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13/12/2017 0 Comments Reflecting on Seaside WritingToday was the last session at my Seaside Writing group a day of reflecting on the year and what we have experienced throughout. So what better way to write a blog, then to write my reflections on my journey with Seaside Writing.
Seaside Writing has been a wonderful journey for me this year. It has been not only a writing session for me, but also a social one and therapeutic journey. The therapeutic journey of one in which has helped me through my dads passing. This help was from the 'stream of consciousness writing' through to writing speeches, blogs and poems of my dad. Seaside Writing I feel has also helped me by improving my writing skills, even though I am still not up there at the top, I feel my writing skills have improved. I enjoy writing my blogs, this giving me a creative voice rather than just writing academically, by writing assignments over the last 5 years. In saying this about my academic writing, i also feel I have improved and I have finally got the gicks of academic writing. By reflecting on this I can say that I have struggled with writing and my English throughout my life. When I was at school I was in the lower class of English and also went to the extra class they had. In doing this reflecting I have come to realise that I am succeeding in my own small way. I am in no means up there with those that receive high distinctions, but just achieving my own personal accomplishment. I can say though that I have received one high distinction for one of my subjects, this achievement definitely makes me feel proud. I have definitely enjoyed my year attending Seaside Writing and hope to continue on with these sessions in the year to come. My word to focus on for the following year I have chosen two, passion and positive. :) What word will you choose to focus on in 2018? My sister Yvonne and I had been designing a tattoo for us both to get in honour of our dad. Dad was in the Royal Australian Airforce, and when he was in palliative care the RAAF Chaplin came to say his last rights. Not ever hearing this saying before it really stuck true to us. Safe takeoff, safe sorties, safely home. My nephew-in-law Brendan's mum, Lea suggested to him to get these words inscribed as a tattoo. With this in mind, my sister and I set out to design the tattoo. Yvonne, lives in Gladstone so we contacted each other through messenger with our tattoo design, this to me gave us a connection through our grieving process and for this I feel very grateful. However, Yvonne decided not to get the tattoo after all but I am glad we both designed it together. The day arrived for my appointment and I had finally decided to have my tattoo inscribed on my left wrist, closest to my heart. When the tattooist placed the template of the design on my wrist he placed it facing down towards my hand. I asked if it could face the other way and he explained to me the reason why it is best to be placed that way. He gave me an example of a lady that wanted to have a cross facing towards her for herself to see, explaining to her when she has her arm down beside her it would be an upside down cross which means something to do with Antichrist. He explained more to me on how the writing would be upside down to someone from far away and they wouldn't be able to read it from a distance and they would come up closer and try to. So at this point he sold me! However, two days later I had a sleepless night and was thinking how I don't care what other people think! I got the tattoo in honour of my dad and for me. I so wanted it the other way up so it would face me and I could read it. This feeling made me so upset and angry at myself for letting someone change my mind. I was crying and feeling frustrated to the point I rolled my right hand into a fist and punched the wall. I hated the tattoo and also had thoughts of scratching it off or having my skin sliced so I could turn it around. I felt so angry. The next day I thought about the experience I had and I feel even though I was upset of the placement of my tattoo, I feel that this was a grieving experience. Grief affects everyone differently and there are stages you go through. I feel that the anger stage definitely showed its ugly head that night. I am still not totally happy, but more accepting as I received a memorial band from another nephew-in-law, Andrew. I can now wear this facing towards myself so I can read it. The ladies at Seaside Writing sessions gave me some insightful feedback. I told them I felt I wasn't assertive and they suggested I keep that in mind and when I look at the tattoo to remind myself I need to be more assertive. I suppose also to be more confident and believe in myself and what I want. :-)
Melanoma cancer sux big time. My dad suffered from this cancer and I wrote about it last year for a speech at the following link "cancer". It is unfortunate to write that my dad's battle ended this year in June and the cancer took its toll on my dad's life. Dad will be missed by many.
He was the father of six beautiful girls Grandad of 10 gorgeous grandsons and 5 gorgeous granddaughters and Pa to 14 great grandkids He was my mums best friend Always Loved ♥ and will never be forgotten ♥ 7/6/2017 2 Comments A Toast to My Mentors
Now to my journey at Toastmasters. 2013 I think I started my journey.
