Colouring In Is My New Creative Outlet

There's a frustration when you enjoy being creative, and that is you often end up with too much of what you create, so you either give it away or stop.

Over the years, I've done both. Projects became gifts, or the activity was stopped altogether.  How many tapestries or cross-stitched pillows can you have? My first tapestry was Pierrot, the sad clown, sitting on a crescent moon. I still have it, well MissM does now. Goodness knows where all the others are now. Our neighbour's lounge room was like an art gallery of her daughters tapestries - it was a bit much.

Then came rug-making for a school art project.  The click clack of the hook rug thru the matting, creating designs and seeing the finished rug was great. reward. The lower back pain from sitting on the floor for hours on end was probably the start of my back issues (but that's another chat)

Not mine, but you get the gist. 

As an adult, I dived right back into the creative arena after the break up of a long term relationship. In some ways, it was a form of social hibernation.  The concentration needed to learn new skills and master them helped me forget how I was feeling for a few hours each week. Before I knew it, I was over the relationship (yeah me) and totally into my new love - craft.

A 6 month decorative finishing course at evening college was my first full on 'course' experience.

I sponge painted, crackled, painted folk art, learnt to marble with paint and more, on everything from wooden tissue boxes, to pen holder, to photograph frames, to mirrors. A friend who visited one Saturday night said she was scared to stand still for too long for fear of being painted!

Not mine, but I created a very similar board in folk art class.

Not mine, but marbling eggs for Easter gifts was fun.

MrsH's neighbour taught decoupage. The idea of cutting gift wrapping paper and glueing it onto a wooden tissue box or tray or ceramic plate fascinated me. After a couple of weeks I was hooked.  It was a no-brainer to invest in the right scissors, glue, brushes, paints, sandpaper, glaze I was ready to go. We met every Wednesday night from 7pm til whenever our eyes started to hurt. We talked, cried, shared problems, solved problems and created some stunning pieces.

Decoupage was my Wednesday night appointment. It went on for nearly 3 years. You can only imagine the number of pieces created in that time. Most of my pieces are in our storage unit back home, or given to friends as gifts.

From there, I tried mosaics. I saw a mirror in a shop and loved it but it was very expensive. I thought 'surely I could do that' and started looking for a mosaic course. I found a teacher, and I made the mirror. In fact, I made two.

In Japan I learnt Ikebana. What a wonderful experience!

In the UK I continued by Ikebana and achieved my first 3 certificates of which I'm super proud.  The vases, kenzans (pin beds the flowers are placed on for the designs) and books filled a moving box. It's a skill for life and I love it, using it as often as possible, tho my technique is more freestyle these days.

MissM did pottery at school and was very good at it. I asked her teacher to do two commissions for me, and said 'why don't you come to class on Monday mornings and make them yourself,' so I did.


These past few months my dilemma is quite simply I am desperately missing my creative outlets, but I don't want to do something just for the sake of doing it, and certainly don't want to accumulate more 'stuff'.

While in a local bookshop looking for a birthday gift, I stumbled across COLOURING IN FOR ADULTS.

Really?

YES!

Intricate, calming designs ready to be coloured in. All I needed was a pack of pencils. How much easier could this be? No huge outlay, no investment in tools, no accumulation of stuff. Perfect!

I colour in for at least half an hour every other day, and clear my mind of all it's thoughts and focus on the colouring in. Choosing the right combinations of colours, making sure the hues are right, learning how to get the best from the pencil nib, pressing harder or lighter creates different depths colour, short/fast strokes are different to long/slow ones on the paper.

The designs are intricate. Some make me go a bit cross eyed as there's so much detail, so I just turn the page and start on something new.

Who knew at my age, colouring in would be my new creative outlet!

You should try it sometime. Love to know how you go.

Yes.

Love this (not my pic)

This chat has been buzzing around my head for a while now. Every time I go to chat, I delete it thinking I have no right to be writing about this subject. I am not educated in either side of the debate, I have no depth of knowledge from the religious perspective. I have an opinion, sure and it's been shared with friends over coffee, but today when MissM asked me about the poster she saw on a pole, I had to find the words to explain it to her.

You see, Ireland is having a referendum on same-sex marriage. Tho from some of the posters in the community you'd think it was about parenting. You can only imagine the debate that's raged on the airwaves and in the media for BOTH sides.

