I have a number of fellow bloggers and we help each other out on blogging. Tips, tricks, technical stuff and the like. It's nice. We all have our reasons for doing what we do, we are all passionate about our subjects, and we share the love of reading each others blogs. It's a great little network.
But sometimes it goes further.
Last week, my blogger buddy the Flaky Fashionista, sent me over some "breaking news" on wigs. It was such a fabulous email to receive. You see FF was watching The Late Late Show on the Irish channel RTE. (on the 24th May if you want to check it out). http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/
She was brimming with exctiment for me in her email.
I was so intrigued with her news, that I downloaded the show immediately. (I now have an Irish TV app on my phone. Now that does make me giggle. Wonder how often I will use it??)
The show featured 4 people who had alopecia, in its various forms. And there was a CEO of a company there, pitching his new product.
As in such shows, he and his team, made these 4 people a new wig during the show and provided the viewers with a "Ta Da" effort. It was great entertainment. I personally loved it, as I was hearing first hand from Alopecians about the effort the disease was having on them, and I realised, whilst listening, that I never share my stories directly with other baldies. The stories and experiences were quite moving actually. Very real.
What I liked about this program was the new product they were featuring. It was a wig, that you literally superglued to your head for 6 weeks at a time. You then would sleep with it, swim with it, wash it in the shower etc.
So in short it becomes your hair. Apparently they last for a year, but need resticking frequently. the cost was very reasonable given the lasting of the wig.
I was excited to hear about this and for sure will be checking it out. It sounds like it could really work. I can't begin to imagine what it would be like to have a full head of hair again. Not sure if I would like it. But then again maybe I would. It certainly has many advantages.
So thanks FF and to anybody out there who has ideas or hears anything do share, its great to know whats going on in the world of baldness!!
I like cleaning!!
I know someone out there who has just fallen off their chair, when reading this headline. This will be the someone, with whom, I hid in the car eating sandwiches whilst other "volunteers" cleaned toys with cold water and no gloves, on a grey and rainy day, a few years ago.
Anyway, today I decided, I like hard work and cleaning.
Today I scrubbed, polished, brushed and scrubbed some more. For hours in fact.
It was really rewarding. I took layers of dust away and removed smears of paint and produced something rather sparkly with lots of effort and elbow grease.
I reluctantly had to stop to eat, and when finished I couldn't wait to get back to it, to scrub some more.
I believe the context was important to the fulfilment I felt.
You see over the past 2 months, with the help of many suppliers, we have renovated a small house into something very sweet. This included, knocking walls down, installing new kitchens, bathrooms, everything. And today the last supplier finished and left us with a house that was completely unpresentable but fully functional.
So we had to turn this around as quick as we could, to showcase our little treasure to the world.
It was dirty and dusty work, but undisturbed, I slogged away.
You see I am not the sort of person who seeks out this kind of work, but today it had to be done and I loved it.
It is not often you do a task with such positive and immediate results.
So today I loved cleaning. Is this a new me???
Unlikely, I will just go and iron my posh frock and get ready to be back at my desk tomorrow!
Anyway, today I decided, I like hard work and cleaning.
Today I scrubbed, polished, brushed and scrubbed some more. For hours in fact.
It was really rewarding. I took layers of dust away and removed smears of paint and produced something rather sparkly with lots of effort and elbow grease.
I reluctantly had to stop to eat, and when finished I couldn't wait to get back to it, to scrub some more.
I believe the context was important to the fulfilment I felt.
You see over the past 2 months, with the help of many suppliers, we have renovated a small house into something very sweet. This included, knocking walls down, installing new kitchens, bathrooms, everything. And today the last supplier finished and left us with a house that was completely unpresentable but fully functional.
So we had to turn this around as quick as we could, to showcase our little treasure to the world.
It was dirty and dusty work, but undisturbed, I slogged away.
You see I am not the sort of person who seeks out this kind of work, but today it had to be done and I loved it.
It is not often you do a task with such positive and immediate results.
So today I loved cleaning. Is this a new me???
Unlikely, I will just go and iron my posh frock and get ready to be back at my desk tomorrow!
Family night
About six months ago, our family began something new. We introduced a new concept that I had heard from various people and read in various places about.
It is also something that was triggered by a program I went on that I posted about last year Not your usual training course.
Family night.
It can take on any format. Yet the principle remains the same. It is a weekly event where the family get to together to talk, to exchange ideas and to tell each other how things are going. It is combined with treats and something fun at the end.
Each "meeting" had an owner who organizes the venue (picnic in kitchen, snack in a "den" made out of blankets or on cushions with candles in the basement).
