Why blog

Disclaimer: This post is one I have unashamedly stolen from my "other" blog. I wrote it and then decided it would be perfect here for Monday Musing (and it is even a Monday) but wanted to keep it where it was written too. If you happen to read both please feel free to ignore! Or maybe skip to the very end because I do have something to add on there!

"People have been keeping diaries for years. Centuries even. Hmm ... 'centuries' might be a slight exaggeration. I can't really think of the earliest diary I have read or heard about. Although clearly this became more likely once literacy levels were improved and the means to physically write became more easily accessible. Regardless, can you imagine how different history would be to study if more ordinary people had kept diaries in years gone by?

I don't know about anyone else, but I think of keeping a diary and my automatic mental image goes to a young girl. Similarly, I think of someone writing their memoirs and I think of an old man and probably one who was in the military. I also have a vague picture of a sick mother writing her story for her baby who she may not see grow up. I  have to admit when I think of someone who blogs, I think of a woman automatically and probably one with children. Clearly these are all stereotypes! And I am in no way suggesting most people fit these moulds. I would be very disappointed if they did. But it is just funny the way you get embedded with stereotypes even if you don't mean to be!

I did a fascinating assignment on the diary of a Victorian working-class woman years ago. (Embarrassingly, I can't remember her name. I was very pregnant with Erin at the time. This is my excuse and I am sticking to it). I also remember being inspired to keep a journal of my all activities when I was about 9 after reading someone Lady Baden-Powell had always kept one. I kept this up until I was about 14 I think. (I am sure this will be very useful for writing my autobiography one day!). I've read 'The Diary of Anne Frank', perhaps the most famous diary of all, and a number of biographies and autobiographies. Some of which I am sure were written with the help of people's personal diaries.

But regardless of this publication of diaries and journals and letters, did any of them really ever think what they were writing was going to become public property?

So this all brings me back to the question of why blog? I have to admit I feel a little egocentric thinking that anyone will actually care about the waffle I write on here. And of course, I had to start not one but three blogs.

The flip side of this is, I love reading other people's blogs. Just about the random stuff they say and do. However at times this feels incredibly voyeuristic. Especially when I was in the 'lurking stage'. By the lurking stage I mean when I was reading blogs and reading the regularly, but didn't follow them. In all fairness, at that stage I wasn't following any blogs but this is not the point. (Hello to any lurkers I may have, please feel free to say hi). This information is obviously in the public realm and I assume people like to have their blogs read, so I am not feeling bad about this!

So why do I blog? For me I think it is about getting back into the feel of writing for fun. For enjoyment, after years of writing for study. It is a way of feeling validated. That I have something worth saying (and I don't know why my lovely followers keep reading and keep commenting, but it really makes my day when you do! Thank you). And now I am at the point where I think I am ready to start writing down some of the stories that have been haunting me for years, blogging has been a way for me to begin to write regularly. There is instant gratification with a blog post!!

Damn.  Now I have finished this, while I was re-reading (yes I do re-read even though it might not seem like it) I have a horrible feeling I may have written something like this before? I am going to hit 'publish' anyway though because I am sure it is so fabulous you all want to read it again! (Humour me on this one).

So blogland friends. Why do you blog? And how on earth to you keep track of what you have written about before and what was just something you were thinking, but never actually blogged about?"

This blog is for a slightly different purpose. The other reasons hold true of course, but this is the journey of something specific and the idea is that it is helping with motivation. Plus it is such a big thing for us that I think it will be fun for us to look back and see how and why we did things!

Ode to Lela

Firstly I would just like to say, that I am a little annoyed. Today is Monday. Therefore I had a legitimate reason to waffle about what ever 'philosophical' stuff I wanted to. Do you think I can think of anything? No. So instead I thought I would do a belated Valentine's Day-ish tribute to my co-Two Mummy Ducker and to our friendship. Partly because I thought of it and partly to see if she is really checking in to see what rubbish I am writing on our joint blog in our joint names! (*waves* Hi Lela).

This is post is really about one particular aspect. I could write for ages but I would sound stupid and you would all begin to wonder what I had done that I was sucking up to her about.

But I think my favourite thing about our friendship is that in addition to being able to tell Lela everything, I love that we can share our excitement over whatever our latest scheme is. Whether we are planning on doing something together or separately. We can share, get excited and then, after we have been excited, we can talk about details and realities (or otherwise about what we are planning on doing).

