November 2017

I’ve been on the road, travelling and living around the world, since 1995. I’ve lived and worked in Melbourne, London, Boston, New York, Sydney, Singapore, Phuket, Noosa, Singapore and now, Phuket again. Before I left Australia in 1995, I had already built an amazing community of friends, who I adore to this day. And since then, so many more magical people have come into my life.   While this has been amazing, there is a hard part to it – missing the day-to-day moments. The sorrows, the joys, the celebrations. I’ve tried really hard to stay connected and involved in the lives of people who are special to me – social media is the greatest for this – but still, you can’t help but miss important stuff.   On this journey of life, I have always believed it is the people you get to meet that stands out as one of life’s greatest privileges. They are definitely the family you choose. I also think I’ve had a better run than most in the magnificence of the people who have come into my life.   Time to celebrate friendships   This year has been a wonderful opportunity to honour some of those remarkable friendships. I’ve taken chances to jump on planes to other parts of the world, just so I can say: hi, I love you and will always be grateful you are in my life – thank you.   But there were two significant trips this year – a week in Marrakech and my 30-year High School reunion. I know, I don’t look that old….   Ahhh Marrakech   My trip to Marrakech was to celebrate two amazing ladies’ birthdays – Nathalie and Elsa. I met Nathalie when I worked in London, and along with Saskia, the three of us had too much fun together. We shared so much of our lives during our late 20s, including introducing each other to many more friends – one of which was the fabulous Elsa.   In July, we all gathered together at Nathalie’s incredible villa outside Marrakech, overlooking the Atlas mountains. We were there to celebrate both of their 45th birthdays, because they didn’t want to wait until their 50th – too right. Nathalie’s villa is stunningly beautiful, but I can’t sing its praises in July – my word, that 45-degree Celsius weather made this tropical living lady feel sick.   But it was awesome. Nathalie and Elsa, here we all are, honouring you two magnificent Dames. I hope it brings tears to your eyes. Please tell me how it makes you feel when you’ve watched it?   30 Year School Reunion   After this, I went to Australia in October, to celebrate my brother’s 50th – happy birthday Paul – and then to Albury/Wodonga, the cross-border towns of my youth – for my 30-year School Reunion. My best mate Dunny flew down from Bundaberg, and it was AWESOME seeing so many people from school days.   The girls in my year were hilarious – and none of us have changed at all   We had a magnificent year. Fun, free, silly and hilarious, and while everyone couldn’t be there, it was amazing celebrating with those who were. Sometimes it feels like no time goes by at all. We’re all just a bit craggier these days… And Rags, I stole this picture from you – hope it’s OK? At this time, we are remembering those who have left us. Three so far. Let’s all make sure we’re still around for our 40 year reunion OK? But a new bar please! Bloody cranky bouncers at that one.   Remembering those who have left us   More travel to do   I have more reconnectingtravel to do – Boston is top of the pops. London too. Let’s face it, we are long overdue the opportunity for our boys to know their British roots!   But thank you to everyone around the world, for being my pals and seeming to be genuinely quite excited when I do show up. It really is appreciated and I love youse all.    So, if you’re reading this, give your pals a big squeeze. Tell ‘em you love them. Honour who they are and what they bring to your life. Friendship is awesome. It’s what makes the world go around, don’t you think?   Yours, without the bollocks Andrea Thank you for reading my ramblings. My brain and heart are a work in progress, always. I’d love a comment if it stirred any thoughts or feelings and of course, please feel free to share it with anyone you know who might be interested or entertained. I sure do appreciate it when you do. If you want to connect, I’m on Twitter here, Google+ here, Instagram here, YouTube here, and Facebook too. I share loads of stuff, not just my own xxxxx

