An unexpected departure

Followers of this blog may recall during non-FB November that one of my posts was about how horrible cancer is and how tough the battle ahead would be.

Sadly, the battle came to a sudden, unexpected end late last night for an amazing man: my uncle Pete.

Uncle Pete LOVED the finer things in life: good wine, good cheese and good beer. On the latter point he also was an avid home brewer so as the family gathered at my Aunty's to start on arrangements the topic turned to what to do without all that grog.

Needless to say, the boys promptly went outside to start on it.

People tried to get me to have a glass to toast his memory but I know my uncle would be mortified if he was the reason I failed my mission for the month.

Which is why I will not be touching a drop of alcohol until after his funeral on 3 Jan, and the first thing I'll be drinking will be the last bottle of cherry beer he brewed back in 2007 after we had discussed some tasting I had undertaken in Belgium.

And I'll make sure I enjoy every last drop.

posted from Bloggeroid

Time flies when you're too busy to drink

So Christmas 2011 has been and gone and it wasn't until I collapsed in a bruised heap around 9pm Christmas night that I even realised I hadn't had a drop of alcohol.

My Christmas festivities started at 2.45am Christmas Eve, when hubby and brother-in-law #2 started the 450km car ride home to our families. That night it was Christmas with my immediate family and started with my sister-in-law and I taking my nieve to Church where she was playing an angel in the Christmas play.

This time I went to an Anglican service - my 'own' religion if you will - with my 20 month old niece in tow. We arrived promptly at 6 (even though the service didn't start til 6.30) to get Miss 20-months in her angel finery but try as I might I couldn't get the orange plastic golf ball she had unwrapped 30 minutes earlier out of her tiny little fists, and from that point on our angel was not very angelic.

The biggest difference I noticed with this service is that the Minister and his helpers (I guess that's what they are) walked in in a procession of sorts, draped in their finery and carrying crosses while the congregation sang Oh come all ye faithful. I'm assuming this is purely because being Christmas Eve and all it's a pretty special occasion. This was also the first service I was at where they said the Lord's Prayer: I didn't think it was just an Anglican thing so was surprised I hadn't heard it at either the Bpatist or Uniting services.

During this time Miss 20-months had thrown a right tanty and was scooped up in her Grandmother's arms as she waited outside with the other angels to make her grand entrance: this never materialised. Instead, Grandma took her down to the front pew to watch the goings-on up close where she promptly dripped candel wax on herself, and another little girl ran into a tall candle holder behind the Minister, nearly knocking it over and setting the place alight.

I'll give the Anglicans credit - the Service was highly entertaining!

So I had fulfilled my relgious duties for the holiday and it was back to the folks for dinner and playing with gifts. Those commitments over, it was off to the in-laws to assist with last minute Santa duties before climbing into bed somewhere around 12.30am.

I think the reason I didn't miss drinking is becuase I simply didn't have time to. We were up at 5.30am getting ice and starting the room re-modelling to make room for everyone, then the 4 trouble-makers (and I use the term affectionately) opened some of their gifts while we waited for thier father to arrive, then there were more gifts to open, tables to set up, visitors to greet, more presents to open, lunch to serve, dessert to serve, kettles to boil, lunch to clean up then final presents to open - all before 1.30pm.

Admittedly, I don't always see eye-to-eye with some of hubby's family and could've done with a drink about 15 minutes after they arrived but I'm pretty sure that would've lead to bitch-slapping some sense into them so my approach of simply finding something else to clean up to keep me occupied was better for all involved.

We made a hasty retreat from the in-laws at 2.30pm to head to my family Christmas which is where the big drinking usually starts and my cousions hadn't let me down on this front. Soon after my brother, sister-in-law and Miss 20-months arrived and the party was in full swing, opening presents before kick-off in the "Turkey Bowl".

Yep, I played Gridiron sober.

We can't really remember how it started but for reasons unknown a couple Christmases back we traded in our cricket game for a gridiron match and now it seems a part of the day. Despite being unwanted by both my brother and husband in their team I thoroughly enjoyed our game which lasted almost two hours and have the bruises to prove it!

I think the biggest thing I noticed about not drinking is that I didn't really get tired until around 9pm, when previous years it has reached 7pm and I've flaked out on a sun lounge somehwere. I had unbridled energy and didn't have an inclining of a sore head the following morning.

All in all a successful example of proving my point that you don't need alcohol to have a fun Christmas - let's see if I can do the same on New Year's Eve!!

Not the best of starts...

Church service #3 of my visit and it's not off to the greatest of starts in my opinion given they've spelt noel as 'nowell' in the program.

Also, I've only been sitting for 5 minutes and my butt is sore: maybe more people would go to church if the seats were more comfy??

posted from Bloggeroid

Good thing I haven't given up chocolate too...

Having been given two bottles of very nice, very expensive bubbly as gifts from two of my bosses, I'm slightly disappointed I can't pop one of the corks to enjoy it as I sit down to watch Love Actually, my FAVOURITE Christmas movie.

Looks like I'll have to do with a chocolate Paddle Pop instead.

All together now "and if you really love Christmas, come on and let it snow..."

Yeah, I don't handle being preached to...

This Sunday just gone was the second opportunity to embrace my new-found interest in religion and I attended a Baptist church service.

The first thing I noticed upon my arrival was the distinct lack of cars in the car park in comparison to last week's Uniting visit. Admittedly though that could because I was actually on time this week and didn't have to sneak in up the back. This particular Baptist church also had a pretty awesome veggie patch however morning tea didn't look all that crash hot (in case you haven't noticed, I'm all about the food!)

What I failed to take into account by arriving early, is that people noticed I wasn't a regular and made it their personal mission to see who could find out my life story first. Well not really, I think they were just curious as to whether they had found another sheep to add to their flock.

I'll be the first to admit the people I spoke to were lovely which is why I did feel slightly guilty when I told them I was there "on behalf of my Grandmother who was unable to make it as she wasn't quite feeling herself."

Two things wrong with this: One, my Grandmother hates Baptist church services with a passion and tends to avoid them as much as possible, even if it's to attend a funeral or wedding, and two - my Grandmother wasn't visiting. I didn't feel bad about saying she wasn't herself as my Mum had told me two days earlier Grandma had a sore throat of some description (which we put down to her crazy drinking social life) so that's a legitimate reason to feel like crap.

Anyway I'd invented this random spur-of-the-moment story to cover the reason for my visit hoping that would be sufficient but no, that made me such a wonderful human being that Pastor Peter simply had to have a chat as well, looking at me with big pleading eyes as if to say "this lot suck, please bring your wonderful nature to my church instead."

Uncomfortable introductions over it was time for the service to start, and the first thing I noticed is that Pastor Peter didn't stand up front like the Minister did at the Uniting Service. No, we had a three piece band, the lead guitarist of which looked like he was out of Deliverance. The trio lead us in three - yes, three - opening songs that I'd never heard of and am pretty sure were written by them (thankfully the Baptists too know the value of a data projector and screen) before we sat to begin.

Turns out Deliverance-boy was the Worship Leader for this week. Congregation members volunteer to be Worship Leaders and each week one of them leads the service in lieu of Pastor Pete.

I have to be honest, my visit didn't get off to a great start when it began with a call to pray for the people who spread false truths about Christmas and mock this time of year by drinking and going over-board on the present buying. The congregation I was visiting considered it their duty to "intervene on society's behalf" and pray extra hard for the world.

I did learn a few extra tidbits about the Jesus' birth though, including that Joseph wanted to kick Mary to the kerb for falling preggers to another fella, however once he changed his mind after the visit from the angel he made the choice not to engage in sexual relations until after JC was born - wasn't that nice of him?

Another difference I noticed between the two different services, is where the Uniting service had a set of generic prayers to follow before one made up by the Minister, Baptist services have 'open prayer' where the Workship leader starts the prayer session but then stands quietly while others pray either to themselves or in the case of this congregation - out loud. We had prayers for a person who was starting a new job two days a week "even though it won't cover all her costs," prayers for the healthy delivery of the baby being born to the girl in front of me, and most commonly prayers for the people of the world who are persecuted for their faith.

Communion was next and one thing I hadn't realised is the Church discriminates against Coeliacs - I can't eat the bread!

After politely declining the bread but accepting the wine - I didn't want to appear too rude - I settled back down for yet more preaching about how society neglects the meaning of Christmas and we need to pray for the salvation of mankind. It was at this point I realised 45 minutes had passed and there was no sign of stopping anytime soon.

Thankfully the time had come for another group singalong so when everyone was standing and their backs were turned I snuck out the back door and made a hasty retreat.

I honestly went into the service with an open mind as I found the Uniting service relatively enjoyable, but wasn't prepared for the preaching I endured. Writing this three days after the event (damn you work!) some of the details have faded so it probably isn't totally clear, but I really did feel like it was an Us v Them mentality in the room and I quite clearly fell in the 'Them' category.

Still, one more off my list :-)

Not drinking does make you question your sober behaviour...

This week was full of tests for my alcohol-free test and I'm pleased to say I passed with flying colours.

