Photo challenge

The lovely Sharni tagged me to do a post with a favourite photo.

I'm not 100% on the rules but if it's a shot that can be taken by somebody else, I'd have to say this one...

My bro and my lovely Lily.  I still think about and miss you everyday!

If it's one that was taken by moi...

 But, technically that one was taken by the main man... Me and Micko on our honeymoon in Auckland (part 2 of the honeymoon coming to a blog near you soon).

My favourite shot, taken by me...

New Year Day - 2005.
Living on the east coast of Australia means we are the second country (behind NZ) to celebrate the changing year.  I was living in Suffolk Park (Byron Bay), the most easterly point in Australia, so technically, it's the first place to see the sun slide up over the ocean this side of New Zealand.

This was a week after the Boxing Day Tsunami - we'd just had one crazy party raising money for the appeal (that's as far as I'll go into it, but let it be known it was ca-razy).  Early in the morning we all headed down to watch the sunrise on another year.

I love this pic for all that it symbolises.

A few hours after, I had a meltdown - due to overindulgence and lack of sleep.  Thankfully everyone moved the party on to the pub (where they were kicked out shortly thereafter)... MESSY!

Here are a few more shots of that infamous night.  I've been quite selective and these are the tame shots - I don't want to incriminate the innocent (you know who you guys are - and you're not so innocent)

Started off innocently enough... arvo brews in the yard.

and ended innocently enough... sunrise at Suffolk.  It's the inbetween that was concerning!

Look at my plump cheeks... skin so smooth you could mistake it for a babies bum - what happened?

More of the first sunset... looking down to Broken Head.  This beach was across the road from my house... my beach (well I did have to share)

Contemplative Micko.

And now to tag two of you fab mofo's!

Ummmmm... I pick...

My darling Jandy (blogger and real life buddy who is about to arrive home from a couple of weeks in the US so I'm sure will have plenty of photo's to share - possibly a new fav too - WELCOME HOME SWEET)  from Alis Volat Propiis

And for number two... someone I've only just met might be nice... So I'll go with Kiran - Masala Chica

I'd love to see your fav photo, so even if I haven't tagged you and you'd like to share - link me up baby!

The Honeymoon ain't over...

I've noticed a few holiday blogs scattered throughout blogland.  It's making me fucking jealous as all shit!  Micko and I have been discussing a trip OS this year... not sure where, not sure when, but hopefully we can get our shit together and actually do it.

Working for myself is fantastic... the only downside is that holidays are pretty much non-existant.  I know, I know, I live by the beach in a warm climate and I work from home doing something I love... my life is practically a holiday.  In my day to day life though, there is no off switch.  My work goes where I do... and having said that, the last proper 'switch off' holiday I had was my honeymoon. 

So today, while I'm in this holidaying jealous headspace, I thought I'd share a few pics from my honeymoon (even though it was over 3 years ago).

Micko and I decided we'd head over to Niue.  Where?  Yeah... Niue.  Not heard of it before?  I'm not at all surprised!  It's a tiny little coral atol that sticks out of the Pacific ocean.  It's literally in the middle of nowhere!

View Larger Map

And that is zoomed out! 

See! I'm not kidding! From NZ it's around a 3 hour flight and the entire time you see nothing, NOTHING but vast expanses of ocean. There's not a single land mass in sight!

To give you a better idea of it's proximity to something other than Tonga... here is where it lies relative to my part of the world.

Thanks Niue Tourism Office for the image.

Anyways... we spent 2 weeks snorkelling, swimming and scuba diving (Niue has some of the best diving in. the. world!  On a good day visibility is around 80 metres!)

Here is our magical honeymoon in pictures:

Got tragically sunburnt on the first day while snorkelling... had to postpone my scuba dive lessons because I couldn't put my wetsuit on.  PAINFULL!    The aftermath?  Wet towels became my best friend - as did re-runs of 'Love My Way' and 'Outrageous Fortune'.   All I could do for 2 days was stay in the hotel room in the air conditioning and apply layer after layer of Aloe Vera!    Each time I'd venture out into the sun, it felt as though my skin was burning off my body.  Micko was obviously unfazed by my 'world of pain' suffering. 

