Tag Archives: music

Patience is a virtue, and its rewards are sweet

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Patience. Sometimes, I am a well-rehearsed practitioner. Other times, I just want to bolt out the gate before the starting gun has fired. Particularly in times when I see others moving ahead with their lives and my life seems to be stagnant. I try to remind myself that the universe will bring about change when I can handle it, and that I need to just wait for my time to come. For when things happen in my life, they all tend to happen at once. An avalanche-like shift. My world turns on itself, and when it rights a new reality has come into being.

This past year has been a study in patience. I have had to draw from a reservoir of self-control and allow the world to work its mysterious magic while I aim to be present so that I am aware of when opportunity presents itself.

Recently some things have started to fall into place, and I have been reminded that I need to count my blessings everyday, appreciate the little things, and focus on all the positive and radiant people I have in my life.

So, I am taking this Friday to share a little grateful list – things that have made me smile:

  • The possibility of an internship early next year – more details when everything is confirmed
  • Twitter conversations with Cait and Kate! What a great community I belong to here on the interwebs. I am also grateful to Cait and Ashley for running an awesome challenge in September. It certainly kept me motivated, and I won an awesome Road ID! Thank you Cait and Ashley!
  • My copy of ‘What Katie Ate ~ Recipes and other bits and bobs’ arrived at my local bookstore! Looking forward to reading this over the weekend.
  • I am going to a Canadian Thanksgiving Down Under with some Canadian friends this weekend. I think I’ll be baking something maple-inspired to take along…
  • My darling “adopted little sister” is in the Royal Australian Navy and her ship is in town this weekend. I haven’t seen her for months so I am looking forward to catching up and going on a tour! Grateful that no matter how far we all roam we can still meet somewhere.
  • Grateful for some wonderful spring weather that has enticed treadmill-addicted me into running outside twice this week. This afternoon I was grateful for the breeze that carried the scent of afternoon bushfire and cooled my brow on the way home. I have also got some wonderful new country tunes to keep me going! I love me some country during a long run, or while I’m winding down on a summer afternoon.
  • Oh, and banana crumb cake. Super grateful for that! I’ll share the recipe tomorrow my dears.

So, dear readers, what are you grateful for this week?

All about books…

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For some women it is diamonds; or expensive designer clothes; a tall, dark, and handsome stranger; or, chocolates and roses every other Friday. But the one thing guaranteed to make me weak in the knees every, single, time is a book. The merest mention of a visit to a bookshop is sure to excite in me such emotions as: sheer, unadulterated joy; a wistful, nostalgic look as I remember past visits as some women remember lovers; frantic list-making to ensure that I don’t miss any of the newly discovered books and authors that I just need to investigate; or, desperate attempts to retrieve missing change from between the cushions of the couch so that I can afford such beauties.

In fact there are only a few other things that bring me as much happiness as anything book-related: my family and friends (of course), running, chocolate, plane travel (oh yes, I am a weird one, I know), and my darling dog Molly.

So today I am starting a new monthly section where I will share a few of my recent book-related obsessions for those of you who share my bibliophilic tendencies.

The book-ish list:

  • I am an avid reader of The Guardian online, especially their book section, and I adore listening to the The Guardian Books podcast when I am out for a walk or a run.
  • In fact, I first stumbled across the enchanting The Bookshop Band while listening to one of The Guardian’s podcasts. This band of bibliophiles and musically-gifted people compose songs inspired by books that are chosen by the staff of Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights. The songs are played at events that take place at the bookshop. You can listen to their tracks online. Great music to inspire some writing, or book-devouring!
  • Another great website for keeping up with book-ly discussions is the ‘Books’ page of The Daily Beast. The ‘Women in the World’ section is also worth checking out.
  • For some visual stimulation check out bookporndaily, oh yeah…

Currently on my night stand?

And I’ve just finished reading ‘Past the shallows‘ by Favel Parrett. A wild, emotional tale from an emerging Australian author. Set in Tasmania, this is a haunting tale of family secrets, brotherhood, and the power of water.

My dear readers, what are your latest book-ish finds? What was the last thing you couldn’t put down (or made you hungry in the middle of the night…)?