doras tales

What an extraordinary year!  I don't know what I expected when I started this journey of "the  Year of the Dora" it has truly been exhilarating, exceeding all expectations!

I honour the people in my life that have made this year so joyous.  

• My family who stand beside me and give me unparralelled support and encouragement
  
• My dear friends who have indulged my every whim. who have loved upon me and lavished me with loving and thoughtful gifts.  (thanks Michael Thornton for the new Do!!)
• To Those who, as the saying goes, come into your life for a reason, season or lifetime.. grateful I am for the season that we have had, grateful for the reasons.   More so I'm grateful for those who are new in my life that have filled the void and  enriched my soul, getting to know you has been a delight (that includes you Jen Storer!).

To the wonderful experiences this year forever blessed:

• To Paul Ness, who gave up his bed so that I could stay with him in New York City - what a blast of a place and what a great guy to share it with.  The Waldorf, what can I say, decadent (just like me really).  Thanks to Theresa and Mum who insisted I buy myself something from Tiffany's  as a gift.  What a successful buy I LOVE my Paloma Picasso necklace, earrings and charm.  How lovely to connect on the tourist bus with you Gina.
• Vegas and Narelle Williams.. that pretty much says it all!
• Washington DC where I met the lovely K Reid Blair, not only a great concierge but a lovely woman who took me to a Gospel Brunch - Amen to that Sister!
• To my family in Margaret River, my "sis" Michelle who let me take over her studio as I painted and created to my hearts content.  Always such a wonderful soul connection with you all.
• To Michelle & Neil White , Cheryl and Lynny who separately whisked me away to exotic places for precious weekends away where I didn't have to pull out my purse not even once.

The dinners and lunches have been endless:

• Neil Perrys Rosetta with Maria on the big day
• Rasa Malaya with my amazing family and close friends,  my gorgeous nieces just made my day even more special with their showering of love.  They are truly the loves of my life and I'm so blessed to have them.
• Thanks to Martin & Carolyn Fitzpatrick who came all the way from Canberra to take me out to Radio Mexico… man those margaritas are good!  (the food isn't bad either!)
• The Blairgowrie Estate for dinner with Michelle and The Baths Sorrento for lunch with Chez and Lyn… the list really does go on but I reckon you get the idea

Concerts and entertainment took centre stage literally:

• Bon Jovi with Kim Winters
• Michael Bubble (he touched my hand, well maybe I lunged at him as he walked by!) and Keith Urban with Michelle
• Human Nature in Vegas with Narelle
• David Copperfield the magician… now he really did appear before me and take my hand!
• Naturally 7 with Adrian, man those boys can hold a tune!

A dream was realised this year when I purchased my home by the sea.  The power of an intention.  I wake up every morning to the ever changing view of the bay.  Bayside life is a blessing. I still pinch myself pretty much every day as I gaze out into the blue!!  

• Thanks Brian Burgess and Jenny Adams for mentoring me into getting off my butt and starting the journey.   To Andrew Freeman for pretty much everything.  Thanks for the great negotiation skills I don't know what I would have done without you.
• To my friends and family who supported me in the move.  Chez, Lyn. Maria, Jenny and mum did the thankless task of cleaning the houses… that's a sign of true grit!  and there was certainly more than enough grit that we needed to get rid of!!  
• Adrian for doing all the things that boys do, you shoulder the responsibility of being the only male in the family well!!  Bonita did a stellar job selling my wares on ebay and gumtree what a load off my mind.  Blessed the day that you came into my life Bonita, you are the sister I never had (well until now!)
  
• Micheal Thornton & Simon Heggen words cannot express the gratitude - turning up with your truck and loading and unloading - such a crap job and you did it without grumbling not even once!  I love you!
• Louise McConnachie and Sierra Gertners… thanks for looking after the business whilst I tore my hair out!
• Amanda made me the bestest laundry bag ever - who would have thought that a 10 minute sowing job could take 3 hours as we laughed and carried on like pork chops
• Thanks Craig Rawlings for hanging my artwork so that it looks like I live in a gallery, your artist eye is unquestionable
• Adrian, my little bro… I love, love, love the coffee table, your eye for design is extraordinary and I can't wait to show off the other pieces you are making for me!
• Thanks to Ben Cooksey for setting up my TV and leading me on the path of Sonos and Spotify - I simply love 'em both.  Ange, always a joy to share french bubbles with you whilst watching your hubby work!

