I Agree With Natalie Tran...

If I lived in Sydney I probably would hate CityRail. One weekend there and that thought was re-enforced, I guess it's a little unfair to compare to the Tokyo rail system, but honestly, I found myself catching a bus from Strathfield to Parramatta because all the trains weren't working due to "track work".

But it was all worth it, we all fit in some great shopping and I even got to hang out with my good friend Moto from Japan, whose out here doing bible college at Hillsong. He'd never been to Max Brenner before so we went ahead and indulged in some chocolate banana crepes and fondue and had a jolly old time, followed by dinner in Nandos.

But on a more serious note, we all went down to Sydney for one very special reason. Robbie, my youngest brother who is five is now officially adopted! Up until now he was only a long term foster child and still classed as a ward of the state, but now, after what seems like a forever the Goddards are officially a family of five.

Life has not been terribly eventful, I spend most nights with Kim (my cousin) and most days cleaning the house and writing. Lizzy Burnheim from church has employed me as the editor of her book and it is AMAZING! With her permission I may even post an excerpt in a following update soon.

At the moment I feel incredibly gluttonous, I get up at 5:30 am to go jogging every morning and yet here I am cradling a bowl of left over whipped cream which I intend of finishing...I'm truly a lost cause.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.

So last Friday night the women of our church attended a fundraiser for our good friend Britt called "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", Brit's travelling to Indonesia on a mission trip with "Compassion Australia" a truly amazing company that takes mission trips to many countries, the last campaign I remember seeing of theirs was their trip to Ecuador. I'll post the video later.

The night was a success and we raised nearly around $1000 for Brit who has been asked to be the videographer for the trip and later on she will be making a comparative film when she gets back to present the difference between our life style, and those of the children living in the slums of Indonesia.

I sung "Little Things" by India Arie as an item and my brother who came later in the evening sang "Only Hope" by Switchfoot. Deb put an amazing night together and people contributed all sorts of tasty morsels for us to eat.

Preparing for our trip to Sydney this weekend to adopt my little brother Robbie! We're all so excited.

One of the things I miss about living in a city...

Is the fashion, not the fashion that I see in stores or worn by the big personalities on the train or strolling through Omotesando, I mean my own. The undeniable excuse to be as bombastic, or as chic as I please on any given day, I guess like most people you go out with the anticipation that you'll simultaneously be a show stopping, breath taking, make strangers on the street stop and stare as you walk past type of deal, but you'll have the security that no matter what you're wearing you'll blend in with everyone else who intends on making the exact same impression. I don't know, it would take a series of novels to explain away the mentality behind city fashion, especially a city like Tokyo.

But in the last week (one in which I have been dreadful in updating you all on) I have had a few glorious opportunities to get all "dressed up", even if the opportunities were short lived. I won't lie, I'm a through and through fashion lover and admirer, I love how there is almost a science behind it, the way you can study the almost hereditary influence one decade has on another.

On Thursday Kim invited me to a dinner, without meaning to sound pretentious I'll give you a formulated opinion on the place. It's the type of establishment that in an overly formulaic way tries to appeal to the younger crowd under the whole "artistic/ indie" umbrella but doesn't really get there. Upon entering you get the slight impression that the owners seem to assume that a lot of black paint, some low hung ceiling lamps and mismatched furniture are all you need to make a place trendy. In some cases this might work, I've seen it work, but like most things that teeter on that thin line of make or break, it can also be disastrous. I wouldn't call the place a total loss, the food was good, the atmosphere was a little bit "renovated back shed", and to be honest it's the type of place that is easy to get comfortable in, the same way you get comfortable in that distant aunt who you never see's lounge room, doable, but possibly not re-doable.