The duration is about 20 minutes, I dont know about your kids, but mine get very bored and distracted by sitting still and having a conversation.
Each meeting has a theme and we talk about that, it can be Pippi Longstocking, Money or whatever the kids pick. We once discussed Gangnam Style.
The idea is that we research something and chat about it. We also ask everyone how they are doing. Are they feeling fine in the family and ask everyone, adults included, to say what's not going well.
It's not easy for the kids to understand the exercise, but sometimes something unexpected comes out.
Mainly this meeting is about building a platform for the future, where anything can be discussed and ideas can be generated for the good of the family. I don't want to be in the situation with teenagers where we are unable to find an effective way to communicate. My hope is that we can find a way now to talk about stuff. Now when the issues are small.
In one meeting, we once debated how to leave the house on time in the morning without mum or dad screaming at the kids, to hurry up. The solutions came from the girls and they really worked. All they wanted was Mammia Mia played really loud on their alarm so they can get up when they hear it. The radio just wasn't compelling enough for them, to leave their warm and cuddly bed.
So as I write this, I shamefully have to confess, that this tradition has lost its way. Since our move, we have not found the time and space to do this.
I make a committment to host another one in the next week. Traditions start somewhere.
It is also something that was triggered by a program I went on that I posted about last year Not your usual training course.
Family night.
It can take on any format. Yet the principle remains the same. It is a weekly event where the family get to together to talk, to exchange ideas and to tell each other how things are going. It is combined with treats and something fun at the end.
Each "meeting" had an owner who organizes the venue (picnic in kitchen, snack in a "den" made out of blankets or on cushions with candles in the basement).
The duration is about 20 minutes, I dont know about your kids, but mine get very bored and distracted by sitting still and having a conversation.
Each meeting has a theme and we talk about that, it can be Pippi Longstocking, Money or whatever the kids pick. We once discussed Gangnam Style.
The idea is that we research something and chat about it. We also ask everyone how they are doing. Are they feeling fine in the family and ask everyone, adults included, to say what's not going well.
It's not easy for the kids to understand the exercise, but sometimes something unexpected comes out.
Mainly this meeting is about building a platform for the future, where anything can be discussed and ideas can be generated for the good of the family. I don't want to be in the situation with teenagers where we are unable to find an effective way to communicate. My hope is that we can find a way now to talk about stuff. Now when the issues are small.
In one meeting, we once debated how to leave the house on time in the morning without mum or dad screaming at the kids, to hurry up. The solutions came from the girls and they really worked. All they wanted was Mammia Mia played really loud on their alarm so they can get up when they hear it. The radio just wasn't compelling enough for them, to leave their warm and cuddly bed.
So as I write this, I shamefully have to confess, that this tradition has lost its way. Since our move, we have not found the time and space to do this.
I make a committment to host another one in the next week. Traditions start somewhere.
Washing my hair
I have to find a way to squeeze in washing my hair, as it takes a period of about 10 hours to wash and dry. Remember it has to dry naturally. See my lessons on looking after a wig post.
So its not just a case of: "Ooo, I had better wash my hair before I go out." This does not work. I once tried putting on a wet wig, which had actually been drying for a few hours, and it was disgusting. Imagine wearing a flannel on your head with an elastic band holding it on. Not pleasant I tell you. So the lesson learned was, to ensure I have enough time to wash and DRY my wig.
Anyway back to my story, a few weekends ago, I had a friend coming over at 11.30 for a few hours and then a bit later an overnight guest coming at 5. It was also a Sunday and I wanted my hair washed and ready for work tomorrow.
What to do!??
I decided to wash it at that moment. I am a relatively spontaneous person and here and now seemed like the best time. Yet I knew it would not be dry for my guests. Now, to give you context, these were friends who I hadn't see for many years. Namely before I got alopecia. So this was not as straightforward as you may think. However my gut said, wear your hats. I am anyway most comfortable in them.
So that is what I did. No discussion, no worrying, just hat wearing.
Neither of my friends commented on the hats, but one of them clearly felt they could adress my alopecia head on, which is of course wonderful.
So it is in these moments I always have to make a decision. Expose myself amd declare my baldness publicly or pretend it doesn't exist and hide it with a wig.
I have chosen my path and it feels just fine.
So its not just a case of: "Ooo, I had better wash my hair before I go out." This does not work. I once tried putting on a wet wig, which had actually been drying for a few hours, and it was disgusting. Imagine wearing a flannel on your head with an elastic band holding it on. Not pleasant I tell you. So the lesson learned was, to ensure I have enough time to wash and DRY my wig.
