Author: Anne

Travel essentials: Sarongs, Baking Trays and a Leatherman

Anne18 Comments

P1060956A sarong has always been an essential travel item for me.  Not one of those gauzy little numbers that wouldn’t fit across my hips.  My sarong is strong, opaque and expansive.  Of course the sarong is great for the beach and I know that there are a 100 ways to tie it into some fancy dress.  I do use it like that but it’s the other uses that make it essential for my bag.   The sarong has a multitude of uses:  a dressing gown, beach mat, towel, picnic rug, table cloth, a sheet on dubious beds, scarf, modesty covering for temples, mosques and churches and it’s a great creator of shade.  I’ve even wrapped my dirty laundry in it.  It takes up next to no room in the bag so how could I not take it?

My friend Kerryn tells me that her travel essential is aluminium baking trays and Continue reading →

What’s this blogging thing you’re doing Anne?

Anne4 Comments

During the Christmas holidays I said to Steven “let’s start a blog for six months while we’re not working”. He’s kind of used to me making random suggestions, that seemingly come out of nowhere, and jumping on board. We didn’t know anything about blogging but we’re always keen to try something new. In the last month I have learnt so much: I can reply to comments, Screenshot (1)know what a widget is and have made a customised header using Picmonkey. I have become obsessed with wasting time watching the stats page to see how many views we’ve had. We’ve discovered that blogging can be a great couple activity. After 28 years of marriage we are learning to communicate in a completely new way and that’s fun.

Now I’ve joined Blogging 201, a WordPress course for newbies like me, and they’ve asked me to Continue reading →

My Inner Road Rager

Anne4 Comments

I’veP1060765_edited been cycling to work most days for  a year, a round trip of about 15 km, not bad for a 58 year old. It’s been a challenge for me. I’ve never enjoyed exercise but started leisure cycling when we moved to Brisbane  8 years ago. I’d enjoyed riding a bike as a kid so to me it was the least painful way to do some exercise.

On holiday in 2013 I was cycling with a group of women who were in their 70’s and they made it up the hills. I didn’t. This challenged me Continue reading →

Wedding Rings and Canoe Paddles

Anne5 Comments

imageI love a good wedding, and Felicity and Job’s was one of the best. It was a spectacularly beautiful summer’s day as they married in the chapel at Sanctuary Cove. The glorious weather was truly appreciated as the day before had seen a deluge of rain resulting in closed roads due to flooding.

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How wonderful to see families and friends come together for such a joyous occasion. The chapel was full of children laughing and smiling, I’m so glad they were included.

It’s such an honour to be invited to a wedding, to share that special time when a couple make their commitment to each other. Felicity and Job had written their own vows and the heartfelt expression of their love for each other, and their hopes for the future, ensured many tears Continue reading →

Drowning in documents

Anne3 Comments

imageThis week I discovered an unusual way to get to know people.

As I have said, one of the major reasons for this blog is to develop the discipline of writing often so that I will actually complete the book that I am committed to. It’s the life story of my friend, a Forgotten Australian, so called because they were abused and neglected in institutional care. The working title for that book is now Not Forgotten, who knows what it will be called eventually.

This week I received the medical records from the practise Continue reading →

Choosing the perfect travel bag

Anne6 Comments

I have an obsession with finding the perfect travel bag/purse. My wardrobe is littered with bags that were good, but not good enough to deserve a repeat trip. The bag has to be big enough to carry a jacket or cardigan, and of course my ipad, umbrella, glasses, emergency first aid, maps etc but not big enough to be bulky… after all Steven carries the heavy stuff. Of course it has to look great.

imageA shoulder bag always slips off my shoulder, and a cross body feels awkward. My preference is for a backpack but sometimes having your bag on your back is not the safest. It also has to durable and not black (life’s too short for black handbags). So I was excited to find this Sakroots bag which adjusts easily from crossbody to backpack. It’s made of tough easy to clean canvas, its light and I love the design and colours.  I like that I can read about the artist that created the bag and that my purchase helped to support native birds in Arizona.

imageThen my travel bliss was made complete when I stumbled across this navy Mosey wallet that converts to a tiny bag… perfect for those times when you want to take out nothing more than money, cards and phone.   Not only is it cute it’s also made from LITE Leather and recycled PET bottles.

Two bags, both with a story. There ends my first and probably only fashion blog!

The Enduring Book Club

Anne2 Comments

Book ClubThe enduring book club has been meeting now for about ten years. We were originally all connected through our work but our paths have now separated. There were a few more of us, but now we are just five. We are all counsellors, psychologists, case managers and social workers. We plan to meet about once a month….. but it usually ends up with a bigger gap as we struggle to find a shared date that fits. We sometimes remember to talk about the book.

I love this warm, funny, smart, caring group of woman. It’s a safe place to talk about the challenges of our work, to get suggestions and Continue reading →

Honouring the Psychologist’s Chair

Anne3 Comments

The Psychologists ChairThe psychologist’s chair is unassuming and a bit dirty. The grey fabric is the sort chosen by manufacturers when they know that a chair will get plenty of use and limited care. It’s not particularly comfortable and doesn’t invite you to linger or rest, but it is functional. For the last six years this chair has been my constant companion, and it has steadfastly held my clients as they have wept, grieved, fumed, hoped, planned, dreamed and laughed. Never once did it falter.

As I look at the empty chair, waiting patiently for the next client, I am reminded of the courage it takes to sit in that chair.  Of my brave clients who come to meet a stranger,  sit, share what hurts most and what they hold most precious. Then they to come back and do it again and again until the focus becomes the future, plans are made, change happens and laughter bubbles.

Thank you chair, I will miss you and your twin that I sit on.

Blogging 101

Anne7 Comments

Hi

My name is Anne and, with my husband Steven, I am about to run away from home. We have decided to take six glorious months off work and are currently counting down the days until 30 January, 2015 our last work day.

I’m a psychologist and while I passionately love my job, it’s time for a break, to see the world through fresh eyes and to spend time on creative activities….including starting this blog.

I have a passion for stories of leaving and finding, for understanding how people make changes in their lives.

I am part way through writing a book, about a woman who is one of the “Forgotten Australians”, and it’s important that her story is told. To do this I need to discipline myself to write regularly.  I am hoping that blogging will refine my writing skills.

Running away will lead us to new pursuits and places starting with New Zealand, Australia, China and Taiwan and hopefully provide us with many blogging opportunities.