fun Archives - INSPIRING MAX

Share Your World – 2016 Week 29

July 21, 2016 inspiringmax

What is the perfect pizza?

I like a spicy pizza but not your ordinary Mexicana. When I make a pizza at home it has a pesto, chilli sauce and tomato paste base topped with the following ingredients:

roast pumpkin
roast sweet potato
roast capsicum
olives
cherry tomatoes
feta cheese
jalapenos
dried chilli flakes
fresh capsicum
bacon/chicken/hot salami/pepperoni (which mix of these meats I use depends on my mood)

Once my pizza is cooked, I top it with rocket, sour cream and avocado (if I have any.)

What is your favorite time of day?

My favourite time of day varies depending on what I have on but it is always based on the one thing – ME TIME. I love the quiet time each day when I can do whatever I choose. It keeps me sane in this crazy world.

Show us two of your favorites photographs? The photos can be from anytime in your life span. Explain why they are your favorite.

I love this photo of me taken on one of the bridges crossing the Ottawa River, Canada. As we walked from the Quebec side of the river back into Ontario I am not sure which state I am standing in at the time but as we loved them both, it doesn’t matter. It also reminds me of the fun we had walking in the first serious snow we had during our 6 week trip to Canada. We kept believing it would come and eventually it did. I think it was also the last time I wore those jeans as they finally wore themselves out in Canada after over 10 years of faithful service. The colouful hat scarf I am wearing I made close to 30 years ago and is very unique. It remains in good condition however, as Australia doesn’t have enough days cold for me to wear it in.

This photo the original of Inspiring Max’s profile picture was taken 5 years ago from Melbourne’s Aquatic Centre. My daughter and I were there for her last School Sports Australia Diving competition which marked the end of an era for us. At the time there was a lot of difficult things happening in our lives that got worse as the year progressed. However, never being one to focus on the negative, if I needed an extra boost of positivity that everything would be alright in the end, I would get out my double rainbow, feel inspired and keep going.

Another thing I love about this photo is that it was one of the first photos I have taken that I was really proud of as you can see the individual rainbow colours on both sides.

Complete this sentence: I’m looking forward to….

moving back to Newcastle and commencing nursing in a new hospital. I have been working towards this for over 12 months and now it is getting very close.

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

My husband starting his new job and getting together with my family without having to rush back to Sydney to work. In the next eek I am looking forward to my future employment being confirmed and maybe even a start date given.

Share Your World – 2016 Week 29

Share Your World 2016 – Week 26

July 11, 2016 inspiringmax

What’s your most memorable (good or bad) airplane flight?

On our way home from Guangzhou in 2013 we were upgraded to Premium Economy. The staff didn’t tell us of our upgrade, so image our surprise when suddenly we had more room and extra features we weren’t expecting. Nowadays, when we are traveling somewhere we always look at the price difference and if it is at all possible to pay the difference however we haven’t yet been able to justify it.

How many bones, if any, have you broken?

Fortunately, I have only had 3 broken bones and as doctors are now describing my bones as super bones, I hope to not have a problem with broken bones due to osteoporosis in my later years. My first broken bone, a greenstick fracture of my right arm, happened when I was 15. I thought I was so cool skateboarding down a hill when I hit a stone on the pathway. Oh well. at least the plaster cast helped my cool image.

My second broken bone, my right little toe, somehow occurred during the Newcastle earthquake. I didn’t find out what was causing my pain initially as when we went to the hospital they were evacuating it and we suddenly realised my pain wasn’t the priority.

My third and hopefully last broken bone occurred in my 40’s when I was helping set up a gymnastics competition. Several men were carrying a balance beam when they dropped it onto the middle of my left foot. You could hear me yell for miles I think. It hurt and definitely wasn’t cool.

Photo Credit: Google Images

If you had your own talk show, who would your first three guests be? (guest can be dead, alive, famous or someone you just know)

Walt Disney: Founder of Disneyland and Disney World and creator of Mickey Mouse

Paul Ramsay: Founder of Ramsay Healthcare

Florence Nightingale: Founder of modern nursing

Make a Currently List: What are you reading, watching, listening to, eating, needing, wanting, and missing right now?

Reading — The Winner’s Bible — Dr Kerry Spackman

Watching — Ally McBeal

Needing — My tenants to find a suitable property for them to move to early so we can begin our move

Wanting — More boxes to pack our belongings into when we can finally move

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 to be able to be able to focus on being a full-time writer and totally rearrange the order of my book. This task, while not yet completed does seem to have increased the flow between the chapters which was my goal.

In the coming week I am looking forward to going to Newcastle and seeing my family. It will be weird going back for the first time since I know I will be moving back in the next few months.

