I am Thankful

Thanksgiving is a relatively new concept for me. Since moving to London, I have been surrounded by a group of festive and fabulous Americans and Canadians who have certainly taught me a thing or two.

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Each year around this time, they begin to explain once again, the whole notion of Thanksgiving. The turkey, the pilgrims, the traditions, the celebrations.

I love the whole idea of Thanksgiving. I love that we are reminded to not only think about the things that we are thankful for, but indeed, we are to celebrate.

So this year, Thanksgiving is at our place and we are set for a feast. The fabulous Americans and the lovely Canadian are busily planning and preparing for an unforgettable time of Thanksgiving.

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Apparently, during Thanksgiving dinner, each person shares one thing that they are thankful for. I have so many things to be thankful for, so much so that I cannot even begin to contain them here. I truly have been blessed beyond measure.

One of my friends has even started her own '30 Days of Thankfulness'. Each day for a month, she is making a note of one thing that she is thankful for. I may just have to do the same.

What are you thankful for today?

There's No Place Like Home

It is certainly true when they say that there's no place like home. 

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I have been thinking a lot about home lately. I have been meticulously counting down the days until I fly to my gorgeous homeland once again. There is nothing sweeter than landing in your home town. Every time I fly into Sydney, I start singing (to myself, you'll be pleased to note) I still call Australia home. And as the Harbour Bridge and Opera House come into view, I can't help but smile. Walking through Kingsford Smith Airport, I always love hearing the thick, lovely Australian accents over the pa system and then I say to myself 'Oh, how I miss this place'. I miss the familiarity, I miss the bronzed faces, I miss the sweet sunshiny days and most of all, I miss my beautiful, ever expanding family and lovely friends.

But what happens when you have made another country 'home' for the past 7 years? What happens then? Where is home?

For the first few years, each time I left Sydney, I pretty much burst into tears post customs and then generally cried all the way until Singapore. I know, I felt sorry for those blessed with seats next to mine too. They often offered me a Kleenex and patted me on the back and told me it was going to be ok. Bless those sweet, random travelling friends. One flight, I was even offered a children's colouring book and snack box. This amuses me to no end now.

Now, thankfully so, I have mastered the art of composure. Well mostly. The tears certainly don't flow as profusely as years ago, but I must admit, they do still flow - now I cry when I leave London as well. Over the past few years, London has become my home too. I now get that same excitement flying into London as I do when I fly into Sydney 〜  I am however yet to find an English theme song to sing though, so all suggestions welcome;)

So truth be told, I have 2 homes. Both so tender to my heart in so many ways. London and Sydney will always be a part of who I am. Sydney, I will love you forever. My dear, sweet family and friends will always mean that Sydney is home for me. But London, you have somehow, without me knowing it, stolen my heart. I have learnt to adore the wintertime in this place and even, dare I say, love the magic that is a white Christmas. I do believe however, that this love for London is predominately indebted to my faithful, beautiful, amazing friends. Friends from all over the world who have also made London their home. Friends who have made this city come alive and friends who have become like family, in my little home away from home. 

How blessed am I to have two homes. I am one lucky little lady xx 

Just a little thought

Men should be like coffee - hot, sweet & strong {Dutch Proverb}

Photo Flickr

That is all.

Happy Friday, lovely people xx

A New Book

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers. ~Charles W. Eliot (1834 - 1926), The Happy Life, 1896

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I don't know about you, but I love to read. There is nothing quite as calming to my soul than to sit and read a while. Whether it is fiction or non-fiction, summer or winter, I always love a good book.

During the balmy evenings of summer, I often take time to grab a patch of grass and a good book. This summer I loved One Day by David Nicholls. It is the loveliest book I have read in a long time. It is heartbreaking and wonderful all at the same time. I would love to be able to write something like this one day.

And as winter approaches, nothing pleases me more than cosying up on the couch with a duvet and a hot cup of tea. Total bliss. I have just finished reading The Time Traveler's Wife. I loved every minute of this book. The sentiment was beautiful and so powerfully written.

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So now to find a new book to love. I often check out The Guardian if I am short of inspiration. Otherwise, I happily head off to my local bookstore and spend the afternoon browsing the shelves to find something delicious to read.

And once I'm done, I will add it to my ever growing bookshelf and head off to the bookstore once again. I'm caught in a vicious cycle...and i love it!

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Much love & happy reading xx

Mighty Movember

So it's officially that time of year again folks. The annual moustache cultivating month, commonly referred to as Movember.

According to the Foundation, Movember challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a moustache. The rules are simple, start Movember 1st clean shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month. The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for cancers that affect men. Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days.

So boys, get cultivating and girls, don't be too scared of the increased upper lip growth - it's all for a worthy cause.

And finally, to all you distinguished, tashe wearing gentlemen out there, here is a gentle reminder of the general moustache keeping etiquette. If your moustache in any way makes you bear resemblance to likes of Clark Gable or Tom Selleck, feel free to keep your razor at bay for a little longer.