Anyway back to my story, a few weekends ago, I had a friend coming over at 11.30 for a few hours and then a bit later an overnight guest coming at 5. It was also a Sunday and I wanted my hair washed and ready for work tomorrow.
What to do!??
I decided to wash it at that moment. I am a relatively spontaneous person and here and now seemed like the best time. Yet I knew it would not be dry for my guests. Now, to give you context, these were friends who I hadn't see for many years. Namely before I got alopecia. So this was not as straightforward as you may think. However my gut said, wear your hats. I am anyway most comfortable in them.
So that is what I did. No discussion, no worrying, just hat wearing.
Neither of my friends commented on the hats, but one of them clearly felt they could adress my alopecia head on, which is of course wonderful.
So it is in these moments I always have to make a decision. Expose myself amd declare my baldness publicly or pretend it doesn't exist and hide it with a wig.
I have chosen my path and it feels just fine.
The dilemma
Now this is a typical daily dilemma I enjoy encountering. I see it as a test. A test of morals, ethics and lifestyle.
My company has a "Travel and Expense" policy. You know the sort. A formal document that outlines what the company will pay for when you travel and what they will not. It's clear and long. Most of it makes sense.
There is one area that I kind of get, but it can be complex to figure out.
It is called the "annual allowance". It is a paid out monthly, tax free, and you receive it to cover incidentals, eg a coffee at the airport, a colleague's birthday cake, a magazine subscription or a professional membership. It's not a huge amount, so don't get excited, but its an on-top-of-salary bit of cash.
It makes sense and cuts back on admin I would guess. Many people use it for what it's intended, others just pocket it and don't buy the stuff it's mean to cover.
One thing that this allowance clearly covers is local public transport, namely tram and bus tickets. Again in terms of incidentals this makes perfect sense. However the issue herein, is that taxis are considered, outside of this allowance. Taxis are thus expensable.
So in short, if I take a taxi, the company pays, if I take public transport they do not and I do.
I guess you have worked out where I am going with this.
This morning I needed to get to the airport. It is easy to get to the airport by bus. Very easy.
The ticket would cost me 2.80 CHF. The taxi about 30 CHF. Thus 10 times more costly. Very significant. The 2.80 I would pay myself, out of my pocket. The 30 I would get reimbursed by the company.
So what do you do? A dilemma?
Well I gave this a lot of thought. As this trip to the airport, is not a one off ocurrence, I will be taking this route, 2 times a week.
So here are the things I thought about, before I made the choice.
The environment
Speed of arrival
Comfort level
The "right" choice
The sustainability
My preference of travel
Cost
The one that stuck with me most was the ethical dilemma. Doing the right thing.
So with that guiding principle, I got on the bus. (Are you proud Dad?)
So there you have it. My dilemma, solved by ethics (and the fact that 2.80 CHF is really quite a reasonable amount.)
However a little caveat has to be mentioend here. I did make a pact with myself that if I have to go to the airport very early or very late, then a taxi is absolutely the right decision.
That seemed fair.
I love dilemma's. You had any good ones recently?
My company has a "Travel and Expense" policy. You know the sort. A formal document that outlines what the company will pay for when you travel and what they will not. It's clear and long. Most of it makes sense.
There is one area that I kind of get, but it can be complex to figure out.
It is called the "annual allowance". It is a paid out monthly, tax free, and you receive it to cover incidentals, eg a coffee at the airport, a colleague's birthday cake, a magazine subscription or a professional membership. It's not a huge amount, so don't get excited, but its an on-top-of-salary bit of cash.
It makes sense and cuts back on admin I would guess. Many people use it for what it's intended, others just pocket it and don't buy the stuff it's mean to cover.
One thing that this allowance clearly covers is local public transport, namely tram and bus tickets. Again in terms of incidentals this makes perfect sense. However the issue herein, is that taxis are considered, outside of this allowance. Taxis are thus expensable.
So in short, if I take a taxi, the company pays, if I take public transport they do not and I do.
I guess you have worked out where I am going with this.
This morning I needed to get to the airport. It is easy to get to the airport by bus. Very easy.
The ticket would cost me 2.80 CHF. The taxi about 30 CHF. Thus 10 times more costly. Very significant. The 2.80 I would pay myself, out of my pocket. The 30 I would get reimbursed by the company.
So what do you do? A dilemma?
Well I gave this a lot of thought. As this trip to the airport, is not a one off ocurrence, I will be taking this route, 2 times a week.
So here are the things I thought about, before I made the choice.
The environment
Speed of arrival
Comfort level
The "right" choice
The sustainability
My preference of travel
Cost
The one that stuck with me most was the ethical dilemma. Doing the right thing.
