Saturday 15 February 2020

An update

My new role on the Gold Coast gives me plenty of opportunities for getting out and about. February is full on and I'm really enjoying meeting my colleagues all over Australia and being present at places where I can influence.

Let's roll back a bit. I spent 2018 working hard on a project in The UAE. Back to the old haunts and catching up with old friends. My word for 2018 was Abundance and it came as I worked hard on and in my business. Abundance of family, friends, adventures, travel and funds. And right at the end an abundance of change.

In 2018 I got to go to Kenya with a very good friend, a Kenyan with deep family roots in this most splendid of places. I got the insider tour including the most amazing tented camp safari where we followed a lion pride on a kill one evening then met them the next day when they were resting after their evening feast. Where a very large bull elephant had us spellbound by with his aggression, where we were all bit worried he would charge.

And the rhinos, who could forget those most majestic of animals. We were there when Sudan the last male Northern White Rhino died. A tragedy keenly felt by his keepers and the teams who protect the rhinos. We visited a rhino graveyard, reading the stories of how these ones died at the hands of poachers. The senselessness of their deaths made me weep.

My lovely friend Lyn said we were going riding on the reserve, I'd seen enough to know being on horseback would provide the lions with a gourmet meal so I was not keen. Lyn led me to believe that's where we were riding, there was great hilarity when she saw the relief on my face that we were riding in a safe enclosure with animals not interested in their food on horseback. An amazing experience enjoying the abundance of wildlife for the back of my docile horse.

There's so much to tell about our Kenyan adventure including a party at Muthaiga Country Club, a very posh colonial club that featured in Out of Africa. Dressing for dinner was required. Kenya, the land of contrasts. Of flower farms and giraffes and pumba and herds of zebra and hyena in family groups frolicking in the dusk. There are many photos, here's a few.

My word for 2019 was connection, connections aplenty as I fit into a new place, new role, new relationships and reconnections. another set of stories for another day.

Beautiful countryside

Rhino graveyard on dusk

The pride we followed - long zoom used 

Saturday 1 February 2020

Changes - so many changes

It's been a long time since I've ventured here and the time to revisit might just be now. Where to begin.

My new travel companion mentioned in the last entry turned out to be different in real life, as happens, and since then I've had many adventures. Along the way I've met wonderful people, realised some are in my life for a reason, some a season and some for a lifetime.

My family have grown with the joy of new grand babies. I've moved home 4 times, within Sydney and interstate and I'm now happily living in my own place on the Gold Coast. The place I am very unexpectedly at after answering a phone call in late 2018. My willingness to say yes often lands me in places where I shake my head and wonder about how I let that brain explosion guide me. Not this time.

As always for me it's about the people. I met the people, said yes, packed up my life and came on this new adventure. I was at a cross roads after an abundant year of work, friends and travel. Things that come so easily can only be good. One year on and I am thriving within a team of positive people all walking in the same direction. Dedicated people who only want to best for children and their families. My kind of people.

So I do hope to write more here as things progress. Back stories to provide the context, current stories as I explore this new place and get some travel time. Best of all family stories. There are reports to write now and a workshop I'm co-presenting on Wednesday, followed by a walk on the beach and dinner with friends. One year in my new life is good, very good indeed.