rainbow colours are not merely decoration but also a message, with each colour carrying its own meaning:
❤️ Red – for life.
🧡 Orange – for healing.
💛 Yellow – for sunlight.
💚 Green – for nature.
💙 Blue – for harmony.
💜 Violet – for spirit.
🖤 Black – for racial justice and inclusion for all.
These colours together represent the spectrum of human identity, love, and experience. It’s not just about pride, it’s about visibility, solidarity, and joy in the face of adversity. I know there are many versions of the flag today but initially it started out with just a few colours and I have to admit that I really love the flag and always feel more welcome / safe when I see one.
Every step here leading to the door is a statement saying “You belong”. I would love to know who owns this home and came up with this great idea to paint the steps. As for the door, I think is it exquisite and I love how it’s the same design as the window. The lights and greenery also add to the aesthetic.
Nestled between rolling green pastures and stunning beaches, Berry, New South Wales, is a picturesque town that captures the charm of the South Coast. Just two hours south of Sydney, this quaint destination is perfect for a day trip or a weekend getaway. We had been here before for a couple of day trips but I really wanted to return and spend a couple of days here to really take it all in. From our place in the Shire, it was only a 1.5 hour drive.
A Historic Haven
Berry is steeped in history, evident in its beautifully preserved heritage buildings and small-town atmosphere. Established in the 19th century, the town is a window into Australia’s colonial past, with sites like the Berry Courthouse and the Berry Museum offering a glimpse into days gone by. There is a beautiful Thai restaurant that is worth checking out that is situated in the old Berry post office. We were lucky to be able to sit outside on the garden and appreciate the beautiful nature and architecture surrounding us.
I love the architecture and quaintness of this village. Beautiful views of the mountains on the background and everyone is welcome! The Berry Museum is worth checking out and was perfect for us when there was a short bout of rain.
A Foodie’s Paradise
Known as a hub for food lovers, Berry boasts a vibrant café culture and a variety of gourmet experiences. Whether you’re indulging in artisan baked goods at The Famous Berry Donut Van, enjoying a farm-to-table meal at one of the local restaurants, or exploring the Berry Farmers’ Market, you’ll find fresh, locally sourced delights at every turn. We discovered a lovely little Italian restaurant with a homely atmosphere and we also frequented the Berry Hotel on a couple of occasions (in Australia hotels are mostly pubs) which was fantastic and gave us the opportunity to meet locals and tourists alike. They had live music one evening and we needed up chatting to the musicians at the end of the evening. I think our Guinness drinking caught their attention and they were not surprised that we were two Irish men!
This Donut van is seriously famous! Love these storesBeers in the Berry Hotel
Shop, Stroll, and Explore
The town is a treasure trove of boutique shops, offering everything from homewares to handcrafted goods. Strolling along the main street, visitors will find unique gifts and souvenirs, along with plenty of opportunities to relax and soak in the village vibe. The Berry Barn is worth checking out and has some fantastic Aussie clothing, leather bags and traditional hats. I had always wanted an Australian leather bush hat and I found the perfect one here, much to my absolute delight.
Nature’s Playground
For outdoor enthusiasts, Berry is the gateway to stunning landscapes. Nearby Seven Mile Beach offers serene coastal views and plenty of space for picnics and long walks. We took a drive to the nearby suburbs of Gerringong and Kiama on the way home to take in more breathtaking ocean views, check out the architecture and treat ourselves to some fish and chips.
Ocean views at Gerringong and fantastic buildings at Kiama. The council chambers building is the building I mentioned in my previous doors post. What an exquisite building, including the door!
To conclude, whether you’re seeking a peaceful retreat, a culinary adventure, or a touch of history, Berry, NSW, has something for everyone. With its blend of natural beauty, rich heritage, and warm hospitality, this charming town promises an unforgettable experience.
Pack your bags and discover the magic of Berry today, we highly recommend it! It was also recently voted the number one place to visit outside of Sydney for a day trip by Timeout Sydney.
Happy Thursday everyone and welcome to another week of wonderful doors. As you may be aware, I’m currently visiting home in Northern Ireland and have just over a week left of my trip. Fortunately, I have seen an abundance of fantastic doors, something that has been lacking for me in Australia of late.
