Sunset Chasing
29 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Travel Tags: antarctica, australian sunset, chasing sunsets, debenham island, debenham island antarctica, jan goldstein, life can be this good, lincoln city, longreach australia, lover of sunsets, point hicks australia, sunset beach, sunset beach usa, sunset chaser, vernazza, vernazza italy
I love sunsets. Maybe it has something to do with being a ‘night’ person. Sometimes I can see the sunrise through our bedroom door. A quick glimpse and I roll over and go back to sleep.
Sunsets are different. I look for them at the end of the day and enjoy them. They refresh me.
I am not alone. I read Jan Goldstein’s book, ‘Life Can Be This Good’, and he and his wife, Bonnie are sunset chasers and sunset lovers as well.
Here are a few of my favourites for all the other sunset lovers out there.
Sunset on the Thompson River at Longreach in central Queensland, Australia in September 2004.
This is sunset at Debenham Island, 67 degress south in Antarctica 2010. It was the furthest south that Peregrine expeditions had been. Such a beautiful February day and evening.
A gentle sunset at Point Hicks, Victoria, Australia in 2010.
Sunset looking across the bay in Seattle USA 2010.
Sunset at the aptly named Sunset Beach in Washington State USA. Had prawns and salad on a very cool evening.
Caught right at the moment of setting at Lincoln City, Oregon, USA 2010. I chased sunsets all the way down the west coast of the USA as the sun does not set over the ocean where I live.
Fishermen loves sunset fishing. Here is one at Vernazza, Italy in 2011.
And last of all, sunset from outside my front door in Australia, 2011.
Hidden Joys of Travel
28 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Travel Tags: arles france, bucket list, capella by the sea brookings, google is not god, heart photos, jan goldstein, joys of travel, life can be this good, local knowledge is gold, ravello to amalfi, tlingit show Sitka, travel lessons
My husband and I are not alone in our love of travelling and exploring new places. We only go on tours when it is too hard to go alone, like Antarctica, or when language is a real problem for us, like China. Otherwise, we plan our own itinerary.
Like many Australians we go on grand adventures of four to seven weeks because the rest of the world is a long way away.
Sometimes travel can be like a bucket list. Been there. Seen that. Tick it off. Now to the next place on the list.
After years of exploring the world, here are three lessons I have learnt. I take them with me every trip and now I share them with you.
Google is Not God
Google any town or region and Google will give you thousands of pieces of information on it. Look up the town’s tourist website or any TV travel show’s website or Trip Adviser and you can plan your accommodation and itinerary.
I like that for general information but I also like to leave space for the unexpected.
Google is not God. For me, local knowledge is gold for finding the unexpected. Read the local guides. Talk to the B&B and hotel owners and staff. Be curious about everything around you. Then take their advice. You may discover the junior ‘running of the reluctant bulls’ in Arles. You may enjoy an early morning walk from Capri to Marina Piccolo, the long walk around the valley from Ravello to Amalfi, the Tlingit show in Sitka, the Capella by the Sea in Brookings and many more delightful surprises.
Local knowledge makes your experiences unique, colours your world and pleases your soul.
Take Heart Photos
With the advent of digital cameras and video, you do not have to be selective in the photos you take. For many of us, we will not be back to this place again. It is easy to take so many photos that you forget to put the camera down and be present in the experience.
Before I read Jan Goldstein’s book ‘Life Can Be This Good’, I called them ‘mind photos’. Now I prefer Jan’s term – ‘heart photos’.
Heart photos are the experiences of times when you had no camera with you like the Sunday evening religious procession in Amalfi. They are the ones when nature or the experience is too big and special to capture in a photo like the mother killer whale with a baby on her back as they passed just under the surface near our zodiac off Vancouver Island. Maybe it is the comical one-hour show of the Prada staff opposite our café in Capri arranging and re-arranging their window display millimetres at a time.
Your heart smiles, you mind provides the vivid pictures and God and the Universe are pleased that you noticed their gifts to you.
