I do LOVE a carnival but we donโt see them too much where we are, either here in Australia or back home in Ireland. I did used to love a circus, the tent, the atmosphere etc, however, now I feel so terrible for the animals that I donโt think I could attend a circus today.
2. What is your favourite circus act?
I love the trapeze artists, itโs amazing what they can do (and no animals are involved).
3. When was the last time you attended a funfair?
3 years ago in the south of England with my niece and nephew around Christmas time. It was freezing but we had a fantastic time, very festive and we were able to toast our own marshmallows.
4. What is your favourite ride/stall?
Iโm a sucker for a ferris wheel. Slow and steady with breathtaking views.
Gratitude – as always, thankfully, surviving Monday and Tuesday at work.
The kids loved the Helter SkelterFerris Wheel at Bondi Beach
Thanks Di for this weekโs questions. I havenโt participated in some time but these questions really resonated with me this week.
1. Can you remember your first wage packet?
I remember I was so excited to receive my first payslip when I was 16. I cannot remember the total but I remember the hourly rate being ยฃ3.30 an hour. I thought this was great at the time and Iโm sure it was as I had nothing to pay for, no bills, rent etc.
2. Was it cash, a cheque or paid directly into your bank account?
It was paid directly into my bank account.
3.Do you prefer to shop with cash or card?
I much prefer to pay with card, itโs so much easier and much cleaner than having to touch money. In fact, I donโt even carry a bank card as I have it on my phone. I literally just carry my phone for everything, which is slightly worrying, if I lose my phone or it runs out of battery. That being said, I am going to actively try to use cash for small things like coffees, getting my hair cut etc as I have noticed that banks are charging a fee to use your phone / card and the shop assistant etc never tell you this. For example, a coffee here is about $4.50 but if I use my phone / card they charge an extra 30 cents. That soon adds up if youโre using your phone / card all the time. Plus I hate to think I am giving my hard earned cash to the banks!
4. Do you know the price of half a dozen eggs?
I donโt buy eggs very often as they had been very hard to get here in Australia for some time and theyโre very expensive. I think half a dozen would be about $5 but I could be wrong. If I was to buy eggs, I would always buy a dozen which is normally about $8 or $9.
5. Have you ever kept chickens?
No but I would absolutely love to in the future!!! They are such quirky birds with lots of character and imagine having all those free eggs!!
Today I hit a HUGE milestone (for me) with achieving one thousand subscribers.
Thatโs a thousand humans (and possibly a few bots) who clicked follow, subscribe or โIโm kind of curious with what Wayne is rambling about todayโ.
From Wayneโs Word to tray bakes, travel highlights to colourful doors, you have stuck around and I am incredibly grateful for that. Whether you have read, may it be one post or a hundred, I want to say, THANK YOU!
This is my 21st day posting in a row and I have to say this has been the key for me, posting often. With creating Wayneโs Word and joining in different blogging prompts, it has kept the fire burning within me to keep blogging. The community here is fantastic for encouraging you and making you feel extremely welcome when the world around us can seem hard and sad at times.
Here is to the next thousand followers, the next word, travel adventure or whatever wonders lie in between.
Another year comes to end, hard to believe right?! I love looking back through the months and picking a highlight, sometimes thereโs more than one and sometimes itโs just the little things in life that stood out that month.
This was a quieter year for us with no holidays as such as we had just moved back to Australia from Ireland. We had to start from scratch, finding a place to live, buying furniture again and purchasing a car. This year was about fitting back into Aussie life and trying to save some money, whilst working hard and enjoying life at the same time. Luckily, we were fortunate to be able to fly home to Ireland for a month which was really lovely as I always miss the kids in our family.
That being said, I was happy to look back through the months of this year and see that we actually have done more than I first thought and it makes me appreciate that 2024 was a pretty good year.
