Spiritual connection (2025)

 Total: 6.93

Events (2025)

Cape Town & Afrikaburn

• Afrikaburn

Hiking and camping

• Warrumbungles
• Night on Table Mountain
• Mountain biking with Andre
• Canyoning with Andre
• Dry Canyon
• 4 x camping with Boys (Brent Basin, Colo River, Mount Wilson x 2)

Walks

• Walk with Sharon & Andre
• Manly Scenic Dam cycle with Andre
• Shushann: Coogee & Curl Curl
• Life Design walks: Cremorne Point, Bradley's Head, Nurragingy Reserve, Malabar Headland, Berowra Blue Gums, Uloola Track

Photography

• Meetups
• Birds: Ospreys at Long Reef, Tempe wetlands, Strandfontein, Betties Bay
• Cape Town: Bo Kaap, St Georges Cathedral
• City explorations: The Barracks, NSW National Library, Australian Museum, Museum of Sydney, Chinese Garden, Cockatoo Island

Carcoar

• Jan visit
• Tina 90th birthday
• Xmas

Fridays

• Personal development, meditation and lunches with Xenia

Friends

• Roger & Jocely in Sydney
• Chris: Song for sister & Art for Penny
• Michael lunch at Little Snail (x3)
• Elna catch up in Petersham and beach (Jul)

Progress (2025)

Summary

Life Trove

Family research

• Family research on mum's side
• Myburghs past 3 generations
• Myburghs (1600 1800's)
• DNA test: Regions & traits

All Cape Town visits in order

• Duration & details (Sheet and in South Africa)
• Highlights intro text and photo collages

Friends

• Photos of Russell

  

Suno songs

• For mum
• For Jo
• For Tina
• 2 spiritual songs
• Song for Chris's sister

Transcribe

• Dad's letters to Jo (x2) while Jo overseas
• Jo's letter to Gramps on 80th birthday
• Gramps letter to Jo before wedding
• Matt's history project of Mike during war
• Poppa George's stories

Nostalgia

• Discovering the joys of birding
• TV shows as kid
• Cartoons as a kid
• Music as a kid
• Comics, Asterix, Tintin
• Dragons
• Toys: Lone Ranger & Tonto, Lego, Army men
• Labrador puppies
• Mike's stamps
• St Georges Cathedral & Choir
• Birding

Index (List of labels)

• Dynamic list from feed (Thanks ChatGPT)

Sort out redirect issue

• life-trove.com was not working

Movies

• ChatGPT analysis of my movie diary

Photography

Afrikaburn

• Take many portrait photos
• Create site & slideshow

Topaz

• PhotoAI freezing fixed by deleting files

Own outings (Starting in June)

• Outings: Cremorne Point, Chinese Garden, Cockatoo Island
• Hikes: Uloola Track, Lane Cove, Berowra, Malabar, Bradley's Head
• Museums: Barracks, Australian Museum, Museum of Sydney
• Birding: Ospreys at Long Reef, Tempe Wetland & Cook River, Nurragingy Reserve

Home

Rotting wood project

• Get 2 quotes, organise inspection, choose supplier, set up EGM approval
• Manage project  (Apr, May)
• Whatsapp group while away
• Get them to do my back balcony
• All rotten wood removed (including back gate and Martin's bannister). Looking great.

Grouting and cement

• My balcony
• Martin's balcony
• Back balcony
• Back courtyard on side
• Cement preventing leak under hot water cistern

Fix broken window with Chris

• Glass, Plaster, Paint

Garage leak

• Source leak with Martin
• Remove flower bed and replace with smaller (better) one with cement edging
• Cement cupboard edge to plug leak

Painting

• Lounge wood
• Steps
• My bedroom step
• Toilet floor touch up

Courtyards

• Buy outside chairs & paint them
• Table and chairs back courtyard
• Irrigation research & purchase

Small room

• New chair for office
• New curtains
• Fix study light switch

Compass     

Compass

• Daily review dashboard as tables and take out interim pages
• Daily reviews part of each day
• Add weekly view to Daily Tracking sheet

Spirituality

• Average of 44 mins meditation per day
• No cp porn 9.4 months

Life Design

• Outings
• All Trails app for hiking
• Daily cleaning and clearing

Appreciation

• Flesh out "Wonderful World" to add to sense of benevolence

Self-insight

• Evernote tag including: Enneagram, INTJ, Gene key, Me at my best
• What limits me

Finances

• Sell Canon 90D, 400 mm and 300 mm lens  ($3500)
• Find new housemate before South Africa (3 weeks to do it)
• Did not lose glasses
• Interest rates not decrease in Jul
• July balance $201K, Nov balance $210K

Admin

• Reset passwords to make harder

Purchases

• Washing machine
• Electric toothbrush
• Clippers

Movies

• Flxstor.com access

Health

Dex

• Under control (4 + 2 + 1)
• Very few days without
• Dx spare when meet Cosgrove

Tennis

• 42 games of tennis
• Purchase tennis racket

Teeth

• Flossing again after dentist

Meds

• Blood pressure meds
• Crestor for cholesterol

Wisdom Projects  (Life is a Movie)

Progress

• Going quotes and key statements route

Research

• Life, movies, dreams same due to structure of consciousness (AI)
• The hard problem of consciousness (AI)
• Transpersonal psychology
• Root metaphors

Structure

• Split narratives and metaphors into: 1. Worldview narratives and how root metaphors shape them   2. How spiritual metaphors can point to transcendent states of being.