Settled in and so the rounds of entertaining begin, countless drinks, lunches, brunches, dinners -  from Vegan to curry laksas, celebrating  Easter, Theo's birthday drinks, cugini brunch and many more.  The sleepovers didn't take long to happen.  I reckon pretty much all my friends and family have been over to celebrate my acquisition (I haven't forgotten you Trish Davie and Fiona McLean!).

There have been health issues from a lump in my breast and bronchitis for months, all clear now and a reminder to look after thyself physically, mentally and spiritually!

As I wrap up "The Year of The Dora"  I lie in bed looking out into the bay snuggled up with my boy Zoltan who makes living here a true adventure, I farewell a year that has brought much joy and happiness not only into my life but into the life of others.  Thanks again to all of you who have encouraged me to take the year by the horns and really Live!  It's been a blast and a reminder that with just a little bit of effort how wonderful a moment, an hour, a day, a month or year can really be.!

I didn't get much sleep last night, that's because I was kept awake by the howling wind and whistling doors AND because I found the sound of the crashing waves on the beach mesmerising and soothing.

I've moved to a home with a view of the bay.  I am totally blessed!   and this is the first real crazy storm I've experienced.  I'm loving it so much that I'm finding it hard to do anything but stay in bed and watch the tumultuous surf… yum!

The weather in Melbourne has been incredibly hot, too hot for my comfort.  I've been up since 5am went for a walk on the beach and now I'm lying on the bed with the fan's breeze over my body.

I'm tired, really weary, how to slow the mind down, to stop the thoughts from cascading into a barrage of inescapable
bytes of information are totally incomprehensible.  Work, home, life, jumbled and incoherent (bit like the words on this page).  I long for undisturbed down time and tranquil sleep.

I've got the first open for inspection for the house I live in.  I HATE the thought of strangers coming into my home, such an invasion of privacy.
This is the first time I've ever rented (and the last) I don't like not having control, I don't like feeling violated.
Doesn't matter how much I try to reason it out I still feel vulnerable and exposed.  Not a nice feeling at all. 

Consolation price - I'm in bed about to eat chocolate and watch Life on Mars!

It's been a tough few days, work has been busy and there are changes afoot with the house I'm living in.  I've found it incredibly unnerving.

Reflecting back on the day when I received what I perceived was bad news I looked to two people for support, my brother and my mate Liz.  


Just being able to voice my fears helped me process what was going on.  I'm far more settled now, able to rationalise it through and be excited about the journey ahead.

I'm so looking forward to finding new roots, a new home and another new beginning.

I'm grateful for my family and friends for I am not an island (even though at times I'd like to think I am

Well I eaten, yelled and pretty much annoyed the shit out of myself and everyone else today.  Can't stand being out of control, tired and frustrated.  In bed early watching Dancing on Ice (crappy really).  ready to sleep.

As much as I know that Christmas is a time of good cheer in my industry it's a time of manic craziness... the workload pretty much doubles and being in a constant adrenalin rush  has it's down size, I'm finding that the mind just doesn't shut down and so here I am at 4 in the morning wide awake.

Well the upside, I'm writing again and man oh man I've missed it.. is this work - life balance?

Not sure if a paragraph is writing again but it sure feels like it.

Is  blogging self indulgent?  Is it narcissistic? pretty much and in my case cathartic too

I'll tell you where it goes!!
Work, work, work, work work...
Man where the hell did balance go?
Bloody easier said than done.  

It's been Feb since my last blog and I've really missed writing, I've missed all forms of writing. The tension between making a buck and running a new business and finding time for writing has been nuts

Finding flow, disjointed words, out of sync.... brrrrr!

I'm in the throws of some pretty big changes in my life (yet again!!) from business to what I'm eating, health and exercise!! I'm totally overwhelmed tonight.  
Now there are some people that think lists are crap, that you should rely on your intuition and that what needs to to be handled will be handled.   I on the other hand like to purge myself of what is on my mind and write everything down... I call this activity a list.  Lists give me clarity, they give me a starting point, a place to rest with what I've written on the paper, a place where I can finally think straight... bring on the list I say! bring it on!

and where the heck has it gone!  It's already 24 January and seriously I have to look at the goals I've set and take stock.  It's far too easy to fall back into old habits, far, far ,far too easy.  I heard on the radio a couple of weeks ago that apparently there's a study that the euphoria of the Christmas and New Year break  diminishes by the 3rd week of January.. Holy Crap it's the 3rd week of January!!!  So today why don't we all commit to revisiting our goals, dreams, aspirations for the year, for the future.  I've got my lemon tea in hand, journal and pen at the ready... screw the 3rd week blues I'm raring to