HAPPY NEW YEAR

       2013 is here so it's out with the old and in with the new!

                                 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

 

 

2012 has been good to us. We all had a good year with no major disasters or problems and we are looking forward to 2013.

 Bruce is starting a new job mid January so his resolution is to do a good job.

At the end of January Luke will be starting a new school and his resolution is to improve his grades. It will be an exciting and challenging time for them both .

Jack resolves to learn something new, maybe a language, a skill or a sport. Liam doesn't have a resolution, well not one that he telling us anyway.

 

I have both resolutions and goals for 2013. My two resolutions are  to:

 

 Be mindfull everyday in every way and practice daily meditation and Yoga

 

Live, love, laugh and have fun with family and friends 

 

 

My goals are many, I think they are doable and in no specific order they are:

 

Learn Spanish,

 

Spend less and live simply

 

Be happy and have fun 

 

Less wine, sugar and wheat-  more Bollinger

 

Attend a fortnightly Yoga class

 

Cook something new every 2 weeks

 

Sew more

 

Garden more

 

Market more

 

See a film monthly

 

Have a murder

 

Learn to Astral travel - for virtual holidays.

 

 

That's probably enough for 12 months and I will revist this post in June to see how my goals are progressing.

 

 

Carribean NYE Party 2012/13. Bruce, me and Jack
 

 

 

MERRY XMAS

WISHING a happy, and  joyous Christmas to all.

Enjoy this happy time with family and friends.

 Kate x

Ho, ho, ho.

BEAUTIFUL BATIK

 

Bali, in fact all  Indonesia is known for it's beautiful Batik and different styles are found in different areas. 

Batik shopping with two grumbling almost teenagers was not my original plan but I had to accept the reality.

It was hot and I mean hot and humid and when there is shop after shop stacked with fabric it can be a little, no rephrase, very overwhelming. Haggling is also expected everywhere in Bali , the exception being restaurants and once you have engaged in haggling you won't stop it. 

I have also realised that whilst I both love and covet beautiful fabric I am not a fabric hoarder. I can't shop for material if I don't have a vision in mind of what I want to make or if I can't "see" the fabric in something.

Anyway to cut a long story short my batik buying trip was successful and I settled on several pieces of batik from traditional to contemporary, painted to stamped.

 


Our Driver "Blue" was great, he pointed in the right direction to a reputable batik dealer and then to Ubud market.  the quality varies enormously so without a lot of homework or advice there is a fine line between being ripped off and getting a bargain. 

My pieces ranged between $5 and $20 for 2 meters. I am very happy with that.  

I do have ideas for each piece ranging from dresses to bags and beyond. To be posted soon....

HALF FAMILY HOLIDAY

 

Can you believe it, approx 12 hours before we were due to depart to Bali, Jack informed me had a sore back.

Jack had been saying for a few days that he had a sore throat but I was ignoring him and hoping it would pass, jack always seems to have a sore throat. Anyway I had a look at his back and horror it was covered in red welts and that was just the beginning.

Off we raced to the Dr who diagnosed an allergic reaction, high temp and a very swollen, red throat. The Dr also advised that unless he was much better inthe next 10 hrs or so and could equalise his ears, he was not to fly.

10 hrs later, he was worse. Bruce and I went into risk management mode and it was decided that it would work best if I travelled with Luke and Liam and Bruce stayed home with Jack.

Well that's how we rolled but the whole dynamic changed.

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Orchids were everywhere

Balinese Florist

beautiful tropical flowers

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2 minutes down this lane to...

The Yellow Flower Cafe

Yellow flowers

There were offerings to the Gods everywhere.

Jack was diagnosed with "Strep Throat' and was really sick for a week. Fortuneatley the travel insurance  will cover Bruce and Jack's ticket.

Bali is beautiful, lush and verdant. It was hot n steamy, like being in a sauna 24/7 but I love it. the boys took a while to get used to it and spent a lot of time in the pool.

It is very cheap to be in Bali, $5 will buy you a feast though there are expensive restaurants abround as well. Western food is avaiable and while it's Western Food in the East it's pretty good.


I can't wait to go back, next time with my whole family.

HOLIDAY

Holiday Celebrate
Holiday Celebrate

[Chorus:]

If we took a holiday
Took some time to celebrate
Just one day out of life
It would be, it would be so nice..... 

 

Thanks Madonna,  a holiday is just what we need and it's almost time to head to beautiful Bali, specifically the artistic and cultural hub of Ubud.

Image courtesy Lonely Planet

Ubud, is located  in central Bali and is far removed from the drunken bikini scene of  the beachside Kuta area. We thought it would be nice to head to the hills as we are so spoilt with beautiful beaches  here in QLD.

My sons won't mind, as long WiFi is available, (LOL where isn't it these days?), they will be happy. I have checked the weather forecast and it will be a steamy 32 degrees most days and a balmy 24 in the evenings. Some rain is forecast but we are traveling before the wet season and I believe that when it rains in Ubud,in the wet season,  it really rains.  

As we are away for 10 days we will travel with carry on baggage, that's 7 kilos per person. In my opinion travelling light with carry on baggage is the only way to go. All the hassle and frustration of lost bags and waiting at the baggage carousel are eliminated, not to mention the lugging around of heavy bags. Mind you, it's easier to do in a hot climate as you don't need as many clothes and who really cares if you wear the same T-shirt three times in one week? Less is more and strategic packing is the key.

Having said that, coming home will be a different story. I have bought 2 checked in bag allowances for the return trip, these days you pay for everything.  My main plan is to purchase lots of beautiful, locally made Batik. A Batik class has also been suggested so that is something to think about.

That is all for now and my next post will be from be from Ubud, Bali -the Isle of the Gods.

HARVEST

Aubergine, eggplant, brinjal, whatever  you want to call  it - I love it.

I love the fruit and I love the colour. Aubergine sounds a little more fancy and whether it's baked, stewed, roasted, grilled or steamed it's divine.

 
An abundant vege garden takes a lot of work, a lot of water and a lot f mulch.  It's been very dry here for months and it's a case of survival of the fittest in my garden right now. The Aubergines are doing fine as are my Paw-Paws. They are only small but they are tasty and if  they stay on the tree too long possums or bats will get them before I do.
 

My 21 Day Meditation Challenge is now into day 8. I feel good, I practice my guided mediation each day and sometimes a little more.

My life is filled with abundance and I give thanks for the richness of my life - esp the Aubergines and plentiful paw -paws!

         

   

NOVEMBER

This week I have been finishing off bits n pieces of cotton/jersey stuff.

  I have come to the conclusion that this is not going to be low maintenance friendship. Sometimes it can take awhile to get to know someone so  I will persevere for a while and see have happens.

Meanwhile I have a pile of mending and alterations that is growing every day and I need to attend to that. If only I could access my sewing basket....

No obstacles to where CoCo wants to be.

Monday I start Deepak Chopra's 21 Day Meditation challenge. As a long term meditater I welcome this challenge. My personal practice is quite generic so it's always good to refresh and renew.

So many people say they don't have "time" to meditate. Rubbish! That's an excuse not a reason, it's just like brushing your teeth twice a day you just do it - just for a little longer.

Please join me

https://www.chopracentermeditation.com/Bestsellers/LandingPage.aspx?BookId=172

 

My meditation style