Talk back radio aka shock jocks as we call them in Australia are having a field day! The insults were flying on talk back radio one night last week as I was driving home. He was voting no, and the language he used when referring to gay men was in such bad taste, I was actually yelling at the radio 'you ignorant person' 'what a foolish man' 'what did you say?'

Mind you, some of the YES campaigners have crossed the line when debating with opponents. But from what I've heard and read, the No group has been more badly behaved.

As a non-Irish citizen I can not vote, but if I could it would be a big fat YES in bold lettering, capitals and underlined.

In fact, to me and many others, it's a no brainer of a question - more to the point we ask WHY NOT?

No is an abhorrent thought - while yes might be too strong for some, but there's no middle ground. It has to be one or the other, so it has to be yes because no is cruel and unnecessary.

Consider the following social changes ....... depending on where you live, and religious beliefs, some of these issues still have a long way to go to equal rights between the genders.

• Women are no longer the property of their husband.
• Divorce - now legal.
• Contraception - women taking control of their bodies.
• Acceptance of interracial relationships.
• Polygamy is illegal.
• Young women are not hidden when pregnant and can keep their babies.
• (I'm sure there are more, but I'm no expert)

A friend said her teenage girls will never go on the pill. When I asked why, she said very matter of factly because they won't have sex before marriage. Another friend is beside herself that her son and daughter-in-law are divorcing - apparently he has to make it work despite him explaining how unhappy he and his wife are even after 12 months of counselling. While years ago, a work colleague had the courage to leave her abusive partner and start over. A playgroup friend was in an arranged marriage and felt she was suffocating but had no choice to make it work, so she and her husband agreed to live 'separate lives' and when either family visited from overseas, then they would play happy families (can you imagine how confused the kids were)

Let's hope NOW IS THE TIME for the next evolution of change for social good.

The thought that people might actually vote no and cause this referendum to fail is unthinkable. How do we wake up the next day and face our friends and family who are in loving relationships? What happens to them? Even the word 'them' makes me cringe.

This is the poster that MissM asked about.  It's abhorrent and offensive and a rather basic approach to the argument. If this is all they have, maybe the no vote is thin.  I wonder if there's an official body who approves political posters, which this is. If so, where's the moral ground?

This poster, in my humble opinion is offensive and wrong.

Children deserve to be in a LOVING FAMILY environment full stop. There is no more to be said. Kids deserve to be loved and respected and well cared for.

For the vast majority, yes, family means a mum and dad and a couple of kids. But we know that family also means any combination of that statement. What about the incredible community of foster parents/families? Goodness knows how many grandparents or aunts/uncles have guardianship for younger members of their family.

When did voting for equal rights in marriage mean parenting? Is their argument against so underwhelming that they have to reduce themselves to this illogical propaganda?

What do kids think, who have single parents, be it because of divorce, or illness, or they have gay parents when they read these signs? Surely the No groups have a responsibility to the greater community?

In 1996 Hilary Clinton said it takes a village to raise a child and the world nodded in agreement. We started talking about communities again, and support for one another. We look out for our neighbours.

The people in the Dublin suburbs of Monkstown and Blackrock get it - let's hope their voices are heard far'n'wide.

Taken from the Yes Equality Blackrock/Monkstown
Facebook Page. (Typo and all)

Anyone who has a child/ren knows it takes more than a mum and a dad to raise a kid these days - there's aunties and uncles, cousins, friends, neighbours, teachers, coaches, peers and more to ensure our kids are happy, safe, well rounded, empathetic, kind, considerate, well balanced, nurtured.


My goodness, most of the time it's just the two of us raising our daughter, and let me tell you, there are times when I wish I had a villages supports. Parenting is tough going. The more help the better for everyone.

There are plenty of married couples who have totally f***** up their kids; and plenty of solo parents who raise terrific kids. So let's stop the labelling and start supporting.

Every single person in the world is absolutely deserved of being loved and if they choose, to be married to that person, the same way that in recent times, those who loved each other could live together without being married.

Same-sex marriage (gosh, even the terminology sux) does not threaten or challenge anyone else's marriage the same way that a friends rocky marriage or fantastic one does.

