5 April 2017
21 March 2017
Advertising for a housemate
I’m looking for a friendly housemate to share with two of us and Mack, my adorable Jack Russell.
Here are the essentials:
Your room
- A spacious room awash with sunlight
- Your own ensuite bathroom
- Your own private balcony
- Oodles and oodles of cupboard space
- Fully furnished
The house
- Beautiful courtyards; an oasis of plants
- Modern kitchen with dishwasher
- A large smart TV
- Barbecue
- Pristine; beautifully maintained
- On 3 levels, so we’re not on top of each other
The surrounding area
- A quiet, leafy suburb
- Waverton train station just three minutes away
- Situated right next to beautiful Brennan park, perfect for exercise and picnics
- Berry Island and Balls Head nature reserves on your doorstep
- 3 minute walk from Waverton Village restaurants and IGA
- 3 minutes walk from The Botanica, Australia's 2015 top voted cafe (great coffee!)
- 10 mins walk from all the shops and restaurants of Crows Nest
About me
- Friendly and easy going
- Neat and tidy
- My passions: hiking, photography, mindfulness, movies, ice-cream
- A good sense of fun
- Owner of the cutest dog in the world
My other housemate
- Not chosen yet, you can help choose if you want
What I'm looking for in a housemate:
- Someone who likes dogs
- Easy going
- On the tidier side
- Non smoker
Included in the rent
- Expenses (water, electricity, gas)
- Unlimited internet
- Netflix
- Unlimited internet
- Netflix
Optional
- Underground parking available for $12.50 per week.
20 March 2017
Back courtyard projects
I had some woodwork fun, creating some covers to hide ugly things in the back courtyard.
It doesn't look like it, but the gate at the back does shut and close with plenty of room to spare.
Bin cover
Before
It doesn't look like it, but the gate at the back does shut and close with plenty of room to spare.
Bin cover
Before
After
Water heater cover
Before
After
3 March 2017
Mum's 70th birthday
Dear mum
Happy birthday! Happy 70 years young.
I feel so blessed to have you as my mum. You have always been such a vital force in my life. Always there to talk to. Always ready to listen. Always ready to encourage. And always there to support us and love us no matter what.
You've inspired me in so many ways ...
- your extraordinary, amazing, incredible generosity of spirit
- your readiness to help anyone in need
- your warm heartedness and natural friendliness
- your resilience in the tough times
- the way you value and nurture your friendships
- your common sense
- your delicious cooking
- your being the most adoring, doting Granny in the world
- your readiness to learn new computer tricks
- your enthusiasm for all you get involved in
- and so much more
What a journey life is - a winding path of ups and downs; joys, adventures and challenges. Thank you for the vital role you've played on my journey; for starting me on it, for teaching me to walk and run and climb, for encouraging and helping me on the uphills, for contributing to the joys and sharing in the wonders along the way. Thank you for being the best mum I could ever ask for. Thank you for being You.
Love
G
Dear mum
There is no way I can really capture everything that has happened in your 70 years in one book but I hope that this gift gives you a small taste of all that you have achieved and experienced. I have loved making it and reliving some of my favourite childhood memories.
We are all truly blessed to have you in our lives. You have always been there to support me, both physically and emotionally - in person and over the phone and, of course, via Whats App! You are always ready to drop anything to come to the rescue if there is a crisis.
The first thing that stands out for me is your amazing baking - there was always a batch of crunchies at the ready when we got home from school (and recently your winning choc chip cookies) - and the way you always got involved with my school fetes.
I still remember those amazing teddies in a bed you used to make and the incredible dolls clothes you sewed for me. That suitcase of dolly clothes is still one of my best presents ever received.
It has to be said that the parties you threw for G and I were the best. Everyone with their own glitter crown and party box with their names on. Let’s not forget my magical butterfly cakes that I asked you to make year after year.
Thank you for the incredible newsy letters that kept me going throughout my overseas trips and for all the special holidays you have taken us on.
Thank you for loving my children and being such a softie and spoiling them. I love that you are the best mother-in-law to Antony and an incredible friend to Liz, Wendy, Judy, and Barbara to name a few.
I am so proud that you are always pitching in and getting involved whether it be on the Woodsider Magazine, bar duty, project Daphne or making soup for whoever needs it in your neighbourhood.
I am so glad that you got to find happiness a second time after dad died. You had inner strength that was inspirational to all of us.
I wish you all the health, happiness, love, laughter, sunshine and roses for the next chapter of your life. Know that you are loved very much and you mean the world to us.
With all my love
Jo
Letter from Sam and Matt
2 March 2017
An essay by Sam
Fake News
Southfield was an extremely small town, everyone knew each other, no names were unknown, there was nowhere to hide and there was no way to keep secrets. Life in Southfield was easy if you kept your head down, didn’t start any trouble or could fit in. However, in Tina’s case this seemed to prove difficulty.
Tina’s family seemed normal from the outside. It was like if a stranger picked up the roof on their house they wouldn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. Her mom worked with the church, her dad worked a 9 to 5 and her sister Eloise, well, everyone liked her. The boys wanted to be with her and the girls wanted to be her. Their life seemed perfect but Tina was hiding an immense secret which she could never bring herself to let her parents know.
