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Life Trove
A celebration of treasured moments
22 January 2012
Correspondence with Nerium
Hi there Nerium
Hey, what a lovely name. I studied 10 years of Latin at school (maybe I shouldn't be admitting this so soon!!) as well as a year of Botany at university, so not only can I admire your name, but I can also conjugate it! From what I know of the Oleander, it may be very poisonous and all over the place, but it does also have a beautiful flower :)
From your profile and email, it looks like we have a lot in common.
Let see, now...
You've lived in a lot of different places. I have too, but not quite as many as you. I've lived in Cape Town, Pretoria, London, Cambridge and now Sydney. I've also spent large amounts of time in Gothenberg and Tel Aviv with work. I love settling into and getting to know new places, which also explains my addiction to travel. I've been living in Sydney now since late 2006 and am happy to call it home. However, that doesnít mean Iím shouting for the Aussies in the world cup rugby ñ Iím still South African in that regard !
You like animals and so do I. In Cape Town, I did voluntary work for an animal rescue organisation which was often very hard emotionally but also extremely fulfilling. Currently, the love of my life is Mack, my adorable Jack Russell. He takes me for walks every day to the park and introduces me to all the local dogs and their owners. He's ball mad and the sweetest natured dog you can imagine.
You are involved in developing Internet sites for a living. Me too!! I do freelance work for an interactive web agency helping clients to use the internet through online marketing etc. It sounds like you've got some very interesting clients and your sites look great. Like you, I get quite attached to my clients. My most recent project has been for an online fitness community site - www.springday.com.au.
My freelance consulting I do part time and it pays my bills. The rest of the time I teach English to a class of young adult students from all over the world. It doesn't pay much but it really fulfills me and makes me feel young. English is a passport to so many opportunities for my students and it's wonderful to be able to play a role in helping them to move towards their goals.
You like Eckhart Tolle. I'm a tremendous fan of his as well. He has so much to teach about living in the moment and "mindful" living. Partly thanks to him, I became very interested in meditation and it helps me greatly to "let go" of things. Other spiritual authors that have made a big impact on me are Deepak Chopra, Neale Walsch and John Kehoe.
Interesting too that you mentioned Buddhism. I went to some Buddhist meetings earlier this year and it's something I'm keen to pursue again. When I was hiking in Nepal, I came into contact with some wonderful Buddhist monks and meditated in some beautiful remote temples in the Himalayas. It's a wonderful philosophy with a lot to teach.
You like the outdoors. I can very much relate to that too. I'm at my happiest when I'm out in nature, the more remote the better. Being in nature is a powerful spiritual outlet for me and a big reason why I enjoy hiking so much. Another of my spiritual outlets is taking photos and capturing the beauty of things. I've been taking photos for a few years now and enjoy it immensely. You can see some of my photos at http://g-trovephotos.com
You like prawns and picnics. Me too! Especially prawns. Yum! And I live right on a beautiful park here in Waverton which is perfect for picnics.
So, we have lots in common. I must admit, however, to not knowing anything at all about Woolclassing, architectural drafting, V8s or WWE!! However, I'm always fascinated to find out about new things :)
By the way, I must also admit to not knowing what a "bitzer" is - is that a local expression?? I tried to Google it but it didn't help!! You'll have to enlighten me!
Anyway, hope that's given you a bit more info about me. I'm totally new to RSVP and the online dating world so you'll have to guide me through any protocols.
Cheers
Graeme
Hi there Neri
My mum also writes me long emails every few weeks and I love getting them. They give me a wonderful sense of the everyday life of my family in Cape Town, including my sister and beloved nephew and niece (aged 7 and 11) who I miss very much. My mum would love it if I recipricated in kind, but I prefer to keep in contact through Skype. Having said that, I do keep a blog that keeps everyone updated with my life, but these days it consists more of photographs than detailed written ramblings. The blog is at www.graemex.blogspot.com
Talking of writing, you write beautifully. I definitely think you've got some excellent novels in you. Your varied life experiences and interests will provide rich pickings. Have you decided yet on the theme of your trilogy? Interesting too that you write poetry. Do you ever share it? I also like to write poetry once in a while, but haven't in ages. Maybe it's time to start again.