So with that guiding principle, I got on the bus. (Are you proud Dad?)
So there you have it. My dilemma, solved by ethics (and the fact that 2.80 CHF is really quite a reasonable amount.)
However a little caveat has to be mentioend here. I did make a pact with myself that if I have to go to the airport very early or very late, then a taxi is absolutely the right decision.
That seemed fair.
I love dilemma's. You had any good ones recently?
One year of blogging
Before I became a blogger, I did a bit of homework. Not much, just a bit. I checked out other peoples' blog sites, I spoke to a few bloggers about what works for them, in terms of style, frequency etc and talked to a whole lot of people.
I spoke to friends about ideas and insights and I spoke to family about how they would feel about me doing this. Specifically about going public with my baldness!
Everyone was supportive, many urged caution in terms of keeping privacy and separate from work. But all said go for it.
My intention was to do it for six months and see how it goes. My aim was to write about alopecia every week, every Friday as it turned out. The rest, well, I left open.
After the launch at the end of May 2012, a year this week, I found my rhythm. Three blogs a week. One usually reflective, one a bit more random and silly and the third about alopecia.
It was an easy rhythm to maintain and the content just emerged. I thought I would run out of (lack of) hair blogs, but somehow the content kept flowing. I never dreamt that there was so much about Alopecia to tell you all about.
There were however three blogs that I had to tear out of myself. They were so difficult to write, really painful and they actually took me weeks of thinking. Accompanied with a whole lot of energy to put this story into words. These blogs were "My story". Raw and until then, a story, that had not been told.
(Hyperlinked if you want to read them again.)
Part One - The Discovery
Part Two - The Tradtional Treatments
Part Three - The Non-tradtional Treatments
As I write this, I realise Part Four is still not told. Part Four - The solutions.
The ones that got, and still do get, the most attention and laughs are:
Tupperware Being an average mother As I turn 40 Best Marigold Hotel
My personal two favourites are:
The contamination of experience and If you were wine
It seems these resonated with people and made them think a little bit different about themselves and life. This makes me feel really good!
However different blogs appealed differently to different people. Your comments, which I love, tell me that.
I have now over 200 readers a week from all over the globe. My biggest following is the USA, yet I only know who two of you are!!!!
India, China, Russia make frequent appearances, as do my loyal and many readers in UK, Canada and Switzerland. Thank you for keeping on coming back! Many of you subscribe, others just pop in when they feel like it. Clearly I dont know "who" any of the statistics are, but I know I am read. That feels fantastic!
So a year on, I can say I am proud and pleased with where my blog has gotten to. I have even been published. Alopecia Matters. This poem is now featured in a book. That was an unexpected acheivement!
The journey continues, and thanks to you all for your comments, both on and off the blog, and to my "Pathfinder", for encouraging me to become a blogger in the first place. She saw something in me, I didn't know was there. Thanks for keeping the faith. To you I raise a glass of milk!!
Here's to the future, wherever it may go!!
I spoke to friends about ideas and insights and I spoke to family about how they would feel about me doing this. Specifically about going public with my baldness!
Everyone was supportive, many urged caution in terms of keeping privacy and separate from work. But all said go for it.
My intention was to do it for six months and see how it goes. My aim was to write about alopecia every week, every Friday as it turned out. The rest, well, I left open.
After the launch at the end of May 2012, a year this week, I found my rhythm. Three blogs a week. One usually reflective, one a bit more random and silly and the third about alopecia.
It was an easy rhythm to maintain and the content just emerged. I thought I would run out of (lack of) hair blogs, but somehow the content kept flowing. I never dreamt that there was so much about Alopecia to tell you all about.
There were however three blogs that I had to tear out of myself. They were so difficult to write, really painful and they actually took me weeks of thinking. Accompanied with a whole lot of energy to put this story into words. These blogs were "My story". Raw and until then, a story, that had not been told.
(Hyperlinked if you want to read them again.)
Part One - The Discovery
Part Two - The Tradtional Treatments
Part Three - The Non-tradtional Treatments
As I write this, I realise Part Four is still not told. Part Four - The solutions.
The ones that got, and still do get, the most attention and laughs are:
Tupperware Being an average mother As I turn 40 Best Marigold Hotel
My personal two favourites are:
The contamination of experience and If you were wine
It seems these resonated with people and made them think a little bit different about themselves and life. This makes me feel really good!
However different blogs appealed differently to different people. Your comments, which I love, tell me that.
I have now over 200 readers a week from all over the globe. My biggest following is the USA, yet I only know who two of you are!!!!