She used to be captain of the cheer team, a straight A student, dating THE Chuck Jones and she was quite possibly the happiest teenager around. That was until she started receiving the messages.
*PING*
A shudder went down Tina’s back. A mixture of dread and nausea began to fill her stomach. She checked her phone, peering cautiously at the small, illuminated screen. She knew who it was from before she had even built up the confidence to read the message.
“You think that you are all THAT?! You are worthless. You mean nothing.”
That mixture of dread and nausea had reached the top of her throat. She wanted to scream but instead only a small quiver left her shaking lips. A single tear slithered down her cheek, racing to leave her tender skin. It dropped onto her phone making the message go all fuzzy.
The message had started 3 months ago, when an unknown number popped up on Tina’s phone. Normally she would have turned a blind eye and ignored it but there was a link attached to it and her curiosity got the best of her. To her utter disbelief, a picture slid onto her screen of her kissing a guy, a guy who was not her boyfriend. Big red letters flashed across the screen:
“DO EVERYTHING I SAY OR THIS PHOTO WILL BE UPLOADED TO FACEBOOK FOR EVERYONE TO SEE.”
These were the words that flashed passed her eyes during her nightmares. Tina knew that the photo wasn’t of her, but in Southfield fake news was just as good as real news. The women were starving for some juicy gossip so Tina gave in and did everything that the anonymous tormenter asked.
*PING*
“Why are you still even here? You should just kill yourself already.”
*PING*
*PING*
The messages were getting worse and worse as each day passed. Tina felt as if she was tied to the bottom of a large pool, every message a bucket of water being thrown on her, and right now she was up to her nose in the cold liquid, struggling to stay afloat.
Maybe she should do what the messages say? She felt as though she had lost everything good in her life anyway. A strange blanket of darkness seemed to replace everything that she lost, no, everything she gave up. She felt as if she was fighting a battle that she was destined loose. She felt as if there was no end to the dark tunnel that she was stranded on, walking alone along the black, empty railway lines until it finally registered. She saw a hint of white light at the end of her dark journey, there was an escape and she ran for it.
***
The headline crossed all news stations that day: TEEN’S BATTLE WITH A FACELESS, NAMELESS MONSTER. The phone lines were flooded with calls from worried citizens offering to send cheques and support to the nearest Cyberbullying Help Centre. Schools put up posters and held seminars about cyber safety. At the end of the day everyone knew of Tina Smith and her battle with her ruthless demons. The whole world was talking about her bravery and the sacrifice that she made to bring cyberbullying to the world’s attention.
Everyone was talking except for the small town of Southfield. Not a word left their mourning mouths as they gathered outside Tina’s house with lit candles and flowers. Tears flooded the streets of the tiny town. How did no one see it? Did no one care? How far did it have to go before people realised that it was too late?
A picture of Tina dressed in her Sunday clothes appeared on the screen. Her smile illuminated the screen, a complete contrast to the distraught face of the local news reported. Her gloomy voice spoke echoed through everyone’s speakers:
“Her pale body was found at 7:53pm, nearly 1 hour after her neighbours reported hearing gunshots. We are sending our love and prayers to the Smith family during this very tough time…”
And this time it wasn’t fake news, this time it was real.
Southfield was an extremely small town, everyone knew each other, no names were unknown, there was nowhere to hide and there was no way to keep secrets. Life in Southfield was easy if you kept your head down, didn’t start any trouble or could fit in. However, in Tina’s case this seemed to prove difficulty.
Tina’s family seemed normal from the outside. It was like if a stranger picked up the roof on their house they wouldn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. Her mom worked with the church, her dad worked a 9 to 5 and her sister Eloise, well, everyone liked her. The boys wanted to be with her and the girls wanted to be her. Their life seemed perfect but Tina was hiding an immense secret which she could never bring herself to let her parents know.
She used to be captain of the cheer team, a straight A student, dating THE Chuck Jones and she was quite possibly the happiest teenager around. That was until she started receiving the messages.
*PING*
A shudder went down Tina’s back. A mixture of dread and nausea began to fill her stomach. She checked her phone, peering cautiously at the small, illuminated screen. She knew who it was from before she had even built up the confidence to read the message.
“You think that you are all THAT?! You are worthless. You mean nothing.”
That mixture of dread and nausea had reached the top of her throat. She wanted to scream but instead only a small quiver left her shaking lips. A single tear slithered down her cheek, racing to leave her tender skin. It dropped onto her phone making the message go all fuzzy.
The message had started 3 months ago, when an unknown number popped up on Tina’s phone. Normally she would have turned a blind eye and ignored it but there was a link attached to it and her curiosity got the best of her. To her utter disbelief, a picture slid onto her screen of her kissing a guy, a guy who was not her boyfriend. Big red letters flashed across the screen:
“DO EVERYTHING I SAY OR THIS PHOTO WILL BE UPLOADED TO FACEBOOK FOR EVERYONE TO SEE.”