It is a 3600 World
I love the quirky and the little things that many others miss. So I stop and look up, look down and look all around.
While walking down the steps of the Eiffel Tower, I saw it. Underneath the lift was a platform and on it a re-creation of a lift driver and his operating booth from the 1890s. Up and down he goes and no-one else on the stairs stopped to look at him. It was a whimsical treat and a little bit of French history.
I look up as we explore the streets of Hobart and I see a stone baby doll permanently fixed to the roof of a house. Why? Who knows! Maybe it is just there for the observant to discover and enjoy.
We are on our way to Point Barrow on a private hummer tour. I am the first to see it. The driver guide does not believe me. We stop and there it is – a polar bear in the wild making its way from one small iceberg to another as it slowly comes ashore. We watch for ten minutes. It is a private nature show for four people.
You do not need to go travelling overseas to make the most of these lessons.
Talk to the locals, take lots of heart photos and look 3600 to experience the magic that is all around you.
Looking Up – Photos of Things You Can Easily Miss
25 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Travel Tags: eiffel tower, hobart tasmania, looking up at rooflines, mt rushmore, napier museum, napier new zealand, nelson's ship in a bottle, photos of high things, st chapelle paris, st tropez, statue of liberty 4 july tablet, statue of liberty tablet, trafalgur square, ushuaia argentina, young endeavour sailing ship
I love looking up on our travels. Sometime you can see things that other are missing. And sometimes you get great photos.
Just noticed this doll statue on the roof of a house in Hobart in Tasmania Australia. Served its purpose as it gave me a big smile.
Lots of people cacth the lifts up and down the Eiffel Tower in Paris but do you see this man? We were walking down the steps from the first level when I noticed him. A little bit of french whimsy and history with the statue of an old-style operator under the two-level lift. He never takes a break and never gets a pay rise.
Took this photo in 2008 at Mt Rushmore. I like the angle.
Yes I have played a little with this photo and put a ‘sphere’ effect on it. There really is this giant head and hands peering over the top of the museum at Napier in the North Island of New Zealand.
If you look up when you walk around Trafalgur Square in London you can see a giant ship in a bottle. It is Nelson’s ship. The pigeons love it too.
Did a Tour of The Statue of Liberty, New York. Had to do a steady zoom to get this close up of the 4 July Tablet on a beautiful clear day.
Some people never leave the waterfront and shopping area of St Tropez. If you wander more around the town, the seafront or up to The Citadel, you can get some lovely photos of the rooflines, especially on a cloudless day.
My favourite church in Paris – St Chapelle. It has the most beautiful stain-glass windows.
The Young Endeavour is a sailing ship for young teenagers and young adults. There is always work to be done, even when it docks at Hobart in Tasmania, Australia.
Fitting that this ends with the mileage sign in Ushuaia, Argentina. Not far to the Fin del Mundo (the end of the world) for those of us who live in the southern hemisphere.
10 Reasons to Celebrate Being Short
20 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Lessons from Life Tags: celebrate being short, driverless cars, front row of photos, soothing the ego of a shorter partner, spend on high heels
With so much hype about supermodels, it is time the petite women of the world stood up to be counted. If you like me are about 5 ft or 150 cms tall, here are ten reasons to celebrate being short. with a dose of tongue-in-cheek humour.
1. You have an excuse for approaching good-looking men in the supermarket. Of course the item you want is always at the back on one of the top three shelves. When there is not even a taller woman in sight, you use your highly developed skill of climbing the supermarket shelves like a monkey.
2. When minis are in fashion, the dresses are a respectable length for you. Even three-quarter length pants can become ankle-length on you. The money you save on alterations can be spent on high-heel shoes.
3. You can take more clothes on holidays as your clothes take up less space. You can also pack in more shoes for your tiny feet. Suddenly there is space left over for all the new clothes you intend to buy.
4. If desperate, you can shop in the kid’s department. Well, that works up to the age of 30. After that, forget it. Who wants to look like an aging Miley Cyrus?
