a day out

School holidays almost over, where did the last 6 weeks go? We made the most of our Friday by visiting the Collingwood Children's Farm in Abbotsford. What a great day! Walking around, feeding and patting the animals followed by a lovely lunch at The Farm Cafe.

I highly recommend those in Melbourne take a visit. It's hard to believe you are only 5km from the centre of Melbourne. It's a magnificent not-for-profit community resource.

australia day

How do you plan to celebrate Australia Day next Tuesday? Do you follow an annual tradition amongst the company of family and friends? Do you see our Australia Day Public Holiday as a bonus of a long weekend in January, an opportunity to get out of town for a couple of days? Will you participate in the Australia Day People's March, will you watch the Australia Day Fireworks display or will you attend one of the other officially organised Australia Day events?

How will spend your Australia Day this year?

music to my ears

This morning while checking out Engracia's blog Lynwood Musings I was introduced to the ever talented brother-sister duo Angus and Julia Stone. My immediate reaction upon hearing their acoustic tones, "where have I been!" How is it that I had never heard their music previously!!

The dynamic duo hail from Sydney's Northern Beaches. Angus and Julia released their debut album A Book Like This in September 2007. Their music is acoustic, folk, alternative, music to my ears. Have a listen here.

I'm now a fan and can't wait for their new album Down The Way to be released in March. I'll be updating my iPod today!

I'm interested, am I the only one who hadn't heard the music of Angus and Julia Stone before??

'stumped'

I've planned to stay in this afternoon, to cook dinner and something sweet. The boys continue to complete the 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle 'Stumped'. The illustration of Australian Artist Max Mannix.

Max is a self taught Artist, who left his home in a small country town at the age of 16 and went on to spend 20 years in the Australian outback working in mustering camps, shearing sheds, droving and fencing.

His vivid paintings depict life in the Australian outback, as he experienced first hand. Max "knows" every character he paints, he is totally inspired by his experiences and years in the Australian outback. Every painting has a story.

His paintings have a unique personality. What a wonderful illustration for the boys to be 'working' with. The colour and detail are so real, so unique, so Australian.

my year of giving

I have mentioned previously I am a novice blogger. Literally spending hours of late checking out blogs. I guess you could say I am slightly addicted to blogging at the moment. While clicking away, reading with interest many blogs I stumbled across My Year of Giving the brilliant and totally inspiring idea of Thea Smith.

Earlier this month while watching the Today show and a segment on Jane McGrath Day at the cricket Thea had an absolutely brilliant idea! Her idea, to donate $5 every week to a different charity for this entire year. What an awesome idea!

You know when things happen and you just feel it was meant to be, I feel this way about how I just happened to find Thea and her brilliant idea. It was meant to be. I immediately joined Thea in her pledge to donate $5 every week to a different charity. I love the idea. We live a fortunate life, it feels good to support those less fortunate, those needing some support. What is $5 a week? To me $5 a week is one less coffee I indulge in during my week, plus some small change.

Three weeks into January and Thea and instigated donations to the McGrath Foundation, St Vincent de Paul (supporting Cate Bolt and her family) and today the Australian Red Cross (supporting the Haiti Earthquake Appeal).

$5 a week isn't much, it is however better than nothing, every single dollar counts. Each Monday Thea announces her charity for the week on the blog My Year of Giving she has created to track this totally inspiring idea.

Does anyone feel inclined to join us? Collectively we can make a difference.

Well done Thea!

nuturing friendship

During the week a girlfriend of many years and I arranged to catch up for dinner and a chat. Women seem to do this more than men. Women generally like to talk, about whatever is on their mind at the time. We couldn't recall the last time we'd caught up like this, although we had spoken regularly over the phone. We hadn't seen each other since at least mid October, so long ago now it seems. Having known each other for more than 20 years we are able to connect easily, regardless of time. Time doesn't alter the quality or nature of our friendship. How often are you able to catch up with special friends?

We live our lives, knowing the other is only a phone call away, when the other needs to vent or simply someone to share 'news' of the day with. Having such a fine friend is very special and something to treasure, never to be taken for granted.

We enjoyed a delicious meal at Santorini in Glenferrie Road Hawthorn. Our waiter Julian, a visitor from France, here in Melbourne for a short time, spending time to improve his English. A Frenchman in a Greek restaurant, now that's something I hadn't experienced before. A a true Frenchman, oh so charming and handsome, with such a delightful accent.

a lovely letter

In only 17 days our 'baby' shall be starting school. He'll be leaving my side to spend the most part of his day without me. He will be joining his big brother so the transition for him hopefully will be a comfortable one. It is the start of a new phase in our lives, one I wished at times couldn't come soon enough but now I'm not so sure. The pre school years are over for us. How did we get to this point in what seems less than the actual 5 years? I remember vividly a mid wife walking us to our room from the birthing suite, he was simply so beautiful and still is.

Today he received a letter from his Prep teacher, how nice. Reminding him he will soon be starting school. Mrs A wrote she is looking forward to seeing him again and hearing the stories of how he spent his holidays. There will be a tub in the classroom with his name on it and a hook to hang up his school bag.

Life for us will 'change' on Monday the 1st of February 2010, too precious are the days and weeks ahead.