For example:-

1. Hundreds of ideas I have had for various books (so far none have been completed but Lela has sounded supportive about every one).
2. An investment club (I have posted about this previously if you are interested. Definitely joint enthusiasm! Both times).
3. Lela's business (I hope I was enthusiastic! And definitely a successful venture).
4. Virtual bookclub (recent plan. Will let you know if it works).
5. Two Mummy Duck adventuring (we are having fun so I think this counts!).

These are just a few examples, but yesterday's 'adventure' I think was one of our stranger ones. And please note, I am using the term 'adventure' very loosely.

Lela's sister-in-law is starting as a consultant for a company that sells, amongst other things, body wraps. Lela is a lovely supportive SIL and has agreed to have a party. Not only that she is so excited about these products that she has got me excited and ready to book a party before I have even seen them!

They are beyond cool. I lost more then 4 cm off my stomach (around my belly button) within a few hours. So clearly her enthusiasm was justified. But we must have looked insanely funny. The children were very confused about all these women getting gladwrap around there tummies. Then we are all rubbing them for best results. My youngest watched with great interest as I carefully re-marked my stomach so I can measure again this afternoon and at 48 hours and 72 hours!

We will update you later on how it all goes from that point of view. What made me smile the most is the wonderfulness of having friends who uplift you and encourage you and laugh with you rather then the ones who drag you down. Our heads are allowed to be in the clouds for a little while before you need to plant your feet on the ground. And being grounded doesn't mean you can't dream!

Achievements!

I know I have blogged here before about perspectives and for some bizarre reason this blog at the moment is about me musing, but for the moment you will just have to make do with that! Realistically, this was a ten(ish) year goal so I guess it is not surprising that the actual TMDing is going to slow down sometimes.

Sometimes I need to set myself long term goals. Sometimes I can only cope with short term ones. You know, like get out of my pyjamas or do the dishes (I struggle with do the dishes, but I would happily live in my pyjamas).

I got my six monthly statement for the TMD bank account today! It doesn't have a lot in it. But wow! We have an account. With real money. It feels like a goal achieved! The simple act of changing a dream into a goal is an accomplishment in itself. Well I think it is anyway.

Other things I have achieved this week:

1. A fortnight of work. There was no annual leave or sick leave on my last pay slip. After the last four months this is a major achievement.
2. Someone gave my other blog an award! So excited.
3. I have survived the rollar-coaster journey of the last 32 years of my life and have come out realtively unscathed! And I am looking forward to the next 64ish (hopefully more. I am planning on living until I am 108).
4. I helped my babies through the loss of a beloved pet.
5. I have blogged.
6. I spent a whole day gardening (this was actually a week or two ago but was such a big thing for me that I am going to mention it anway).
7. I  have started back at circuit class.

What have you done this week? Remember to celebrate your achievements. It is much more fun then feeling bad about what you didn't get done.

Cath xx

PS Yes, at the moment I am using the Monday Musing label rather loosely! When we start blogging more about other things I promise I will cut my musing back to one day a week!

Self Fulfilling Prophecy

This post probably would have made more sense in early January, but I am claiming it as being one of the first few days of the New Year in the Chinese calendar, or reflection as I approach my birthday and enter a new year for me. Really you may justify it anyway you like! Or I guess, as this is my blog, it pretty much means I can waffle as much as I like (and that I am the only person to blame if you all stop following to me as clearly I just talk too much about nothing. I am like this in real life too. Just ask Lela).

But back to the point. After much consideration I have decided this year is going to be awesome. Why you may ask? Three simple reasons. First 'Twenty Twelve' is just simply much easier to say then 'Twenty Eleven'. I feel this bodes well.

Secondly, I just knew it was going to be a fabulous year once I found out it was the Chinese Year of the Dragon. (See? My opening paragraph did have some relevance) and I just love dragons. I don't know when or why this started but I actually have quite a nice little collection of them. It also makes it easy for people to get me presents when they have no other ideas!

The final, and most important, reason is I simply believe in self-fulfilling prophecy. If you believe things are going to work out, in most cases they will. A lot of the time it is all about your perspective. Clearly not always, but a lot of the time it is.

If anyone is still reading, wishing you a very happy year of the Dragon (even if I am a few days too late!) and I hope 2012 is a year where you get to make some of your dreams come true!

Cath xx


PS Apologies to anyone who also follows me at Mummies Are People Too. Halfway through writing this I couldn't out which blog this belonged on so decided to post it on both. I have also realised this should really have been a Monday Musing post, but because you are all special, you can all have it on Friday instead!

Happy New Year!

And welcome to 2012 ... year for change, a year for planning, a year for inspiration and a year for achievements. You may be asking yourself what I am basing these brilliant observations on. Actually not much. Other then faith and determination and an unfailing belief in self-fulfilling prophecy of course! 2012 is going to be wonderful because we have decided it is going to be!

