We All Have Wings......

The beautiful Miss Chelsea, flexing her wings across the stage

I love the INXS song Never tear us apart - there is a line in that song that I have always related to;

'Cause we all have wings, but some of us don't know why'

For a long time I didn't know what my wings looked like, but I am happy to say that I have found them and they are stretched often.

Finding my wings at Lago Di Garda

For me finding my wings only came about when I started making conscious decisions to change my current situation and to create my own happiness. I focused on making positive changes in my life and I have to say I was flooded with rebounding positive energy!

As my changes started to unfold my personal and professional life grew beyond expectation. These changes were coming to me, I was not consciously seeking them out. I absolutely believe if you make positive changes in your life, if they are coming from your heart and you are being true to yourself, then positive activity will find you like a magnet.

My beautiful Annaliese about to fly.... I love these kind of wings..tutu's and ballet shoes

As a parent you would like to share some of your worldly knowledge with your children. I would hate to think that the lessons I have learned throughout life will not be, at the very least, shared with my children. They have to experience life (with all it's ups and downs) for themselves, but you would like to think that part of your ride could be shared and you could have some valuable advice that will help steer them through this world.

My littlest girls are yet to find their wings

I want my children to find their wings early in life, that may or may not happen but I am going to try and help them with that. Their wings may not be what I would choose, and as parents we have to be careful not to impose our own wants, needs or unfulfilled desires onto our children. Their journey may not fit my bill, but it is theirs and we should recognise what it is that makes them fly.........

Twirling, dancing, running.....

My Island Home - Part 2, The Beaches

The divine Avoca Beach

A Haven - The Haven, Terrigal

I am lucky enough to live in the heartland of some of Australia's most beautiful beaches. I have always believed that a swim in the ocean is good for your soul. It can wash away all of your troubles and make you feel good again. The ocean brings out the child in you - diving through the waves and body surfing into shore. All is good and you are at one with the world when you are in the ocean.

Oh Mr Sandman, send me a dream.......

We love to make a sandman on the beach (our equivalent to a snowman)

Our Local - North Avoca Beach. I love watching the water crash against the rocks. A perfect place to look for crabs and explore the marine life in the rock pools..

On the Northern Beaches of Sydney lies the beautiful Bilgola Beach - This is where my husband grew up. This photo was taken the day of our wedding. We were married at the lookout here. Not bad?

A reflective moment at Surfer's Paradise

The ocean has negative ions that create a positive impact on your mind, body and spirit. When you hear people say things like 'I am going to the ocean to recuperate' or 'The sea air makes me feel better' - it is absolutely true.

Once again, Avoca Beach never disappoints. We love the rock pool here, perfect for kids.

Moving water, moving air and sunlight all cause air molecules to break apart, releasing charged atoms, or ions, into the atmosphere. Some scientists claim that there is an abundance of negatively charged ions in sea air and that they could have health benefits which range from better circulation to improved moods. Negative ions are thought to alleviate depression because of their effect on serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain believed to play an important role in regulating mood. (http://www.firstscience.com/)

The Haven on a sparkling day If you are feeling down, tired or just not 100%, try a swim in the ocean.

Look at that energy! North Avoca This is still being debated in the scientific world, but I am a believer...how about you? Finishing my post to go for a dip in the ocean : )

Friendship

Friendship in all shapes and sizes - here my husband and his best mate with their respective children on their shoulders

My Father buried one of his oldest and dearest friends this week. This death has made me think alot about our lives, the cycle of life and everything in between. The subject of friendship has been on my mind a lot of late and with the passing of a dear family friend this post is timely.

Here is my dearest friends daughter with my eldest daughter

My husbands best mates daughter with our twin girls

A gaggle of girls that have formed friendships through dance - having fun on a flying fox

Enjoying the Melbourne Cup with some twin friends - All three of us have twins!

We should not underestimate the power of friendship. I believe that some friends come in and out of our lives at different times and for different reasons. Some friendships are not meant to be with us forever and some we have to learn to let go of. There are many that will endure and there are many that we will learn from. I believe that your life will be richer for having (& keeping) friends in them.

It's a twin thing - lucky girls to have each other!
I have often viewed friendships as having an expiry date and/or have been hesitant to enter into them. Upon alot of reflection, in part, that has been due to my constant moving throughout my life, but a bigger part was due to a long term relationship I was in where friendships were not encouraged. I believe subconsciously I let most friendships go or did not invest too much as I was not around long enough to sustain them or did not have the right people in my life who wanted me to have friendships.

Well what is the saying older and wiser! I have lived a little and gone through a bit and am more consciously aware of the power of wonderful friendships. I am also more aware that with any relationship, be it work, friends, husband, children, parents, sisters etc that you will only get out what you are willing to invest. They all require different levels of 'investment' but you have to make time for these relationships.

One of my dear friends that I spend a lot of time with - here is her son with my girls

There is nothing like sharing a coffee and a chat whilst your kids are playing. Some one close by who you can call on to cry, laugh and share your life experiences with!

My bestie, Lyndall - she has supported me and helped through many tough life experiences!

I believe that life is a lesson and this is (another) lesson that I need to teach my girls. Value your friends, invest in your friends and don't let the good ones go!

My wonderful Father

Good bye for now Uncle Bill, we will see you again soon (but not too soon I hope) xx

My Island Home - Part 1

Here are some of the beautiful waterways where I live. We have not long moved here so we are still discovering this area. Each time we go somewhere new we have an 'Ohhhh that's beautiful moment', we nod our heads and agree this is the reason we moved here (forget the commute for now!).

