Life Trove

10 February 2013

Matt's 10th birthday party

It looks like a lot of fun was had by all!

9 February 2013

Ally and John got married today. It was poignant and bitter sweet for me but also kind of joyful. I really do wish them all the happiness in the world together and Ally looks so radiant. She so deserves to be happy and John looks like a lovely guy. Maybe I'll get to meet him one day.

Email to Ally on her wedding day

Hi there Ally

Happy wedding day!! I wish you and John every happiness that life can bring. I hope your lives together are rich and fun and adventurous and full of wonderful blessings. You're such a treasure and so beautiful through and through, and I'm sure that John realises how lucky he is and will really, really cherish you. You deserve nothing less.

I hope your big day today goes well - I am sure it will with all the planning you have done. I hope it's wonderful day full of fun and laughter and love and family. I'm sure you'll look absolutely gorgeous in your dress - I'd love to see a photo of you in it one of these days.

I'm sure too it must be great having your dad in Sydney. Hope they have a fabulous time in Australia. Please send them and Susan my very best.

All speed and I will be thinking of you many times today and sending loving, positive vibes.

Much love
Graeme

Email from Ally

Hi G

Thank you for your very special wishes and your lovely thoughts.

I know that today may not be an easy day for you.....

John is a decent honourable man as you are.

I can certainly feel your postive vibes....The sun is shinning and everyone is happy.

I will send the website with the pics when I have them.

Much love and thanks again.
Ally

Email from Ally to mum and Mike

Dear Jill and Mike

Thank you very much for your kind wishes. It is nearly time for us to leave but wanted to thank you....It means a lot to me of have your message.

Our hair and make-up are done so we nearly ready for a glass of champers.

It has been really wonderful having Dad and Azia here. There have been celebrations every evening with all the guests getting to know each other. Dad has been totally amazed at our lives here. I think now he truly understands why we have moved.

I will send through a more newy email next week but I will send through some pics tomorrow. I know I still owe you pics from my b'day. I am so sorry - my camera is set on high resolution and Kerri will need to make them smaller for me. I don't have G's tech skills. I also need to reply to Jo's very kind email from before my birthday.

G sent me a very kind email today which was very special of him.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend. I will be thinking about you all tonight....what a journey we have all been on over the years.........

Much love
Ally

Life is an epic work of art (Feb 2013)

Life is God's novel. Let him write it. Isaac Bashevis Singer

Perhaps when the Universe returns to formlessness, we as Consciousness will get to view a collage of Life's moments of grace - moments of pure love, joy, triumph, insight, inspiration, passion, courage, tenacity, wonder and beauty that occurred in time and form.

But would those moments of grace really mean anything at all without the backdrop and context of pain, sorrow, suffering, difficulty, challenge, adversity, hardship, fear, ugliness and even hate? What would a movie or book be worth if it were about nothing but living happily and perfectly in non- stop peace and harmony? What would the story of Life and it's awakening to Itself be if it were just non stop light with no dark?

As human beings, we love to create, watch, read, tell and be inspired by stories. We love stories and epics and dramas with hardship and struggle and the victory over it and we love fairy tales with heroes and villains. Maybe this part of us is inspired by our Divine Essence. Maybe Consciousness loves stories as much as we do. Maybe, at the end of time and form, Consciousness, of whom We are all merely temporary expressions, will watch a reel of Life's highlights and be inspired and moved beyond anything that can possibly be described. What a work of Art that would be. How epic. How sublimely beautiful. Joyful. Sad. Poignant. Profound. Inspiring.

8 February 2013

From Julian

Hi Graeme, I have recently been struck by pangs of nostalgia and have been going through your blog (again) just to try and catch a glimps of what it felt like to be a little younger and a little more in awe of life. I'm touched by how often you refer to our friendship and treasure the carefree memories. Stay in touch and see you soon. J

1 February 2013

2013 Highlights

More fun times with Dani, joining Meet Up for hiking and weekends away

Best family photos for 2013

Best images for 2013

Priceless Moments

Exploring and photographing the lovely vineyards and town of Mudgee with Dani.
A weekend away in The Hunter Valley with Dani and especially the best mocha of my life and delicious crumble at a restaurant that specialised in only desserts (my idea of heaven!)
Getting to capture Dani in glorious action in her Port Stephens outrigger race and an exhilarating swim at the beach the next day.
Becoming completely addicted to The Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead.
Going on a kayak from Clontarf to Manly with Dani and the girls, then getting to try out Dani's double-rig canoe (I capsized!)
Taking photos of Jackson, the cat, for Nerium to give to her housemate, Vicki and how good they looked framed and on the wall.
Photographing the mountain of fascinating junk in the Windsor Junk Yard with Sue during our club outing to The Hawkesbury.
The adorable little baby Koala that crawled out of it's mum's pouch and posed for George and I in the Blackbutts wildlife sanctuary in Newcastle.
Photos full of wonder and beauty at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.
My first ever hike with Meet Up (Milson's Point to Waverton) and realising I was onto a good thing (thanks Roger for encouraging me to join).
My first real bushwalk with Meet Up (a hike at Mount Kuring-gai) and loving every minute of it, especially getting to meet Liz who later became the founder of our hiking gang.
Cooking up a storm for my dear friends, Guy and Sue.
Meeting the lovely Chrisèl on a hike overlooking The Central Coast and talking animatedly about our passions for South Africa and its wildlife.
The riot of colour at the Bowral tulip festival and the serenity of the river where we camped.
Relaxing, mindful daily walks to Waverton Park, Berry Island and Ball's Head with Mack.
Being a hero and carrying a very distressed damsel's pack on a hot hike in Jerusalem Bay. Chris, the very appreciative leader, bought me beers at the pub after which I wolfed down in my dehydrated state and became extremely drunk!
Feasting my eyes on some of Sydney's most beautiful beaches on a walk from Collaroy to Manly.
Doing a presentation of my photographic journey to The Mosman Camera Club and winning the Presentation of the Year award.
Sitting up high on the enormous cliffs at Point Perpendicular after a weekend camping at the beautiful Jervis Bay.
Stripping to our underwear and leaping into the refreshing Hawkesbury River half way through a hike on a swelteringly hot day.
The love so clearly evident at Su and Alex's wedding at Balmoral Beach.
Photographing the zombie apocalypse that descended on Sydney and having everyone play up for the camera.
Jo, my wonderful sister, taking up photography with an amazing flare for it, and being able to share this passion with her.
Jo's wonderful penguin story.