Author: inspiringmax

Weekly Photo Challenge: Transition

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For this week’s challenge, share an image that depicts transition. Let life itself be your muse.

When he designed the Sydney Opera House I am sure that JØRN UTZON  could not have envisaged the amazing displays this centerpiece of VIVID SYDNEY creates each year. I spend hours fascinated by the transitions that unfortunately because of their speed are difficult to photograph. The following photos are from 2014 and I loved the bright colours. If you are in Sydney during late May or early June it is well worth the visit.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/transition/

Supporting Others

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We all know how to do something well — write a post that teaches readers how to do something you know and/or love to do.

One of the main things I have a reputation for is support others. All my life—from the age of 9—I have been the person others come to when they needed a welcome ear to tell their problems to especially when they were fighting with their best friend.  With all the practice I had at school I think I was always destined to work in mental health.  Supporting others has developed into a passion for me and I find ways to do it regularly in my professional and person life. Below are some of the values I use when I support others.

Sincerity

Understanding

Passion

Professionalism

Optimism

Resilience

Teaching

Open-mindedness

Tolerance

Honesty

Empathy

Reasonableness

Strength

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/teach-your-bloggers-well/

Food Tips #1

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Don’t wash your chicken it only spreads the bacteria over you and the surrounding benches — it doesn’t remove the bacteria from the chicken. Thinking about it this makes a lot of sense. After all, the only way to remove bacteria from chicken is to cook chicken properly. If you want to remove anything from your chicken before cooking it, use a piece of paper towel and throw it away. These ensures you don’t spread the bacteria around. Personally I don’t wash my chicken but not for the reasons outlined in the video. I just haven’t  ever developed the habit. Being aware of chicken’s bacteria however I do use a separate boards to chop my chicken, red meat and vegetables.

Not having heard it before, the simplicity of this food tip inspired me to develop a new regular category — Food Tips. Knowledge is powerful, so join me as I find some interesting facts that relate to food especially in the areas of  health, hygiene and history. It will be a work in progress so let me know if you have any suggestions.

Writer’s Well

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Writing

 

I came across this powerful quote from Ernest Hemmingway recently and realised how true it is for all types of writing. Have you ever noticed that it is much easier to start writing if you have an idea—a starting point—something in your writing well. By following Ernest Hemmingway’s advice you will always have an idea in your writing well that after you have slept on it helps to clarify your thoughts and produce more ideas.

Much of my writing follows this principle as I leave it overnight and review it in the morning. The time overnight helps the writing develop like yeast to a much fuller story.

What writing tips do you use to help your flow and story develop?

Share Your World – 2015 Week 46

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What type of popular candy you do not like to get?

I am not a big candy fan however if I am in the mood I can eat most types. The candy I have consistently refused to eat all my life is candy bananas. I like fresh bananas however anything else banana flavoured including candy or lollies as we call them in Australia is a no go zone.

Photo Credit: Google Images

Photo Credit: Google Images

What do you feel is the most enjoyable way to spend $500? 

A mini-break to the Blue Mountains would be a great way to spend $500.00. It has been years since I have visited the Three Sisters, Echo Point or Leura . The Blue Mountains are 100 kilometres west of Sydney so they are ideal for a quick and relaxing get away. Spring is a great time to visit before it gets too hot and bush fire season settles in with many walking trails closed due to risks.

Where do you eat breakfast?

I eat breakfast most days at the computer working on Inspiring Max or visiting other blogs I follow. Everyone else in the house is usually asleep so my connecting with my digital world doesn’t mean my family is rejected.

Would you rather ride one of the world’s longest zip lines or bungee jump one of the highest in the world? This will come with a 5-day all expense vacation.

I would never bungee jump as I am concerned about the effect of the bounce back on my body. A zip line however I would love to try. To me they are a flying fox on a much bigger scale and I have always loved playing on a flying fox even as a adult. Once on a family camping trip my father made a flying fox and we had hours of fun on it.

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for this week and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

During the past week I am grateful that I have been able to return to blogging and was able to blog on average every second day, a doubly of my recent posting rate.

This week at Toastmasters we are having our first ever speech-a-thon. A night with no other assignments just 10 speech instead of the usual 4. It will be an inspiring night from which I know I will learn new things.

http://ceenphotography.com/2015/11/16/share-your-world-2015-week-46/

A Tale of Two Cities

inspiringmax

If you could split your time evenly between two places, and two places only, which would these be?

For a period I would love to be able to spend 6 moths in Australia and 6 months in Canada. There is so much natural beauty, flora and fauna and history in both places, devoting time to exploring it would be amazing. The question I would struggle to answer is where to begin? Maybe I could use the following acrostic poems as a guide.

 

Adelaide

Uluru

Sydney

The Great Barrier Reef

Rottnest Island

ACT

Launceston

Illawarra

Albury – Wodonga

 

 

Charlottetown

Alberta

Newfoundland & Labrador

Algonquin Park

Drummondville

Arctic Bay

 

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/a-tale-of-two-cities/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Trio

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20150825_141338

In the grounds of the historic Bendemeer Hotel this old statue of “Speak No Evil, See No Evil, Hear No Evil” caught my eye. The concrete frogs dressed in the Australian colours of green and gold gave the tradition monkey image an Australian twist. How fitting for a pub that has served and entertained the public since 1864.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/trio/

One More Time

inspiringmax

If you were able to relive one day from the last 12 months, which day would it be — and why?

