2022 - New beginnings

Wow it's been so long since I wrote here. And so many changes since I have. My word for 2021 was Being, turns out that was being able to start a new adventure, being able to regroup after a much needed employment change and being able to rest and recover. Heading away from a job towards being self employed has worked really well for me. 2021 was a year of change, regrouping, exploring and flourishing in a different way, all from the safety of my lovely apartment. 

Like all of us, most of the change was related to the scourge alarming the world and causing grief for so many people. I don't cope well with being isolated from my family and friends and the past 18 months have been isolating with small bright spots when the windows to travel happened. I got to New Zealand once when I would usually have been 4-5 times and I'm off there again in a few weeks. It's been over a year since I saw my family there, the longest time for me. The closer ones were also unavailable, that's thankfully changed now. 

My 2022 word is Beginning. An odd one I thought as it came to me and stayed. Begin, beginnings, then I realised my 12 year cycle ended in 2021 and begins this year so it did seem appropriate after all. What a year it's been so far! New friends, new adventures, new openness to opportunities, big decisions and actions, journalling again, inviting change. And change there is.

I recently sold my lovely apartment, my container for two and a half years, and am now selling the pieces I've gathered along the way. The treasures I will store until I need them again. Making a fresh start in another country, moving once again with 30 kilos and a back pack. I'm getting too old for this shit really! 

So I'll begin a series of posts here, quite possibly beginning on the plane, as I go on this new adventure. I have to laugh at the many reactions I've had to my news, I will miss this place and my people here but, as Arnie would say, 'I'll be back!'

Autumn sunrise!

Being

It's been a year since I moved into my new home, up on a hill overlooking the Gold Coast beaches. Time moves in funny ways. I bought exactly 10 years after I sold my last home in Christchurch and moved in at a time I usually manage moving, in December. It's also been almost two years since I began this new journey of work and lifestyle and I'm enjoying it here. My word for 2020 was Prosper - emotionally, spiritually, financially and socially - and COVID made that one a challenge. 

I don't cope too well with isolation and my work is a place of social engagement as well as the business in hand. Working from home and being locked down for a short time meant I gave away the notion of Prosper and concentrated on making it through and keeping well. I have the very best home in which to isolate, the very best environment so I'm lucky. I so miss the ability to travel. Not so much travel to far flung places, more the freedom to travel to see my family. I so miss my New Zealand crew, this is the longest time I've ever been apart from them and they are so tantalisingly close. 

Then there's the Sydney peeps. Having been so close for so long and having had them all up for a holiday in January 2020, I miss the everyday contact. Even my Brisbane family was off limits for a while with travel restrictions. I drove from here to Sydney, a 10 hour drive, in August so got to enjoy some time with Miss 6 and Mr 2 and their mum and dad. The borders shut soon after that, I'm hoping they are open for a south trip towards the end of January.

Each year I choose a word, this year the word is Being - being present, being open, being contented and being happy. Sounds simple, I'll keep you posted. 

Here are some pics from my place - Sunrise, a whale well watched and the evening beach.

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 

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. 

Oh no!

I can't believe I've not written since August! That's quite a few months with no comment on my life as it is, the places I've been and the people I've met. And believe me there's plenty of all those things happening at the moment, perhaps why there's been so little writing.

My new business is being quietly successful. No dipping into my savings to live so that's a huge bonus. Getting to work in a variety of workplaces supporting others to be the best they can be is my highlight. Coaching others to draw on their own resources and skills while adding value to these through readings and conversations. Always communication, the delight and the downfall.

Life revolves around communications. Open, honest communication. Respectful communication. Meeting of minds communication where one concept follows another. Where words of love and respect are spoken. Never wondering, just knowing that it's okay. This is my theme as 2016 draws to a close. All the practice I've had over the years culminating in strength I was unaware of.

Back to the going places. I wished to travel this year and it happened. Not to Vietnam or Cambodia as I had envisaged. An unexpected and sudden trip to Myanmar, formally Burma, to meet with a new travel companion. A compatible traveling companion who explored organically, trekked into the hills, ate locally and discovered temples.  Lots of temples. And met with lovely people along the way like the two Scottish lasses we managed to have a big night with in Bagan, the rain thundering down and Myanmar beer and travel stories.

What an adventure. The highlight was Inay Lake with it's fisherman and villages over the water. Bagan was interesting, we were a little templed out by the end of the day although the guided horse and carriage ride was fantastic. Bumping along the rough roads and wandering off to explore. We were both tired after the trek so leisure was needed.