5. You never have to worry about soothing the ego of a shorter partner as 99.9% of them will be taller than you. Then you can wear high heels to your heart’s content.
6. You never have to duck under low branches or low obstacles. This one really does hurt if you get it wrong.
7. You can have fun frightening the life out of people who think the car coming down the street is driverless. This works best when you drive a big car rather than a small to medium-sized car.
8. If no one else loves you, little children do. You are just the right height to play with them.
9. You will keep you children happy (especially your sons) as it will only be a few years before they are taller than you. Actually most children over 10 are taller than you.
10. You always get to be in the front row of photos. This may be a two-edged sword because all of you is on display, especially on the day you choose to wear that short skirt. Sometimes you may want to hide in the middle row where only your face is visible.
There are many more benefits to being short. So stand tall, walk confidently and smile knowing what fun the rest of the world is missing out on.
Market Day
31 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Lessons from Life Tags: active contributor to society, friendly recoignition missing, market day
(This was one of a series of monthly articles I wrote in 2003 for the magazine ‘Succulent’ which closed down quite a few years ago. I believe the idea of extending yourself to new experiences is still relevant today.)
This month I took a chance and did something different. I took a stall at the local Markets. (Not here. These markets are in La Spezia, Italy.)
The week before I had checked it out. It wasn’t far from home, didn’t cost much and I could come on whatever weeks suited me. I tried to stay cool as I was told that I had to be there between 4.30 to 5 am to get a reasonable spot for a 6 am start.
I was going there to generate leads for my second love. It’s my new venture into multi-level marketing of a product that fits in nicely with my main business. An additional bonus is the opportunity to spend mother-daughter time together with my mum on a joint project to record her family history. (I have since left that business.)
With encouragement, support and some borrowed items from my upline, I was quite excited about experiencing a different kind of work. Saturday night was spent organising and packing the car. The weather forecast said ‘showery periods’ –whatever that means. I packed some old towels, plastic bags to protect my display items and a rain jacket to throw over the table.
Up at 3.30 am. Shower. Is that rain I hear as I get out the shower? Yes, but it will pass soon. Breakfast. Pack the water and snacks to keep me going. Dress. At 4.35 am I reverse out the garage and off to my market. It’s still dark but not raining.
I’m amazed to find that at 4.45 am most of the stall holders are here and almost set up. By 5.30 am the first of the people are arriving to shop for their fruit and vegetables. A short shower at 6 am sees me covering up items. The kindly man beside me offers me space in his truck if it rains harder. But it stops and I set up again.
This is a whole new world for me and I am a keen observer as I wait for customers. It’s an overcast day but that doesn’t stop the people from coming. Many come not only to buy but also to exchange friendly conversations with regular stall-holders. Maybe that friendly recognition is missing from our large shopping centres.
I learn from the friendly man beside me that you have to be persistent. You have to stick at it so that the shoppers learn to trust you and know that you are there for them and not just out to make a quick dollar. My neighbour was very proud of his products. He and his wife worked hard during the week to produce the best quality plants for their customers. He inspired and reminded me that pride in your product makes you walk taller and speak confidently to those you meet.
I’ve read that there are 400 million entrepreneurs in the world. Not all of them are out to be millionaires. Some at the markets make enough money to support their business for the next week. Some make enough to have to work only this one day a week. Some sell excess product and some buy cheaply elsewhere and sell for profit here. Some are creative and they spend their week in making things or growing plants to sell on Sundays. People of all ages are here and many come for the friendships they make with other stall-holders.
In 2003, our Prime Minister said that people will have to keep working up to the age of 70. He thought that they would work in regular week-day jobs. I see many of them here working their way and not the way anyone else thinks they should. At the markets many people are working not to be rich but as a reason to stay active, alert and alive. The money is a supplement to the physical and mental health of being an active contributor to society.
Sore feet. Sunburn. I took the sunscreen but forgot to use it as it was overcast. A headache as I also forget to drink enough water at regular intervals. A few leads to follow up. Immense pride in myself that I’d risen at 3.30 am and lasted till 12 noon. I’ll be back. I want to be a winner like the people around me. Where others have gone, I can go too. If you stay and extend the hand of friendship, others will teach you how to survive and thrive.
