Sunday Evening Reflections... At Long Last!

Things have been so happily frenetic the last few weeks, I haven't had peaceful Sunday evening to write in a while.  I loved every minute of it, but I didn't realise how it had all caught up with me until last week when my eyes did some crazy swollen thing!  A big lie-in yesterday solved the problem quick smart and I'm back to my sparkly self.

Highlights of the last few weeks include lots of mail (which of course I tore open in my great anticipation.)  I was feeling a bit blue today, and got the most lovely letter from one of my pen pals in Aussie and reading what she had to say brought so much lightness to my heart.  So thankful I started writing letters!  I also got an awesome card from Ang - another friendship I'm happy to have rekindled through the magic of the Internet.

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Shayda bai (Mum's sister) was here from Sydney for meetings a couple of weeks ago.  We had a lovely dinner out together on our last night here and I took her to the top of One Tree Hill and for a drive around the neighbourhood.  I've said it before and I'll say it again - family time is so good for the soul. 

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Also along the lines of good for the soul - had an awesome time at Phillipa & Truman's last week.  We went over for dinner and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  We were spoiled with great food and stimulating conversation.  It goes without saying that I enjoy any time I spend with Phillipa, but it was really great to get to talk to Truman and get to know the man that my wonderful friend is going to marry in April!  

On a more serious note, I've been sending lots of love and prayers for strength to everyone in Christchurch and to those with friends and family there after the massive earthquake that rocked them last week.  I'm also very thankful that no one died in the quake (although, sadly there has been one quake related death since then.)

I'm sure there's so much more over the past couple of weeks that I'm missing, but I must get to the fabulousness that was this weekend...

First of all, I have to say (yet again), I've got some awesome friends.  I'm very lucky.  I probably don't tell them as often as I should, but I count my blessings every day that I am so fortunate. 

This afternoon, I had a great Skype chat with Megan today (after a very lengthy Facebook chat).  It was so fantastic, leaping into the 21st century!  Phill installed Skype on his laptop a good 8 months ago, and I admit it, I was resistant.  While chit chatting with Megan, I downloaded and installed it and we were off to the races!  It was wonderful to see her beautiful, smiling face and to hear her infectious laugh.  Megan.  Rocks. 

As I mentioned in Friday's post, it was Eid.  Phill was out that night, but we spent the rest of the weekend celebrating.  On Saturday he made me a very special dinner and we had fancy ice cream for dessert.  You can't go wrong with white chocolate raspberry ice cream!

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Today, Phill and I had the most wonderful day wandering around West Auckland.  We went to the Waitakere Ranges Park and it was absolutely idyllic.  We then had lunch at a cozy restaurant in Titirangi overlooking the bush.  All through the day, the lyrics from Lou Reed's song, Perfect Day ran through my mind (even when I was having a meltdown with changing gears on hilly, windy roads.)  

Oh, it's such a perfect day
I'm glad I spend it with you
Oh, such a perfect day
You just keep me hanging on
You just keep me hanging on

Just a perfect day
problems all left alone
Weekenders on our own
it's such fun

Just a perfect day
you made me forget myself
I thought I was
someone else, someone good

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Thank you for another perfect day, my love.

I can't wait for this week! 

A weighty issue.

Like many other women (and men) I struggle with my weight.  It has been a constant issue in my life.  My weight has gone up and down and back up again.  Over the years, I have adapted a more healthy mindset towards my weight - I'm at a point where I still want to shed some pounds, but it is to improve my overall health, rather than it being the solution to all my problems.  The point remains that I can't really remember a time in my life when it wasn't something dark and menacing looming on my life-horizon.  I know I am not alone in this.

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Megan has written articulately and succinctly about this very issue.  I encourage anyone who has ever had weight or self-image issues to read her article here.  Thank you Megan, for your honesty and how well you summed it all up. 

Interview with an expat - first of the series.

One of the happiest periods of my life were the years I spent in Halifax, while studying at King's College.  I enjoyed the time I spent in residence, but I loved the time I spent flatting. 