JANUARY – Back in Sydney at the height of summer. I have seen this view hundreds of times but it never gets old. It was good to be back in Oz, we just had to find somewhere to live, which wasnโt the easiest thing to do as there is a severe housing shortage in Sydney.FEBRUARY – we decided to move out of Sydney and look for a place in the Sutherland Shire, about 45 minutes south of Sydney. Luckily we found a place near the Royal National Park and a beautiful coastline. Cronulla beach is a 10 minute drive from us and perfect for beach walks and ocean swims. MARCH – We visited our good friends in the Southern Highlands, an area that I have mentioned many times. We love this place for weekend getaways, lots of wineries, bush walks and cosy pubs. APRIL – We tried our first ever puppy yoga! I wanted to do something different for Brianโs birthday and he loves dogs so this was the perfect fit. You practise yoga for 30 minutes and then the instructors release the puppies to run amongst you all. Needless to say, not much yoga happens thereafter. Itโs also a great initiative for you to adopt a puppy as these are all rescue dogs looking a new home. MAY – Good friends of ours from the Shire here just happen to own a barge and love to take trips along the Port Hacking River. We were delighted to be asked to come along, not once but twice on this idyllic river cruise. We dock at a local cafe for breakfast and then sail along the river, meandering through the different suburbs of the Shire. Very tranquil and great for wildlife watching. JUNE – One of my favourite ever sunsets in Bundeena, a quick ferry ride over from Cronulla. I was excited to show friends this area and we were treated to this absolute spectacle. We used to come here for weekend breaks, now we live close by and can call over any time. JULY – Home! It was great to be able to come home again for a few weeks. Belfast, when it gets the sun, is one of my favourite places to be. AUGUST – This is the Grand Opera House Belfast. I worked here for a few years as a student and it was like my second home. I met Brian here also, so it holds many positive memories for me. For my birthday, I really wanted to see a show here and luckily for me, there was a Simon & Garfunkel story being told with all their music being performed. Right up my street! The Opera House had a major refurbishment lately so it was really enjoyable to see for myself, 20 years after I first started working there. I was always really impressed by the amazing architecture of this building, designed by Frank Matcham. SEPTEMBER – Back in the Sutherland Shire and exploring the area even further. There are so many great suburbs here. This one is Oatley and the home to Oatley Castle. Not as grand as the castles we have in the UK and Ireland but still worth a visit. OCTOBER – Our friends finished building their new home in the Southern Highlands. We were thrilled to be invited down to stay for the weekend. Just look at the view they have from their balcony with unbelievable sunsets. NOVEMBER – We were fortunate to be invited to the hospital ball where I work. I had never been to a Christmas ball before so this was a big deal. All expenses paid and really fun to get dressed up for once. Best of all, the venue was 10 minutes from my home. Usually for us living in the Shire, everything is miles away, especially as many things tend to happen in the city. DECEMBER – Attending the Christmas markets in Sydney at central station. This was a lovely day with friends where we had lunch, wine at a little wine bar on the side of the street, followed by the Christmas markets. They had stalls, food, drinks, Christmas music and snow!!!! This truly felt Christmassy and magical. I donโt often feel like itโs Christmas here in Australia as itโs so warm, so this was lovely to feel the joy of Christmas, at least for a few hours.
Thank you all for reading this post and all your support again through 2024. I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Enjoy the time with those nearest and dearest and I will see you in 2025 where Iโm sure I will be partaking in Bloganuary once again.
Thank you for the reminder WordPress that I have been blogging for the past seven years. I actually always remember this myself anyway, as I started this blog when I emigrated to Australia seven years ago.
I find it insane that I have actually lasted this long as I never imagined it to be a long term project. My aim was to show case places that I was visiting in Australia and maybe inspire others to visit them. This has continued but I would say that my journey has changed throughout the past few years, meandering my way throughout the blogging world, always on the hunt for tips and advice, learning new things and meeting new people along the way. Itโs a journey that I thoroughly enjoy, however, my only wish would be to have more time to invest in blogging. Also more time to travel would be lovely but alas, one still has to work and bills to pay ๐.
When Covid hit, I thought I had nothing left to blog about as we could no longer travel. However, I soon learned that you donโt have to stick to what you normally blog about. The blogging community taught me that itโs my blog and I can write about whatever suits ME and whenever suits me. I participated in many writing challenges throughout the covid lockdowns and beyond, with some of them now firmly in my psyche, for example, being a member of the Thursday Doors club hosted by the amazing Dan!
I have found the blogging community to be strong, supportive and for the most part, inclusive. Thank you all for having me in your blogging space and I really hope to still be around for the next seven years. I will continue my doors posts and hopefully share some new travel experiences now that I have moved back to Australia. Next week I am heading home to Northern Ireland to visit my family which I am extremely excited for. Itโs only been seven months since I have last seen them but I really do miss my family, especially as I have a new niece to meet!! I will keep you all posted on what we get up to.
Thank you Di from Pensitivity101 for your questions this week!
1. Do you have a lot of friends or do you know a lot of people ?
I would say YES to both of these. I have a lot of friends and I certainly know a lot of people. I have noticed that with growing older, my friend numbers have declined over time. Simply as people move on, have their own families, relocate etc, etc. and you simply drift away from each other. For friendship longevity, you all need to make an effort to be in each otherโs lives. However, true friendship stands the test of time, even if you havenโt seen each other for months, when you do meet up, you just pick off from where you have left off. I love when that happens.
2. If you are at a party and know very few of the guests, do you mingle and introduce yourself, sit on the sidelines and people watch, or discreetly leave?
Yes I love to mingle and meet new people. I used to be very shy but as I have aged, my confidence has grown and I feel like I can talk to most people now with ease and I really enjoy having meaningful conversations and learning from others.
3. What is the best job you have ever had?
Working at the Grand Opera House in Belfast. I was a theatre usher for a few years and absolutely loved it. I made many life long friends from here also which was a real bonus. I loved watching the shows, seeing people enjoy the theatre and the buzz after a show had finished, with everyone being on a natural high and enjoying life.
4. Can you swim?
Yes and I love swimming. Iโm not an amazing swimmer by any means but I am confident to swim and love being in water. It is such a great skill to have and pretty essential for when I was living in Australia.
Gratitude: I am grateful for having my own home now for the past two weeks. Being able to cook my own meals, wash my own clothes etc. makes me really happy and was something that I had previously taken for granted.
Describe the most ambitious DIY project you’ve ever taken on.
To be honest I am not the best at DIY projects, nor do I enjoy them. My most ambitious project was probably having to build our bed in Australia from IKEA when we moved into our first apartment.
Even with instructions, it will take me more than the average amount of time and patience but I will arrive at the finished project eventually. IKEA furniture is typically straightforward to assemble and requires very few tools, yet it still will be an unwelcoming challenge for me.
