Archive for gratitude

The Probable Future by Alice Hoffman

27/01/2012 Joh gratitude, reading

This book was gorgeous. I am sold on Alice Hoffman’s writing and I want to read everything she’s written. There is a long list. This is her 16th.

The story is about a family line of women who discover a gift on their 13th birthday. Stella, the latest in the line of Sparrow women rewrites the past. I find she writes such empowering female characters. Flawed, human women who use their strength to have what’s important to them. This quote from The Times says it better than I could:

Alice Hoffman hits bulls-eyes on the incomprehension between the young and the old, on the magic and pain of ordinary life. She is erotic and romantic, funny and clever and humane.

Finding a new author with troves of books I haven’t read, is like the first days of summer. I have been reading in my lunch hour by the Lake in Sale some days, or when I’m in a rush I just read for some of the time. Things are getting busier as my half holidays draws to an end. I do more when I’m busy and more important things. I think holidays are a little overrated for me. I enjoy the life I’ve created, including work.

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Happy Australia Day

26/01/2012 Joh gratitude

However you do it, celebrate that you can choose:)

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Part Time Holidays

08/01/2012 Joh Business, gratitude, holidays, learn, work

I’m continuing my part-time job during the school holidays. I love working there, some days it doesn’t even feel like work. My days off are more precious because they are rarer.

This week a customer came in who is converting a barn and we had a great conversation about all the challenges involved and found the perfect floor covering for her needs. I’m delivering it to them next week and will get to see the project. I meet lots of interesting people making their homes in their own ways and it’s fun to help them select the perfect floor covering.

I enjoy my drive to work. It’s about 45 minutes through really open country. Lots of people complain about the boringness of that drive, but I experience the spaciousness. The countryside changes colour with the clouds. I love it. There are a couple of spots on the way that I pay particular attention to.  Such big views! I enjoy listening to my music and making playlists for the trip.

I had big plans for the shop over Christmas. I was expecting less traffic and getting lots done. We did a bit but were busier than I expected, which is always a good thing, so there are still a few more jobs on my list. I have found a place for all our new tile samples. I enjoy maintaining the displays and getting to know each pattern, texture and size, imagining where it would best serve. Filing it away in my mind so when the right person comes I will know where to find it.

We are getting the computer program and systems into better shape. I need to learn more about MYOB. It is a different package to the one I used for ‘The Butchers Dog’ so there are things I am tweaking. The book-keeping is different. I did the book-keeping for ’Unique Furnishings’ and ‘Total Vision’ manually and I had systems in place to keep informed of the business stats. I am still working towards finding the way to get this businesses stats.

I love the freedom and responsibility my boss gives me to have a hand in all aspects of the business. It feels as though it is my own, yet I am working with a team. There is another sales person as well. We often all have different opinions and this makes for more interesting discussions.

I am immersed in home improvement. I am learning. That is what I love most about my part-time work.

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2011 – Thanks for coming:)

31/12/2011 Joh family, friends, gratitude, learn, love, random, relationships

I have lots to write but for now I’m just glad to put this year to bed. It’s been ‘interesting times’ as the curse goes. It’s turned out really well and I’m glad I put off worrying for another time, because now that I have a little time, I have no need.

I could list milestones and events that have rocked my world but not now.

This year has been special in so many ways. I have been blessed with new friends and aquaintances and a whole new cast of characters in my life. I treasure the people who have travelled a way with me as others have dropped by the wayside.

There is lot’s I want to plant here on my blog in 2012… I’ll wait and will enjoy sharing all the seeds and blossoms of my life then. I’m setting this blog post to publish in the last minute of this year. So farewell 2011… I know I’ve lacked appreciation at times but truly now I see that it was everything I asked for:).

 

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Birthday

03/12/2011 Joh friends, gratitude, relationships

I’m 46 now.

Yesterday I was really tickled by how adding text messages, facebook messages to the traditional visits and calls  can make your day a constant stream of birthday greetings. I enjoyed it. I was working at my floor coverings job ended up turning my phone off because as much as I love it all, I wanted to finish a few jobs without interruptions.

This year has been a long and rambly story with many twists in the plot. As with all interesting stories where I’ve found myself at the end of 45 in a good place. I’ve laughed more than enough. I celebrate. Today I will continue, cause I worked yesterday so that didn’t count.

I’m catching up with my school friends today at the annual 10-10. In a break with tradition we’ll be off to another establishment. As usual I’ll be going in the afternoon and not marathoning the session. It’s a sunny day and people I like will be there. Fun!

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Bonfire Night and the weekend

13/11/2011 Joh family, gratitude, home

This weekend has been full. We had the kids this weekend and they went for a swim with their dad on the way home whilst I was still working. I got to have a quick beer with Cath and Scuzzi whilst admiring her new wood carving in her back yard. He’s done a great job transforming a tree into a sea eagle. I want one!!

