I wouldn’t go to the moon

How much would you pay to go to the moon?

How much would I pay to go to the moon? The answer is that I would never go to the moon. There is no amount of money large enough that it would convince me to.. The moon is a cold and desolate place. Earth 🌎 is such a beautiful 😍 planet and there are many places I would visit on Earth before I would go to the moon. God created Earth to be a beautiful planet for all the living beings he created. Earth 🌎 is beautiful and varied. I have no desire to leave Earth and go to the moon.  Doesn’t interest me in the slightest.

Beef red wine and vegetable casserole

What food would you say is your specialty?

The meal I would call my specialty would be my beef, red wine and vegetable casserole which is a recipe in Gabriel Gates’ Good Food Fast and is a meal I haven’t cooked in a while.  It is my go-to recipe for dinner parties.i haven’t had a dinner party in a long while.

Feeling moved

I have just been watching an interview with the Kiwi and Australian actress Rebecca Gibney and i feel moved and need to debrief a bit. Rebecca’s father was an alcoholic, like mine, but he was a loving father, again like mine. Rebecca’s father was very proud of her academically,  when he wasn’t drinking,  again like mine. I think my dad was so proud of me particularly when I went to Strathmore Secondary College and then onto Melbourne University.  My dad was a wonderful dad, but there was part of him that was troubled, obviously the cause of his addiction.

Rebecca had a wonderful relationship with her brother and I would have to say that both Peter and David looked out for me, their baby sister.  They are remarkable men, who also loved their dad and saw how damaged he was.

I also felt moved when Rebecca spoke about her history as a young woman experiencing panic attacks and again that was really moving for me  because my mental health issues began in my early 20s as panic attacks that left untreated or acknowledged led to schizophrenia.

It was difficult to watch this particular interview with Rebecca,  but it has made me realise I am not alone many people have similar backstories and through sharing our stories we help spread humanity and goodwill. I hope by writing ✍️ about my backstory that I spread a little empathy and compassion for my fellow humans. We are the sum total of our experiences and hopefully, we use these experiences 🙏🏽 to do some good in the 🌎 world.

What I am currently working on

What have you been working on?

Slowly but surely I am working on decluttering and getting rid of a lot of stuff to get ready for when I move hopefully 🙏🏽 sometime early next year.  This is a slow process that i gradually chip away at over time.  I am making a list of what I need to get rid of and also what new things I will need when I move.

I am slowly working on my novel The Angel Lady about Susanna and her life in heaven as an angel.  I also work on this blog too, as i feel inspired to write.

I am working on ” being there ” for my friends and family,  my loved ones as they experience life’s challenges.  I try to be a positive,  supportive role model for my loved 😍 ones.

Amanda Keller

I’ve just heard the most amazing quote from Amanda Keller.

It is as follows,

“Never be afraid 😨 😱 to walk through the door. There will always be someone who gets you on the other side”.

What an amazing quote. It helps build my self esteem and confidence.  My advice to my readers would be to chase your dreams,  never let lack of self-esteem stop you from pursuing your dreams.  Writing this blog is a dream come true. I get to use my skills in an empowering way..

Thank you, Amanda.  You are a lovely example of female empowerment in the media.

My brother Peter

When you think of the word “successful,” who’s the first person that comes to mind and why?

When I think of successful people, my brother Peter comes to mind.  Peter has recently retired and has deserved to live a quiet, comfortable life after working hard for many years. As a young man, he constantly studied to improve himself. When he was first married, he and his wife lived in a nice small house. Peter had worked for Telecom, now Telsra for about 20 years when he took a package in his early 40s and with that and the sale of their little home they were able to build and outright own the lovely home 🏡 they now live in. Peter and his wife worked hard to send their 3 children through private school, and he taught his children well to save money and look after their finances.

Peter has now retired as has his wife and they are enjoying the benefits of a life well lived.  He is slowly working through his bucket 🪣 list and is off to see AC/DC with his daughters in November. I remain a proud and loving sister.

What makes a good neighbour?

What makes a good neighbor?

I am lucky,  I live in a neighbourhood of good neighbours.   When my marriage fell apart and I moved here, i really fell on my feet.  It is a very friendly community minded neighbourhood.

I have a lovely neighbour in my close friend Liz. She is popular in the neighbourhood, and our friendship has come to mean a lot to me. I take Lily for a play date with Becky, Liz’s dog every week. It is one of my favourite times of the week.

I just love the Christian Lebanese family that own the local convenience supermarket.  They are warm and engaging and they are a focal point for the surrounding neighbourhood. Eddie and Narge have become good friends, and the way they run the store,  it is not about money, but is about being community minded and friendly.

I will miss Liz and Eddie and Narge when I move . Thank God I most likely won’t move far and can keep up the friendships and connections I have made.

Good neighbours look out for one another and at the same time help people to live quiet lives where personal space is respected.  I have made some particularly good neighbours who are always supportive when times are challenging.