PS – Yes, I did go back a few more times. These markets have since been replaced by a Shopping Plaza.
Simple Roasts
31 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Recipes Tags: cooking with wine, garlic recipes, roast beef, roast lamb, roast pork
Garlic butter, wine, stock & herbs are my basis of all my roast meats. The alcoholic content of the wine evaporates in the cooking and you are left with a delicious flavour.
Roast Lamb – I use 375 ml beef stock, 125 ml Cinzano Rosso, garlic butter (see recipe) & dried rosemary.
Same cooking procedure as French style Roast Chicken.
Roast Pork – I use 375 ml chicken stock, 125 ml white wine, garlic butter (see recipe) & marjoram or oregano.
Same cooking procedure as French style Roast Chicken.
Roast Beef – – I use 375 ml beef stock, 125 ml white wine, garlic butter (see recipe) & oregano.
Same cooking procedure as French style Roast Chicken.
French-style Roast Chicken
31 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Recipes Tags: cooking with wine, french roast chicken, french-style roast chicken, garlic chicken, roast chicken recipe
This is my base recipe for roasting meat. Garlic butter is an important part of it. I do not stuff chicken or any meat. I like my food unfussy and reasonably healthy. The alcoholic content of the wine evaporates in the cooking and you are left with a delicious flavour.
- Chicken of any size (either thawed or fresh)
- 100 ml white wine (Cask wine is ok. I usually use unwooded chardonnay. Any dry white wine will work.) Pour a little more in a glass for the cook to check that the wine hasn’t gone off.
- 375 ml of chicken stock (made with boiling water + one heaped teaspoon chicken stock)
- Garlic butter (see recipe)
- Dried tarragon leaves
Method:
Put chicken in a roasting pan
Use two small skewers to skewer up the opening in the fresh or thawed chicken so it is not messy inside when it is cooked
Pour over chicken stock (I add a bit more wine if the chicken is over 1.8 kg)
Then pour over the white wine
Break up bits of the frozen garlic butter and add generously in each corner of the roasting pan and all over the chicken (quantity depends on how much you love garlic)
Sprinkle dried tarragon generously over the chicken and in the liquid.
Put in 2000C oven.
Drink extra wine in anticipation of a great meal.
After 30 mins, baste by spooning the pan liquid over the chicken.
Repeat at 1 hour mark and turn oven down to 170-1800C
Baste every 15 mins after that.
Allow about 90 mins for 1.6 – 1.8 kg chicken and about 2 hrs for larger chicken.
Take out and serve (I am not into this ‘rest the meat’ caper. You do it if it works for you.)
Use leftover cooked chicken for tomorrow’s chicken pasta or chicken & pineapple pizza.
PS Garlic butter & wine are my basis of all roast meats.
Garlic Bread
31 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Recipes Tags: garlic gread recipe, garlic recipes, gqarlic bread
This is our Saturday night or special meal staple.
- Bread Stick (I like Woolies multi-grain sourdough seed & grain loaf bread. You can use whatever bread you like.)
- Garlic butter (see recipe)
Method:
Soften garlic butter.
Cut breadstick or loaf of bread into required number of slices. (I slice the bread & freeze it in small packets; so I only have to take out & thaw what I need.)
Spread garlic butter on both sides of breadstick slices.
For a crunchy crust, put the slices in a brown paper bag (a kid’s lunch bag is ideal)
For a soft crust, wrap in alfoil.
Put in the oven at 1000 C or 1100 for about 30 minutes.
Take out when ready to use and eat.
Resigning as General Manager of the Universe
07 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Lessons from Life Tags: dose of everyday courage, everyday courage, general manager of the universe, resigning as general manager of the universe, self-appointed general manager of the universe
I was reading Marci Shimoff’s ‘Happy for No Reason’ when I read that she was resigning as General Manager of the Universe.