Yesterday whilst I worked Darin and J(10) prepared a garden bed. I am really pleased because J knows a lot about gardening and often tells me about what he’s growing at home. I’ve always wanted a vege garden, so I have enlisted his help and enthusiasm. I am happy to weed and water when he’s not here. I’m very excited about that.
When I got home we went for another swim for a couple of hours. We arrived home famished and had a great meal of plum chicken and fried rice. We strolled down to the bonfire night and arrived seconds before the brilliant fireworks display began. It was perfect timing.

This morning we finished planting the vege garden, to be honest I just watched and enthused. After lunch we went for a drive to the beach to collect shells, we played in the waves. The kids slept on the way home and I am looking forward to my bed tonight.

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Venus Bay

06/11/2011 Joh gratitude, random

Went for a drive to Venus Bay today. I haven’t been there for a very long time and it is nothing like I remembered it. in fact I don’t think I’ve ever actually been there before because what I remember as Venus Bay is non existent at the place I went to. It’s not just about development but major landscape. I wonder where the place formerly labelled Venus Bay in my mind is?

There are many places like that between Inverloch and the Prom. I don’t go to the beaches often enough and either they change or I must have mislabeled them in my mind. I can never remember the Walkerville beach I like. There are two and they are quite different. I went to Shallow Inlet one day thinking it was something totally different and was really disappointed. Ah well. I like the name Venus Bay. It suggests beauty. When we looked in the real estate agent window there were lots of astro sounding street names like Jupiter St etc. Clearly the person who named the place was into astrology or at least astronomy.

Darin and I had a rare day without work or plans. We enjoyed the warm weather this weekend, although it was cooler there.

 

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I Fixed it Myself

03/11/2011 Joh blogging, gratitude, health

Joh Blogs broke last night. I am not sure what happened. I really don’t understand it all that much. I had a sore throat last night and went to bed straight after work. This morning I noticed it was still broken. I emailed someone I thought could and therefore would fix it, this morning.

When I came home from work it still wasn’t fixed, so I downloaded the ftp program and deleted the file mentioned in the error message. It worked! My throat also feels a lot better after sleeping about 6 extra hours than normal last night.

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I have a new job

01/11/2011 Joh family, gratitude, work

I am working part-time in a new job. I love it. It was one of those serendipitous jobs. I have Judy to thank for it. I talked to my mum, that led me to call my Auntie. She asked me if I wanted a job. I said yes and drove to Sale and met my wonderful new employer. He said yes and I began last week.

I’m still working with my disengaged students on Wednesdays and at the local Secondary college Mondays and Tuesdays, so I have a full weeks work now and a very nice balance of activity.

I’ve worked Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning. I love helping people to select their floor coverings. My boss has just bought the business so whilst it is an established business there are lots of changes and improvements being made. We have an amazing range and are switching the business systems from manual to computerised. He’s also redecorating the shop and expanding the range which I’m also enjoying. He asks my opinion about everything and that keeps me interested.  I loved the ad for our business even before I met them. I know I’m going to have a lot of fun here.

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New Moon in Libra – Tuesday 27th September 2011

27/09/2011 Joh astrology, friends, gratitude, health

I’ve taken the dark moon prescription and rested. Mystic Medusa had some classic posts (Your Dark Moon on Speed) about the dark moon.

I’ve had shingles. The Friday before the holidays I came home from school and started to feel the painful tingle in my face and noticed some red lumps had formed along my jaw up to my ear. Darin was returning from a brief visit to Sydney and I was excited about him coming home. I missed him.  I spent most of my time in the last week in bed. I have slept a lot, sooked a bit and been well looked after. He’s been cooking me healthy meals and taking care of the things I couldn’t as well as just being there for me in lots of small ways.  I missed my friend’s wedding. I felt very sorry for myself. Today I feel better.

Libra is a sign of balance and relationship. Venus the planet of beauty and abundance rules Libra (along with Taurus). One of my close friends, Wilma is Libran and has excellent taste and communication skills you would associate with one. We were in business together in ‘Unique Furnishings’ and ‘Total Vision’ both soft furnishings/interior decorating businesses. It was a fun and social time of my life.

Wilma’s daughter got married on Friday and although I couldn’t go, I know it would have been beautiful. I have known Dallis since she was 3 and Nathan is a worthy man for her. When I met Nathan I felt comfortable and I liked him. It was instantly fun in their space.

Some articles I’ve read about this new moon :

Lynda Hill’s Sabian Symbols: Getting Straight and Getting the Message, September’s Libran New Moon

Ruby Slipper: Sun, Mercury and New Moon in Libra: The Fight to Stay Balanced

And a post about making a new moon wish:
Kelly Surtees: New Moon Wishing

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