Books

• Rational Mysticism  (John Horgan)
• The Grand Illusion (Steve Hagen)
• The Outer Limits of Reason (Noson S. Yanofsky)
• The Web of Life ( Fritjof Capra)
• Mysticism: Value and Validity of Mystical Experiences  (Antti Pilola)

Quote curation

• Limits of reason
• Limits of science
• Worldviews (as narratives)
• Paradigms
• Spirituality as experiential
• Universe as machine, organism, web
• Brain as computer
• Experience is the ground of all knowledge
• Emotional knowing: Emotions as a valid knowledge about reality
• Subjective experience as valid knowledge
• Art, intuition, imagination as valid knowledge

Source quotes

• Life as tree, circus, roller coaster e.t.c.
• Metaphors for mind
• Theory
• Root metaphors

Grateful (2025)

Finances

• $14 K ↑ in balance in 2024
• Sale of lenses and camera (Canon 90D, 10-22, 400, 300): $3600
• 300 mm lens costs only $110 to fix
• Antony is doing fine past Barry
• Jan divs: $4600 + $ 500
• Div from div fund > $ 2000
• $21 K ↑ in balance in 2025

Glad

• Got Carcoar train ticket night before. Fully booked on day.
• Nearly missed dinner with Marion et al. Looked at watch at 7.05 pm and realised. There by 7.25 pm.

Home: Timber replacement

• We got $ 13000 refund from Triaxil. Otherwise would have been a huge psychological blow.
• My cash balance was high.
• Ed had recommended contacts and spoke to him.
• Greg made final decision, not me.
• 2nd quote came in at same amount ($75 for 75% replacement)
• The quoting inspection went well. Everyone home.
• Easy, nice homeowners to deal with. Sense of cohesion.
• Chance to be in home owners good books: Earn good will.
• Live in a time when all can be managed from my computer (safe, ordered place)
• My rear balcony. Noticed it. Got it replaced. Synchronicity in Cape Town of:  1. Contacted Joe. 2. Bev whatsapped it was over. 3. I looked in emails in pm and saw mail from Sean that ending. 4. I emailed Sean with support from Jo. 5. Checked 30 mins later and he'd repied. Upbeat. Will get to it.
• Whatapp group I set up played an important role: Discovering near end, discovering outstandings, Sean sending some messages.
• Bledisloe would have rushed it. 2 weeks with 2 carpenters. Any addition would have been stressful.
• Sean, not Paddy. Much friendlier.
• People at Hunnit were lovely and approachable / friendly (Joe, Sean, Lawson)
• Good attention to detail / quality. Did good job.
• Angled handrail looked good.
• Only had to pay $5600 plus levy not increase for year. Mum giving $8000.
• Had plenty of extra dex (because of pending South Africa trip).
• Benefits of organising: Serious brownie points, sense of control and agency, growing and learning, experience in sourcing and dealing with suppliers.
• Increases my confidence with suppliers.
• Carpenters did not notice  or mention lifting wood on the wall.
• I now have a working gate and Martin's balcony is fixed.
• Getting my property done first , thoroughly.
• Came in on budget budget ($75K + Vat) even with my back balcony.
• After Cape Town, they came and finished work (including my balcony) without need for follow up.]
• Tail end, did not get Chris to do it. Sean came back to us without me needing to push it.

Home: Garage hole leak

• Water leak coming through hole from cupboard, not flower beds!  Not liable for $100K.
• Do not need to take up flower bed and chop down trees and expose wall.
• Martin kept me sane. "I'll tell you when to worry" Without him, I would have been totally lost.
• Took up right bed. Should not have had it right across.
• Had 7 to 8 dx available per day and temazapam.
• Without dex, could not have done it.
• Can go to South Africa.

Home: Garage leak (second)

• In Sep, seems to be leak from other side of the slab but I check after rain next day and it is not. Thank you for rain and confidence to check.
• Was looking at wrong unit!  The relief !!
• Courage to test water
• Discovered issue quickly (2 days)

Home: Back wall

• Wall has not moved. Filled crack fine.
• Hopefully wood stopped moving. Easily fixed.
• Hunnit did not mention

Home: Roof leak

• Suppliers did a water test and did not mention the wall.
• Months with nothing, letting me recover.
• Issue resolved / fixed ? 

Home: Inside

• Martin shower grouting in place.

iPhone

• Found lost phone on hike
• Not a problem with charging like I thought

Martin

• Vegetable knife replacement and fitted
• Did not lift lid in stove & eat curry: He came down

Find housemates

• Before going to Cape Town in March: 1st person who came (Shra). OK to pay 6 weeks rent
• December: 2 people (Maria & Shelley) both wanted it. At one stage, looked like neither.

Movies

• Lekulu maliciousness stopped by Martin's firewall
• Flixster (Thank you Anusha: $45)

Life Trove

• Life-trove domain working again

Xenia asked if I'd told re 12 Step Program

• Called Shushann when I did and she picked up
• Walked home, not in car
• I could deny it
• Had good chat with Shushann which I wouldn't have had.

Dex

• Mostly under control (4+2+1) 
• 2 in my mouth when realised mistake
• 30th Jan was my appointment
• Enough dex for water leak and timber project
• Matthew there every time, except once
• Matthew lost key to safe but had some incoming.
• Dex for canyoning trip. Matt there.
• Did not send email to Cosgrove for more dex for canyoning.

Health

• Don't need to go in to see Cosgrove next time (blood pressure)
• ↓ cholestrol
• Appointment 6 months, not 3 months
• Cosgrove going on leave so saw early. Despite much worry, not an issue I was 1.5 months short.
• Got Micardis without needing blood pressure taken.

Andre

• Meeting him
• Risking discomfort and organising canyon trip
• Sharon & Lydia not upset
• Gavin lending wet suit, tent, mattress etc.

Computer

• Keyboard got very wet. Switched off, thought it was dead!  Ok

Yogi

• Beautiful relationship through Whatsapp
• Prostrate issue benign

Wrong train to Liz

• Waited so I checked it

Cape Town

• Large screen available, so much better
• Jason passed away after I saw him

Ruth

• Broken fridge issue ended up ok

Priceless moments (2025)

Afrikaburn

• Portrait photos
• Site and slideshow
• Art installations at dawn on dex
• Zebra leggings
• The Burns, especially The Scratch, Clan, Dog&Owner
• Ego Check and heart
  
  

Home

• Discover leak coming from cupboard, not flower beds
• Roof issue resolved !?
• Smaller flower bed complete
• Balcony grouting looking good
• Painted rocks on balcony
• Find housemate twice quickly (Shra & Maria)

Swimming

• Bronte swim under full moon
• Swimming up rapids and swim back at Brents Basin, including heron flying over
• Maiden's Cove tidal pool, Cape Town

