tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75232367108033441972024-03-19T00:19:35.273-07:00Nicky's SpaceAttempting wholehearted living in a busy but beautiful life, facing 50 with grace and trying to make sense of what the days throw my way. Documenting my life as I see it.
Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.comBlogger1043125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-77224427372519437042020-06-14T17:33:00.000-07:002020-06-14T17:33:07.754-07:00Disrupted<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It's been a CoVID while since I was in this space. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I'm here today to muse about disruption. </span><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><br /></font>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I am feeling disrupted. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I don't know what I was thinking my 50th year would be like but I certainly didn't envision a pandemic and an uprising. <br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">But here I am. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Here we are. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">CoVid sent my work life into chaos but I kept working and going into work daily. In quietened streets that held an eeriness that was hard to shake. We shuttered some facilities and the others were much quieter than usual. We made hard decisions and we had hard conversations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">For those early CoVid weeks there was never not a pit in my stomach. I had nightmares I was going to get CoVid. And worse nightmares where I might give it to someone. I woke up many nights gripped with anxiety. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Separated from friends and family - even scared of one another - everyone trying to stay safe physically but exacting an emotional toll we have yet to calculate or understand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Disrupted from each other. From Community.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Days became weeks and weeks months and the news close to home gave us hope. My chest felt less constricted and my mind less frantic. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">And just as CoVid fatigue was setting in... the fatigue of operating an organisation in such times as these with never ending protocols and shifting expectations ... the fatigue of line-ups and shortages - the fatigue of not easily being with family and friends... bone-weary fatigue of not being able to see the future, to plan, to know when does the "new normal" begin? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">When to stop feeling disrupted? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">George Floyd. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I can't breathe"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">A crisis on top of a crisis. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps the rawness of how I was already feeling, perhaps my shock at the complacency I had allowed myself to believe in... I found my myself doubly disrupted. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">These feelings of rage and impotence are not new to me. But I had let them become dulled and distant. I have felt the weight of my whiteness almost all my life. I have been aware of my white privilege almost all my life. And for years it activated me and now I found myself 50 and in Canada and unacceptably comfortable with the status quo.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It would be so easy to point south of the 49th and say "thank goodness that's not us" (and I am) but that is a fallacy. Canada has much to answer for. And I, a Canadian citizen and voter, have to be part of the process. I need to be reactivated to sit in the discomfort I feel in being white and to figure out how I am going to be ally with Black Lives Matter in a way that is authentic and sustained and acceptable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">This week I listened to black women a lot - I centered my social media feeds on their voices and stories and listened and I learned. My heart was "cracked wide open" at their stories, eloquence, rigor and wisdom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">My thinking and my heart were once again disrupted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">My faith, grown dull and disconnected, was disrupted. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I hate disruption. I am a creature of routine and stability and equilibrium.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">But so far my life has taught me that the periods of greatest growth have always been when I am disrupted. When I am forced to think <u>and</u> act, when I need to learn from others, when I need to de-centre myself and re-centre others ... when I need to STOP dong some things and START doing other things. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Will I embrace this CoVid / BLM disruption - HELL YES. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I am not going to preach here and give lists and resources - I'll do my work and you, if you choose to be part of the disruption of white supremacy and systemic racism, will do yours. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWm-qHkQObgluf082ShCQgmVc89z3NUX-QMKWZYJ1B0iJLp20Hols3T3r_iMyi6BSICtb629Xek-zgFwviZqroBvH2Xk0XIOpItk4WGRCfGSmEj-_W83zY28bjQlumNV7LnYXvVNhlChFV/s612/ars6gy7sb6wqtgaydxhl00wffzzr2ydk.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="612" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWm-qHkQObgluf082ShCQgmVc89z3NUX-QMKWZYJ1B0iJLp20Hols3T3r_iMyi6BSICtb629Xek-zgFwviZqroBvH2Xk0XIOpItk4WGRCfGSmEj-_W83zY28bjQlumNV7LnYXvVNhlChFV/s320/ars6gy7sb6wqtgaydxhl00wffzzr2ydk.png" /></a></div>"<br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue", verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue", verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">them</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue", verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get."</span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue", verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Matthew 7:12 The Message </span></span><br />
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<br /></div>Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-1021132250236006652020-01-26T16:49:00.001-08:002020-02-07T15:01:58.705-08:00My family and friends are all liars<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My family and friends are all liars</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And I couldn't love them more</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For a couple of weeks my spidey senses have been on high alert for anomalies in communication and planning about my 50th birthday. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTlOwEYQqfEQtQiTI-0TyV8JTC76KVm3PmEWUgfhLVEdij3eopY6kszxvXchKFWqpxw_aj3ELZpzRC5k6OJ3QBktOqlMyxPhvGl4J33JdtV_ebZzdj6_rEp0DXiEdc8YQMeRu6ZNeCpkT/s1600/unnamed+%252811%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTlOwEYQqfEQtQiTI-0TyV8JTC76KVm3PmEWUgfhLVEdij3eopY6kszxvXchKFWqpxw_aj3ELZpzRC5k6OJ3QBktOqlMyxPhvGl4J33JdtV_ebZzdj6_rEp0DXiEdc8YQMeRu6ZNeCpkT/s200/unnamed+%252811%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was sure something fishy was going on but I couldn't quite put all the pieces together though I spent a few sleepless hours trying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As it turns out I could never have guessed what was really happening.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was told I was going for a walk at Terra Nova Nature Park and then brunch with 3 girlfriends in the City. I had guessed this was unlikely to be the truth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was pouring rain on Saturday morning and a walk in the park seemed a silly idea so I proposed meeting for coffee in the village. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This only prompted more lies and so at 10:30am yesterday I arrived at Terra Nova to walk. Emily and Viv seemed happy to be setting out in the rain - I followed along suspiciously scanning the park for signs of....something. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0nR-fZfRDlu-DzgGSVq5eWZvA0aAxwW5KphYwjnYYTEuSaRHV1QJ59QvIYKMBVEQ9h87Sn6dusB9qWZQ4WGGfuO-ZtE3zgpOGd7shj-AAjFqK4S-OD-xEfJJOvfO6HGZAEg8C1WRZPin/s1600/unnamed+%252814%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0nR-fZfRDlu-DzgGSVq5eWZvA0aAxwW5KphYwjnYYTEuSaRHV1QJ59QvIYKMBVEQ9h87Sn6dusB9qWZQ4WGGfuO-ZtE3zgpOGd7shj-AAjFqK4S-OD-xEfJJOvfO6HGZAEg8C1WRZPin/s200/unnamed+%252814%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just minutes into our walk we "bumped" into Kate also mysteriously out walking in the rain. After some Hello's Emily and Viv promptly said goodbye and walked away leaving a bewildered me with Kate, who was not randomly walking there as it happens, who ushered me over to a wheelbarrow full of plants and together we planted her gift to me as we chatted. That planter was delivered to my front door before I got home! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2jUGqBxVn7CyZLP0PmaVQ_n6KPeqPabk0qtC729_vZxIuPRakvAQc2ksM441YIqj4QfLCXonxf5uSLbsyMEj6xjIX3YreFhoSL97RyClwjIiARXm0Qm6RS94TSBzlhgSwFaWXCgDKPhQ/s1600/unnamed+%25289%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2jUGqBxVn7CyZLP0PmaVQ_n6KPeqPabk0qtC729_vZxIuPRakvAQc2ksM441YIqj4QfLCXonxf5uSLbsyMEj6xjIX3YreFhoSL97RyClwjIiARXm0Qm6RS94TSBzlhgSwFaWXCgDKPhQ/s200/unnamed+%25289%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was starting to get the picture when Kate promptly said we needed to continue our walk ...so we did and soon rounded the corner and I saw someone alongside the path up ahead. As we approached Kate said goodbye and I greeted Fil by asking him if he had a license to be fishing in the that ditch. He proceeded to do a one-man one-act play that encompassed all of our best fishing stories/encounters from the past several years - it was magnificent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He soon had me walking on along the path until we spied a beautiful sculpture just off the path - the gift of Katharina who couldn't be there but left a gift of nature and creativity - amazingly beautiful. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jZl4DY5tOMGIQQspB-GtQv_LvP2sZKgilvhhDdeyAOAWah7aag7_GydK6UQvGUae_KXuMMGzZyNF82XUhRUKWs1bfRu791Jy_HEmbg3q1t2p_oHwHVtlJvXHcxx1ZdKuleU4rhAhRIIg/s1600/unnamed+%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jZl4DY5tOMGIQQspB-GtQv_LvP2sZKgilvhhDdeyAOAWah7aag7_GydK6UQvGUae_KXuMMGzZyNF82XUhRUKWs1bfRu791Jy_HEmbg3q1t2p_oHwHVtlJvXHcxx1ZdKuleU4rhAhRIIg/s200/unnamed+%25288%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fil and I walked on in gentle, lovely conversation until I spied a bright umbrella on the bridge ahead under which one Jennifer stood. Fil was gone and Jennifer - my colleague of 19 years offered me the gift of a letter she had written - she read it to me as we walked and cried and laughed - a good summary of our relationship. A letter I'll treasure forever as I treasure her now.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioL-Nv6pDzTXoeuNc9s6TvqFhhc0OQJl0cI7nWAucxMjz3xD_cwrKMvQnow0Qk3bl4wOaZa65uDIY0E2ON8Fgg2UklQG8YbeeZrgMpSt0taNnqOB3y0cO07urABZyYwwwCEcyVN0aMGK0U/s1600/unnamed+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioL-Nv6pDzTXoeuNc9s6TvqFhhc0OQJl0cI7nWAucxMjz3xD_cwrKMvQnow0Qk3bl4wOaZa65uDIY0E2ON8Fgg2UklQG8YbeeZrgMpSt0taNnqOB3y0cO07urABZyYwwwCEcyVN0aMGK0U/s200/unnamed+%25286%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjleVVQELHxrAATkdS6Qxe0BqEQpTIRpBzN55sFpmQM6MrMNjAWtnr0jpJ-pWSSbZz-_T4mgSE77onNpFYTivp27G_pn4t6q39i0IziWMk-bcrTk86wjCG5s8zR_3Qd3qWMx0YP7qDTyQ/s1600/unnamed+%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjleVVQELHxrAATkdS6Qxe0BqEQpTIRpBzN55sFpmQM6MrMNjAWtnr0jpJ-pWSSbZz-_T4mgSE77onNpFYTivp27G_pn4t6q39i0IziWMk-bcrTk86wjCG5s8zR_3Qd3qWMx0YP7qDTyQ/s200/unnamed+%25287%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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Soon a </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">band of Hofs emerged from behind a huge tree and Jennifer was gone. My beloved Hofs had props for a photo shoot, paper boats for a regatta and friendship bracelets made by my precious Penelope. That would have been enough but Graham told a story that ended with him and Laura giving me a fund that I can use to encourage young entrepreneurs as I had once encouraged him. A gift so stunning and so insightful it took my breath away with gratitude.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUCqBmNX-ExcurQMTsGS62hSVqPYNnc-CCL7_SLKTgBk36ZsEdka2nstGng57cARwWIPQzxh-cTPUNnvTrqe7JxlLvmkBVZrgJiONs1HB2YOFpDE_PKwTBQXoCvId8EQafBodYoOA47Lj/s1600/unnamed+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUCqBmNX-ExcurQMTsGS62hSVqPYNnc-CCL7_SLKTgBk36ZsEdka2nstGng57cARwWIPQzxh-cTPUNnvTrqe7JxlLvmkBVZrgJiONs1HB2YOFpDE_PKwTBQXoCvId8EQafBodYoOA47Lj/s200/unnamed+%25285%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They soon had me walking on and soon I spied that beautiful girl of mine walking towards me. YES! This I had guessed correctly and I was very happy to see her face in spite of her deceptive ways! She had a picnic, with a tablecloth, all ready for me and despite the rain we sat down and had a picnic reminiscent of so many we have had before - and boy was I hungry by then (the promised brunch never having materialised!) so I devoured the cheese and crackers!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePLoUpE1VXC5L3kzpUKxisE3WDLxCdzDIi23AOOlXt9yegotrtWb7XbbSp5rNfwSbbZexg2zoSvqKufIfaguoIlgg_zlHDMcYUW46qA_bYIQvawYbQAIt_m8nYct8huBMB2fjEOHHmWdC/s1600/unnamed+%252812%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePLoUpE1VXC5L3kzpUKxisE3WDLxCdzDIi23AOOlXt9yegotrtWb7XbbSp5rNfwSbbZexg2zoSvqKufIfaguoIlgg_zlHDMcYUW46qA_bYIQvawYbQAIt_m8nYct8huBMB2fjEOHHmWdC/s200/unnamed+%252812%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I was munching my parents popped out of nowhere and showered me with beautiful words of love and a poem my Dad wrote and performed. We shared our snacks and visited a while and soon they left. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3Htm2zmxerSReOaJsykyMpCIF4no1r75mHUuwYq8uLnsWMfh8m4VfMkVpHUVAY8vofjvxauPC5UnriK4kH-0AgMxrj2_hyxCOx1Xf-ES-0PDWxVJUAcROWJNo0QDApkW_Ob5NGBIt5KX/s1600/unnamed+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3Htm2zmxerSReOaJsykyMpCIF4no1r75mHUuwYq8uLnsWMfh8m4VfMkVpHUVAY8vofjvxauPC5UnriK4kH-0AgMxrj2_hyxCOx1Xf-ES-0PDWxVJUAcROWJNo0QDApkW_Ob5NGBIt5KX/s200/unnamed+%25284%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lindsay and I were soon walking on until we came to a clearing where a man stood with a guitar under a tarp strung in the trees. His name was Brian and although we had never met he began to play one of my favourite songs "Landslide" .... and standing there, with my daughter tucked in close beside me, in the gently falling rain... more tears.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We walked on and came to another corner - Lindsay pulled out an iPad and there was a video message from my godson Arlo and his beautiful Mama Juli... so charming and full of good memories.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTAlQhUuk71ji3WMkC4KGJSQpbrAI7ZbRP7IYF56maZ05ocKPIXpTe5oy0qUFBncNqNYmPBBYfs0jls4H01YsWO46B7ioipYOMD5k2O6-k0LCGwx6SxvfkPbxic3FTsTYNxje3DI4txbE/s1600/unnamed+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTAlQhUuk71ji3WMkC4KGJSQpbrAI7ZbRP7IYF56maZ05ocKPIXpTe5oy0qUFBncNqNYmPBBYfs0jls4H01YsWO46B7ioipYOMD5k2O6-k0LCGwx6SxvfkPbxic3FTsTYNxje3DI4txbE/s200/unnamed+%25282%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We walked on and soon Mr Allan Byres emerged from the bushes - he received a swift smack for his stellar performance of an ignorant and uniformed bystander when he was, in fact, fully apprised of the whole plan!! He read me a lovely and loving message from our son who is too far away to be here. And then he revealed his gift to me of something off my bucket list I can hardly believe. You'll be along for this ride on my actual birthday next Saturday - I'm SO SO excited. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We then walked on and arrived at the Red Barn to all the gathered players now warm and dry and a beautifully decorated room and table and a feast of indian food made by our friend Nav. My beloved friend Emily had every detail covered and was the creative mastermind of it all. She created this gift for me that is beyond words and my gratitude is deep and wide. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCustikz2EDo82yL-7DpMKjeiVr7yS5Us0UME9xSL7UgvDFLEExrpzzru8S17WBB-MLy6AdbK7E7RXD7iLje6wau8ubnT3dtNY3D5P_iKcEgQKpb93UmUcrpFXVEIj5HzB5yDQ-Kmj009/s1600/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCustikz2EDo82yL-7DpMKjeiVr7yS5Us0UME9xSL7UgvDFLEExrpzzru8S17WBB-MLy6AdbK7E7RXD7iLje6wau8ubnT3dtNY3D5P_iKcEgQKpb93UmUcrpFXVEIj5HzB5yDQ-Kmj009/s200/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJov4i-0fZerOWK4tW8VBGMvx6LUOUjOAoZdLk6uOcFCmYh8qB3lbHdyVPiw2SrVPJM0PBsTb_SUh0z5GpJVJ5Br_f-UHd1eoPabFcMn9KKMpThmariaakODCB4pes9o_waI0yTlejRVBF/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJov4i-0fZerOWK4tW8VBGMvx6LUOUjOAoZdLk6uOcFCmYh8qB3lbHdyVPiw2SrVPJM0PBsTb_SUh0z5GpJVJ5Br_f-UHd1eoPabFcMn9KKMpThmariaakODCB4pes9o_waI0yTlejRVBF/s200/unnamed.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We had lunch together - we talked, we laughed, we dissected the lies, talked about the plans and finally had a cake with thankfully less than 50 candles.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPiPNJ4tcQUPAd01GFe1bxytHpRNmf4Cku4-yBhNA8dTt29qoUpDi21-6rwVWzSqu5eLOcdKd5-N_7oV2_npBBc_dMYYEXMLZVPD0gcU7sehfcsNh3fiCu3zoIZ4iYCK6Xwft4k3t6a-d/s1600/unnamed+%252816%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPiPNJ4tcQUPAd01GFe1bxytHpRNmf4Cku4-yBhNA8dTt29qoUpDi21-6rwVWzSqu5eLOcdKd5-N_7oV2_npBBc_dMYYEXMLZVPD0gcU7sehfcsNh3fiCu3zoIZ4iYCK6Xwft4k3t6a-d/s320/unnamed+%252816%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was THE BEST morning - it was so well planned and so beautifully executed - my heart was over flowing. It's easy to show up at a party or a dinner but none of this was easy and the thought, effort, intention and love that went into every detail is utterly humbling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was well loved, so well loved. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am so incredibly lucky. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All the lies are forgiven.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">xoxoxo</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">PS: Still not actually 50 - T-minus 6 days</span></div>
Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-69060054804411237132020-01-20T19:55:00.000-08:002020-01-20T19:55:05.095-08:00It's coming<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In less than two weeks there will be a great disturbance in the Force ... or something... and I will be 50.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JEewamZ-k0EYYyAD9FAehvtUWWR52eLaNWTVNPQ1nGnfheXrl58hxILHe-JV7-uOHvslMGjzIDaRpfw_dsOz_qnfxDnFg0C-lWgwUL9-5GSbBm4dR6S7wcAtEfF81dKTt8jlzvYNxneK/s1600/3119188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JEewamZ-k0EYYyAD9FAehvtUWWR52eLaNWTVNPQ1nGnfheXrl58hxILHe-JV7-uOHvslMGjzIDaRpfw_dsOz_qnfxDnFg0C-lWgwUL9-5GSbBm4dR6S7wcAtEfF81dKTt8jlzvYNxneK/s200/3119188.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A good number of my closest friends have already passed this milestone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A good number of my friends are turning 50 in 2020 - Hello Grad class of 1987 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A good number of my friends think 50 is OLD</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am having trouble figuring what to think about turning 50 nevermind how I feel about it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's doesn't feel like just another birthday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It feels big - it feels like I should feel something big.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a taking stock kind of moment as the decade birthdays often are. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here's where I am tonight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight I am thinking of what I regret in my life so far:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I regret spending so much time worrying (not that I am likely to stop doing so)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I regret all the times I wasn't brave with my truth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I regret the times I said YES when I meant to say NO</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I regret yelling at my kids - every time</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I regret rushing - not slowing down and being present in the moment</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I regret the hours of my life I spent in the car outside an event because I/We were early (ok not really)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I regret not apologising sooner - or at all</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I regret the times I said No when I meant to say YES</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I regret the years I was fueled by fear</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I regret I didn't reach out more - connect more - because I didn't feel worthy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I regret the times I sulked for days </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I regret letting relationships I cared about go </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I regret the times I snapped at someone or was sarcastic when they needed kindness</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I regret not believing taking care of myself was a valid task</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I regret not realising the end of something / or the beginning of something </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I regret every hug or kiss I missed because I was angry or hurt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I regret all the bacon (no I don't but maybe I should) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could go on... but I might regret that too... What I mean to say is that while I have SO much to be grateful for and there is so many more blessings and joys than these regrets... but to pretend they don't exist is to tell only part of my story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guess one doesn't get to 50 with some missteps - big and small - but that I can say them out loud, or at least type them, must surely mean they shaped me into who I am - and I am learning to be ok with her. With 50 year old Nicola Lesley Byres. Some days I am even proud of her and some days I am excited to see what happens next. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight though, I am feeling like this is a good place to start the next couple of weeks of celebrating 50 trips around the sun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PS No Birthday greetings yet please - I have a few more days of my 40's to enjoy!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzd681zVauB3UVbbTNO6kEU9MsQd14KPfoU2sVWjA01L2_MwEIu5N6js9hH6tSpg_fbLXCba4WpAeFbh6yMX4fvbORRbn7pY75fB0ncSfwqktP9dgPbl_2e0zxLJ4BbfhLiu80c_P6jx3/s1600/415062-Muhammad-Ali-Quote-There-s-nothing-stressful-about-turning-50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzd681zVauB3UVbbTNO6kEU9MsQd14KPfoU2sVWjA01L2_MwEIu5N6js9hH6tSpg_fbLXCba4WpAeFbh6yMX4fvbORRbn7pY75fB0ncSfwqktP9dgPbl_2e0zxLJ4BbfhLiu80c_P6jx3/s320/415062-Muhammad-Ali-Quote-There-s-nothing-stressful-about-turning-50.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-41273725929650722502020-01-17T17:50:00.002-08:002020-01-17T17:50:55.030-08:002000 - 2020<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well that snuck up on me and honestly if my colleague, with a brain for dates, hadn't pointed it out I would likely have missed it all together. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been at this desk - this very desk as it turns out (welcome to non-profit life) - for 20 years today!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Truth be told I was at it before then but only on a contract for a few months before a baby boy arrived in my life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">January 17th, 2000 I started at this job.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That seems completely crazy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That 2000 person with a newborn and a 2 year old seems a lifetime ago and yet.... and yet...it seems like yesterday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember those first weeks so clearly. I was working 2 jobs - this one and one as a Ministry Social Worker -they were hectic, full days. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was such a rookie. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel nothing but gratitude for all I have learned and for the ways I have grown. It has not always been easy and last year was the hardest by far. There have been the requisite highs and lows but I am richer for the people I have worked with and the families I have worked for. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSu5YZbsP2QB3QalUf8TQGjXMZmnJYWoigo17cDekuWOtqIUQUYjutTNa53HNnUVX1WHb0Mhzev4ZCLfhvNND-qfYsXXz9leGbxVYBz4_AbppSFK6ClULVf-TKt-NyB1JP_cHzxTlMpLS/s1600/61CYlaKExBL._SL1000_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSu5YZbsP2QB3QalUf8TQGjXMZmnJYWoigo17cDekuWOtqIUQUYjutTNa53HNnUVX1WHb0Mhzev4ZCLfhvNND-qfYsXXz9leGbxVYBz4_AbppSFK6ClULVf-TKt-NyB1JP_cHzxTlMpLS/s320/61CYlaKExBL._SL1000_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To live and work in my community is a gift - to see babies grow up and go to school and graduate highschool and university and... oh boy... I bet there will be some weddings soon. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our vision statement is "Changing the world by honouring childhood". They jury may still be out on changing the world but this I know... I have been changed by my work. It has shaped me, challenged me, brought me to my knees, lifted me up and taught me SO much. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was tempted for a moment to feel like a failure that I have been doing the same job for so long but those feelings were quickly changed to gratitude for all this journey has been.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What does the future hold? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have no real idea but I have lots of ideas and lots more to accomplish - early childhood and early childhood educators are my passion - to work in a job that holds both your intellect and your heart is a gift I won't easily give up. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you to all those that have worked alongside me, served on my Board, trusted us with your children, supported me... it takes a village to grow an Executive Director and this one is more grateful for her village than you could ever know.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqO9F2yFiKCLqDKuoOw7PviKttKcVmPTayQP_Bs-Z6MNdf9a7-CUdQMExQuGXwnzHudv2H79Xjw4GVwsUsaiE1ASJfpclZTlFTbmNfz9vpOoqzY4Ogry3KSKgkfKfHHqIMfE7XrD3LR0og/s1600/your-work-is-going-to-fill-a-large-part-of-your-life-and-the-only-way-to-be-truly-satisfied-is-to-do-what-you-believe-is-great-work.-and-the-only-way-to-do-great-work-is-to-love-what-you-do..png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqO9F2yFiKCLqDKuoOw7PviKttKcVmPTayQP_Bs-Z6MNdf9a7-CUdQMExQuGXwnzHudv2H79Xjw4GVwsUsaiE1ASJfpclZTlFTbmNfz9vpOoqzY4Ogry3KSKgkfKfHHqIMfE7XrD3LR0og/s320/your-work-is-going-to-fill-a-large-part-of-your-life-and-the-only-way-to-be-truly-satisfied-is-to-do-what-you-believe-is-great-work.-and-the-only-way-to-do-great-work-is-to-love-what-you-do..png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-35951461800782050362019-12-04T17:48:00.001-08:002019-12-04T17:48:48.313-08:00Target acquired<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When they hand you your baby in the hospital your first thought is NOT "I wonder if she/he will get a degree one day?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your thoughts are much more about whether you will survive the next 2 days with this entirely dependent new human you are supposed to know what to do with. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Surprisingly soon in the life of the human, a person enters your life and wants to discuss a Registered Education Saving Plan. If you are able you sign up the brand new human for lofty future goals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When said child is 3 you wonder if they will actually live to realise the funds being set aside. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then they hit school and occasionally, when parentally expedient, you remind said child that studies are important and money is being saved and opportunities should not be squandered (aka do your damn dictee).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Highschool starts out and once Grade 9 and the mean girls and the awkward boys have been survived the words "Post Secondary" start to appear in your vocabulary. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While you nightly pray they say "No" when necessary and pay the slightest attention to school work ...they start to dream dreams of spending their RESP. You possibly plead with higher powers that it will be close to home...like a bus ride away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And then suddenly there are University brochures on the kitchen counter and your daughter has carefully calculated the exact mark in each subject she needs to attain her University of choice and while the parents hold their collective breath she not only gets into said University but wins a scholarship. A feat made utterly surprising by her complete lack of doing homework for 12 years of schooling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That feat was achieved for Miss Lindsay B a little over 4 years ago. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tonight at 8pm after delivering her first solo presentation she will officially have a BA.Psych degree from the University of Victoria!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgencvQZf_8FOl-LAnhANRpzBMk7BF77GwObOBAFOMoXI2xqWw4bmZnwRE1dEoNp-2vDYB9S9rWJ8RlyOu-n0GiAKCNypQ3WQH_g19bWG1Jrflp7segbZPtJLuJnEJFEU2MJAAsTuKBZyie/s1600/IMG_8175.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgencvQZf_8FOl-LAnhANRpzBMk7BF77GwObOBAFOMoXI2xqWw4bmZnwRE1dEoNp-2vDYB9S9rWJ8RlyOu-n0GiAKCNypQ3WQH_g19bWG1Jrflp7segbZPtJLuJnEJFEU2MJAAsTuKBZyie/s320/IMG_8175.jpeg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To say we are proud is an understatement. Of course for the way she has taken on her studies and done the work and passed the stats course and aced the psych and socio courses..... so proud.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But so much more than that we are proud of how she launched into the world and figured it out and grew up and matured and is a person who we absolutely adore and love being around. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cavG1FMqrueIqBRaUQow14A0uw6L535whJHZv42dPexma2Tjenj9lDilB7lGXV8gq_ck3xMhkVaIEq-9V1DW-RndAbLCI0EZbWgySi52vBxPjRJuSNoPDt4O8MrbgCw5hU7JKihrnB8W/s1600/IMG_0531.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cavG1FMqrueIqBRaUQow14A0uw6L535whJHZv42dPexma2Tjenj9lDilB7lGXV8gq_ck3xMhkVaIEq-9V1DW-RndAbLCI0EZbWgySi52vBxPjRJuSNoPDt4O8MrbgCw5hU7JKihrnB8W/s320/IMG_0531.jpeg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She navigated residence life with gusto - our introvert pushed herself hard to connect and join clubs and teams and she found some people who will be forever friends. She had a ball, learned how to haul laundry up three flights of stairs, how to do the bus-ferry-bus routine to get home, how to manage cafeteria food and pull pranks (and other things we delightfully know nothing about!)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiIQJOShj3MDQkaMaMtKYZJHZ51tDGEwV1IWtau7ibXYetrxABc42UKWHhyphenhyphenrSfVf6NQ3xuWwb4_O8K9qmTYnF9THWrKL-bLti04m0bziL5bnpiRAhoocjATRdXs5ImwCiwfZ3GrBEHwm8/s1600/IMG_5938.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiIQJOShj3MDQkaMaMtKYZJHZ51tDGEwV1IWtau7ibXYetrxABc42UKWHhyphenhyphenrSfVf6NQ3xuWwb4_O8K9qmTYnF9THWrKL-bLti04m0bziL5bnpiRAhoocjATRdXs5ImwCiwfZ3GrBEHwm8/s320/IMG_5938.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And after that she opted to live alone in her first little apartment. Boy that was a hard year... loneliness, illness, tequila-gate... she figured it all out out with a little help from home. And a certain boy arrived on the scene on St. Patrick's Day at a party... of course!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3rd year and a whack-a-doodle land lady and a tiny shared suite. Surf club in Tofino and figuring out dating and sharing space again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4th year - the best - a house with friends - best friends - lovely and loving friends and so many hikes and meals together and sharing life . Another oddball land lady well handled by mature girls who fought for their rights and won the day. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCM-AvDXjluMD4z-3KLEocjO-xnWt0JDXOwB7BtMkOgAyvTajDpTe8c67C4KGjuqVrxgR4zLY0xgl9iUiuVFJcAdEKIY69Yb278sLCEQQdp8Tf6jP8sSOOW_kMOa-MKwyUXJ52L3hm3Sup/s1600/IMG_7571.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCM-AvDXjluMD4z-3KLEocjO-xnWt0JDXOwB7BtMkOgAyvTajDpTe8c67C4KGjuqVrxgR4zLY0xgl9iUiuVFJcAdEKIY69Yb278sLCEQQdp8Tf6jP8sSOOW_kMOa-MKwyUXJ52L3hm3Sup/s320/IMG_7571.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And all the while working at a child care centre many many shifts a week as an Educator, doing good and important work in sometimes trying circumstances. While that RESP covered tuition she mainly worked to pay the rest with only a little financial help. Cooking fantastic meals, doing yoga and going to the gym. She traveled overseas with us and managed all the emotions of that trip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And now - this final semester - living with that Boy from 2nd year who we have all grown to love - in a beautiful apartment with a view of the ocean. 3 final courses - now DONE.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's been an honour to watch her journey and we are sailing over to celebrate this weekend. Not just the degree but all the living and learning she has done. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Miss Lou... we love you to the moon and back and forever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Congratulations !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mom and Dad</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">xoxoxo</span><br />
