Showing posts with label Blogland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blogland. Show all posts
Moving onwards
It's been a eight year trip with this blog, which I set up to chronicle the move to New Zealand. Now KTandCoffee is morphing and can now be found over at Quinney&Hyde. Hope you'll head over.
April Love
And so summer begins to turn into autumn. The circle turning round and round. April is here and the leaves are falling, the garden is calling for a change, I've brought new boots and at last I have sat down to write. Another chance to join in with Susannah Conway's April Love and a month of love letters that may even see me blogging. Mainly though I'll be over on Instagram
Curiosity
But here I am with a new obsession. Something that has lighted my interest and curiosity.
Daily Guidance with this lovely lady
And heh , I've blogged again.
Best Book 2015
I may look like an avid reader. OK, I am and avid reader, but one with a poor memory as I have a tendency to skim reading. I track my books on Goodreads, this has a couple of advantages for me. If I'm in a book store and I think, now have I read that one…a quick look and I can know whether picking up that Clive Cussler or Lee Child book in a second hand store will be the next book for me. Admittedly, it is those two authors that this is the most handy of, but would work with the prolific author that you are into.
I also take part in the Goodreads challenge. This year I set myself the challenge of reading 35 books, I track the books on the site and build a great view like this of what I've been reading. Very handy when Susannah Conway then asks 'best book of the 2015' in her December Reflections, I can ponder my list.
I can ponder, but can I choose. There are books that link me to my very good friend Emma, such as The Summer Book, which I read in the NZ summer and added post-it notes of my thoughts and sent it to her to read in the UK summer. There there is the Ben Aaronovitch series which she introduced me to (one I would recommend) plus she sent me the gorgeous Principles of Uncertainty. Which was a wondrous, comforting read and I may well dive back into that book this evening.
Finally reading Brene Brown was a great part of 2015, I did connect with her and her ideas, I've put some of her ideas around leadership and feedback into practice and it started a wave of thinking in my mind that could take me on a journey in the coming year.
I read the story of the A303 while on the A303. Brought in London (with that said good good friend) and then read while travelling to Cornwall with the in-laws. Happy memories all round really (though my in-laws think I'm a bit odd for my constant reading). Relieving that right now, I read a lot while in Cornwall and it was a time I am very grateful for.
2015 also was the year I joined what seems a cult like following of the magical art of tidying up. Now parts are crazy, parts are wonderfully crazy, but my house is lighter and I feel better. I fold my socks and it does make sense. I'm nowhere near as sorted as she suggests. As we speak there is a huge pile of washing to put away that has been there for two days, there are yesterdays shppong bags strewn across the floor and let's not even talk about the bathroom. Even so, the book was great. Adam and I entered into the spirit of the clearing together and we have done well and feel better because of it.
So no favourite then, but happy memories, some good books, some OK books, some have been sent on, some will stay on the shelf for now.
I can ponder, but can I choose. There are books that link me to my very good friend Emma, such as The Summer Book, which I read in the NZ summer and added post-it notes of my thoughts and sent it to her to read in the UK summer. There there is the Ben Aaronovitch series which she introduced me to (one I would recommend) plus she sent me the gorgeous Principles of Uncertainty. Which was a wondrous, comforting read and I may well dive back into that book this evening.
Finally reading Brene Brown was a great part of 2015, I did connect with her and her ideas, I've put some of her ideas around leadership and feedback into practice and it started a wave of thinking in my mind that could take me on a journey in the coming year.
I read the story of the A303 while on the A303. Brought in London (with that said good good friend) and then read while travelling to Cornwall with the in-laws. Happy memories all round really (though my in-laws think I'm a bit odd for my constant reading). Relieving that right now, I read a lot while in Cornwall and it was a time I am very grateful for.
2015 also was the year I joined what seems a cult like following of the magical art of tidying up. Now parts are crazy, parts are wonderfully crazy, but my house is lighter and I feel better. I fold my socks and it does make sense. I'm nowhere near as sorted as she suggests. As we speak there is a huge pile of washing to put away that has been there for two days, there are yesterdays shppong bags strewn across the floor and let's not even talk about the bathroom. Even so, the book was great. Adam and I entered into the spirit of the clearing together and we have done well and feel better because of it.
So no favourite then, but happy memories, some good books, some OK books, some have been sent on, some will stay on the shelf for now.
Week Four. Park Four.