Hiking

• Night on Table Mountain
• Canyoning with Srini & Andre

TV & Movies

• White Lotus
• Companion (2025)
• Weapons (2025)
• Wicked: Popular song by Ariana Grande (and her oscar performance with co-star)
• I Swear (2025)
• Sentimental Value (2025)
• Black Mirror S7

Beauty

• Mist clears at Maiden's Cove
• Opera singing at Cape Town Cathedral
• Ospreys at Long Reef

Family

• Dad's letters to Jo while overseas

Tennis

• 42 wonderful games, evenly matched

Fun

• Humming tunes with Russell

Jubilation

• Winning wood throwing with Russell and family after shaky start
• Success of our red curry dinner for family
• Tennis: Coming back from plus 4 match points to win (x 2)
• Win 4 tennis games in a row

Photography

• Grassbird and sunbird in Betties Bay
• Ospreys at Long Reef
• Cathedral

Birding

• Kingfisher and crake in my backyard
• Ospreys at Long Reef

Music

• Sasha Park busking in Circular Quay with everyone dancing. Donate & leave comment with lovely response.
• John William documentary, especially Schindlers List theme.
• Laufey
• Save Your Tears (Arianda Grande & The Weekend)
• Creating songs for mum, Jo, Chris, 2 spiritual songs 

Movies

Spiritual moments (2025)

Afrikaburn

• Ego Check booth burning to reveal a heart built into its frame
• Mack message

Sit and be

• When shopping for mum's present → Sit & be and there is immediate resolution

Roof leak

• Day of intense Presence & Surrender

Benevolence reminders

• Fleshing out "Wonderful world"
• Times of worry that all worked out (Garage leaks, finding housemates)
• Watching nature documentaries (Our Planet, Life on Our Planet)
• Yogi prostrate

Movies

• Sentimental Value (2025)
• I Swear (2025)

Nature documentaries

• Ocean (2025)
• Shark Whisperer (2025)
• Life on our Planet (2023)
• Our Planet (2019 - 2023)
• Life in Color (2021)

Moments of synchronicity & serendipity (2025)

Synchronicity

• Spoke about Rocky Horror Show at Afrikaburn. It was showing at cinema on walk to camp.
• Jason clearly visible in his paw print
• Put sharks in wonder → The Shark Whisperer documentary
• Spoke about Andreas with mum. 2 days later, bumped into him at Long Reef.

Serendipity

• Gene Key 18: Lydia tells me about it. Judgement → Integrity (Sharing Truth for the benefit of the All) → Perfection (Seeing and sharing divine perfection). Don't worry about not having enough, I will be provided for.  I need to stay in one place to do the work. My mind needs a passion project.
• Find glasses on fence post at Narrabeen after unknowingly dropping them earlier.
• AI Intelligence and insight feels divine. The timing of it.
• Lost chat on nature of consciousness. Rewrote it. Massive break throughs in insight. Mind as content, not entity or agent. Pre idealism stay metaphysically neutral. Brain or consciousness created. structure of consciousness: how experience appears verse texture (how feels). 
• My rear balcony on Sean's agenda. Message Joe who left, Bev whatsapp that finishing, Email Sean who is approachable.
• Family research at Sue's gathering. Jan's family book.
• Jason passed away in South Africa after I had chance to see him.
• I played Laufey's new album after being invited to by Spotify. My first time to do this.

Affirmation (2025)

Krissula birthday

• My card that others read
• Chris re Krissula's birthday photos: "The eye of the artist of life. You share the beauty that is in your heart."

Jo family 2025 review

• Oh my gosh. This is amazing. Thank you G!!  Love and appreciate you. What a year it’s been. Lovely to have a summery.

Rein Wurde on Wisdom Trove

•  I think you have, by far, the best website online! What I really love about it is, that you quote so many people, for the same idea. I do not know if it is your intent. However, to me, within all the quotes, the idea is, these Truths, are not quotes at all. Rather, they are Truths that exist, which we are all trying to understand and explain. 
• When you have so many people, saying the same thing, you only see that bit of Wisdom, not the person saying it. At least, that is my experience with your Trove... 
• Your site is still the best, even as it is. Overall, I hope you never change the simple 1990's format. I do not like the busy, flashy websites of today. Just the Wisdom. I love it. 
• I just thought of you the other day, and wanted to see how you are. I do not talk to too many people on the internet. So the ones whom I do talk to, are important to me.

Timber replacement project

• Managed to function despite Garage leak stress.
• Everyone very happy with my organising. Managed to get two quotes with smoot access to all apartments.
• Ed's call "Great job. Really factual"
• Greg: Big thank you. Emails very informative.
• Got lots of good will with everyone.

Chris

• Stumbled on your blog. Your photos such a beautiful way of viewing the world.

Antony

• You seem to be very confident

Afrikaburn photos

• Hailey affirmation
• Slideshow. Rob watched 2nd time. 

Alun

• You seem very whole. 
• This is Graeme's Group. 

Gavin and Srini

• Always feel invigorated after seeing Graeme. 
• Always interested and affirming.

Carcoar

• With Dom in car "Such a beautiful, deep conversation."
• Dom: "You are next level in terms of relating."
• Larry's game: "Camels in Mongolia"    Larry very impressed with throw up story. Bring camel back to life.
• Song for Tina:  "I feel so loved. You must have done many. So accomplished."

Special connections (2025)

Body corporate

• Greg, Ed, Andrew, Clelia, Bev, Alisha, Marc, Me
• Paddy (Hunnit), Gary (Bledisloe), Joe

Xenia

• Buy computer & set up
• Friday coaching sessions

Shushann discussion re her future work

• "Lovely to catch up with  you yesterday. It does my heart and soul the world of good having a chat with you and life and our service in the world."

Jann at The Little Snail

• Family book: In tears
• Jann email
• Michael email
• Advice from others re family research

Chris

• Art video for Penelope
• Song for his sister
• Help with computer

Aimee

• Walk in nature
• Thanks for today G, I needed it 🥲 Really loved seeing you.