It doesn't freak me out that you haven't been out of Australia. It certainly might have a couple of years ago, but not now. When I was younger, I went through a compulsive stint of wanting to travel everywhere I hadn't been and see everything I hadn't seen. It was an addiction and I felt I was losing out when I wasn't "on the road", especially when I was bogged down in the daily grind of work. But since I arrived in Australia, I've become more grounded and sedentary. I read once that the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. It resonated. I've been focussing a lot more on deepening my appreciation of where I'm at and not longing so much after new places. And let's face it, there is a lot to appreciate and experience and explore in Sydney. I've really loved getting to know her really well. That's the great thing about photography too. You can visit exactly the same place over and over but the subtle differences in light give you different results every time. It helps me see with new eyes.
Wow, it must have been hard to lose both Holly and Tate so close together, especially at such a difficult time with your break up. Are you thinking of getting any new pets? Pet's are so enriching, but they are also a big responsibility and they can tie you down a bit. I'm very lucky with Mack. He escaped from my house when I was at work last year (my pescy housemate left the gate open.) Mack decided to search me out and ran straight for the Pacific Highway. He was rescued by a local woman who totally fell in love with him. Now she looks after Mack during the day while I'm at work. And she has him two to three nights a week so I can enjoy a guilt free social life. And if I want to go away for the weekend to a national park, or to South Africa for a few weeks to see my family, she looks after him too. So I'm not tied down at all. And Mack loves it - he's hardly ever alone and never has to go to the kennels. It's a wonderful concept - dog share. Maybe there's a business idea there, facilitating it...
Your CEO friend sounds like a really amazing guy. To keep the spirit strong through an ordeal as traumatic and exhausting as cancer is an amazing thing. I've been following the journey of Kristian at http://howthelightgetsin.net and he too really inspires me. It's amazing how faith can be so nourishing. The power of believing that things happen for a reason and embracing it.
Wow, that music site of yours is huge! It looks like an interesting business. Do you play the guitar? Handcoding certainly does provide extra flexibility and I like your values - it's good to know what you stand for when running your own business. Very important in fact. When I was in London, I worked for a branding company and I spent my days helping businesses to understand what made them unique and special and then getting them to articulate that through everything they did. I enjoyed that a lot - it was a very creative process.
Thanks for some of your insights around RSVP. This dating thing is a little intimidating to me right now as I haven't done formal dating in well over a decade and a half!!! My relationship ended in late 2009 after 17 years - 10 years of which I was married. I had a relationship after the split with someone I met at the park through Mack (he's a great match maker) but it was a little disastrous - she unexpectedly turned out to be not just a little bit crazy and not in a good way. My radar is obvioulsy not as finely tuned as yours! So, I was scared off a bit and only now dabling my toe back in the sea. One of my aims with RSVP is to increase my circle of single friends - most of my old friends are married couples with young kids. I love them all, but I do find the conversation evolves around the kids 90% of the time and it get's a little bit much.
Anyway, over and out. It's my birthday today and I've got a busy but fun day ahead. Work, then drinks and dinner out with friends.
Cheers for now
G
Hi Neri
Ah, Beauty and the Geek. I saw the trailer for that a while back and it looked like a lot of fun - nice to see Geeks getting the girls for a change. I hardly watch any TV (mainly because I hate all the advertising, every 5 minutes) but I'm hesitant to admit I did get a little bit hooked on Australia's Got Talent a little while ago.
ABC is my favourite channel when I do watch, and I do have a bit of a thing for documentaries of any kind, but especially wildlife ones. I'm a great David Attenborough fan and I own all his series.
I'm addicted to movies and sometimes go through phases of watching several a week. The cinema has no boundary, it is a ribbon of dream. My favourite web site is The Internet Movie Database and when I was living in London, I watched all the movies on their top 250 list (http://www.imdb.com/chart/top) Very sad, I know, and I really need to get out more - but what else is one supposed to do during a foul English winter? The New York Times has a Top 1000 list but I've managed to abstain from that for the time being!
