365 Grateful – Day 223:  Grateful for a lovely catch up with a friend for brekky at a new local cafe which is awesome.

On Thursday I met up with a friend for coffee and breakfast at a cafe we hadn’t met at before.  It’s called Jimbo & Co’s Coffee House.  I love the place!  The staff are super friendly, the coffee is fantastic and the food was scrummy!  I was too busy chatting and enjoying my coffee and brekky to take any photo’s so I have borrowed today’s photo from Jimbo & Co’s Facebook page.   This cafe has such a friendly, local feel about it.   As you can see in the photo, they have a system where you can take a book if you leave a book.  I love it!  I have lots of books I will never read again, so I’ll be back to leave a book and take a new book to read.  Of course, while I’m there I will stay for a coffee (at least!)

365 Grateful – Day 224:  I love it that nature always has surprises to make me smile.  Grateful for this pretty flower in one of my hanging baskets that caught my attention whilst cleaning up the pergola area for MissM’s 18th birthday party.

365 Grateful – Day 225:  Grateful that MissM enjoyed her 18th birthday party.

Yes – her name is Meg.   This cake was perfect for the 40 or so guests at the party.  It’s a mud cake called ‘Original Sin’ bought from our local Cheesecake Shop.  Apart from tasting absolutely delicious, it was perfect because with mud cake you only need cut thin slices (as mud cake is so rich) – so it fed the 40+ people easily!

365 Grateful – Day 226:  Grateful for a lovely sleep-in (after a very late night) wrapped in this beautiful quilt made by my mother.

My mum is very much into quilting and we have several of her beautiful quilts in the house.  One day I will photograph them all and do a post on them.  Mum is a member of a quilting group and thoroughly enjoys her quilting.  I would love to follow in her footsteps and become a quilter … but would I ever have enough patience for it?  I’m not sure! 

Back to our third residence and first and only ever house that we built!  We were in quite a state of shock when our block was first cut.  What was a gentle slope had then became a block of land which was more below road level than we were expecting and would have a much steeper driveway than expected!  However, there was nothing to be done so we soon got used to the idea!

Our land after being cut
(the grassed area in the foreground is the block behind us)

The building process took much longer than expected due to months and months of rain!  As you can see in the photograph below, the holes dug for the foundations filled with water!

We were overjoyed when finally the foundations got done!

As you can see, it was a classic L-shaped low-set brick home which was typical of the time.  In actual fact, our house was considered a pretty big house!  Sadly, 17 years later it didn’t seem quite so big when we had one tween and two teens and not enough room or storage space!

It was pretty exciting when the framework went up!

Ok – don’t laugh.  This is me.  I had short dark hair in 1990 and it is a little wind blown.  I was wearing my Ken Done top.  It was very on trend at the time!   I was happy and excited!  Doesn’t look it in the photo though does it!

The glass windows and doors going in was SO exciting!  Look at all the mud and mess – ugh!

Walls! ….and mud….and mess…  Oh look – you can see the bath in the bathroom because the wall isn’t finished!

A roof!  Oh that IS going to be a steep driveway isn’t it!

It starts to resemble a home on the inside…!!

Brickwork happens!  …and more mud…more mess!

And through the miracle of time … and lots of work … VOILA!

The photo below does not give an accurate representation of the brick colour!

Told you the driveway would be steep!  We got used to it though and it never was a problem.

I loved our stained glass front door.  Such a shame cameras and photography ability back in 1990 were not very good!!

This was our bedroom (complete with ensuite and walk-in-robe).  OMG how my taste has changed since then!  At the time I absolutely LOVED the Sheridan bedspread & curtain set that you see there.  It was in pinks and blues and greens – a little floral number – very pretty.  The photo does not do it justice!

And what 1990 home would be complete without a peach/apricot bathroom!  This was the main bathroom.  Our ensuite was in white and grey.

