Author: Amanda Viviers

Place: Milkd

Poison: Long Macciato

Favourite Things: My own bed!

I came home this weekend for a couple of amazing weddings and also it was Elly and Ben’s first year anniversary of being married. (a year ago I was a bridesmaid! how time flies)

(one of my staff, the beautiful simone, marries lance!)

(how beautiful does she look!)

At times like this, when you have been away from home and travelling through another country it brings things back home, what life is truly about.

I found a brochure at the Auckland airport with this quote in Maori…

‘Ki Mai koe ki a au,

he aha te mea nui tenei ao:

He tangatat, he tangata, he tangata’

Translated it says this…

“If you should ask me what is the greatest thing in the world,

The answer would be:

It is people, it is people, it is people”

Last night before I fell asleep, I was ready a book of the bible called ecclesiates and throughout the whole book it kept repeating the phrase…It is all smoke…Life is smoke…one breath and its gone.

The writer of this book, was refering to the collection of material goods, success, gold, clothes, jobs, titles and position. He was making the point that it is all like smoke, in comparison to what really matters in this world.

So as I drive down to visit my family, with whom I miss so terribly. I am reminded…

What is the greatest thing in the world:

It is people, It is people, It is People.

Yes!

A

Place: Qantas Club

Poison: Cappucino

Favourite Things: Free Wireless

I have strruggled this whole trip to access the internet. Its so funny because you take it for granted when you are at a desk every day.

This internet fast has encouraged me to cruise the local New Zealand publications more and especially I have loved all the NZ magazines. (not the cleo, cosmo, womans day gossip trains) The architecture, the house and homes, the notebook, creative types.

Yes I am one of those annoying types, who secretly tear out pages from the magazine when no-one is looking. Most of the time they are my publications, but sometimes when I am 1% naughty I rip them out of pages from cafes.

The buildings, the gardens, the fashion, the creativity in Auckland, NZ is breathtaking. I am so lucky that I am addicted to my family, if not I would be packing up my life and shipping it to this Island of the long white cloud.

My little heart shaped notebook has gotten a beating this week, as I have glued, ripped, written and scratched a plethora of new ideas for life, work and my new publications.

My encouragement, is any chance you get, if you see a great idea. Use your phone camera to take a picture, or rip out the little quote like I did on the airbus today or go for broke rip out a whole page.

The creative inspiration that rolls from this act of naughtiness will totally over ride your feelings of guilt.

Live in the moment of creative inspiration, it turns a boring suduko crossword into a colourful magnet of inspiration.

naughtily

A

Place: Hyatt Auckland

Poison: Long Black

Favourite Things: Sleep ins… 

Well, I haven’t kept up my promise yet again, with very good reasons, I have been in the sticks! And good coffee is not possible in Pakiri, let alone Wireless acess to the internet. Despite this, I have had the most amazing few days. Maybe the lack of internet and the increase of fresh air, is really what this inspiration bunny needed.

We went horse riding for a couple of days and it was absolutely breathtaking. This was something that I did for the first time. I can honestly say when you do something for the first time, it does unlock a whole new world and openness to new ideas and life expressions.

I have had more ideas in the last few days than this whole year.

Horses are so strong, fit and stubborn. There are so many different analogies that flowed through my head. Especially when I flew off the horse as we rounded a rough corner.

The big thing that kept beating through my head, get back on the horse, get back on the horse. And as humbling as it was, that I did.

With a saddle sore, B-hind…Stretched arms as Missy was intent of battling her bit with me, I actually managed to stay on…

Nice

Do something you have never done before. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

It is exhilerating when you finish, even if you can hardly walk after!

Lovin

A

Place: Patagonia

Poison: Hot Chocolate with chilli

Favourite Things: Queenstown. Oh My

I have had many shouts out loud and some soft whispers from the strangest of people asking ‘Where has your blog gone!’ Soooo, I am back, in the land of inspiration New Zealand, the long white cloud.

Ohh, so much to say so little battery. So I am going to go for it. Basically I have been working on two new books. Two I hear you say, yes I am a literary massicist. (not spelt like that, but do I care- NO!). So in the months to come be aware, I will be doing my best to blog, but a daily online publication and two books is not really that sane, considering the work load of my life also.

Today though in the midst of an amazing conference we run, 500plus, we talked about the land of the BLOG, and I was reminded of how this little tool is an archiving genius, an inspiration map and a lifeline for the spontaneous. To those who try to comment, I will open the comment section again, depending on the craziness of the spamming society who get into it and frustrate me.

So I will be exploring some of the concepts with my contributors to my books and also I will be downloading some of my ideas.

So watch out for tomorrow…

Snow, Luges, Mountains and hot chocolate, I’m in the land of the long white cloud. I am going horse riding for three days through Lord of the Rings land, I am going to attempt skiing again.

Joes Garage is my pick for the best salmon, hollandaise and eggs. I actually really love the snow induced layers of clothing.

Shivering but so so inspired.

AMPS

 

Place:Boardroom

Poison: Long Black

Favourite Things: days off, that turn into work days…

Well it has been a big 5 weeks since I have written. I am currently working on two writing projects, outside of my normal crazy workload.

I have also had a couple of family emergencies, which have distracted my time and writing ability.

So I’m back on board and ready to go!