Blogging 101

Mu’oozings

Steve2 Comments
The young African ladies of Mu'ooz
The young African ladies of Mu’ooz

Mu’ooz in Tigrinyan (the language of Eritrea and parts of Ethiopia) means tasty and healthy, and that’s just what it was. Anne and I had dinner with 4 friends last night at the Mu’ooz restaurant in West End, Brisbane. The restaurant is a not for profit social enterprise. The aim of Mu’ooz is to create employment, training and work experience opportunities for refugee women from Africa. My favourite dish was Mbisi, which is slow cooked goat with garlic, capsicum, green chilli and herbs. www.muooz.com.au

Like any good restaurant, the food is only as good as the Chef, and that’s where “Outback Matty” comes in. I had walked past the kitchen and noticed a rugged Aussie looking bloke wearing a “MasterChef” apron. I couldn’t help myself. I had to ask him if he was one of those celebrities from the TV cooking show – I was a bit star struck! Sure enough he was, appearing in the Australian MasterChef professionals series in 2013.

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.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Steve4 Comments
It's a nice little office
It’s a nice little office

It’s a nice little office really, but I’ve spent the past 36 years in workplaces just like this – all quite nice, but am I happy and fulfilled? Not really! Words from the Clash song immediately come to mind – “Should I stay or should I go?”. Anne’s post has already answered that question. We have decided to run away together. Whilst it will be sad to leave the close friends I have made at work, a world of opportunity awaits….and let’s face it – its only for 6 months. Continue reading →

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.