I did, however, manage to build the bed with the help of my husband. On my own, I fear that building the bed might have taken me many weeks to put together! Nevertheless, we succeeded not only once but on three different occasions as we had to mantle and dismantle the bed on a few occasions when moving homes.
Thankfully, it does become easier the more times you put the bed together, although never any more enjoyable. Iโm sad to say this is my most ambitious project to date. Who knows what future DIY projects await in the future. I dread to thinkโฆ
Thank you PENSITIVITY101 for this weeks Share your World questions, I like these a lot.
1. Does the weather affect your mood?
I think the weather really does affect my mood, even subconsciously. If there are blue skies and the sun is shining, I will definitely have a spring in my step.
2. If a stranger smiles at you or says โgood morningโ when they pass you in the street, do you return it?
I absolutely return it. I love when people are friendly and smile. Quite often I will be the person to initiate a smile or say hello.
3. If you had a choice of just one of these things to eat, what would it be and why? Chocolate, a sweet pastry, a plate of chips/fries (this is not a forever choice, just one instance).
A sweet pastry would be lovely with a cup of tea.
4. If you could go back to when you were a specific age, what would that be? Why?
Twenty three when I first met my partner. That was a lovely age.
This park is located in South Belfast and is a good walk from where I am staying at the moment. I have been here a couple of times and have always known it was famous for its many flowers and in particular its rose gardens. However, this was the first time I actually followed the map and purposefully looked for the attractions listed, such as the walled garden and Japanese garden. I also was not aware that there is a cafe here too, that was a welcome bonus. I will leave the official link for this park here so you can read a little history about this place and how it ended up being available to the public. https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/things-to-do/parks-and-open-spaces/a-z-parks/sir-thomas-and-lady-dixon-park
This park is great for walking around and taking in all its beauty, made even better with blue skies. We loved the Stables coffee shop and it was so lovely to be able to sit outside. This park is famous for its flowers, especially roses. The first image is from the walled garden. This is a very tranquil and serene space and I encourage everyone to visit if travelling in Northern Ireland.
I hope you enjoy reading about this wonderful park and please let me know if you have ever visited yourself.
This was the perfect spot for us to stop and rest during our drive from Wellington to Auckland. As well as being a great location to stop, we had really wanted to visit here for a couple of reasons.
This area was created thousands of years ago by volcanic activity and sits at the southern end of Lake Rotorua, also formed from a volcanic explosion. Although the volcano hasnโt erupted since, there remains a lot of geothermal occurrences daily, which in turn creates geysers, hot springs and hot mud pools.
We really wanted to try the hot springs as well as seeing and learning about the traditional Mฤori people. In Rotorua you can find a living Mฤori village, there the people have been living for more than 700 years. You can have a tour of the village and witness how the people live.
Rotorua itself is a quaint little town with plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars. You will see many Mฤori people here which is really lovely to see. Another thing to note with this place is that it has a strong sulphur smell (think eggs) from the geysers which can be quite overwhelming if youโre not used to it but Iโm so glad we were able to experience it.
Lake Rotorua Little hot springs everywhere. The smell here was intense. Love the architecture Great little pubPOLYNESIAN SPA GEOTHERMAL HOT SPRINGS AND THERAPIES – Absolutely stunning private pools with stunning views. After our own time here we were able to enjoy a fresh juice and head to the public pools. These were still quite exclusive so not too many people allowed in at one time which was great. There are a few different pools you can try with varying temperatures. Personally, I loved the 40 degree Celsius pool, the warmer the better for me ๐ฅต.Welcome to the Mฤori village ๐Amazing to see how the Mฤori people use the hot springs for cooking. This water is 80 – 100 degrees Celsius. People still bathe here to this day. Sadly they only bathe very early in the morning and late in the afternoon as tours occur during the day. Traditional cooking methods in the ground. Used to cook Kai (food).Hot springs everywhere Geysers spurt here daily
Such an amazing place and we thanked the tour guide for an awesome opportunity to see how the Mฤori people continue to live to this day and aim to keep their traditions alive in the 21st century.
I hope you enjoyed a little insight to Rotorua. This is a definite pit stop if ever travelling from Wellington to Auckland. We made one more stop on our way to Auckland, can any of you guess where it was? I am really excited to show you all later this week.
When you say to people you are travelling to New Zealand, they will pretty much always ask โAre you going to Queenstown?โ. I didnโt really understand why but now that I have travelled there, I totally get it. This place was the highlight of NZ for us. The scenery is just out of this world and made even more special as we were here in winter. The snow peaked mountains were absolutely stunning and you just canโt quite take it all in.
The flight into Queenstown is breathtaking and you wonโt be able to peel your eyes away from the window. As soon as you arrive at the airport you will be blown away by the epic scenery and become lost in the magic of Queenstown.
We caught the number one bus from the airport into Queenstown which takes about 10 – 15 minutes. Itโs a very easy ride and luckily for us it stopped just before the town at our hotel, The Ramada. We loved our stay here, great proximity to the town, beautiful scenery all around, very friendly staff, lovely hotel and the breakfast was open until 11.30 and you simply pay for what you order (this was a real novelty for us as you usually pay a hefty amount for a buffet breakfast and they often close early in other places I have been).