In my third year I lived in the flat in front of LeeAnn, Alison C.M., Megan, LeeAnn and Marilla.  I spent a LOT of time in the flat behind mine.  So much so that LeeAnn used to cook dinner for me most nights.  Once, I went over and the door was unlocked, but no one was home.  Rather than lock the door and leave, I settled myself comfortably in Megan's papasan chair and had a snooze until they came home.  I had to keep the flat safe, of course! 

In my fourth year, I lived with LeeAnn, Al and Marilla (and watched some questionable films with Megan.)  We had a blast. 

I'd say more, but what happens in Halifax, stays in Halifax.

After university we all went our separate ways, as friends tend to do.  Some of us stayed in touch, lived together or in the same cities etc, but we were all fairly scattered.  Through the magic of Facebook, we've all reconnected once again. 

We were all pretty adventurous and we got on fabulously.  This adventurous nature lead us all to lead lives as expats.  The lovely and talented Alison had the great idea to interview the lot of us - since we all set off from a similar point, to explore where we are now and how we got there.  Megan was first to be posted - read it here. 

Mine will be up soon also.  I'll be posting a link to all the interviews as they come up. 

Oooh! Oooh! Pick me!

Faced with work or blogging, I clearly chose the more interesting option... since running around and playing tag is far to0 strenuous and I'd rather not work up a sweat right now, I'll play blog tag! Woot! Faiza tagged me on her blog... so...

Step one - Faiza was tagged here.

Step two - I was tagged here.
Step three - Now is the fun bit. I'll answer Faiza's five questions and then in return I get to ask five of my own to those who I tag.
Step four - If you get tagged you do the following (please):

• Answer my five questions on your blog in the form of a post.
• Ask 5 questions of your own.
• Tag some people. As many or as few as you want.
• Leave a comment when you're done so I can go see your answers.

So Faiza's questions are below (with my answers of course.)

1. What is your favorite topping on toast?
It varies depending on if it is a school day, since I have students in my class who are allergic to nuts. If it is a weekend, I love a peanut butter and banana sandwich. On weekdays, I enjoy a bit of butter and homemade jam to dunk my toast in tea. Yum! I should have had that for dinner tonight!

2. What is your favorite quote from someone else?

There are far too many to pick from. Most recently I heard this one (while on a plane bound for New Zealand) and it made me laugh out loud and snort my water through my nose.
"The future is like a Japanese game show. You have no idea what's going on!" Tracy Jordan - 30 Rock.

3. You are about to throw a penny into a wishing well...what do you wish for?
A(n affordable, reusable) teleporter so I can visit home as often as possible.

4. Tell me what your favorite song is and why.
So many great songs to select from... I Hope You Dance is particularly dear to my heart for a number of reasons. The message itself is beautiful; Faiza sang it for me at our wedding reception; finally, I use it every year in my slide show for my graduating students (as my personal message for them... one mum said that her son loves that song now because it means so much to him. That makes my heart smile.) It also helps to remind me of some very important things whenever I need a nudge back on track.

5. What three things are you grateful for today?
A wonderful winter's weekend spent with Phill's family (Nana, brother, sister-in-law, cousins, aunties and uncles); being home, safe, after a long drive; a hot cup of tea Phill just made for me and put beside me (and the biscuits I'm going to go find to dunk in them.)

Okay - my questions for the lovely tag-ees are: (I wanted 6 questions... I'm all about flexibility and spontaneity, you know.)

1. What's your favourite thing about winter? (since I'm feeling a bit cold and need some winter-lovin' and appreciation right now!)


2. Best comfort food on a rainy day? (Yes, still cold.)


3. Why do you blog?


4. What is something you always grumble about, but secretly enjoy?


5. What is something you've done that you're really proud of yourself for?


6. Something that always brings a smile to your face, no matter what is...

I only know of a few people who read this blog, so, aside from Faiza and Sheba who have already been tagged, I'm tagging: Exciting Elena, Caring Katy, Amazing Alison and Marvellous Megan. No pressure if this isn't your thing - but a bit of fun if you're keen. If you're some other lovely person who happens to stumble upon this blog and want to play - you're tagged too!