Looking forward to reading about other people's dreams and plans for 2012 and beyond!

Catherine
xx

PS I know this is tagged as 'Monday Musing' and that technically it is a Tuesday, but yesterday was a public holiday. This is my excuse and I am sticking to it.

Speechless

Warning! This is not a joke. I should probably provide the disclaimer that I mean speechless for me though. This may or may not be the same thing as speechless for a normal person ;)

I have been all worded out. After a week of holidays I think I have talked myself out. Or maybe my brain is on strike knowing it has to go back to work tomorrow? And uni next week!

We are on the look for inspirational blogs though. So if you know of one for making/saving money. Or one on someone's life-changing journey (literally or metaphorically). Or just a lovely happy blog please let us know! And if you are someone who reads our blog and who has yet to say hi or follow us. Please feel free to do so.

Have a wonderful week people!

Cath xx

Phew ... Just made it!

Hello dear followers. Just when you thought I might have forgotten it was Monday ... here I am with another week's musing! I admit I almost forgot! Not to post, but actually almost forgot it was Monday. I am on holidays (and yes I am very excited about it!) and we all know how easy it is to forget about the date/time/day when you are holidays. Before you get too jealous, it is most definitely a 'staycation'. My new favourite word of the moment!

So I am at home this week. Planning on some excursions with my little ducklings. Planning some serious cleaning and re-organising. Both physical cleaning and sorting but also of the more paper based side as I look at my finances and at some "challenges" I am setting myself for the next year or so. I have been a Girl Guide for too long I think! I have worked out I do thrive on setting challenges that can be "mapped" and "followed". Why I didn't start blogging about things years ago I don't know! Just think of all I could have achieved. I am sure all I could have accomplished twice as much if I had been keeping some sort of record. Hmmm ... definitely something for me to think about! Just the little we have started with our Two Mummy Ducking has inspired me to look at so many other areas of my life!

Also planned for later in this week is a TMD plus duckling sleepover. So expect a post about this one. And also our long awaited and often mentioned post about our first official adventure.

Until next Monday ...

Cath xx

Getting down to basics

I am in a bit of an organise-my-life type phase at the moment. I do this periodically. I know I go a bit over the top, but when I settle down a bit I am always in a better position then I was when I started even if I don't stick to all my good intentions. I am not going to bore you all with details here. If you are interested I am sure I will post on my blog at some point about it. (I haven't yet, so please don't check! Well, I would love you to check my blog of course but not for this reason. Right, now that is "clear" ...).

I am looking at my fitness, my general health, my house, my plans (long term and short term), my dreams, my career, my studies, my finances. These are all deliberately "mine". Obviously my girls feature in them all but at the end of the day they are my decisions. I am the mum and it is my job to look after them! And take responsibility for the way our lives are going. And to bring them up so that one day they can do the same.

For the purposes of our Two Mummy Ducking, obviously at this point the setting financial goals are important! I have been inspired by what we are doing here to work out ways of better managing my money in my real life too! So now we (and this we is me and Lela) are on the search for any good blogs about how to manage/make/save money better. If you have any suggestions please let us know. We would love to hear from you :)

So that is my musing for this Monday. I feel I was less vague this week ;) ... until next time!

Cath xx

Flash!!

Don't you hate it when you have a sudden random thought and then it is gone? I had the best idea for my "Monday Musing" post this week, but I was at work and too busy to even start a post. Now I can't remember what it was. It could have been brilliant! In fact, I am sure it was, but now we will never know.

So instead I am going to share my favourite quote of the moment:

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort".

This just makes me laugh! I like to think I am a positive person, most of the time. And while it isn't actually my intention to annoy people with it, I would rather annoy people with non-stop positivity then non-stop complaining.

[**disclaimer** Acquired from a facebook friend who I am sure got it from somewhere else, so please take this as my acknowledgment that it not my original thought. I am not sure why I felt the urge to say this when I am not sure I have any other time. Argh. Too much thinking for this time of night].

That is my random waffle over for another week. Unless I remember what my original thought was! Maybe there will be a "Waffling Wednesday" as well as a "Monday Musing". (Please note, this a joke! I would not subject you to that! I have another blog for those who want to read my waffle on a regular basis).

Until next time peoples. Stay happy .... you never know who is falling in love with your smile ... or being annoyed by your positive attitude ;)

Motivation ...

... or lack of. It happens. Sometimes it is high. Sometimes it is not. As long as it all happens, it is all good. Right?! For our three loyal followers, please do not be disheartened if you do not hear from us in a while. We are still here!