My taste in movies is extremely varied - I'll watch anything as long as it's decent, including extremely obscure, foreign ones. And old ones too. While my friends lust after the likes of Angelina Jolie, I dream of Audrey Hepburn and Ingrid Bergman.
Talking of lists, I do seem to have a bit of a strange penchant for chasing them and ticking them off... For example, I've also been making my way through the BBC's Top 100 reads. It's exposed to many of the classics I might not normally would have read. I also have a list of things I want to do before I die which influences my decisions and choices, especially when it comes to travel. And I'm a birder and I love ticking off new species on my bird list when I'm out in nature. It was my goal to see over 1000 different species of birds in the world and that pursuit has taken me to mosquito infested rainforests all over the place.
Wow, your breakup must have been realy awful. It sounds like you were treated really badly and it must have been a tremendous shock. It's a real testament to you that you didn't let it beat you and make you cynical and negative - but used it as a catalyst for personal and spiritual growth.
My breakup was tough too but a lot less traumatic than yours. Ally and I had been together since she was 19 and I was 22. We had a great relationship for many years and she was a wonderful partner. However, we drifted apart, especially after coming to Sydney and I was to blame quite a bit for that as I took her for granted. The decision to split was more hers than mine and it hurt, but I accepted it and didn't fight it. In retrospect, I should have done more to save the marriage. Very shortly after the split, she met someone else and they are now engaged and have bought a house together. Ally and I still talk on the phone every so often and we remain friends. I'll always love her as we were kindred spirits but in a pure way without any attachments or expectations that she'll ever come back. The Buddhist class I went to had a lot to teach about that kind of love. It really helped.
I also hardly drink at all, at most a shandy if I go to a pub which is rarely. I don't really like beer that much, when I was much younger I much preferred cider to beer - to my father's immense horror, because in South Africa real men only drink beer. Wine gives me heartburn and I only drink it very occasionally. I also really don't like noisy pubs at all. I went to watch the rugby with work mates at a pub last night and in the background, there was never ending thumping music so we all had to shout to be heard and it became really irritating.
Like you, I also love the ocean but I'm not a particulalry huge beach fan either, except to do paddleskiing which I really enjoy. I prefer the forest, river and mountain to the beach, although I absolutely adore rocky coaslines where the ocean pounds onto the shore. I can watch that for hours and hours. There is a particular place in South Africa (Storm's River) where this happens and it's my favourite place on earth. I also adore high sea cliffs where you can slide on your tummy and look down at the ocean far below. The Royal National Park has some cliffs like that and I love it.
Anyway, enough for now. I'm off to have a barbecue with some friends. Lots of couples and kids, but it should be fun. The kiddies like to throw the ball for Mack and it keeps both them and Mack entertained for hours.
Bye for now
Graeme
16 January 2012
Favourite movies watched (2012)
- The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
- Skyfall (2012)
- The Artist (2011)
- Argo (2012)
- The Hunger Games (2012)
- Drive (2011)
- Incendies (2010)
- 127 Hours (2010)
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
- Prometheus (2012)
8 January 2012
Non fiction books read (2012)
The power of Presence
- The Power of Now (Eckhart Tolle)
- A New Earth (Eckhart Tolle)
- Stillness Speaks (Eckhart Tolle)
- True Meditation: Discover the Freedom of Pure Awareness (Adyashanti)
Happiness
- The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want (Sonja Lyubomirsky)
- You Can Be Happy No Matter What: Five Principles for Keeping Life in Perspective (Richard Carlson)
Soulful purpose
- The Power of Intention (Dr. Wayne W. Dyer)
- The Fire Starter Sessions: A Soulful and Practical Guide to Creating Success on Your Own Terms (Danielle LaPorte)
- Life on Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life (Brad Swift)
Manifesting
- The Secret (Rhonda Byrne)
Productivity
- The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich (Timothy Ferriss)
- Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and the Business of Life (David Allen)
- Zen To Done: The Ultimate Simple Productivity System (Leo Babauta)
- Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time (Brian Tracy)
- Get-It-Done Guy's 9 Steps to Work Less and Do More: Transform Yourself from Overwhelmed to Overachiever (Quick & Dirty Tips) Stever Robbins
- Time Power: A Proven System for Getting More Done in Less Time Than You Ever Thought Possible (Brian Tracy)
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Focus and innovation
- Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography (Walter Isaacson)
Simplicity and essentialism
- Inside-Out Simplicity (Joshua Becker)
- focus (Leo Babauta)
- The Effortless Life (Leo Babauta)
- Zen Simplicity (Leo Babauta)
- The Power of Less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential...in Business and in Life (Leo Babauta)
Finances
- Rich Dad Poor Dad (Robert T. Kiyosaki)
4 January 2012
What do you think?
