1.9.10

a bit of sharing a bit of me...

top of the morning to you all...

as i was packing for france-

{at the last moment as you know- seeing as i got my dates a little mixed up- sooo relaxed is the countryside living !?!?}

i received a thought-provoking & lovely award from a new friend....mira...




the *super comments* award....

she's a new gal on the block...with 4 boys in tow...
she's not been blogging long...but the first post of hers i read told me soo much about her...
she is a total sharer...& i feel like we *found* one another at the beginning of her bloggy journey which is kinda special i think....

so i kept her little *award* in my back pocket, so to speak, whilst we were travelling through france...

i just wanted to really think about the questions that the award comes along with, before i shared them with you all...
so now i am back...full of answers....ready to share...

so mira & anyone who's got a moment & a pot of tea or a glass of wine in hand....
thanks for letting me ramble to you...


why do you blog?


ahhh...it literally makes me go ahhh.
i find that my moment of blogging each day keeps me connected to myself...to *who i am* & to what *is important to me in life*.
i began blogging i guess, with the direction & drive of building up my sewing buisness *Miss Sew & So*
however it became very clear, very quickly, that my blogging heart belonged to sharing, & recording, our life as a family living abroad.
each & every post i like to fill with beautiful images of the things that make up my life- everyday *visual* beauty is very important to me....
some people like to paint...i like to photograph & build on those images...blogging allows me to share these moments...


what are your 3 best memories?


undoubtedly the birth of our three children...-but i count this as one memory- as the blessing from having children is making a family...becoming a mother...my memory will be not of their births as such- but of their gift to me- the gift of motherhood....

a VERY special second was a kiss i shared with my husband in the meat district of paris-when i was pregnant with our first daughter...it was one of those moments...y'know those moments when you allow yourself to recognise that your life, at times, is pretty perfect.....

a third....would be our journey here to england...three little kids...a 4 day journey from sydney to the backstreets & eating houses of dubai to our village in lytham england...the memories of the 3 of them on a plane- excited & ready to take on anything we offered to them i will never forget...
my husband & i shared many a moment, across their three little heads, knowing we were doing something that would shape us as a family forever...



if you could change your name what would it be?


my brothers children have done that for me- & i am VERY happy with their loving use of it...
*mimi*....


what are 5 things you can't live without?

my family- i am their rock & they are mine..

laughter- we have alot of it in our house & it resolves MOST issues...

travel- it fuels an acceptance of a differences-all people have a story & are equal, it teaches you tolerance & opens your eyes to the beauty of our entire planet not just ones birthplace...
travel has shaped our family more than i think we can yet imagine...

sunshine- i am a beaches gal-born & bred with sand between my toes...i will always return to a life of beach towels on the line & sunscreen in the tote- summer & winter...surf boards on the lawn & sand in the car...it's what makes our family who were are...

friends- living abroad makes your prioritise....the friends who have been *part* of this journey are the ones we will *love* forever....they know who they are.....



four best books?


to condense a life time of reading to four books is a HUGE ask...

but the books that made a difference to my everyday- to the way i personally enjoy see the world are:

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Dirt Music by Tim Winton
Breath by Tim Winton
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Tim Winton is possibly the most wonderful writer we have in australia...but part of me realises that to really understand his writing & his subject matter you need to *be* australian...


a unique & interesting fact about yourself?


i studied & lived in tokyo city for a year and a half  with two friends after meeting my husband at 21...
it was the hardest & most wonderful solo journey i have ever made...
it's not necessarily a city i would choose to live in again- but the creativity & history of the country will stay with me forever...i grew in independence & self-reliance in tokyo & as one of the most populated cities in the world, somehow it gave me a sense of peace i believe i could now only find in a place of natural space & beauty...
perhaps it's age related, as i see my eldest daughter look totally content & relaxed amongst the crowds & the chaos of a london street...i need the car-less streets of a city like venice now to achieve this state of peace in an urban environment!


what do you love about yourself?


i have learnt soo much about myself in this move abroad...perhaps one of the greatest gifts of travel is an acceptance of yourself...the individual traits you admire in others- you can suddenly see in yourself...or perhaps you allow yourself to see them for the first time...without criticism?

i admire my attitude to change...- i love my approach to the big things in life...my take it by the horns & get on with attitude...
i can mull over the small incidentals of the everyday for hours...workshop them till my family have all left the room....but when faced with the big decisions in our life i am confident & strong, reliable & loyal to the end...

the best movie ever made?


for me- movies represent times in my life...

there was a time when i announced that Ferris Bullers Day Off  was the best movie ever made!
there were times it was Breakfast At Tiffany's, Funny Face & anything Audrey H shon in...
i had a mad & long love with Doctor Zhivago...

currently i have my two favourite & simple  fall-back movies...the non-thinking kind...the magazine-instead-of-a-great-book kinda movies...{don't judge me to harshly- most times i'd rather read the gaurdian than sit down to a movie!}

Marley & Me
and
The Holiday

if it were freaky friday who would you change with?

i have to say i wouldn't mind being Ferne Cotton from radio 1, BBC for the day...just to have that voice & mad fashion sense for a day...the tatoos, the seriously long blonde hair, the brogues, the rock tour bus lifestyle.....*way cool*& very removed from my way of life!


what is the best thing about being a woman?


becoming a mother from being a daughter...


a birth right to choice that woman of my generation do not even question, thanks to the woman that came before us...

the ability to multitask...

lipgloss...