One of the snorkel spots.  I should say that this Island has pretty much ZERO tourism.  At the time we were there, we were pretty much the only visitors so all the good spots were ours completely.  And they were stunning!          Considering Micko and I got engaged snorkelling, there couldn't have been a more perfect way to spend our honeymoon! 

The food was ATROCIOUS at the hotel we stayed at and waaaay over priced!  (clearly this is not a meal from the hotel - it's fresh and beautiful).      Niue has an abundance of my favourite food - SEAFOOD (not the see food and eat it variety - although!?!).  Yet this is how it was served... Cooked all the way through so it tasted like cardboard and topped with canned asparagus and melted tasty cheese... Gross! The rest of the menu was frozen bullshit - like spring rolls and toasted sangas... nothing fresh.    That was... until we discovered 2 awesome restaurants! Fa La La Fa (above to die for meal was there) and the other was Washaway Cafe - best. burgers. ever! 

Travelling in style!  Well, actually I didn't ever ride this thing... Micko did.  I have an irrational fear of all things motor bike! 

Sunset at Alofi... Niiiiice!  Postcard perfect.

The shelf... As I mentioned before, Niue is a coral atol... which basically means, it's one motherfucking gigantic piece of coral that protrudes out of the ocean like my nipples on a freezing day.

Once past the initial shelf, the ocean drops to hundreds of metres deep.  Don't think you'd catch me going for a swim out there do you? 

Scuba lovers... Awesome, if not the worlds best diving (literally).  Micko's Sis is good friends with the couple that run the dive school over their.

I love diving, Micko not such a fan, so it seems unfair that he has no problems diving, yet I suffer from ear issues - which make diving with me a slow and steady decline.  Boo!  There is nothing better than floating around 10 metres under the water... hearing only the sound of your breath.  Relaxalicious!

We came across a school of dolphins while having some down time.  We also swam with a humpback whale!  So fucking amazing!

Overall, this part of the honeymoon was the bomb.  Sure, it had plenty of low moments... the sunburn, the hotel management (arseholes), the food (until we discovered the gold places to eat), the quietness (both a good and bad thing) and the expense... but it was one of those once in a lifetime experiences! 

From here... we flew into Auckland... but I think I've overloaded you with pics for today!

Damn bitch!  I've made myself totally jealous!  I. WANT. NEED. A. FUCKING. HOLIDAY!

Oh and hey... I must thank you for sharing the things that you fear... You've made me feel so much less like a freak!  OH MY GOD!  I forgot to put on the washing...ARGH!  Looks like I'll be wearing bather bottoms (swimmers, togs, bikini whatever you call them - what do you call them?) tomorrow!

Fear and Loathing in your 30's...

I've posted on growing up and maturing in the past... here and here... Beyond the folded fitted sheets, rapidly greying hair and anal retentive cleaning procedure, I've recently noticed another shift... this time, in my reactions and my behavior.  Not only have I come to fear things I've never contemplated as dangerous before... I've also become a real stickler for rules.

It's what I call the 'fear factor' - things that I'd do without a second thought only 5 years ago... I now approach with trepidation.  Here are a few examples:

The ocean... I used to swim out way past where my feet could touch the ground... I had no fear of sharks or getting sucked out.  These days, I kind of stick to around thigh height and don't venture out too much further - I'm going to try to rectify this in the next few weeks.  I really find I'm missing the freedom of being totally immersed in the water - rising and falling with the waves, rather than just standing there letting them belt into me.

Carparks - I will never go against the arrow.  If the arrow points to the left and from there winds around and around the carpark to the exit, I will alway go that way... rather than against the arrow and the 15 metres straight out.  Drives Micko nuts!

Crossing the road at the lights or the pedestrian crossing...  I will walk a few hundred metres out of my way to ensure I cross the road at the designated spot.  But hey, I'm in good company... even The Beatles stuck to the chosen path!

Clean underwear - I sniff my undies each morning, just to make sure I'm putting on a clean pair and a dirty one hasn't mistakenly found it's way into my draw.  When I do come across a sneaky pair, at least I don't have to pluck my nose hair for a few weeks (the scent burns them right out of their little nostril hair sockets).