<br />Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-9317310862890629442019-11-25T13:07:00.001-08:002019-11-25T19:05:45.970-08:00What 2019 taught me about POWER<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(My report to the 2019 AGM)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I took a long time to decide on how to approach my report this year – my 20th AGM. I usually spend time talking about the high points of the year, the achievements and accomplishments, the great and good things we did. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many good and amazing things did happen this year - However 2019 took a dark turn right off the bat on January 3rd. And we started down a difficult and often devastating path. As I tried to wrestle all that this year has thrown at us I came to see it in terms of POWER. As with many things POWER has both positive and negative connotations and we have faced both aspects of POWER this year. Come with me on an exploration of our journey alongside POWER this year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>POWER OF ALLEGATIONS</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An allegation is a story someone believes to be true. But an allegation has to be investigated and proven for it to actually be true. What I learned this year is that an allegation in and of itself, with or without investigation, and even after an investigation proves this allegation to be unsubstantiated – an allegation has the POWER to destroy. Truth becomes a victim to the allegation and the allegation becomes the truth people hear and often believe. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This awareness of the POWER of allegation has made me very cautious of the words I use. Cautious of the stories and words I hear or read about and determined to seek the truth in all circumstances.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don’t think anyone needs convincing that media generally and social media specifically have immense POWER. In the social media world fact and truth are often distorted or completely ignored and the viral, sensational photograph or sound bite is fanned by every share and like. Even knowing this I was completely unprepared for the devastation of a social media campaign against us would cause. In early January I was up monitoring social media for 48 hours straight, received over 160 personal messages and watched over 500 comments being made about our organisation which included threats of violence against me personally and against members of our staff. I won’t dwell on this aspect of POWER as it is extremely painful to do so but I will record one moment of victory in all this mess was when the combined power of parents and a legal challenge caused Facebook, in a very rare move, to remove the post. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am more aware than ever that social media is a powerful medium for positive and negative and we all have a responsibility to be good digital citizens and consumers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>POWER OF COMMUNITY</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let’s move on to a more positive aspect of POWER. It is such a truism that when the chips are down you find your people, your community. Just as the barrage of threats and vitriol reigned down on us we saw our community showing up. Firstly I will forever be indebted to the Centres families for how they showed up for us in those dark days. They not only showed up… they fought hard for us, loved us in practical ways and not one family left. This is a testament to the staff at the centre. They had solid, trusting relationships with families and it paid off BIG TIME. Our colleagues in stood by us, stopping by with chocolates and cookies – the love language of all ECE’s, the Board showed up, the staff teams across the society stood in solidarity, parents from other centres sent letters of support, past parents and past staff spoke up, colleagues near and far sent messages of concern….it was humbling and my gratitude for all of it is hard to express.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>POWER OF REPUTATION</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have always know how important reputation is – how important the reputation of an organisation is. I have seen our reputation grow over 20 years – heard people say they heard about us from their sister, friend, colleague, neighbour. They heard we were “good”, that this was a good place for young children to be. I saw those years of good reputation pushed right to the edge of the cliff this year but we did not go over that cliff. We did not lose that reputation. And why is that? Because you cannot erase over 2 decades of moments of building relationships, of coming alongside families, of encouraging creativity, curiosity, supporting competence. The sum total of all that incredible, hard, messy work done by every ECE that has every worked for us equaled the power of our reputation when we needed it most. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let us never underestimate all those moments spent making us who we are – they matter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>POWER OF ADVOCACY</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Advocacy is standing up for something you believe in. It’s fighting for what you believe is right. I have done this many times on many topics from being an anti-apartheid activist, to being a member of the Coalition of Child care advocates fighting for a national system of early childhood education in Canada to a new role I am learning about being and advocate for the planet and environmental issues. I have no doubt there are many advocates for many different issues in this room tonight. Advocacy is powerful and I had a ringside seat to some profound advocacy this year. The Board of Directors was called on to advocate hard this year and they never flinched. They spent hours, many late at night and on weekends, reading, talking, writing and all in pursuit of advocacy for our work. In particular the Board Executive have stood firm in defence of us and they continue to do so as the battle continues, the appeals and reconsiderations are ongoing and so is their advocacy. I, on behalf of all of us, are deeply indebted to them for their time, their wisdom, their determination and their unflagging advocacy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>POWER OF GOOD WORK</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hard years come and go, they follow great years, precede ok years, are interspersed with awesome years. What never changes – has never changed in my 20 years of being in this organisation – is the good work. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This isn’t just any work. This is life changing, world changing work – our vision statement is no joke, no letterhead tag line – it is the real guiding light of our everyday work – <i>Changing the World by Honouring Childhood</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This honouring childhood means SO MANY things – it’s how the classroom looks, it’s the books chosen, the art supplies offered, the songs sung, it's the tears wiped, the knees bandaided, the hard conversations with families, the collaboration with colleagues, it’s wiping noses, giving hugs, setting boundaries, it’s laughing and taking deep breaths, it’s reading articles, preparing for family Fridays, it’s quietly rubbing backs at nap time and it’s running in the park…it is ALL OF THIS and it is everything in between all of this – the seen and the unseen, the obvious and the extra mile and is done by the incredible women sitting in this room. They do the good, hard work everyday. They are committed to the vision and do the work to move us towards it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Staff come and go and sometimes we are worn down by those changes but when I look out at the room tonight I am grateful for the role each ECE takes in our story. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We do good work. It is powerful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>POWER OF VULNERABILITY</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dr Brene Brown says <i>“ Vulnerability is about showing up and being seen. It’s tough to do that when we’re terrified about what people might see or think. When we’re fueled by the fear of what other people think or that gremlin that’s constantly whispering “You’re not good enough” in our ear, it’s tough to show up. We end up hustling for our worthiness rather than standing in it.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>We’re hungry for people who have the courage to say, “I need help” or “I own that mistake” or “I’m not willing to define success simply by my title or income any longer.”</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I walked this very hard path this year and I came to a point of vulnerability – I had worked myself to a standstill fighting for the organisation, for the centre, for my colleagues. I was determined and relentless in showing up … until I couldn’t do it anymore. Until I shed some of the first tears in my career at work and I needed to step aside and show up for my own sanity. Sending an email to the Board and my colleagues saying I needed time to rest and process, and some help to do that was a moment that brought me to my knees... but in a powerful way it brought me back to myself and to my WHY. When I gained some perspective on long walks on the dyke, in my therapists office, in the embrace of my family and friends I found my strength renewed. I found my strength in seeing the work you all do, the way you all show up, day after day. I was humbled and I was grateful. I want to read this well known quote by Theodore Roosevelt and I am putting it up for you to read it as I do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRYq8V7KjuzpkU6DjVu21vYuIBZmox7RsOYWVpAb-Th29Ks6ICp70a5t1LVRzM3t0KDq9Z25jx5e3UteEfSFkPr5gTcyEfVxmgTKZeuNZ2sXo-ZjQqWu8h6Gil2LA9bZgFZh-3MNLhsIg/s1600/Teddy+Rooselvelt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="670" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRYq8V7KjuzpkU6DjVu21vYuIBZmox7RsOYWVpAb-Th29Ks6ICp70a5t1LVRzM3t0KDq9Z25jx5e3UteEfSFkPr5gTcyEfVxmgTKZeuNZ2sXo-ZjQqWu8h6Gil2LA9bZgFZh-3MNLhsIg/s400/Teddy+Rooselvelt.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were all in the arena this year and no doubt 2020 hold arenas for us all but let’s dare greatly together and keep showing up for ourselves, for one another and for the children and families counting on us to do so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>POWER OF HOPE</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Willpower, determination, and strength alone will not help to overcome whatever we are struggling with. Sure, they are important characteristics. However, the key ingredient that makes everything else possible is hope. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope seems so intangible, easy to say but hard to really grasp. “I hope things get better” is a platitude we easily pass on to anyone struggling. And we should offer that because hope is a life preserver thrown into rough seas that we can cling to and I know I did. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In our work there is SO much to HOPE for – it is the powerful driving force of all we do because we hope for the very best for our Educators, for every child and the people attached to that small person, parents, siblings, grandparents, aunties, uncles, godparents, friends… Hope is the pebble thrown into a pond that sends out rings that carry us forward.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am filled – to the very top of my fast greying head – with HOPE for our organisation. We have work to do and such amazing ECE’s to do it and Families who have given us their great trust and support – just imagine what we – TOGETHER - can accomplish. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am with Barbara Kingsolver when she says <i>“The very least you can do in your life is figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof” </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>FINALLY – The POWER OF STORY</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2019 told a story of life in this organisation – but it is only 1 chapter in a 22 chapter book so far. 2020 will tell a new story and so far as we can we will build on all that we have learned in 2019 and write a new story – a hopeful, joyful one that moves us to live into our vision of “Changing the world by honouring childhood”.</span><br />
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Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-46861838238141901752019-06-13T20:47:00.001-07:002019-06-13T20:47:35.867-07:00Shelter In Place<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When you live in an earthquake zone you learn a certain lingo as you prepare for the BIG ONE. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That shaker that will bring the region to its knees - sometime in the future - could be tomorrow or in 100 years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We do drills and count to 60 slowly before emerging from under desks or tables or behind couches. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And then we assess if we can <b>"shelter in place"</b> if the building is safe or if evacuation is needed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Shelter in place" is the best case scenario as we wait out the chaos outside using the emergency rations we have carefully prepared to be self-sufficient for 72 hours... you've done that right? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I digress. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am on stress leave. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That I needed more than 7.5 days likely does not come as a shock to you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So I have been trying to take a few more days. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was going well. I was doing things that made my heart happy - that connected me with people I love - that helped me get perspective. I had hikes and beach walks planned.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And then as I was heading to water my veggies on Tuesday afternoon I made a maneuver I make everyday - a u turn outside my house - but my intentions were misunderstood by the driver behind me (possibly because I didn't signal) who went to overtake as I went to swing around - KABOOM. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's hard to describe that moment of impact if you have never experienced it - and it was right into my driver side. Thoughts swirl and tumble through your head as you try and make sense of what just happened. The other driver was on the other side of his vehicle and fine if a bit shaken up and no doubt disbelieving that his brand-new-first-ever-car was just clobbered. Of course it was in our neighbourhood and we know him. It was my fault - despite all my careful checking and believing the path was safe and I have a fine to prove it :(</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I tried to come out of the fog of shock and started to feel the effects of having ones body hammered by a car - I tried not to throw up and pass out. Fortunately Allan was there in a moment and he handled most of the aftermath for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I ended up at a clinic and have whiplash on the left and some lovely bruises and aches and pains. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bad enough at any moment ...but now... right now...in my world.... it's a struggle to make sense of. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I got back behind the wheel yesterday and boy was that hard and sweat inducing. And I taught my last class last night because that what I do. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHYD3saIxrPVqW3xylehe0JVdqu60FWBLOKa02CO_bADA_ngSCu4c3Km5Z6jkznUJKcDTNCY4lr4J_F-UU8pfBdMyIPNvHoEiIpg0iK4xRiBSaj73xZYA6uxBJa7tTY9kxzuZ6Cd-vHB1/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHYD3saIxrPVqW3xylehe0JVdqu60FWBLOKa02CO_bADA_ngSCu4c3Km5Z6jkznUJKcDTNCY4lr4J_F-UU8pfBdMyIPNvHoEiIpg0iK4xRiBSaj73xZYA6uxBJa7tTY9kxzuZ6Cd-vHB1/s320/unnamed.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But today - today I "sheltered in place" - I needed to stay in bed for a few hours to rest - I actually slept for 2 hours (ok 1h 40 mins) this morning....I lay in bed trying to wake up for another hour. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It felt like an escape - a little white oasis in the storm - I think I could have stayed there all day but I had 10 emails and 4 texts and a work crisis to deal with and a batch of long promised cookies to bake. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is 8:15pm now and I as soon as I hit post on this I am headed back to my bed. It's still bright daylight outside and it's hot and stuffy upstairs but I'd bet my crumpled silver Mazda 5 that I'll be asleep pretty darm soon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And tomorrow I intend to "shelter in place" just as long as the world allows. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">PS: Anyone have a great Car Broker who can save me the pain of new car shopping? </span>Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-26891474973152181972019-05-15T15:44:00.001-07:002019-05-15T15:44:22.698-07:00Belonging<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People speak about time off as being such a great thing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But time off can also mean the absence of routine and structure and for those of us who thrive on those things the loss of those leave gaps in time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The gaps are spaces to breathe and rest, yes, but also to be alone and in ones thoughts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I find this hard. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I cycle back in my thoughts to the trauma of the last 4 months and relive it. Over and over. It is still my last thought as I go to sleep and often creeps into my head early in the morning. Time off doesn't stop that.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGez19Vr4xpa7yWQpRUWVIIQGj3f8FEne3_JdN0mDQ8P_rQhMbu4zmObxGRKWa3bayDW9bdO5zvYruvKTZV_rZyIb6GNTwxsXWcJ2tGzJ2tHyc-hMzjSvso3rwgqvhnkuY5p6sAZBDFfNO/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGez19Vr4xpa7yWQpRUWVIIQGj3f8FEne3_JdN0mDQ8P_rQhMbu4zmObxGRKWa3bayDW9bdO5zvYruvKTZV_rZyIb6GNTwxsXWcJ2tGzJ2tHyc-hMzjSvso3rwgqvhnkuY5p6sAZBDFfNO/s320/unnamed.