Welcome to another:
Wise Week Wisewomen
I met the Christmas Tree Fairy at Timbrell Park
Christmas is heading right your way and I wonder if you have done all your Christmas shopping yet.
Noooooooo.... I can hear you at my place!!!
Whilst Christmas is a time of festivities, family, fun and food, it does have a tinsy bit of present buying stress to it.
Present giving should be a joy and it is if you only have to buy one present. But you can be in the position of buying 8, 14, 20 or more……I am exhausted already!
What do you think about when you purchase the present? Do you think about the usefulness, the price, the quirkiness or the classiness of the gift! Do you agonise over the gift so that it is absolutely perfect or maybe you are just happy to find something you think will do!
Many years ago, an aunt gave me a series of presents that definitely sent weird signals and to this day I have no idea why!!!! Whilst she had previously given me lovely gifts and continued to give gorgeous presents to my husband and children, it all changed for me for some inexplicable reason.
She handed me a gift which was a folding straw hat (if you have never seen one, they are hideous and you don't want one!) and the following year, a door closer (one of those cylinders that connect the doorframe to the door). I never wore the hat but remarkably the door closer did actually get used!
Christmas time is so busy in the shops it can drive you mad. It can take ages to park the car, queues are long and the stuff is picked over. But I must say there is a delightful side to it all.
The decorations in the stores, and yes, I even love the Christmas music to shop by. And the littlies are finally happy to go shopping and their faces are priceless. The smell of the Christmas puddings and ham as you walk by the deli section, yummmm, I am excited already!
This year I will ignore all the bad things and concentrate on all the nice things and look forward to drinking in the Christmas spirit!!!
MANNERS MAKETH THE NATION
Since I have returned to Australia from my visit to the West Coast of America I have been talking to my friends about the courtesy that American’s seem to have compared to Australians.
From my 3 week visit to the USA I have come to the conclusion that Australians are quite rude. That’s a big assumption I know, but I really think we have a ‘pushy streak’. Heavens no, not me though!!!!
I get the impression that in Australia many are becoming more concerned about themselves, their inconvenience, their interruptions, and their disadvantages which far outweigh the consideration of others.
On the roads in the USA for instance, not once did we strike other drivers throwing their weight around, tearing through lanes, forcibly pushing in, speeding, hooning etc. You only need to drive down the M4 to the Blue Mountains to see all of that and more. Why is it that the drivers here are more concerned about their moment on the road rather than the safety of others?
We THINK we are the lucky country so we can do what we darn well like!!!
And it is not just the young people who lack courtesy though. I see older people who should know better, happy to push me aside when I enter a train or lift, quite happy to make sure I don’t get a merge on a busy freeway when it is my turn and I know some people who totally unacknowledge me when I brandish them with a smile!! Small moments of courtesy would make a world of difference.
Let's make it our New Year's Resolution to be considerate to all and sundry and make the world, especially our world, a little better.
MY WEEK
I have not been well this week, struck down with a virus that has me sniffling and snuffling, coughing and sneezing – and I am sick of it!!!
I was convinced that the dust in my bedroom was the culprit and spent a whole day washing down every surface, vacuuming every pillow, cleaning blinds, curtains and light fittings. Honestly, Mr G thought I was a women possessed and left me to it. I finished it all off with a spray disinfectant spray Glen20, squeaky clean. That was Sunday and I still feel queasy!!
But the thing that really bugs me about not feeling well is not being able to get to the gym. Last week I did two hours and that is it!!!! I feel so cross about it, but Mr G tells me, patience is a virtue and I know he is secretly happy I am the one suffering……….not him!
We did manage to attend a big fair in Timbrell Park to celebrate the opening of Livvi’s Playground. Livvi's Playground must be the most amazing children’s playground in Sydney. In fact it would be every kids dream. I can’t wait to take Miss Charli there and see what she makes of it.
The playground has been the goal of Olivia parents.
In November 2006, John and Justine Perkins tragically lost their baby daughter Olivia, at just 8 months old, to a rare illness. Their life, as they knew it, came crashing down with the immense sadness and numerous other mixed emotions that followed.
This most devastating time of John and Justine's life however has brought with it new meaning. A gift, if you like, with a message - a message to positively enhance the lives of children and their families in a significant way.