There were three Christmas functions this week that I would normally partake in a glass of wine at: one, I didn't get to because of a flurry of last-minute work requirements, so I guess it doesn't really count. The second was a staff Christmas lunch with our board, and the third was the staff Christmas party itself.

I did't really feel weird not drinking like I thought I would. I think it's because I was the, or one of the, main organiser for both and was so busy running about taking pictures, making sure everyone had crackers (and subsequent festive paper hats) then finally sitting down to eat myself that the drinking got overlooked.

This was a good thing for the lunch event as it was the break of an all day meeting and I did have to go back into said meeting and take minutes which would've been a LOT harder if I had a couple glasses of bubbly under my belt. I know from experience as I have been known to go back to my desk after work drinks and try to answer those last few pesky emails before going home. All I can say is that god for spell-check!

It was bit harder at the Christmas party itself, mostly because I chose the wine for the tables and it was good wine, but once you're surrounded by 9 other colleagues chatting incessantly about all manner of things you're lucky to get your lunch eaten in a decent amount of time, let alone drink a glass of wine/beer/bubbly.

I still mixed and mingled with everyone and carried on afterwards at the Irish Pub up the road, but did it without the acquisition of beer-specks. Mind you, it wasn't until I was leaving that people realised I hadn't been drinking which either means they were drunker that I gave them credit for, or my behaviour really doesn't change much when I have been drinking: I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or not.

Still, I had a merrily good time celebrating the year that was with my colleagues, had a laugh, shared stories and thoroughly enjoyed myself without killing off a few brain cells.

A good result all 'round I think, though my Grandmother has indicated Baptist church services are the worst in her memory (she's 80) so I may need one by time I venture back from my experience of that tomorrow!

So yesterday, I went to Church....

During my foray into reading the Bible, I stumbled across a fabulous (and I mean 'fabulous' in an knowledgeable/interesting way, not 'fabulous' in a pretty sparkly way) website called Religion Facts which covers everything about every religion you can imagine and among the facts and figures I found something that intrigued me - a comparison chart between the different Christian religions.

Through previous study at High School I learnt how the different religions of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, etc all came about, and the differences between them, but I've never really understood how Catholicism differs from Anglican (apart from the fact that Henry IV founded the latter so he could start on his marriage spree), how that differs from Lutheran, how that differs from Presbyterian and how that differs from Methodist and so on and so forth.

I found the discussion on their ethical views most interesting, especially their views on sexuality. For sexuality in general, all Christian denominations believe that sexuality is god's gift to all people to express their love, find fulfillment and according to the Catholics "Everyone, man and woman should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity"

Funny how their views change though when they discuss homosexuality where majority agree that it should be considered a 'sinful failure' except for Anglicans who are sitting at 'undecided' (perhaps good ol' Hen-ery IV didn't just like women?? I'm just saying!). Anyway I decided that the best way to experience these differences is by living it

So I went to church.

As mentioned previously I'm christened Anglican and did go to church occasionally when I was young so I decided to start with something different: Uniting.

Donning my Sunday best I crept into the back of the church just after the service had started, feeling incredibly rude and guilty - not to the big G but to the others there - and promptly dismissing those feelings when people wandered in and out as they pleased through the entire thing.

The first thing I noticed is that technology helps as they had erected a screen out the front which projected the prayers, order of service and the words to the hymns so I didn't stand there feeling like a total idiot. I needn't have worried though as the first hymn was 'Joyful Joyful' which I knew a) from Sister Act 2, and b) donning a fake habit myself and dancing to it for a concert in year 7; and Joy to the World which is just a good ol' fashioned Christmas carol.

Sunday's service was all about peace, love and hope and was going well until some bit where people said 'praise be to God" and started walking around shaking everyone's hand and saying it to them: I hope the look on my face wasn't too horrified when the first woman approached me.

Then the minister stood up and announced he was resigning.

Apparently this had been decided three days earlier but none of the people gathered seemed to express outward shock and listened as the Church council explained the recruitment process for a new minister - which is why I found it so surprising that the prayers they then said included lines of "God gives us the strength to rise from the ashes of this heartbreak with Kevin's departure."

Heartbreak? The guy got a better paying job 20 minutes away and will still do his groceries in the supermarket next door so it isn't exactly a clean break. Still I was glad there was a touch of exaggeration in the service.

In all, I didn't find the service unbearable or overly boring and not too much different from what I remember from my Sunday school days.

Next Sunday: Baptist church

Cannot believe I'm doing this...

..I'm about to set foot in church when I don't have a wedding, christening or funeral to go to.

This ought to be interesting...

posted from Bloggeroid

Eve has a lot to answer for....

So I'm up to about part 21 of Genesis and thus far I'm not all that impressed - all it seems to be about is how many kids certain players had and nothing else. I thought it was supposed to be a sweeping story but in reality it's just a quick sweep over mediocre facts and doesn't go into any details at all.

I've done the world being created bit, the garden of Eden, Cain killing Abel, Noah, the ark and the great flood.

I found the start of Genesis most interesting - parts about 10 to 21 have just been about how many kids each person who had and I'm not sure how they're all relevant - especially about Adam & Eve. So we all know Adam was made from dust and Eve from part of his rib, but I always thought the whole kerfuffle with the apple was merely because Eve went against God's wishes.

Well yes, that's part of it, but the biggest issue is that God didn't want Adam and Eve to know anything - apparently the poor buggers "didn't know they were naked." Eating the forbidden fruit gave them knowledge when God didn't want them to have any: he wanted them kept in the dark so that they were unable to ruin his perfect creation. Of course he didn't count on the serpent being not so perfect and cunningly convincing Eve that she should eat the apple he offered.

So then yes, we all know as a result of Eve's curiosity she and Adam were banished from Eden but what I didn't know is that as an additional punishment, Eve was told:

"In pain you shall bring forth children."


I'm sorry, but I fail to see how eating something that's healthy for you (fruit) which ultimately makes you more worldly (knowledge) results in such a punishment whereby you have to push something the size of a watermelon out of a hole the size of a grape.

So when the time comes around for me to have kids instead of cursing and blaming hubby for putting me through this pain, I'm going to be swearing at Eve - which will probably get some curious looks from the medical support team....

Kardashian yes, the bible no

I've been a bit slack in my attempts to read the bible and thought is get a start in my lunch break today by downloading an electronic copy: turns out our web filter won't allow us to do that.

Sure I can understand not being allowed to download or look at porn, graphic violence or naked piccies, and also stopping emails that include the unnecessary but frequently used 'f' and 'c' words, but the bible??

Sure a lot of people think it's fake, but so was Kim Kardashian's wedding and I can read all I want about that!

posted from Bloggeroid

Alcohol and Rock n Roll

So to make my mission this month extra difficult, my alcohol-free time starts with a weekend away with hubby - bummer.

I should make it clear that I don't need to drink because I'm spending the weekend away with hubby - we don't get on each others nerves that much - but it doesn't have quite the same feeling about it when you can't have a glass of wine with that nice dinner you've treated yourselves to, or a glass (or bottle - who counts when they're on hols?) of bubbly while relaxing in a spa bath that you don't have to pay the water bill for.

Our first day was spent partly catching up with an old high school pal for lunch and instead of hanging out in a pub or bar sharing a bottle of wine, we found ourselves in a retro 60s diner listening to Buddy Holly eating fries, burgers and drinking - wait for it - Coke with a shot of lime cordial.

It looked like slime.

But it was quite enjoyable taking in the nostalgia and trying to figure out if the mini-jukebox at our table really did play music or if it was simply for decoration.

I must admit that by the end of that first day I was glad I wasn't drinking though as by time we rocked back to our hotel at around 8pm I was exhausted, and a glass of wine probably would've seen me passed out, fully clothed and half my make-up removed by 8.05pm.

Music played a part in the other 'what a bad weekend to quit drinking' phase as our main reason for going away for the weekend was to attend the Foo Fighters concert and let's be honest, who doesn't go to a rock concert and expect some alcoholic involvement?? Although I did think the people walking around drinking red wine (which would've been me) did look slightly odd among the beer and spirit drinkers.


Hubby only had one beer which surprised me as the trip was his Christmas present, and I got the impression he felt he shouldn't drink because I wasn't, which of course isn't the idea at all. He promised that wasn't the case though with "I honestly don't feel like it" and "No, I think Pepsi will go fine with this steak" and "If I do drink I'll have to pee more often"

I don't buy this as he has a bladder the same size as that of a small child and he kept peeing anyway!


I do have to give my husband credit though as all weekend he kept telling me "if you want to have a drink, I won't tell anyone" which I just found so sweet (and NO I'm pretty sure he wasn't just trying to get me drunk!), however I stuck to my resolve as I realised how truly disappointed I would be in myself if I caved five days in.

I've got two social functions this week which will test the resolve a little more especially since one is fully catered and I'm not driving either to or from it....

Why am I doing this again?

Why on earth do I care??

...turns out I got 'de-friended' by some peeps during my month long hiatus from Facebook and I'm not sure I like that.

And to be totally honest, I'm really surprised that I  care at all.

Don't get me wrong I'm not sitting here pining over anyone I can no longer check-in with for old time's sake, but it's a bit like getting snubbed in the playground when you're in kindergarten.