& the unspoken understanding that a woman is always the head of a household...




life....-another cup of tea & a long reflection...i think the rest of the day may be blue skies and kiddo time...i guess i just feel a little thankful for what i have now that i see it in front of me...


i completely enjoy opening a post that someone has taken time over...a post that lets us know how they think about specific topics...i'd really like to pass this onto one lovely woman whose photos & blog i adore...she is about to embark on a very personal, very committed photographic journey..so i need to catch her before she gets too busy creating...

the lovely Amy from the beautiful blog that is...lucky number 13

you'll love her...





20 comments:

  1. Melissa, I loved
    the thoughts behind
    your answers and getting
    to know you better.
    I began blogging to
    polish up my writing ~
    for me ~ but have
    discovered, along the
    way, that it has also
    been a way for me to
    embrace my life and
    to appreciate it that
    much more. Hope you
    are enjoying a lovely
    day across the pond!
    xx Suzanne

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  2. I feel I know you a little better now... I don't know whether you would see it as a bad thing, but we have a lot in common... and not just love for The Holiday! I really do love all your pictures and am in awe of them! I'm off to check out your recommendations now... Have a great day! Lx

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  3. Me again... yes I swear I do have kids... Just had to let you know that I popped over to Lucky 13 and I'm hooked. What a great recommendation.. I tell you what... Australia certainly churns out some creative ladies!!! I should have stayed there for longer... it might have rubbed off on me!! Lx

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  4. Wow Melissa,

    Not only do I really like what you have to say, but also how you can say things... You made me think about motherhood (sometimes I take it for granted, it's not) or the joy of living in another country (dito). I can only add, keep doing what you do now, I love it!
    (oh, and I found Amy a few days ago, through your blog, so thanks for that). Have a good day now!
    Maureen
    xx

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  5. Thank you Melissa for sharing this. You know, I'd completely forgotten about this award. I'm glad you hadn't! You say it all so perfectly - I guess that's why I love visiting your blog. And yes, one of the best things about being a woman is having the ability to multitask!!! Have a beautiful day.

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  6. Oh Melissa, you are so genuine. I loved reading this. The kiss....the 5 things...sunshine, laughter, family....the mom is the head of the household. I loved it all. Thanks for sharing. I'll read these thought filled posts anytime.
    Have a great day!

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  7. Melissa, thanks for letting us get to know you a little better! Great post! xoxo Beth

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  8. Hi Melissa, i love this post, thankyou for sharing so much of yourself, you are such a gorgeous lady, how I wish you lived closer! And so brave to do all the things you have done. And I am totally the same when it comes to decision making!! I procrastinate for months over the small things, but the big things are easy! have a lovely day; hugs from Lauraxx

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  9. This post is why I love your blog so much - it''s genuine, heartfelt and so real - something sadly lacking in many people nowdays, in my humble opinion. What I love about blogging is meeting people like you, that I would never have met otherwise - so glad to have you as a blog buddy! K xx

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  10. Hi Melissa - fantastic post - always so lovely to learn more about my lovely blogging friends! Look forward to one day sharing a cup of tea and reflection with you in person! Leanne x

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  11. What a wonderful post! I agree with Kerri, there are not too many people who are willing to be open and honest with complete strangers. It is always very refreshing to read your blog.

    Jenn

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  12. I'm so pleased I saved your lovely lovely blog until last tonight. It's like a reward for being good. What a great post Melissa. I can only echo what everyone else has already said. It is just lovely knowing you across the blogosphere. xx Night night!

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  13. oh wow, melissa! this just made my morning. well, this and the pumpkin spice latte i am having while blog browsing! : ) i loved reading all of your answers here and i think you are just a beautiful writer as i feel like you write the way you would speak if we were really sitting together and chatting. i love it!
    once again, i am in awe of how you all travel with your children and have taken them on this wonderful life adventure. what a wonderful life!

    and thank you so much! XO

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  14. I loved reading about you. It's always fun to get to know blogging friends even better. I really enjoy that you are such a real person and always willing to share. Thank you! :)

    Krysta

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  15. This is loveliness in fullness...you are a true beauty. So thankful to know you through blogging.

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  16. I am behind on my reading - my goodness it's been such a week - I could do with a cuppa tea at your kitchen table for sure! Loved reading this and your answers made me smile and tear up simultaneously. We are similar in some ways so it was poignant to read. You are braver than I as I am reeling from a life change that did not involve moving to the other side of the world! I loved the comment you left me about there being a big world out there and I honestly referred back to it in my mind many times in recent days - 'what was that thing Melissa said?' Oh yes - there is a big world out there...explore it! You are inspirtaion to me. Lou x P.S. mine's an earl grey ;-)

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  17. inspirtation? Yep that too...wish the comment box had a spel chequer...

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  18. I LOVE your blog, I LOVE your photography and your written word. I am so glad that you found me, so that I could find you :) So fun to CONNECT with another expat in the UK.
    XO L

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  19. Loved this post and realize now that you are in England ... ignore my Australia comment from my email ... I will meet you in London!

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Thanks for taking a moment...x

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