Founding the Touched by Olivia Foundation is a step towards realising the dream that will become Olivia's legacy. In her short life, Olivia touched many hearts. It is John and Justine's hope that Olivia will continue to touch many more lives through the work undertaken by the Foundation
John and Justine have worked hard to make sure their daughter's short life has definitely made difference to the world. Olivia’s handprint is now stamped firmly in the hearts of many. You can take a look at their website here: http://www.touchedbyolivia.com.au/index.html
MENS SHOES
I am not a great fan of men’s wear stores. They are dead boring if you ask me. But due to Mr G’s new zest for interesting gear and new things, I am spending way too much time in them for my liking. But I do it. Of course I do, lest he makes a terrible mistake in the purchase!!! Only joking!
Our holiday had me in more men’s wear shops than I care to think about, as not only did he want for himself, we have two sons who needed to be purchased for. I survived those but I almost did not survive the men’s shoe shopping last Saturday!
The assistant was quite helpful but the shop was busy and there were racks of men’s shoes. There were brown ones and black ones!!!! Lots of them! They had round, pointy and long square ends.
I am completely lost when I view these things. I can’t even imagine what a man would even want in a shoe, except some sort of comfort I suppose.
Out came the boxes upon boxes. I am absolutely no help as I can’t imagine what I should be saying except ‘they look nice’!
It took quite ages but Mr G finally announced his choice. He chose the kangaroo leather pair. KANGAROO!!!! Have you heard of such a thing? Poor kangaroos being made into shoes!!!
They claim to be hard wearing and light and no doubt you bounce along in them too! Anyhow the purchase was made and Mr G was all smiles as we made our way into the nearest coffee shop to recover!
Even that wasn’t a great experience for me because I had lost my sense of taste due to my illness and the divine looking coffee, served in exquisite cups with a dainty biscuit was no reward!!! Oh well, what can you do!
TRAVEL USA
Monument Valley - magnificient
I have produced a couple of stories for you since my return. Two really gorgeous places to begin with. They are the fabulous Monument Valley and the fantastic Sequoias or Giant Redwoods.
The Giant Redwoods - extraordinary
Both of these destinations were really awe inspiring. They give you something very special to take away with you. They are places that get ‘into’ your soul. Spectacular, spiritual, amazing and just plain magnificent, and my photos are amazing if I do say so myself. Take a look for yourselves
MONUMENT VALLEY 
SEQUOIAS
THEY OWN THE PLACE
Remis - the royal presence
We own a Cornish rex cat and we domicile a dog. Kojak is my daughter’s Staffy.
The other day we worked out that in Kojak’s 12 years, we had looked after him for 8. He adores Mr G but he knows he can’t step past the cat to get to me. I am definitely the cat’s owner.
Poor old Kojak
Kojak and Remis are almost exactly the same age but Kojak looks old and decrepit.
The cat runs rings around him and us really. Meow, open the door. Meow, time to be fed. Meow, some water in the bath. Meow, let me out. Remis meows and we jump into action. It must be hilarious to watch as we obediently jump like the diligent owners that we are!!
Pets, they are a source of great fun, givers of great love and expensive to maintain!
If you are a pet owner, you are already nodding your heads.
If you have some pet stories, please write in and share them with us. Or send in a photo as we would love to see them and we'll put them up on the website: gigi@wisewomensworld.com
And if you have a puppy and want some tips on training 
LANA’S WISE WEEK
I had a great time getting together with Lana last week. We have a big project underway which we needed to flesh out so it was a great chance to do the face to face thing.
Lana has been at her Pellowah course last weekend so you will have to check in with her to find out more. I have offered to be her first client and can't wait!!!!
Fascinating stuff….
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
I decided that it is dog and cat quote week:
For cat lovers:
I had been told that the training procedure with cats was difficult.
It's not.
Mine had me trained in two days. Bill Dana
And the dog quote had me laughing for ages…..it just conjured up really funny images for me!!
From the dog's point of view, his master is an elongated and abnormally cunning dog. Mabel Louise Robinson
OK, one for you too:
Things are only impossible until they're not. Jean-Luc Picard
Have a terrific week, enjoy all the Christmas Cheer until next week