Yogi

• And if resistance arises, be the open, aware Space for that too.
• I just loved what you said: Surrender is not something I need to do. It is something I Am.
• Blessed relief, & blessed sleep!! Now for day 2 of my practice.
• Day before Appointment: What you’ve texted since 14:00 has lifted my mood enormously.
• Day before Appointment:  Wow!  You are The Self. The Eternal Dreamer.  I think, for the first time, I really get it, at a gut level. What a load off one’s shoulders! It banishes all fear! This is radical, game-changing stuff G!  And as I say, I think, for the first time, I really get it. I think you are ready to finish your book now G! I’m just going to reread all yesterday’s momentous texts!

Movies with Jason

• Mickey 17
• The Fantastic Four: First Steps
• Naked Gun
• Running Man
• Predator: Badlands

Songs

• Introduce Xenia to Suno
• Song for mum
• Song for Jo
• Song for Chris

Gavin

• Watch him do talk at Opera House. Affirmation
• Invites me to Jane Goodall memorial
• Glebe Bathhouse

Andre

• Mountain biking in rain
• Canyon

Mum

• Curtains, remaining calm

Service

• Help Antony with Stratecon site.
• Help Sam fix her Google Ads.
• Penny art
• Shushann help with her business

Afrikaburn

• Take portraits and send to few
• Create site and video for group
• Brandon
• Affirmation after aliens talk

Dawn

• Heart to heart on walks up & down mountain
• Noddy dip in dam

Cards

• Xenia, Tina

Insights (2025)

Life is a movie: Limits of science and intellect

• Mystical insight points to transcendent, ineffable, super-sensory, timeless, dimensionless, benevolent, non-dual reality that gives rise to observable world events and the sof our senses. Science points to the non-dual, timeless, dimensionless state of reality through quantum physics and relativity. Actually this reality is transcendent reality is Consciousness. We know this reality in mystical states when we merge with it.  There is only consciousness and its contents (Subjective experience). Science (with focus on what can observe and measure) and intellect (with time, space, separate subject and objects, causation etc. built in) really struggles to explain and describe this reality. Both consciousness and its contents.  Right brain modes of being have essential role to play.
• Subjective is significant and indisputable aspect of reality. But science and intellect ill suited to know, capture or explain it.
• Truth is an expanded state of being: a non-conceptual right brain mode of knowing and being, that the intellect can only point to.
• The intellect can be used to switch itself off. Like a thorn removing a thorn. A ladder / raft.

Mind as content, not agent

• The mind is an appearance, created by brain or consciousness. It is an activity / process in brain or consciousness. An excitation of matter or consciousness.  It is not an enitity or agent. Except in dualism which makes no sense.

Nature of consciousness

• Structure: How it appears
• Texture: How it feels
• Content: What appears

Gene Key 18

• Judgement → Integrity → Perfection
• An extraordinary clarity of vision — often intellectual, analytical, or even surgical.
• You are here to see where the world is out of tune, and help it sing in harmony again.
• Can grasp things that others cannot easily see
• Creative project:  Remain in one place for extended time
• Simplicity
• I will have enough
• Prosperity is in your connection to source, to nature, and the simple purity of loving your life
• Seeing the perfection in everything just as it is.
• Moving from withdrawing to protect your clarity to entering the world to radiate your clarity.

Plant seeds today

• Invest in areas (habits, skills, projects and initiatives) that will reap return (shade and fruit) later. 
• Plant seeds and tend to plant. Keep investing and tending to it. Then reap a life time of fruit.
• Seeds need special nurturing at beginning. Vulnerable to harm. As germinate and grow, become more and more hardy and self-sustaining. But still need fertilising and pruning.

Garage leak

• Martin: Do not worry until I tell you. Make yourself ill.
• Martin problem solving and level mindedness
• No point to panic until worked out source of leak
• "Wailing Will" character
• Sharon "Get in touch with younger Graeme where anxiety and "all is not well" default started
• It was so helpful to spend afternoon with Lydia and Sharon. Slept that night

Not avoid

• Garadge leak. Had look when tenant told me 2nd time.
• Xenia "Tell anyone re 12 step program?"  Phoned Shushann immediately. No.

Power of calm

• Ramaphosa stays calm despite Trump video and gets political capital.

Gavin

• Not fazed by several not liking yellow doors.

Timber

• Timber project was fine: Overly anxious and over-managed
• Didn't check my wood. Missed back balcony.

Reflect, not just curate

• Reflection and writing is key, not just reading and curating quotes. 
• Writing creates insight. Texts to Yogi. 
• Be able to explain it to a child

Review

• Only track what I will actively review and learn from

Honour people's private stuff

• Xenia and 12 Step Program

Non fiction books read (2025)

• The Art of Contemplation (Richard Rudd)
• Rational Mysticism  (John Horgan)
• The Grand Illusion (Steve Hagen)
• The Outer Limits of Reason (Noson S. Yanofsky)
• The Web of Life ( Fritjof Capra)
• Mysticism: Value and Validity of Mystical Experiences  (Antti Pilola)

Challenges (2025)

Carcoar

• Turkish delight eaten

Leak in garage

• Discover leak in garage day of wood inspection when already low.
• My worry: Leak not just from hole, from flower beds. I'm at fault. Ed will blame trees. Will cost $100K at least to retile coutyard. 
• Have to take away all garden beds, remove tall plants and expose back wall flaws.
• 7 days.  3 awful days, one night of absolute hell.
• Day of moving the bed away, getting rid of soil.
• Afternoon with Sharon and Lydia gave me good night.
• Martin: The plants are over the garage slab. Turned out not.
• We do water test in corner garden bed and it seems to cause leak to worsen (mistaken).
• Made peace with all cash gone, selling house.
• Later seems to be a leak from the other side of the slab. Worry for one day, then rain, I check and it is dry.