It’s been a month since we moved to Phuket and I decided I would post a photo or video a day – to capture what I’m seeing. I plan to keep going, because it keeps me paying attention and living in the moment, but equally, I am blown away daily by differences.   The pics/videos are getting great interaction on Instagram and Twitter, but with Facebook’s pay-to-play model, not as much there. I’ll keep doing it anyway, because the world is an amazing place, and I love sharing my love for our global community.    So here you go, a selection of the month so far. We’re here physically, but we’re not here in our hearts yet. We know it will come, and we are patient, but think life will be a duality for a while…   My first #photoaday, a truck full of Styrofoam This is something in excessive use here and I have decided I’m going to join (or start) the battle to get it stopped.     The greatest angst of the move to Phuket – missing out on Halloween!  My word the pressure was on and thankfully, we had a trick or treat session in our villa complex! I present Ned Kelly and Van Helsing.    Good to see my old leather jackets being put to use… and yes, I’m still dragging them around the world. Surviving awesomely in the tropics. Not.     This photo represents 10 straight days of muscle spasming, back aching unpacking! I never want to move again, but I know I will…     Steve loves a corny joke and this is his newest – look, the pizza is going in the oven…. EVERY SINGLE TIME he sees it. Cue eye roll. The boys are with me. Dad is now officially embarassing.      My window seat without a window on SilkAir to Singapore.     Thankfully my friend Andrew Psarianos was able to fix it…. My first Photoshop, thanks darls.     Our daily Spinosaurus…. Just randomly sitting there, for no apparent reason.      A message from the kids at UWC Thailand – wipe out hate, bring in love.       I want to buy locally made, or made in Thailand, whenever possible. So I found this little workshop at the side of the road, and these guys were amazing. No filter here. The whole place was blue.     And then this guy. I was coming home from dropping the boys at school, and saw him in the wires. A true example of #worldsmostdangerousjobs.     I think my favourite video, was this little one. One of the short-cuts on the way to school. We are not in Singapore anymore….   There you go, some moments in time from our first month. Only captured with an iPhone, so nothing spectacular in a photography sense, but part of the story of daily life.   Favourite? Want to join me in taking a photo or video a day?   Yours, without the bollocks Andrea     Thank you for reading my ramblings. My brain and heart are a work in progress, always. I’d love a comment if it stirred any thoughts or feelings and of course, please feel free to share it with anyone you know who might be interested or entertained. I sure do appreciate it when you do. If you want to connect, I’m on Twitter here, Google+ here, Instagram here, YouTube here, and Facebook too. I share loads of stuff, not just my own xxxxx

Well it seems we’re off to a great start in our new home, if you ignore the fact I spent the first week close to tears (well in tears if I’m honest) every single day! First day of school for Lex and Jax It was a combination of complete exhaustion, being surrounded by blackened homes in our new villa (it turned out everyone was on holidays although some houses have remained blackened because they are holiday homes) and probably the strangest thing – our master bedroom is outside the house, which means there’s two locked doors between us and the boys. I don’t know why that separationfrom the boys freaked me out so much, but it did. We can’t hear a single thing going on inside the house at night, and while I’m slowly adjusting to it, I’m definitely happy we have a dog. Nothing happens without Freddy knowing about it, and he has a very loud bark on him! My word he can frighten the shit out of you with that bark.   Another challenge has been constant problems in the house. Many are typical – electrical, wifi, appliance issues, etc…., with the time to getting anything fixed a little longer than this feisty one is generally happy with. So I am trying to learn patience, because I’ve been in Asia long enough to know that being a grumpy bitch gets you nowhere fast, but another new reality is understanding that I need to slow down too. It’s not my usual gear, but moving at light speed doesn’t make any sense in our new life. Honoring the water spirits for Loy Krathong We’ve spent 10 days straight unpacking boxes and putting everything in the right place. I have to say, Steve and Vick were very VERY patient with me as I directed proceedings. I am one of those people who knows what I want and believe a house has got to make sense. I mean, knowing where stuff is, is the first step right? It’s not about control, it’s about no chaos. I can’t stand chaos. However, when you spend 10 days unpacking, hunched over boxes and picking up heavy things, my oh my does your body start to hurt! I’ve only managed two massages so far in the masseuse paradise, but I know this will become a weekly affair. That is the goal. I’ve never been good at prioritizing me though. Neither has Steve ever been good at prioritizing Steve! After unpacking though, it was a priority, or I’d be facing excruciating muscle spasms…. Not fun. We are 100 meters from a beautiful beach Of course, the most important part of the move is the boys feeling happy. School is a massive part of that for them and I’m delighted to report – they LOVE their new school. Phew! I was worried about Jax a lot. He was devastated to leave old friends and quite anxious to start somewhere new. He’s already picked two besties and had an awesome first week. Lex also had an incredible first week and do you know what they noticed? How wonderfully curious he is. Finally, someone appreciates that incredible quality. We are hoping for great things for the Lexster. So there you go. Home is almost sorted (and the guest room close to being ready), a mega trampoline has been accidentally bought, we have sun lounges, the wifi is strong and works most of the time, Freddy is the happiest bloody dog in the world, and well, Steve and I are getting more comfortable with everything. We’re a while off saying it’s the best decision we ever made, but at least now, it feels possible we could say that one day. I’d say that’s progress. Would you? Yours without the bollocks Andrea     Thank you for reading my ramblings. My brain and heart are a work in progress, always. I’d love a comment if it stirred any thoughts or feelings and of course, please feel free to share it with anyone you know who might be interested or entertained. I sure do appreciate it when you do. If you want to connect, I’m on Twitter here, Google+ here, Instagram here, YouTube here, and Facebook too. I share loads of stuff, not just my own xxxxx