I'm slightly ashamed of myself

When you aren't drinking alcohol on a weekend away...

...you pour your Pepsi Max in a wine glass instead :-)

posted from Bloggeroid

Seasonal Sobriety

Welcome to December!!

I LOVE this time of year: the summer weather, the social gatherings, hanging with family, eating more than is good for us and wrapping pressies to hand out to the nearest and dearest. The silly season is upon us people and it has inspired my mission for this month.

Giving Up: Alcohol
I didn't drink before I turned 18. I had a swig of my Dad's beer every now and again which made me gag and remember being appalled when a friend's mum offered me a taste of Malibu.

Contrary to popular belief it wasn't because I was a good-two-shoes, it was because I simply didn't see the appeal in drinking and subsequently throwing up. Once 18 hit I started going out dancing each week and my relationship with alcohol started through West Coast Coolers and frutiy cocktails (mmm Fruit Tingle!), but beer was gross and wine totally overrated.

At 21 I left for a two-year overseas sojourn rather slim and a bit of a glass-and-a-half drunk and returned two dress sizes bigger with a taste for wine. Despite this, I can pretty much take it or leave it and can usually get the same satisfaction out of an ice-cold Diet Coke.

Except at Christmas.

There's something about the festive season that wakes the rolling drunk inside me. Not that I get rolling drunk, but I drink much more than I usually do. I worked out that this month alone I have 10 occasions on which I would normally drink, and if I had say, 3 glasses of wine at each event that would equate to almost 10 bottles of wine - just for me!

I don't care that I'm two sizes bigger than I was at 21, that's still an awful lot of booze for one person to drink.

So I've decided to brave the work parties, sports parties and family catch-ups booze-free, not to mention Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.

Taking Up: Religion
If I had to sum up my relationship with Religion, I'd have to say we don't always see eye to eye. I don't think I'm going to hell, but I'm not exactly the next Mother Theresa either.

I tend to think most of the world's problems would be solved if we abolished organised Religion, but at the same time feel guilty at taking away a place people can express their spirituality.

I was christened and went to Sunday School, though admittedly we went to Sunday School with "Uncle Bumper"  to keep us out of my parents hair while they got ready for football that day. It seems to me that each Religion be it Christianity, Judaism or Islam, picks the bits out of the same doctrine or stories that make sense to them and use these as the basis for their beliefs.

I've decided I want to find out first hand if this is case. There are four weeks in this month, so I've decided to spend each looking at and even experiencing a different Religion, though before I decide which I might have to actually read the bible first to give me some starting point.

Is there a Cliff Notes version??

Ok, so how does social networking work again?

My third month is almost up and yes I have missed the mindless gossiping and catch-ups that Facebook brings, but at the same time I'm glad I've had the month to get it out of my system: I'm definitely going to limit my intake from now on.

What I'm not going to limit though is my time spent jogging. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I may have been converted. Sadly the work, weather and holiday gods have conspired against me the last couple of weeks and I haven't been as dedicated to the exercise as I might have liked, but I've now got the basics under control and think this could lead to a positive lifestyle change

Now I'm enjoying a glass of wine as I type this thinking about the next plethora of challenges December is going to bring: I m SO getting halo points next month ;-)

Two more days..

... and I can annoy everyone again with my rambling status updates!

I know I've said I miss it but after watching the frequency with which my friends updated it over the weekend while we holidayed together, part of me is glad I didn't have access as I don't really need to read about things in my news feed I've literally just done. Although admittedly, some of it WAS worth re-living (wiki, wiki, bum, bum...)

Maybe I should make a habit of blocking people I'm spending time with over a particular weekend so they can update and check-in to their hearts content without filling my news feed and then I can unblock them once the weekend is over and we go back to our respective boring existences??

I think there's some logic in that.

I am of course reminded of a trip to the other side of the country with the same group of friends where me and one of the others had an entire conversation on FB despite being in the same room, but I'm choosing to blame the alcohol for that one!!

It will be nice to 'see' everyone again though and I'm thinking some long overdue catch-UPS will be in order.

posted from Bloggeroid

Success!!

I jogged this morning before work and DIDN'T spend the whole day eating afterwards.

That's gotta be progress right? I even found that I wanted to run more often than I actually needed to.

On reflection though that was probably more to do with the fact it was about 7 degrees and I was outside in shorts and a t-shirt, as opposed to finding enjoyment in jogging...

posted from Bloggeroid

I'm missing the crazy...

.. I'm missing the crazy people I was friends with on FB.

You know, the ones who have domestics, air their dirty laundry and trade insults? I think I'm addicted to the drama.

I've discovered two things about jogging...

One, I get bloody hungry later in the day, and two, it's very hard to say "good morning" to my fellow early-morning walkers/ joggers.

Though it does seem I'm in the minority for worrying about that last point.

At my work meeting last week, one of my board members and I were commenting on how we make a point to say "hello" or "good morning" to people we encounter. His daughter - in her early to mid twenties - is mortified by this behaviour and finds it embarrassing and now refuses to exercise with him.

I found this laughable until my boss said the same thing: he's fine with a polite head nod or half-assed smile but actually uttering a greeting?? Good lord no.

I found this quite bizarre as my boss is quite an open personalble fellow so the concept of him not acknowledging someone surprised me. According to him it's not that he doesn't want to say hi, it's more that he's concerned the additional effort exerted involved will make him either splutter at the stranger or collapse.

I like the approach of my board member though: he made it his mission to get every person he passes regular to say 'hi' back to him after within 12 months.

And he did.

Even after he stopped jogging for 4 months due to injury, on his first day back in the saddle every person he passed say hi.

I think that's why I've had a low opinion of joggers: all the ones I've seen/passed subscribe to mg bosses way of thinking and for an eternally bright person this not talking to others really doesn't work for me

posted from Bloggeroid

Work is such an inconvenience

Man work is a right royal pain in the butt when you're trying to stick to something! Being away for essentially 3 days totally messed up my (kind of) impeccable jogging program and I feel like I'm back to square one.

I did do some jogging while I was away, it just wasn't totally in line with c25k-powers-that-be but tomorrow I'm taking a flex day from work so I'm going to get right back into it and jog Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday this week before returning to my Monday, Wednesday, Saturday routine.

One thing I have started to notice though is how restless I get if I happen to miss a day of walking or jogging. I get twitchy and feel all out of sorts but a spin around the block gets me feeling better. This does mean I also understand why my superiors at work have issues travelling on buses for so long during our site visits, but I still think this is better than forking out $$ on charter flights.

And thankfully, none of them argue with me :-)

As for no FB, I am surprised at how much I'm missing it after just 14 days. Admittedly there has been some abrupt changes in my family which has meant I'm desperate to check up on them (which FB allows me to do without appearing over-zealous), I've had some great weekends with family - plus a big one coming up with my besties - and I've just wanted to post piccies and share the hilaarity.

I just generally miss hearing about people's lives - even the dysfunctional ones!

I will persevere though as it is important for me to focus on my life instead of everyone else's...even if my is somewhat boring in comparison!!

More inspiration....

So I mentioned to some colleagues that I had taken up jogging, and was surprised at how helpful they were.

I expressed my doubts at actually being able to run 5km after 9 weeks and was met with " what's with you being negative?"

Turns out there's a common held- and apparently proven - belief that once you get past the 6 week mark, you'll be amazed at what you can do. For some reason our bodies (and I'm guessing, our minds) like to make the first 6 weeks difficult before letting adrenaline and previously unrecognised athletic ability go free and you start to think you're the next Ussain Bolt.

I've only got 5 weeks to go til that hits: just in time for Olympic qualifying??

posted from Bloggeroid

If I was on Facebook right now..

I'd be commenting on how f&%$#@& unfair life can be, and how shitty cancer is.

We all see those stories of people and families touched by this rotten condition and are silently thankful that it isn't affecting our own.

Until it does.

Stay strong, stay positive and give that bastard the fight of an era.

posted from Bloggeroid

A slight bump in the jogging plans...

So here I was all set for the last of my week 1 jogging program and wouldn't you know it - my calf muscles seized up.

Crap it.

I know it's commonly believed it takes 3 weeks to form a habit but I was getting right into the c25k program and now I've fallen back out of pace. This normally wouldn't be a problem except I'm travelling for the next 3 days which will throw the pattern out even further.

Guess I need to make a sacrifice of some sort over the next three days to fit it in: I don't need to sleep really, do I?

What's the internet for again??

What is it that people spend hours on the internet doing if they're not on Facebook (and let's forget about porn)??

I've never been one to surf the net aimlessly, but with the exception of checking emails and research, I can't remember what I did on here. In the absence of FB I've been trying to entertain myself by playing a few games, researching options for selling my wedding dress and trying to find the last bit of my nephew's Christmas present on eBay, but that's about it.

Today is the first day though that I've actually missed FB. Sitting at cricket surrounded by obnoxious teenagers and whinging adults who seriously ought to know better, I'd usually update my status with what I was thinking. In absence of the opportunity to "status-ise" I verbalised it and as a result made enemies on two opposing sides. Well, not enemies per se but I doubt anyone will be volunteering to score with me next time they play us in case they get their heads bitten off!