Timber replacement

• Expense $10,000 each (But paid $5600)
• 1 awful day concerned about wood moving on back wall
• Take Gary round, place falling apart, then discover leak later
• Needing to organise and decide on supplier
• Let dog out and stepped on Greg's tiles
• Paddy gets Sean to do formal quote. Increase amount? Still cost and materials?  An awful day.
• Worried Hunnit will decide not to do it or not in March. Email asking when, no reply after weekend.
• Sean wants to come round and discuss scope. Will change price?
• Taking a long time. Will be overbudget ?
• I'm going overseas. Who will oversee ?
• Decision re the downstairs handrails. Will look haphazard. Call Sean. Next day, decide on edging.
• Timber project taking long time, will cost more that max budget
• Edging on handrail, will be on both sides? Will look ok?
• Handrail lip: Will pickets be able to be replaced?
• Days of no action at Greg's due to Joe's accident and rain
• Poor communication
• Back balcony rot: Both bottom beams and upper beam. Some pickets. Raining incessantly.
• Who will take over?  Greg? 
• Email from Sean wanting strata contact for invoice ?  Scared to look in emails.
• In Cape Town, work on back balcony? Scared to ask. Eventually Whatapp Martin who said no. Whatsapp Joe who said he had left.
• Sean said close to end. Panic. I send an email telling him about my rear balcony. Jo sees me seriously stressed, pill popping.
• I suggest Hunnit look at 41A ceiling leak. Worry I need to organise.

Tree

• Potential problems?

Martin's ceiling

• Balcony leak?

Leak in garage 2

• Leak not fixed. Coming from side?
• Discover looking at wrong unit

Wall causing leak?

• See leak test happening
• Wood beam cracks
• Wall cracks and sloping?  Checking.
• Rain on wood?

House

• Balconies need to be done (next door + Andrew)

Housemates

• Stress of two weeks to get one before South Africa
• Shra and Martin: Will they get on? They didn't.
• Doubts re Sha: Very intense.
• Arrive home. Kitchen dirty. Hairs in bathroom. Not working. Up till all hours. Angry tone on phone.
• Getting housemate after Shra - we are too old. Very low response.

Sell lenses

• Selling camera and 10-22 mm lens in Central.
• 300 mm lens repair > $450.  Actually $110.
• Will Bo's payment of $ 1850 come through?

Life Trove

• Redirect message for blogspot links.

Lost

• Spare spectacles
• Phone while hiking

Connection

• Xenia "Did you tell anyone about "12 step program?"  I phone Shushann that day.
• Xenia finds out Shushann knows. Profuse explaining & apologising.
• Shushann unhappy when I went camping, not walking with her.

Health

• Cold (two days)

Food

• Eat rotten yoghurt

Dex

• Cosgrove on leave on 15 Jul. Appointment on 12 June. 6 weeks early.
• Lots of worry re Cosgrove on 12 Jun. I only have dex till 11 Jul. Should have till mid Aug.

Market and investment

• Tarriffs tanks $Aus and Asx, then recover and I wish I'd invested.
• South Africans (Russell, Antony) and Rajesh invested in America.
• Jo's home increased as Cape Town influx.
• Elna: Got enough in super to retire. Invested in US.
• Everyone invested in US doing very well (Ant, Elna, Rajesh, Gav) with AI boom

Finances

• Will it last?
• Not able to travel
• Jo's car
• Tax: Need to make amendment

Andre canyoning

• Dex on Fri
• Sharon & Lydia upset
• All organising (wet suit, tent, sleep bag)
• Andre too old?  (76, actually 68)
• iPhone power bank cord not fitting

Beata

• Direct Whatsapp and my response.

Exercise (2025)

The highlight of my exercise this year was playing tennis with Rajesh 42 times. I absolutely loved every minute of it. We often did over 10,000 steps on the court in a match. 

Key statistics

• An average of 4.9 km walked per day, same as last year.  Total distance: 1775 km.
• 11 hikes
• 42 games of tennis

Walking

Events (2024)

Trips

• Iceland

Carcoar (x2)

• Tina's 90th

Cape Town

• Simons Town with mum, Mike, Jo
• Matt's party

Hikes

• Volcanoes & coast walk in Iceland
• Die Hel
• Devil's Peak
• Dark Gorge
• Mount Wilson abseiling
• Kanangra
• Garden of Stone
• Camp at Mermaid Falls

Jilly

• Visit Jilly 3 times in Bowral
• Her passing
• Visit to grave

Progress (2024)

Big Items       

• Dex in order:  4 + 2  (+1)
• Daily Being: Average 48 mins / day
• Presence, Surrender, Spaciousness
• Lemon water,  Smoothies, Oats
• Skin cream
• Movies record = 49 docos, 142 movies, 15 TV, 14 rewatches = 220.
• Daily review & reminders
• Financial visibility (All expenses, Income) over time
• Daily walk with music
• 35 Photography Meetups
• Life Trove: Technology, role models, custom maps, stamps, scanned family photos

Life Trove

Books

• Books read by year with images
• Fiction & non-fiction

Movies

• Favourite movies by year with poster images
• Priceless moments: Add movie collages of favourite movies

Affirmation and encouragement

• All treasured Life Trove comments added to a page, categorised.

Spiritual dairy

• Add Spiritual journey pages to side navigation
• Spiritual Diary label
• Spiritual Journey overview moved to Sheets. (Allow links in text)
• Remove document title from top (for Life overview too)
• Add Nic hypnotherapy session
• Teachers and role models (Mandela, Attenborough, spiritual teachers & quotes, Nic, Geraldine quotes, Mr Cannon, Jenny Mallett)

Compass & Wisdom Trove

• Add mindmaps

Scanned family photos

• Dad, Gran, Gramps, Mum, Ally, Gramps war & acting
• Plays, beach, pool, UK visit, mum's London visit, horse riding, matric dance,  graduation,  Fab 4,  Jo boyfriends,  Playing in the garden, Matt, Youth
• Share family photos on Whatsapp: Gramps acting, Dad's trains, Gramps war stories (Matt recount)

Family

• Jo and family 2019 - 2024

Music

• Favourite musicals playlists

Milestones

• Milestones → Family milestones + Friends milestones + My milestones

Code

• Add pencil edit code

Year highlights

• More categories in index list

Travel

• Custom maps (Sydney, Australia, Cape Town, Africa) with photographed places added
• South Africa visits: Add details and in order
• Custom Maps:  30 new maps
• 1997 Travels in order
• Add "Exploring the World" with country labels to left side