Just getting though the weeks is good enough for me. Yep, at that point again. Switching off has taken a back seat (how pitiful am I), but the parks we've kept going. Week four has us at the Botanic Gardens. It was one of those oh so summer days, grey, damp and threatening full on rain that turned into a warm, blue skied day that I was of course completely incorrectly dressed for.
The Botanic Gardens is a very popular spot at the weekends, it is great seeing so many people enjoying the walk around the plants. We pick a different route each time, depending on the season, our mood, the weather, our energy. Today it was the roses (but those pictures to follow), plus a sneak preview of the sculpture going up ready for the start of the summer season Sculpture in the Garden which has become a annual blog feature.
The Botanic Gardens is a very popular spot at the weekends, it is great seeing so many people enjoying the walk around the plants. We pick a different route each time, depending on the season, our mood, the weather, our energy. Today it was the roses (but those pictures to follow), plus a sneak preview of the sculpture going up ready for the start of the summer season Sculpture in the Garden which has become a annual blog feature.
Confession
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| Good morning from Monday, the start of a week off. So I can start my day with blogging rather than end it that way. |
OK, confession. Yesterday wasn't a complete success for abstaining from anything internet or device related.
Firstly, it's rugby and I live in New Zealand and while getting up at 4am to watch the game (a) against my goal for better sleep (b) a very bad idea as when I take that much interest the team I'm interested in tend to loose. I consider myself and interested bad luck charm. So I don't need to explain anymore there. Once checked the iPad went back into the drawer.
I then had a flurry of early activity, washing, cleaning, sorting, gardening, it was all go. I delivered breakfast in bed to the man and kept going.
We headed out for healthy lunch and shopping for our upcoming trip and all was lovely in the day, the sun was out, the washing was on the line.
Ah yes, we watched TV in the evening, mistake all round really as we argued over what to watch, then a friend turned up when I was cooking dinner and the man was watching TV, he kindly swapped roles, so I could chat and he cooked, we went back to the TV, but there was a problem with the streaming, so it all got a messed up. One good thing, a bad (OK very bad) habit I have is that I will be using the phone/iPad while watching TV. It may be Pintrest or photos, and yes it will be Facebook. I know I shouldn't I know it's bad. So at least last night the phone and iPad where safely out of power and on the shelf.
Next week back to a game in the evening (but there will still be the rugby - it is the final after all).
Since last week and re-reading this book I moved onto her second book on the same theme. While again, I skipped the parenting stuff and skim read sections, I don't particularly agree with her on many things or what she chooses to focus on, but what I do relate to and I think the main take home message of 'Be Gretchen'. I am meant to Be Katie and that is a good start.
A little aside but re-reading isn't something I do often, I read the first book back in 2011 and I am curious as to why I seem to be coming back to it but I am also conscious of a very different me that it is reading it. Curious.
There was more commentary on the 'stuff' in life and while I don't have hoards of clothes, why am I keeping the ones I don't wear. So into the box they go. We then both marched on the spare room and more sorting means the charity shops will receive some more wondrous donations next week.
Her chapter on January centred on 'time' and the resolution of 'control the cubicle in my pocked'. This did resonate, as a crazy list maker, with an inbox that gives me chest pain and a seemingly never end of jobs that I set myself I was interested in how she tackle this area. There wasn't any groundbreaking never heard it before ideas, but it does help to know you aren't the only one struggling with these things. She also has a device/internet 'thing' and does talk about her habits in this area. She mentions the 'device sabbath' ideas of switching off for a day. I did love the chap that doesn't even read non-fiction as part of it.
If you are interested in finding out more about these books and your own happiness project check out her website - Gretchen Rubin
Next up for me is final planning stage for our last minute trip to Queenstown, yes a week off and some time away to see the mountains and breathe the South Island air.
Crystallise
I have accepted the part of me that loves my career and work. After struggling with the concept of 'balance' in my life. The greatest moment came when I realised that I love what I do and it will be a big part of me for now. In making that step in my mind it also freed me to enjoy myself when I'm not at work. Accepting that I won't do all those 'things' on my list of what I 'should' do. Rather I consider what is most important right now and what is needed. Of late that has consisted of sitting and reading.
Having made that leap in the last year or so, now my career faces choices. I have been blessed and am extremely fortunate in my career, though I would also say I have worked for it.