My first mentor was Sharon Kelly. Sharon was the new membership mentoring when I first started at Toastmasters. A great impression on my Toastmasters journey came Sharon and from her mentoring of evaluations. I use the Positive, Improvement, Positive method to complete my evaluations, and this was a definite impression given to me by Sharon when she completes her own evaluations. Heather Bruce has also been a great mentor to me on my Toastmaster journey as well as Karen Markwart. Helping me on my speeches, giving me guidance and advice. To each and every one of you… This brings me to Evol and Mick for mentoring me on the Tautology.… if it wasn’t for their pick up on these, I would never have known. I now hear people say without further adjure and I just cringe in my seat! … Of course, everyone at Toastmasters becomes a mentor, so it will be hard to mention you all. Please raise your glass To all mentors Who have motivated and inspired us Thank you :-)
This year I felt proud in attending the 2017 ANZAC March. Why did I feel extra specialy proud this year you ask? I marched. My dad was in the RAAF, Royal Australian Airforce for 25 years. While he served his time he recieved many medals for his service. And this year my sisters friend at Monstas Medals created a set of miniature medals for each of us girls to cherish. This gave me the incentive to march and with my new addition I felt priveledge and proud to wear them at this years ANZAC day. I marched with the RAAF Association, my niece Rebecca and her son Hayden. I haven't marched for a very long time, I do have some vague memories of marching with the school when I was a wee bit younger. This was a long time ago so I did not have an idea marching would feel this way. The feeling I had when I was marching was one I haven't experienced before. It was a surreal feeling. It gave me mixed emotions. The feeling of being proud; proud to be apart of this annual commemorative service. I also experenced the emotion of sadness, bringing teary eyes; thinking of my father. My dad is suffering, but as a doctor once said living with melanoma, this sad emotion was highlighten from these thoughts. The march started from The Strand Park and headed towards the memorial area at the end of The Strand where the march came to a end. The side of the road was crowded with people. While marching this crowd would clap and applause, this clapping enchance the surreal feeling I experienced. The clapping never stopped a continuous applause from the time we took one step in front of the other and proceeded on our commendative march. This ambient sound gave you an overwhelming feeling. I felt so very proud to have had the opportunity to march on this rememberance day of 25th April 2017. ANZAC day was first originated to honour those Australian and New Zealanders who faught at Gallipoli against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. The meaning of ANZAC day I now know is different for eveyone. The meaning of ANZAC day and especially this year, meant to me, honouring my dad. Not only for his service but for his life. It was a honour to have my dad on the side in the crowd watching his family march on his behalf, I hope too he felt proud of us. I am not one to verbally express myself and I recently came across the 5 Love Languages these show you there are five ways for someone to express themselves. Number 4. Acts of Service, is definately where I fit and I hope with my contributation to marching my dad saw and felt that I love him. Luv u dad ♥ And to all those who faught for us "Lest We Forget" It's been awhile since I've written a blog post. So today I decided to write a few words and show a few of my photos I captured during the Christmas period of 2016. I first had the pleasure to photograph a brand newbie, 7 day old Jaz. He was a little cutie, but a challenge to photograph, as every time we tried to put him down to take a photo he would stir and wake. I wanted to try a position with him I have seen done with baby portraits with the baby having their hands under their chin proping them up, but it was not meant to be. I did however get some pretty cute images of him dressed up ready for Christmas. :) My next mini session was with two beautiful brothers and one sister. I have previously photographed the two boys before, now I was given the opportunity to capture the whole three of them and with great success, I captured some great images just in time for Christmas pressies. Of course I had the challenge of getting an image with all three smiling at the same time, which is a huge challenge with group photos so it was great that I accomplished this. :) Another great mini session was held just before Christmas also with a small family, capturing Nana, Kids and grandkids. At this photography session I was stoked to capture a gorgeous photo of nana and her grandchildren for her to cherish. Nana Lea told me the photos I took for her brought tears to her eyes. I must admit, being a grandma, the images also brought tears to my eyes aswell. And last but not least, I captured a special portrait mini shoot for my niece a few days before Christmas, so she could give her mum n dad a special present. The theme was chosen by her eldest son, Hayden. He chose to wear his Grease T-bird jacket with his brother. They were so adorable and were natural little models. |