India, China, Russia make frequent appearances, as do my loyal and many readers in UK, Canada and Switzerland. Thank you for keeping on coming back! Many of you subscribe, others just pop in when they feel like it. Clearly I dont know "who" any of the statistics are, but I know I am read. That feels fantastic!
So a year on, I can say I am proud and pleased with where my blog has gotten to. I have even been published. Alopecia Matters. This poem is now featured in a book. That was an unexpected acheivement!
The journey continues, and thanks to you all for your comments, both on and off the blog, and to my "Pathfinder", for encouraging me to become a blogger in the first place. She saw something in me, I didn't know was there. Thanks for keeping the faith. To you I raise a glass of milk!!
Here's to the future, wherever it may go!!
Have you been swimming?
I have been asked this question two times over the past year. Both times I think it was the other persons mouth engaging before their brain did. Sounds harsh? Let me explain.
On both occasions, I was arriving at the gym and bumping into someone I vaguely knew. To paint the picture, I would haven been in my full workout attire, trainers, iPod and little fleece work out hat. And the complex I was entering was a gym. Nothing more, no pools, no ice, just a gym.
The question that was sprung at me was " hi there, have you err just been swimming?"
Both times I had no understanding of why the question was bring asked, but a few hours later it dawned on me. My sports cap looks somewhat like a swim cap.
Ok so I get the link. But duh???!
1. In both cases there was no pool within a 10 mile radius
2. And if I had been swimming, why oh why, would I keep the swim hat on, whilst getting completely dried and changed and changing the location??
Madness.
But you know what, I bet both of these men, actually realised their question was a little out of place, during the time that followed. And possibly even felt a little awkward, even silly when realising that I could not have been wearing a swim hat.
Either way. There are dumb questions after all.
On both occasions, I was arriving at the gym and bumping into someone I vaguely knew. To paint the picture, I would haven been in my full workout attire, trainers, iPod and little fleece work out hat. And the complex I was entering was a gym. Nothing more, no pools, no ice, just a gym.
The question that was sprung at me was " hi there, have you err just been swimming?"
Both times I had no understanding of why the question was bring asked, but a few hours later it dawned on me. My sports cap looks somewhat like a swim cap.
Ok so I get the link. But duh???!
1. In both cases there was no pool within a 10 mile radius
2. And if I had been swimming, why oh why, would I keep the swim hat on, whilst getting completely dried and changed and changing the location??
Madness.
But you know what, I bet both of these men, actually realised their question was a little out of place, during the time that followed. And possibly even felt a little awkward, even silly when realising that I could not have been wearing a swim hat.
Either way. There are dumb questions after all.
Perfect coathangers
I never realised, til today, that there is such a thing, as a perfect coathanger. The reality however is, that I don't think I own one.
I have hundreds of coat hangers, I mean don't get me wrong, I really have a lot. Where they all actually come from, I have no clue, as I don't think I have ever bought one. But I have cupboards full of them.
Is there any other house object phenonomen quite so similar? Maybe Tupperware but don't get me started on that subject again.
So anyway, as I am unpacking all my things from our 40ft container, I come across many items of clothes and many coathangers. However the hangers are never fit for purpose. Too long, too sloppy too bendy, too scratchy, not enough hooks. You get the picture.
Need I go on?
None of them are quite right. Should I throw them all away and get a job lot of nice matching perfect ones? Unlikely, seems wrong.
Has anyone out there ever done that? Even considered that crazy thought? I can't imagine that buying a ton of new ones is such a huge financial investment, but somehow it still feels like a waste of money, especially when I have so bloody many!!
Maybe I like the stories the hangers tell. From the dry cleaning, from my parents house, from my favourite shop, from grandma's house. They all tell a story.
Anyway I am not convinced that I own the perfect coathanger, but for now, these eclectic ones will just have to do for now!
Happy hanging. I encourage you to go look at your hangars and see how many you know the origin of.
I have hundreds of coat hangers, I mean don't get me wrong, I really have a lot. Where they all actually come from, I have no clue, as I don't think I have ever bought one. But I have cupboards full of them.
Is there any other house object phenonomen quite so similar? Maybe Tupperware but don't get me started on that subject again.
So anyway, as I am unpacking all my things from our 40ft container, I come across many items of clothes and many coathangers. However the hangers are never fit for purpose. Too long, too sloppy too bendy, too scratchy, not enough hooks. You get the picture.
Need I go on?
None of them are quite right. Should I throw them all away and get a job lot of nice matching perfect ones? Unlikely, seems wrong.
Has anyone out there ever done that? Even considered that crazy thought? I can't imagine that buying a ton of new ones is such a huge financial investment, but somehow it still feels like a waste of money, especially when I have so bloody many!!
