Place: My Office

Poison: Flat White

Favourite Things: my e-tickets round the world

Last night the green tea cup club (minus miss elly who was lovin her hubby on their 4 month anniversary) went to my favourite place on earth! The sommerville outdoor cinemas to watch a romantic french flick. This totally got me prepared for Paris. (I arrive on Thursday!)

The actual tea cups went on an adventure, with wine, chai tea and lots of laughs, they had a ball. I’m glad to report there were no breakages.

I love the tea cups and I love the amazing women who hold them.

Its a whole new season in all of our lives and taking time to celebrate it and wander through our worlds is what true friendship is all about. Don’t get me wrong, our friendships are not all rosy and sugary. They totally have their ups and downs, including a few divorce allegations and counselling required.

 

But what I love more than anything is living a real life of honesty, integrity and openness with a group of cheerleaders committed to life service to one another.

I am sad to report that my bestest friend in the whole entire world, Miss Kym Rolle (the amazing designer of Capture, work buddy and all time soldier) is shifting back to Queensland.

With many ups and downs, our friendship has been so FULL. So raw, real and a gem that prooves what real life is all about.

I don’t know how my next season will be without you in my face everyday Miss Rolle. But it means that you will now become a part of the sacred circle of recipients of Care Packages of love.

Here’s to the Tea cups and the men who are destined to be their tea spoons (named by Ben Vance not me!)

Forever Grateful!

A

Place: My Office (soon to have a window!)

Poison: Flat White

Favourite Things: Chucking out and refining all of my office admin in the shift!

My Nephew Jackson is completely obsessed with animals. For those who know me, you would know that animals aren’t really my thing. But when I think about Jackson, I think one thought (actually two- adorable first) ANYTHING THAT MOVES THAT IS NOT HUMAN.

On Christmas day he found this butterfly and we had a moment together. Butterflies are amazing! The colours, how gentle they are and they seem so peacefilled.

There is something so etherial about butterflies, so majestic, a revelation of the detail and beauty that God the creator must exude.

Christmas day this year has many different memories, but one of the fondest is Jackson and my dalliance with Mrs Butterfly.

Love ya J.J.P
Aunty Manda

 

Place: Office (i seriously need to get out more!)

Poison: Cappucino

Favourite Things: new Skype account

Last night Kym, Ann and new friends from Belgium and myself obviously..went to my favourite cinema, to watch a movie that is still resounding in my ears.

It is called Innocent Voices and is set in Ecuador just 15 years or so ago. It is a true story and has truly rocked me. I can honestly say the young boy in this photo, the protaganist, is the best child actor I have ever seen.

http://www.innocentvoicesmovie.com/

If you get the chance to watch it, prepare yourself to be moved, challenged and your world to be expanded. What I have struggled with since the movie, is the facts printed as the credits rolled, that still today 300,000 children a year are put into armies accross the world, with guns and taught to kill one another.

In an age of such awareness globally and also an age with much historical evidence that war does not solve our problems, I am astounded that children as young as 10 years old, are abused by adults as toy soldiers.

It is appalling.

The movie was just beautiful, a sad reflection on society though, that we think we have the right to kill whomever we want.

This movie made me think so deeply about what I complain about and truly how good I have it.

Check it out, and then do something about it. Write a letter, say a prayer, do something!

Appalled

A

Place: My Office

Poison: Yoghurt!

Favourite Things: mug from home for my coffee, from Kym with two old grannies!

 
This time next week I will be in Paris for the first time and Im so looking forward to visiting new countries and all the amazing experiences that come with them.

Whenever I travel I have a few rituals, that make the experience turn into an Adventure.

(Some great Illustrations from http://www.kurthalsey.com)

1) Special Journals specifically for travel, which are written in on the launch of every flight, with a list of every plane, where I sat and what I was thinking at that time.

2) Plane Letters and Plane Jigsaw puzzles. Friends and family write letters and make jigsaw puzzles that make the time go by and bring it back to the centre of what lifes truly about relationship!

3) Lonely Planet Guide Books. No matter where I go I buy one and read as much as I can about the country and the culture and try to find the random places that are not number one on the tourist hit lists.

4) I write a list of have too’s in the country, which often include something I have never done before. Skiing naked, eating frogs and walking on hot coals. (NOT!)

5) I try not to over plan, over book or even have accomodation for every night. Makes it a bit more spontanious and see where God and my curiousity takes me.

Standby for some updates. My trip takes me to Paris, London, LA and Sydney in 3 weeks.

Creativity Explosion here we come!

All my love

A

 

Place: My Office

Poison: Water

Favourite Things: I’m shifting office!

I have just read my sisters blog: Jen, who is in London as we speak. I got inspired to tell you about my beautiful sister.

Jen and I grew up together surrounded by music, obsessed with theatre and consumed with dance. Wherever I went, she was not far behind and as we have grown older the tantrums about borrowing clothes and boys have decreased. With the conversations about life and the meaning increasing.

She is an outstanding woman, who has walked through a time of uncertainty and change, with her head held high and her smile still glowing.

Wherever you are right now Jen know;

1) Shame we can’t catch up on our around the world adventures…

2) I think you are amazing.

3) Family is everything, without it life would be so BEIGE!

Heres a toast to my hero, my sis!

A