For us, Queenstown was all about the scenery and using it as a base to see other places close by. We took the number two bus to the quaint little Arrowtown. We also took a coach trip to Milford Sound. I will post a little blog about these two places after this but these were the two places we most wanted to see. The scenery itself in Queenstown is beautiful and itโs really lovely just taking a stroll through the town and having a look at all the shops, restaurants and bars. There is a lovely walkway that passed the back of our hotel to the town that takes you along the side of Lake Wakatipu. It was beautiful and can also take you to the town via Queenstown Gardens.
Views from the back of the Ramada. We took the walk into the town. It takes about 30 minutes and the views are out of this world. Lake Wakatipu The town is very picturesque.
A few people have been asking about food recommendations so I thought I would run through a quick list for you :
โ Joeโs Garage – perfect for breakfast
โ Stratosfare – this is the restaurant on top of the huge mountain. Take the gondola up to the top for spectacular views of Queenstown. Itโs a buffet dinner with plenty to choose from.
Taking the gondola ๐ . Stunning views to and from the restaurant.
โ Surreal Bar & Restaurant – nice pub grub and home cooking. All the staff appeared to be Irish too ๐.
โ Flame (need to book) – we actually couldnโt go here as it was fully booked. My advice would be to book ahead ( for most restaurants actually, as they get pretty busy and there are very few staff here at the moment due to the pandemic).
โ Bombay Palace – perfect little spot for some Indian food. We loved it.
โ Boardwalk – PIER Restaurant – this is just at the pier (funny enough). Beautiful views to watch the world go by and they have heat lamps for dining al fresco.
Seafood chowder and a glass of rosรฉ ๐
โ Paddy Gaddy – Southeast Asian – the food here was stunning. Itโs an Asian fusion type restaurant with a real vibe.
โ Margos Mexican – another one you would need to book. This looked awesome but there was no space the night that we tried. Definitely looks worth a visit if you like Mexican food.
– The Pig and Whistle – we loved this place for drinks, either sitting inside or out.
– The Speightโs Ale House – lovely quaint little pub with the best toasty fire.
Thatโs my lot for Queenstown. Such an amazing place that you have to see for yourself. We only had 4 days here but that was actually perfect for us as we werenโt skiing or participating in any winter sports (not our cup of tea). Should that be your thing, you will love this place even more!
Thanks for reading and I will have a couple of blog posts for Arrowtown and Milford Sound coming.
Today is the day! We head on our travels before heading home. I will finally have some travel experiences to share again. As a travel blogger primarily, this makes me very happy.
We will be heading to New Zealand today all being well, first stop Christchurch. I say all being well as you just donโt know what is around the corner, especially in these covid times. Even before entering NZ there is so much documentation needed, for example, obtaining a travel pass, an electronic travel authority, your covid vaccination dates and proof of the vaccines. Thankfully, no covid swabs or rapid antigen tests are needed.
I hope to keep you updated throughout the trip and I will be keen to read other blogs when in the air or on the road.
Have a great day everyone and see you in New Zealand.
Another set of great questions from our Melanie ๐
What do you think it means to be healthy?
Healthy is looking after ourselves and trying our best to maintain our health. Iโm sure most of us know what we have to do to be healthy, ie. having a healthy diet, exercising, reduce alcohol consumption, no smoking etc. etc. I know itโs not always easy to do these things. Life can often get in the way and there are also additional factors at play, for example, our environmental, social, mental, emotional and physical elements that can limit or affect our lifestyle choices. We just have to do the best we can. Your health is your wealth. I appreciate this more than ever since becoming a nurse.
Is being obsessive about someone or something a good thing?
Personally, I donโt think itโs a good thing. Yes itโs great to be focused and determined but it can be a fine line between that and becoming obsessive. I have seen this with training at the gym and people becoming so fixated on results, what they eat etc. to the point of being unhealthy, both mentally and physically.
Being obsessive with a person can really affect your mental health and you may make poor decisions as a result. It is also not good for the person being obsessed over.
After a disagreement with your significant other, do you initiate the makeup conversation or wait for your signature other to do it?
Thankfully I can disagree with my partner about anything and it never results in an argument. Therefore, we never have to have a makeup conversation. Iโm very lucky that weโre both pretty relaxed and carefree.
Have you ever done something incredibly embarrassing in front of a huge crowd?
I remember being a teenager in high school. We were practicing the high jump and instead of jumping gracefully over the pole, I jumped straight into the right stand holding the pole up. It was extremely embarrassing and actually quite painful. I had to limp away with my tail between my legs. Not my finest hour and needless to say, I didnโt become a high jump professional ๐.
Whatโs your sweetest memory from childhood?
Helping to look after my baby sisters.
Why canโt I get a tan like this anymore?! ๐คฃ
Thanks for reading and have a great week everyone!
Most of you probably know this by now ๐คฃ but I love going to the gym, going out for a coffee and walking. Lots and lots of walking. Maybe about 20,000 steps along a coastal route would be perfect for me.
Now that Covid isnโt so strictly monitored and folks can go out and about again, are you into after-work happy hours?
Not really to be honest. As Iโm a nurse, I donโt really have the time to attend happy hours. If I am free in the afternoon, I usually head to the gym. I donโt really drink during the week and they donโt seem to have happy hours at the weekends much. Donโt get me wrong, I love happy hours but they just donโt fit into my daily schedule.