Role models

• Role models, teachers & healers: Intro, books, quotes, insights

Blog tagline

• Under Blog Title "A celebration of treasured moments"

Hiking

• Add new hiking collage

Nostalgia

• Computer games
• TV series
• Music as a child
• Cartoons and comics
• Tain set
• Stamp collecting: Add British mint stamps
• Rugby world cup photos
• Technology: Computers, Screens, Phones, Software, Headphones, PDA's, TV, HiFi, DVD

Home life

• Labels for Willow Road, Hammersmith Grove, Brooklands Court, McMahon's Point, King Street

Matt's 21st

• Matt speech videos & photos

Home

Effortless doing

• Clear, unclutter, sweep in my room, kitchen, front courtyard

My room

• New desk
• 3 new Buddhas
• Paint 3 buddhas

Courtyards and balcony

• Remove plastic
• Cement on my balcony and back coutyard
• Martin's balcony step

Painting

• Stairs 
• Step in my room

Dining room

• Carpet changed around

Photography

Photography Meetup

• 39 outings (Tourist in Sydney)
• New friends: Jason, Libby, Stan, Matthew, Beata, John
• Beata & John outings
• Sydney map

Purchases

• iPhone 16 Pro with 5x zoom

Video

• Realisation I must share Canva video, not reduce quality in Vimeo

Lightroom process for Life Trove

• Use collections
• Export direct from Apple photos to Lightroom folder

AI

• Topaz sharpening, noise reduction, pixel enlargement
• Lightroom & Photoshop: AI remove and replace 

Service

• Portraits for Lydia

Lightroom Universe

• Nepal, Iceland, Antarctica into database
• Backups in order (Sheet)

Compass  

Being

• Sink into creative emptiness. 
• Thank you for Presence. Thank you for this.
• Meditation: Average  48 mins / day
• Yoga mat, head and back roller
• Effortless daily clearing & sweeping

Evernote

• Add ► to Shortcut headings
• Add ◉ to work in progress
• Remove Life: from note titles and replace with →
• Learn to do note links that open App

Mac desktop

• Widgets: Year, Month, Week complete / remaining
• Add Mood chart excel file into Mac Dock

Music

• Music while work, walk and commute
• Top 15% of Spotify listeners (> 400 hours)

Task management

• Task log categorised
• Task focus map handwritten, then mindmap

Progress

• Fleshed out for Photography, Life is a Movie, Life Trove, Compass
• Task log → Year so far (Progress)   →  Progress for each project

Productivity

• Dex: Power of 4 + 2 (+1 )

Purchase

• Hair clippers (x2)
• iPhone 16 pro
• Double fitted sheet
• Smart watch
• Yoga mat and head rest, back massager

Finances

• Financial review fleshed out: More sub categories,  See levy etc. over time, Add financial commitments and Income for view over time
• Invest $21K
• Increase Fran rent by $15 per week (to $565)
• Deposit cash (coins) into HSBC
• Sell car for $500
• Sell 400 mm lens $ 950
• Tax in order: HSBC statements downloaded, housemate dates
• Household expenses tax deductible
• Triaxil leak: I moved it on, facilitating firing of engineer, saving $11K

Movies

• Letterboxd subscription, upload movies watched
• Unwatched twist movies list

iPad

• Get it back from Gavin and set up folders etc.
• iPad pencil and Task Focus handwritten

Tools

• Xmind mindmap

Cheap purchases 

• Watch $ 50
• iPad Pencil
• Skin moisturiser
• Lube
• Tennis balls

Health

Exercise

• Regular Ball's Head walk
• Average of 5.2 km walked per day 
• Walking: 178 days
• New walking routes
• Listen to music on walks
• Tennis

Dex in order

• 4+2+1
• Increasingly, no days without

Cholesterol

• Research diet
• Start Crestor medication

Diet

• Smoothie (fruit)
• Oats porridge
• Peanut butter

Liquids

• Lemon water

Pulse

• Smart watch purchased and pulse monitored (resting pulse = 75)

Skin

• Skin check & mole removed
• Face skin cream

Wisdom Projects

Life is God's Movie

Essential Version

• Move first edition to Google docs with tabs

Notebook LM

• Amazing 20 minute podcast. Super motivating.

Source quotes

• Memory
• Illusion of the self
• Self enquiry
• Conditioning,  Life scripts
• Authority
• Left verse Right brain:  Jill Bolte Taylor, Ian Gilchrest
• Sloww book summaries

Content

• How mystical knowledge relates to and interacts with other forms of knowledge (rational, empirical, intuitive, cultural etc.)

Curated quotes

• Self-transcendence
• Left verse Right brain 

Books

• The Ego Tunnel (Thomas Metzinger)
• There is No You (Andrew Halaw)
• The Power of Movies: How Screen and Mind Interact  (Colin McGinn)
• The Matter with Things  (Iain McGilchrist)
• God is Nothingness  (Andre Halaw)
• Being Myself (Rupert Spira)
• The Grand Biocentric Design (Robert Lanza)
• The Master & His Emmisary (Ian Gilchrist)
• Seeing no Self: Essential Inquiries  that Reveal Our Nondual Nature (Katrijn Van Oudheusden)
• Beyond Illusion: Exploring the Six Illusions that Cause  Our Mistaken Belief in a Separate Self (Katrijn Van Oudheusden)
• Selfless Service  (Katrijn Van Oudheusden)
• What Am I? A Study in Non-Volitional Living (Galen Sharp)
• Science Ideated (Bernardo Kastrup)

Books reread 

• Illusion of the Self (Bruce Hood)
• The Ego Trick  (Julian Baggini)
• Awakening (Sam Harris)
• The Happiness Trap (Russ Harris)

Daily email

• Rupert Spira
• Katrijn Van Oudheusden

Life & Spiritual Coaching 

• Strategy
• Life design process
• Values, What we love to do
• Xenia sessions
• Doc with my results and Xenia

Wisdom Trove 

• Backup database
• Wisdom Trove updated to latest Wordpress & Enfold template (Thanks Rujuta for $400)

 