We visited a place called Armagh last week, the county where I am from. We simply took a stroll around the city and breathed in all the amazing history and architecture which I will have to show you all later at some point. In addition, I also stumbled upon some amazing and very colourful doors. I thought, seeing as it’s Pride month here in Northern Ireland, where people come together to stand for LGBTQA+ rights, it would be a fitting time to show case these colourful doors. Apparently the pride flag colours represent the diversity of the LGBTQA+ community and the spectrum of human sexuality and gender. Personally, I just love the colours and they make me feel happy when I see them.
As always please let me know if you have a favourite this week and I hope you’re all keeping well in the blogosphere.
Never in a million years did I think I would become a lover of the gym. Yes I have been many times in my life but never on a regular basis. I always thought, maybe if I can stick it out with the gym for a few months, I will somehow get the gym bug…and guess what… I certainly did. It actually works. I had heard if you do something every day for 30 days, you can become devoted to that something. When I joined my gym Signature Fitness here in Bondi Junction, it was for a 30 day challenge. There were lots of us that joined together and we were participating in small group classes, working out in a combination of strength training and conditioning/sweat/high intensity training classes. I loved the classes from day 1 and I think when I started to see results, that became my drive to keep going. Always being a skinny guy, I was delighted to see results, even after a few weeks. Not huge results to anyone else but for me, it was impeccable.
Why did I love this gym so much? I think the fact that there is a coach telling us what to do in every single class. This was unbelievably beneficial for me as I almost didn’t have to think, just do what I was being shown. You didn’t have to worry about being bored either and thinking “what will I do today?”.
The coach would go through the programme with us and show us how to perform each exercise. If we weren’t doing the manoeuvre correctly, the coach would teach us the correct method so that we were getting the most out of the exercise and also not injuring ourselves. Furthermore, the fact that we had to book in online for every class, almost meant that we HAD to attend, so missing a class was not an option for me. I liked that accountability factor and that feeling of “you can’t back out now!”.
I loved and still love the small group training classes. There are just the right amount of people in the class so as not to intimidate but also the right amount to be able to converse and make friends. Every class could differ. You could have 10 people in the busiest class or just 2 people in a quieter class. If you were lucky/unlucky you could even end up with a PT session (lucky as you have the sole attention of the PT but also unlucky as you would have nowhere to hide!).
This gym is a safe space for learning and growing. There are no intimidating characters i.e. “muscle marys” taking over the weights section and there are no mirrors so there is no time for posing and hogging of the equipment. Everyone is extremely friendly, supportive and encouraging, constantly pushing each other to be the best versions of themselves. There is also some friendly competition, especially when we have the conditioning/sweat/high intensity classes 😅.
You meet the best characters, in this gym especially. I have made some amazing life long friends, who not only enriched my gym experiences but also had a huge impact on my social life and employment opportunities. I would say most of us love to come to the gym to train obviously but also to see our friends, catch up with each other and have a laugh whilst being in a “relaxed” environment, albeit extremely sweaty and red faced 🥵.
Other benefits of joining this gym are:
– weekly body fat scans
– monthly programme changes (great for changing things up and challenging your body)
– nutritional advice
– health education and training
– weekly check-ins with your own assigned coach
– challenges that can include the whole gym and help keep you motivated and accountable
– social events (great to see other members NOT in their gym gear and just fun to catch up outside of the gym setting and let your hair down.
I loved the gym for all these reasons. I can’t even put into words how much this gym has changed my life for the better. Not only do I feel better physically but also mentally, socially and psychologically. Sometimes I look at my progress pictures and can’t always see a big difference but the confidence in myself has grown tenfold. I wouldn’t have taken my top off easily in the past without fear and worry of judgement but now I really couldn’t care and I am much more confident in myself and proud of my achievements.
2018 VS 2022 – not sure if there’s a huge difference but I think my face says it all. I definitely feel more confident.
Don’t be afraid to join a gym, we all have to start somewhere and you honestly will feel so much better for it. You never regret a workout!! If you live in Bondi or nearby, be sure to check out Signature Fitness. I have tried many gyms in the past and have never found one as good as this one 😊.
Thanks for taking the time to read. I just wanted to share my gym experience with you all.
I read the most amazing, open and honest blog post this morning and wanted to share it with you all, especially, as for many people around the world, pride is being celebrated this month. We should be proud of who we were born to be and educate others who are still ignorant to what it’s like to be a gay person.
It’s LGBTQ Pride Month. I was struggling with what to write about that has not already been done, and better, by smarter, more talented people than …
WrookieSchU 