Maybe I like the stories the hangers tell. From the dry cleaning, from my parents house, from my favourite shop, from grandma's house. They all tell a story.
Anyway I am not convinced that I own the perfect coathanger, but for now, these eclectic ones will just have to do for now!
Happy hanging. I encourage you to go look at your hangars and see how many you know the origin of.
So what is Mother's Day all about?
I am not sentimental about any occasion be it Valentine's Day, Mother's Day or other. My husband and parents will fully attest to this. Right Dad?
However yesterday was Mother's day in many parts of the world. Not in the part of the world I come from, just for the record.
Many of my friends are fabulous mothers. Many of them have qualities I desperately admire and wish I had. I had contact with many of them today, just by chance, and each one was wonderful.
Here are some examples:
1. I wanted to meet her. It was however not the right time. And that was more than ok. We texted instead.
2. I wanted to meet her and I did. Why does wine taste so good in her presence. We toasted to motherhood.
3. One I adore, more than she will ever understand, I spoke to her for an hour, we laughed so much my sides split. The other twin would have laughed too.
4. Another whose heart is aching because of worry for her child's health. Beauty will be fine, ok.
5. Another I wished to speak to, yet didn't try as their house is topsy turvy with renovations
6. Another we tried to contact but failed. Work out technology ok!
7. Another who is off camping, next time we will be there with you.
8. To my friends who are some of the best mothers to my children, you know who you are, and you will never be forgotten.
9. To my sister who is off on Brownie camp, being a mother to many, but never as special as to mine.
10. To my "old" friend in Wales who is wise beyond her years and a beacon of strength despite the distance. Bet you didn't know that did you?
And finally to my own children who brought me gifts and cuddles this morning and to to my own mother, who is responsible for so much :-) Without these three, I wouldn't be a mother at all.
I have so much gratitude to so many.
All of these women are role models to me, in so many ways. They teach me things all the time. In many ways they will never know what they teach me and how they shine. I take a note to myself that I really should tell them how amazing they are, and what an impact they have on me. I will work on that.
Today I note how lucky I am, to be surrounded (metaphorically speaking) with such remarkable women and today specifically, remarkable mothers.
Happy Mother's Day to you all, whatever your role is. Mother's Day is more than being a parent. It's about being a mother whenever you are needed.
I raise a large glass of something quite wonderful to you all.
However yesterday was Mother's day in many parts of the world. Not in the part of the world I come from, just for the record.
Many of my friends are fabulous mothers. Many of them have qualities I desperately admire and wish I had. I had contact with many of them today, just by chance, and each one was wonderful.
Here are some examples:
1. I wanted to meet her. It was however not the right time. And that was more than ok. We texted instead.
2. I wanted to meet her and I did. Why does wine taste so good in her presence. We toasted to motherhood.
3. One I adore, more than she will ever understand, I spoke to her for an hour, we laughed so much my sides split. The other twin would have laughed too.
4. Another whose heart is aching because of worry for her child's health. Beauty will be fine, ok.
5. Another I wished to speak to, yet didn't try as their house is topsy turvy with renovations
6. Another we tried to contact but failed. Work out technology ok!
7. Another who is off camping, next time we will be there with you.
8. To my friends who are some of the best mothers to my children, you know who you are, and you will never be forgotten.
9. To my sister who is off on Brownie camp, being a mother to many, but never as special as to mine.
10. To my "old" friend in Wales who is wise beyond her years and a beacon of strength despite the distance. Bet you didn't know that did you?
And finally to my own children who brought me gifts and cuddles this morning and to to my own mother, who is responsible for so much :-) Without these three, I wouldn't be a mother at all.
I have so much gratitude to so many.
All of these women are role models to me, in so many ways. They teach me things all the time. In many ways they will never know what they teach me and how they shine. I take a note to myself that I really should tell them how amazing they are, and what an impact they have on me. I will work on that.
Today I note how lucky I am, to be surrounded (metaphorically speaking) with such remarkable women and today specifically, remarkable mothers.
Happy Mother's Day to you all, whatever your role is. Mother's Day is more than being a parent. It's about being a mother whenever you are needed.
I raise a large glass of something quite wonderful to you all.
Do I moisturise?
"Do you moisture your head?" was the question.
I love questions, so bring them on.
The answer is "Yes I do"
I need three times more moisturiser than most. Did you know how much moisture a head needs? Seriously I need hands full of the stuff. Without it my head is a mess. Dry, flaky and the skin is all tight.
So after showering, I lather it on my body, like I imagine some of you do, and then to finish with, I add an extra squirt for the head.