Hubby is happy with this no-FB thing though, because if I was on-line I would've publicly panned him for the shit shot he played which resulted in him making an early exit from the game.

I have taken to writing random notes down on bits of paper in absence of updating my status so should have a nice retrospective collection next time I'm on there.

In the interim, anyone want to email me to let me know what's going on in their world???

Yep, I'm not smiling...

I promise to never complain about joggers not smiling again.

I've now completed two days of my c25k challenge as part of my taking up jogging for November and I will be the first to admit I haven't been smiling while I do it.

The concept of c25k is pretty simple. It's a program which promises to have you up from the couch and running 5km in nine weeks - that's NINE weeks. The best bit I like about the program is you only have to jog three days per week and undertake the set program on each day.

I've decided my jogging days are Monday afternoon, Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning. Far enough apart so I don't collapse in a heap the next time I go to do it, yet close enough that my muscles and joints don't get too relaxed.

I started on the Wednesday just gone with the week 1 program: 5 min walk to warm-up then 60 seconds jogging followed by 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes in total. I'm pleased to say I found it ok. Not easy going but I wasn't bent over dry-retching at the end. After a shower to recover I sat on the futon and couldn't move from sheer exhaustion. Hubby came home to find me looking zombie-like asking him to cook tea because it was to hard to move.

I'm pleased to say I snapped out of it about an hour later and returned to normal but by Thursday my legs were aching and so were - oddly - my hips. I felt like I needed a double hip replacement.

This morning was day 2 of week 1 and I was surprised at how much harder I found it to complete. I think my body was suffering PTSD and knew how much hurt it felt last time. Still, I completed it and this time didn't feel like bunking down in bed for 4 hours afterwards.

I can see how people enjoy jogging, but I'm not sure I'm at that stage yet. Still, I've got three and a half weeks to get used to it :-)

Bye bye Facebook, hello jogging!

First day back wearing make-up and I thoroughly enjoyed it - but isn't it a pain in the butt taking it all back off?? Oh well, have to take the bad with the good I suppose!

November has rolled around in all it's nearly-summer glory and that partly inspires my "taking up" for this month: jogging. As for giving up it's bye-bye Facebook.

Giving up: Facebook
I LOVE Facebook. It really is a brilliant invention. In a time when many of us are too busy to socialise and by default lose touch with people from our past, it's a fantastic tool for leaving our mark on the world. It's our chance to say to our friends and family "Hey, see what I've achieved this week."


I thoroughly enjoy browsing through friend's photo albums and can happily spend hours doing so. Hubby considers this borderline stalking, but as I'd like to think people would browse through mine, I like to think "fairs fair."


Of course there are those people who insist on airing their dirty laundry, engaging in domestic disputes, drink-updating (the "new & improved" drink-dialling!) and let's not forget about those who seem to update every time they do something as mundane as cook breakfast, walk down the street and - I kid you not - have a bowel movement!

I'm also kind of argumentative - I love a good juicy debate on all manner of topics but I don't consider Facebook a good platform for that. People get too personal. You can't really voice an opinion in opposition of someone else in the course of a wall-post-discussion because then four-letter words get posted about like emoticons and next thing you know the argument reverts to something that happened ten years ago and people starting talking about AVOs...

But I do find sometimes that I spend a little TOO much time on there. When our alarms go off in the morning, hubby checks the weather and I check Facebook. In doing so, I have realised that more things are starting to annoy me than I actually like so it's a good vice to give-up this month.

I'm far too curious a being to give it up entirely, but a month will be a good challenge - and I've had hubby change my password to avoid temptation!

Taking-up: Jogging
Two reasons I hate jogging:

1. You never see a smiling jogger. They're ALWAYS grimacing or looking like they want to throw up. As someone who is happy and smiling 90% of the time, I find this disturbing
2. I'm rather - how to put this delicately - asset blessed and I hate anything that draws unnecessary  attention to the girls. 

This final point is bizarre for two reasons: I play competitive netball which involves both running and jumping; and I'll happily run on a treadmill facing a mirror in a crowded gym.

Yeah, it doesn't make sense to me either.

Still, I can't deny the benefits of jogging, especially when I've seen the changes it has made in friends and colleagues who have taken it up.

I've actually decided my dislike of jogging is genetic. My parents were quality sportspeople and my brother is fairly adept at sport too yet I've never seen any of them jog off the court/pitch.

Not to fail at the start, I've been introduced to a program call c25k - Couch to 5km so think I'll use this as my guide.

Wish me luck!!

Reflections of a blank canvas

So from the get-go we can all agree I suck at meditation, and failed miserably in my attempt to gain a more enlightened life this month.

I did succeed however in not succumbing to the lure of the paint-box aka my make-up kit for a whole 31 days. Although admittedly I know on three occasions when I may have had a sneaky swipe of the mascara over the top lashes but like I said at the start there's not wearing make up and then there's looking dead....

Funnily enough I missed it. Not so much the act of putting it on - my mornings are infinitely better without standing in front of the mirror for 20 minutes - but the way it makes you feel. Especially my eye make-up. I can happily go without the foundation, blush, bronzer and the like but I have missed the added sparkle in my eye that can only be seen through thick, open lashes and a spattering of eye shadow.

Plus I really do look tired without it.

I also realised that no one really seemed to notice the change and I'm still not sure whether that's a good thing or not. I guess the best way to tell will be when I'm back in at work tomorrow with my "game face" on.

All in all I found it a frankly refreshing experience and one that I do think I'll continue on some level: until the next night out anyway!

One day to go and not a golf ball in sight...

So this is the month my life decided to catch up with me.

When I first started this project, sure my life was busy but it wasn't chaotic! Between picking up additional responsibilities at work (which I'm stoked about!!), the start of the cricket season and an increase in social invitations I find myself begging for even 2 minutes to spend on my own away from the world: so you would think that meditation would suit me.

Sadly this increase in life activities has meant I haven't found the time to breathe deeply, close by eyes and listen to the Tibetan bowls. Plus, I've just realised I haven't even taken one of my new clubs out of the bag let alone had a golf lesson, so my show-down with my brother at Christmas could be a decidedly one-sided affair: though admittedly, he'll kick my butt even if I do have lessons!

But with 24 hours to go I have realised that although I may not have bathed myself in candlelight each night clearing my head of the worries of the day, I have increased the length and frequency of my daily walks - and I find this much more relaxing and calming that sitting in a dark room feeling like a twit!

Still, I'll hopefully give meditation a couple my chances before midnight tomorrow: might even hit a few gold balls too!!

I'm vain, so sue me

For those interested from yesterday's poll I decided to go with option 3.

It's one thing for me to say people should respect me for the job I do instead of how I look when they know me, it's another for total strangers to think I'm professional and capable when there's a photo of me with a pimple breakout across my forehead.

I'm kinda vain...what would you do?

Just when I thought this whole wearing no make-up thing was getting easy, a curve ball gets thrown my way.

I have been invited to speak at a conference early next year and as is usually the case with these kind of things in my world (for my bosses anyway), organisers of the conference like to have pictures of their speakers sent through for inclusion in the conference program: therein is my problem.

I have a staff photo I can use but it's outdated and I look a little young so I asked our in-house photographer if she could take a new one for me tomorrow - before I remembered I won't have make-up on.

So, I have three options:

1. Have the photo taken au naturale
2. Cheat and wear make-up to work tomorrow
3. Lie to the organisers and tell them I need to wait for said photographer to return to work on 1 November

What would you do?

Progress.....finally!!

After a day spent at cricket I thought today would be an optimum time to really give meditation a good crack.

Hubby got a lift to the pub and I headed home and jumped straight into the shower before nestling down into my corner clean, warm and semi-relaxed.

The candle thing really isn't working for me so I thought I'd go back to music and tuned the laptop into "Shamanic Journey' and 'Chakra Meditation & Relaxation with Bamboo Flutes and Tibetan Singing Bowls" just for something to different.

I'm amazed to say that it worked.

Although my mind wandered to the mundane, daily thoughts of what I needed to do during "Shamanic Journey" - I'm sure a trip to Woolies was not the journey the Shamans had in mind with their music - by time the the bamboo flutes had kicked in I had drifted off into a deep mindlessness where thoughts of groceries had been replaced with floating shapes and colours.

Once the music had ended my eyes opened and I felt calm, together and ready to head to the club for dinner and a glass of wine.

Not that I need to be too relaxed for that of course ;-)

Hands up if you'd like to go through puberty again. No? I didn't think so....

So as I conscientiously sat down to partake in my second and third meditation lessons, I was immediately turned off by the subject matter and precis of lesson 2:

In class 2, you will discover the meaning of life.

Right

Am I the only person who doesn't give a crap about the meaning of life and why we're here? Yes I want to be fulfilled, I want to be loved, I want to cherish every moment I have on this planet but as to why I exist I really don't care to speculate: I'm just very, very glad that I do. Plus, everyone knows the answer is 42 ;-)

So lesson 2 doesn't get off to the greatest of starts, but I carry on regardless telling myself that given meditation is about getting in touch with one's spiritual side of course the most spiritual of questions is bound to get a mention. I scroll over the references to 'god' 'wonderment' and 'aha moments' pause briefly on the quote from Yoda before getting to the crux of my lesson: the exercise.