Given the chance I would relive 25th November 2014. The was the day my husband and I embarked on our 6 week Canadian adventure. We were so excited. However on arrival at Sydney Airport I became suspicious that our tickets were incorrect, so I asked at the check-in counter.

“Are these tickets correct, we are going to St John’s Newfoundland?”

“Yes they are correct they just used the abbreviation” replied the counter attendant.

So I settled and didn’t think about it again.

Then we arrived in Vancouver for some reason I became suspicious again. I checked with the baggage handler only to be given the same response,  so again I settled and we continued on our journey across Canada.

By the time our flight arrived in Toronto, we had been up for more than 24 hours and were exhausted. Being smart travelers we decided to check which gate our connecting flight went from before getting food or drinks. We wandered to the departures board where I discovered our flight number and destination didn’t match. Then I realised my gut instincts had been right.  The travel agent had booked us flights from Sydney to St John, New Brunswick and not our destination—St John’s, Newfoundland. We were devastated. The only good point was that we solved the problem before either our bags or we bordered the flight.

The gentleman at Air Canada’s service desk was excellent.  After about an hour he had made a plan to get us to St John’s as quickly as possible via Halifax arriving 24 hours later than we originally planned. To add humour to this difficult situation he told us this destination was a regular mix up for overseas visitors. The other common problem is people flying into Sydney, Nova Scotia when their destination was Sydney, Australia—a much bigger problem.

The moral of this story is mistakes are easily made and part of the journey.  Trust your gut instincts, triple check your airline tickets early and always pack your sense of humour when traveling.

Photo Credit: Google

Photo Credit: Google

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/one-more-time/

Share Your World 2015 – Week 45

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What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “fun”?

I love having fun. Doing something spontaneous that involves lots of laughter. I may be in my 50’s but I am happy to play games and have fun at every opportunity.

What is your favorite time of day?

I don’t think I really have one. Although there is something beautiful about sunrise and sunset.

Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want have a evening with?

I would love to spend an evening with Louise Hay. She is a very powerful motivator and positive thinker. She thinks outside the box, has many creative ideas to solve problems and literally hundreds of positive daily affirmations. She is also the owner of Balboa Press the self-publishing company I am using to publish my book next year so I am sure she could supply some great tips.

Louise Hay

“Don’t be afraid to be you. The world needs your unique brand of awesomeness.” Louise Hay

Complete this sentence: Something that anyone can do that will guarantee my smile is… 

Smile at me. I will always return a genuine smile and connect with the other person. If I smile at someone first and they return my smile, my smile gets bigger.

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

Last week I was grateful for family time celebrating my son’s birthday and my work Christmas party celebrating together the year that was 2015. This week I am looking forward to getting back to blogging more regularly as life has gotten in the way a bit recently.

http://ceenphotography.com/2015/11/09/share-your-world-2015-week-45/

Sisterhood Of The World Bloggers Award

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sisterhood

 

This week I am honoured to receive the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award from purpleslobinrecovery. Thank you Purple I enjoy your practical humour and advice on everyday subjects. If you get the chance, stop by and check out her blog and join in with her community spirit.

HERE ARE THE RULES:

•             Put the Award logo on your blog

•             Thank the person who nominated you, linking back to their site

•             Answer 10 questions the person asked you

•             Nominate 10 blogs and notify them

•             Write 10 new questions for them

HERE ARE MY ANSWERS:

  1.  Barney or Blue?  If you have no CLUE about this question, that’s okay.  Just make up a funny 1 liner.

Definitely Barney after all who doesn’t love a purple dinosaur with an imaginary world that their kids grew up with. Barney’s cool!

Photo Credit: Google Images

Photo Credit: Google Images

2. What number comes after 14?  Just so I’ll know for next time.

In a series 7 it’s 21 so I’ll go with that to be different.

3. What surprise ingredient do you add to your lemonade?

Now that would depend who I am making a drink for myself or a child. If it’s me I add vodka and parfait armour—tastes amazing. If it’s for a child definitely red cordial after all I don’t know a child who doesn’t love a fire engine.

4. If you could go back in time, to any age, how old would you be?

I don’t want to go back in time. I’m happy with my age although sometimes would like to be physically younger in my abilities.

5. Why that particular age?

Happy with being in my 50’s dreaming about retirement.

6. Do you drink outta plastic or real glass?

Real glass at every opportunity. If I have to drink out of plastic I like the glass shape to match the drink e.g. if I am drinking wine it needs to be out of a plastic wine glass not a plastic cup—fussy I know.

7. Are you tethered or wireless?

Wireless I think. As long as it works I don’t care.

8.  E-book or print?

I love bookshops so definitely print. E-books are convenient but there is something special about the feel of a book and seeing how far you are though it.

 MY DESERVING NOMINEES:

  1. Jacqueline
  2. Phoenix Grey
  3. B’s Words
  4. Haddon Musings
  5. YOUnfolded
  6. Best places of interest
  7. This Melbourne Life
  8. Blue Ribbon Fair
  9. Gypsy Life
  10. Indira’s Blog

MY INTERESTING QUESTIONS:

  1. Your favourite Disney character is…..
  2. What is the vegetable you hated as a child?
  3. Did you get a pen or ink license at school?
  4. Do you drive on the left or right side of the road?
  5. What is your favourite joke?
  6. Do you read fiction or non-fiction?
  7. Who is your favourite author?
  8. What is your favourite sport?
  9. If you could give $1000 dollars to a charity which one would you choose?
  10. Name one of your strengths?