Mandalay, oh the romance of the Road to Mandalay, was much like other cities. The locals enjoyed us two with an ear bud each listening to the rugby on our phone, beer in hand and cheers for the winning team. My team of course. The palace there was amazing, the temple on the hill and its dragonflies and the sunsets a photographers dream.

It's been a while since we came back, the beginning of November, and so much has happened since then. That's another story for another day. For now, here's some pics from our wonderful trip.

Water lilies - Mandalay

Amazing sunsets over the river - Mandalay

Skilled fisherman - Inlay Lake

Astounding pagodas, new and old - Inlay Lake. The sounds of the bells tinkling in the wind

Sunset catch - Inlay Lake

Drying leaves for Cheroots - Hills of Inlay Lake

Wild life

I've had a few wildlife experiences lately. I got dive on the Great Barrier Reef when working up in Cairns, my first ever proper dive and oh what an amazing experience that was. Finding Nemo; watching the turtles dance; the bright coloured corals and the silky sea. I will go again, I've promised myself that Padi course for a while now. 

My home in Cairns came with two dogs. It's been a while since I walked dogs and they were patient with me. One took a fancy to my handbag goodies and disappeared with several coffee bags and lunch treats before I realised who the culprit was. She gave me those puppy dog eyes, too hard not to forgive. 

Kathryn decided feeding the birds on my balcony was a good idea. They flocked in for days and still come and tap on my window when they see me inside. These brightly coloured characters. 

Rosellas enjoying Kathryn

Thankfulness

I was lying in bed this sunny Sunday morning thinking about all I have to be thankful for. I got to thinking about all I've learnt living in this big city, how I've grown, the people I've met and the experiences I'm having. The resilience I've further developed. This business of mine that's doing okay despite my nervousness at the start.

Thankful, there are so many ways. The joy of holding my fifth grandbaby a few hours after her birth, seeing her first bath, being there to support my son and  lovely daughter in law. Being grandma on the spot with the two and a half year old and five year old. What joy having small people with very cold feet sneak into my bed for a cuddle and some warmth. Reading bedtime stories, splashing bath times.

I'm so loving being so close to my family. The opportunity to spend regular, non jet lagged time with them so the little ones are happy to spend time with me and talk with me when we're apart. I watch with joy the photos posted on Facebook of our new addition and her sisters, joy because I was part of such a special event. A first for me.

Tomorrow I have the other two year old for the day. I'm looking forward to her caring play with her babies. Wandering to the park and babychino after. Girls missed my life in the first round and are such a joy this round. Then there's my eldest grandson, a budding rugby player wanting to follow in the footsteps of those All Blacks.

Things I have learnt in this big city; most people I meet are lovely, friendly and open to sharing their place. The food is divine, coffee fantastic in my small neighbourhood. And there's that word neighbourhood. Sydney, the big city of small villages. Right now I'm looking over the harbour from my desk, watching the wind on the water, the gently swaying yachts on their moorings, the sparkling sun. Last night it was the yellow moon rising. I know when I go out there will be people who smile and say hello, people who recognise and acknowledge each other as neighbours.

I owe a few friends a call, at the moment I'm in hermit mode regrouping after a stressful contract out of town. I wished to be somewhere else for my birthday, my wish took me to Gympie and the Sunshine Coast. Last time I was on the coast was in the early '90s, it's changed a lot since then. It was great to eat out and explore the night life, pisco sours and tapas at Machu Picchu on the strip was a worthy birthday celebration.

Driving again was great, I quite like having a car although it makes me lazy. Driving in Sydney is a treat if you know where you're going; are in approximately the right lane when you're close to needing to change direction; have a well charged phone; don't have a small child in her car seat who is hungry, thirsty, tired, grumpy, wanting something from the floor neither of you can reach. I've got wise to the phone thing and now have a portable charger.

Three of my lovely besties came for a visit from New Zealand recently. The four of us in my small place enjoying picking up where we left off. Lots of sightseeing, fun and laughter and of course much wine and food to celebrate. One had never been to Sydney, two hadn't been for many years so it was all new. They all had bucket lists. Next year our reunion will be in NZ, on an island in that part of the country I love so well.

I'm really procrastinating, enjoying the sun without having to do the work I need to settle to. I have writing to complete, courses for prospective teachers, and a strategic planning session to further develop. Later I suspect. Here's a pic from this lovely place, I've had my camera out so more will follow.

An evening ferry trip