Share Your World – 2016 Week 26

Share Your World – 2016 # 24

June 15, 2016 inspiringmax

What is the most fun thing you did in school?

During our 5th form Jindabyne Ski Excursion (yes I am that old, now called year 11) I became a popular girl for 5 days. My rise to fame happened quickly and by accident, when I became friends with a group of popular kids from another school. Unfortunately, as they were from another part of the state, we never saw each other again as travel between areas wasn’t as easy as it is today. At the same camp I also discovered my natural ability to ski. This also helped my popularity as most of the kids couldn’t ski. It was a surprise to many as usual my reputation was as the person nobody wants on their sporting team. Karma felt nice for a few days as suddenly the roles were reversed.

What is your favorite type of dog? (can be anything from a specific breed, a stuffed animal or character in a movie)

I wouldn’t describe myself as a cat or dog person. However, one dog I have always loved is Snoopy. So loyal, cute and creative, he helps Charlie Brown out of many scraps. I haven’t seen the Peanuts Movie yet but hope to enjoy Snoopy in his latest movie soon. My long time love of Snoopy is the reason somewhere hiding in our house is a much loved stuffed Snoopy that has been a part of the family since my children were little.

You are invited to a party that will be attended by many fascinating people you never met. Would you attend this party if you were to go by yourself?

I have spent my life doing things by myself so attending a party I want to attend doesn’t phase me. The secret is if I want to attend it or if some else thinks I should for whatever reason. I am not a work the room sort of person but can easily find my way when I need to.

Complete this sentence: Never In My Life Have I….

Won a talent or popularity contest. To be fair and honest however, I have never put a great deal of effort into trying to win them either. One thing I plan on putting a bit more effort into this year is my Toastmaster speeches to see if I can by polishing them give myself the chance of taking my speaking to the next level.

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 that most of my family was able to travel to Sydney to farewell my son who left on Saturday to spend a couple of years in Japan. We had a great afternoon although it went quickly before his departure later that night.

During this coming week I am looking forward to getting back into my aqua aerobics and organizing my house. We have many things that are no longer required and need removing. Now is the time to put this plan into action.

Share Your World – 2016 Week 24

V – Vincentia

April 29, 2016April 28, 2016 inspiringmax

Vincentia is a seaside town on the shores of Jervis Bay, 200 kilometres South of Sydney.Arriving at our B & B, we decided to take an afternoon stroll and found ourselves taking in the natural beauty of the White sands Walk along Blenheim Beach and Jervis Bay National Park. It was a glorious winter day and a great way to relax.

- large dead tree on track heading back north

19 - Looking Back to Nelsons Beach from Blenheim Beach

20 - Looking Back to Nelsons Beach from Blenheim Beach

27 - Walking along the racks south of Blenheim Beach

M – Mexican Food

April 18, 2016 inspiringmax

I love Mexican food. It started back in the 1980’s when I began going out to restaurants, Mexican quickly became my favourite as it was so different to our usual food — full of colour, slow-cooked with unusual ingredients. We had many family celebration in our local Mexican restaurant Taco Bill’s including my hen’s night and I was very disappointed when it closed. Today, although you can buy many Mexican ingredients in the local supermarkets nothing beats a good Mexican restaurant experience.

Last year my husband and I spent a week in Port Macquarie arriving on my birthday. My husband was excited because they had not one, but two Mexican restaurants for us to try. He booked us into both — one on my birthday and the other when the kids joined us later in the week. The first was very disappointing and their service didn’t exist. The second restaurant, Poco Loco was amazing. We had a great night together for my birthday, sharing a meal and creating many memories. I was so pleased with the presentation of my food that I actually took a photo of it, something I rarely do but lucky for this week’s photo challenge.

Just looking at it is making me hungry for Mexican.

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

Coffee Catch-up #7

April 17, 2016 inspiringmax

If we were having coffee I would tell you about how proud I was on Wednesday evening when I was presented with my new Toastmaster badge that places the letter ACB/CL after my name. Although I was pleased to have completed the manuals, the feelings that developed when I actually saw them in print did surprise. They brought home to me the importance of presenting awards as soon as possible after completion. The fact that when I first finished my CC award several years ago, it took me over 12 months to get it recognised by anyone probably also played a part in my feelings.

If we were having coffee I would tell you about my run in with my exercise coach after which he disrespectfully dismissed me and told me I could finish up 4 weeks earlier than my original date. Given the circumstances this was probably the only option as there was no comprise possible.

If we were having coffee I would tell you how I enjoyed swimming, running in the water and relaxing in the members only spa this afternoon for the first time in 8 years. I would also tell you that I am looking forward to the greater options in my new exercise program including aqua aerobics, my long time favourite.

