Author: Joanne

chocolate · music · son

With Gentle Music in my Mind…

JoanneLeave a comment

Words escape me today.

No, allow me correct myself; the words are present, lyrically bouncing along in my mind to the tunes of the songs I listened to yesterday afternoon and last night.

It’s the written word which escapes me, so I will rhythmically share with you the music playing in my head!

How could I ignore listening to the final few songs of the “Top 100 Love Songs”, featured on television late yesterday afternoon when I arrived home?

My super cool, thirteen year old son joined me, singing along to the songs, as I listened, amazed yet again, at his knowledge of songs recorded decades before his birth.

Adam and I shared chocolates whilst singing along to romantic melodies….”I Honestly Love You” from Olivia Newton John, “How Deep Is Your Love”, the Bee Gees, “I Will Always Love You” sung by Whitney Houston (from the movie “The Bodyguard”, Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” and the number one song of the countdown, from the movie “Titanic”, Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On”.

Romantic songs over chocolates with your son ~ it doesn’t get much better than that!

My musical interlude continued later in the night with the discovery of the 2011 “Grammy Awards”. Not a big fan of rap music, although rap is big right now and does appear to have many fans, I persevered through the rap, to be later rewarded by hearing “Lady Antebellum’s” smooth, lyrical voices.

Towards the end of the Grammy’s, which didn’t finish screening here in Australia until nearly midnight, came the artist with thee song…Barbra Streisand singing one of the most beautiful songs of all time, “Evergreen”.

In case you missed it, here is the song I’ve had playing over and over and over in my head, all day long!

Barbra Streisand, “Evergreen”…

I managed to find an old Barbra Streisand CD in my cabinet this morning, which went out in the car with me this morning. Evergreen (track 9) was on constant replay!

The realities and practicalities of life continued as they always do today, all day long, but oh, how much easier realities are to contend with, with a beautiful song spinning around your mind! 🙂

(Photo Credit)

Australia · nostalgia

In History Today ~ Dollars and Cents Introduced in Australia, (Amongst Other Things!)

Joanne4 Comments

“In come the dollars and in come the cents

To replace the pounds, the shillings and the pence,

Be prepared, folks, when the money starts to mix

On the 14th of February, 1966”.

And so went the jingle, to the tune of “Click Go the Shears”, during the weeks leading up to Australia’s change in currency.

Yes, yes, yes, I know; it’s Valentine’s Day today! There’ll be enough love spinning around the internet today, without me adding my “penny’s worth”, or perhaps “two cents worth”!

So, dear reader, you’ll probably not hear this story anywhere other than here!

Today, I wear the hat of the “individualist”. Everyone else can take the high road and I’ll take the low road and we’ll all still arrive at February 15th in the same way!

Some may arrive there more broke than others, having spent a small fortune of their dollars and cents on materialistic impulses, in an effort to impress someone they love.

Perhaps this is the point where I should be yelling out “Bah, Humbug!”, even though it isn’t Christmas! But really, I ask you, why can’t we say “I love you” every day of the year?

Today is the anniversary of a momentous, monumental and unfortunately, probably forgotten memory, a day in history, lost in the depths of an ocean filled with a million bunches of perfumed roses.

It was forty-five years ago today when confusion began to reign supreme, when no one could work out the equivalent of what, in our currency, so everyone admired the shiny new coins, featuring Australia’s native animals, instead.

The change over period of pounds, shillings and pence to dollars and cents lasted many years until eventually the old currency was completely phased out.

It is a rare occasion today to see any money from the old system.

So there you have it, my reminder that today is something more than just Valentine’s Day, especially in Australia!

Footnote ~ Any contributions of roses to the author would be greatly appreciated, the real and scented variety, that is. And afore said contributions need not be limited to just one day of the year! (I’m not that Scrooge-ish!)

On a more serious note, please read a story of family love, here…. And tell those who mean the most to you “I love you”, not just today, but every day. xxxxxx

Australia · summer · Tweed Valley

Sunday Afternoon

Joanne6 Comments

This afternoon, my trusty little camera and I took ourselves outside to see if we could find one of our infamous and stunningly beautiful sunsets.

Hmm, no such luck today; however, we did manage some very pretty photos.

The moon has made an early appearance. Well, either that, or it has been hanging around visibly in the sky all day! Either way, my photo came out rather well, I thought.

Afternoon Moon

The northern sky is a brilliant blue right now, but the southern sky is sporting some rather grey clouds.

Southern Sky

Whilst standing in the shade of a massive Poinciana tree I had a trial run of taking a series of photos pointing the camera directly into the sun. This photo is my favourite.

Setting Summer Sun

As the weather begins to cool down, (I’m sure it will, very soon!) my camera and I have made a deal to take our walks further afield than our own garden. Who knows what we may find! 🙂

Uncategorized

Weekend Hiatus

Joanne4 Comments

I’m thinking today that it seems like a great time to have a weekend hiatus ~ from the computer!

I’ve had such a productive day today, both at home and out and about. It seems a shame to stop my body from moving, to sit at the computer.

So, today is a short, but hopefully sweet post and tomorrow will be the same.

But just for the weekend. Just while the motion of my body has picked up some momentum, regardless of the heat!

I’m off to vacuum out my car now. Yes, it’s all repaired and registered, with a brand new windscreen label, proclaiming it to be driveable for the next twelve months! For being such a brave little car, whilst at the repair shop, it deserves a treat. 🙂

advice · gratitude · happiness

Live the Life of Your Own Creation

JoanneLeave a comment

“All is well. Everything is working out for my highest good and out of this situation only good will come. I am safe.” ~ Affirmation, Louise L. Hay.

Back in June of last year, whilst a guest writer at the Calm Space, I wrote an article entitled “The Wondrous Power of Our Thoughts”.

During January and February, the lovely Káren, editor of the Calm Space, is re-running some of her favourite articles from the past three years and she has given me the honour of again sharing one of my articles.

Thank you so much, Káren! 🙂

The topic of the power of our mind is one that I am rather passionate about. I truly believe that we all actually have control over our lives, through our own thoughts.

If my health fails, I ask myself what is bothering me.

If circumstances in my life are not as I wish them to be, I re-run my thought process of the preceding days.

More and more, I rely on the Universe and my own instincts to guide me through every day.

Why not try it for yourself? Follow your instincts and listen to your heart. Go with the flow and follow whatever journey you find your life leading you towards.

Believe in the strength of the power of intention and suggestion. Allow affirmations to guide you and show gratitude for the miracles you encounter along the way.

Have faith in yourself, believe that your own intuition will guide you towards the right path in life, the one that is just right for you and pay attention to the wonders that will unfold before your eyes.

When learning to mould your life through your own choice and intentions, some changes will become evident immediately, whilst other changes may take a little more time.

Be patient, while “The Wondrous Power of Our Thoughts” weaves its magic into your life.