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Monday I headed out to hike new terrain. I love finding new places. This loop hike seemed perfect thanks to my Hiking guru friend for the suggestion! When I saw the warning of a bear in the area I paused only briefly. This, I thought, is real life practicing of Brave Space, I can do this. Once I stopped jumping at every shadow and saw a few other hikers who appeared uneaten I settled down and enjoyed my hike immensely. Until, that is, I came out in a parking lot I was not expecting - directly across the valley from where I thought I was. Never fear - I have trusty legs - I traversed the valley - no sign of bears and found my car again. It was a lovely morning.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZ_zSMGGyO7hn5cejU5UqxPpeF6MuVOQpoQnI1YB7oidcIdAqdilnUk1XIcX_lbuSg2pce2P5tqUK6rz8ixAjkiR8KnHu1lCTVblIZYMEmeIE5uIvOMgR3hzjgIPlHf6-2zo8pqV4IHHO/s1600/unnamed+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZ_zSMGGyO7hn5cejU5UqxPpeF6MuVOQpoQnI1YB7oidcIdAqdilnUk1XIcX_lbuSg2pce2P5tqUK6rz8ixAjkiR8KnHu1lCTVblIZYMEmeIE5uIvOMgR3hzjgIPlHf6-2zo8pqV4IHHO/s200/unnamed+%25283%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday was not lovely. I rested in bed in the morning, dozing after a terrible sleep the night the night before. I had CBC playing and I half listened half dozed the morning away. But my anxiety was ever present. I got up but I couldn't shake the restlessness. I saw an email I didn't want to see and my heart took another thumping. I went to the gym in hopes of distraction and to stretch my achy legs after my 11km hike. It was good. It is a good place of acceptance and belonging and I couldn't do without it. Without it's people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I knew I needed to do something different - to get up and get out. I woke up with the boys early but had a nap after they left for work. At 9:30am I headed into the village in search of bacon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This village is technically a suburb of the City of Richmond. It's in the SW corner of the island and has a big fishing fleet. It is a quaint area with shops and restaurants - ever changing yet somehow still maintains the village feel. It is a 10 minute walk from my front door. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I went to the iconic Steveston Hotel for breakfast. I was warmly greeted by my server and coffee. Amen. I brought a book to read - I still feel a bit odd eating out alone. I opened the book but, as usual, I was more interested in the various conversations going on at tables around me to really concentrate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Breakfast was exactly as it always is. Simple, hot, tasty. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wandered down to the waterfront and saw the tourists heading onto the whale watching boats. I checked to see if any of the local Spot Prawns were selling but the sign said they would be back at 2pm. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNQYOUnGsw8jNJIXF0tIm0Bg2t3x9J6cnzjAHNNJqHv3hcs9DFNb3cBp5uvDgD74hzW0C31QwSfPiOc1U0086GNuna7qB_YYrzT9NxbU30dJOJfddmtOBQ6zrNTR7KO_K5GvuReM0k3Ns/s1600/unnamed+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNQYOUnGsw8jNJIXF0tIm0Bg2t3x9J6cnzjAHNNJqHv3hcs9DFNb3cBp5uvDgD74hzW0C31QwSfPiOc1U0086GNuna7qB_YYrzT9NxbU30dJOJfddmtOBQ6zrNTR7KO_K5GvuReM0k3Ns/s320/unnamed+%25285%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wandered down towards my favourite village bookstore to get a coffee and that unmistakable and grounding smell of old books. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the way I heard someone call out my name. I had a lovely sidewalk visit with an old friend I don't see often. It was lovely to catch up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got to the book/coffee store whose delightful owner reminded me I had a free coffee on my card and made me a delicious free long americano. As I was walking out I heard someone call my name. I had another lovely chat with a friend also enjoying the book/coffee combination.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I popped into the Sweet Spot bakery to grab a quiche for later and as I stepped back onto the sidewalk I heard someone call my name. Another lovely connection with another old friend and promise to have lunch soon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I walked home I pondered the magic of my village and how just being in it for a brief time had left me feeling uplifted and .... seen. It struck me - what it offered me today, through the beautiful people I bumped into was...belonging. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Belonging is powerful. Being seen is powerful. Hearing your name called out in friendship is powerful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am home, baking cookies, marking assignments and listening to Mumford and Sons. I am off to teach soon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My heart is still bruised and battered and I have a journey still to go but today I am feeling the well being of belonging. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I could not be more grateful.</span><br />
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<br />Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-77939485044113043902019-05-09T22:20:00.003-07:002019-05-09T22:20:34.576-07:00It only takes a spark<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well well well</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been absent from this space for a good while. Although it has never been far from my mind. I </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">have written many posts in my head but have not been able to get them onto the page. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHWxI5bQ6Dqeg5j-gEDvLg4dP5rVZCIm1YVZGYomtrv9hHWkGhIv_VmO9tLjMLw75NT0SpFjep-m-bYsfbqeJQ3wNTe-WiNhLFp9yGMDX1qFQexDTEm8B3Am_d5rJmE17EVySUZyZ0Chr/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1199" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHWxI5bQ6Dqeg5j-gEDvLg4dP5rVZCIm1YVZGYomtrv9hHWkGhIv_VmO9tLjMLw75NT0SpFjep-m-bYsfbqeJQ3wNTe-WiNhLFp9yGMDX1qFQexDTEm8B3Am_d5rJmE17EVySUZyZ0Chr/s320/unnamed.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My head has been a messy place these past few months. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I find myself sitting, in the middle of a Thursday afternoon, on a ferry instead of at my desk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday I sent a note I never imagined sending to my leadership team and board. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And today I am on leave. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have never been on leave for anything other than illness, surgery or vacation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But on Monday I faced the fact, while sitting in my therapists office, that I have reached the end of my personal resources and need a break to heal body, mind and spirit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am burnt out.... or at least the tiny flicker that is still alive is burning dangerously low. But it only takes a spark to get the fire going again and I need to save that spark.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One might expect it is easy to walk away, to take the break. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is not. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is shame and a sense of failure on more than one front. Failure of not having coped better with a traumatic event that happened at work in early January and the terrifying and incredibly hard media / social media fallout, failure to have cared enough for myself to stay the course, failure as a leader...as a partner, a friend, a parent... failure to see where I was headed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That shame and fear kept me at my desk longer than was wise. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And now I am on leave. To make my therapist happy it would be for several weeks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it is for 7.5 days. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a start.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A start of healing. A start of intentional self-care. A start to regaining perspective. A start to regaining my joy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't get here in a day and I won't get out of this in a day. Or 7.5 days but I took the first, very hard, step. I am counting on Brene Brown to be correct in her assessment of vulnerability. I feel very exposed and vulnerable right now. Adrift.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm sailing off to see my girl, my precious girl and have some Mama - Daughter time. That makes my heart so happy. And we'll sail back tomorrow and see our boys and the Byres 4 will be together for 48 hours... a beautiful kick start to my journey back to myself. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSLDsVk7MtXKA0XQKBAWTZLqhMAs0eQFyVKjg6qZJQwctRMEexyXMDHkS9ekckRdhpfe667ABGMoSl9CXm2mueybW_G9xF134tddjaQktb4ZGKHpAH7aycBGViYAuLQM2V0ltZsjgbFTm/s1600/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSLDsVk7MtXKA0XQKBAWTZLqhMAs0eQFyVKjg6qZJQwctRMEexyXMDHkS9ekckRdhpfe667ABGMoSl9CXm2mueybW_G9xF134tddjaQktb4ZGKHpAH7aycBGViYAuLQM2V0ltZsjgbFTm/s320/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As always on hard journeys there is much to be learned - about ourselves, about our tribe, about our capacity to persevere</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and endure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My tribe at home and at work have been steadfast and I am here thanks to them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm ok and I am back in this space to reclaim my voice. To rediscover my love of writing and sharing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you for being here. Please feel no need to respond. This is not for that. It's for moving forward and growing and finding steady ground for my head and heart. </span><br />
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Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-19320456091848318982018-11-25T16:20:00.000-08:002018-11-25T16:20:17.445-08:00Least Likely<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In some North American school year books the Grade 12's have these comments under them...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Most likely to be a supreme court judge"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Most likely to own 100 cats" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Most likely to win an olympic medal" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Most likely to live in a van while travelling the world"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course seeing as I graduated from high school in South Africa I have no idea what might have been written about my future potential.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But this I know...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It would NOT have been "Most likely to be client of the year at a GYM"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But folks... that actually happened. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEykdZhUmEjnp7k1VCvoesOgaoGk8fKjsRm5_KeVuo41maEQ1eass_R_FsIc7BS171LMIWOK5TlLhL0ZoGxow-y_PxHXyaWC_udi2kuXpGgs8unk5TBDOqJFf0chobBTkho7ADvphrb6r/s1600/IMG_3513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEykdZhUmEjnp7k1VCvoesOgaoGk8fKjsRm5_KeVuo41maEQ1eass_R_FsIc7BS171LMIWOK5TlLhL0ZoGxow-y_PxHXyaWC_udi2kuXpGgs8unk5TBDOqJFf0chobBTkho7ADvphrb6r/s320/IMG_3513.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's lots that is amazing about about that but for me the most amazing part is that I do not look like a client of the year at a gym. But the remarkable thing is that this gym is not like other gyms in many important ways. And one way in which it is remarkable is that is sees people for who they are. They see me, a still roly-poly middled, slightly uncoordinated and still physically flawed woman as strong (oh SO much stronger than when I started), determined (busting through barriers and constraints I had believed were unmovable) and fit (or fitter at least). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Am I in single digits clothe sizes - nope. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are there still bits that jiggle more than they should - you betcha</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Any chance I could be featured in "Fitness Weekly"? - hahahahahaha</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And while my body is changing - sloooowly but surely - the bigger win has been my mental health. And much of that came from acceptance and encouragement from coaches who quietly gave / give me modifications to accommodate my gimpy arm and noticed when I could do things I hadn't previously been able to do and who high five me at the end of every class no matter how my performance was. But also from other people we have met at the dojo who are also so encouraging, who crack the odd joke in the middle of hard set, who roll their eyes in solidarity at something we hate doing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In truth I feel a bit mortified that a very average person like me was given this award - but I am also proud that I did actually just keep showing up even when it felt like my whole body hurt, even when the "results" seemed so slow in coming and I was so discouraged. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNje4AEgAu76psGighyphenhyphenEqcka82evXJ1i1urzlZc7BNi1BjVphBXBQ4wBewpx_wsExrm0Ha-HTRl3PAIGVHd0CZ49NBUI2jO2Acc54u0jDM3uheSqPboG1Cq43pstu9asfJzOD_meGyLxle/s1600/IMG_3520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNje4AEgAu76psGighyphenhyphenEqcka82evXJ1i1urzlZc7BNi1BjVphBXBQ4wBewpx_wsExrm0Ha-HTRl3PAIGVHd0CZ49NBUI2jO2Acc54u0jDM3uheSqPboG1Cq43pstu9asfJzOD_meGyLxle/s320/IMG_3520.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhibit A - post party brekkie </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love good food too much to ever attain a 00 label in a pair of jeans. And if I am honest that isn't on the cards anyway. Because I am not it for that. I am in it to be the very best version of myself - with all my flaws and scars - physically and mentally. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really don't have the words to say how totally shocked I was last night and how much it actually means to me to be seen and I most certainly wouldn't have got that plaque with my name on without a great number of people. My sweetie Allan has been so supportive and honestly if he wasn't as invested in this gym as me I am not sure how long I would have stuck it out - the fact that we go together a couple of times a week, as our schedules allow, has been a sweet addition to our empty-nest life. My kiddo's come to the gym when they are home and they are such amazing cheerleaders to this Mama. My parents, my usual suspects, my colleagues and friends have all been encouraging and noticed even the small changes. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUDEhHquDtgDka6R6B9XtqJD1Dq_3coVaux8vJUPT5yiagKRS6fit9zJsYnowPX2G6uRuXZ-Y4q4m-gRYCLGA600BZKMefXDDt76PRIHAZ_P5sJC56sQPVLqNwtVxc80phfBpY2mxgRQX/s1600/IMG_3518+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="688" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUDEhHquDtgDka6R6B9XtqJD1Dq_3coVaux8vJUPT5yiagKRS6fit9zJsYnowPX2G6uRuXZ-Y4q4m-gRYCLGA600BZKMefXDDt76PRIHAZ_P5sJC56sQPVLqNwtVxc80phfBpY2mxgRQX/s320/IMG_3518+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty sure this was his expression when I signed up LOL</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Maki who owns and leads the gym is a visionary and a heck of a hard worker. He is a real person who makes his space and programs accessible and connects with his clients. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His team of coaches are THE BEST and honestly they are the real reason any of us have any success and enjoy the workouts week after week. I am so indebted to them for their kindness and professionalism and enthusiasm. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpjNqBVisBYw4-o6Zd8p-VpX2747TSbeVG3WbGz8Fpb9hHYzCeHX5hC59coaCdQ3Wkj5bL_75lyxx6ccK8mHQk6N5HtfSWiRYg6ME-tFSCwQOJMNVYgpRrQf4VNYLRgLv5pPp0hrf1Wok/s1600/IMG_3514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpjNqBVisBYw4-o6Zd8p-VpX2747TSbeVG3WbGz8Fpb9hHYzCeHX5hC59coaCdQ3Wkj5bL_75lyxx6ccK8mHQk6N5HtfSWiRYg6ME-tFSCwQOJMNVYgpRrQf4VNYLRgLv5pPp0hrf1Wok/s320/IMG_3514.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A+ Coaches (in 70's party clothes!)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok ok this oscar-worthy thank you is nearly over - I hear the music starting to play - but one more thing....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't ever count yourself out of anything - if it's fitness - get moving today and find your tribe - but if it's something else - get after it - find the motivation to start that thing - or find the people who can help you start - </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but start - and hang in there - You have what it takes to be the best version of yourself and live your best life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See you on the journey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-66385665288669951242018-11-16T20:54:00.002-08:002018-11-16T20:54:30.017-08:00As It Happens<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We came home from the gym tonight - Friday at last - a big day, a tough week DONE. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I readied dinner and Allan searched for a playlist and we popped a Prosecco. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then we remembered.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We remembered we needed to listen to something.