The choice colour of the night, as Dave seemed to make note of, was black, I don't know what it is but my group of friends seem to favour the colour in an almost fetish like way, for all the world we looked like a flock of crows as we ascended the steps to the second floor of the restaurant where the others were waiting. I'd come in a car with Luke, Kim, Dave and Kelsi, a perfect combination for light conversation, truly an amusing group of individuals. I looked swish in charcoal jeans, crisp white button up and my black double breasted coat, I decided to wear my black Hikari club boots that I feel won't have too much opportunity to see the light of day now that I'm back on the coast.

After dinner, most of the others were going across to the Coolangatta Hotel to see a band called "Art vs Science". To be dreadfully honest I'd never heard of the group before that week, and I'll just say that I and my friends have...shall we say...different tastes in music. Actually when someone asked me about the band I was relieved I didn't answer straight away, I thought they were talking about an exhibition...

Never the less I dressed appropriately just in case I made up my mind to go and see this...what ever genre of music band you'd call them. Turning up to band's show and not knowing any of the songs may seem silly to some, but to me I see it like walking into a party where you don't know anyone but the host, it's exciting. I love it, and usually the night ends with a string of new facebook friend requests heading my way, what can I say? I'm a people person.

However Kim convinced me that the tickets would be sold out so I stayed behind at the restaurant while the others moved on. I stayed and had dinner with two couples Dave and Megan and Josh and Paulina, and being the only single at the table I sat at the head so the couples could gaze into each other's eyes (young love, isn't it sickening....no I'm joking, or am I just bitter?)

To cut a long story short, dinner was nice, drove home with Dave and hit a kangaroo on the way.

I went to Generation Church's night service which is called "Basement" on Sunday. I was going to wear my new purple Jacket I'd brought on Friday when I went shopping with Lizzy, but instead opted for my grey button V-neck sweater and collared leather jacket (I indulged in giving the boots a walk again). The night was pleasant and reminded me a lot of Jesus Life House.

So my month long vacation is at an end, as of yesterday, and it's hopefully back to work for me. I'm really hoping to get into a line of work that utilizes my experience but alas, as the old saying goes, "que sera sera" what ever will be, will be.

I literally have done nothing noteworthy this week....

At my age, I don't think that's healthy, however I did say I was taking a month off everything, and that month will be over by this Sunday. It's been nice, and as much as I hate to admit it, Dad was right, I have been living the high life (after a fashion of course).

This month has been an endless stream of late mornings, leisurely lunches and good laughs with my friends. I feel rested and relaxed and oh so pampered, and I'm not un-aware of my not so subtle weight gain, though I will admit, it's been nice none the less to gorge myself after three months of detention meals.

Just the other day my cousin Kim had this conversation with me that only highlighted the very nature of my own enthusiasm towards physical activity.

Kim – "Can you throw me my iPod please?"

Me – "okay" (gets up with the iPod and walks around the table to hand it to her)

Kim – "you could have just thrown it"

Me – "hun, have you ever seen me play sport?..." (at this point I went onto to say how uncoordinated I am but I was cut off by the following remark)

Kim – "No actually, I've never seen you play sport..ever."

Me – "well there you go."

I'm holding off tackling my wreckage of a room, it looks like the Taliban came in here and had a good time, whatever that means...I've always wondered what extremists like the Taliban did for fun in their spare time, do you think they like a bit of Dance Dance Revolution or is that too far flung from the usual raping and battery? One can never be sure of such things, not that I'm considering entertaining a group of Taliban anyway, but you never know. One thing I would like to ask them is if they realize that their turban can be worn in over fifteen different styles and is the ultimate fashion accessory, it's a pity because I shall probably never get the chance (sigh).

 

Sticks and Stones.....

So for the last two nights in a row I found myself sitting in a car with Kim and Anji whiling away the hours just contemplating and discussing, not all the of the conversation was profound or prophetic. Never the less it was enjoyable. Out of all the things we could have been doing, sometimes sitting in a car with two people who "get you" can be the best way to spend the midnight hours.

In my time away it turned out that Anji had gone to Singapore (a detail which she seemed to have trouble remembering until Kim reminded her) and the stories of her travels filled me with that familiar urge to immerse myself in another culture.