Gone is the candle and in is the visualisation of the 'drop' aka earth. The basic premise for today's exercise is that you begin by visualising yourself in the time before the big bang and you encounter a drop in the universe which tuns out to be earth. Next thing you know, you are the earth and you're ballooning to a massive size, sprouting weird looking growths from most areas, billions of fleas are making you their home and then wouldn't you know it, 75% of you gets covered in a cold liquid that is apparently your most important asset.

Basically you are visualising earth going through puberty. I don't know about the rest of you but going through puberty once was enough.

I think we're gonna need a bigger candle...

First night of "5 minute meditation" down and I've got to be honest: I haven't slept that badly since my first night in a feng shui-d bedroom.

Still, I will persevere but suspect the candle is to blame.

I've never been a candle person but have acquired a few over the past year and thought I had chosen rather nicely - it appears not.

The candle is in a glass holder type thing and it made the flame dance and bop about like it was in a nightclub - how are you supposed to concentrate and focus on that??

So I think the solution is a larger, holder-free candle.

Off for a shop tomorrow methinks

Meditation is like Swimming....

Clearly not managing to get the gist of meditation on my own, I decided to go on the search for some help. Enter the lovely folk of The Meditation Society of Australia (yes, one really does exist) at www.meditation.org.au and I'm starting to get a bit of an idea of what's going on.

The lesson starts by saying that meditation is an extremely simple process - yeah right. We start with our scattered thoughts (cook dinner, drive the car, etc), move into analytical thinking (when we're focused on one thing in particular), before arriving at our intuitive state, which was described as being like when a sportsman enters their 'zone' - this is meditation.

So the first thing I have to do is find an area of my home that will be dedicated purely to meditating: oh, and you have to make it 'inspirational.' The powers-that-be recommend covering a table with a light cloth, lighting a candle, placing fresh flowers next to it and even lighting some incense.

I don't find the above inspirational. Knowing my luck the incense would make me sneeze, the flowers would wilt and the candle would set the cloth on fire. Instead, I find my inspiration from the written word, so I  fashioned myself a little nook in the corner of the bedroom between my favourite literature and my writing gear. I even threw some cushions in to make it comfy :-) Oh and I do have a dedicated candle for the occasion.

The next step I don't quite understand: take a shower. Or if taking a shower is inconvenient, wash your face and hands. Still don't get it but righto

Next up sitting straight and relaxed, wearing comfy clothes (with bare feet) gets you ready to start. Five minutes a day - at the same time everyday - is a recommended starting point.

I can TOTALLY do that.

But when?

My society friends recommend first thing in the morning to set yourself up for the day. I go for a walk first thing in the morning so that doesn't work.  The other two optimal times are immediately after work to relieve stress - or to stop you bitch-slapping someone - or before bed to help you sleep more soundly.

I've decided that before bed fits best with my current schedule, unless I do happen to have a particularly stressful day and decide it's better for my marriage if I get calm before using sharp utensils.

So starting tonight I'll be meditating via candlelight for five minutes before bed. Unless I've eaten a big dinner. Meditating straight after eating is not recommended....

32 seconds is good right??

So as I mentioned in my last post I decided to try the meditation to music approach. After a rather hectic day at work which involved countless phone calls and emails between our office and Parliament House, I decided today would be a good day to embrace the world of meditation.

Having downloaded a selection of relaxation melodies last night, I decided to go with the aforementioned Tibetan Singing Bowl for Relaxation. Scented candle on the stand, comfy clothes and a nicely heated wheat bag to soothe my neck & shoulders and I'm ready to go.

Start time      - Wheat bag heated, go to light candle using the final match in the house: match goes out
1 min 0 sec   - The sound of rushing water fills the room followed by the tympanic sounds of....bowls??
3 min 0 sec   - itchy foot. Breathe through the pain
3 min 15 sec - scratch the damn foot
5 min 0 sec   - choke on own saliva. 30 second coughing fit
5 min 30 sec - slight back pain as result of coughing fit. Adjust position accordingly
6 min 15 sec - hear a crash from the kitchen: wonder what hubby has dropped now?
7 min 0 sec   - nose is itchy. No point waiting so just scratch it
8 min 30 sec - feeling of relaxation washes over me
9 min 2 sec   - music ends

Crap

Right, time to focus

As strange as it sounds, I'm finding it difficult to start meditating.

Constantly running through my head is 'I'm too busy," "I'll do it after xyz," and "I can start tomorrow." Which is of course what made me realise I REALLY need to start.

So what to do do? Well my weekend with my besties turned out to be quite educational as one of them is big into meditation and let me in on a few pointers, one of which involves meditating with music.

This appeals to me as I think it's the whole sitting still with no sound and just my own thoughts to occupy the time is kind of what's putting me off. Not that I have particularly crazy thoughts - just the opposite. I tend to think quite creatively when I take time out just to think - how do you think this blog started ;-)

So thoughts then turn to music choices. The obvious choices pop into my head: whale song and bird sounds among the most obvious, but a quick search on iTunes reveals many more options including my personal favourite:  Tibetan singing bowl for relaxation.

But then I discover something appalling: "Bella's Lullaby"

Honestly has Twilight permeated every facet of society that the past time of Tibetan monks isn't safe? 

Listening to something so teenage whilst embracing the oldest of activities seems a bit odd so I brush over that and instead focus on 'Inner Journey', 'Crystal Bowls' and 'Shamanic Journey.'

Ok, i guess it's now or never. All together "ummmmmmmmm"

So am I good at it, or I am bad at it?

Yesterday, three of my besties and I took in the delights of the annual "High Tea Party" in Sydney. There, whilst taking in the smells and delights of the various - but sadly few - stalls, stands and experiences, we undertook another favourite pasttime: people watching.

In between the lassies tottering about in 6 inch heels two sizes too big for them (honestly, why don't women buy shoes that fit??), and the divas who turned up in all their cocktail finery - including one ghastly number that made the wearer look like a toilet doll - two things became apparent to me:

1) I could have tried a bit harder with my outfit, and

2) Women wear an awful lot of make-up to look 'natural'

Ok so maybe sparkly blue eye-shadow and fake lashes aren't 'natural' and the users of said items are clearly trying to make a statement, but there are a fair few of us who spend considerable time applying make-up only so the we look 'natural' or to appear that we aren't trying to hard.

Is it just me or is that a bit screwed up? How natural is caking our faces with primer, concealer moisturiser, foundation, powder, blush / bronzer, eye shadow and mascara? Who's definition of 'natural' is this?

I can understand the self confidence point of view as I totally agree there's nothing worse than having a break out and thinking the whole world is staring at you, but I still think the above is a fair question to ask. 

I especially asked it after I re-visited a photo I had taken last year at the high tea party. I should point out that the two photos in question were taken by the same company, with the same people (albeit in slightly different poses), there was more natural lighting and last year, I was wearing make-up.

Now admittedly I didn't have the latest snap with me to make an accurate comparison as it is currently in my mate's car driving back down the Hume, but to my recollection I couldn't see much difference in my face between the two. If anything, I think I looked healthier yesterday.

So this now poses a problem: does that mean when I use make-up I've essentially mastered the 'au naturale' look, or does it mean I suck at it???

So not as easy a I thought...

Sadly I haven't had much time this week to start on my 'meditation trip' but one thing I have discovered alarmed me slightly...

There's more than one type of meditation! Who'd have thought?

The other thing I'm finding difficult is the whole not wearing mascara thing. Call me vain / shallow if you will but even with my lashes tinted I don't look right.

Maybe a few more days will get me over the hump??

Nail polish remover does not good toner make

Before it starts flitting around, I should point out one thing: I do NOT have perfect skin so it's not easier for me to go make-up free than it is for anyone else. I need to remove my make-up each night and wash my face each morning in n attempt to keep the blemishes, pimples and general tiredness away.

Which is why I found my bleary-eyed self reaching for my toner this morning, only to grab the nail polish remover instead.

oops!

There's not wearing make up, and then there's looking dead

I had originally thought I'd go through the lists on the right in the order that they're written but discussions with friends & family coupled with comments from followers have happily meant I can mix and match as I please. This month is a shining example.

Giving up: Wearing make-up
If you saw my post of last week, you'll know that a conversation came up with members of my family-in-law in relation to make-up and if you really can leave the house without it. I've had the same conversation with friends who think that women who turn up to work without make-up are completely unprofessional and clearly don't care about their appearance.

They're totally entitled to think that - I love them regardless - but I disagree profusely. I'm pretty sure people respect me at work because of the work I do and how I behave and perform, not because of the brand of make-up I wear or the amount of it I have on my face.  Also, think of how much extra time I'd have each morning if I didn't have to worry about making sure my foundation was blended properly and that the colour of my eyeshadow matched on each eye.

On the other hand though, I have incredibly pale skin and the whitest of eye lashes. I'm talking about eyelashes that are practically transparent. Not many people would know that because I ALWAYS apply mascara before I leave the house. This is because I look like death warmed up if I don't.

So, in lieu of wearing make-up I've had my eye lashes tinted and will apply tinted moisturiser - that's it.