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allan hooked up his phone to the speakers and dialed us in to CBC Radio just before 6:30pm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As we used to do every single night long, long ago.... in our first apartment in this new land we had arrived in... trying to find our place, our identity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Trying to understand what it was to be Canadian. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a few months in my parents basement we managed to get in to a housing co-op and we spent what little money we had on essentials - like a bed and a couch . We bought this fantastic blue check ikea couch - man we loved that couch - it lived on in at least 2 friends apartments after we moved and replaced it.... but I think Allan and I miss it to this day....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway...there was no money left for a TV that's for sure. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKh8v4YzOUBa6-I_N-vIFsNX9uKxsXmCD8ErOipv4q9cr5ivdgNdg2iHnUaIx2JoHAHLDa3bijY7xlXex8lE9hIsxBOEgJ4eECxFCaTfKgrhLVrBG8J5O3bOR6r3qgHyAi72MXi4bu0qu/s1600/radio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKh8v4YzOUBa6-I_N-vIFsNX9uKxsXmCD8ErOipv4q9cr5ivdgNdg2iHnUaIx2JoHAHLDa3bijY7xlXex8lE9hIsxBOEgJ4eECxFCaTfKgrhLVrBG8J5O3bOR6r3qgHyAi72MXi4bu0qu/s320/radio.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But we had a radio.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So we'd come home from our jobs and as we made and ate dinner we would listen to CBC. The "World at 6" followed by "As It Happens" followed by "Gzowski in the evening"......and we learned Canada as we listened. We laughed, we puzzled, we raged, we teared up as we heard story after story after story from here and around the world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The day dismayed friends left a portable TV at our door we found ourselves very torn. And notwithstanding the giant TV that hangs on a wall of our house now, we have remained devoted to CBC. It wakes us up every morning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight "As It Happens" celebrated 50 years of broadcasting. And we ate our dinner and then moved to our coordinated-couches-not-from-IKEA, and we listened. We did admirably well in the AIH trivia quiz and we laughed and I teared up at a listeners story of what AIH means to her. We listened to old stories and new ones and we felt that same connection to this land, this place, these people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In these days of "fake news" and media manipulation, a publicly funded broadcaster is a precious thing and I think we will forever listen to CBC at some point each day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We've come a long way since that blue checkered couch that we spent days and nights on with our tiny babies who are now university students. The Killers are now blaring, the brown lab that weaseled his way into our lives is cuddled up with Allan and we have our devices out checking in on our worlds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have changed so much but our gratitude at being able to live here in Canada, in British Columbia is deep and abiding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We owe so much to so many who have befriended us, helped us, been our tribe, our village... and tonight we were reminded of that through the airwaves and the power of story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-50133771040382304442018-10-28T14:33:00.000-07:002018-10-28T18:10:58.881-07:00Adventuring<div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After a big trip or life event it sometimes feels like getting back into routine is pretty darn boring. But before my mother admonishes me that "only the boring are bored" I'll say this - life / routine can seem much less exciting than a trip, even a small trip.. but one can approach life / work / routine with a certain expectancy that there is excitement and adventure in the everyday. For me this is a choice I have to make - I'm not going on big trips on a regular basis and I cannot afford to be waiting around for an adventure to come by to make me happy / excited - so in the choice/spirit of finding adventure in the ordinary - this new school year is unfolding with lots of new adventures in this household.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Allan's job continues to surprise him with twists and turns and trips as he navigates, and creates, his new path. It's exhilarating and unsettling at the very same time and he is learning to live life not dictated by the bell, meeting lots of new people and forging alliances and developing connections as he goes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He was recently away at a conference for 5 days which is the longest I have been home alone with no kids - just me the dog - a new adventure for me. It took a little getting used to, especially getting up to make my own tea in the morning but I muddled through.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This week I was off on an adventure. I have been thinking about and dreaming of a different model of professional learning for Early Childhood Educators that I want to lead. I could have forged ahead alone, with just my organisation, but I was compelled to stretch my tent and include some others to widen our reach. It took a little courage to head south for 2 nights with people who I didn't necessarily know very well and who didn't all know each other. But as they say - birds of a feather...and so it took very little time for us to all be getting along very well. We were joined in our discussions and planning by our mentor/author/shero/friend and we accomplished a huge about of work in a day together that will play out over the next 12-15 months. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is such a privilege to have an idea / dream and see it take on shape and substance - a great lesson to me to invite in other perspectives and ideas and to stay in the process as we worked it all out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And we had a lot of fun along the way - many laughs, quite a few tears, a painful charcoal face mask and rather too many glasses of wine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have somehow signed up for another warrior challenge / adventure at our gym but we have both had injuries lately so we are not excelling this time around... but there are a few weeks still to go and I am feeling strong again. Allan had a back MRI and needs a little rehab adventure before he is back to full strength. So we will warrior on as far as our bodies comply and so far they haven't asked us to do 500 pushups #grateful</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The children adventure on at their respective universities and in their busy out-of-school lives with maturity and good humour. I miss them like crazy but I am super proud of them as they find their way in the world. I'll be delighted when they are at home at the same time for a few days over Christmas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And Spanner is perhaps the less adventuring of us all now staying home instead of going to school... he has a friend who visits him in the middle of each day but if I was a dog psychologist I might have diagnosed him with mild depression. We try and make up for it with lots of cuddles and walks when we are home but I think he misses all the kids. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So there you have it - an ordinary / adventure update of sorts - as this gorgeous October comes to an end, the snow geese have returned as has the rain and the leaves are falling faster than we can rake them up! Soon the festive season will be upon us and we'll do our best to focus on Hope, Joy and Love as the world around us often seems devoid of any. </span></div>
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Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-24707594817008328382018-10-02T19:17:00.000-07:002018-10-02T19:17:07.866-07:00On chickens and their hatching<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am a "don't count your chickens before they hatch" kinda person.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's not pessimism exactly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's more about self preservation - waiting until a thing is FOR SURE before allowing those emotions to flow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today they flowed... right out of my eyes as it turns out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today I received a big brown box full of books I ordered. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A book written by two of the leading lights in the field of Early Childhood Education in North America who have inspired and mentored me over a couple of decades now. I truly see them as two of the biggest, deepest thinkers in the type of early childhood practice we aspire to provide. They are multi-published authors, world travellers and speakers, sheroes of the field!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYdHxxWbwmhlaRu3IU_x_M6KPU898CbGfrCO4IHlJp3DaK_spcswBIT7FO8ZekWpyBZ0KPoHbwEMobsPufChsvvPTwYlMvgyBW1TVCodKqdsk-q_3ZN77nA4XulTUinYf6FSWkaClFPRy/s1600/IMG_2693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYdHxxWbwmhlaRu3IU_x_M6KPU898CbGfrCO4IHlJp3DaK_spcswBIT7FO8ZekWpyBZ0KPoHbwEMobsPufChsvvPTwYlMvgyBW1TVCodKqdsk-q_3ZN77nA4XulTUinYf6FSWkaClFPRy/s200/IMG_2693.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When they asked me if I would tell the story of our organisation ... in their book... I was floored. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Me? Us? As we muddle through imperfectly? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Their YES was emphatic. Their reasoning humbling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was clear I would collaborate with my colleagues to tell our story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We sat in my living room one day and started to write. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Boy was it daunting and hard. What to include, what to leave out... we second guessed every sentence and eventually we realised we had to send it off to be read by two accomplished writers and published authors and we took a deeeeeeep breath and hit send. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'd love to tell you that was it - they just loved it and voila we were published.... but that was not to be. As we expected they had lots of questions, suggestions and guidance for us. It was a total joy to have writing meetings via skype with them both - we learned SO much and they were beyond gracious and encouraging.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Finally we submitted the FINAL draft and ..... nothing...... for months.... as the editors took over and the book designers weighed in etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So we waited. Quietly - only telling our nearest and dearest - still somehow wondering if we'd make the final cut.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well... we did... and today is a very good day. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizmPttouoNW4vhkfF4TbUfVhzqvN5hFIqVaudKM0ZVou4vOpg9mYcaY1YRQfu2jY4UUecMm13fMkbxIEjuoiM8auJ4oFAFq64vVH8OlMui7XisBqSES9J-ebhzSfFzoC6m7amcJiLuL1u/s1600/56019236367__B90CC148-BD72-433D-A260-F773EDEF6CD8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizmPttouoNW4vhkfF4TbUfVhzqvN5hFIqVaudKM0ZVou4vOpg9mYcaY1YRQfu2jY4UUecMm13fMkbxIEjuoiM8auJ4oFAFq64vVH8OlMui7XisBqSES9J-ebhzSfFzoC6m7amcJiLuL1u/s320/56019236367__B90CC148-BD72-433D-A260-F773EDEF6CD8.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm proud of this little organization - I was the 9th staff member when I started part time in 1999. Today we are 62 staff, 6 locations, serving over 250 families. It has been such a rich journey of learning and failing and rising and refusing to concede and not counting chickens. My team is incredible and passionate and brave and through hard days and tough times we have held on to our vision and values and our relentless belief in JOY and offered educators and children a rich, engaging environment to learn and grow in. I'm so lucky to lead them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today is a gift and an ode to perseverance and community and the pursuit of excellence in all circumstances.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's to chickens that hatch!</span><br />
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<br />Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-39898638644131494362018-09-09T19:43:00.002-07:002018-09-09T19:45:37.430-07:00Making the Most<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I come from a long line of women on my maternal side who are experts at Making the Most of any situation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My Irish Grandmother found herself in the colonies (Cape Town) with 4 children and a husband who worked 24/7 in their printing business. While I am sure she, at times, was frazzled, money was tight, the kids annoying...she might have wished Grandpa was at home on Sundays to give her a hand. What we do know is that she Made the Most of the situation and packed up a picnic and those 4 kiddos and headed to the printing house. In what little time and resources they had they made the most of a Sunday together as a family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we first came to Canada and jobs and funds were tight and taking vacations seemed a long ways off and Sundays were long without our friends....My Mom (half irish if you're following the lineage) would round us up on a Sunday afternoon and take us all on a "cruise".... we'd walk onto a BC Ferry and sail through the islands to Swartz Bay - stay on the ferry when everyone else disembarked - and then eat dinner as the sun set as we sailed back. It was a vacation and adventure and it certainly Made the Most of a quiet Sunday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today we were feeling the post vacation blues. The first week back kicked our butts as we expected but there were some curve balls we didn't anticipate. And though it was truly wonderful to see our boy yesterday it was a long day for us just-barely-over-jet-lag folks. And this morning it was grey and rainy and there is a distinct Fall chill in the air. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I wandered around Save-On doing the groceries, giving myself a talking to about gratitude and expectations and sucking-it-up...I had an idea to Make the Most of today. When I came home we spent a couple hour cooking, meal prepping and baking and then I set the table for lunch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's pretty clear we're not in Paris-in-the-Summer anymore but we can Make the Most of what we <b>do</b> have - which today was bread, cheese, meat and a bottle of French red wine - throw in a jaunty tablecloth and some candles and voila! Parisienne lunch is Steveston.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We can't live in Paris-in-the-Summer all the time or else when we had Paris-in-the-summer it would not be as special as it was... but we can Make the Most of the moments we do have. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks to Granny Nora and my Mama for inspiring me and helping me remember .........</span><br />
