Friends ...

We all remember our first childhood friend. The one we woke up excited to see inside the school gates. Play dates filled with adventure, confidences and laughter. 

Even now, as adults, our friends remain a hugely important part of our lives, from sharing problems, asking for advice, uncontrollable laughter and good times, sharing our life events and proudest moments, our friends help each of us define who we are.

Friends are better for us than all the self help books and protein shakes we could consume

If we want a rich, healthy, nourishing life ...

We need to go out of our way to be with our friends

That's it

That's where life happens

We've been having a lot of talks in our house recently with our children about friends and about values. 

Values and skills like respect, caring, kindness and justice. 

Recently whilst searching for something totally unrelated I came across this blog post On Friendship which was written about me ... I was humbled to read how Deb saw me as a friend and re assured as I navigate my way through parenting my children and the importance of their friendships and how to manage conflict within their friendships I was hopefully teaching through example ...

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have and one of the best things you can be xxx

All Of The Senses

Visiting:  Rotorua for the weekend 

Eating :  Pulled Pork and Coleslaw, picnic on the side of the road in Huntly

Drinking :  Cups of tea from the thermos 
Reading:  Listening to audio stories of Famous Five as we road trip to Rotorua
Pondering: Crazy Crazy Friday afternoon peak hour traffic 

Buying:  Gondola Rides and Luge rides x20 

Enjoying:  Watching the childrens confidence grow with each ride down the track 

Yelling: At the idiots on the chair lift in front who stood up and rocked the chairs until the luge fell off, thus freaking my wee girl to the point of no return and not continuing her rides - ggrrr  

Making :  Picnic lunches to eat lake side inbetween adventures 

Deciding: Whilst Rotorua is incredibly expensive with its tourist prices, it can be done economically 

Wanting:  To do all the things with these 3 gorgeous kids 

Admiring:  His braveness after being stung by a bee, whilst watching for any reaction 

Remembering:  My first visit here as a child and the memories of holidays in Rotorua

Wondering:  What they are getting from this ...

Smelling:  Like sulphur

Wearing:  A Smile and Mud

Needing: Absolutely nothing at this particular time, but maybe a shower after this experience

Feeling:  Absolutely petrified of heights, however, going up anyway

 Waiting:  Until dusk to experience 'tree tops' so as to get day and night without the children staying up too late 

Marvelling:  At this wonderful feat of engineering

Looking:  At the faeries once the sun set and the lights were on  

Noticing:  How she LOVES motorbikes

Watching:  Her smile and run towards the bikes

Remembering: the days before children when Mr B and I would spend every weekend on our bike

Laughing: 2 adults, 3 children, 1 weekend ... so much gear  

Hoping:  They had a good weekend full of memories

Missing:  My Mr B ... We had planned (and paid) this weekend away before we knew he was heading to America for work
Thankful:  Sara and Max were able to join us and enjoy a weekend away   

I Feel Loved .. .. .. So So Loved .. .. ..

It's been an amazing birthday week ...

Surprised (to the best of their ability) with not one but two 'not' surprise surprise parties ... 

My friends and family made me feel so loved and appreciated.

Surround yourself with people who make you hungry for life, touch your heart, and nourish your soul.

Good times, crazy friends (or is it them that has the crazy friend?) and amazing memories of an incredible birthday week ...

Thank You 

And the very next day I achieved the challenge I had set myself ... 

Leg Press 200kg on my birthday week ...

I am thankful for my struggle (injury) because without it I wouldn't have stumbled across my strength - Physically and Mentally - 

I am strong

An Extra Long Weekend In Sydney

Friendship is one of life's greatest treasures. Friends that are loyal are always there to make you laugh when you are down, they are not afraid to help you avoid mistakes and they look out for your best interest. This kind of friend can be hard to find, but they offer a friendship that will last a lifetime.  

So when we received an email to say our German friends were coming to Sydney ... We didn't think twice about booking our flights and meeting them there.  

Meeting whilst staying in the same resort twelve years ago in Rarotonga ... We have managed to catch up in Germany x2, Portugal, New Zealand x2 and this weekend in Sydney.  

Toasting marriage, friendship and deciding when and where in the world we will all meet next.

  

After a morning of shopping we took in a musical at the Theatre Royal, introducing Merrin to her first ever musical/theatre.  I have promised to go to a Rugby game in return!

Walking almost a half marathon in a day of ticking off all the tourist spots and Opera House photo, it had to be done

After a busy full day previously we soaked up the chance of a two hour train trip to the Blue Mountains, taking in the magical breathtaking sights and riding the worlds steepest train.

