More happy snaps

So, at the risk of boring you all silly...and at Deborah's request (because she asked so nicely)....here are some more holiday pics. (I promise this is the last of them!)

Because it was such a highlight, I wanted to show you a bit more of Lembongan Island, which is reached by a fast boat from Bali and takes around 30 minutes...poor Abby was sick before we left Australia, and unfortunately, just got progressively worse.

In the end, we had to find the village doctor who prescribed strong antibiotics...she will probably hate me for including this photo, but it was kind of funny seeing her lying on this rickety old table...Dr Made was so lovely, and spoke good English (thank goodness!)

We stayed in a cliffside villa, and this is the magnificent view we had from our room - breathtaking! (And all those stairs were a bonus for my thighs after all the cocktails, he he!)

The snorkelling on the island is also a highlight - a colourful underwater world full of amazing fish.

The island's main source of income is seaweed, which they sell to the Japanese to make cosmetics.

We hired some scooters, and went exploring the island...

Ian discovered a secret cave with a staircase spiralling up through the rock...

We dined at an amazing restaurant overlooking the ocean, and, apologies to all the vegetarians out there, but I just had to include this photo of the blackboard advertising their steaks...(which were absolutely delicious!) It appealed to my warped sense of humour...

This beautiful arrangement was on our bed when we arrived at our villa...I love to wear the flowers in my hair...

We stopped at this amazing beach restaurant for lunch and a swim in their infinity pool which overlooks the ocean...it was incredible!

We stayed here for 3 nights (I could have stayed forever...) and then back to Bali for more cocktails with friends...

surfing....

shopping...

and relaxing...

On Friday, I am going to see 'Eat, Pray, Love'...can't wait to experience Bali all over again on the big screen!

I'm Back!

My darling blog friends, I am back from our little adventure - and what an adventure it was! Did you guess where I went? It was Bali...such a wonderful, spiritual place. I am well rested, but happy to be home again...



















I love Bali and her people, but prefer the quieter places away from the shopping and traffic...we escaped to a little island called Lembongan which was very beautiful, and wonderfully relaxing. I just love the rituals that are performed as part of daily life here in Bali - we could learn a lot about living in the moment and taking the time to be grateful for all that we have instead of rushing all over the place...every morning, offerings are given, and the smell of incense permeates the air.



















Remember I told you Jo of http://oldflowers4me.blogspot.com/ was holidaying nearby? Well, it was lovely - we caught up on the beach and watched the sunset - I tell you, that girl is a sweetheart! I am so blessed to have met her.



















We also took a little day trip to Ubud, for I had heard of a beautiful art museum called the Antonio Blanco Renaissance Museum...it was incredible! He was a Spanish artist who lived in Bali where he met his Balinese wife and built a beautiful museum, showcasing his eclectic paintings (although he died before it was finished)...it is set amongst beautiful tropical gardens with aviaries full of colourful birds. (He was known as 'The Dali of Bali' for his unique art.) After arriving, we were escorted into the gardens and given iced tea to sip while we met these gorgeous creatures...

























We stopped for lunch at the Lotus Gardens and ate like kings and queens...the perfect ending to a magical day...

One day Abby and I went to Seminyak for 'high tea' in a beautiful old building filled with gorgeous paintings and antiques...it was so hot this day, but we did enjoy our afternoon tea...a real treat after nasi goreng and noodles! (Notice how I look like a beetroot! Told you it was hot!)





































I hope you have enjoyed a little glimpse into my holiday - I am looking forward to visiting you all over the next week, as I slowly get back into some sort of a routine. Thankyou all for your sweet comments - I do so love to read them. Namaste x

Off to Paradise...

Just wanted to say goodbye for a while - our family is heading off in an airplane this afternoon. I shall see you when we get back with lots of photos of sunny paradise....and you know what? Little Jo from http://oldflowers4me.blogspot.com/ is holidaying at the same place - we shall sip a cocktail by the pool...

A Birthday Wish

Yes, I know I said I was having a break...but I just had to pop back in to tell you my baby turned 14 this week! How did that happen?

Once again, we celebrated with a family dinner...lots of yummy party food...and a big silver dish filled to the brim with chocolates and lollies.

A pink birthday cake and an ice-cream cake, because one can never have too much cake, don't you think?

Poor dad had to go and have some time out in the other room because we were all so noisy!

Happy Birthday darling Abby - your smile lights up every room you walk into, and you have such a kind, generous heart...my wish for you is that you follow your dreams, wherever they may lead you, and to always be true to yourself. I love you to the moon and back.

I want to share something with you here...if you read my blog, you will know I went back to school last year to study Transpersonal Art Therapy. It was truly incredible and I learned a lot about myself.

For some time, I felt quite lost and couldn't really put my finger on what my purpose in life was...after much soul-searching and some extremely intense sessions, a light-bulb went on in my head. I was already living my purpose! Der! Ever since I was a young girl, my dream was to be a mother...I adore children and have always had a strong connection with them.

Why did I feel the need to be 'more'. I love being a stay-at-home mum and creating a nurturing home where my girls can grow. I don't always get it right, and some weeks, believe me, I just want to run away with the circus, but ultimately, I feel what I am doing is right for me. And I no longer feel that pressure to be defined by what I do. I am one of those people that has had a million different jobs, and I always felt there was something wrong with me...why couldn't I be like everyone else? Why couldn't I just stick with something?

But you know what? I no longer care - I will probably have many more jobs in my life and that is ok. Meeting other people who were like me was enormously healing for me. I realised I wasn't such a 'flake' after all...I am proud to be a Domestic Goddess - everything else I may achieve in my life is just icing on the cake.

Deep Within a Faerie Forest

Spring is finally here...nothing like a good dose of sunshine to entice me out into the garden...
Follow me, beneath the trees. There is magic here to be sure...























Oh...I do believe there are fairies at the bottom of my garden...























Yummy fruit and tea and special fairy cakes served upon a woodland table...

Would you like me to pour you some tea? Do you take milk and sugar?

Pip, what is that you have found? A secret place to watch the clouds roll by, or to take an afternoon nap...








































Pip, are you sure you didn't have something to do with all this?

It's so peaceful here...

And just look at the view!

I am feeling sleepy after our feast...what was in the tea? Maybe I shall just close my eyes for a while. Yawn...that sunshine feels so warm on my skin....

Sometimes, all I need is just this...nothing more...I will be off with the fairies for a while - I need some time to breathe...I will see you all when I get back x

Romance Me...

Hello lovelies...real life aroud here is pretty sucky at the moment, so in honour of it being Spring, I decided to do a little shooshing in the bathroom.

I picked some fleurs from my garden, ran a most decadent bath and added some rose geranium oil...think I might close the door, light some candles and spend a large amount of time in here, with nothing but lovely thoughts to keep me company...

This dresser was a wedding present from my mum and dad...it used to belong to a dear family friend, so I gave it a makeover and now it sits in my bathroom.

Somebody please come and tell me when they have all left home....hee hee. Ooh, and be a love and pour me a champagne, thankyou...

Grow Wings...

So this is how my little birdhouse turned out...I hope the birdies like it!

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting
For this moment to arise...Paul McCartney

I have fallen in love once more with the music of The Beatles...oh wait, did I ever really fall out of love? If you haven't yet seen the movie 'Across the Universe', you must run, don't walk, to get it!
























And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom - Anais Nin

I am also thinking of this beautiful quote today....