I'm not sure if it's age.. or if I'm slowly turning into my mother  - a chronic worrier.  My Mum and I recently made a pact that if I was going anywhere or doing anything in which I might be harmed, not to tell her until I've done it... just to stop unnecessary worry.  As a baby, she hardly slept at all (even though I was quite a solid sleeper) because she'd be in every 15 minutes to check if I breathing.  As a kid she worried about broken bones... As a teen, it was broken hearts... and as a young adult - broken dreams - and the ability to have saved enough to pay my bills.

Often, these days, when I speak I hear my mothers voice... her laugh... and sometimes a little of her concern.  Micko has started calling me 'Rhonda Number 2'.  At this point I'm not as consumed by worry as she is... perhaps it's only a matter of time?  Unlike Mum, I'm not fearful of broken bones, broken hearts and broken dreams as those things are, in some respects, out of my control.

I instead fear the little things... being swept out to sea - even though I'm a strong swimmer... an old woman, winding down her window and yelling at me because I didn't follow the arrows...  someone spitting in my food if I send it back... accidently putting on a crusty pair of grundies...  these are the real things to be fearful of.  The things that keep me awake at night and send a chill down my spine.

Will this irrational fear continue to grow and grow until it's out of control like Lantana in the bush?  How will I react when I discover I've not a clean pair of undies left in the house?  Will I end up sitting in a camp chair, in the garage, roller door open, looking aimlessly at the street while I talk to myself about road rules?  What does the future hold for me and my increasing nerves?

and finally...

What keeps you awake at night?

10 things...

Nicky, over at Snob Nicky, tagged me... as did Lucy, from Lucy's Life... So, I figured, I've been ganged up on and must take the challenge (haha).  Besides, why the hell not?  I'm slowly running out of blogspiration so at least this will allow me to think of a few future entries.  I also need a bit of reminding of how much good is in my life.   Feeling a bit blah at the moment... probably because I had soooo much going on in Melbourne and I've come back to life a-la-usual.  There's always that lull after a break... don't you think?

So, here are 10 things that make me happy...  drumroll please!

1.  My furry baby Billy - who I'm sure, if he could talk, he would have a lisp... He makes me laugh with his wiggly bum and hurry to get anywhere walk.  Speaking of which, he is lying beside me having a puppy dream right now... legs running in the air, mini barks... I wonder what he dreams of.  

2.  Micko...  Need I say more? 

He cooks, he cleans... he is the dream machine!

3. My family... Immediate and extended... Especially my Mum, Dad, bro's and their girls. 

My cousin Genna is on her way to come stay with my fake cousin (like not really my cousin, she is far from fake personality wise)... woooooot!

4.  My bitches... you know who you are!  Particularly the Hough and Fe - wish these bitches blogged it up.

The Hough... my soul sister!  This is a TERRIBLE photo of her... sorry Houghy!  Blue steel?  More like salmon lips!

Me, Fe and her (sometimes  haha) wonderful husband and partner in crime, Dirkus (faux bro).

5.  Entertaining... Having visitors come and stay with us or just having friends over, cooking a barbie and drinking beers on the deck.

6.  The beach... swimming, walking or running with Billy... basically being active on it - not one for lying and reading a book, I get too hot... and bored!

Took this yesterday while walking Billy... It is seriously the most crowded I've ever seen my beach.

7.  My Kayak!  Nothing better than floating around the river, discovering new places.

8.  My blog... I love writing it, I love sharing my life with others and I love what you guys have to say!

9.  Music, music, music!  Especially live music!  Boooo!  Missed out on BDO tickets - no Muse for me!

RATM 2008... Best  EVER!!!!

10. When a guy drives past my house on a tractor, talking on his mobile phone!?!  That seriously just happened!  That made me laugh... but I'd have to say, getting back into the art thing... yesterday's project sparked the creative side of me.  Need to make time for that shit more often... boo yah!

There you have it... 10 things that make me happy.  Ahhhhh!  I feel much better!

Mosaic Madness

So, you may remember my post sometime back on the reno's we are slooooowly getting through here.  If not, catch up here.

At this time of year, and a good portion of January, work is on the quiet side.  I usually spend this time lying in a hammock, reading.  Last year, I read the autobiographies of Ronnie Woods, Eric Clapton, Slash, Carole King, Carly Simon (my namesake), Suzi Quattro and Joni Mitchell.... yeah, just a little time on my hands!