These were the words that flashed passed her eyes during her nightmares. Tina knew that the photo wasn’t of her, but in Southfield fake news was just as good as real news. The women were starving for some juicy gossip so Tina gave in and did everything that the anonymous tormenter asked.
*PING*
“Why are you still even here? You should just kill yourself already.”
*PING*
*PING*
The messages were getting worse and worse as each day passed. Tina felt as if she was tied to the bottom of a large pool, every message a bucket of water being thrown on her, and right now she was up to her nose in the cold liquid, struggling to stay afloat.
Maybe she should do what the messages say? She felt as though she had lost everything good in her life anyway. A strange blanket of darkness seemed to replace everything that she lost, no, everything she gave up. She felt as if she was fighting a battle that she was destined loose. She felt as if there was no end to the dark tunnel that she was stranded on, walking alone along the black, empty railway lines until it finally registered. She saw a hint of white light at the end of her dark journey, there was an escape and she ran for it.
***
The headline crossed all news stations that day: TEEN’S BATTLE WITH A FACELESS, NAMELESS MONSTER. The phone lines were flooded with calls from worried citizens offering to send cheques and support to the nearest Cyberbullying Help Centre. Schools put up posters and held seminars about cyber safety. At the end of the day everyone knew of Tina Smith and her battle with her ruthless demons. The whole world was talking about her bravery and the sacrifice that she made to bring cyberbullying to the world’s attention.
Everyone was talking except for the small town of Southfield. Not a word left their mourning mouths as they gathered outside Tina’s house with lit candles and flowers. Tears flooded the streets of the tiny town. How did no one see it? Did no one care? How far did it have to go before people realised that it was too late?
A picture of Tina dressed in her Sunday clothes appeared on the screen. Her smile illuminated the screen, a complete contrast to the distraught face of the local news reported. Her gloomy voice spoke echoed through everyone’s speakers:
“Her pale body was found at 7:53pm, nearly 1 hour after her neighbours reported hearing gunshots. We are sending our love and prayers to the Smith family during this very tough time…”
And this time it wasn’t fake news, this time it was real.
28 February 2017
Non fiction books read (2017)
Idealism
- Biocentrism (Robert Lanza)
Science and the universe
- The Holographic Universe (Michael Talbot)
- From Science to God (Peter Russell)
- The Self-Aware Universe (Amit Goswami)
Waking up
- Deep Awake: Wake Up To Oneness and Become a Lover of Life (Tim Freke)
- How Long is Now?: How to be Spiritually Awake in the Real World (Tim Freke)
- Lucid Living: Experience Your Life Like a Lucid Dream (Tim Freke)
- Soul Story: Evolution and The Purpose of Life (Tim Freke)
- Waking Up (Sam Harris)
- Waking From Sleep: Why Awakening Experiences Occur and How to Make them Permanent (Steve Taylor)
Free will
- Free Will (Sam Harris)
The power of awareness
- The Untethered Soul ((Michael A. Singer)
- The Surrender Experiment (Michael A. Singer)
- Here Now (Ram Das)
Advaita Vedanta
- I Am That (Nisargadatta Maharaj)
- Vaster Than Sky, Greater Than Space: What You Are Before You Became (Mooji)
Technology (and consciousness)
- Homo Deus (Yuval Noah Harari)
19 February 2017
17 February 2017
13 February 2017
11 February 2017
10 February 2017
Drum Circle
Graeme
Wow, such a wonderful evening last night. The most mindful swim of my life earlier in the evening with the play of light on the water. Soulful drumming and joyful dancing. Such beautiful people. Thank you dear Sharon!
Sharon
Oh, wasn't it all so glorious! I loved it all so much, and I so loved you two darling beings being with me there! xx
Aimee
I had such a lovely magical evening....! I woke up as fresh and light as ever. Thank you dear Sharon for sharing this event. What a beautiful night I look forward to the next one xxx
8 February 2017
Deva Premal concert in Sydney
Graeme
Dear, wonderful Sharon. I just have to thank you again for organising last night. It was sublime beyond words. As someone said last night; a "love-gasm"" of the heart! Such a blissful connection to Presence through music and all the beautiful beings there. And what was equally priceless was to experience it with my dearest friends. Thank you everyone for being in my life. You make it so very blessed.
Jilly
Dear One, So glad to be there last night even though I hardly saw you. To know our spirit friends are close is always heart warming.
Sharon
I love you dearest Jilly xxx and each one of you magnificent, beautiful beings xxx How deeply Graced this life is.
Shushann
Hi there dear Sharon and lovegasm friends - I couldn't have said it better myself dear Graeme. Thank you for a sublime evening hat was filled with so much joy, honouring tenderness and exquisiteness.
i couldn't sleep last night. My spirt was soaring in the energetic bliss of the evening.
Sharon
So much magnificence....
Jilly
I was offered the most wonderful minute in time with Deva - which became timeless. We met each other deeply and understood beyond words. Thank you again dear Sharon.
Sharon
How beautiful Jilly xxx
Aimee
What a magical night, I am buzzing. I love all of you so deeply and bless bless that you are all in my life. A night embraced by the timelessness Joy we all are ❤ ❤ xxxx