Grateful (2024)

Iceland

• Found passport.  Martin: "Between books?"  Did not tell Gavin.
• Getting to go, Gav pulling out all the stops.
• No need for Dr health check.
• Flights for $2450 (Flight Centre), not $3300. Insurance < $200.
• I did not fly with others. Their bags didn't make it. Mine did. 
• Tania got sick, no blog. Took all pressure off me. 
• 2nd day rain. Chance to regroup, edit photos.  Saw puffins later. 
• 2nd night of potential psyche on fire.  I slept.
• Good photos for competition on 1st day (group silhouette and cliff texture).
• Grimsey. Close views of puffins and amazing photos. In flight. Beaks touching.
• Matt gave good photoshop advice. Cut as layer. Beware of sides so I cut in middle. Aware fill.
• Ended up using bills further apart. Much better actually plus less stress of being found out. 
• Topaz sharpening and enlarging: True game changer. 
• First in competition and gasp at puffin in flight. 
• CEO and Justin there. Extra buy in for future trips. 
• Hotel extra night $190, not $270. 
• Airport:  Taxi came at 4 am. Needed time. Found booking reference no.
• Wrong boarding gate at Keflavik. Nearly went to Copenhagen, not Oslo. Scanned so knew. Not late. 
• Taxi driver in Singapore. Where bag?  Managed to get. Taxi waited.

Return to Sydney

• Flight delayed but all easy to get eve flight. Nice hotel for sleep.
• Managed to open balcony door
• Car started
• No mould in Fran's room, Martin only in bathroom.
• Back wall crack looks fine

Jilly

• Got to express love on day she passed away. Mandy was there.
• Visited and expressed love several times during year
• Phoned Jilly. It was her birthday.

Cosgrove

• Iceland:  Got Dr Cosgrove 1 day before going on leave. He ok'd two months.
• Realised mistake with booking thanks to "30 min appointment?":  Dex issue ok and able to make 1 month closer appointment.

Financial

• Did Jan audit and not nearly as bad as expected
• Invested for 1st time before a rally: > $ 600 profit
• Garage leak  $ 20,000 was reduced to $8,400  ($11,600 saving)
• iPhone charging issue fixed by Apple genius
• Antony got a project in Jan
• Dom lift home, save $45
• Lost and found airpod on street.
• Body corporate not increase this year
• Not spend much this year, went up $10K. Reassured me greatly.
• Found my glasses & ok (washing machine)
• Mum pay back Cape Town flight ticket
• Mark and 400 mm lens. Not a scam !  Made $950.
• Mum paid R2800 for my Afrikaburn ticket

Sam's site

• Beautiful connection & collaboration
• Good, cheap local hosting
• Jo's photos
• Google Ads: 20 clients in 1st week and a bit

Car

• Not put water into oil
• I drove car far enough to find there was a problem. Coolant leaking at rapid rate.

Dex in order

• Power of 4 + 2 (+1)

Health

• My shoulder ok after chasing dog and slipping
• Did not hurt back or head on St James wall
• Did not leap into Die Hel rock pool  → terrible injuries.
• Skin check: All clear including one on my face
• Shoulder blemishes, lumps (arm & above chest) not cancer
• Mole on my back removed, benign
• Pulse resting rate is 75 (normal)
• Got watch reconnected to iphone

Tennis

• Slice serve
• Joy of playing (Free)
• Tennis elbow feeling better

Life Trove

• Edit post bookmark stopped and restarted working
• Managed to get pencil back

Photography

• My external hard drive corrupted but I had backed all photos up elsewhere just before.

Home

• Trees not chopped down, traffic lights still covered
• Warned about leaving water on in courtyard, not left all night

Wisdom Trove

• Error discovered soon
• Rujuta sorted it out

Travel

• Afrikaburn tickets despite challenges

Dex

• Matthew in 3x in a row

Watch

• Get it synced

Martin

• Did not bring up teasing

Affirmation (2024)

 

Iceland

• Sorted transfer for group at Keflavik airport, by phoning hotel.
• Win photo competition with killer photo of two puffins touching beaks. Flying puffin gets an oooh.
• Gavin loved my competition photo. Put puffins on wall. Send to Renato. Symmetry.  Proud when won.
• Photoshop skills and Topaz.
• Puffins feedback
• Mum's friends feedback and her pride

Chris tribute video

• Shushann:  Absolutely beautiful dear Graeme. I’m sure he will love this thoughtful and joy filled compilation. What a great gift.
• Shushann:  You are such a maestro at putting it together and all the beautiful jokes stories and memories. It would be great to show it on a larger screen.

Sam's counselling site

• Sam:  You know so much!
• Sam: Graeme I love it! 😍  it’s looking so amazing
• Sam: Graeme is honestly the best uncle ever!❤️  He has gone above and beyond
• Sam: Thanks for pushing me out my comfort zone! (Chat GPT articles)
• Sam: Agh you are so amazing with words! Love how you have written it!
• Sam: Did chat GPT write that?! I honestly couldn’t have written it better myself!
• Sam: That’s G! I love how you took all those words I selected for values and turned into those sections! It’s looking so good!
• Sam: Shared my website around today and I have gotten the best feedback from my friends and family!😍🥰  I shed tears of joy and relief and I finally feel my imposter syndrome going away. I just wanted to say a MASSIVE thank you for all your help over the last while. Works cannot express how appreciative I am for you and what you have done for me. It has been the greatest gift I have ever received but even more so your confidence in me has really meant the most. You are the best uncle and I really love and appreciate all that you are and all that you do! So THANK YOU once again Graeme!
• Sam: Gone through my website and I am so so so happy with everything!
• Sam: Thank you to Graeme Myburgh, my amazing brother for creating her website. Even has an online booking system!
• Antony: Hi Graeme, I just wanted to say a big, heartfelt thank you for all the work you did with Sam's website. It is already paying dividends and I have no doubt my daughter is going to fly, but the website is a big part of it. Once again thanks for all the effort you put into it.
• Mary-Ann:  Any chance you could help me with a website? No pressure, but love what you did for Sam and just can’t get going with Wordpress on my own. 
• Mary-Ann:  Well done Sam and Uncle Graham!!! Looks fabulous. Here’s hoping it brings you lots of business.
• Jo:  Amazing. Someone called her for a 15 minute consult and said it was the website that drew her in. Thank you G
• Aimee: G, Sam’s site is amazing. Honestly. I would want to see her. The about me, services, the photos and warmth radiating from her and simplicity of the website, awesome awesome
• Adele: Oh wow, congrats Sam! and beautiful website Graham, so inviting - success is on it's way xx
• Bookly implementation: Online & in person times different, design, calendar integration.
• Google ads: Set up conversion tracking with tags.

