clay date

My daughters are my greatest motivators. Even when I’m running on empty, they ignite the spark that keeps me going. My dear friend Hue is pure inspiration. Creative, thoughtful, generous, and optimistic, she lifts everyone around her. With their encouragement and enthusiasm, I find myself capable of more than I ever imagined.

We threw together a clay date for the girls and their school friends. I didn’t think I had the energy, but their excitement made it easy to rally. Hue led the pottery workshop with her usual calm magic, patiently guiding the kids as they shaped pieces worth keeping.

Lunch was a tea party spread, served on elegant three-tiered stands with avocado maki sushi, salmon aburi, spring rolls, and egg sandwiches. I loved that these young ones are now old enough to use proper dainty porcelain tea sets.

The afternoon was a mix of quiet concentration and cheerful chaos. Our guests were kind, respectful, bright, well-mannered, and mature, exactly the sort of company I wish for my daughters. I’m so grateful my little ladies have made such genuine friends.

mastered it

I’ve always admired a particular type of intelligence: knowledge carried with grace, ideas challenged with respect, words delivered with clarity, and connections formed without ego. To me, it is one of the most valuable traits.

The deepest cut comes when someone questions my mind. Dismissal strikes at the heart of who I am.

Today I focus on determination, the drive to show up, stay curious, work hard, and push through self-doubt. I also celebrate the people who stood beside me, family and friends who cheered me on and made time to share this occasion.

One of my biggest regrets in life is not giving 12th grade a proper go. I was heartbroken, certifiably lovesick, and couldn’t function. I skipped classes, barely scraped through my final year of high school, and the disappointment still lingers. I often have recurring dreams of a do-over, but I always wake up before I even make it to the classroom. It feels like an unfinished chapter - one where I didn’t achieve the HSC mark I was capable of.

Maybe that’s why I pursued this master’s degree, not just for the qualification, but to settle a score with the past. And now, with the story rewritten, perhaps those restless dreams can finally sleep.

tiers of time

The first time I saw a three-tiered dessert stand was at my best friend’s Bridal Shower in 2007, the same year that I started dating my husband. It was arranged with cute cupcakes and pastries, and I remember thinking how pretty and elegant it looked. But at that stage of my life, it never occurred to me to buy one since I had no reason to.

Six anniversaries later, when Amelia was a newborn, the dessert stand popped back into my mind. Perhaps it was the sleep-deprived haze of early motherhood or the longing for something beautiful in the midst of chaos, but I suddenly felt drawn to it. I started searching through online marketplaces like Gumtree and eBay, slowly piecing together a collection, not just of ceramic dessert stands, but of cake stands, plates, ornate tea pots, sugar & milk jugs. Each item felt like a little treasure, waiting for the right time to be used.

But life got busy, and when we moved houses, they were packed away into storage and forgotten. Seasons changed, and the collection remained untouched, tucked into boxes, waiting for an occasion I wasn’t even sure would come.

Who would have thought that the opportunity would finally arrive at Amelia’s 12th birthday party? She had chosen a pastel theme, and as I unwrapped each piece, I realised just how perfect they were. The soft hues, intricate patterns, and timeless charm made everything feel so special, almost as if they had been waiting all these years for this exact celebration. It was a full-circle moment, something I had unknowingly been preparing for since the very beginning. 

all in good time

It feels like yesterday when we sat in the car in our pyjamas, chatting into the wee hours of the night and still buzzing from that deep and meaningful conversation the next day. I still remember the numerous non-dates we went on, where you convinced me that fine dining with a friend was considered normal practice.

I was frustrated at times, wondering why God dangled the chemistry cord between us, yet deprived us of the courage and wisdom to pursue more. When we look back now, you admit to chasing me, and I obviously didn't run very fast.

Neither of us is perfect, and we've shared good times and bad. Our relationship has endured trials and arguments that could have broken us, but instead made us stronger.

I may not always agree with God's timing or all of His decisions, but ultimately, He really does take care of us and wants the best for us. I dearly hope that God isn't teasing me, because if this isn't the best, then I can't imagine what is.

Happy 2-year anniversary, Handsome!

the escen

August was all about getting my ducks in a row, drawing up plans for the months ahead. September and October are when those ducks (hopefully) start marching in formation. There have been some new developments that I haven't shared on my blog because, let's face it, sometimes sharing isn't really caring. I usually avoid turning my blog into a play-by-play report, but I need to timestamp a few events for future reference.

I moved to the Inner West temporarily to see if I could hack it away from home. Spoiler alert: I couldn't. After seven weeks, I was back home with my family (pets included), boyfriend, and friends. I realised I had plenty of freedom, privacy, and independence at home, and the only perk of living away was being closer to work. I rented a furnished resort apartment, but thanks to the chilly weather, I didn't enjoy the facilities. Not that it mattered much since I don't play tennis, swim like a rock, and break out in hives at the thought of exercise. The sauna, though, I genuinely missed out on. Kat helped me move out, and we took a grand tour of the resort, pretending we were on a luxury holiday.

In other news, I bought my first investment property. I expected some fanfare when the settlement happened, but all I got was a phone call from my solicitor saying, "Congratulations, the settlement was completed at 2:30pm." No flowers, no fanfare, just a 30-year mortgage and a sobering look at my financial statements.

The whole process wrapped up in less than a month, and I've learned that it's not what you know, but who you know. I was blessed with a team of professionals who charged me mates' rates and pulled a few all-nighters to make the transaction smooth. Good help is hard to buy, but with strong friendships and trust, you can earn it.

canyoning

To remind my boyfriend that he is still fun and energetic on his 27th birthday, I organised an adventurous day at Empress Falls for some abseiling and canyoning action. Neither of us had done a canyon before, so I thought it would be memorable for us to experience it together for the first time.

We treaded along the Valley of Waters Creek, leaped off rocky outcrops into remarkable jade pools, and floated freely down creeks. The canyoning trek took us through the open-air playground that is Empress Falls, and as we swam, climbed, and scampered, we admired the surrounding beauty. The final 30-metre abseil down a waterfall, landing in a refreshing green-water lagoon, was the perfect ending to our expedition.

It was a fun and exciting experience that left me with bruises and an appreciation of the stunning scenery of the Blue Mountains. Who knew that these geological treasures were secretly tucked away in the region of NSW?