All the photo’s in this post are from during the building process or just after moving in.  When we left this house 17 years later, many things had changed as the times, and my taste changed.  The front and back gardens were very established when we left in 2007 and we had a gorgeous and huge paved and roofed pergola area at the back of the house.

Even though the house became too small for us, I miss it.  It wasn’t someone elses’s house that we bought.  It was our home from the day dot.  We invested so much of ourselves in it.  Where we live now is lovely and a much bigger house with loads of storage, a pool and even ducted aircon.  It’s our new home, but it doesn’t feel as much our home as that house that we built did.

Linking up with With Some Grace’s – #FYBF

and The Camera Chronicle’s – Flashback Friday

I’m very thankful to Rita of The Crafty Expat for providing the opportunity for my first ever guest post over at her blog today as part of her ‘For the love of literature‘ series.  I’m talking about the book I’ve just read – “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle.  You can see my guest post HERE.

Rita at The Crafty Expat was born and raised in Montreal, Canada from Lebanese parents.  French is her first language and she also speaks Arabic.  She only had a basic knowledge of English when she moved to Australia in 2009, so she has done very well to speak and write in English as well as she does now!  She lives in Melbourne with her husband.  She is such a lovely person and I’m so grateful that she asked me to participate in her new series.  I love her blog where she shares her love of a variety of crafts, cooking, literature and writing and talks of her experiences adapting to living in a new country.

Rita leaves today for a trip back home to Montreal to visit her family.  I am so happy for her that she is going to have some time with her family as I know she misses them.

Please pop over for a visit and a read of my guest post at The Crafty Expat and remember to say hi to Rita and wish her bon voyage and safe travels.

Linking up with Six by the Bay’s – Thankful Thursday

and Blogs and PR’s – Talk to Us Thursday

365 Grateful – Day 220:  So grateful to Lenard’s for being so thoughtful and kind.  This magazine arrived in the mail from them with a lovely note!  Thank you so much. I love the magazine and look forward to trying some of the amazing looking recipes in it!

The note from Nita of Lenard’s said that they had advertised in this magazine and as a result were sent some freebies.  They thought I might like one.  How lovely is that?  So nice to get something other than bills in the mail.  I love surprises!  Thank you!

365 Grateful – Day 221:  These are the stones that I have dug out of Ava‘s mouth just in the last couple of days.  I’m grateful they are not currently making their way through her intestines!!

365 Grateful – Day 222:  So grateful to finally have a sunny day so I can some washing done without having to use the dryer!

If you haven’t yet read Min Unplugged – Part 1, I highly recommend that you read that first before reading this.

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How was I betrayed I hear you ask?  I was betrayed in so many ways, but mostly it was my trust that was betrayed.

I really didn’t want to reveal any detail because without the whole picture, one snippet of detail can seem minimal, and by going into any of the detail, it also may give the impression that I am still stuck on this stuff.  It’s been nearly a year.  It has taken me a while – but I can honestly say that I no longer dwell on the past.   However, in order to provide a little insight into the betrayal I felt – I will give just a little snippet.  Keep in mind though, that there was a lot more to the whole picture.

Only the week before the incident, I had asked for confirmation of the period I would be continuing to act in this higher position.  The exact words were “Oh you don’t need to worry about that … it will be at least another 12 months. Don’t concern yourself!”.   Additionally, I had never had anything but complimentary and positive feedback on my work and the progress I was making from senior management, management, colleagues and peers.   Work was ridiculously busy but rocking along well.  In my mind, I had nothing to fear.  I had at least another 12 months in the role, progress was being made and there was a happy, positive vibe all around me because of it.  After inheriting such a chaotic mess – to see the progress, to have solid plans in place, to have such positive feedback – well it was exhilarating and exciting.

So … what was to come came as a complete shock.  To this day, I still cannot understand why such a ridiculous plan was ever devised nor who initiated the idea.  However, there is one person who had the final say over the plan and it is this person from whom I felt the most betrayal.  This was a person I had worked closely with for a long time, who was my greatest supporter, who always complimented my work ethic and achievements and who only the day before the incident had interacted with me giving no impression that all was about to change.  This person got someone else to do the dirty work.