Society does change, it has to. Thank goodness it does! I love this quote from Cynthia Nixon.

There have been so many wrongs in the past that over time, with courage and vision change. And thank goodness for that! This moving statement is spot on - we don't NEED to do stuff, we just SHOULD DO IT. We do it cos it's right, cos no one is better than anyone else.

Add caption

YES to equality of love between human beings.

PS: MissM was pretty shocked that not everyone is legally allowed to be married (she said if you love someone and want to get married how can you be stopped?).  She thinks that kids do better with a mum and dad who are in love and love the kids, but if they stop loving each other it's best to stop fighting and get a divorce - the kids might not like it, but they'll get used to it. She then asked me about our friends who are single parents (does so-n-so have a husband cos you never mention them) and she smiled and said well their kid/s are fine!

Lest We Forget

Cover of Service

ANZAC, a terminology ingrained into all Australian and New Zealanders. 

Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. 

The first campaign of war that led to major casualties for both countries during WW1.

Along with several other nations, the ANZACS were to storm the beaches and regain Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire and an ally of Germany. The campaign lasted 8 long months. Thousands were killed, and more were maimed. 

The campaign was a total failure. 

The Dawn Service honours and remembers the men who never came home.

LEST WE FORGET.

Dawn Services are held in the major cities to the smallest country town in Australia and NZ, and indeed all over the world wherever there are Australians and New Zealanders. The timing of the service respects the time the soldiers landed at Gallipoli. 

This year is the 100th Anniversary and the services are bigger and more important than ever - the world is still at war, and sadly we still need our military personnel to protect us, and we still loose too many men and women not only too early to their graves, but to physical and mental disabilities sometimes too horrendous to even think about.

This morning, far from home, we met several Irish servicemen and women who wore their ancestors and their own medals with honour and pride. MissM asked a few of them what their medals were for and each one took great pride and time in explaining them. 

There were dignitaries from the Australian Defence Force, and the NZ Defence Forces; there was senior representation from the Turkish Embassy to Ireland. 

The service consisted of hymns  and prayers and one or two spoke about the events at Gallipoli 100 years ago, and the battles fought between and even today. 

Regardless of religious beliefs, when we were invited to bow our heads for a minutes silence, everyone did. 

We all want peace.

MissM was invited by the Australian Ambassador to Ireland to participate in the service, alongside 11 other little Aussies and NZ'ers. 

The National War Memorial in Canberra had 20,000 small wooden crosses made and distributed them to school children in both countries. The kids wrote messages of thanks and hope, and the crosses were shared amongst the Australian and NZ embassies and consulates around the world. Our Ambassador thought it would be a lovely idea to have the children participate in the Dawn Service as they are the custodians of the future. 

After the official service, the children stood up were handed a microphone that they passed on after they named each of the ANZAC's buried here.

There are 10 ANZAC's buried at Grangegorman Military Cemetery in Dublin. Six of them died during the sinking of the RMS Leinster in October 1918. Of the survivors, three were from NZ, the remaining 7 from Australia. 

At the end of the Service, everyone was invited to breakfast with the Ambassador, but not before she joined the children and the Australian and New Zeald Defence Force Representatives and laid one of the crosses on each headstone. 

Private George Bardon, fro the 19th Battalion's
final resting place with the small cross planted by
MissM and the Representative of the
Australian Defence Forces. 

The cross MissM was given was written on by a little girl at Hornsby South Public School in Sydney. When we got home, we Googled the school and found their email. We've sent the Principal an introduction to ourselves and explained that the little girls cross made it all the way to Dublin, Ireland and that MissM placed it on Private George Bardon's headstone. 

I am sure she will be a very happy little Aussie, just like MissM to know she participated in the 100th Anniversary of Gallipoli and that if we're really focused and good human beings, there might not be a need for a 200th.

LEST WE FORGET

Dublin Sightseeing Series: Grafton Street

Dublin city's main pedestrian mall shopping street is Grafton Street.

At one end is the serene, tranquility of St Stephens Green, (opposite is the St Stephens Green Shopping Centre) and at the other end of the pedestrian mall is the hustle and bustle of Trinity College.

St Stephens Green Shopping Centre
(not my pic -check out that sky!!!!!!!!!!)

