Black + White Weekend

So here is my entry for this weekend!

This little guy landed in our car as we were playing Pokémon Go on Saturday and decided to stay a while. 

Looking forward to seeing featured photos and what everyone is contributing this weeks Black and White weekend Blog Hop!

Have an awesome week you guys! 

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Date Night No.2

So Friday night we were invited by a community elder to see Queen Rocks, a Queen tribute band play at Tabcorp Park in Melton. 

At first I was like nah, but after work Friday night and after a few drinks I decided why not?! So on went my brand new never worn before black and white shirt along with some make up! David poured me a traveller for the way and once there, it was so much fun!

We sat in our little corner on the side with a nice side view of the band. I enjoyed watching the guitar solos and sharing a few kisses with my man throughout.

We had plans to head to the beach afterwards as we knew the house would be hot but instead we called it a night at around 12.30pm. 

We spent absolutely no money throughout the night but we had such a great time.

I’m so glad we chose to go last minute! 

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Black and White Weekend

Our fur baby Altius snoozing on my bed after cleaning himself. 

 >> Linking up for Black & White Weekend! <<

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Emu Egg Calving

This has been an absolute first for me!

Last week, as part of my role as the Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Worker I organised Amanda from Wax Treasures Feathers to do an Emu Egg Calving workshop for my Yarning Circle Group of Aboriginal Elders.

Choosing to take my Egg and tools home to really have a think about what I wanted to calve into my Emu Egg. Being of Torres Strait Islander Decent, I chose to do my families totem, a few words in our language and designed a sting ray which includes the Dhari ( our native headdress), our Tribal name and the name of the Island we come from.

This is how it looks so far..

The Bird featured on my Emu Egg is a Tern Bird or "Serer" in the language of our people. The tern bird is considered a symbol of safe return as it never passes the night at sea. Navigators following them know therefore that they will soon reach land. 

I chose to calve out three words in our language around the outside of my frame.

These words were "Eded" meaning Life, "Lag" meaning Love and "Buai" meaning family.

And lastly I chose to do a tribal stingray with our Tribal name "Samsep" as well as the Island our old people originate from "Erub".

My Egg is still not quite finished but I'm quite proud of the way its coming along.

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Black & White Weekend

Friday night straight after work I drove home, picked my partner David and 17yo son Jie up (Nevaeh, my 13 year old daughter opted to stay home to play online games with her friends which was totally fine with us) packed our fishing gear and made our way to Werribee South Beach stopping on the way for worms and slushies from KFC.

Being back by the ocean is so relaxing and fishing with my son always brings my heart so much joy. My love of fishing came from my father whom has now been gone for over a year and when I'm by the ocean, I feel close to him remembering everything he taught me and I love being able to pass that knowledge onto my son.

All week every part of me just wanted to be by the ocean..

On Saturday, my heart again yearned for the ocean and my want to fish. I absolutely love it. I feel so calm, like nothing else matters in the world when I'm by the ocean and I feel so close to my Dad who I miss so so much. This time it was a family trip with Nevaeh joining us and belting out the big notes in the car on the way there with me.

Again we stopped for frozen drinks before this time fishing off the Werribee Boat Ramps.

The kids left us to go for a walk along the beach together. Jiedyn has been concerned about his sisters mental health again and so they got a chance to talk about it together away from their tech and gadgets.

I have always loved the bond they share, its envious and reminds me a lot of the bond my brother and I had once had. Through lifes ups and downs it was my brother I could be myself around the most.

While the kids shared time together I enjoyed this view with two fishing rods and both my feet in the water. Absolutely no fish were caught but it was so relaxing listening to the waves roll in and out.

As the night came to an end Jie had us in stitches from laughing!

First chasing his sister with his fishing rod all the way to the car and then her locking him out of the car and him deciding to hitch a ride on the bonnet.

There was a man with his dog sitting up on the hill whom was very amused by my son.

I'm sure it would've made my Dad laugh too.

Sunday was back to just our normal Sunday routine. Cleaning and preparing for our week ahead. I did two loads of washing, tidied the lounge and kitchen areas, Nevaeh cleaned the bathroom before Jie cleaned the hallway while I scrubbed the toilet. David did the dishes and tidied the kitchen again after I made 4 types of dinners tonight to meet everyones requests as well as scones for dessert. Jie and I watched Hells Kitchen while we ate dinner tonight and Chess has become our new before bed hobby.

The week ahead is looking pretty busy but good-busy!

I'm working two half days which will fill up my week so I'm enjoying some down time tonight.

Tonight's blog post and weekend recap is a part of a new blog hop I found this week.

>> Click here to check it out! <<

Have a really positive week everyone and if your feeling lonely or down jump onto my twitter for inspiration, random facts and encouragement. You can find my twitter here..

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Four Somethings - January

 Today I am linking up for  "Four Somethings" hosted by Jennifer Goodwin here..

The link up encourages bloggers to share four themed somethings of your month.

I'm joining a little late as I just saw this link-up on a few blogs I hopped onto yesterday.

So here goes..

SOMETHING  LOVED

Something I loved in January was the opportunity to book a few trips for 2023. Taking my own advice of "To have plans, you must make plans" I booked four trips using wotif for our family to enjoy as the year continues. Look out for our trips to Shepparton and Lakes Entrance in April, our trip to Inverloch in September and my trip back up to Cairns in June! 