Flying pig-tails

My girls on the jetty

When I saw the below image the mast's looked like floating crucifix's.

We have these beautiful calm harbour waterways and then the most divine beaches (I will get to the beaches in another post). I have lived on the beaches for a long time, but that was the northern beaches in Sydney. Funny how you can live so close to these area's and never see them. I didn't know how beautiful the central coast was! All part of my journey, getting out there seeing and appreciating what is on my doorstep.

The Race That Stops a Nation

The first Tuesday in November will see Australia frocked up in beautiful heels, hats, dresses and suits. You will see it at the races, in the city, at your office and at every pub. The TAB will be overflowing with everyone wanting to have a flutter, the talk of the impending favourites and who likes what....everyone has an opinion and it is everywhere. It is the Melbourne Cup....the race that stops a Nation.

Fashions in the field.

This year I was at Copacabana surf club enjoying a sweltering (36 degree) afternoon of fashion, friends, food, bubbly and horses. A fundraising event for a charity called http://www.savethechildren.org.au/ Wonderful people doing wonderful things for the next generation both here in Australia and overseas. The proceeds of this function were aimed at children here in Australia. When you hear the statistics about children who can't read, who are not part of a community where they feel safe and valued, where children have never had the pleasure of having a book read to them...There are some fundamental things that children should have in this world. They should have hope, dreams, faith, love and support. Can you imagine not being able to dream, to not have faith in those around you who should be caring for you or to have no hope, no hope of a bright happy future? Can you imagine not being loved and supported throughout your life? it is very sad indeed and it is happening in our own back yard.

As I found at the last fundraising event I went to, this charity was bowled over by the community spirit that the central coast showed. They did not have to pay for the venue, food, drinks. The donations were incredibly generous and the lovely ladies who were bidding in the auctions were (husband defying) cashed up and happy to part with their $$ all in the name of charity (OK!! there were quite a few dresses in that auction, but all for a good cause).

A great day by an incredibly generous spirited group of ladies. Certainly made me hug my girls a little tighter and read them another story when I got home..

Nearly forgot! The winner of the 2009 Melbourne Cup was SHOCKING...

The Hills Angels

It is amazing how one person, one life, one story can touch you on so many different levels. This is the story of Hillary and her Hills Angels, as I know it.

The amazing location, Stillwaters - Davistown Waterfront

I had been invited to a fundraising breakfast through a friend and had heard the heartbreaking story of Hillary. A beautiful person who has been struck with a terminal brain tumor. Sadly for Hillary it is a matter of time. If ever there was an example of living in the here and now Hillary and her Angels certainly demonstrate this.

As a new mother Hillary was part of a mothers group, like many of us. It is here that sleep deprived mothers got together to exchange stories about life with children to share a laugh and to support each other in this new life. It is here that firm friendships and bonds were formed. It was so eloquently described by one of the mothers, Lisa, that HILLS angels stands for Help Involves Love, Laughter and Support. When Hillary became ill her friends rallied around. Unfortunately Hillary was continuing to decline in her health. Her husband had to leave work to care for his wife and child. This in turn has left an incredible strain financially. How do you pay your mortgage, put food on the table and care for the people who love and need you without an income? Enter the Hills Angels.
These mothers were determined to do what they could for Hillary and her family and with steely determination stomped there way down the fundraising path with the resolve to ease one part of the stress this family faced. They have formed their own charity - Hills Angels and have linked into the Gosford Lioness club. The president of the club also came to the breakfast and cheered them on as the future generation for the Lioness Club. This is a power to be reckoned with and leaves you in awe of these strong..invincible...women (isn't there a song about that?)

The breakfast had a theme of 'Hats and Heels' and was beautifully done. I was blown away by the community spirit shown. The owner of the restaurant, Domenic, (Stillwaters at Davistown) opened up her restaurant for the morning, the staff donated their wages for the day to the cause, the musicians who performed came up from Sydney (with no payment) at the request from one of the angels. There were bottles of wine donated - not just $10 bottles, but $150 bottles of champagne given away, facials, hair straighteners, handmade quilts, flowers, signed cook books..the list goes on and on.

The Angels not only organised this but were part of the staff for the morning. They went around filling up champagne glasses, judging the best hat and heels and having a chat to all of us that wanted to know more.

Hillary and her Mum.

Hillary's Mother had come over from New Zealand for (amongst other things) this breakfast. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house when Hillary and her Mother were at the front of the room with microphone in hand. Hillary's Mum was thanking everyone for coming, Hillary kept pushing the microphone closer to her mouth...such a moment that all of us daughters share with our technologically challenged mothers!

I met some wonderful women here too. Bianca and her mother Narelle were such fun and Narelle (in conjunction with the gorgeous muso Dani) provided some much needed light entertainment. Narelle lead the singing of Hey Big Spender as Dani took off his shirt....Go Dani, go Narelle.

You can see/hear more of Dani and his music at www.myspace.com/danicmusic
That is Narelle singing her heart out to Dani (finger in the air). Why don't you spend a little time with me...

Where's my hug?
This is where I met Hillary. I had heard about this story but not yet met this women who has already entered my life and touched my heart. She is a gentle soul, I do not pretend to know her, but she appears to have a quiet resolve about her. What I do know is that she must be a very special person indeed. To have so many people around her at this time is special indeed!

The restaurant

A huddle with Hillary and her Angels. It seemed too intimate to intrude, but I think this shot captures the mood!

Hold out your hand and open your heart.....Thank you to Hillary and the Hills Angels for all that you do and all that you show. Know that you are touching many peoples lives