Hmmm I wonder if this craving I get to travel at the slightest sniff of ethnic food or the faintest glimpse of a glossy photography hard cover of some far off place could be seen as dangerous were I to sit down with a therapist and analyse the whole idea?

The women's conference went off without a hitch (not that I would personally know, not being a woman and all), and Sunday church was as refreshing as it was inspiring. The reason why I make note that it was "refreshing" as well was that after a service where the I am really touched by the holy spirit and get a new revelation I am usually left feeling a little tired from the exhilaration, but when I say tired I mean that in a good way. My mind is alert, and my heart it beating at a hundred miles per hour, but I am quite honestly spent immediately afterwards, in that exhilarating breathless way, not in a lethargic lazy manner.

But this time I felt refreshed, as if someone had taken a bowl of that iced cucumber water I love so dearly and tossed the contents quite eagerly into my face, like I'd dived fully clothed into an icy cold pool on a scorching hot summer's day. The metaphors are endless and with my creatively geared mind we could be hear all night likening my Sunday experience to all types of water activities.

But instead I'll leave you with a lesson that Janine Kubala taught me today. Our realities that surround us are often so discouraging and contradictory to the vision we have in our hearts....sometimes all it takes to get a spark into that vision, to see it go from the prophetic to the tangible, is a few encouraging words.

In the beginning God created the world, but it was a dark and shapeless void, and it wasn't until God spoke the words "let there be light" that light and life came into being. Four little words of encouragement, four simple words of positivity and in single moment, our ever expanding universe, so much of which remains undiscovered, was created.

From the very first recorded words that God uttered he was setting an example of how we should speak to each other, we should speak encouragement and love, not discouragement and insecurity. This was also an example of how we should speak to ourselves, instead of looking at ourselves and hating what we see we should do as India Arie does : "When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me, every freckle on my face is where it's supposed to be, and I know my creator didn't make no mistakes on me. My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes, I'm loving what I see"

Let there be light....

Words are powerful, in contradiction to what the little school yard rhyme might say, words have power, to ignore that is simply making it okay for those people who would speak negativity into lives to do so. Not only that but we are ignoring the ability we have within ourselves to speak positivity into our own lives as well as others. It seems so simple doesn't it?

Until next time darlings.

 

You know those strange movies that start at the end......

And then it ends back at the beginning, which of course is actually the end....well I had one of those moments today, except that instead of being a cleverly turned over montage film, it happened to be a comical turn around in my own life.

I couldn't help but think of sitting my own hsc exams a few years ago, and getting my brother to sing the harmony for the song I'd chosen "Ordinary People", it was the first time I'd heard him sing and at the time it was a surprise that he was such a good singer as we'd never heard him sing before..ever. Then to cut a long story short, I went off and had an adventure and a half in Japan, got arrested, got deported and now as of this morning I found myself in that same room, singing that same song, except this time it was me doing the Backing Vocals.

Of course you mustn't worry, I can just see the cogs turning inside your darling little heads right now, I'm not depressed at all but I did find the whole affair rather hilarious, I guess I just didn't see myself back in that room, doing that. But I guess that's a testament to just how un-expected life can be.

 

“Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of”

Things I learned at Chans Latin dance class:

1. I really shouldn't bite my lower lip in concentration, it makes my nose stick out.

2. I can only body roll in one direction...I know, who would have thought?

3. I have chronic Tracey Turnblad arms (If you don't know what that means hire a copy of hairspray and wait for Tracey to wave)

4. The crump is a perfectly acceptable default dance move and after all these years I have perfected it.

5. I may be vain but gosh darn I looked good in those dance class mirrors.

After the Zumba class Chan, Lizzy, Kim and I headed to the movies to watch Step Up 3, the dancing was incredible, the storyline.....well let's just say I've seen episodes of Sesame Street that have more substance.