Grafton Street (not my pic)

Trinity College (not my pic)

In between, there are small side streets that lead to smaller, bendy streets with hidden gems of shops, cafes and restaurants, the most famous of which has got to be Bewleys. There are old pubs, and I mean o-l-d pubs dotted all over the city, especially in Temple Bar, but that's another chat for another day. Todays we are focusing on Grafton Street.

Beautiful Bewleys' currently closed for renovations.
(not my pic)

I tend to pop into town on the LUAS (mono rail) or bus if there's something on at the art gallery, or there's an organised tourist oriented walk or exhibition. I'm not much to shop'n'wander, tho today I was in town early for an appointment and thought about the Dublin Sightseeing Series and thought - why not? Why not focus on Grafton Street ..... it's a popular destination for City Breaks; we enjoyed our time exploring Copenhagen a few weekends ago, maybe it's time I looked at Dublin city in the same way.

For a not-very-long-street in the middle of a European capital city, it certainly has the cream of retailers, no wonder MrsD was thinking of coming on a shopping spree pre-Christmas.

Delicious Molton Brown.

Lovely Pandora.

Fab designer. 

Best shoes ever!

Discovered Cath Kidson in Winchester.

Chanel @ Brown Thomas - sorry for the scaffolding.

Ireland's Flagship Department Store.
Even had a doorman in a top hat and long coat.

Louis Vuitton @ Brown Thomas

Love their cucumber and salmon sandwiches. 

MAC @ Brown Thomas

This is a new addition to a side street off Grafton.
TWO LEVELS of Nespresso!

Massive River Island.

This one's been in Grafton Street since 1875!

Sorry about the shutters being down.

Tommy Hilfiger - huge shop front.

One of THE most stunning independent jewellers I've ever seen. 

There's also the usual mobile phone company retailers, and Irish tourist shops selling all grades of quality Irish memorabilia.

The sad thing is there are very few 'independent' fashion retailers on Grafton Street, it's all the usual High Street (can I use that English term to describe an Irish shopping precinct?). If you walk off Grafton Street, and into the small, bendy streets you'll find them, but not many.

The one thing I do love about popping into town are the gorgeous flower stalls. They always have an abundance of choice and are pretty well priced. They are dotted on either side of Grafton Street.

Grafton Street is famous for it's street performers too. There's the sand artist who works away quietly (until MissM arrives and asks a thousand questions), or the guys dressed in silver who seldom move and when they do freak you out, or buskers with incredible voices, and street dancers ..... the kids love the guys with the oversized bubble wands.

At the St Stephens Green end, opposite the side entrance to St Stephens Green Shopping Centre is the Gaiety Theatre.

For a small-ish pedestrian mall, Grafton Street is really full of surprises! I had never really stopped and taken notice of just how much is on offer and I'd like to thank YOU for encouraging me to stop and look at my adopted city.

I'm excited to explore Temple Bar with a bit more conscious alertness, and St Stephens Green is full of hidden statues, so watch this space.

Do you know Grafton Street well?

Please let me know what I've missed.

What's your favourite part of the area?

With friendship
x

Rain, Rain Go AWAY!

Opposites.

We need them to keep the universe in balance.

In Ireland, as in England, the weather is a popular conversation. In fact, it's hard not to go for a few hours without someone mentioning the weather.

It's either too much rain and hoping for sunshine.

Too much sunshine, and wondering when that inevitable rain will come, because the good weather won't last. 

Glorious day today, hope it lasts.

No such thing as bad weather, just different kinds. 

The weather has to break soon.

There goes summer. 

Those few days last week were spring. 

Bad winter means good summer.

It's pissing down. 

Have you seen the weather report?

Weather's supposed to change tomorrow.

They want to start charging us for water? In a country that has an abundance of the stuff? Madness!

I didn't know what to wear today - raining when we woke up, sunshine when we left the house.

Layers - you must wear layers and always have a coat and umbrella for just in case. 

Desperate to go on holidays and get some sunshine.

The flowers must be so confused with the crazy weather. 

It does your head in, and can play havoc with your soul. MissM's surprised to see a sunny day (how sad is that) and often comments 'it's Ireland mama, what do you expect?' or as I open her blinds in the morning 'another grey ol' day'.