What physical traits do you share with your relatives?
Wrinkles. The ONE physical feature I have from my Dadโs side is wrinkles on my face and lots of them around my eyes. Sad but true ๐ but at least I have my hair on my head.
How long does it take you to decide if you like someone or not?
I normally make my mind up pretty quickly and I like to feel Iโm a good judge of character. I like most people thankfully ๐ .
GRATITUDE SECTION
Feel free to share some wisdom you live by.
Try to make the most of every day. Life is too short and you never know what is around the corner so go out and enjoy the little things in life and appreciate everything thatโs good in your life ๐.
Thanks for reading and thank you Melanie for some more great questions.
Weโre just back from the cinema having watched the new Top Gun: Maverick movie. Has anyone else seen it yet?
If you love the first movie from 1986, then you are sure to love this one. I donโt want to give away the story but it follows on nicely from the first movie and has all the characteristics that you would expect from a Top Gun sequel. It has plenty of action with its signature fighter jets, just enough cheese (although not too cheesy), lots of nods to the original story and its characters, a buff looking cast (with its own beach scene), a little romance (not sure if this was needed to be fair) and a great soundtrack. If you love flying, Iโm sure this will be right up your street and if youโre like me, who hasnโt a clue about aviation, you will still appreciate the flying scenes for the wonder they are. Especially as Tom Cruise and other cast members performed their own stunts. Also, for the record, Tom looks amazing, considering he is 59 years old. Time has been kind to him ๐.
The jet scenes kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and you really donโt know just how the story is going to go, will they, wonโt they. The movie provided some really gripping scenes and I loved how the action scenes were equally matched with emotional ones that could make even those with the stoniest of hearts get a lump in their throat.
The little bit of cheese was spot on in my opinion. The original was a little cheesy too and I think thatโs why I loved it so much. In a world thatโs so serious at the moment, it was so refreshing to become lost in a movie that was light hearted, warm and makes you feel good.
Let me know if you have seen it yet, what you thought of the movie or if you are planning to see. This is certainly a movie for the big screen!
First of all, was anyone a little excited when they awoke to find the WordPress app looking a lot different?! The black background with the rainbow W really jumped out at me and jolted me from my groggy state. I was curious to see what it was all about. When opening the app, the screen said there was a new block editor feature. Ok, yes thatโs great but why the dramatic change in appearance? I mean, I like it, a lot but what does it mean?? Is it temporary? I canโt see anything on Google so if you hear or see anything be sure to let me know ๐
Version 19.9
Melanieโs questions this week from her Share your World segment are as follows:
Has anyone ever tried to scam you?
Not recently but when I was 16 years old I had a customer tried to scam me on more than one occasion. I was working my first job at a supermarket and I loved it. I worked on the checkouts putting through peopleโs groceries. One day, a woman gave me a fake ยฃ20 bank note. I didnโt realise and I was pulled into the managerโs office and reprimanded. The second time it happened again. The same lady came to me and this time I suspected the note looked dodgy but I freaked out and accepted it. I was so worried about getting in trouble that I replaced the fake note with one of mine (ยฃ20 was a lot of money for a 16 year old). It happened to me a third time and I had no idea this time, how could I have been so stupid and not realised AGAIN?! I was in so much trouble with my manager that I was so scared to go back to work on the checkouts. I had some training in identifying fake notes but I had lost all confidence at this stage and just didnโt want to let anyone down again. The fourth time ๐! I knew who the woman was and my managers put me to the test. I was used as bait. When the woman came to my checkout and handed me the fake note, I knew this time. I nodded to my manager and she was questioned by them and the police. I felt bad for her that she maybe had to use fake notes but at the same time, I was angry that she kept picking me as she obviously thought I was an easy target. However, little did she know that I nearly lost my first job and I was traumatised from that experience in future retail jobs. I did learn a valuable lesson though. I certainly knew how to spot fake notes and I had the confidence to speak up about it. Luckily for me and future companies ๐, it never happened again.
Whatโs the best thing about parties?
Meeting new people. I love talking to others and having interesting conversations.
Do you listen to peopleโs advice if you didnโt ask for it?
Yes I do if itโs valid and it comes from good place.
Why is it impossible to spell funeral without fun?
Good question. Maybe funerals are meant to be fun, I mean as a way of celebration for the personโs life or maybe itโs just a coincidence as it comes from the Latin word funus (which still has fun in it!).
GRATITUDE SECTION
How was last week for you?
I had a very busy 6 day working week. I just kept my head down and got on with it but it was all good. I canโt complain ๐.
Melanieโs questions from her Share your World this week are:
If You Could Be Best Friends With A Celebrity, Who Would It Be?
I would have to choose Chris Hemsworth or Zac Efron, simply so they could help me with my gym training ๐.
What is, or should be, the main purpose of law?
To keep everyone safe and to have order in the world.
Do You Care About Reviews?
Yes I do to a certain extent. I often look at reviews for hotels or a product before I purchase. However, itโs good to go with a majority vote as some reviews can be over the top. Especially with hotel reviews, some people complain about the silliest things ๐.
Is the โmindโ different to the โbrainโ? If so, in what ways?
I would say yes. They are interchangeable, however, for me, the brain is the biological aspect whereas, the mind is the psychological aspect. They depend on each other to coexist (if that makes sense).