I had an enormous daily workload.  On top of that, I was about to launch and project manage a high profile project.  I had told management that in order to better manage my daily workload as well as the project, I would need at least one other resource to assist with the project.  They agreed and said they would get back to me.  In a nutshell, the incident consisted of me being told that they had found a resource to help with the project.  They would contract in a Business Analyst but because that was so expensive they could no longer afford to pay me at the level I was at.  They were going to create a new position for me – at my substantive level (2 levels lower) – but I would continue to do all that I was currently doing except for ‘assisting’ the Business Analyst with the project rather than ‘managing’ the project myself.   The project that I had carried on my shoulders alone for quite some time, that I had studied and sat exams for in order to ensure that I was equipped with all appropriate knowledge and skills required to do the best job possible.  The project that I had already invested so much time and effort in, was excited about and had begun.

It gave me some pleasure to learn later that the idea of engaging a Business Analyst was knocked on the head by the CEO as an unnecessary extravagance and the same for the creation of the new position!  They should have done their homework first.

Just after the incident I realised that there was no way I could possibly stay at work for the remainder of the day and function as if everything was ok and normal.  I returned to my desk, collected my handbag and tossed it over my shoulder.  I shut down my computer.  It was then that a male work colleague came up to my desk and started talking business.  He was a nice guy.  We had a mutual respect and a great working relationship.  He noticed my handbag on my shoulder and that my computer was shut down and said “oh – are you going home?  Are you feeling sick?”.  “Yes” – I said.  “I’m not feeling very well”.  He said he hoped I feel better soon, that he would let me go and that he would send me an email.  “OK”  I said.  “I’ll read it when I get in tomorrow”.

I remember walking to the train.  It was if my mind was disconnected from my body.  I couldn’t feel the impact as my feet hit the pavement.  I was conscious of the need to concentrate or I knew I would trip and fall.  I was in shock.  I was in deep distress.  I was devastated.   I made it to the train station and boarded the train.  I was never usually on the train at this time of day and it was so unusually empty.  There was the pick of seats.  I kept my sunglasses on as I knew I was looking distressed and that there was the possibility of tears.   I was aware of my heart racing and a strange buzzing feeling throughout my body.  I still didn’t feel connected to my body.  I tried to concentrate on the stops, afraid I would miss mine.  I finally disembarked and robotically made my way to my car.  I don’t remember driving home.  I remember arriving home.  I dumped my handbag and dove onto my bed.  It was then that the tears begun.  I can’t remember much else of what happened that day, except that the tears just would not stop.

Medically, I was affected both physically and mentally……

Read More in UNPLUGGED – PART 3 which will be published next Tuesday.

Linking up today with Essentially Jess’s – #IBOT

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365 Grateful – Day 216:  Grateful to have submitted my Module 2 Assignment and receive great marks again!

Module 2 was made up of four parts (A, B, C, D).  Part D required a photograph to be sent in.  Today’s grateful photo is the photograph I submitted for Part D.  We had to use an item around the house, visualize a photograph (incorporating some depth of field but keeping it simple), and then report on the process.  Did it go according to plan?  Did you improvise along the way? Did it turn out better or worse than you had imagined? etc.

365 Grateful – Day 217:  Grateful to have moved on now to Module Three of my Diploma in Professional Photography course.

According to other students in my course’s Facebook group, this module is one of the hardest in the course.  Many get stuck on it for months.  I’m closing my ears to all that I read about this module, and will look at it with fresh and positive eyes.  I will read it over and over until I am sure I know what needs to be done and will work my way through it without ever doubting I can do it.

365 Grateful – Day 218:  Grateful for some time tinkering away on our lovely old piano today.  This is something I haven’t done for a long time and really must do more often.