She doesn't mind when it rains on Tuesdays and Thursdays cos then they do indoor games as opposed to outdoor sports.

The weather also plays games with one's social life and weekend plans, however, you do kinda get used to it (or maybe we've lived here too long and are becoming localised with our attitudes).

There's always an indoor alternative.

Even over school holidays, plans have to be made with an alternative - we'll go to the park if it's dry (we don't even talk sunshine anymore, dry is good enough), and if not, we'll go bowling/come to our place.

We were told years ago, it's got nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with the right clothes.

So off we went and bought the 'right clothes' - rainboots, raincoats, waterproof hats.

Thank goodness they are fashion items! Great colours, lots of variety in style.

We can deal with rain but now it's the wind that's the deterrent! See, if it's not one things it's another. I have a sneaking suspicion this is one reason the Irish are so light hearted and have such a great sense of humour.

Todays' one of those days - the Japanese Community are hosting a Japan Experience Day from noon, and we are so excited to go. A Hanami in Dublin sounds interesting to say the least. We can't compare it to our experience in Japan, but it will be fun.

Not my photo, but we've done similar hanami in Yokohama.

After 4 glorious sunny days, with blue skies, and gentle breezes (everyone discussing their hopes for spring) it's pouring today.

The rain is heavy enough that you can see the patterns the wind is blowing, currently it's diagonal!

There are many reasons to visit Ireland, the weather is not one of them, but it does ensure the most amazing shades of green grass in the countryside, and lush gardens, and teaches you to simply get on with it, coats, hats, boots and all.


PS: To be fair, we had similar conversations while living in Japan, tho it was only during the wet season (obvious, huh?) and summer - those summers were so friggin' hot and humid - again, it was having the right clothes to cope; having indoor alternatives to the park on extreme days; and having the right attitude to cope.

The ying/yang of life.

Learning to adjust, to cope with what ever's thrown at you - even if you can't do much about it.


With friendship
x

Dublin Sightseeing Series: Well, Belfast and Surrounding Areas to be exact

We felt like a bit of a road trip over Easter and decided to go check out Belfast and revisit the Giant's Causeway.

Dublin - Belfast is about 165km's, and just under two hours by car. It's an easy drive, and there's lots to see along the way, regardless of which route you choose.

We opted for the more scenic route of the Mourne Coast, as opposed to driving up the middle of the country, as we'd done that the last time we were here, and have pretty much done the vast majority of touristy stuff. We looked froward to stopping along the way to explore a few ruins, castles, coastal villages.  Sadly, the weather was grey and the photos didn't work, so you'll just have to trust the scenery is beautiful!

As you can see from the picture below, the coast road literally follows the coast.

The coast road literally follows the coast!

We stopped for lunch at Bucks Head - absolutely recommend it! Funky decor, lovely service, and delicious food.

Bucks Head, Dundrum

We left Dublin at 10am and even with all our stops, got to the hotel in Belfast around 3.30pm.

We stayed at the Wellington Hotel opposite the stunning Queens University. The hotel was OK, nothing fancy, above average breakfast, good size rooms.

Queens University, Belfast.

Everyone will tell you to book a two hour guided tour with a Black Cab .... there are several companies, and we chose Paddy Campbells' Black Cab Tour company to explore and learn about Greater Belfast's history. Our guide was lovely! He explained he was 5 years old when the Troubles started and still lives in the same area. He's raised his family here, and knows the area very well.

To say it's an emotional, chilling, hopeful experience doesn't begin to give it the credit it deserves. Check out their trip advisor page or Facebook page and read the reviews for yourself.

The murals are a constant reminder, as is the Peaceline (built to keep Nationalists and Loyalists apart),and there are still some gates to suburban streets that are locked at night. The memorial gardens in amongst the shops and suburban areas make one shudder - so many young lives lost, some in very violent ways.

Just one of the many murals.

Remember. Respect. Resolution. 

No matter where you stood, the gun followed you. 

A small section of the Peaceline.

Small memorial garden in one of the suburbs.

Clonard Martyrs Memorial Garden. 

The cages over the backyards were slightly uncomfortable to see. 

Murals with messages.