Which way to go, what to do. I have been thinking (a lot). Would change mean failure or giving up, or is it about accepting what is right for me and where I can make the most difference.
My parents instilled in me the belief that I could do anything I set my mind to, which has stood me in great stead but made decisions a nightmare.
So in my turmoil and indecision I must have been channeling Steve Martin and The Man with Two Brains as this week brought some signs. (Do check out the brilliant clip here if you have no idea what I'm talking about).
Voicing my values to my what underpins my work and my passion for the future is the first steps. I am going to need to be brave in whatever I do from this point on, so being clear and definite, to crystallise what I believe and how I think I can contribute is step one.
Writing with Write Alm and the February Prompts.
Having made that leap in the last year or so, now my career faces choices. I have been blessed and am extremely fortunate in my career, though I would also say I have worked for it.
Which way to go, what to do. I have been thinking (a lot). Would change mean failure or giving up, or is it about accepting what is right for me and where I can make the most difference.
My parents instilled in me the belief that I could do anything I set my mind to, which has stood me in great stead but made decisions a nightmare.
So in my turmoil and indecision I must have been channeling Steve Martin and The Man with Two Brains as this week brought some signs. (Do check out the brilliant clip here if you have no idea what I'm talking about).
Voicing my values to my what underpins my work and my passion for the future is the first steps. I am going to need to be brave in whatever I do from this point on, so being clear and definite, to crystallise what I believe and how I think I can contribute is step one.
Writing with Write Alm and the February Prompts.
Hello December
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| Sitting with a cold, worn out and wondering, this seems like somewhere to start December Reflections |
Mind Palace
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| Maybe it is my mind palace, maybe it is just a picture that I like. Either way it is about me finding my way back to my blog |
Toots and the Price Tags
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| A fashion blogger in the making if ever I saw one. |
Thanks to this blog post which happens to be a great regular read for me on a saturday morning lazing in bed with the cat stretched out on me causing my legs to go numb. I was pointed in the direction of this - finding my fashion blogger name. Genius.
Toots and the Price Tags
I could go far.
What would your fashion bloggers name be?
Balance finding me
Some rather amazing things have been happening in my non work life and I'm beginning to feel that balance may be finding me. Not that I'm managing it very well, but nevertheless I am making progress.
First up, I was honoured to be collaborating here. This post was shared as part of the Weekends Collected. Thank you Leonie, Ive never written with the intention of being shared before. I was nervous but it was me and that after all is all we have and all we can give. I went a little into internet shut down. Rather than running with it and creating more, I ran and hid, made excuses and hunkered down into serious coffee drinking and reading. Forgive me.
Next up, a total bolt from the blue. A random phone call at 4pm on Tuesday tells me I have won second place in the Auckland Photo Day Competition, which is part of the Auckland Festival of Photography. Stoked does not even come close. Super excited, pleased as punch and totally blown away. Yep, the prize is cool, but wow, second place in a competion.
Wow indeed.
Now…any top tips for using a Nikon.
First up, I was honoured to be collaborating here. This post was shared as part of the Weekends Collected. Thank you Leonie, Ive never written with the intention of being shared before. I was nervous but it was me and that after all is all we have and all we can give. I went a little into internet shut down. Rather than running with it and creating more, I ran and hid, made excuses and hunkered down into serious coffee drinking and reading. Forgive me.
Next up, a total bolt from the blue. A random phone call at 4pm on Tuesday tells me I have won second place in the Auckland Photo Day Competition, which is part of the Auckland Festival of Photography. Stoked does not even come close. Super excited, pleased as punch and totally blown away. Yep, the prize is cool, but wow, second place in a competion.
Wow indeed.
Now…any top tips for using a Nikon.
Cusp. What every woman should know
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| From 2007, one of the oldest photos I could find. After my Masters and not in Brighton but in honor of the Go Red Campaigns |
In 2003 I started a Masters in Cardiology at the University of Brighton. The very first essay I had to write was entitled 'The anatomy of the aortic valve'. The aortic valve usually has three cusps, half moon shaped in appearance. I have no idea where that essay is anymore so I will stop with the lesson now, but Google can tell all you want to know about the valves in your heart. In 2005 I completed my masters and and I still work in cardiac care. Every day I care for men and women experiencing the effects of heart disease in one way or another. Let's think about the women.
From the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Campaign
General statistics
- Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined.
- Heart disease causes 1 in 3 women’s deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every minute.