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Happy New Year, everybody!
3 January 2012
9 pm fireworks over Sydney (New Year's Eve)
2 January 2012
2012 Highlights
Quality time with the family in Cape Town and The Orange River, photographing wildlife in The Kruger National Park and fun times with Dani
Priceless Moments
- The amazing fireworks on New Year's eve which I photographed from my own secret spot in Ball's Head.
- Deciding that, like my dad, I look better with a beard.
- Capturing lots of action at the Penrith Whitewater Centre with the camera club and stopping off at the Spur (a South African institution) for a pecan nut sundae (one of my favourite things as a kid).
- Mum and Mike visiting Sydney after a cruise on the Queen Mary and doing some fun outings with them including Blue Mountains, Cremorne Point, Watson's Bay and Palm Beach.
- A fun day of steam with the camera club and thinking of dad, who would have loved it.
- Doing a weekend workshop with Behram Ghista, a Buddhist teacher (thanks to Nerium, a new found friend), that set me back on my spiritual path of meditation and mindfulness.
- Joining an Eckhart Tolle group in Kirribilli and the beautiful, loving, indomitable Jilly coming into my life.
- Through Jilly, joining a wonderful Saturday meditation group run by wonderful Geraldine.
- Lots of mindful walks around Berry Island and Balls Head.
- Any time spent with gorgeous Mack.
- Buying a Kindle, one of my best ever purchases.
- Crawling on my belly on The Newcastle mud flats to photograph birds and the wondrous sight of millions of soldier crabs.
- Playing weekly tennis with Brendan and having some titanic battles.
- A fun weekend away at the Hunter's Valley with great people from the camera club and getting to photograph hot air balloons and beautiful horses and birds.
- A great day outing to Robertson and getting to admire the amazing autumn colours.
- Meeting the beautiful Dani at the Kirribilli Hotel pub and being so smitten that I forgot to pay for our drinks and had the bartender run after me!
- My first real date with Dani - rollerblading near Manly - where I got to hold her hand and feel even more smitten.
- Photographing the Vivid Festival with Sue and Guy , the three amigos together again.
- Doing the Two Creeks Hike with Dani.
- Photographing a gorgeous black swan with its chicks at Bicentennial Park.
- Whale watching with Dani and dolphins swimming alongside our boat.
- Ice skating with Dani, always such a romantic thing to do.
- A wonderful weekend at the Blue Mountains where we did two lovely hikes.
- Being blissfully reunited in Cape Town with my family and frolicking with Matt and Sam by the pool.
- Paddling down the Orange River with my family through gorgeous desert scenery and especially the awe inspiring stars on the final night.
- Three unforgettable weeks in The Kruger National Park by myself where I had a wondrous encounter with a leopard, got great shots of birds and had a very close shave with a bull elephant.
- Spending an evening with Jo in Joberg on my way back from the Kruger to Sydney, helping me to get over my end-of-holiday blues.
- Getting to wear a mullet and leopard trousers at Dani's fun 40th birthday party in The Blue Mountains.
- Getting to experience Mattias Klum, one of National Geographic's top nature photographers, present his life's work at The Opera House.
- Spending Xmas at Nambucca Heads with Dani's family on their macadamia nut farm and getting to see Regent Bowerbird, a bird I've wanted to see for ages.
- Exploring the gorgeous waterfalls and rain forests along the Waterfall Way.
- A sensational hike in the Cathedral Rock National Park where we needed to use chains to scramble up mighty boulders to a incredible view.
