The battle of Melbourne

Today a battle is going to be fought. Two men, neither friend or foe, will stand across from each other and draw their swords. It won't end in death but someone has to lose. One will gain a title.
Both have much more to fight for. The camps are divided. The Champion has many followers from many nations who will rise to support him. The Mighty Challenger has the weight of the support of a great nation who covert a grand trophy to be returned to their land for the first time in 74 years. Supporters can lift you up or they can crush you -which will it be for these two?

As the sun descends over the Blue Battlefield the white battles lines will beckon the warriors and their supporters towards it. Once the coin is tossed you must know your mind. Shout your support for your chosen warrior and paint yourself in his colours.
I know my choice already. The Champion Federer has my unwavering support. Long may he be number 1 ! To war!

As January draws to a close

It seems January is going to pass me by without me having achieved very much at all. Maybe that's not entirely true. I've managed to stick rather vigorously to my healthy eating plan since Jan 2. I'll let you know more about that on Monday (30 days later). That is a rather impressive achievement given it was my birthday and the fiance's this month.

I've got so much I'd like to achieve this year. Yesterday I made a conscience effort to start writing the book I've been meaning to write. I did some writing. Nothing book worthy but it's a start. The exercise did manage to get the creative juices flowing and the ideas started flooding my head just as I drifted off to sleep last night. Note to self: put notepad next to bed so bestseller ideas don't melt away as the Morning Sun rears her pretty head.
I'm going to try dedicate 3 hours a day to writing. Whatever comes. That's 21 hours a week. Certainly manageable till I find a day job and then I'll have to get very disciplined with my time. My motto worry about things when they actually start to happen not in case they do.

I also want to buy a bicycle. I need to find myself an exercise I actually enjoy. Walking is boring unless you can get out into the bush or the mountains and actually hike. Running, mmm, not my thing but maybe one day the urge will strike. I think cycling would be fun. There are some great routes around this neighbourhood and I need to do some exploring to learn the area anyway. For now, I guess it's walking, walking, walking for me. My Tae bo DVDs arrive soon and then I can add a little kickboxing into the mix. Might have to find a time when nobody is around to watch and laugh though. Mastering these routines takes time you know. Sometimes I feel as uncoordinated as a Giraffe in a ballet class.

Well February, are you ready for me?

Saturday Sunshine, Scrabble and Stoney Ginger Beer!

I think my favourite breakfast in the world has to be Eggs Benedict. Mmm Mm mMm. I love it! I needed to up my Protein for an intense Scrabble Battle. Apparently I needed more than Protein. I got my ass kicked. Time to get googling with some Scrabble winning tips. I will be Scrabble Queen. Serious.

Allowed myself to be consoled with half a glass of Stoney Ginger Beer. We've found a local South African shop. Yay! When the need for Stoney, Creme Soda, Ouma rusks, Pecks anchovette or even a heaven forbidden Tempo arises - it'll only be a short hop, skip and a jump away.

Do you remember how much fun skipping used to be when you were a kid? I'm not talking about the jumping with a rope kind. I'm talking about the skipping that was halfway between running and walking fast, almost jogging I suppose, and then lifting you knees up towards your chest. Probably more of a little girl thing. My memory feels like it was an effortless exercise. I think I might go have a skip around the garden. When the sun goes down. 32 degrees in the shade right now.

Famous homemade chicken curry for party dinner tonight. My significant other's birthday today. And as a special treat we are going to make Don Pedros for dessert. For my non-Saffa reader's you have to try a Don Pedro.

Have a fabulous Saturday!

Made it!

All the checks have been done. No wrinkles. No grey hair. No arthritis. Made it to 34.
What's next? Tomorrow. I'm ready for you.

Whose Birthday is it?

It's getting mighty close to my birthday and I've been pondering a few things. I've always loved my birthday. Never been one to worry about getting older. I just love birthdays. Not just mine either. I love being able to spoil other people on their birthdays. A friend of mine calls me the birthday fairy because I don't often forget a birthday and tend to remind everyone to wish the birthday person. I know so many of my friends like to forget it's their birthday as they are getting older but could never understand it.

Birthday Fairy has a message for you : it's my birthday on Tuesday.

Consider yourself reminded.

Ramblings

I've been thinking about things to write about only to discover I have nothing to say. What do you write about when you never leave the house? I'm beginning to doubt the existence of an outside world. I think I'm starting to feel an inkling of what it must be like to be stranded somewhere all alone with only a basketball to talk to. Sounds like a movie you've watched. I've at least got my Fiance and his family to talk to. Sometimes though- when his parents are at work and we are both absorbed in our separate tasks - hours can go by without any words being spoken. Do you think you'd forget how to speak if you didn't for an extended period of time?
It's like the question : 'If a tree falls in the woods and there is no-one around to hear it, does it make a sound?' - does it?
So if a blog is written but not read, am I blind?