Matt's 21st

• Matt & Ant loved speech movies.

Movies

• Promote Bflix to Matt & Russell:  Sisu, Fresh
• Mum & Mike: Erin Brochovich, No Hard Feelings,  Silverlining Playbook, The Favourite

Shirley

• "Was truly wonderful to spend time with you tonight. I value your kind and spiritual heart and presence that affirms and looks to the bright side of the world seeking adventures yet always still remaining connected. Travel safe Till next time."
• "I looked at your blog and cried. Thank you!"

Hiking with girls

• Wendy: "Great having Graeme along. He takes great pics and is so relaxed."
• Mandy: "Please can we keep Graeme?  Such lovely pictures."

Lisa

• "I thought you were very cute."
• "I had a crush on you."

Physique

• Rajesh "You're naturally ripped"
• Gavin: Looking ripped, working out?
• Aimee: "You look fit"  "Your arms looks big"

Life Trove

• Truc:  I’ve always loved the honesty of your blog G - the reflections / perspectives and experiences you share are insightful and inspiring.
• Chris: Just stumbled onto your blog Graeme. What an amazing being you are. Glad to know you.
• Mum:  I spent ages looking last night. Incredible what one misses!
• Mum: Fantastic number of pics Graeme. Mike and I both spent ages looking at them. The photography meet up group was such a great one to join.
• Shirley:  I looked at your blog and cried. Thank you!
• Beata:  I read it [your blog] all as well. It’s very exciting. And your images at the polar arctic circle are wonderful.

Ruth

• To Dom:  "Bring Graeme: But not tell him"

Gavin

• "When I have a success, the person I most like telling is you. Genuinely excited and affirming."  Tania agreed.
• Thank you message

Jilly slideshow

• Shushann:  Really really. Just watched it with Alan and very touched. Thank you from my heart to yours for such a parting gift. I love you my friend   
• Yogi:  Yes Graeme, she was the catalyst for forming many many lifelong friends. You saw her essence so clearly, & only saw the good.
• Jo:  It made me so emotional and I wasn’t even her friend.  Very very special G
• Mum: I got emotional too Jo and we only knew her thru Graeme’s blog! Xx

Liz tribute video

• All watching at 
• Elna: Tears

Photography

• Summer: Whenever I take a photos, I see you taking a better one.

Birthday

• Chris: "Happy Birthday Graeme.  I know many people from all walks of life and you are one in a million. You lead from your heart You still have that pure innocent wonder of a child. You originate and create. You really care: Mackie, Jilly, Sue, your dear grand dad Yogi and all of us, your family of friends. Nature is your playground and fun and adventure are you fuel. Like the name of that TV show. Thank God you are here to enrich all our lives. Love you mate."
• Jane: Happy Birthday  Graeme!! You are a beautiful person, so lucky to have you as a friend. 
• Matt:  Happy birthday for yesterday Graeme! We love you heaps man, you’re our most favourite photographer and such a legend of a guy!  

Coaching with Xenia

• Xenia's excitement when we mapped her values
• This whole exploration feels so right
• Wow it looks awesome! (After sending colourful mind map of values)

Srini

• Longest friend
• So grounded
• Age not an issue with you, same with all

Meditation

It was a bumper year for meditation. I meditated an average of 48 mins per day which is over twice what I did last year.  Total meditation was 294 hours compared to 126 hours last year.

Notes

• I meditated on my back on a yoga mat I purchased with a back roller for head pillow. 
• I usually do two meditations of 30 mins each. The 1st 10 mins of the first session is spent in conscious gratitude. The rest is spent in a state of awareness of being aware while allowing the attention to go where it wishes.
• The first meditation session is done after 60 - 90 mins of work in the early morning. The second session is done after working another 2- 3 hours.
• My occasional mantra is "Thank you for Being. Thank you for the Knowing of my own Being. Thank you for experiencing. Thank you for This."
• I used the Still app on my i-phone which keeps track of time spent meditating and a chime every 3 minutes.
• This year I got Yogi into meditation using the Still app.
• At the end of the year, Xenia and I did 3 meditations in nature. I intend to do more meditation in nature next year.
• The meditation is definitely having a wonderful effect. It is immensely calming and helps my energy levels. It also makes me feel more spiritually connected.

Moments of synchronicity (2024)

• Uber driver: His tshirt and the ribbon.
• David Gray, Babylon on Spotify and at book store. Theme:  Reconnection, reconciliation, spiritual longing, hope and grace after distraction, separation & confusion. 
• Car battery flat outside my house with NRMA road assist cancelled, neighbour has special "instant" spark plug. He was present and asked me if there was a problem.
• Continually finding parking outside venues
• Go to correct platform where train has been sitting for ages. It leaves as I board it.
• Take garden refuse out. The trucks arrives at that exact moment.

Spiritual moments (2024)

Notebook LM podcasts

• A podcast of "Life is a Movie" summary when I'm feeling demotivated and doubtful.
• A super affirming, insightful podcast about Life Trove. Travel & Introspection. Self as curator and coherent story teller. Interconnectedness of all life's aspects. Life is in the little moments. Valuing connection and relationships over possessions. 

Release

• After One Day "It all passes, Life"

Benevolent universe

• Passport lost: Martin:  "In books?"
• Contact Cosgrove day before leave for dex.
• 30 minute appointment: Realise 1 month dex mistake. Still 3 months.

Visions

• With eyes open:  Puffin, Fulmar

Love

• Curating photos of our Garden of Stones hike and feeling so much love for the boys.