This time round, I decided I'd do more 'constructive' things... these days I read in order to fall asleep (now that Micko is better trained - haha), so I'm not neglecting my brain, just using it in another way.

One word for you... Mosaic!

No, I've never done it before... and 'Yes', I have no fucking idea what I'm doing... but I'll give it crack!  I was a creative type (still am in some respects - the arty crafty thing has gone downhill since finishing up at Uni - over 10 years ago!!!) so I'm sure I can handle it.  Besides, I'm going down the tile track and no cutting for this project.  That should lighten the load a little.

Here is where I'm at so far....

I started with this.... used to be old brown early 80s tiles.  Some missing, some about to crack off.

Did the middle section first so I had a rough idea what to work around...

Worked out (slowly) the breakdown (I'm totally shit at math and didn't have a measuring tape to work with!)

Working around the centre piece

Almost there...

This is what I ended up with in the middle section... would have like to do some diamond stuff, but didn't want to fuck around with cutting when I have no idea what I'm doing.

Looking down at my workspace - the built in table....

Now I've just got to glue them down and grout... that's the easy part, right?

Next... the big Art Deco stairs... going to be a little more ambitious and creative on those.

I had a dream...

Lately I've been having some very strange dreams... Not sure what's going on in my brain right now, but you can rest assured it's a little fucked up.  Some of the dreams I've had are so wrong that they are in the vault for good - never, ever to be revealed.  Another few are just plain weird... For example:

I dreamt I was at a music festival and asked the dude at the drinks ticket counter if I could get take aways (just incase this is an Aussie thing - it's when you buy take away beers over the bar, usually at closing) with the left over drinks tickets.  He said 'Yes'... So, I naturally bought $180 worth of tix, only to discover that wasn't the case.  I was so preoccupied crying and yelling at the staff and management that I only managed to drink one beer and wasted $175!  Odd?  Yeah.

Then last night... Well, I've been watching Series 2 of True Blood (thanks to Fe for giving me a copy)

Phew!  That show is on a par with the orgy scene out of Eyes Wide Shut - you can take that shit to the bank (the spank bank, that is) - did I just say that?  Might have overstepped the mark there... Sorry!

Whoops... sidetrack!  Yeah, so watching True Blood might explain this one.  Something must have been in my bedroom (aka. a mozzie) and it was having a feast on my body while I slept unknowingly.  Therefore, this morning I'm covered in bites from my shoulders to my toes (ooooh my legs!!!).  In my dream, I remember thinking how much it must suck being a Vampire.  Mainly cause it means that you have to be awake all night... and at night, well that's when the itchy bites start to itch.

Why is it that dreams are so strange?  Sometimes completely unrelevant to whats going on in your life... and sometimes (like last nights) soooo relevant (I must have been itching in my sleep - I know I was, I woke myself up scratching numerous times).  And on another note... why is it that bites only itch after dark? 

A Melbourne Christmas

So, as you are probably aware, I was a little concerned that this Christmas may be a little tough... especially considering we have only recently lost the one person who tied us all together (Nan Fin).  After all that worry, it turned out to be completely unfounded.  We had such a great time! 

Seems that rather than being there for Nanna, we were there for each others company - and of course, a little bit for Nanna.  The day was full of love and laughter - lots of laughter - and only a few little tears!  Turns out being in Nanna's house (for the last time) was comforting and really special.  I have no doubt she was there with us... walking around having a laugh too. 

Each year we do the Kris Kringle thing... Usually, it is more a pain in the arse, than a fun present buying activity.  Every year, you can pretty much guarantee that you'll end up calling someone to find out what they'd like and in the end you end up with a voucher of some kind (I hate buying vouchers - so impersonal).  This year was different.  There was no calls... no requests... no vouchers and the result?  AWESOME presents! 

My cousin Mae and Uncle John got Micko and I (seperately), so they when in together and bought us this...

HOW FREAKING KICKARSE!!!

We played it in Nan's backyard for a bit and had so. much. fun!  Here are a run down in pictures...

Check out my technique... Awesome!

Oh yeah.. the technique pays off!