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Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-13789841068563943662018-09-03T19:33:00.000-07:002018-09-03T19:33:07.119-07:00What to say?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel I should say something. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Something about our trip, about the summer, about how we are...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I have been stalling</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because I don't know what to say</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because I don't know what you want to hear </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because "How was your trip?" is an unanswerable question</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which day, which moment, which meal, which interaction, which heartbreak, which joy, which crazy moment?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am still processing it all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Facebook version is visible for anyone to see - it was SO amazing to see so many beautiful people and places and things...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To breathe different air, smell different smells, hear crazy bird calls and incessantly barking dogs, to eat so many different or new or forgotten foods, to gaze on landscapes that were totally familiar and quite foreign, to hear language with accents, to walk old paths and new ones...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To see Allan's Dad so diminished by dementia. Shocking. Deeply sad. Confusing to recalibrate our relationship to this new version of him. To see the impact on both his parents. To feel so impotent to be so far away and not be able to help - to do something - or just be there longer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To meet old friends who lived important years with us and hold parts of our history we seldom even acknowledge in these present years - so fun and grounding and connecting and somehow a little bit unsettling too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our beloved country so much itself and yet so utterly changed at the very same time. Beautiful but broken. So inspiring to know people who are working for a new and better day, family and friends living life and managing in trying and hard circumstances. But it is hard to see a bright new day on the horizon. it seems a future dulled by corruption and poverty and broken promises and yet a spirit of bloody minded optimism. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so grateful to all those who helped us see and understand a little better. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We loved our travels as a family, we laughed and we walked and we ate and we ate and we took insta-worthy photos and we listened to stories and we drank coffee and wine and beer, and we shopped and hiked and we loved being together. Our kids are amazing, flexible, fun travellers! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We loved being with our Byres family - having adventures together and creating new memories (Kid Sandwich I'm looking at you!) - eating and cooking and laughing together. Telling stories of our past and remembering together (and the old family photo albums - yikes)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZouX01NU87Gcoo4dYq2U90ECv9lMzqRkSX5kwslllsu7nO9IOYryIQUIGzRQ6mMEtuG4waZuceUdEDQYLxMJuYjz3iOtbf61QLxBqS2RtGXhMrhbfsq76lW82OrLbRkNGJdD4yf-_eWn/s1600/unnamed+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZouX01NU87Gcoo4dYq2U90ECv9lMzqRkSX5kwslllsu7nO9IOYryIQUIGzRQ6mMEtuG4waZuceUdEDQYLxMJuYjz3iOtbf61QLxBqS2RtGXhMrhbfsq76lW82OrLbRkNGJdD4yf-_eWn/s320/unnamed+%25284%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then Allan and I had Paris. A time to walk (50kms!!!!) and marvel and regroup and process and talk and eat and drink and walk some more. We needed it more than we knew. And we miss it more than we can say.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJB73QUkIHg8URKwvCOuvrmEVV8BNYGwsC3m9o7u6kKxz7BIKR1EQcB6dkveHHFDEqx5d4m0_OfWUIMGNFVmeGEeD0SKc4U83yrhpugSMPeDaBW-sA3NoPu99gwzfTK7ymyytJvbIpXMlS/s1600/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJB73QUkIHg8URKwvCOuvrmEVV8BNYGwsC3m9o7u6kKxz7BIKR1EQcB6dkveHHFDEqx5d4m0_OfWUIMGNFVmeGEeD0SKc4U83yrhpugSMPeDaBW-sA3NoPu99gwzfTK7ymyytJvbIpXMlS/s320/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so here we are - the night before the start of a new year. The kids are already in their new places - Lindsay - a new house with friends and in her 4th year. David an RA at UBCO and into his 2nd year. A new job for Allan and a new reality for Spanner and me...well...same job but maybe some new directions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summer 2018 was incredible - so many highlights - so much to be utterly grateful for and so much I need to still process. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight I feel completely grateful for where I have been and for where I am sitting right now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xoxo</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PS - if you do have any specific questions shoot me an email and I will try and answer.</span><br />
<br />Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-13617290971059172392018-07-23T15:34:00.001-07:002018-07-23T15:34:52.430-07:00Domino effect<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you give a man a workshop / classroom for a decade or two</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He will fill it with...projects. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many projects.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some out of wood, some robotic, some electronic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He will also use this classroom / workshop to house his collections</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Star wars and lego collections - to name but two.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So when the man trades the classroom/workshop for a desk job in a shared office ... one has a problem.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A space problem. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is a "man house" at home but when the man has more than one hobby...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCVaSiqLHxPsOO9L4vmwa9hkLYX5NU5OFiRHFYiJ-arJB-4Z8vb0LF-3TSXul2coQMHluOy8xd0raX7B6SouZsq-s2tu0A0qOOIXzblAcKTUsIWuCX0Y0OM_L-Rbd3torqfyf9hBGZu0M/s1600/IMG_0392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCVaSiqLHxPsOO9L4vmwa9hkLYX5NU5OFiRHFYiJ-arJB-4Z8vb0LF-3TSXul2coQMHluOy8xd0raX7B6SouZsq-s2tu0A0qOOIXzblAcKTUsIWuCX0Y0OM_L-Rbd3torqfyf9hBGZu0M/s320/IMG_0392.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like carving and building and fly tying and kayaking... then one has a very full man house... before the collections and projects even arrive.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiox8eBM7NCwlVAphBWpDFBQeWGJmCrmI__SklC7TEy8UvHH9vVS3ymO17Df7Bk5-1VL_amusR5zGKyn03xEJQ23IGSJeWTnMS7D_9HyzlfI7Yj5mAayzkIhU8JkijYLcUkI47gOwUeGyzE/s1600/IMG_0393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiox8eBM7NCwlVAphBWpDFBQeWGJmCrmI__SklC7TEy8UvHH9vVS3ymO17Df7Bk5-1VL_amusR5zGKyn03xEJQ23IGSJeWTnMS7D_9HyzlfI7Yj5mAayzkIhU8JkijYLcUkI47gOwUeGyzE/s320/IMG_0393.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you have a main house with a decreasing number of residents and a man house with a shocking increase in "inhabitants" then ... well.... you see where this is going....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The dominoes started falling on Saturday as the sheer volume of Allan's personal teaching materials that have to be moved became evident. And as the space in the man house was surveyed it became clear - something had to go. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the fly tying station got bumped from the man house to the main house family room. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Only the desk did not fit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So it got bumped to the backyard for donation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The house was surveyed for other suitable options and the desk in the master bedroom got bumped downstairs to become the fly tying station. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the 1990's scrapbooking materials in the upstairs desk had to go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so by the end of the weekend the man house is slightly more ready to receive the contents of the classroom/workshop, the family room is now ready for the fisherman to tie flies AND watch TV AND chat to the wife who will not be scrapbooking. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwfp0INKvLBzmjGhoJe-ch-EwQkrSwCPFs8T2bl4vcy3HalMGnj3DXUI19hvZGmdpeivQ8wft1dUwqA7ZWQlSw0u8zmwxVKA3uwg5KyyMd_D0k2Ql00eW53WuJ-kSv3xrCi6VTG_XHLeg/s1600/IMG_0391+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="510" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwfp0INKvLBzmjGhoJe-ch-EwQkrSwCPFs8T2bl4vcy3HalMGnj3DXUI19hvZGmdpeivQ8wft1dUwqA7ZWQlSw0u8zmwxVKA3uwg5KyyMd_D0k2Ql00eW53WuJ-kSv3xrCi6VTG_XHLeg/s320/IMG_0391+%25281%2529.jpg" width="183" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Apart from rearranging our house and the man house, overhauling workshop Al's wardrobe, figuring out dog duties as well as new work and workout schedules - the dominoes should stop falling soon enough, r</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ight? </span></div>
Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-20235929210211645302018-07-11T21:16:00.002-07:002018-07-11T21:16:39.364-07:00GAGOTT Day<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I took the day off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And how sweet it was - it sure has been a long stretch of full , full days. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I spent most of the day in front of the computer anyway. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No, no, don't panic... I didn't "work" on my day off but today was GAGOTT Day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Get A Grip On The Trip Day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allan and I set aside today to focus on getting 4 Adults across 3 continents, 3 destinations, and maaaany flights and having a spectacular time while doing it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So we started with breakfast in the village - as one does. Focus without bacon? I don't think so!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDtucrBiOA0KJQTpBr92FOf-tAC748sxhJ5O1sN7xwtAiiPJUPURL6-dSp2zUKxqEGuQF6hg-d-LPIDva8gtTwDys8_2RuRyXlh0K8O5KB2POCC1fe7EqeraKxwebuWU7G79WahgTp_YO/s1600/IMG_0233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDtucrBiOA0KJQTpBr92FOf-tAC748sxhJ5O1sN7xwtAiiPJUPURL6-dSp2zUKxqEGuQF6hg-d-LPIDva8gtTwDys8_2RuRyXlh0K8O5KB2POCC1fe7EqeraKxwebuWU7G79WahgTp_YO/s320/IMG_0233.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLArD5MUooB4OslVHyMAECMIfb3eMkMVb5QZdHOr2I1vPD6ydl0tWrgMXft1NOYXopC7ZyzD1Iy4pACNWV1yAv8Gea3iNnrAfwjtc-3gMo5xPAtmq0j6mOS4LF_ZT97Eptvl_REaPenno3/s1600/IMG_0234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLArD5MUooB4OslVHyMAECMIfb3eMkMVb5QZdHOr2I1vPD6ydl0tWrgMXft1NOYXopC7ZyzD1Iy4pACNWV1yAv8Gea3iNnrAfwjtc-3gMo5xPAtmq0j6mOS4LF_ZT97Eptvl_REaPenno3/s320/IMG_0234.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And coffee - lots of coffee - of course!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then we came home and sat on the sunny and warm patio and made lists and delegated research and thought through a bunch of logistics and supplies and connections etc...</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEbZ_q6pANlbtoH8AY5p0QllCHMxBvlzdRWHUq-HaZcqCz5CvTU1dL0Ob9MjtUtQ_bnBjnLxZ0DxrtWgyRdv_bJTA5i0-53wCBvhTGB8BZmSIiqZzLPn06O3Y6T0v_jvVNgJAa22fftbq/s1600/IMG_0236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEbZ_q6pANlbtoH8AY5p0QllCHMxBvlzdRWHUq-HaZcqCz5CvTU1dL0Ob9MjtUtQ_bnBjnLxZ0DxrtWgyRdv_bJTA5i0-53wCBvhTGB8BZmSIiqZzLPn06O3Y6T0v_jvVNgJAa22fftbq/s320/IMG_0236.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allan appropriately attired<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then we moved into our "office" and hit the computers. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKful1KBHW7hb-4Nh3B9IuJSu2pu5z-fD8YyBMaHNUIG_WLoXWKyRihpLxnXkf9K-NUy2iWQHwsourTlQuvy_3_QBEPRPrWvOJxRs0nx4W6Q_mYmrXmlyfmbovhP9VPJJcNFpymqz4cGqY/s1600/IMG_0240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKful1KBHW7hb-4Nh3B9IuJSu2pu5z-fD8YyBMaHNUIG_WLoXWKyRihpLxnXkf9K-NUy2iWQHwsourTlQuvy_3_QBEPRPrWvOJxRs0nx4W6Q_mYmrXmlyfmbovhP9VPJJcNFpymqz4cGqY/s320/IMG_0240.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was SO FUN!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I often do this part of trip planning on my own but it was great to have a partner in crime as we trolled our way through travel websites figuring out metro passes, wineries to dine at, beaches to surf, tours we might want to take, places not to miss and I even found our long ago booked hotel in Paris was having a sale and I got a better rate! More croissants en cafe for moi! Allan spoke in a ridiculous french accent while reading websites and we poured over maps. I "chatted" with some lovely ladies I went to high school with and made plans for a reunion in our home town (the reunion hostess lives 4 doors from Allan's sisters house where we are staying - CRAZY!). We figured out how to wire money to SA to cover all the things my sister-in-law Wendy has booked for us (even a fly fishing excursion which just shows how much she loves that brother of hers!) - for which we are so so grateful!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We ordered some gifts for family and friends and did a little travel retail ourselves - funny how that happens but yay I now have those dorky looking noise cancelling earphones for the plane (all in pursuit of some of the 44 hours we will be on planes to be ones spent sleeping!!!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We didn't get it all done but we made a huge dent in the TO DO lists and we chatted and dreamed and laughed as we did it - with more coffee and possibly a wee bit of chocolate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were on such a roll we nearly missed the gym... but we managed to get out the door in time! Phew. We are pre-burning calories for all the food we will be eating in August - that's how that works right? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Such a great day off and I'll rest a little easier tonight feeling a little more on top of the #Byres4ontour2018 </span><br />
<br />Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-28424518371774501962018-07-02T21:24:00.002-07:002018-07-02T21:24:16.518-07:00Catching my breath<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My happy place is where my people are around me</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My happy days are busy ones</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And boy oh boy have I had a lot of happy, happy days lately.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">June was it's usual blur but for unusual reasons and when the first little person walks through the doors of Gardens Children's Centre tomorrow morning all that blur will have it's very happy and satisfied fulfillment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And apart from work, my personal life was very busy too and contained some pretty hard personal moments I had to dig deep to find the energy and grace to face and then keep on going.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Quite suddenly at 1pm today I found myself home...alone...and likely to be that way for the remainder of the day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And I took a deep breath, put on a load of laundry and cracked open my laptop. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had a solid couple of hours to catch up on email correspondence, write a report, review my calendar, review a proposal I need to complete this week. It felt so good to work away at the list in my head that has been popping into my late night thoughts. Every now and then a brown lab would come over and rest his head on my thigh and look up at me with his big brown six year old eyes just to prove that when one has a dog one is never really alone. I really do appreciate his presence in my life and in our home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And as I flipped the laundry, made the bed with fresh, new linen, cleaned the bathroom, swept the hallway I felt my chest expanding, the air filling more and more of my lungs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I went to water my veggies, trying to save my tomato bushes from the ravages of the windstorm last night, smelling the warm earth and the water and the plants, listening to the chatter but feeling pleasantly detached from it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After some groceries I came home and with only myself to feed, the sun warm on the patio and wind having died right down I sat down to dinner with just my thoughts and feelings. No agenda, no conversation, no expectations, no obligations (and only a tiny bit of guilt for the lack of veggies on my plate). The sun was shining through the hanging basket and leaned back in my chair and breathed deeply. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkLF7eMBZHXYc9IyvYj3Vb5SD8wGuSDHQCCWPjAeyp36JrDghKHnWpowca-smT_g_ARa4H2VLtCHJWz1jHt7VkFVK3Sj3psl8UgXQEhTHYMjyqs9DI0rIi0eYhzP6z1OJZeOKmq8tZoeC/s1600/IMG_0130+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkLF7eMBZHXYc9IyvYj3Vb5SD8wGuSDHQCCWPjAeyp36JrDghKHnWpowca-smT_g_ARa4H2VLtCHJWz1jHt7VkFVK3Sj3psl8UgXQEhTHYMjyqs9DI0rIi0eYhzP6z1OJZeOKmq8tZoeC/s320/IMG_0130+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvn1Pt5NFaywiS8yJZZGNCX-rrKltf86VlnRv6iQXyOIAeDC3_bcNtILA-Od6zE2vUFcXRZ-FVvq-VuZypl2obSVKT5wj6EAgQF_IQgGFgtWyXLVhjW9SiDmcCUeRMDCUW9IoTpVOBcbj/s1600/IMG_0129+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvn1Pt5NFaywiS8yJZZGNCX-rrKltf86VlnRv6iQXyOIAeDC3_bcNtILA-Od6zE2vUFcXRZ-FVvq-VuZypl2obSVKT5wj6EAgQF_IQgGFgtWyXLVhjW9SiDmcCUeRMDCUW9IoTpVOBcbj/s320/IMG_0129+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Having missed the gym this morning I decided a long walk was in order and I took myself and my thought bubble to my beloved dyke - dappled sunlight warm on my skin, the tiny breeze cool and welcome, the smell of BBQ's, the odd Canada flag still flapping on a fence, flowers, dogs, voices, little puffs of dust as I walked along.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwIB8hj50Qs2PoqPdJdS3L3jq1yZXBI4C8JlmdX5HRJjJAod4GDPo3N0p_WnOIXiSx0j7DSuylI_5VtQ1wm3hOOmtcJn58muWj2cmkbOJMM0nwD6a2WR3lx49sNH8qfUKPbpZnhsJcens/s1600/IMG_0133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwIB8hj50Qs2PoqPdJdS3L3jq1yZXBI4C8JlmdX5HRJjJAod4GDPo3N0p_WnOIXiSx0j7DSuylI_5VtQ1wm3hOOmtcJn58muWj2cmkbOJMM0nwD6a2WR3lx49sNH8qfUKPbpZnhsJcens/s320/IMG_0133.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And so these hours come to an end as my boy is headed home from his day at the beach with friends - I am sure he'll be full of all the happenings and we'll chat until it's dark out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And I will crawl into my fresh sheets tonight missing fisherman Al but feeling like I can do July.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My breath is caught, my head is up and my heart is ready. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-82210465492208202112018-06-21T12:27:00.000-07:002018-06-21T12:27:04.509-07:00Licensed<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think that after a stressful event there are two ways to react: </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A happy dance, energized and exultant one whoops it up</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">weak-kneed, shaky, teary with relief one sinks into a chair </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was the latter today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6 years ago I stood in the shell of a decrepit old castle with a good few inches of bird (and other) poop on the floor and wondered if I (and others) must be mad to think children would one day play safely in this space. