Sunday, November 23, 2008

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

One of my favourite pieces of music ever....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5tngHfemWc

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Jacks' cake

I finished Jacks' birthday cake today, all ready for his 7th tomorrow.
Hard to believe my 'little' boy is already 7! I can remember turning 7 myself - a very long time ago!
Jack is getting his first trick car track! so he'll be a HAPPY CAMPER in the morning!
Anyway, here's the cake - before the candles go on....

Friday, November 21, 2008

Glenns' MO

My cuz has grown a MO and looks like a 70s porn star. Come on, family, click here to donate to him...
https://www.movember.com/au/donate/donate-details.php?action=sponsorlink®o=1524871&country=au

MOVEMBER

Movember - Sponsor Me

Sunday, November 16, 2008

BAROSSA VALLEY

While we were on holiday, we drove through the Barossa Valley and are determined to go back for at least a couple of days -- kid-free!
We had lunch at Chateau Yaldara, a beautiful spot with great food



We also called in at the Wolf Blass winery and spent up!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Abandoned

We just went away for the weekend, and I finished off my book! SHOCK HORROR. So I went looking for something else, and picked up Abandoned by Anya Peters.

Well, it blew me away.

Anya was abused by her uncle for years, emotionally and physically, and the first part of the book is about her childhood, and the rest is about her descent into depression and homelessness.
She writes well, like she is telling you the story -- and the subject is a terrible one but at no time did I feel that she was throwing a pity-party.
Quite the opposite, in fact - the amazing strength she shows in dragging herself back into lfe will astound you.

The thing that really struck me is the attitude many of us have towards homeless people - that they are not trying hard enough, or that they are too hard to think about - so we don't.
Reading Anyas' story, I was really struck by her need to retain some dignity - how desperately ashamed she was to have fallen so low -- and by how hard she fought to come back.

This is truly a remarkable story, and an amazingly brave woman.

If you would like to have a look at her blog, you can find the link on the right -- WanderingScribe.

Where the Hell is Matt??

I saw an interview with Matt one night, and was just so impressed.

If you don't know his story, he's just an ordinary guy - a bit geeky in a totally cool kind of way - an American who was living and working in Australia. He used to do this funny little dance to hurry up his friends so they could go to lunch -- and then when they went on holidays overseas, his friend (who had the camera) said "do the dance" - and then they just kind of kept doing it.
The trip was posted on Matts' blog (the link is on the RHS) and word got around. Clearly something about the dance was attracting people.

Every time I watch the video, I get goosebumpy. Yeah, I know, I'm a sook -- but this is just so cool for so many reasons. look at the joy on peoples' faces! how often do you see that in this world?
And I really really LOVE that Matt has no axe to grind - not commercial, not political -- he's just a guy, making a difference.