Taking-up: Meditation
Four words: I....don't...get...it

I've tried it - once. As part of a health week initiative at work this guy ad a group of us in the Seminar Room extolling the virtues of meditation and how over the next hour not only would we visualise relaxing near  flowing waterfall, we would leave the room feeling like we were there.

Ten minutes in I visualised myself pushing his hippie-ass off the waterfall and promptly made a hasty retreat back to my desk.

Still I've had people at work tell me it's worth persevering so I'm willing to give it another shot.

I should also mention that I decided 2011 would be the year I learned to play golf properly. And, as I have it on good authority that hitting a tiny ball with a big stick is good for stress relief, I figured I'd tie this in with meditation.

So everyone, after me: ummmmmmmmmmmmmm

6 hours and ten minutes to go

So for an added challenge on the last day of my first mission, I decided to have the day off work.

Admittedly I had visitors arriving so I only had to entertain myself for about 9 hours but still - 9 hours at home alone without watching movies.

Walking, pilates, dishes, vacuuming, groceries and an eye lash tint later I'd made it to 12pm. Logged on to work emails and responded to few welcome 12.20pm.

Crap. I then played two solo rounds of 'Scene it' while I ate lunch, the pretty much just danced round the living room - literally. We've been learning to ballroom dance so I sued the solitude and open space as a chance to practice.

One thing I am slightly disappointed in myself about is that I don't feel I've been using my non-tv time overly well. When I started I had visions of me doing jigsaws, mastering Photoshop, even indulging in a bit of writing. Instead after I'd made dinner, eaten dinner, cleaned up, and made lunches for the next day, I plopped down to a bit of reading and promptly fell asleep.

Hmmm

I blame the feng shui. The better sleeping energy in the bedroom works far too well. And ok, so I had started getting up at sparrow's fart for morning walks so that could account for something too...

On the plus side, my unit has never stayed so tidy for so long, I feel more energetic of a morning, and making lunches the night before definitely helps with the whole wanting to do exercise in the morning thing.

This whole experience has shown that even though I didn't think I did, I spent far too much time indulging in the viewing pleasures of television and I was feeling more rushed about as a result. So now, I think I'll make a point of not sitting down to watch TV before 8pm on weeknights unless it happens to be on one of those once-in-a-blue-moon days when hubby cooks dinner: then I might let myself have a bit of a treat: especially with Four Weddings and Glee starting at 7.30!

As for the feng shui, I had fun rearranging the house and bits and pieces of redecorating, and although the matchbox now feels shoe-box like, I still don't buy into this whole positive energy thing.  I won't rush to change anything back to the way it was: I don't want to offend the god of oven!

Now there's 5 hours and 54 minutes to go..not that I'm counting or anything

I'm Feng Screwed

48 hours to go until the end of my first mission and I realise that I've spent so much time worrying about the energy at home, I didn't stop and think about the energy flow at the other place where I spend all my time...

The office.

So a quick bit of research for various sources and I uncover a few common do's and don't for feng shui and work and well, let's just say things are not going my way:

1. Sit in the corner farthest from the entrance: I sit directly next to the fire doors
2. Don't sit in lie with the door: See above
3. Sit with a tall building behind you to provide support if your back is to a window: They window behind me looks over the main road into and out of the Nation's Capital, and also where drug-fueled bogans regularly have domestic disputes full of four-letter expletives as they walk down the footpath. What do you think that means?
4. Have an aquarium with some fish: This would be where the window is. I can't have the negativity from the bogans disturbing more living creatures than they do already
5. Keep your back toward a corner or wall for support: finally! One I get right
6. Balance light and dark colours, rough and smooth textures and soft and hard surfaces in your choice of furniture and flooring: I'm  public servant so I get what I'm given
7. Don't arrange your space so you look straight at stairs, storage rooms, closets or toilets: I look up from my computer and see the entry to the men's loos
8. Treat the files in your office with respect: Filing is the devil's work

So the title of today's post says it all really: I'm feng screwed!!

Previously on NCIS.....

This is the big test: 3 days to go and my favourite TV show comes back on the air. Currently I've got an ipod in bopping around the house on shuffle in an effort to not hear what's going on.

Unfortunately even on shuffle there are tiny 3-5 second spaces of quiet. Here's what I've picked up so far:
"Amnesia...Dinozzo...Palmer is back in Spring....let me guess the line has blurred...then I can't help you...autopsy..gun shots"

Of course to go along with this I've got hubby calling out "Franks isn't really dead," "Tony & Ziva are shagging" and "Hetty got shot"

The last one is a worry since Hetty is is NCIS: Los Angeles and that doesn't start til 9.30.

Thankfully, I'm not prepared to believe anything he says and will find out in my own time: which I have just realised may not be until at least 6 days after my self-imposed TV exile due to a plethora of other things going on in my life which all sounded exciting and fun when I didn't have TV to occupy my time.

oh well, back to the iPod for the time being

Makes it all worthwhile...

So last night at a family gathering, I was explaining to various family members what the idea behind this blog was. Their reactions went from the polite "just nod your head and smile" (aka clearly she's crazy), to the more interested "so what are you going to give up next?"

I've gotta admit, I liked the conversations where I convinced others I wasn't crazy more that the others :-)

There was something invigorating about explaining my reasons to people who otherwise wouldn't dream of giving up something unless they were advised by their health care professional or psychic to do so. When talking about giving up wearing make-up for instance, I heard the usual "but I don't feel confident without it" and got to explain that THAT is the point. It's about getting out of your comfort zone, being brave, trying and something new and maybe, just maybe, living a more fulfilled life as a result.

Not sure they believed me, but at least there's a few more people who know about my mission now, and the fact they think I'm a slight bit of a nutter makes me even more determined to see this through!

Spring has sprung and so have new episodes and a problematic bathroom

Both the giving and the taking got a work out today on one of those rare Sunday's where I don't have to flap about like a crazy person.

Whilst making the most of the glorious weather Mother Nature blessed us with, I got to thinking that maybe this whole giving up TV thing was way too easy given that none of the shows I "have" to watch are actually on. Then I read the TV guide...

The next fortnight is going to be a challenge with all new episodes of "Glee," "NCIS," "NCIS: Los Angeles," and "Four Weddings" all scheduled to air over the next 12 days: and these 4 shows just happen to appear on my 'must-watch" list. Mock me - I dare you

Yes I know that with the marvels of modern technology I can watch them online later, but it isn't the same as bunkering down in the living room with hubby watching them together...ok, so maybe it's more that I'm a little concerned he'll throw spoliers about left, right and centre.

But, this makes me even more determined to see my first mission through to the end as now it really is a challenge.

Also whilst pondering the TV matter I realised that after all the feng shui-ing I've been doing there's one room I've forgotten about: the bathroom. I've done the oven, why not the loo too?

The first thing everyone simply must know about bathroom feng shui is that having the throne room in the middle of the house is "totally unacceptable" and that health problems can ensue if you can often smell or see the toilet.

How often do you think is 'often'? Because I'm pretty sure I don't want to be in a 20km radius when hubby is losing the facilities some mornings.

This particular snippet of feng shui gold continues by saying that if the first room you enter a house through is the bathroom, the people living there will be plagues by health and financial problems: not to mention that they clearly lack taste and design skills.

Seriously, who makes the bathroom one of the entry points to their house??

Thankfully this is one area my matchbox hasn't let down in after failing the feng shui requirements for a kitchen, losing weight and not to mention having a bad front door. My bathroom is at the back of the house, adjacent to the laundry and living area..oh F$%#!

Further reading reveals that bathrooms need to be kept well away from the dining and living room (which isn't going to happen) and you also need to hide the toilet from the bath area so in an open plan bathroom like we've got, a screen would need to be used. Given our current desire to save $$ so that we can upgrade to a shoebox, below is my solution using items currently at my disposal:

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the only thing worse than bad bathroom feng shui is having pictures of your nearest and dearest stare at you while you go about your business.....

Feng Shui: the new Jenny Craig

Yesterday, my workplace started it's annual "10,000 Steps Challenge" which encourages staff to walk a minimum of 10,000 steps per day. We all get pedometers, form teams and start sabotaging each other from the get go, but I decided that this year I would use this as the start of a health kick as my health and weight is becoming of increasing concern.

According to the Chinese Gods, losing weight is all about increasing the energy of your body: silly me, I thought it was about eating less and exercising more.

An important part of increasing your body energy is to make sure you can't see you kitchen from your front door. Below is what I see as soon as I open my front door: you see my problem.

Apparently screening your kitchen from the entrance to your home will prevent you from thinking about food upon your arrival home: "You should place desirable objects in your line of sight, such an exercise bike or running shoes."


I'm sorry, but if I'm putting desirable objects in me line of sight it won't be smelly shoes and an uncomfortable exercise bike: it'll be Johnny Depp looking for an Oscars date.

I think the ultimate point of this is that if you place objects that motivate you to lose weight - a picture of new mum Miranda Kerr for example - when you first come in the door you'll get an attack of the guilts because you don't have her legs (but who aside from her actually does??) and go for the fish and vegies instead of creamy pasta.