SOMETHING READ

I don't read a lot of books to be honest, I prefer true crime, Judge Judy and trashy reality TV shows in my spare time but something I do read each and every day are my Emails. Work emails when I'm at work and my personal emails keep me connected to the lastest deals from my favorite brands, news from my preferred news sources as I do not rely on the TV or Radio media for my news and staying up to date with my upcoming bills and finance goals. Last month I received an email from one of old neighbors now in her 70's which I loved and now look forward to her musings shared every now and again. I'd love to pen-pal more people through email, see my previous post here to learn more.

SOMETHING LEARNED

Something I learned last month was that we all live our lives in alignment with our triggers and traumas. Our triggers and experienced traumas shape who we are, who we become, how we raise our children and unknowlingly how we navigate life. 

I wont go too deep with this but I'll use Prince Harry as an example in his latest Netflix show titled "Harry & Megan". His upbringing and experience with the paparazzi has a massive effect on him and his life today - the trauma of a young boy losing his mother at the hands of people whom wanted exclusive photos of her is now his worst fear when it comes to himself, his wife Megan and their children. I really feel for this boy, never getting the help he needed to overcome this fear in which now has become a trigger from trauma in his life controlling everything he does. He probably, like a lot of us, doesn't even realize how much this effects him as he lives in survival mode for his family.

Another example is learning my own triggers and traumas. As a child raised around drinking, drugs and violence being neglected from my parents - I have put myself in positions to advocate for children living with the same disadvantages wanting so much better for their lives. As a child of the foster system spending time in over 25 foster homes over three states separated from my siblings it triggers me to know that there are kids still going through this today and because of my trauma, when I was caring for my sisters kids I  just wanted to help create happy times and a safe space for the four siblings I had in my care to grow up together away from drug and alcohol users. The trauma we experience create triggers in which we do things we think are right as a way of survival. Being a drug addict myself at a young age and being around drug addict family members as a child and adult it too has become a trauma for me - to the point that now when people I know and love have recently become drug users I have been triggered and have had to take a step back from their lives to protect myself and my kids. 

Recognizing my trauma and triggers has allowed me to start to really understand myself and why I do what I do. I have learned so much in the last month about my mental health and am learning new things everyday. 

SOMETHING I ATE

And I'm guessing this to be something I ate that I probably never eaten before? David and I tried for the first time Parmesan Roast Potatoes last month. You can find the recipe here..

AND! I also finally got around to sending my friend the pear salad recipe I make! Here is a photo of it here with my sons Chicken Parma which was also on the blog not long ago! 

Enjoy!

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Blog Pen Pals

 So I've been thinking about this a lot lately and I'm finally getting around to posting it on my blog.

I'd really love to connect with my blogging community on a more personal level as apposed to just following and commenting on each others blog posts. 

I'd love to be able to email back and forth and share life with the people I follow and whom follow me.

I mean, my life isn't that interesting but I miss sharing things with my parents and siblings and now don't really talk to many people outside of work and my community.

If you'd be interested in becoming an email pen-pal with me please send through an email here:

melofbacchus@hotmail.com

Don't be shy, let's connect!

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Partner Quiz

I saw this on Facebook tonight and thought I’d give it a go on my partner David.

Rules: WITHOUT prompting, ask your husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, significant other, friend these questions and write EXACTLY what they say. 

The outcome can be hilarious. (You might be shocked at how well or little they know you).

•What is something I say a lot? You love me?

•What makes me happy? The beach

•How tall am I? 5foot8?

•What's my favourite thing to do? Sleep and Work

•What do I do when you're not around? Miss me..

•What makes you proud of me? Everything you do and how high you’ve gotten at work!

How do I handle the worst situations? You go for a drive to clear your head or go to where there is water or the beach.

•What is my favourite food? Well at the moment KFC sliders, we’ll not anymore, maybe the chicken thing you make? Like butter chicken and coconut rice. 

•What is my favourite restaurant? Back to Bacchus 

•Where is my favourite place to visit? Lakes Entrance maybe? Or Inverloch.

•Do you think you could live without me? Hell no! 

•How do I annoy you? Oh fuck, how do you not annoy me? It’s a long list, I can’t put everything.. tickle me, rub me up the wrong way, you love annoying me.. it’s your main priority! 

•Who is my celebrity crush? Ben Affleck 

•You get a phone call that I am in trouble, who am I with? Could be ducking anyone, could be Rachy, but maybe Nat! I don’t know how bad Nat is. If you were still friends with Zo, I’d say her but I doubt you and rach are good girls! 

•What's my best feature? Can’t write that on the internet, fine, I’ll say.. eyes!

•What do I hate? Hate?.. Hate um.. Mornings!

•What is my fav drink? At the moment Coke. 

•What gets my temper started? Ha. … people that whinge! 

•What's my shoe size? 6?.. I don’t actually know your shoe size!

•Describe me in four words? Beautiful, Loving, Caring and I don’t know if I can put the other one on there.. okay.. sexual.

All these answers were straight from my partner. He knows me so well in most things but not my shoe size! I loved doing this with him tonight. It really filled my cup. I’m not sure I’d be good at answering these for him but I love that he did these for me. So cute!

Maybe try it with your partner!

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