I have a magnet that I tried very hard to take a photo of for this blog. It didn't want to come out and play but it says "Life is what happens when you are busy making plans". As you know from my love of quotes, you have to take what is written on fridge magnets seriously. And we are busy enjoying and living our lives as well as making plans! We have a couple of posts in draft format so stay tuned for those and if you want to know what is happening in the rest of our lives check out Lela at It's All Good ... and Catherine at Mummies Are People Too!.

Until next time :)

Cath xx

Monday Musing .... on Tuesday ;)

I have pretty much worked out 'Monday Musing' is just an excuse for me (or Lela if she is inspired to as well) to write a post about whatever comes into my head. Consider this your warning! This post is waffley and really has no point :)

Today I don't have any inspirational quote. Nothing has sprung to mind and plus you might be sick of me philosophising by now! Today I am musing on my muse. I fell in love with history when I was about 6 or 7 and I took out a book from my school library on children in 'olden days'. It really was the olden days late nineteenth history I think from memory. Then a children's book followed on English history. The story I remember was of one of the boy kings and a whipping boy for when he got into trouble! (I can't remember which king it was now.) Followed by the story of the princes smothered in the tower.

A few years later, my mum gave me some Jean Plaidy books to read. I must have been about 10? Maybe even younger. I was hooked. After high school, I went on to study history at university (specialising in European and Australian history) and completed my Honours thesis on a topic about late nineteenth century England.

The point of this waffle isn't to point out how much I know. If anything it is me reflecting on how little I know. I am only too aware of how little I have really studied. I grew up reading not only a Enid Blyton, but a lot of other children's books from around that era. Many years of reading, fiction and non-fiction, has given me a mental image of what it is like. So, for those of you who bothered about reading my musing to the end, the question is, will I ever be ready for the shock of the reality? And is it really weird I have spent so much time studying places I have never been?

Cath xx

Pause for a moment

Today's musing was stolen from the fabulous Lela's facebook album. I have no idea where she got it from, but I love it!

Life is wonderful! Even when it seems to suck. Our plan for our travels is a long term goal, but we don't want to lose sight of the things that make everyday amazing. As we said on Friday, we are having fun imagining and planning, but we are also savouring every moment.

Everyone is on a journey to somewhere. Even if you don't know where somewhere is yet! Don't forget to stop and think about today :)

Now I have said that .... I am sooooo excited about our excursion tomorrow night! I also discovered what I think is the perfect place for our second Mummy Duck outing over the weekend. Lela doesn't know what it is yet though. So I should really tell her before I tell all of you! Happy journeying everyone. Please feel free to share some of your journey with us!

Cath xx

Monday Musing - Enid

I love to read and like so many people Enid Blyton gave me my first adventures into the wonderful world of books. So much so I remember being forced to consider that there were other authors out there that might be worth my attention! As a parent, I now love it when my children get excited about the same books I loved when I was their age. Many of these, of course, are Enid Blyton books. As these stories are one of the things that make England one of my dream destinations, I thought this was appropriate place to blog about her!



One of my friends suggested I watch the movie "Enid" starring Helen Bonham Carter.Helen Bonham Carter never would have been the person I would have imagined as Enid Blyton. She was brilliant as always. Although I wasn't expecting quite so much of the 'Red Queen' feel to come through.

Be warned! The movie is very much based on Enid Blyton's life and not on her books and is not a cozy ginger-beer drinking, midnight-feasting, adventure story complete with pixies and eccentric French mistress and a mystery to solve. The movie shows a different side to the still popular author and if you think it will alter your view of books don't watch it. However if you are enjoy biographies you will like this movie. It is important to note it is a movie based on true events and of course the writers have exercised poetic license.

While the insight into the private life of Enid Blyton might not have been one I was expecting, I love biographies and enjoyed the movie. And my love of her books has certainly not changed.

Monday Musing - Never Say Never

And may I just say I am a little annoyed with Justin Beiber for tainting that phrase? This is pretty much irrelevant except I have always loved the saying and now everyone laughs at me when I use it! Or it could be I hang around with too many people under the age of 25.

Anyway, my musing for this Monday is short, but I want to say I am excited we are excited. This said, I know that when our mission gets more public, which it will, we will come across some negativity. Sadly this is life. I am not expecting this from any of you out in blogland, but more from people I know we both have in our lives. Sucky, but true. So the phrase I am musing on today is:



And all I am going to say is this is the attitude we are going to stick with. See? Short and sweet :) I am supposed to be doing other stuff ;)

Feel free to share any other words of inspiration with us though!

Cath xxx