I fear I'm going mad. I was warned this might happen. Let the madness take its toll.

Monday Morning

and I sure feel fine. Yup, I've got that Fleetwood Mac song in my head and I feel like dancing. I'm down 3kgs in total now - after only 9 days. Simply Slim works and I suppose it does help that I drink about 18 glasses of water a day along with my green tea and I'm eating healthy, small meals. No exercise yet but baby steps People. I'll get to it.

So I'm determined to start my week in a positive and proactive fashion. I'm expecting great things from myself this year so I better get started helping that greatness find me.

Have a good week. I might be back later today if I think of anything of importance to discuss.

Sunday Bliss

Another beautiful day and it's a Sunday. Still my favourite day of the week even though right now all the days seem to be flowing into one another.

10 days in to 2010. It's my little sisters' birthday today.

Let me tell you a little about my little sister. She is 5 years younger than me. Shorter too. Dark brown eyes that go black when she's angry. Brunette. Passionate and feisty - you want to stay on her good side. And if you are then she will be the most loyal friend you could find. Beautiful, fiery, loyal, loving, funny and not a bad cook. Her husband is a lucky guy.
I think I'll leave it there - never good to give away too many family secrets. Especially when there is a Sicilian strain in the family - and I already mentioned that it was better to stay on her good side right?

Happy Birthday Little Sister!

Perfect timing and getting rich quick

It would seem that we chose the perfect time to get out of Edinburgh. Gathering from the weather reports on BBC news and Facebook the whole of the UK is frozen. Here I sit in our dining room with a big glass of icy water next to me and the aircon on full. I must admit it is a little overcast but no rain and still 24 degrees.

Today I've been on a mission to find ways to bring in money. Besides working on my CV and hunting on the job sites - I've done a little Googling. Typing in 'Making money online' produces all sorts of ways to supposedly do just that. Some I'm sure are legit and not scams but some sound too good to be true - which means the aren't. You can spend your days completing surveys, type, learn all about Internet marketing or dabble on the stock market. One guy is even giving away free information on how to earn up to $1200 a day just give him your e-mail address and if it works you can come back and give him a donation. Turns out this is something to do with online gambling and this guy really made his money from using AdWords. Maybe it works but I'm not much of a gambler.
Only one that seems simple and for real - though it is never going to make me a rich - is AdSense. I get paid whenever someone clicks on an advert on one of my blogs. I'll be a millionaire before I die at that rate with my 1 blog and 9 followers.

Oh well as my Grandmother would say 'Save the pennies dear and the pounds will save themselves.'

Bouncing off the walls!

I feel like the Energiser bunny! I've had so much energy today- Loving it.
We were woken up early this morning by the Crows. They really are the most tone deaf birds on the planet. CAW CAW CA CAW is not the sound you want to be waking up to at 4am in the morning. Especially when there is more than one and they are trying to harmonise. I need a humane way to make them leave our garden never to return. Any ideas?

I did discover that the sun is already shining quite brightly at 4am. After being sun deprived for the last 3 years it is nice to see her again. She is pretty hot I must tell you.

How has your week been?

2010 Detox of mind, body and soul

This is a year of big adventures in my life. New Country. New Job. New healthy lifestyle. All new. It is a little scary but exciting at the same time.

I'm three days in to my healthy lifestyle change which has involved popping a little pill (Simply Slim) every morning, eating healthy and drinking lots and lots of water. This pill promises to detoxify your body and assist with weight loss. All 100% natural. The detoxification process hasn't been too brutal. Bouts of nausea and a thumping headache but they do warn that this will happen in the first 1 - 3 days. I'm already down 1.6kgs this morning so I'll suffer the headache - thanks very much. My sister-in-law-to-be is cooking up what she is calling an extravaganza feast tonight. I've heard mention of Lemon Meringue pie. My favourite. My willpower is strong. I will not succumb to the evils within the Pie. Watch this space.

Next on the list is finding a way to bring in some money. I know everyone wants to work from home but how do they achieve it? I wonder if I could make money by blogging full time. Any ideas welcome.
In the meantime I'm getting the CV up-to-date and searching the job sites for my dream job. You know the kind I mean - great office vibe, lots of money, very little stress and flexi-time hours.

So far this year is going pretty well. Long may it continue!

Once in a Blue Moon

2009 ended with this beauty of a Blue Moon. I thought it deserved the centre of attention on this my 100th Blog. May 2010 bring many more magnificent sightings.

Happy New Year!