Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.

The best decision I made in my life was to use my experience of mental health issues to help others experiencing the same.  Definitely, studying welfare studies gave me the right qualifications to do so. To this day, I still practice the skills I learned studying welfare studies.  I wanted to give people the support that I had lacked when I was first unwell.   Nobody told me my rights as an inpatient  , but legally, they were meant to. I did not learn what a peer support worker was until a few years later, and right from the get-go, I knew I was destined to become one. I think the whole experience made me a stronger,  wiser, compassionate, and empathic person. It was the road I was destined to travel.. I regret nothing. The journey has been rich and rewarding.  I now get to spend my time writing ✍️ a blog and books about my life experience.  Life is all about the journey, not the destination.

What place in the world do you never want to visit? Why?

This post topic is an interesting one and a potentially loaded one.

Thr earth 🌎 is a beautiful place, and I would love to experience a lot of countries to learn more about the world 🌎 and what it has to offer.

However, I feel the world 🌎 is on the brink of World 🌎 War Three.. Lessons of the past need to be relearned, or we will end up in a world ravaged by war and hate. Even here in Australia, one of the most wonderful places on earth, I sense a growing uneasiness and a fear of what will happen to erode peace. Even here in Sunbury, I have seen anti Jewish graffiti, and I wonder who is doing that.  It makes me a concerned citizen, and I watch and listen to events across the world. All I can do is pray 🙏🏽 for peace ✌️ and ask my fellow blog readers to pray 🙏🏽 for peace in the 🌎 world so we don’t end up with World War Three.

Describe a positive thing a family member has done for you.

Todays topic has really got me thivking, and I am blessed to have more than one sibling who has been thoughtful and gracious in their relationship with me

Over two years ago when I last had an onset of my mental health issues my oldest brother Peter said to me that “he would never let his sister down”. These supportive words were like a balm for my troubled soul, and was the kind of support I need when things in my life go haywire 

My other brother David gave me the best piece of advice ever when I was first diagnosed with mental health issues.  He told me to “always surround myself with good people”. I took this piece of advice on board and now only let people with the very best of intentions be a part of my everyday life.

Thank you, Peter and David, for being wonderful, supportive brothers from your ever loving sister.

What is your favorite restaurant?

This is a hard question to limit to just one.

I have two favourite restaurants local to me in Sunbury. They are the Italian restaurant Itahlia and the old fashioned building, but with delicious food The Gatehouse Cafe.  Both are incredibly good value and provide a welcoming ambience.

Historically, my favourite would have been The Hopetoun Tearooms in the city of Melbourne. Throughput the years I have been there with Mum, James, and Susanna. It eas very beautiful old fashioned elegant and genteel.  Susanna and I loved it. If it still existed in its old format, I would love to take someone like Sandi Toksvig there,  her being a women’s history buff and past host of The Great British Bake Off.  I think she would’ve loved the ambience and grace of the Tearooms and would regale me with funny anecdotes.  Oh well, that is not to be. It is wonderful to have  memories of the Tearooms and know that Susanna is running such a place in heaven.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In ten years time I see my life beibg very settled and fulfilled.  I see myself settled into my new 🏡 home,  having moved there in the not too distant future from now.

I see myself having progressed in my writings, both of this blog and the books 📚 I plan to write in the future. I plan to have published The Angel Lady about Susanna and her role as an angel in heaven.  I plan to write about the people who inspire me both everyday friends 🧡 and people who are well known.

I plan that my ETSY site will be doing well. I plan on regularly going opshopping with Kathryn and Lani. I plan on being a loving, supportive person to those who are in my life. I plan on spending time learning watercolour painting and selling my 📚 books and paintings 🖼 at a local craft market.

I would like to be well known as a person with mental health issues that broke the mould and became a celebrated author of spiritual books for children and the young at ❤️ heart. I would dedicate my success to a beautiful little dog called Lily, who taught me so much about unconditional love ❤️ and joy.

I will be calm,at peace and fulfilled, and knkwn for my. spirituality.

Describe something you learned in high school.

There are 3 things that I learned in high school that shaped me.

They are as follows.

1. Studying journalism as an elective helped shape and form my writing ✍️ skills,  and to this day remains important to me.
2. Studying Australian history,  particularly the history of Melbourne, was just so interesting and informative.
3. Mr Guppy writing on the blackboard the lyrics to the John Lennon song Imagine 🎵.   It changed my life and formed my views on social justice, equality, and faith.  He was an amazing teacher who was always trying to shape our view and make us better people.

What animals make the best/worst pets?

I must admit my bias in answering this question as I totally love ❤️ dogs 🐕 and I think my little Lily is the loveliest creature on 🌎 earth.

Deciding on which pet to get brings up some issues. Getting a pet, particularly a dog is a huge commitment and should not be entered into without serious consideration.   The Lost Dogs Home here in North Melbourne used to have a saying “That A Dog Is For Life, Not Just For Christmas”. After the pandemic a few years ago that saying should be changed to “A Dog Is For Life,  Not Just For Covid’. This really isn’t funny because so many people got dogs during lockdown, and then got rid of them post lockdown,  when the realities of Dog ownership were realised, leaving shelters with a glut of rescue dogs.  If you have a dog you have to be aware of what a huge commitment thst is and if you are up for it it, could become one of the most happiest and rewarding,  fulfilling experiences of your life. You must be prepared to love and care for your pet whatever may come.

I am totally biased when I say that Lily is best thing that has ever happened to me.