You’re going on a cross-country trip. Airplane, train, bus, car, or bike?

This is a thought provoking topic.  I live in Australia 🇦🇺 and if I was travelling interstate within Australia I would prefer to use an ✈️ aeroplane.

However if I was travelling overseas I would prefer to travel on a cruise liner.  It is just so genteel and luxurious comfort, and all your food is provided,  meaning less stress about when and where to eat.   I loved my cruise to New Zealand and would love to go back again.

Who is the most confident person you know?

There are 2 most confident people in my 🌎 world.  Probably the most confident person closest to me would be my brother Peter.   Peter is very humble, but it is obvious that he has healthy self-esteem and doesn’t take himself too seriously.  He is a remarkable father and brother but seems oblivious to just how awesome he is.

Probably out of all the well-known people I admire, Neil Finn would again be th most humble but has the healthiest self-esteem.   He seems unaware of just how famous he is and just how talented he is and how respected he is by fans and peers alike.

What strategies do you use to cope with negative feelings?

I have a few strategies to cope with negative feelings.  The first is that I practice mindfulness in everyday life.   I take time to just stop and live in the moment slowly savouring what it is I do.

I also give Lily lots of attention.  Just having her around brightens my day and lifts my spirits.  She is such an affectionate,  loving little soul.

To lift my spirits, I regularly do an angel card reading for myself.   These cards are so wonderful, and unlike tarot cards, it is not fortune telling,  but rather affirmations and kind general advice from God, through angels.  These cards always make me feel good about myself. I have done some readings of these cards for friends in the past, and all enjoyed that experience and found it helpful and empowering for them .

What activities do you lose yourself in?

The activities that I lose myself in and lose track of time are reading good books, writing my blog, and other writing and taking Lily for good long walks. These are the things I enjoy doing most ij the world 🌎.

What movies or TV series have you watched more than 5 times?

There are a few moves and TV series I have watched more than five times.

Probably the movie  I have watched the most is the 80s teenage movie Pretty In Pink.  I have also watched The Man  From Snowy River, Dead Poets Society,  The Sum Of Us a lot..   My all-time favourite movie would have to be Pay It Forward.   I love that movie so much.

I also have the series of Little House On The Prairie.   Recently I have taken greatly with watching clips of The Mentalist which has become my guilty pleasure,  because when I was married my husband wouldn’t let me watch The Mentalist because he was so insecure about Simon Baker being eye candy

The other television program that I could watch endlessly is the ABC program The Recording Studio.  Thank God for iview here in Australia. .

Which animal would you compare yourself to and why?

I would like to compare myself to a wombat.  I do so because I am an Australian who loves our native animals.   Wombats build burrows and love peace and quiet.   I had the pleasure 🙏🏽 of holding a baby wombat at Mole Creek  Wildlife Park in Tasmania  and it was such a lovely memorable experience .  The baby wombat snuggled into my big jumper and fell asleep.   It was a gorgeous little creature and was really trusting of its human carers.  They build burrows and lead a quiet existence.  They are also particularly cute 😍 😉.

Where would you go on a shopping spree?

When I first thought about this blog post, I thought mainly of places local in the state of Victoria where I live,and after I read a fellow bloggers response,  I started think worldwide 🌐.

To be honest I probably wouldn’t go on a shopping spree, but if I did I would probably go opshopping at the Salvos or St Vinnies, charity op shops. In the past I would have travelled to a shopping strip, like Moonee Ponds, or Camberwell,  here in Victotia..

In the past when I travelled with my work to a Conference in Hong Kong 🇭🇰 I had the pleasure 🙏🏽 of shopping in Hong Kong,  but also the privilege of crossing the border into mainland China to shop at the tourist Mecca of Schenzeng.   It was amazing.

If I am totally honest, I probably wouldn’t go on a shopping spree,  but I would rather save my money to go on a cruise again and travel in genteel luxury.

What is your middle name? Does it carry any special meaning/significance?

My middle name is Janice after my mum, and it means God has been gracious, a gift from God.  I feel it is a special name, given my faith in God.

What is one question you hate to be asked? Explain.

There is one question I often get asked that I really dislike.  That question is ” Do you have kids”.  I have been asked that question so many times and I dread how my answer of “No” will be received.

I was asked that question a lot in my late 20s and early 30s by friends of my sister inlaw.   When I would answer that question with “no I don’t have kids, these women would instantly judge me as being not worthwhile and would stop talking to me,like I had told them I had the plague.   I married later in life and then had fertility issues and then a marriage breakdown,  so children obviously aren’t a part of Gods plan for my life.  I don’t like how judgemental some people can be about women not having children.   Not every in life is blessed with children of their own,and I don’t believe that childless people are inferior in any way.  Empathy towards childless women is rare. I am still an interesting, compassionate woman, and I feel not having children doesn’t define me.  I am still an interesting person.  I do feel I have missed out, as a woman,  though never having experienced pregnancy or childbirth, but I see now that God has other plans for my life. Such is life.