After that, I feel like a million dollars!
One thing I cant do though, is put my wig on straightaway, I need a few minutes for all that moisturizer to soak in. Makes sense when you think about it.
Anyway there's my answer. Please send in any questions you have. I do enjoy them, as I forget about all the special things I need to do!
Anyway happy moisurizing everyone!
I love questions, so bring them on.
The answer is "Yes I do"
I need three times more moisturiser than most. Did you know how much moisture a head needs? Seriously I need hands full of the stuff. Without it my head is a mess. Dry, flaky and the skin is all tight.
So after showering, I lather it on my body, like I imagine some of you do, and then to finish with, I add an extra squirt for the head.
After that, I feel like a million dollars!
One thing I cant do though, is put my wig on straightaway, I need a few minutes for all that moisturizer to soak in. Makes sense when you think about it.
Anyway there's my answer. Please send in any questions you have. I do enjoy them, as I forget about all the special things I need to do!
Anyway happy moisurizing everyone!
You are more beautiful then you think
In this clever and lovely video clip, it very clearly shows that beauty matters.
Beauty can be defined in many ways. Others see it maybe more clearly than we do.
But I assert that we all need to find our own beauty. See it for what it really is. Dont push it away or reject it. Acknoweldge it. Embrace it. Enjoy it and Celebrate it.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=XpaOjMXyJGk&feature=youtu.be&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DXpaOjMXyJGk%26feature%3Dyoutu.be
So don't be so hard on yourself. Really understand your beauty.
You have a whole ton of it going on, which I bet you are, for the most part, ignoring.
Ignoring it means we can't be the best we can be, for ourselves, for our children and for the broader community.
So go on, start observing your beauty and being proud if it. Start seeing what everyone else sees.
Beauty can be defined in many ways. Others see it maybe more clearly than we do.
But I assert that we all need to find our own beauty. See it for what it really is. Dont push it away or reject it. Acknoweldge it. Embrace it. Enjoy it and Celebrate it.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=XpaOjMXyJGk&feature=youtu.be&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DXpaOjMXyJGk%26feature%3Dyoutu.be
So don't be so hard on yourself. Really understand your beauty.
You have a whole ton of it going on, which I bet you are, for the most part, ignoring.
Ignoring it means we can't be the best we can be, for ourselves, for our children and for the broader community.
So go on, start observing your beauty and being proud if it. Start seeing what everyone else sees.
Yoghurt will be the sign
We are a family of yoghurt lovers. So much so, that we even make it ourselves. Our favourite is natural yogurt with a few fresh berries or if we are feeling a little bit fancy maybe a squeeze of lemon, a drop of honey and a scraping of ginger. Sheer delight.
Making the yoghurt takes a bit of effort and planning, as it needs many hours to work its magic, (there is a technical term for this magic, but I am blown if I know it. )
In short you have to enjoy the yoghurt making process, otherwise it is really not worth the effort.
During our move period, we have been living without most of our worldly goods. They are apparently somewhere on some long stretch of water someplace. Location exact unknown!
Most of our things we really don't miss, it's quite amazing to realise how much of it we don't really need. That said, certain things, are really missed.
Now I can't honestly say that I miss the yoghurt maker, well not in the way that I miss my ice hockey kit, but it does hold a certain place in our lives.
You see making yoghurt is like a ritual. It represents home and a routine. A certain kind of peace and calm is needed to do this. None of these things, we have right now. And that is something we all really do miss.
I also do know that when the container does arrive. It will still be weeks before normality resumes.
So the first day we make yoghurt, will be the first day I believe we will feel really settled in our new place. In my mind it still feels like months away, before this routine can begin again. However maybe that's just the feeling I have right now. Reality is hopefully different.
So the first time we get round to doing this process and I taste the first home-made yoghurt I will let you know, because of that moment going forth, our family will have found it's new rhythm and will be dancing to its new beat.
Yoghurt will be the sign.
Are you waiting for something? What is your sign?
Making the yoghurt takes a bit of effort and planning, as it needs many hours to work its magic, (there is a technical term for this magic, but I am blown if I know it. )
In short you have to enjoy the yoghurt making process, otherwise it is really not worth the effort.
During our move period, we have been living without most of our worldly goods. They are apparently somewhere on some long stretch of water someplace. Location exact unknown!
Most of our things we really don't miss, it's quite amazing to realise how much of it we don't really need. That said, certain things, are really missed.
Now I can't honestly say that I miss the yoghurt maker, well not in the way that I miss my ice hockey kit, but it does hold a certain place in our lives.