Right, so we've agreed that shielding the kitchen is slightly problematic. What's the next logical step - changing the colour of your tablecloth of course: how did I not know this?

Using black or dark blue tablecloths or placemats on your table cast off energy that can deter you from feeling overly hungry and prevent you from overeating. I'd really like to go with this theory but as my tablecloth is already black, I'm pretty sure I can knock this idea on the head.

Option three: use colours when preparing food. "It's no secret that fruits and vegetables are among the most colourful of all foods, so integrate as many different types as possible to make your dinner plate a virtual rainbow of colours and flavour choices."


Ummm isn't eating fruits and vegetables health eating 101?? I don't think feng shui can take the accolades for coming up with this idea.

At this stage I decide it's starting to look a little slim (pardon the pun) but I persevere and discover this little gem: meditate before eating.

Now if you've looked at my blog once or twice, you'll know that meditation is on my list of experiences to try which means I've pretty much written it off as an over0rated pointless waste of time: clearly I' not going to take this path even if it will stop me from stuffing my face by thinking of other things.

Sadly, I can't see feng shui helping me on this health pursuit: looks like it's carrot and celery sticks all the way!

May have cheated slightly...

I feel so guilty!

I'm sitting out on the futon typing this and hubby is watching Spicks & Specks and I my gaze may or may be straying to the bright lights and pretty colours...

There's only 11 minutes to go and I'm only looking up every minute or two so that's not too bad right?

To pay my penance I'll go to bed without dessert :-)

It's Thursday already??

What a week! Although I have felt like I was merely treading water a few times this week, and although I've fallen asleep by 9pm most nights, I've gotta admit this busy lifestyle makes it much easier to avoid the TV temptation.

I've also discovered that I get more questions right on "Spicks & Specks" when I'm only listening to it as opposed to watching it - I think the bright colours of their set distracts me!

Today, I worship the God of Oven...

Having successfully - I think, how do you tell? - feng shui-ed the major rooms of my house I decided that this week my attention will be on feng shui for better health.  The first step is applying the techniques I've already learned to the two main centres for health in the home: the kitchen and the bathroom. This is timely as both my kitchen and bathroom are in desperate need of a good clean but as everyone knows you don't do both of them in the same day - too much work.

So the kitchen it is. Ideally, the kitchen should face either South or East when you enter it which are the directions for light and wind: mine faces north so I'm backwards from the start. Despite this, the kitchen is an easy room to keep in balance as it is a predominantly 'fire' room but because of the cupboards (wood), utensils (metal), earthenware (earth) and the plumbing (water) all five elements converge to provide one harmonious location.

The Chinese believe there is a God of Oven to protect the people of the house and therefore always treat their ovens with respect e.g. there are no cloths hanging over it and the oven is never placed near the toilet...

Who puts their oven near the toilet??? I know my house is the size of a matchbox but even the builders managed to keep the kitchen and toilet separate.

So how does one appease this almighty God of Oven? Thankfully he/she doesn't believe in human sacrifice so that's a relief but there are a number of other requirements that must be met:

• keep the oven and surrounding area clean and hygienic
• ensure good chi is circulating i.e. no clutter!
• do not have your oven in line with the front door
• do not have you oven under the window: if this can't be rectified, cook with the blinds / curtains closed
• do not place your oven directly next to the fridge or sinks as 'water' puts out the 'fire.' If this can't be helped hang green crystals in between the two to act as a moderator

One final thing to note: the God of Oven is a modest being, so if your kitchen is visible from the main entrance of your home erect a screen or hang a curtain of green beads. If this isn't possible, consider placing a large crystal geode in the living room to draw attention.

Right, well I'd best duck off to find a crystal geode to avert the eyes from the shrine of the God of Oven: my cooking can be worrisome at the best of times, I don't need to endure the wrath of a God to make it worse!

I hope there isn't a God of the Toilet....

Damn you hidden objects!

I have to admit, this whole not watching TV thing has been easier than I thought - except on Saturday nights. After being at netball for most of the day, then to the pub from the customary post-natch bevvies, there really is nothing better than coming home and curling up in front of the telly for some relaxing.

But you'll all be pleased to know I have resisted, and given that I lost my netball final today - BOO! - I'm thinking this issue will abate. As Emunchkin mentions in her latest post though, I to am getting a litte sick of sitting on the bed in the bedroom so I suspect an alternative nook needs to be uncovered for me to settle myself in.

The good things about no TV though is I don't think our house has stayed this tidy for this long in a very long time - actually ever! Additionally lunches and morning teas are made and packed the night before which gives me time to actually do some exercise in the morning instead of rushing about like I was a mere 11 or so days ago.

On the downside, I have discovered an alarming addiction to on-line hidden object games. Do you know the ones? You find them on sites like Shockwave.com or games.com and the idea is to find a list of objects buried within a picture of complete chaos, put some back into their proper locations and solve puzzles along the way. So after I've pottered about, done the dishes, made lunches and had a bit of a general tidy up I've found myself immersed into this hidden object world, catching killers, travelling the world and helping unhappy ghosts "move on."

I'm surprised at how addictive I've found it and wonder whether I would've felt the same way had TV still occupied some of my down time. I guess there's only one way to find out but I've still got 20 days to wait before I can test the theory :-)

Seven words I never thought my husband would say...

And on the seventh day hell froze over, pigs flew and Bob became my Uncle!

Not fully concentrating on what  I was doing this morning as I prepared to leave the house, I left the toilet (in this case the bathroom) door open. Clearly not aware of the gravity of the situation I had placed myself in I pottered along, merrily gathering my belongings for a day at the grindstone until I saw the look on my husbands face as he pointed behind me.

Concern. Shock. Bewilderment.

This was quite fitting as they were the exact emotions I felt when he said:

Do you want our chi to escape?


Hurriedly I closed the door apologising like an ashamed child who had just been told for the fiftieth time to pick up their toys.

What is the world coming to?

Too much 'chi' not enough zzzzzzzz

Feng Shui gods you didn't tell me that once I've aligned my bedroom in the right direction with the correct elements and moving my bed out from under the window that I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SLEEP!!

I can confirm that by moving the bed out from under the window and closing all the doors while we're sleeping, not to mention keeping the room clear of clutter does impact the vibe you get in your room but not in a positive way.

There's so much energy floating around now it's impossible to freakin sleep - and I can't get up to watch TV to nod off!!!

Bugger

Dear Landlord, I'd like to paint the front door magenta....

After channeling the chi in our bedroom to something more productive according to 'them' attention then turned to the other important area of the house: the living room.

This is significant for two reasons:

1. Hubby hasn't left me yet (he had to do the heavy lifting); and
2. our living room essentially IS our unit

If you read yesterday's post you'll know that arguments ensued when it was revealed hubby and I have different kua numbers and therefore require different furniture arrangement.

If you read yesterday's post you will also know that through a process that had bugger-all to do with feng shui and more to do with my ability to bamboozle hubby with big words quickly, the bedroom ended up suited to my kua and he got the living room.

The latest thing I have discovered about feng shui is that it doesn't take one's interior design prowess into account. Yes, I do have to have the main seating area facing east (hubby's lucky direction) but the wall it sits against is 5m long and also has to house the DVD collection, and although I'm sure it isn't good for them to be next to each other, I really don't like the way the DVD shelves clash with the desk. And what about the futon? The only place for it to go is under the window because otherwise the aesthetics are thrown off completely but does that mean our chi and that of our future guests will escape or does the mere presence of a TV in the room mean our chi is fried regardless??

Then to addle my thoughts even further I discover that none of the above really matters if I don't have a strong front door. I'm thinking "cool, sure the door doesn't fall down when someone knocks, nor does it shudder in its frame when it's blowing a gale so it's definitely strong."

How wrong could I be?

In the feng shuniverse the strength of your front door doesn't depend on it's build and sturdiness - don't be silly - it depends if it's well cared for, provides an unobstructed flow of energy, is in harmony with the direction it faces and is in proportion with the building structure.

Our front door has paint peeling, squeaky hinges, the remains of a previous tenants surname seared into the wood and is lucky to be 1/20 of the building size.

As our front door faces south the only way to truly fix this energy-shattering travesty is to paint it the 'south' colours: red, orange, yellow, purple or pink.

Do you think anyone will notice next inspection?

I'll have the bedroom, you get the toilet

Firstly, let me start by saying there was no Saturday update mostly because my Saturday's are always too busy too watch TV and with a netball semi final on my mind, feng shui was the last thing I wanted to worry about, though I did use the opportunity to de-clutter the desk drawers (and we won our semi - woohoo!)

Sunday, however is a different story. After spending Friday night measuring up the unit to give me an accurate bagua, hubby wasn't quite as patient when I explained there were a few things we needed to discover before simply moving the furniture around. Still, he paced up and down as I sought answers to some of the more puzzling questions I was to face today.

My feng shui birth element is Water. Turns out this is based on the year you were born in the Chinese calendar, year of the dog, rat, etc. Easy done, know that one, this doesn't sound too difficult.

A water person embraces the flexibility of water but like water, can also wear down the hardest rock given enough time - which means nagging is an inherent part of me that simply has to be embraced!