GRATITUDE SECTION
Overall how sunny is your nature?
Iโm a pretty happy and upbeat person I think. I like to make others feel happy too ๐
Thanks to Dan at No Facilities, this is the Second Annual Thursday Doors Writing Challenge. There is a selection of doors on offer and we have to pick one to write about. This door stood out for me.
Image Teepee Route 66 October 2016 Copyright ยฉ 2016 Deborah M. Zajac ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
My initial thought process was – oh wow, what an amazing looking Teepeeโฆoh the teepee has a doorโฆoh I love the door actuallyโฆok itโs not often you see a teepee with a door like thatโฆto my main questions of thought, does this door simply take you through to the other side of the road or does this door take you to another world?
I am thinking you can only travel to another world if you believe the door to take you there. If you do not believe, you will simply walk through and see the other side of the road.
Or maybe the other side of the door is in fact just the road but if you had believed it would take you to another world, then maybe in fact, you are in another world. Even metaphorically speaking, you are in a better world, as you believe it to be so. You have the ability to place your past behind you and move forward with your life into your new world.
What do you think lies behind the door? A secret garden? Narnia? Or maybe a more positive and brave YOU, as you have taken a leap of faith through a door to an unknown destination.
Who knows?! Ok, Iโm guessing the owner of this photo will knowโฆ
A Better World – short story
Alice began to walk tentatively towards the door. She was thinking, โThis is crazy. How can walking through this door make me feel better, I know it leads to the other side of the road!โ. As she reached the door, she placed her hand on the door handle, took a deep breath in and said to herself โI am letting go of my fears and insecurities, I am Alice and I can overcome anything!โ.
As she pulled the handle down, she gave the door a gentle nudge. Nothing happened. Alice had to give the door a decent push, it was almost like someone was putting their weight against it. With all her might, she managed to open the door without falling through it. A huge gust of wind smacked her in the face, knocking over her beehive weave.
What was on the other side? Nothing. It was the same road. โOk, I expected thisโ thought Alice. However, to Aliceโs surprise, although everything appeared the same, it somehow became brighter and clearer. She instantly felt better in herself and her mood had lifted. โIf only I had taken these steps soonerโ she thought.
Alice knew she was a different person than before walking through the door. She had left the negative thoughts in the past and could now focus on her future. โOkโ, said Alice aloud, โYou are a magic door inside a teepee!!!โ.
There is a new documentary called Mother Teresa – For the Love of God? Has anyone else watched this? We have it here in Australia on Stan (an Aussie streaming service). I will share my thoughts on the programme and hopefully you can comment if you have also seen it or plan to watch in the near future.
Personally I didnโt know all that much about Mother Teresa. I remember her dying in 1997 when I was 14 years old. I remember it being significant as she passed not that long after Princess Diana and that had made a big impact on my memory. So when Mother Teresa died, I recall people feeling extra sad. I knew she was a good woman who helped the sick and poor and she was a very spiritual person. So when I spotted a new documentary about her life, I thought it could be interesting, especially as the title states, For the Love of God? The question mark made me think, are we to question that her life was or wasnโt for the love of God? Or was the help she provided for the love of God? I wasnโt sure but I was intrigued.
I donโt want to spoil the documentary for anyone so I will just make some vague points but personally, I found it to be very interesting. It begins with telling you the history of Mother Teresa, that she was born in Macedonia and how/why she ended up in Calcutta, India. It shows how she helped the poor, sick and most vulnerable members of society and how her legacy grew. Many women joined her to become nuns and assist with her quest to look after the most downtrodden. There are a lot of positives shown about Mother Teresa and the amazing work carried out by her and her team, for example, giving temporary homes to those who had been orphaned.
However, interestingly, it does show aspects of her work from another point of view. The documentary shows how she became so well known and adored by millions. The Catholic Church embraced Mother Teresa and often utilised her to create a positive image for the church (specifically to cover up the issue with Priests and sexual abuse). She also gained A LOT of money that was given to the church. The controversy being that much of the money was given to the church and not necessarily to those people that needed it the most. The money was not used to treat the sick and dying. Medical professionals who had worked with Mother Teresa initially, were horrified at the lack of proper treatment and facilities and ended up leaving to work elsewhere. Mother Teresa was about bringing the word of God to people whilst they were coming to the end of their lives and providing them with a place to stay, rather than helping them medically or offering any pain relief from their suffering. I think in the eyes of Mother Teresa, pain was seen almost as a necessity when dying, like Jesus was in pain when he died on the cross. This part did make me feel uncomfortable, although I was not that surprised that she was used by the church for financial and popular gain, sadly.
Having watched the documentary, I still believe Mother Teresa to be an amazing woman, who gave up her life to devote herself to God and look after those in need. However, I do think it is sad that much of the money acquired through charity and donations, never reached those who really needed it and very tragic that the church had used her kindness and time to their own advantage.
What are your thoughts if you have watched it? Would this blog post make you want to watch it? I believe Mother Teresaโs life was for the Love of God and I believe her help was for the Love of God. I just think maybe more could have been done to treat the sick and offer them pain relief. Also saddened that she became so popular and maybe lost track of her initial mission, with a focus more on the church rather than the people. However, itโs easy for me to say that sitting at home. I wasnโt there to know the facts and Iโm sure we are not seeing the whole picture.