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBVadTzQEgDNMb3ie3GSPndzpcL0PK9c1tFD6AkIrap4OML_6UtXd6vNdDSfxtsUqKe8AuxrfhGTSQE6gTw0qidV6XlsRZRx4pzkZjA-_KqA_K2Nv-niLwpZ8bIiDBM42RCl6Qn1N0aUh/s1600/IMG_5490.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBVadTzQEgDNMb3ie3GSPndzpcL0PK9c1tFD6AkIrap4OML_6UtXd6vNdDSfxtsUqKe8AuxrfhGTSQE6gTw0qidV6XlsRZRx4pzkZjA-_KqA_K2Nv-niLwpZ8bIiDBM42RCl6Qn1N0aUh/s320/IMG_5490.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been a long journey, with many setbacks and obstacles. This is the only project I actually walked out on in frustration and anger when things were not going in a direction that was respectiful of the children who would one day occupy the space. I believe I packed up my stuff, as the room looked on in silence, and said something like "I wouldn't put horses on that playground let alone children. When you decide to offer a space that is worthy of young children feel free to call me but this is not it". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Someone called it a "power play" but is was my moment of "enough". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These spaces are created for children and families and Educators but they are a piece of a much larger political and social agenda. It can be tough to navigate and as merely the tennant we can get sidelined and squeezed out. But we held the line for the children. We always do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All those busy days, those days of discussions on flooring and lighting and the size of storage rooms, the height of windows and so much more (the discussion on the height to toilets is 15 emails long alone!)... they... are...over! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today we had our final inspection in order to be granted a license to operate Gardens Children's Centre (notwithstanding the fact we have spent 50k, hired 9 staff and enrolled 40 families already) and we PASSED with flying colours. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I sat down, weak-kneed and teary after I high-fived my colleague. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am deeply grateful for all the people over all the years who stepped up to make this place the beauty it is today. If ever it took a village, this one took a city, a developer, a non-profit and a ton of hours of work and thought and commitment to get us over the finish line. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsNbhg3jeO2jllFPbm1gSplRKeTsJDadWZaTUl1ql-pywjCnLEUgm1GsP-NfVaZaDG6f2kd7O0ut8FjMNH2PD2BH7Wnym12P_003oM4W-7ubX-5xdpn_qLMDcr5iSlt8ZRy9OLlevBQPc/s1600/IMG_5565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1598" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsNbhg3jeO2jllFPbm1gSplRKeTsJDadWZaTUl1ql-pywjCnLEUgm1GsP-NfVaZaDG6f2kd7O0ut8FjMNH2PD2BH7Wnym12P_003oM4W-7ubX-5xdpn_qLMDcr5iSlt8ZRy9OLlevBQPc/s320/IMG_5565.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have loved being in the castle for the last couple weeks (often on my own just taking it all in - reminiscing on the journey) but my time of start-up is coming to an end soon and I will be going back to my regular desk and the laughter, tears and energy of the smallest citizens will be the soundtrack here of living their lives alongside our excellent educators here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My heart is full of gratitude and expectation for what this place represents for our community now and for decades to come. Our vision is unfolding again in a new place - "Changing the world by honouring childhood"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And now I need a kleenex and a coffee. </span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>May the work we do, make the world we live in, a little more worthy of our children". Tom Hunter</b></i></span></blockquote>
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Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-85814469720878993062018-06-04T20:39:00.002-07:002018-06-04T20:39:17.924-07:00ROAR!!!!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember <a href="http://nickybyres.blogspot.com/2018/04/and-so-it-begins.html">THIS</a> start to our 8 week Warrior Challenge?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It.is.DONE!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8 weeks - 8 nutritional challenges which were cumulative and 8 physical challenges which - thank goodness - were not!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is what I remember:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Drink one large glass of water before you do anything in the morning (then proceed to spend the day calculating your distance from the bathroom)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No eating after 8pm (no problem.....on weekdays)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Drink a glass of water 20 minutes before every meal (see above for bathroom impacts)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have 20g of protein at every meal. 40g for Allan. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prep all meals for 4 / 5 days at a time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have Vegetables at every meal (Please note: Bacon is not considered a vegetable) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No sugar (no comment)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No alcohol (whatever - it was one week) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">500 push-ups (somehow continually cursing made these go faster)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sleeping 7-8 hours a night ( ha ha ha ha ha ha - it's been over 2 decades since I put up those kind of sleep numbers)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A lot of V-ups (my abs, my abs, where the hell are my abs?)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">20 minutes cardio 3 times a week (excluding gym time)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A jumpy, inchworm combo thingy for 5 minutes a day (total fail for me on this one - there are certain things one can do in a hotel room with a colleague - I felt this crossed the line)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1400 body weight squats (these were a pain in the butt... as they should be)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ankle Grabs (I like these - I can do a lot in one minute, but in 2 and 3 and 4 minutes - UGH it's like time stood still and so did my core...but I ground them out while moaning loudly on the livingroom floor)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">400 burpees (no words can describe my disgust at these but man my push ups are so much better than they were in week 1 - I have arm muscle bulges)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anything I missed I must have blocked out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But we DID do it - almost all of it... almost always together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And some things will totally stick with us beyond the Challenge. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our water consumption is WAY up and more consistent. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have added spinach and protein powder to our normal morning smoothie and cut the orange juice making it a much healthier start to the day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We experimented with egg bites - egg/veggies and protein baked in muffin cups and then taken to work and reheated. Allan loves them. I cannot. My egg pickiness cannot be overcome.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our carbs are way down. We cannot get through even a small loaf of bread. The occasional bagel with peanut butter is still my comfort morning treat though. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And beyond that we have much better awareness of good nutrition, the many ways sugar is hidden in everything, the muscles that hurt the most and the hate we have for burpees is unchanged. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So today we measured and weighed in - we already knew we weren't going to see staggering numbers but we lost a couple pounds and a few inches between us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdo9f-Ng3D4NVPX5SZG7Y7hsa5z5Jrm48hTUzOWcIsegHHcwhi5L6Ox0PA0Tjv7TG1vriOhbMqa9YpJQjssI8JlWuvEVzbrMZ2lS_fDd0RQ4AV-AFReVKSlT6Wvk0wKQXS4HEJJRR_-UL/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1600" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdo9f-Ng3D4NVPX5SZG7Y7hsa5z5Jrm48hTUzOWcIsegHHcwhi5L6Ox0PA0Tjv7TG1vriOhbMqa9YpJQjssI8JlWuvEVzbrMZ2lS_fDd0RQ4AV-AFReVKSlT6Wvk0wKQXS4HEJJRR_-UL/s320/unnamed.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we got to the gym today - Coach Jeff walked over to congratulate us - we thought it was for surviving the Warrior Challenge but it wasn't... it was for being named the Clients of the Month at the Dojo - I choked right up and blinked really fast - to be recognised for the 66 weeks we have worked our butts off, through injury and pain, for having conquered some demons in trusting my body again, for having met so many incredible coaches and new friends and to be in the company of some of our greatest fitness inspirations, feels incredible. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We couldn't be more grateful for this challenge, <strike>even the burpees and no beer week. </strike> and all the support from our Coaches and Team mates #halusa!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are warriors, even if only in our own minds... we have more battles to come ... I have yet to conquer the famed Hurricane class and we have aged bodies that still need a fair bit of conditioning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But we are doing IT... one class, one day, one <strike>burpee</strike> ankle grab at a time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Roar!!! </span><br />
<br />Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-2056615522021732862018-04-22T21:17:00.000-07:002018-04-22T21:17:06.778-07:00An unconventional life<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every now and then someone enters your life and leaves an imprint disproportionate to the length of time you have known each other or the amount of time you spent together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Scott Taylor was just such a person.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He came into our lives a few weeks after a certain brown labrador did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And when I say came - I mean we begged him to come to our home and tame our wild thing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He walked into our home, as he would on more than one occasion, hat on head, long hair in a ponytail, a twinkle in his eye and more insight into dog behaviour and how to manage it than we will ever know. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7o1stvBxXb-w3LxFOvZJftfHxI4H0gs6WESShIxXmTIknRzZcQb2IXEm17bQhdPzt7lq29AdgAU2NX-VxqZAUhato6C03y3taHndglSx3HWmODacRW5cBSb_hOja_6Lif6qgzBG13PKwN/s1600/IMG_4706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7o1stvBxXb-w3LxFOvZJftfHxI4H0gs6WESShIxXmTIknRzZcQb2IXEm17bQhdPzt7lq29AdgAU2NX-VxqZAUhato6C03y3taHndglSx3HWmODacRW5cBSb_hOja_6Lif6qgzBG13PKwN/s320/IMG_4706.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Scott is a large presence physically and emotionally. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7DVpS3lAsgkJpDpaqMnNvy30OVz3S3RkSSOJ7rQM3deuDYc_DV_2j8bb4kovnn6orkOwfscoEa1Gz5l4urbcC9Bkj_KDQouAOcqxyL_5QvIqsvngRw0SymgD9pIrUJ1MVJ9ur4KcVtl9/s1600/IMG_4712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7DVpS3lAsgkJpDpaqMnNvy30OVz3S3RkSSOJ7rQM3deuDYc_DV_2j8bb4kovnn6orkOwfscoEa1Gz5l4urbcC9Bkj_KDQouAOcqxyL_5QvIqsvngRw0SymgD9pIrUJ1MVJ9ur4KcVtl9/s320/IMG_4712.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He does not beat around the bush - he tells it straight. So he sat us down - without the dog and promptly dismissed any myths we had about dogs. "This is not a Disney movie - this dog does not love you" "Your family is a pack and Spanner will be wherever in the pecking order you let him" "This dog can be a jerk if you let him - your behaviour will determine that" "Teachers and Social Workers are the worst dog owners - way too soft!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We sat wide-eyed and wide-eared and I frantically took notes (determined to buck the teacher/social worker trend)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then he asked to meet Spanner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 30 minutes he tamed that little monkey into totally obedient submission. Spanner did things we did not know any dog could do much less a mischievous puppy. All of this in the family room. And Spanner was completely exhausted from the mental gymnastics Scott had him doing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our jaws were on the floor. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That was the start of our relationship. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For two years Allan and David (sometimes Lindsay and I too) drove to Point Grey to do dog training classes with Scott. Scott's friend Sue had bred Spanner and she and her dog Solo came too. David would help Sue with Solo while Allan worked on Spanner. Scott was the benevolent emperor of the room. Sometimes storming around barking orders and other times sociable and chatty. But always completely spot on with the dog training. Scott knew Spanners Mom (Tanka) and Grandad (Hudson) and he recognised the traits that needed work and helped Allan to manage them. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdYYtfCQUcnXMO6BEW59fHBs8NIj9e1FWL_AKQ4gsXBwacmxLtukoM2vI5T1b_xTt5q-wapDXXOxZZ2dPG2y1q-O6KnAIMWZ3bynUeZppRes-Qvaw8eLhW8CkUvkOAYnaAK8_9chUUmoe/s1600/IMG_2542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdYYtfCQUcnXMO6BEW59fHBs8NIj9e1FWL_AKQ4gsXBwacmxLtukoM2vI5T1b_xTt5q-wapDXXOxZZ2dPG2y1q-O6KnAIMWZ3bynUeZppRes-Qvaw8eLhW8CkUvkOAYnaAK8_9chUUmoe/s320/IMG_2542.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He would return to our home and do some on-leash training with me and the kids who struggled with 65 pounds of labrador when said labrador spied a squirrel, a person, a candy wrapper..... within an hour Scott had Spanner walking with us all and then off leash with him on Steveston Hwy - an unbelievable display of Scotts incredible wisdom and skill with dogs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Scott died tragically a few weeks ago and we have carried our sadness around with us as well as many questions we wish we still had the chance to ask him. Today we joined an incredible mix of people to remember Scott - a man who had hardship and heartache but found a way to live out his passion and in so doing inserted himself into the stories of so many. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So much of enjoyment we have had with almost 6 year old Mr. Spanner was thanks to Scott and the hours Allan devoted to the training. Allan and Scott found a way to communicate and worked on some projects together. Allan the educator helped Scott the dog trainer to connect better with his clients while Scott imparted so much knowledge that Allan has so diligently used to make Spanner the delight he is to our family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Scott will forever be remembered in this home. With gratitude and a few good stories. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Go well our friend</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">xoxo</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allan, Nicky, Lindsay, David and Spanner Hudson Byres</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-7035055686430679192018-04-08T18:23:00.001-07:002018-04-08T18:23:20.938-07:00And so it begins....<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So the big 52 week milestone at the gym came and went. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And then 53, 54, 55.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was sorta anticlimactic. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And the thought of another consecutive 52 weeks until the next milestone seems unattainable with an overseas trip etc...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So when they announced they were having an 8 week "Warrior Challenge" at the gym - we thought - what the heck! It will give us new focus and new drive. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was a little.... well ok.... a LOT ...terrified.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A Warrior Challenge sounds terrifying no? This sort of image sprang to mind....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDJ64uQAvNTVUd5aGaQGeO98p0hKCUzEZs68lq0zBTK2ulhiE8cfMkGiKy5RWizlP1BXP-VAWaEqjd7dxDwkiaPbzNC9x4RzEY83TGWtmGGqNO_U-2jB_GtpmB0N-r8izu0H4JfdXTTPG/s1600/203751-The_Elder_Scrolls_Online-archers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDJ64uQAvNTVUd5aGaQGeO98p0hKCUzEZs68lq0zBTK2ulhiE8cfMkGiKy5RWizlP1BXP-VAWaEqjd7dxDwkiaPbzNC9x4RzEY83TGWtmGGqNO_U-2jB_GtpmB0N-r8izu0H4JfdXTTPG/s320/203751-The_Elder_Scrolls_Online-archers.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But no one can work out in all the armour and I am pretty sure the Dojo is a no weapons zone.... so WHAT could it be?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Coaches become quite vague all of a sudden, but also utterly confident that this is just what you should be doing. But WHAT are we doing.....???</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Despite the subterfuge we signed up and showed up on Saturday to be oriented. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">145 people divided into teams - each with a head coach. A brief overview of the WHY...ya ya .. lets get to the WHAT people....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But no... first to the measurements..... UGH.