The other 'must-experience' place in Belfast is the Titanic Museum As it was Easter long weekend, we but our tickets online so we didn't have to wait in lines. The place was busy, but not overly so. We bought the audio guide with our tickets, and the kids pack - have to say, you don't need either. The self guided tour is very detailed, and the audio doesn't add anything to what you can read/see independently.

The building is very impressive on the outside; there's a great gift shop which is reasonably priced with a combination of Belfast, UK and Titanic items. We had a pleasant lunch at the cafe, which was also well priced (not tourist attraction prices).

Titanic Museum, Belfast.

The Europa Hotel was another 'must see' stops while in the city centre. It's claim to fame, aside from playing host to world leaders is it's the most bombed hotel in Belfast during the Troubles.  World leaders, peace makers and journalists used the hotel as their base and were often targets.

Europa Hotel, Belfast

Dinner was at Deans at Queen.  Lovely setting. Great bar. Pleasant service. Enjoyable meal.

Our other dinner was at Barking Dog. We ate our meal twice - one round of tapas wasn't quite enough to fill our tummy's, and it was all delicious.

Both restaurants have kids menus, but as both are very 'bar' oriented, depending on the age of your kids, eat early, and make a reservation as both are very popular.


Carrickfergus Castle was a fun few hours. It's a great example of a Keep. The kids questionnaire is fun to complete as it encourages you to follow the route thru the complex. Great way to keep the kids engaged.

Keep, Crrickfergus Castle

The Giant's Causeway is a highlight of any visit to Northern Ireland. It's Mother Nature at her finest. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Being part of National Trust UK, it's free for members, and not that expensive if you are not. Again, because it was Easter, we pre-booked our timed tickets (which we didn't need to do as it wasn't that busy).

We were here several years ago, and the new information centre is a fantastic addition. The building has been designed with the landscape of the surrounding area in mind, and inside there is a wealth of information about the areas geography, flora and fauna, history and legend. The gift shop has high quality, well priced items (we bought an Irish sheep - with black face, and postcards to send to Sydney)

After watching a few videos about the area, we collected our audio guides (one for adults and one for kids) and started the 20 minute walk to the Giant's Causeway, listening to the audio guides as we strolled.

Bay of Cows

Can you make out the Camel near the shoreline?
There's a great story to how it got there ......

The Giant's Causeway .... it's incredible to walk on something so old,
but as conservationists believe, maybe we shouldn't. 

This structure is known as the Giant's Organ.

The columns of rock tell geologists so much about the area
over millions of years.

Stepping stones all the way to Scotlan

You'll probably need to allow 2-3 hours at the Giant's Causeway, depending on the weather, and how far you choose to walk. Best to take a bottle of water to drink and light snacks, as there's no shops on the Causeway (thank goodness! Imagine how horrid that would be!)

It was lovely seeing people of all ages walking the Causeway, but it's no place for strollers/prams/buggies etc, and sadly I wouldn't say it's wheelchair friendly - tho there is a bus service from the Information Centre to the Causeway so it might be do-able. Probably best to make enquiries via the website.

You do need to be sure-footed, or have someone with you to help.

As the weather can change quickly, dress appropriately too.

A quick drive to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge for another unique adventure. Our second attempt to walk the bridge doomed due to an incredible thick fog. Many others were walking it, but we decided not to as you couldn't see much past your nose, so the views would have been missed.

The weather cleared and we drove thru the prettiest countryside dotted with ewes and their lambs - so many twin lambs!

The Dark Hedges has been popping up on my FB feed for a while as a tourist destination, and while we are the few who are not fans of Game of Thrones, we still went for a look.

The avenue is stunning, there's no doubt about it. The trees are magnificent! Shame about all the cars parked on the verge, creating traffic issues, and the hordes of pedestrians. All the tourist photos must have been taken at a time when the general public are banned from going.

We didn't park the car, but drove up and down a few times taking photos, dodging humans, and then editing the pics when we got home.

You've not done a road trip in Ireland or Northern Ireland, or England for that matter until you are stuck behind a tractor ........

One of several tractors we got stuck behind.
The farmers always wave you on when the road is clear.

There's so much more to explore in Northern Ireland, and while we've done other places in previous trips, and there's still more to do, these few days were very enjoyable.

Hope you enjoy your time in Belfast and surrounding areas,

With friendship
x