Ouch! I thought. That is me too. It was a lightbulb moment; so I wrote this for me and all the Universe’s General Managers out there.
I have resigned from my self-appointed position as General Manager of the Universe.
Sometimes when life gets to feeling ‘ugh’ I run back to my old position. God takes my hand and gently leads me to the front door and says ‘Margaret, I have enough General Managers in here without you coming back. Off you go and follow your new path.’
With a small dose of everyday courage, I step ouside and dive into life again.
Permission to Succeed
07 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Lessons from Life Tags: control of your future, goal focus, mind shift, permission to succeed
I remember as a child when the local Youth Club was first established and my parents encouraged me to join. The choice of activities was mine. So at 11 I became a marching girl, at 13 a hockey player and at 16 I started to learn judo. I only realized it recently but when I joined both my parents and the instructors gave me their permission to succeed. All the youth club members were learning to play to win – to achieve awards and win competitions. There was no shame if you lost. We just never went along for something to do. We were there every week giving 100% and striving to achieve our personal best.
When I was a teenager, my dream was to be a teacher. It came apart when my father died unexpectedly. A year later again my mother gave me her permission to succeed by telling me that if I won a teacher’s scholarship she could find the funds to help me achieve my dream. I had a goal – something to focus on. Study had a purpose and not once did I believe that I would not achieve it. Someone who cared about me believed in me. Like a child on a swing here was the push. It was up to me how high I flew.
Can you remember coming home and telling your spouse, partner, parent or family member that someone mentioned an interesting business option you might like to follow up. If the response you got was ‘go for it if you want it’, you also got that permission to succeed. The doubts disappeared and you went for it. I’ll bet you got it because that belief in you propelled you forward.
A number of years ago while teaching I took over looking after the school’s four hockey teams. Each Saturday as they boarded the bus an hour or more before the game, it shocked me to hear them discussing how many goals they would be beaten by. No one had given them permission to succeed. When they saw I was serious about making changes, their responses amazed me. I had aimed only to improve their self-esteem. Giving them permission to succeed and permission to win brought back many club players who were not currently playing for their school. It had the girls seeking out great coaches and it energized the parents into giving generously in all sorts of ways to support their daughters and me in building teams of winners. There was a mind shift and our goals changed. Four years after I started we had a premiership winning team and 56 girls who were proud to say they were school hockey players.
Giving yourself or someone else ‘permission to succeed’ is the most powerful gift you can give.
When you are tired out and pressured at work, the days seem never-ending. You want to make changes but may fear the unknown. Stop! If there’s no one else who will give you permission to succeed and permission to win, you CAN give it to yourself. Permission to succeed at whatever you set yourself as a goal has the effect of giving your life meaning. There’s a reason to bounce out of bed in the morning. There’s a reason to learn that new skill. There’s a reason to revitalize your work, your family or your relationship. You become determined to find a way to write that new script for your life. Having put the intention out there God, the Universe, the Angels (whatever you believe in) gets to work to help you with opportunities and ideas you would not have thought possible before you gave yourself that permission to take control of your future.
My husband and I six years ago bought a Lilly Pilly plant. The label stated ‘shrub – maximum height 2 metres’. We planted it in the front garden. Four years later given water, sunshine and a sunny position, it was at least 5 metres tall and still growing. A beautiful shrub/tree given permission to succeed just grew to its maximum potential. Plants can’t read. Be like our Lilly Pilly. Ignore the labels on your life.
If you have that secret dream or are unsure what to do next, give yourself ‘permission to succeed’ and see what happens.
Words of Gratitude: This article was inspired by a talk by Iven Frangi recorded on an early Business Swap ‘Sound Advice’ CD. Amongst other points, Iven spoke about the CEO of Porsche giving his Research Department ‘Permission to Perform’ and then Porsche won Le Mans 4 years in a row.
(This was one of a series of monthly articles I wrote in 2003 for the magazine ‘Succulent’ which closed down quite a few years ago. I believe it is still relevant today.)