However, if your lip growth is more comparable to these special varieties, may I encourage you to make friends with your razor on December 1. 

Just a thought x

Happy Movember lovely people! 

Birthday Love

I don't know about you, but in my house, we love celebrating birthdays. We love everything there is about birthdays but probably the best thing about birthdays is that it's pretty much the only day that it's ok to eat cake before 7am.

Speaking of cake, this year we decided to enlist some help in this department. We had heard that a friend of ours, Heather Louise, had started making cute little cupcakes. They were honestly the sweetest cupcakes I have ever seen and by the looks of the empty box, pretty delicious as well.

So with our cupcakes all sorted, we decided that the run of the day should be a treasure hunt for the birthday girl to help her find all her presents. 

By the end of the day, all presents were found and we had one very happy little birthday girl. I love how much fun it is to spoil someone else and I love that her beautiful smile was shining all day long.

We had so much fun that day. Actually, even the planning for the treasure hunt & sneaking around was super fun. We will all remember this day and it makes me realise that it doesn't take much to make someone's day special. I guess it's just a little bit of thought and a lot of love. 

And now, to start thinking about the next birthday in the house... happy days xx

Author's note: All photos on this post were taken by the delightful Katie Swain. Check out her other work here.

Time to Sparkle

To Sparkle: to give off or reflect flashes of light; to glitter; to be brilliant in performance; to shine with animation; to flash with wit; to effervesce.

Photo: Flickr

Firework season started early in our communal garden. Last night  was the annual neighbourhood fireworks display - complete with hundreds of glow sticks & sparklers and plenty of wine and merriment. 

I particularly loved the ingenuity of a few little girls in the garden. They pretty much bought up the entire stock of glowsticks and created glasses, mickey ears, necklaces and bracelets - and then proceeded to sell them at double the price to everyone else. They were super cute and might I add, particularly business savvy.

So what is it exactly about a combination of explosives and combustibles, set off to generate colored lights, smoke, and noise that is so entertaining? And why do we find watching fireworks so therapeutic?

My sweet friend Lynn came along, and just as the first shower of glittery wonder exploded, she sighed and said something in the vicinity of the fact that watching fireworks makes her forget about the tears, traumas and tribulations of her life, even if for just an hour. How true. As I pondered this, I looked around to see faces full of hope and anticipation. Faces that shined with joy and contentment. There wasn't a face without a smile nor a hand without another to hold. Dads were hiking their children up on their shoulders, families were standing close and memories were being made. Ah, how I LOVE fireworks! 

So, all you Londoners out there, wrap up warm this weekend and go find yourself some sparkles!

Damsel in Distress

If chivalry can be described as the qualities idealised by knighthood, such as bravery, courtesy, honour, valour, and dexterity in arms, then I certainly hope chivalry is not dead.

Photo: Flickr

Now, I am pretty sure I've lost all my male readers at this point, however, boys, if you are still with me, in the words of the British Government, Keep Calm and Carry on.

Now let me picture this for you. Enter one damsel of the distressed kind -  trapped in the tower of the horrid emperor's castle. Her only hope for survival is her handsome prince, her knight in shining armour who will climb up the tower to rescue his princess and carry her off into the sunset. And drum roll, please, here he comes, in true Cinderella style, gallivanting his way to the castle . He jumps effortlessly over the moat, swiftly climbs the tower, and gracefully lifts her up over his shoulder, and props her onto the horse. He slays the dragon and the happy couple are whisked away into the sparkly night sky. 

Now before we all let our minds run off with the whole 'damsel in distress' saga, let us unpack that whole thing. First of all, even if men had the physical prowess and agility as our fictional handsome prince, how are they supposed to find us? Us girls are pretty good at giving mixed signals and the whole 'i'm fine' scenario, when in fact, we are not fine and we do generally want help - we just hate admitting it. We want them to 'just know'. No doubt, if this scene was ever replicated us girls would complain about the fact that he was late, he didn't bring the right wine, he's all sweaty and needs to have a shower, he's got dirt under his fingernails and he forgot your 8¾ month anniversary. And unfortunately, the list goes on.

Just the other day, I saw a man get off the bus first and then turn around and offer his lady his hand to help her make the step, all while placing another hand on the bus door to ensure that it didn't close on her. Ahhhhh, so sweet. Totally made my day. And in this very same hour, whilst in the hardware store (I know, I can't believe it either) I witnessed a young man help a lady with some paint tins that she was having difficulty carrying. Just a little glimpse of chivarly at it's finest.

So, what I am saying is that chivalry is not dead, it has just changed a bit. Perhaps it doesn't manifest itself in the same way as years past, but look a little closer, and my guess is that you will find pure examples of it all around. 

And a little note for the girls, when a guy offers  to help us do something, be a little gracious. He is not saying he is superior, he is just saying he wants to help. 

And seriously girls, who wants to change their own tyre anyway?