You see making yoghurt is like a ritual. It represents home and a routine. A certain kind of peace and calm is needed to do this. None of these things, we have right now. And that is something we all really do miss.
I also do know that when the container does arrive. It will still be weeks before normality resumes.
So the first day we make yoghurt, will be the first day I believe we will feel really settled in our new place. In my mind it still feels like months away, before this routine can begin again. However maybe that's just the feeling I have right now. Reality is hopefully different.
So the first time we get round to doing this process and I taste the first home-made yoghurt I will let you know, because of that moment going forth, our family will have found it's new rhythm and will be dancing to its new beat.
Yoghurt will be the sign.
Are you waiting for something? What is your sign?
Picture with a hat
We are in the stage of getting our new subscriptions, annual passes and our ID's sorted out. Nothing special about that, just a job that has to be done, when you change locations. Regular chores. Boring, boring.
For many of these ID's, a photo is required. Again, nothing unusual about that.
On this particular day, I had my hat on. It was a nice purple one actually. One of my favourites.
So I tootled along to one of those photo booths, you know the sort, those pokey little, often smelly cabins, usually found at train stations. When I got there, I found the right coins and smiled into the camera, hoping and praying, I looked half way decent.
Surely enough a few minutes later, out popped my photos. Not too bad considering.
I then made my way back to the desk to get this particular local ID done, a train pass if you really want to know.
The man behind the counter, took my documents and glared at my photo.
"This is not acceptable, madam" he told me.
In my naivite, I asked why.
"Madam, you are wearing a hat".
To which I replied, "Yes I know, I often do".
He then went on to explain that, this was not possible. Hats are not allowed to be worn on photos.
Considering this actually was, most likely, what I would be wearing, when travelling using this pass, I felt that little surge of rage pop up.
I wasn't going to take this one lying down!
I approached it from the angle of "needing" the hat, rather than "wanting" to wear it. I mentioned other people who might also "need" to wear head coverage. And I wondered how they were treated. He looked me over. Unsure.
Reluctantly he told me that if I could prove it was for medicinal purposes, he would, exceptionally allow this photo. I told him I had no hair.
Within seconds, he fumbled on and produced my ID. A beautiful little train pass with a nice photo of me in a purple cap! Result!
What a palava!!!
For many of these ID's, a photo is required. Again, nothing unusual about that.
On this particular day, I had my hat on. It was a nice purple one actually. One of my favourites.
So I tootled along to one of those photo booths, you know the sort, those pokey little, often smelly cabins, usually found at train stations. When I got there, I found the right coins and smiled into the camera, hoping and praying, I looked half way decent.
Surely enough a few minutes later, out popped my photos. Not too bad considering.
I then made my way back to the desk to get this particular local ID done, a train pass if you really want to know.
The man behind the counter, took my documents and glared at my photo.
"This is not acceptable, madam" he told me.
In my naivite, I asked why.
"Madam, you are wearing a hat".
To which I replied, "Yes I know, I often do".
He then went on to explain that, this was not possible. Hats are not allowed to be worn on photos.
Considering this actually was, most likely, what I would be wearing, when travelling using this pass, I felt that little surge of rage pop up.
I wasn't going to take this one lying down!
I approached it from the angle of "needing" the hat, rather than "wanting" to wear it. I mentioned other people who might also "need" to wear head coverage. And I wondered how they were treated. He looked me over. Unsure.
Reluctantly he told me that if I could prove it was for medicinal purposes, he would, exceptionally allow this photo. I told him I had no hair.
Within seconds, he fumbled on and produced my ID. A beautiful little train pass with a nice photo of me in a purple cap! Result!
What a palava!!!
What I love
There are certain things that change and certain things that remain constant. One thing that has not changed is my circle of friends here, in this beautiful city. Of that I am truly grateful.
Tonight was special. We got together, like we always have done, to celebrate life. We talked about our goals, our happiness quotient and things that were going on for us. We talked. And we listened. And we questioned. There was space for everyone and everything. Just like there always, and I guess, always will be.
And of course we did this in the company of something sparkly. A little tradition of ours.
The icing on the cake was a beautiful and thoughtful gift from one of the group. It was a pandora charm. A golden heart. One for each of the group. It was an amazing gift. It was a symbol of this very special friendship and love.
It was a symbol of my home coming. My reconnection to these friends. These amazing women.
The icing on the cake was a beautiful and thoughtful gift from one of the group. It was a pandora charm. A golden heart. One for each of the group. It was an amazing gift. It was a symbol of this very special friendship and love.
It was a symbol of my home coming. My reconnection to these friends. These amazing women.
Thank you NED. Even though we weren't all present. We all were.
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