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I suppose if one wants a measurable goal then one has to be measured. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And weighed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A few more instructions and encouragement and then to wait for the weekly video on Sunday to detail the week 1 physical and week 1 nutritional challenge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So we went home and carbo loaded. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm not kidding - it had the feel of the last supper. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sunday morning arrived. We waited and ate a big breakfast - we're not stupid.... nothing is Officially ON until the video is out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's week 1 - how hard could it be? They will start us off easy I'm sure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The video was posted. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We clutched our coffee cups and hit play.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blah, Blah , Blah.... Week 1 physical challenge is.... do 500 push-ups. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm sorry? WHAT did he just say? Even he paused to let that sink in.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5 0 0 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Allan had already calculated it was 72 a day and some keeners had already posted they had done 100. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">WHAT????? - I was in disbelief. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I haven't done 500 push-ups in my life. I'm the girl with the gimpy arm remember. I only started doing push-ups about 5 weeks ago. And they are ugly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5 flipping hundred. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oh yeah - the nutritional challenge (which unlike the physical one is cumulative) ... Nothing but water after 8pm at night. Now that seems reasonable to me. ANYONE can do THAT.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">500 push-ups</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I ranted and raved around the house for a bit. Told Allan we should have signed up as one person and halved the load. And a few other things. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I did the groceries (no chips I swear) and went for a walk and to a lovely art workshop that I made a cool shadow box diorama thing at. Walked home and had tea with Allan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And did 25 push-ups on the living room floor</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As wannabe warriors do - apparently</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wanted to cry. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I cleaned the floors and prepped the vegetables for dinner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Allan came back from the man house and made us do 25 more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's unbelievable. It's madness</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have done 50 push-ups</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQTr53fd0PktFoMO2FNHr1d-Z6f7M4FHLTi6lJxsndB5CP-R22hhUtr88rJojlPNXeSsKTwJowd8Ni1uHLm8gZlb_bu6ReetccXi7s7Rno9suFg5Cq7so8n29gQNcZDrhsKBCfWxJ5g4h/s1600/Calvin_and_Hobbs_op_800x317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="800" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQTr53fd0PktFoMO2FNHr1d-Z6f7M4FHLTi6lJxsndB5CP-R22hhUtr88rJojlPNXeSsKTwJowd8Ni1uHLm8gZlb_bu6ReetccXi7s7Rno9suFg5Cq7so8n29gQNcZDrhsKBCfWxJ5g4h/s400/Calvin_and_Hobbs_op_800x317.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A lovely Sunday roast is in the oven so we can eat before 8pm, settle on the couch and watch the Call the Midwife, sipping our water and be free and clear</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Except for those next 25 push-ups which WILL be done. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you see a slightly round, middle-aged woman in the elevator tomorrow who seems unable to lift her arm to hit the button....please...for the love of all that is good...ask her what floor she needs and hit the damn button for her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thank you.</span>Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-89018125807441566912018-04-02T19:32:00.001-07:002018-04-02T19:32:52.675-07:00Spring Break 2018 <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is never a more loved or longed for vacation in our family than...Spring Break. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For whatever reason the stretch from Christmas is long, or Christmas is so busy we start the year tired...or something....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But when we get Spring Break in our sights we start to breathe again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This year was no exception except for the exception that only 2 of 4 Byres actually get Spring Break now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That's odd. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We have so many wonderful Spring vacations Oregon coast, NYC, Disneyland, California, Tofino.. to name a few. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As you'll know Allan and I had a wonderful restorative break in Ucluelet this Spring Break and Allan had another week off when we got home (Dear powers-that-be please never go back to only one week Spring Break!). He did lots of chores (re-caulking the shower, cleaning up the man house aka garage /workshop etc) but also had lots of time to play which for him right now means wood carving. He did some cooking, some movie watching, some reading and we had a few social engagements. As I type this he is getting off the boat from a crabbing expedition with his buddy Fil.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My week was less enjoyable as our field continues in an HR crisis such as I have never experienced. One wonders how we go on when there are so few people to hire. Sigh. And the demand for child care services is surging as Government made an historic investment in reducing fees. It's a bit of a perfect storm but the good ship SRCC will sail on through as long as we can. The upside is I am getting to be on-the-floor with actual children more than ever - it's such a good reminder of why I slog through budgets and interviews and funding applications and new facility development... and quite honestly 4 year olds are some of the most interesting people on the planet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So as the cherry blossoms pop around us we start the final sprint of the school year - June commeth sooner than you think! And for me the opening of our 6th child care facility on July 1 means it's going to be quite the sprint. The new centre is in a castle - I kid you not.... very cool space to work with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our beloved children are much much closer to the end of their respective years - the end of 3rd year for Lindsay (one more to go) and the end of 1st year for mr. D comes mid-April. Lindsay is not coming home this summer as she found employment in Victoria and has her apartment until the end of August - it makes total sense as she finds her new sense of place over there and it helps her feel more settled and less pulled in 2 directions. Thank goodness we have the trip to South Africa together or I would be bereft! David will be home in slightly under 3 weeks and we can't wait to have that boy back. He has a job and will be working in a local law firm until we get on the plane. He and Lindsay fly home ahead of us to get themselves settled back into housing and readying for the school and David has some training for his new Residence Advisor (RA) position for next year! </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPHQK87TM8-Xv8-Ams2jQTZ_5gwSQ_H-O4LbaNRV7TgWZ2gIvE5UJlTKj4i0CrhqixMTs3BM7G_hLmahHO-SMirQ-qrAAYpC0XbUYJ67g6KJ8DNF6hoRi81HrgXQlonpy09suEmhv0n0G/s1600/IMG_4336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPHQK87TM8-Xv8-Ams2jQTZ_5gwSQ_H-O4LbaNRV7TgWZ2gIvE5UJlTKj4i0CrhqixMTs3BM7G_hLmahHO-SMirQ-qrAAYpC0XbUYJ67g6KJ8DNF6hoRi81HrgXQlonpy09suEmhv0n0G/s320/IMG_4336.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is quite unbelievable how fast the months fly by. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So we journey on into Spring (come on Spring - you got this!) and then into the glory that is summer. Already the evenings are long, the soil is warming up for planting and the jackets stay on their pegs in the front hall more often than not. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ahhhhhh.</span><br />
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<br />Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-46121886961267418722018-03-19T21:03:00.000-07:002018-03-19T21:05:07.411-07:00Me Day<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For 3 hours today I was in a far away land.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I needed no passport.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I tossed my fitbit in a basket and crept between the covers on a warm bed, tuned into the nature sounds being piped through the speakers and surrendered to the expert hands of a magician / masseuse. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ahhhhh yes - the de-stress, seaweed wrap massage and aromatherapy treatment I got as a birthday present was joyfully redeemed today at the aptly named Nurture Day Spa. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Followed by a pedicure with a view of the harbour during which I chatted with the owner of the spa who with her husband opted for the simpler life and dropped into Ucluelet 15 years ago. It was very tempting to let my mind drift to similar possibilities for Allan and I.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All too soon Allan returned to extract me from my happy place and we did a little drive around Ucluelet and then "home" for lunch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A nap crossed our minds at the same time the sun decided to peep through the clouds so we opted to make the most of that (seeing snow in the forecast for Friday - WHAT??).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />We drove the 30km to Tofino and payed our homage to the Roy Henry Vickers Gallery and then wandered around town poking in and out of cool and wacky shops as we did. Allan is on the search for some first nations carving knives for a first nations mask carving course he is taking. We popped into a thrift store but found nothing.... well, not nothing, as it turns out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No knives were to be had but the shopkeeper directed Allan to Chesterman Beach a little ways down the road and gave some vague directions to a Carving Shed on the beach where "George" would be carving and may have some info.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We hopped into the truck and away to Chesterman we went as the sun broke through the clouds although the little breeze that popped us was pretty chilly. We started to walk along the beach looking for "George" and his shed. We walked the whole beach and found nothing but beautiful homes with enviable waterfront views, plenty of dogs for Spanner to meet, and a few brave surfers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As we headed back to the car I suggested we take one last look in the opposite direction - in the small amount of beach on that side.... and lo and behold... we found the most amazing place. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And "George". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A carving shed, with wood and tools and art and so much history. A sand and sawdust floor, colourful characters sitting around chatting. We were warmly welcomed and we chatted for a while. No knives, no great carving oracle with amazing wisdom....but a shed that could tell some incredible stories if it could.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was so very cool. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A brief stop at the cottage to change and then off to the famed Norwoods for dinner - a reservation obtained many weeks ago. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was sublime - a warm spinach salad I shall dream off ..... I can't even talk about the chocolate bombe with sour cream ice cream and the whiskey foam... </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLLpLKC2TKnCucqCbluC1O02AZmaB-5hkLmJprBLKoh0_gpHC7KGaiph-35ESuUNGx1Sk0XDWOgh4B-67s3Upf1bP1b95BNXaioYNyPchm_ai_ehQVEmkxcts1lh7a9KHsm2s3o8v4t8j/s1600/unnamed+%252814%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLLpLKC2TKnCucqCbluC1O02AZmaB-5hkLmJprBLKoh0_gpHC7KGaiph-35ESuUNGx1Sk0XDWOgh4B-67s3Upf1bP1b95BNXaioYNyPchm_ai_ehQVEmkxcts1lh7a9KHsm2s3o8v4t8j/s320/unnamed+%252814%2529.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How this day was just as magnificent as yesterday blows my mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Off to the hot tub under the stars with the sea lions barking half heartedly in the distance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love Spring Break.</span></div>
Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7523236710803344197.post-8303860048891130912018-03-18T20:13:00.000-07:002018-03-19T10:09:08.736-07:00Bacon and eggs, wine and cheese, coffee and cream<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are some things that are just better if they are together...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Like....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">me <b>and</b> Spring Break</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">forests <b>and</b> the sea</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and how lucky am I these all came together today. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We started our day at 5am which was only made memorable by the conversation and antics of the St.Patrick's Day revellers stumbling home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A quiet ferry ride under grey clouds gave way to sun in Victoria where our beloved girl and Mr Joel were waiting for us at a funky brunch spot close to Oak Bay. SO lovely to visit with them and catch up. Oh how we miss that sweet, sassy, smart, beautiful girl. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqobar0t9jLaYbZzShuVGSwqHKXiuUx8xenU4WxkzVuBwLgq-IP2d3MGhlXVsaM3TpUNW0neN7YXfGJYHSyYR6pNwDAZ_EU9aJMr2897INqBkPOkAYyIRfkpcKT87rjTJlOx1naajYYlF/s1600/unnamed+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqobar0t9jLaYbZzShuVGSwqHKXiuUx8xenU4WxkzVuBwLgq-IP2d3MGhlXVsaM3TpUNW0neN7YXfGJYHSyYR6pNwDAZ_EU9aJMr2897INqBkPOkAYyIRfkpcKT87rjTJlOx1naajYYlF/s320/unnamed+%25286%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A walk on the beach with the kids and Spanner and then we headed north through showers and sun and 4 hours later, after the epic winding road, we arrived (tires still inflated - yay) at the edge of Canada. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In sunshine and without a breath of wind - miraculous for this part of the west coast of Vancouver Island. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And we knew we were lucky.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We hastily moved into our charming cottage on the edge of a cove - all cedar and light and trees and a hot tub.... perfect for a week of restoration.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3riBJQBJBXURMVAaptq3hhYx2QkjLj4cNJmYf0xAAf3PCerm2vVpFxHRdPSJxPo2ljVmOEMK49wOSn2v34MEkzClLJStANbTXMISq_fJk-N7ApUzad87_nx5PQX2ZaQ9OErr5g1TwyLh/s1600/unnamed+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3riBJQBJBXURMVAaptq3hhYx2QkjLj4cNJmYf0xAAf3PCerm2vVpFxHRdPSJxPo2ljVmOEMK49wOSn2v34MEkzClLJStANbTXMISq_fJk-N7ApUzad87_nx5PQX2ZaQ9OErr5g1TwyLh/s320/unnamed+%25284%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But we put on the walking shoes and leashed up the hound and hit the trails. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oh.my.word.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The sound of the ocean was enough for this weary self but the late afternoon light through the wind beaten forest, the haunting whistle and clang of the bouys in the ocean, the sun on our faces </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">AND</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the spouting, huge, crazy spouting of ....WHALES just off the coast line! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We walked the wild pacific trail for a few km and were amazed and humbled and grateful around every corner. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEP8CteMILlbAI3cHWaLN7yZ8fFDwk8kJ6kQo29SxVtuLKBicCxBtFeAQeH4P53gT7lgKEHZwxVHtrWkNs1Vnxu20_fpueR7Uh8kjRuFCZoJmsyAOM8MRZIkkhoOTttej7idVP0hKfLPk/s1600/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEP8CteMILlbAI3cHWaLN7yZ8fFDwk8kJ6kQo29SxVtuLKBicCxBtFeAQeH4P53gT7lgKEHZwxVHtrWkNs1Vnxu20_fpueR7Uh8kjRuFCZoJmsyAOM8MRZIkkhoOTttej7idVP0hKfLPk/s320/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is beautiful country even in the mist and rain that usually lives here but on this glorious sunny warm spring day - it was heart-stopping, soul-filling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A walk back to the cottage, appy's (of course) and steak dinner and a puppy snoring, exhausted, and soon into the hot tub as the tide turns below us and the stars populate the clear sky. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And then to sleep deeply</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I am not sure I would rather be any other place in the world right now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nicky Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006750397561455892noreply@blogger.com0