My parents bought this old piano when we lived in Mitchell.  It was over 100 years old when they bought it.  They bought it when I began piano lessons.  As a child, I was determined to grow up to be a pianist! LOL  Obviously that didn’t happen!   As I was really the only one in the family who knew how to play the piano, mum and dad gave the piano to me some years ago.  One day I hope to have it restored, new ivories, and it really needs to be tuned!

365 Grateful – Day 219:  Grateful for the thoughtful gifts my family gave to me on Mother’s Day.  I’m also very grateful to have spent some time with my mother and my mother-in-law on this day.

The photograph today shows the lovely card and gifts I was given by my family on Mother’s Day.  I was given a GPS (to help me feel less nervous about driving to unfamiliar places) and a ring.  We had morning tea with my husband’s side of the family for his mother and lunch with my side of the family for my mother.  It was a lovely day!

To me this quote is quite clearly telling us that we should use our mistakes as lessons for the future.  Sometimes mistakes and/or challenging times during our lives can have a positive side.  They teach us, we learn, we apply those lessons to our futures.

Sometimes, admitting a mistake can be difficult, but it is a crucial step in learning, growing, developing and improving yourself.  Mistakes are an essential part of self-improvement. Don’t be overwhelmed with guilt and regret.  Analyze how you can learn from them.  From your own mistakes you can gain wisdom.

What do you know!  I still have my Expo 88 Season Pass!

Why are you laughing?  My orange toned lipstick?  It matched the orange in the dress I was wearing (which you can’t see)!!  My hair style?  I’ll have you know that in 1988 that was VERY stylish!  Oh yes indeedy it was!  Look at the stylish height and flicking of the fringe!!  Look at the expertise used in pulling back my hair in combs to give height and poof!!

Combs??  You don’t know what I mean by combs??  Have you been living under a rock??  In the 80′s everyone used combs!!  They looked like this …

They are still used these days … but come in a variety of more stylish forms now … like this:

or this:

The idea to share my Expo 88 Season Pass came from Janet of Redland City Living who recently shared her Expo 88 Season Pass – see HERE.

I still have my Expo 88 Passport – where I received a stamp for each pavillion that I visited.  I had a dig around but couldn’t find it but I know it is here somewhere!  If I find it, I’ll update this post and re-publish.  I’m sure there are some photo’s of our visits to Expo 88 somewhere too!

I remember my cousin and her husband from NSW coming to stay with us.  They each had a 3 day pass to Expo 88.  So we went with them three times and had a ball each and every visit.  Of course we also went many, many other times when they weren’t visiting with us.  We had a season pass each!

We were living in our first house and did not yet have any children, so we had plenty of free time!  Expo 88 provided six months of entertainment, good food and good times!  Many people of Brisbane went through very real withdrawals when it all was over.

Expo 88 was such a good thing for Brisbane.  This event was the prime catalyst for the resurrection of South Bank and the emergence of Brisbane as a vibrant, world-class city.

Following World Expo 88, the site was cleared of buildings apart from three heritage buildings and the Boardwalk. While the Queensland Government had intended to sell South Bank for commercial development after Expo 88, locals had realised its potential as a public space. Public lobbying saw 17 hectares of South Bank remain public parkland.

Southbank is now a beautiful place to visit.  We have the River Stage, many restaurants and cafe’s, Kodak Beach (which I think is now called ‘Streets Beach’?), the Wheel of Brisbane and much more.  If you’re not familiar with Brisbane’s Southbank, visit HERE to see all that it has to offer.

If you’re interested, check out this ABC video of ‘Brisbane reflecting back on Expo 88′:  ‘ Click Here ‘

There is also this Ten News video ‘Fond memories of when Brisbane came of age’:  ‘ Click Here ‘

Linking up today with With Some Grace’s – Flog Yo Blog Friday

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365 Grateful – Day 213:  Grateful for pretty glass bottles, rustic deck boards and nature today!

These are the little glass bottles I bought at Hawkins Garden Nursery the other week.  Love them!  I was practicing my ‘depth of field’ and ‘focus’ in this shot.  Notice the focus is on the little pink bottle at the back.