I hope I do not cause any upset to anyone with writing about this documentary. Itโs just one take on her story and Iโm sure there are many other points of view. However, I did really find the show interesting and gripping, albeit rather sad.
Take care and thanks for reading my Tuesday thoughts.
Hooray for Melanieโs questions making a return for her Share the World blog post. I love these random questions as a way of learning more about others and sharing a little more about myself. Melanie has posted the following questions and you can read my answers below ๐๐ผ.
1 – What two totally normal things become really weird if you do them back to back?
I would say brushing your teeth and then having a coffee. Iโm sure the coffee would taste really minty. I always wait a good half an hour after brushing my teeth before I have coffee.
2 – What is something that you just recently realized that you are embarrassed by, that you didnโt realize embarrassed you?
I havenโt really been embarrassed by anything for a long time thankfully. I do tend to be embarrassed if people I know speak very loudly, especially on public transport and normally regarding a private matter. I guess I find it strange that people can hear you airing your dirty laundry (so to speak).
3 – If Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Germany, the USA, Brazil and Italy were represented by one food, which would it be for each?
Australia – Lemingtons
NZ – kiwi fruit (may not be the case but it makes me think of NZ ๐คฃ).
UK – bangers and mash
Ireland – Shepherdโs Pie
Germany – Curry Wurst
USA – burgers or anything deep fried
Brazil – Brazil nuts (may also not be from Brazil)
Italy – Pasta
4 – What might happen if Goldilocks and the Three Bears were set in modern times?
I think the bears would eat Goldilocks.
5 – Where was the most most embarrassing or inappropriate place youโve passed audible gas?
In the gym! Thankfully only one other person heard but I was mortified.
Thanks Melanie and thanks for reading everyone. Feel free to answer also in the comments section ๐.
Today my husband and I celebrate five years of marriage. After ten years together, it was time to put a ring on it and make it official. We had a civil partnership in Northern Ireland as it was still illegal for people of the same sex to be married then. Thankfully, it was made legal in 2020.
For us, marriage was about strengthening our commitment to each other, showing our love for each other to the world, providing security for each other and having that certainty that we would be seen as a couple in the eyes of the law. As we were moving to Australia, we wanted that security, for example, heaven forbid, if something happened to one of us. We also wanted to have a time of celebration with our families and friends, before we would leave Northern Ireland for a new chapter Down Under.
The best day with our nearest and dearest.
When we arrived in Australia the following month, we were surprised to discover that gay marriage was also not legal here. This was astounding as we know how gay friendly Australia is and Sydney hosts one of the biggest Mardi Gras festivals in the world.
On 9 December 2017, the right to marry in Australia was no longer based on sex or gender. This was amazing news and enabled us to be married officially. We had a small wedding service on our one year anniversary (four years ago today), just for us. We felt that we were married before but now it was official. We had a ceremony at one of our favourite beaches with an intimate collection of family and friends.
Today I think of my partner and how it is his birthday today! Unfortunately we are both working today so we will celebrate modestly this evening. On the other hand, we were able to celebrate during the weekend just past and had a really lovely weekend together in Sydney.
Sydney Opera House
I planned a secret outing on Sunday in the CBD. I wanted us to participate in an event or excursion and it just so happened that there was an Oyster masterclass happening, courtesy of Sydney Oyster Farm Tours. This was part of a larger event that was happening all weekend in the Sydney CBD to celebrate food, drink and live entertainment.
We were able to shuck our own oysters (the process of opening the oysters) and thankfully none of us managed to injure ourselves. There was a girl in front of us who nearly chopped her finger off! We learned some history and gained knowledge regarding oyster farming and we were able to eat them afterwards. We had a collection of Sydney Rock Oysters and Pacific Oysters and Iโm sure we managed to eat nearly a dozen each! This was a great experience and one that we had never done before.
Oyster shucking – The Pacifics were already opened in the tray and the Rock Oysters were in the bags waiting to be opened.
We then checked into our hotel for the night. I thought it would be cool to stay in a really nice hotel with stunning Sydney views, just for one night. You have the novelty of being away from home but with the luxury of not having to travel too far. Being a tourist for the day and night was fun. We stayed in the Shangri-La and really, thoroughly enjoyed it. I would say the only negative point was that it was a long weekend, therefore, it was pretty busy and had lots of kids. It was impossible to get a window view at the bar for drinks and also for breakfast the next morning. Out of season would be better. However, the bottle of bubbles in the room for my partnerโs birthday was a really lovely touch and the staff were so, so friendly. The views of Circular Quay were stunning and Iโm sure if you have a Harbour Bridge view, that would also be pretty epic.
โค๏ธ
We had dinner at The Spice Room at Circular Quay. Delicious Indian food in a really quaint and authentic setting. I had been here before and loved it. Thankfully, my partner loved it too ๐. When you see many Indian and Nepalese families eating there, thatโs a sure sign the food will be tasty and authentic ๐ฎ๐ณ.
On the following day, it was ANZAC Day (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), remembering the soldiers lost at war. We had a dip in the pool and checked out. We had breakfast at The Rocks which was beautiful and watched the parades honouring the service men who fought in the World Wars. I always find this day really moving and I love how people of all ages come out to remember those who lost their lives fighting for their country.