Things I learned from Step Up 3:

1. All dancers have a sordid past where their older sibling or parent have died and they must keep dancing "for them"

2. Everybody suspiciously ALWAYS knows the steps when another person's crew challenges your crew to an impromptu dance off.

3. If you're a dancer, chances are, dance saved you from a life of drugs, prostitution, poverty or your third world village in Africa.

4. Everything looks "tight" or is "off the chain" regardless of whether it was on a chain to begin with.

5. The world seems to move in perfect sync if you should by chance break into a dance sequence in the middle of a street.

6. You will ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS walk out of a Step Up movie feeling like you want to dance.

 

All in all a good night I would say, seeing different clips of New York in the background reminded me of how much I miss living in a busy city, of course what other song would they choose to play during these scenes except for "Empire State of Mind" which in itself brings back some funny memories; Empire State of Mind was the song I always used to sing in Detention at night time when we would hold our makeshift karaoke competitions after the lights would go out.

As for now, I should really be going to bed before I'm tempted to make a late night stop in at the cave of many pleasures, i.e. the fridge.

 

When the world gives you lemons....go on a master cleanse detox?

You know, the funny thing is that during my time in detention I ate the equivalent of a dieticians nightmare, there were the basic foods that we were all given, and then on top of that I ate all the extra foods that I brought from the shop there, chocolate and potato chips, and coffee upon coffee. And yet despite it all I lost and incredible amount of weight in a relatively short amount of time.

Now since returning home I'm finding that if I don't stop indulging in the pleasures of the fridge I may just put all that weight back on in drastically less time than it took to lose it all. Gosh, isn't life ironic, the things you never want to lose or even fear of losing say..for example a small child, people seem to lose all over the place and those little darlings end up staying lost. Yet you try with all your heart to lose a mere pound and that pound will do everything it can to creep it's sneaky little self back into your life and back onto your set of bathroom scales.

So starting tomorrow, I am going to take a few days to cleanse my G.I riddled body of its toxins and whatever other chemical waste may have curdled beneath my skin (I swear I'm growing the cure for cancer in one of my kidneys) and hopefully will be feeling less "greasy" by the weekend.

But the diet does start tomorrow, so technically I have until midnight....... I'm pretty sure there was some left over pecan and custard pudding in there somewhere.......

Holly Golightly Existence

Holly Golightly is that timeless heroine from the classic Hepburn/ Peppard film "Breakfast at Tiffany's" a great film and an even better book. The "Holly Golightly Existence" is a term that I coined for the time in my life where I was keeping notoriously odd hours, of course the funny thing is that unlike Holly, I was not out partying or spending time with benefactors who were helping me maintain a particular lifestyle. I was keeping those late dusk till dawn hours with friends from church and would quite often end the night sitting under the harsh fluorescent lights of the 24/7 McDonalds, indeed not quite as glamorous.

However since my return I made a promise (I wouldn't exactly call it a solemn one) with Chan that I would not partake in these late night escapades any longer. And I boldly post it here as a sort of public declaration, as disgruntled as it makes me.

 
 
Last Saturday was Chantal and Lukes birthday party, and the events on their own are excuse for decadence, but when these two put their birthdays together...... it's an event. It seems convenient enough considering they are a couple, and their birthdays are a day apart.

We spent the day setting up, and part of that little adventure saw us trudging through Bunnings, which may i take the time to say has terrible customer service. Half the staff were walking around with a drink in their hands like the place was under some strict dehydration withdrawal, some of them sent us off in search of sections that didn't even exist...

"where can we find some of the electric candles"

"in the leisure section darl"


-After a good while of searching.


 "yeah we were told earlier by one of your staff that we could find the candles in the leisure section.."

"umm there is no leisure section...or I mean, the whole store is a leisure section..."

You could see the cogs struggling to turn on that one. Anyway.


 The party was what I would call a success, and we didn't even need the stupid candles after all.