365 Grateful – Day 214:  Grateful for the surprise that came in the mail.  Such generosity and kindness from Lenards Chicken. Thank you!

I thought it was probably best to blot out a few things on the gift certificate

365 Grateful – Day 215:  Grateful to wake this morning and see some support for my first ‘Min Unplugged’ post.  Thank you so much!

‘Min Unplugged’ is a series of 4 posts (but might end up 5) being published each Tuesday.  It is the back story of how MinsMash came about and reveals more about ‘the incident’ that occurred in May 2012 that caused me illness and changed the direction of my life. It is difficult yet empowering to write!

Linking up with Six by the Bay’s – Thankful Thursday

I said some time ago that I was going to write a blog post called ‘Min Unplugged’ where I would reveal more about myself and the incident that occurred in May 2012 that caused me pain and illness.  Until now, it has only ever been something I have very hazily referred to – but never explained.  It is the back story as to how MinsMash came about.

There was a point since announcing my plans for this post that I thought that writing a ‘Min Unplugged’ post was a really bad idea!  And … it probably was at the time!  The thing with blogging is knowing how much of yourself is ok to share.  It’s a fine balance and you need to be careful and comfortable with what you put of yourself out there in cyberspace.

I thought it over for quite some time and came to the conclusion that it was worthwhile sharing, so long as what I wrote sat comfortably with me.

I have found during the nearly eight months that I have been blogging, that the posts that get the most response and interest are those ones where I open my heart and speak my truth.  I have also discovered over this time, that I am by far not the only one who has suffered with the problems that I have had and still have.  It is by sharing that we realise that we are not alone and maybe even not quite as odd as we might think we are!  For this reason, I have decided to go ahead with this post as I promised I would.

As I started typing this post, I found I had quite a bit to say and it was getting quite long.  So I have decided to run a series of Min Unplugged posts – Parts 1 to 4, sharing them each Tuesday over the next four weeks.

Part 1 begins below.

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I have waited for quite some time before contemplating putting my fingers to the keyboard to write this post.  For a long time I was in a place of pain, confusion, hurt and anger.  I wanted to wait until I was in a better place to write this post because then hopefully I could write it in a more positive light and the temptation to delete it later would not be there!!

I now feel ready to let go of the past and writing this post begins the release.  The past doesn’t cause me pain anymore.  In fact, I am thankful that it happened, because it has brought me to where I am now and in all honesty – I’d rather be HERE than back THERE.   It is quite ironic actually that the time I choose to write about this is nearly spot-on 1 year from when the incident occurred!

These days, I am feeling more hopeful and excited for my NOW and my future.  I am studying photography which I have discovered a passion for.  I am discovering many things about myself that previously I never had the time or space to do.   I will talk more on that later.

Let’s get the incident out of the way.  I’m not going to go into the detail as there really is no point.  I will breeze over it all in a wrap-up type of way, excluding all the nasty little details.

I was very proud of my achievements at work.  I was acting at a higher level in the field of project management and had been for over 12 months.  I had dealt with lots of crap – inheriting the responsibility of fixing absolute chaos, a slack and mostly absent manager who ultimately was transferred to another area, a devastated admin girl whose job was upgraded and when she applied for it she didn’t get it, mentoring the new admin girl, an overwhelming workload and a serious under-staffing issue, taking on many aspects of the manager’s job since there was no-one in the role for a long, long time … and much, much more.  I had gained the respect of my work colleagues.  Whilst managing an enormous workload, I was studying at night and sat two exams in order to undertake a task set to me to the absolute best of my ability.  I was successfully chairing important committee meetings and was thrilled with the progress I was seeing.  I had begun an enormous project and was excited about it.  THEN….out of the blue….the rug was pulled out from under me when I was betrayed by executive management (one person in particular – but we won’t go there!).  The detail of what took place I will not go into.  I walked out that day and have never returned.

How was I betrayed I hear you ask?

… Read more in Unplugged – Part 2.

Linking up today with Essentially Jess’s #IBOT