Friends who've seen and done so much together ... Travelling through Europe: cruises n campervans (where she first met our German friends), Love, divorce, births (she was my birth partner when I had Miss P) and deaths, we've done it together.  

Life is too short for serious and when the two of us are together - serious is not even an option - my sister from another mother.

Life Lessons I've Learned Whilst Riding A Bike

I’ve been spending a significant amount of time on my bike lately, more so over the past two weeks. Not only is it good exercise, it is also a fantastic way of getting around and discovering the city I love.

When I'm on a bike, I forget so much. I forget about my troubles. I forget about my never ending To Do list. And even though I'm watching my speed and distance, I often forget about the time.

There's a lot going on in my head when I'm riding, so much to focus on, so much is happening throughout the ride, it's hard to let my mind wander to the less enchanting situations currently in my life (and believe me they are there)

There's clarity which comes from all that focus. It's like therapy:- therapy that gets me out of my car and out of the gym, therapy that gets me into nature, therapy that burns 600 calories an hour, therapy that gives me great looking legs.

Beyond cycling, I've learned a few other things, as well. 

• Eat at least an hour before the ride.
• To pedal through the top of a climb.
• I can push myself to be better than I was yesterday.
• Two ponytails are cute, but one ponytail stays out of your face.
• Cyclists are good people who will stop to help a stranger.
• How to say Hello to strangers (this is massive for me)
• One water bottle is not enough.
• I can always find a cafe on my ride

• Sometimes I can't see the wood for the trees but I just need to stay on track and keep going 
• Riding with a friend keeps me going ... “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with a friend"
• Riding with a tracker (i.e. Strava) keeps me honest.
• When I ride, I'll experience pain in at least two places: my neck, and my butt ... I consider these valuable training for life ... In life I will come across people who will give me pains in both of these areas.

• Be aware of my surroundings ... whilst I can 'fly' over handlebars, I can't fly ... I am not Tigger ... I don't bounce well
• There are people who care about me, good people ... find them and trust they have my best interests at heart. They make life a lot better.

And the number one thing I've learned about riding a bike regularly.

• You forget how old you are when you're on a bike.

Despite the dangers, near misses, soaking clothes, ... the sense of freedom that comes with owning a bike never, ever leaves me. As the truer saying goes – “you’re only one bike ride away from a better mood”.

Rainy Days and Opportunities

Good friends will come out ~ Even on rainy days ~ If we need shelter

Today ~ This was our gym 

Judges Bay to Achilles Point 

Life is a climb ~ But the view is great

Last week there were days when I felt like a little girl standing on the edge, wondering if I was good enough.  Where I felt too fragile to bounce back yet again.

Today I stood on the edge with my beautiful friend by my side, breathless and laughing.

You can't be sad whilst riding a bicycle 

Riding in the rain ~ Exercise, therapy and a shower all at once 

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass ~ It's about learning to ride in the rain

17.3km mostly in torrential rain, mostly with me singing at the top of my lungs

Pure happiness ...

Taking Stock - January - it's all about Family n Friends

Enjoying: Time with family family family 

Liking: This bunch of people

Watching: My children with their cousins and grandparents

Feeling: Loved 

Family: Together again after a 3 month overseas holiday

Celebrating our extended German Family: Together again after ... too many years

Loving: How each time we meet it is like we were never apart

Understanding: Very little German no matter how much beer I drank 

Reading: Knitting patterns

Making : Baby Milo Vests (x4)

Wanting: Interchangeable circular knitting needles

Buying: Interchangeable circular knitting needles

Deciding: Knitting is a great way to deal with anxiety

Noticing: my garden

Listening: to my girls cackling

Waiting: on the fruit all to ripen

Eating: fresh from the garden

Cooking : BBQ's every night

Drinking : So much wine we ran out and had to do an emergency trip back into civilisation 

Loving: This bunch of friends and their children

Wishing: Her a very happy birthday

Looking: At my Mr B and laughing 

Watching: My girl and her friend and smiling

Loving: This opportunity to be 4 days away from the grid (apart from when we ran out of wine) 

Smelling: The BBQ .. .. ..

Wearing: My togs and feeling 99.9% comfortable in my skin

Needing: The coolness of the river in the heat of the day 

Getting: Wet !! !! !! 

Feeling: Neil the eel swim past my legs _eekk_

Admiring: This piece of land in the middle of nowhere

Feeling: Completely relaxed and happy

Looking: At handmade quilts/love on our camp beds