Good Feng Shui for water people includes decorating in white, grey (metal), blue and black, but avoiding all 'sandy' or earthly colours. Water fountains, mirrors and art or photos depicting water are strongly advised, but earthenware, crystals or rocks are to be avoided.

Ok so now I have some boundaries - but then I looked around my bedroom..

EVERYTHING IS TIMBER! My bed, the bedside tables, bookshelf and tall boy - all of it! I started thinking "shit, the feng shui gods must be laughing at me" before I realised that wood is also a  feng shui element so it wouldn't be classed as 'earthly.' 

Still, I put blue sheets and a shades-of-blue doona cover on my bed just in case.

But then I read "feng shui tips for your bedroom" courtesy of About.com.

Best colours for a bedroom are "skin colours" and it's a good idea to avoid blue (unless sky blue) and be careful with mirrors it tells me. Well how can I do that if that's what my element tells me I need to have???

I've decided that feng shui is a bit like religion: you just pick the bits that work for you.

Then of course came the matter of where to place the bed. Originally, it was placed so that our heads were under the window and hubby closest to the door so that if we are ever robbed / attacked the robbers/attackers will get him first. I thought this was a sensible approach, but feng shui says no.

Apparently your 'chi' escapes out the window while you're sleeping if you have your head under it.

Right so now which way do we go? Our room only measures about 3.5m square so the options are limited. Never fear, this is what your 'Kua number' is for.

Your Kua Number if essentially your lucky number is worked out differently depending if your male or femals: just another way the universe puts the sexes on polar opposites. And yep, what do you know it my lucky number is 6 and his is 9. 

69

While hubby cracks himself up about some crass image he has forming in his head, I read further to discover my ideal direction is west and his is east. Single beds are banned so how the hell is this going to work??

We try for some non-feng shui discussion and arguments fly back and forth using logic that doesn't extend further than " I don't want to be the first person the robbers get" and "I pee more during the night than you do."

Sadly, this gets us nowhere and further research reveals a solution. If it isn't possible to satisfy the feng shui gods of both people in the bedroom, then one gets the bedroom and the other gets the other room they spend most of their time in.

I win the bedroom, Matt gets the living room - which, if anyone who's been to our place essentially means he gets the rest of the unit. I wanted to give him the toilet since he does spend a lot of time on there, but that got shot down.

I should point out that I won the bedroom mostly because apparently the top of the bed can't back on to a wall with electrical appliances on the other side.

The final result:

Space to move, clutter gone and enough space for me to store a cricket bat next to me for when the robbers come to visit....

Next stop, the living room

I didn't wear the Mentos so that totally counts

So apparently the first and most important step in introducing feng shui to your life is de-cluttering. Not just stuffing things into a cupboard so that the visible space looks clean, but completely getting rid of everything "you do not love" in your house.

But I love everything.

I need the year's supply of wipes from KFC & Red Rooster that I found among my 15 handbags, I need the thousands of bobby bins scattered in random locations throughout my bedroom, and most importantly I need the 10 different toiletry bags that I own.

I've been taking my feng shui advice from About.com and it recommends that you set yourself timed targets for the first stages of de-cluttering. I decided 20 mins should be enough to quickly go through my drawers and wardrobe and throw out the stuff I haven't worn this winter, or sadly, no longer fits.

I'm typing this 90 minutes after I started. And in that 90 minutes I've thrown out one pair of jeans (with holes), an airline ticket I found from 5 August 2010, 3 three t-shirts and a handful of squished Mentos....

Not bad for a first attempt :-)

Invasion of the body snatchers...

My husband had just started drawing up a floor plan for my feng shui bagua without me even MENTIONING it.

I think he has been taken over by an alien life form: does anyone have the Men in Black on speed dial??

Dropping cars from a crane is a suitable alternative to Kochie...

When it comes to the battle of the TV breakfast shows I'm a Sunrise girl. I know Mel can be a little flippant and cheery at the most inappropriate of times and Kochie can come across as a bit of a wanker, but there's something about the show that compels me to tune in every morning.

Until today.

Today, the radio show I listen to on my way to work dropped two cars from 43 meters in the air to see which could make the biggest "whump."

It was like TopGear had come to Canberra.

Of course had my allergic-to-the-morning husband gotten out of bed when the alarm went off (why even se the alarm if you're not gong to get up when it goes off???) we could have watched it in person but there was something endearing about listening to two grown men giggle like school girls as they watched 2 tonnes of machinery crash to earth.

I don't think I've evry truly appreciated the power of listening as opposed to watching until you listen in on someone having the time of their life, and seeing the reactions of people around you. Matt drove to work with the BIGGEST smile on his face.

I guess the same can be said when you listen in on someones pain or anguish, so I was a little disappointed that I had gotten to work and out of the car before Scotty & Nige announced which of the owners of now pancake-like cars won a brand new Suszuki swift and which one a pushie....

I'm Inspiring!

Loving that onve of my faves "Emunchkin" is taking up the challenge with me :-)

I wonder how she'll go for the month we give up alcohol.... Luv ya Em xx

Anyone got a compass?

I'm so glad September 1 fell on a Thursday - it was always a poor TV viewing night in my book. Except when Grey's Anatomy was on (and only before Meredith irked me to the point where I stopped watching completely).

Day 1 went well, although I have had to make a few concessions to appease my surprisingly tolerant (though, 24 hours hasn't passed yet) husband. When it's my turn to cook and do the dishes, the TV can stay on but I have to potter about doing things - I can't stop and watch.

When it's his turn to cook and do the dishes I get banished to a non-TV room.

We had to come up with boundaries because anyone who has been to my place knows the main part of the unit is only about 10 meters long, which means there's only about 6 meters between the kitchen and the TV. Additionally, we generally cook whilst the news is on and my husband "feels it's important for you to at least hear what's going on in the world, just in case something relevant to your work arises."

This is man-speak for "don't involve me in your crazy-ass plan."

Feng Shui wise I gave myself a crash course in the basics, ready to start putting some bits of it into practice tomorrow. I've got to make my 'bagua,' find a compass and embrace essential oils.

Did you know that there is specific Feng Shui for your home, your office space, small kitchens, losing weight and increasing wealth? 

I didn't.

The things you learn when you're not lazing around watching TV :-)

Challenge 1

So in addition to giving up tv for a month, I now have to tell my husband we need to remove the tv from our bedroom because it's bad feng shui.....

Anyone know a good divorce lawyer?

2 hours, 46 minutes and counting

So tomorrow is the day: the day I start this random experiment that came to me one afternoon at work, and one that my husband still doesn't understand.

Giving Up: TV & Movies
Contrary to what some members of my family may say, I don't have too many television shows I simply have to watch: not as many as I used to anyway.

When I was younger, I was a massive "Home & Away" fan, but at one point during the 25 months I spent overseas I turned it on at the gym and the accents scared me so I turned it straight back of and haven't watch an episode since.

Of course, streaming on the internet now makes it ultra-easy to catch up with any shows we miss so giving up TV for a month doesn't really seem that challenging: which is why I'm giving up movies too.

I love movies. I love their look, their feel, musicals (especially!), comedies, dramadies, chick-flicks, westerns...I'll pretty much give any genre a go at least once, though admittedly foreign films do tend to make my head hurt - "Amelie" and "Y Tu Mama Tambien" the notable exceptions.

I lose myself in the escapism movies provide - books fall into this category too. For two hours you escape your everyday life and have an adventure, and affair, or sail the high seas.

So, for the next 31 days I won't be watching any TV or movies. This includes TV shows that we may own on DVD. The only exceptions I'm making are 1) if I happen to be in a pub or bar and there's sport on - and Keno. I'm not missing out on my chance to win $1000's (and yes I know I can still win if I don't watch, but I can't imagine it feeling the same!) and 2) I can go to the movies no more than twice in the month.

Taking-up: Feng Shui

From what I understand, Feng Shui is essentially ying and yang in overdrive, balancing out the 'energies' in your home or workspace to have a positive impact on your health, wellbeing and importantly - prosperity.

I've never really bought into the idea that changing the way my bedroom is arranged is going to improve my life, but every little bit helps I guess!

Too many options, not enough months

I keep changing my mind about things to "take on" - turns out I might be more judgemental to activities and lifestyle choices than I thought...

Perhaps I should clarify...

.... I'm not doing this to see what it'll be like when I have kids - the kid thing was just something that occurred to me as an afterthought. And also, anyone who knows me knows I'm not naive enough to think giving up stuff for a year makes me automatically in the running for future-mother-of-the-year..

It's more that it dawned on me the other day how often we (and I use the term broadly) are told to "give up" this or "take up" that for our physical, emotional and even financial well being. We're told this by our friends, our parents, the media, doctors, nurses, shamans, priests, pastors and anyone else we choose to confide in.

I decided to find out if they were right.

For the next 12 months I'm going to "give up" one of my personal vices and "take up" something I've never had the time of day for, each month. Some are serious, some are flippant. Some may impact on my (and my husband's) day-to-day life others may not impact me greatly all.

I'm not looking for a change of lifestyle, I'm not unhappy and I'm certainly not bored with my life - haven't you ever just wondered that you were living life to the fullest?