- An estimated 43 million women in the U.S. are affected by heart disease.
- Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.
- Since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease.
- The symptoms of heart disease can be different in women and men, and are often misunderstood.
- While 1 in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, 1 in 3 dies of heart disease.
- Only 1 in 5 American women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat.
- Women comprise only 24 percent of participants in all heart-related studies.
For us here in the southern hemisphere the New Zealand heart foundation also have a Go Red campaign they estimate about 7 women a day die from heart disease in New Zealand.
So back to the cusps. This page (also thanks to the American Heart Association) is a great for start for learning about your valves but for starters have this picture while I go look for that essay. Writing with the June Prompts
Getting around
What to do on a rainy day, well, finding old draft posts and tweaking them slightly is one option I guess. This post first formed several years ago after finding one of my photos on someone else's blog, this made me think about my growing internet use - Pintrest, Flickr etc. Guess now you have to add Instagram and Tumblr to the list. Blimey.
Not sure why I didn't deem it worthy back then, maybe I thought I would find lots more 'bits of me' but I haven't looked again. I don't tend to worry to much about my photos being taken, maybe because I have such a low readership and my photos aren't that good. I think the best of everyone, maybe naive, maybe optimistic, maybe I figure life is a bit too short....Anyway, enough rambling. Given I wrote this back in 2010 I thought I should check the links - not all working but I've left the original draft and added comments in italics.
Well here (link not working anymore) from a trip to Memphis, and if you scroll down a bit on this blog (working and still credited to me) there is a mosaic photo I made of our potted Christmas Tree. My Nigella mincemeat photos and blog seem to have made it to this site! (now this one is looking very odd, and clearly not my mincemeat photos but I didn't stay there very long). A photo from the aforementioned Memphis trip was added to the Schmap (still there, hurrah) site, they asked in advance and it was rather exciting, but you have to really hunt to find my photo now. As for the networkedblogs site, I had no idea really (still not much of an idea).
Well here (link not working anymore) from a trip to Memphis, and if you scroll down a bit on this blog (working and still credited to me) there is a mosaic photo I made of our potted Christmas Tree. My Nigella mincemeat photos and blog seem to have made it to this site! (now this one is looking very odd, and clearly not my mincemeat photos but I didn't stay there very long). A photo from the aforementioned Memphis trip was added to the Schmap (still there, hurrah) site, they asked in advance and it was rather exciting, but you have to really hunt to find my photo now. As for the networkedblogs site, I had no idea really (still not much of an idea).
Yellow
As I wandered about in Blogland last weekend I came across this colour project, initially through this website. Why not give yellow a go I figured. I ran around the house in a mad fit with the camera last week and then a final fling today. I don't think that is how it's supposed to work but never mind. Next week: Pink.
The Long Weekend
It wasn't that long ago I wrote about the wisdom of New Zealand and the public holiday on the 2nd January now here I am a few weeks later 'celebrating' Auckland anniversary with a long weekend.
There is no great story or adventure to recount. Our visitors that were planning to come Friday afternoon for the weekend cancelled at the last minute - and the bed had looked so good.
A Sunday spent really lounging in bed adventuring into Blogland. From a link from a link to a list from a link form a blog I read - that I have now frustrating lost as I wanted to share them all here. Deeper and deeper I went. Travelling in my pyjamas. I did save one link though..
A joyous post where nursing home residents re-created famous movie scenes . The whole website is a dream.
We spent a fair amount of time on the continuing garden project but I also made my first bacon and egg pie (thank you Southern Man Cookbook). I think it's a bit of a kiwi thing and I have eaten it before, but my own was of course far superior!!
I also made some mince pies. Yes, in January, in the summer. I made a healthy batch of Nigellas, rhubarb mincemeat back at Christmas time, so what's a girl to do. I didn't make the pastry - let's blame the weather - far to humid.
There is no great story or adventure to recount. Our visitors that were planning to come Friday afternoon for the weekend cancelled at the last minute - and the bed had looked so good.
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| A good amount of this |
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| And some of this while working hard at Blogland adventure |
A joyous post where nursing home residents re-created famous movie scenes . The whole website is a dream.
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| Our pallet that would be decking project moves along... |
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| Bacon and Egg Pie |
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| My mother's inspiration for my pie letter topping - she always made roses! |
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| There was of course time for this. All in all the weekend made for some happy days and lots of sleep. |
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