Tag Archive for happiness

Loving Autumn

20/03/2011 Joh Business, family, food, home, learn, love, reading, work

Here today it was one of those fresh Autumn days where the sky is blue and the air is comfortable. I walked the kids to the park. I enjoyed the smells of lawn, roses and a variety of trees that met me each corner I turned. We met a lady with two dogs on our way to the park. The kids had a ball throwing balls and having them retrieve and return to them. I think the lady was happy with that, because it saved her lots of energy. Energy the both the kids and dogs had, but she and I perhaps didn’t. When she asked me if they were my children, cause they were so delightful, I really wanted to claim them, but honesty got the better of me.

I spent some time today washing. The clothes dried quickly and I got most of my laundry done. I had piles of it because I had a big clean-out upstairs and changed all the linen in the house. So in between reading Pamela Allen picture books, playing hide and seek and reading some of my current reading obsession, I washed, dried and folded clothes.  It was really convenient the day was so good for drying clothes.

When the kids returned to their mum’s we went to work to do some preparation for the week ahead. I love our Sunday nights in the kitchen. I learn heaps because there is no-one around and no pressure, so I get to ask more questions and Darin tells me heaps of interesting information. Like tonight I learned that a potage is soup that is thickened with it’s own ingredients. I watched Darin make chicken jus tonight. To be honest, before I met him I didn’t even know the word jus. We tested out our new menu item – hamburgers! –It’s a whole new world to me and I love it. There are so many things to learn about food. I had no idea. We can also have the music up much louder cause there is no one around:-).

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People Should Smile More – Newton Faulkner

17/03/2011 Joh Business, family, food, friends, gratitude

I love this song. Rhiley, a past student reminded me of it. The clip with the You Tube video has Anita Roddick in it. Another inspiring person. I do think people should… smile more.

I survived Darin’s absence. I must admit he made it pretty easy for me. I love my lifestyle change. It’s challenging, on lots of levels but I laugh and learn every day. Darin and I have a lot of fun at work. I’m sure it’s reflected in the quality of the food. That’s probably why so many people come back every day, for a laugh as well as a feed, or at least a smile.

I still see my friends cause they come and visit me. It was great to see Rhonda today. I appreciate that Facebook allows me to stay in touch with many of my past students and some of them still drop in for a visit, which I love. I got a great reference this week from my past principal. It was good for my self esteem:-). I think I would like to do some CRT work to stay in touch, cause I did enjoy teaching and we are getting better organised.

My kids are happy, my parents are healthy, I feel very blessed.

Life is good.

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Dan Millane – Come Together and other current fancies…

25/09/2010 Joh film, gratitude, music

Darin introduced me to this guy on You Tube this morning. I quite like him. As it turns out he will be playing near us over the next few months, so we aim to go see him probably at Warragul when a child free, work free weekend crops up.

I enjoy covers. There are so many great ones. We both look for them. Triple J’s ‘Like a Version’ is sometimes great. I am still disappointed that I can’t download ‘Josh Pyke – Under the Milky Way’ on itunes.

During the week we went to one of our local pubs to watch a past student in a band. I always admire artists the courage it takes to put themselves out there and I enjoyed it.

Last night we started season two of ‘Breaking Bad’. It’s intense with rich characters and action. We watched about 5 episodes and I would have kept going except I want to make it last :-) . It is my favourite TV drama for a long time, so well made, and such bliss to watch it without ads!

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Fridge Full

15/05/2010 Joh family, food, gratitude, home

Darin has the weekend off and the kids are here. It’s been a while since he’s been home for the weekend. He has cooked here this afternoon and my fridge is now bulging with yummy food and my stomach is full of dinner that was amazing.
My parents took off today on their winter escape. It’s great to seeing them enjoy this lifestyle. I slept in this morning and thought I had missed them, but luckily bumped into them in the supermarket.
I feel full of gratitude for my life today. This afternoon was a beautiful sunny autumn one and all the huge trees around were showing their colours. The air and light in autumn inspires contentment in me. The kids were playing happily and I got a wonderful text message from Tom. These are the days:-)

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Blissful Weekend

19/04/2010 Joh family, gratitude, home

Just when I thought winter had crept in, this weekend was a sunny, welcome one. It kick-started for me on Friday when Asha surprised me at school bringing a box of delicious muffins for me for lunch. I got to show her my new office and we caught up. She popped around after school and I am really pleased she is going to be around for a couple of weeks while she does her placement here.

Darin got home early so we had a great Friday night together. The kids came Saturday morning and I have enjoyed their company for the weekend. I love hearing them talk to their nanny in Sydney on Skype. Technology is so fantastic for keeping people in touch. We went to the park and enjoyed the weather. We fed the ducks and they had another fish, this time no carps lost their lives. It brightens my time having these three little people around with their unique personalities.  

I talked to Tom tonight. He sounds well. I saw some photos on facebook taken by one of his friends who went to visit. I miss him. This is probably the longest time I have gone without seeing him. He won’t be home till after his birthday now.

This week will be busy. We have a Marist basketball carnival at school so there will be plenty on. I feel very happy at work now. I got a laptop from school on Thursday. Now I can leave mine at home and not have to lug one around as much. I think the improvement in technology at school has also added to my enjoyment. I have been waiting for this for so long. On Friday one of my students created an excellent documentary for his Local History project. It excites me to think what they will be able to do now they have the tools. I think there is greater independence and engagement in their learning.