My bro has a crack... Billy is a great fan of spectator sports!

My Dad had to make sure the green was smooth as a babies bum... mainly cause the men where lagging well behind the fine bitches in my family!

Cousins galore...

My broski's

More Family... this isn't nearly all of them - not even almost half - we are a big family... believe me!

After Christmas lunch... We headed round to my Aunty Glenda's for the usual, debaucherous Christmas dinner.  Well, it's not so much dinner... more beers and nibbles, followed by more beers (usually champagne for me, but you know... I'm on the ban).  The other side of my family is totally rad!  We all have a kickarse time together and are great mates.  At the end of the night (actually it's usually morning) we are all completely fuckeyed and telling each other how much we love each other... good times!  Here is the mad happy bunch!

Oh and that's not all of that side of the fam either... Missing around one family (of 5 - love you guys) and my Nan - who suffers from Parkinsons and wasn't feeling up to a big day.

All in all... one helluva Christmas!  And well worth the 30 hour return trip in the car!  Billy was such a great traveller, but I think he kind of got jack of it by the end... about 2 hours from home, this is how he exacted his revenge...

That white stuff?  Yeah... that's the fluff from inside his bed!

Hope you're Christmas was as kickarse as mine!

The Naughties in a Nutshell

Yesterday I briefly mentioned what I'd been doing at the turn of the last decade... I was at a rave (yes, a rave) in Melbourne.  I was dressed in 3/4 cream cargo pants, an electric pink top with a couple of electric blue stripes down the arm and a pair of the chunkiest Vans you ever did see... A bunch of mates, 'late 90s' and myself took a few pills and danced across the talcum powdered floor non stop, while guzzling on water bottles, sucking on Chupa Chups and sweating our tits off (God!  I hope my Mum never reads this).. 

Last night, I had the quietest NYE I've ever had!  We were so buggered we decided not to go and party, but instead to sit in front of the tele watching the fireworks before hitting the sack at around 12.30.  Wrong in so many ways!

Today, I've woken (for probably the first NYE - usually I'm still awake from last night) without a hangover and I'm looking back at the decade that was...  although it's hard because my brain is so effed up all the partying I've done throughout the Noughties and the Nineties, all the years kind of blend into one another!

Here are a few high/low lights:

Work Wise - scored my first major photographic store gig... then became a Sales Rep for Ricoh.  Did a course in radio.  Moved north, worked in a radio station (copywriter/announcer).  Did a course in copywriting.   Went back to photographics and managed a couple of stores.  Started my own business doing Voice Overs.  Built it up to the point where I can live off.  Hired an editor, work with around 12 other artists.

Relationship saga's - Grew some balls and escaped the evil clutches of an abuseful relationship. Broke up with 'Late 90s'.  Dated 'Jimmy', cheated, broke up.  Lost a few male mates by 'crossing the line'.  Broke a few hearts and had mine broken (fucking karma).  Slept around a little (hmmmm).  Spent some quality 'me time'.  Met Micko, got married in 2006 and spent the last 3 years in relative marital bliss.

Home Sweet Home - Not sure if I was living with late 90s by this point in time... If so, I shared a couple of houses with him before packing up and moving back home.  Lived there for a while then my folks moved out and my bro and I shared the place.  Mum and Dad went to sell the house and I'd met Micko and decided to move north.  Briefly moved in with my Aunty and Uncle.  Packed up my shitbomb and shifted to Byron to live with Micko in a backyard bungalow.  Moved down the road when Mangina arrived to share a flat that the evilest landlord owned.  When Micko and I needed our own space we got a small tin can flat in Brunswick Heads.  Eventually getting a bigger place on the river in order to have our wedding there.  Decided we needed to go back down south.  Got a place overlooking the ocean at Ocean Grove while my parents tenants lease ran out.  Moved into the old holiday home in Barwon Heads.  Got jack of living in a state the weather is soooo extreme.  Bought our place in Nambucca in June 08, moved in March of 09 and am finally settled (for a while anyway).  NO MORE INTERSTATE MOVES!

So what will the next decade bring?  Hopefully more than just old age, more grey hair and wrinkles!  Well, if I've anything to do with it (oh and I do) it will be that and sooooo much more!