- Cycling around Dubbo Zoo, photographing cute critters.
- Thomas Pham, a photographer buddy, passing away from cancer.
- Getting a bad cold and fever on day two of the 5 day Orange River trip in sweltering heat. My lovely sister saved my life by being my engine.
New friends met this year
- Prometheus
- Argo
- Skyfall
- The Descendants
- The Separation
2012 Index of Links
Holiday in South Africa (late Sep - early Nov)
- Exploring The Kruger National Park including amazing birds and a close shave.
- Paddling down the Orange River
- Fish River Canyon
- Catching up with Julian
- Catching up with Ivor
- Playing with the kids by the pool
- All South Africa 2012 posts
- Christmas in Nambucca Heads with Dani's parents, followed by a roadtrip along Waterfall Way, hiking in Cathedral Rock National Park, Warrumbungles and Gunnedah, Dubbo and Mudgee.
- Watching footie (Jun)
- Two Creeks Hike (Jun)
- Whale watching (Aug)
- Walking at Dee Why (Aug)
- Ice skating (Aug)
- Weekend at the Blue Mountains (Aug)
- Blue Mountains birthday party and walk (Nov)
Mum and Mike visit Sydney (Feb)
- Mum and Mike come to Sydney after cruising on the Queen Mary
- Outings with mum and Mike including Blue Mountains, Cremorne Point, Watson's Bay and Palm Beach
- Photographing waterfalls in The Blue Mountains (Dec)
- Fireworks on New Year's eve (Jan)
- Penrith Whitewater (Feb)
- Day of Steam (Mar)
- Sydney Mardis Gras (Mar)
- Wonderful birds and crabs at Newcastle. (Mar)
- Club weekend away at Hunter's Valley including hot air ballooning, old buildings and beautiful horses and birds, great people. (Apr)
- Newtown outing with the photography club. (May)
- McMahons Point (May)
- Outing to Robertson. (May)
- Sydney Olympic Park. (Jul)
- Birds at Bicentennial Park. (Jul)
- Vivid with Sue and Guy. (Jun)
- Clontarf with Roger (Feb)
- Lunch with Doug and Claudia (Apr)
- Harbour cruise with Sue (May)
- Playing with Instagram (Jun)
- Farewell to Thomas Pham
- The Myburghian Leap catches on
- Tuesday night meditations at Jilly's
- Tennis with Brendan
- Doing Sue's East Africa slide show for her portfolio.
Life goals achieved this year
- See Regent Bowerbird
- Watch a show in the Sydney Opera House
- Go on an African safari with a camera
- Photograph a leopard
Family in Cape Town
- Great photo shoot of the kids.
- Jason joins the family
- Mike visits Holland
- Mike goes Tiger fishing
- The Botings go to Europe
- Mum goes to The Okovango
- Jo's accident
- Jo turns 40
- Sam turns 12
- Botings do Two Marathons
- Easter picnic
- Noordhoek Picnic
- Family photo
- Matthew turns 9
Related
1 January 2012
My Spiritual Compass
I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within. Lillian Smith
I believe...
- in a benevolent universe that loves me completely
- We are sacred spirits on a sacred journey and love is what we are
- I am the sacred witness within and love, joy and peace are at my core
- This moment is perfect
- I am enough as I am
- There is more than enough
- Simple and focused is beautiful
- Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage
- Stillness is my path to peace
Living in the moment
- I let go to you, Great Mystery, and open out to your wonder, wisdom, stillness, beauty and love
- Thank you, Great Mystery, for this golden moment of Now
- Free in this moment to let it out, let it be, let it go, let it flow
- Free in this moment to be inmost calm and still
- Free in this moment to be fully present
- I come home to myself and to life
- I cherish the sacred spirit in each person I meet
- I do what I love to do, creating with love and passion
- I create powerful intentions, beliefs and habits
- I explore with fascination
- I'm thankful for all that is good in my life
- I celebrate wonder and stillness
- I share fun and laughter
- I rededicate myself again and again
My Values
- calmness, gratitude, stillness, passion, love and affirmation, adventure, courage, fun, simplicity, balance