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Unhappy at Work?

01/04/2010 Joh work

I just read an interesting post on our ability to be happy at work: Shrink Rap: Psychologists Search for the Secret of Happiness at Work. When I say it was interesting it is because I have heard this before in an anecdotal way when I began teaching. A senior member of staff said to me that no one leaves our place of employment unless they are unhappy with their personal life.

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Stuck in the Slow Lane

05/03/2010 Joh family, gratitude

Every time we go to the airport we are too early and have time to kill. This time we left a little later and got caught up in traffic. It was stressful! I take my hat off to people who travel in the city. I nearly stacked into the back of a car that seemed to suddenly stop today, though in truth I was engrossed in conversation and wasn’t paying full attention. We made it in time.

I dropped him off in the departures lane this time rather than parking and going in with him. I hate that walk back from the gate with the tears, it’s awkward, especially for him! I was much better dropping him off in the car and driving on. There were still a couple of tears but it was well and truly over by the time I got to Bolte Bridge and I managed to wait till he was out of the car.

It was a great drive home. I love driving alone. It’s a great space for reflection. I felt really grateful today for so many things in my life.

Tonight’s online webinar thingy for my uni course was good and it put me at ease in a lot of ways. I am excited now about the skills I will have to develop and pleased the ‘lecturer’ although he prefers ‘catalyst’ as a term for what he does, shares my general philosophy about learning. I felt quite self conscious about speaking with the microphone and chose to turn it off rather than hear my voice in that space.

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Braces

03/03/2010 Joh family, work

Tom is home frequently to get his braces attended to. I didn’t want him to get braces, but now I am glad because they mean I see my son more than I would have. He’s been promoted since the last trip to a ‘workplace trainer’, which means he’ll be doing some extra study at his employers expence as well as the improvement in pay for him. He’s also had a cocktail named after him, but that’s a longer and more complicated story. I am most pleased to see him looking well and happy.

When his friends all come around and they sit and share their stories, I must admit I am glad he has work he loves and is living in a place where he is happy. I miss him, but it would be harder to have him here unhappy. We are about to go to dinner together. Tomorrow I am taking him to the airport, that’s the part that is difficult…. although I’m getting quite familiar with it now.

I have my first online uni ‘lecture’ tomorrow night. I am still thinking about it but with Tom home, it’s a distant voice in the background.

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Drenched

04/02/2010 Joh gratitude

I got soaked walking from my office to my car after school today. I was saturated to the bone and the coolness of that has stayed with me all night. I have been super active and handled lots of tasks that I’ve been too hot and bothered to attend to all week. I was on bus duty tonight and watched the dark clouds get closer and closer until as the last bus pulled in the rain dropped on the few remaining in the yard.

I’ve been back at school over a week. I like it. The senior campus is different and so far in a good way. I feel very indulged to have an air conditioned office. The students have been most pleasant. I am glad I took this risk no matter how threatening it seemed at times.

On a personal level this week has been crazy. Unmentionable happenings have settled, and all I can say is I am glad they are behind me. Issues that have been lingering since April last year have been resolved this week, but not without a share of worry. I am just glad everything has turned out as I hoped and I feel a level of freedom from stress that I haven’t felt for a while.

My daughter has found and began to settle into a new place, which is another source of relief for me. I hope to visit her on Sunday. We have Darin’s kids this weekend, yet I am sure they won’t miss me for a few hours on Sunday! I really can’t wait to see her new place and make sure she doesn’t need anything.

I’ve changed ISPs this week so anyone emailing to my optusnet address … Í won’t get it! You can use the contact form on this blog if you want to find me:-)

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I Love Sydney

13/01/2010 Joh holidays

Ferry RideWe arrived in Sydney late Thursday night and I met Darin’s parents for the first time. They were warm and welcoming. I felt immediately at home. During my stay I met friends and family and enjoyed their humour and generous hospitality. I was nervous contemplating meeting so many new people, yet I needn’t have been.

I spent one day racing around Sydney with Darin. Sydney is beautiful. We caught the ferry from just near the Rocks to Manly. I loved cruising through the harbour seeing the properties lined along the shore, as well as the iconic bridge and Opera House. I couldn’t imagine ever getting to work or school if I caught a ferry everyday. I think I would head straight to the beach.

It’s a whole new experience being here with someone who knows their way around. I’ve been to Sydney twice before. Once for a Feng Shui course in Glebe on a rainy long weekend and another time for a Karate competition with my kids. I saw very little on both trips and had no idea how great Sydney was to be honest.

We went all over Sydney and I got to eat lots of delicious things. I think the dim sims are the thing I’d like to see most here in Victoria. They are delicious, full of veges and opposed to our dim sims, taste fresh.

Darin has a similar pace as I do, he is on the move and we packed heaps into our days. Traveling there by car was also a pleasant surprise. We both made CD’s for the trip and in amongst lively discussions enjoyed listening to each other’s music. It was the most comfortable long drive I’ve had with someone to be honest. I’ve left out plenty, but I’m unpacking and relaxing into being home right now, so maybe later:-)

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