If we were having coffee I would tell you how I am catching up on many long time overdue jobs at work, which is inspiring to think about new systems to make many tasks easier.

If we were having coffee I would tell you what a great meal we had last night with one of my Toastmaster clubs social event at Thai Garden House. The food was fresh, light and flavoursome which is why in 2013, it was awarded Sydney Metro’s best Thai restaurant.

If we were having coffee I would tell you that I am excited to be back on track with my Blogging from A – Z challenge this week. It has taken a lot of work over the weekend especially as I am also keeping up with my regular features but so worth it. From my experience, the more I write the better and quicker I get at it.

If we were having coffee I would ask you what you have been up to this last week, let me know in the comments.

K – Hello Koala Sculpture Trail

April 16, 2016April 17, 2016 inspiringmax

Until December 2016, the street and building of Port Macquarie, New South Wales are peppered with large-scale koala sculptures made of fibroglass and hand painted and decorated to a theme. The artists consist of celebrities, professionals as well as local community groups. Each koala has a plaque at its base that has the sculpture’s name and artist’s details. There are 50 of them in total and they were built to help support the work of Port Macquarie’s Koala Hospital — the first of its kind in the world. I fell in love with them and photographed all I saw, about 37 I think. I hope you enjoy some of my favourites. They were so cute.

I – Idioms

April 14, 2016 inspiringmax

Idioms are phrases that have special meaning often very different from their literal meaning. The Australian language is full of them and some can be so common place that we forget that non Australians struggle to understand their meaning. So to help explain my idioms I thought I would dedicate ‘I’ to them and many be help my international readers understand some of our confusing slang.

Phrase: Away with the pixies

Meaning: Dreaming

Example: He’s away with the pixies. ( He’s dreaming.)

Phrase: Bob’s your uncle

Meaning: If you do whatever is said before everything will be alright.

Example: Just three more chops with the axe and Bob’s your uncle.

(My fun response to this idiom has always been — no Bob’s my dad actually.)

Phrase: Don’t get your knickers in a twist.

Meaning: Don’t get upset.

Example: He’s 5 minutes late Mum, don’t get your knickers in a twist.

Phrase: Woop Woop

Meaning: Middle of nowhere, far away from any where of interest

Example: I’m going to Woop Woop tomorrow.

Phrase: Flat chat

Meaning: Go very fast

Example: I had so much to do, I had to work flat chat to get out of work on time tonight.

Phrase: Play silly buggers

Meaning: Messing around, wasting time

Example: They are up stairs playing silly buggers instead of doing their assignment.

Phrase: Pull your head in.

Meaning: Shut up, I don’t want to talk to you.

Example: Jane, pull your head in, you’re becoming a bore.

Phrase: Buckley’s Chance

Meaning. No chance

Example: You’ve got two chance of that happening , your’s and Buckley’s.

Phrase: Mad as a cut snake.

Meaning: Very angry.

Example: Don’t go near dad tonight , he’s as mad as a cut snake.

Phrase: Kangaroo loose in the top paddock.

Meaning: Not too smart

Example: I’ve been watching him for a while and I think he has a kangaroo loose in the top paddock.

Phrase: Bring a plate.

Meaning: Please bring a plate with food on it to share to a party or barbeque.

Example: Mary invited us to her house on Friday night and asked if we could bring a plate.

Phrase: As useful as an ash tray on a motorbike or as useful as tits on a bull.

Meaning: Not a very helpful person or thing.

Example: Janelle was as useful as an ashtray on a motor bike this afternoon when I asked her to help in the kitchen.

D – Driftwood Sculptures

April 7, 2016 inspiringmax

I came across these amazing driftwood sculptures while driving through the countryside in North Island New Zealand. The artist appeared to work from his home which was surrounded by these beautiful creations. I remember feeling creative just looking at them.

A – Australian Fun Facts

April 5, 2016 inspiringmax

What better way to start the April 2016 A – Z challenge than with some fun facts about my amazing country, Australia.

Our population hit the big time this year when we made it to 24 million people.

Australians love to shorten words and add an O to the end, for example ambulance driver becomes ambo.

The first selfie was taken in Australia.

The box jellyfish kills more people annually than sharks, stone fish and crocodiles combined.

Australia has over 10,000 beaches. you could visit one a day for 27 years.

The Emu and the Kangaroo are on our coat of arms because neither animal can walk backwards.

On Christmas Eve, 1974 Darwin one of Australia’s capital cities was destroyed by cyclone Tracy, a category 5 cyclone.

In 1973, the Australian government spent $1.35 million dollars to purchase Jackson Pollack’s Blue Poles. At the time, this was a very controversial decision, however it is now recogised as a great work of art, worth all the money and more.