i (heart) bircher muesli

love it.
soaked in apple juice
yoghurt.
bliss.

tiredness, recovery from the flu and joy

im tired.

i was meant to go to my 'mandarin' class. no, not to peel oranges, but the national language/ official mother tongue of china. the homeland.

yes, i'm pisstaking.

but no, i'm not joking about the china bit!

i didnt particularly feel like repeating ' this is a pen'... ' this is not my brother'... ' my school bag has 3 books inside'... in chinese.

boo hoo.

whinge whinge...

i think there are too many things going on in my life at the moment for one little minivan to process.

1) the salmeist is thinking of selling the rangies
2) i'm going to africa in just over 4 weeks (to build houses for watoto.com and to visit my sponsor child compassion.org)
3) some of my bestest friends are moving overseas... for at least 12 months
skins, frenchie, asha... in the next few months... and well... i shall focus on the dear friends that will be in the country... however, i cant help but think a piece of me will be left slightly emptier because of their abscence... but thank the Lord for the internet!?! which helps us all keep in touch, but still... i cant help but think the internet for me, is just a poor excuse for communicating sometimes... typing out thoughts just aint the same as a telephone call or a real hug, let alone a 'superpoke' or a 'give a beer to ____' hahahahah.

hmmmm....

anyhoo... so its monday, and i'll whinge that i have over-committed in my chinese class for mondays for the rest of the year...

i just thought it might help me order yum cha in mandarin instead of canto...

oh well!

the flu for me, is almost fully gone... today is the first monday i havent completely wanted to dry wretch at the thought of having to go to work.... (and yes, i am enjoying it, but boy was today boring!)

work is overrated to say the least...

but despite my whinginess, and missing my sister's overseas and my mother flying to hawaii for another holiday...

i will take hold of this time of uncertainty to be reminded of what's really important...

my appetite.

i still have my appetite.

thats got to be a good sign!!!!!!

thats all from me peeps.

God bless!

"Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Fight for the rights of widows." Isaiah 1:17

I am so excited!

Compassion International... the organisation that does awesome things... like organizes sponsor programs for children in need... has just announced to me that YES. I can visit my sponsor child! (this is an often arduous process that takes months to prepare and get approval and national security police checks that i have had to pay for... and you should have seen the relief on my face when the letter came back from the federal police that i am not a criminal!! which i knew was the case, but you know... you never know!!!!)

Relief is all around and i am happy once again and the good news (its an exciting proposition, but has been quite stressful...)

for those that are reading my blog or bothering (i havent posted in ages... which is a good and bad sign)..

a) i've been way preoccupied settling into my new job! Go AG!
b) i've been hibernating as a result of the cold and personal blogging at work is not always a good look and my internet connection (free wireless) is currently non- existent at home which is a good and bad thing... so something must be done about it!!
c) i just havent had anything too exhilirating or stupid enough to post!

For those that may read...
my sponsor Child Wanyana Christine lives south of Kampala, Uganda, Africa in a little town called Kipala.

She has just turned 14 years old and i've been sponsoring her since she was 11.

It is a humbling experience to say the least and one that I really value.

When this young girl writes to me and says things like ' Thank you for my birthday sponsor gift, i bought red shoes, school books a dress and a goat for my family'... these sorts of things just blow me away!!!'

a GOAT for goodness sakes!!! its amazing what a humble $50 a month will do in this little person's life.

i wish i could buy a Goat for $50?!

Anyhoo,... i found this quote on Nelson Mandela quite inspiring... we can all make a difference in our corners of the world...

"Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made, and can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings." Nelson Mandela

Which by the way... i want to see the movie...Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace, the film marking the 200-year anniversary of William Wilberforce’s hard-earned success in abolishing the British slave trade, was released last month to nation-wide acclaim. The film highlights the issues of slavery and human trafficking to a modern-day audience, inspiring the Amazing Change Campaign, a movement lobbying for the rights of an estimated 27 million men, women and children still enslaved today.

what a momentous occasion!

its been one year since:

1. i went to lake falls creek with the tanners
2. i've had someone called a 'boyfriend'
3. i've completely changed jobs and roles and industries!
4. i decided that i love gadgets and my nerdness is fully apparent ( i love electronics)
   
5. last winter... and boy, this winter has been freeeeeeeeakin freeezing!
6. i went to berry with jo :D
7. i realised i was going to really knuckle down and get fit (for real)
8. knowing that being single and happy is one the nicest seasons in ones life... and when one has the opportunity to pursue it... seize it!! cos when you may meet someone special... all this stuff goes (almost) completely out the window...

The greatest test of courage on the earth is to bear defeat without losing heart

what a great quote by Robert Green Ingersoll.

i have no idea who he is... but i got this from my 'jogging diary' for 2007.

what is with buying these things and realising that i really just cant keep up with myself??

i twisted my dear left ankle a couple of months back (not fun)... and well.. that has left me pretty much spewing from the fact that my jogging routine was severely cut short... and now... little ol me is struggling with getting back into the habit!!!

i miss jogging... and i miss feeling like jogging. i must get back into it!!!