Breakfast at The Rocks Cafe ANZAC DAY PARADE
We headed home for a quick change and then out for lunch with friends at The Chiswick in Woollahra. Absolutely stunning venue and food. If you ever have the chance to visit here, do not hesitate. Itโs definitely up there.
Ready for lunch Apple crumble and ice cream or ANZAC biscuit and ice cream ๐
That was our weekend in a snapshot. I really feel like birthdays deserve to be celebrated as we only have one a year and life is so short.
How was your weekend? I apologise as itโs Tuesday but we were off work yesterday ๐.
Thank you Melanie once again for your questions. I will use these for my Tuesday Thoughts today ๐๐ผ. I love this Share Your World blog which you can check out again here. A great idea to connect with others and answer questions that you would not normally be asked. Check out my responses below ๐๐ผ
Are you more productive at night or in the morning? Do you think itโs possible to change and get used to another schedule?
I am always more productive in the morning. My brain must work better or maybe because Iโm refreshed from a good sleep. I am more focused in the mornings and determined to meet my goals. I think it is possible to change, however, other things in your life would need to change. Maybe going to bed later and rising later. Maybe going to the gym in the evening might provide you with more energy. Who knows. All I know is that Iโm content with my morning productiveness ๐.
Whatโs the biggest vehicle youโve driven? If you donโt drive, whatโs the biggest vehicle youโve ridden in?
The biggest vehicle was a Renault Scenic. Maybe not that big for some but my first car to drive was a Ford Fiesta so the Scenic seemed pretty big. I loved that feeling of sitting up high with a good view around you. My dream is to drive and stay in a camper-van one day but like one of those big motor homes from Meet the Fockers.
What songs would be played on a loop in hell?
Oh anything heavy metal or trance music. That would be painful ๐.
How were your spirits (mood) over the past week?
Pretty good to be honest. I have a lot to look forward to this year and plans are starting to come together. Watch this space ๐.
Thanks everyone and have a good week. Enjoy your Tuesday (Monday night for some).
You look so fat!!!! Have you put on weight?? What happened to you?
Ok so these are questions and statements that I would never ask or say to anyone and hope that no one else would (unless seriously worried about a loved oneโs health).
Yet, I receive the opposite of these questions and statements on a VERY regular basis. You look so skinny! Have you lost weight? Are you eating enough? What is happening with you?
Granted I have always been skinny and always received these questions for as long as I can remember. However, I have had three different people ask me this in the past two days! When does it end? As a skinny man, it has always been my goal to put on weight, possibly for this reason. Iโve only really been working on my weight gain for the past five years and I want to do this in the best way possible and in a healthy manner.
I train at the gym which I absolutely love and yes I have put on a good amount of weight when I increased my calorie intake by 1000 calories. However, I noticed that my body fat was also increasing. Therefore, my new goal is to put on weight that is muscle mass and not body fat. I want to train well and eat a healthy diet. This takes a lot of time and effort, there is no quick fix. This is fine for me, Iโm in no rush. However, the constant questioning and statements about weight is both tiresome and saddening. Now, I know this is not intentional. These are lovely people saying this and they would be horrified to know if I was offended. However, I am honestly surprised that I donโt have more of a complex about this. I guess Iโm a tough cookie, quite resilient and do not let comments bother me too much.
Just another side note – unfortunately this is not people saying Iโm skinny in a good way. For example, they could say, youโre looking slim or you look very tonedโฆinstead of saying skinny with that look of worry and disbelief in their eyes. Another point to note is, my weight very rarely changes on a daily basis. Therefore, I think people must forget how slim I am and when they do see me after a few weeks, they have forgotten and assume I have lost weight or I am not eating enough. People who know me well, know that I am always hungry and always eating. I love my food and am extremely grateful that I donโt need to worry about putting on much weight. Good genes I guess ๐.
Anyway, thanks for reading. That is my rant over. What are your thoughts on peopleโs own weight? Would you comment on someoneโs weight? I donโt think people realise that being called skinny is just as bad as calling someone fat, which I personally would not do. Therefore, it really baffles me ๐คท๐ผโโ๏ธ.
Donโt get me wrong, I am more than happy with my progress. Even if I will always be โskinnyโ ๐
For todayโs post I want to reply to Melanieโs post which you can find here on SHARE YOUR WORLD. I love the idea of sharing our thoughts. Ps. I just missed my spot to hop off the train by about three stops. The joys of being engrossed in the blogosphere ๐ฌ.
What very common thing have you never done?
I have never been married to the opposite sex.
Are we morally obligated to be charitable, if we have the means to?
This is a really tough question. I donโt think we are morally obligated but it is the right thing to do. We should want to help others as decent human beings. I feel morally obligated to help Ukraine but feel so helpless as a single entity to do anything significant.
What is the most amazing fact you know?
That the sun will rise again tomorrow.
Whatโs your favorite sandwich and why?
Chicken and cheese all the way!
Something that inspiresmeโฆ
The youth of today inspire me, especially their stance on global warming and wanting to improve the world we live in.
Thanks for taking the time to read my Tuesday Thoughts and thanks to Melanie for the inspiration.
By the way, I actually canโt believe this but I have just missed my train spot again on the return train!!!!! No more blogging for me this morning ๐คฆ๐ผโโ๏ธ.
WrookieSchU 