Introducing *Mikaela's Dad*...

Her biological father.
She has two Dad's.
One who is her biological Dad... and one who is not, but is a Dad in every defining term of the word, aside from blood.

This is Papy.
Mikaela's Dad.
We met in Italy in 2000.
Today he is an Australian citizen.
He lives about 10mins from us.
And we get along as well as separated parents do.
Most days.

For many, many reasons our union was a difficult one... we faced a lot of prejudice. Mainly in Europe.
I remember when Papy arrived in Australia... we would stroll down the road holding hands.
He was so delighted and surprised.... he turned to me and said "Bek... people are smiling at us... they are actually happy for us"!!
I grinned and said "Of course Papy... this is Australia"

THIS IS AUSTRALIA.....
Many of our political and international policies - I do not agree with or support. Nor am I proud of.
But I am very proud of our muliticultural society.

It was difficult too because of our cultural differences.
Things that you think (or hope) wont matter.
Do.

Sometimes it is the very thing that attracts you to a person that tears you apart.
As was the case with us.

Papy walked into the room.
The instant our eyes locked I knew he was the father of my child.
I knew we would have a child together.
I knew.

He was attracted to my independance...
This "Aussie Chick"... she can do anything.. go anywhere.
He found it refreshing and liberating.

We were attracted to the differences in each other...

I had been warned.
People had told me that African culture was very different to mine.
Women are not regarded or treated the same as in our society.
I didnt pay much attention.

I also didnt know much about politics in Africa at the time.
And especially not the situation in DRC.
I really had no idea of what I was getting into.
I was living in Italy. I was an ignorant Aussie. Who met a gorgeous African man.
What more was there to know???

Papy was born of the Minister for Arts for the Mobutu government.
He had a very priviledged upbringing.
When Mobutu was ousted... well his live changed considerably.
And no doubt he as a lot of trama for his experiences.
Of which I can never comprehend.
Ever.

Looking from the outside things are so crystal clear.
So very obvious.
When you are in it.... well, not so clear.

So we tried desperately to keep our little union strong.
To maintain the tiny family we had created.
We couldnt.
We didnt.

I tell Mikaela all the time... I love your Dad because without him, there would be no *you*
I will always love Papy..... he is my brother.
I admire Papy.
I respect him.
And I will always hold him in my heart and wish the very best for him.
He is a good guy.

There are many things we dont discuss often ... the situation of the people or politics in Africa.
We try sometimes... it always ends with us both in tears.

Nath and he get along well.
We all maintain a healthy respect for each other ... and the roles we have in Mikaela's life.
And I can ask for no more.
It is all that matters... Mikaela.

Live your life... with love towards your sisters and brothers.
Bx

Books, books, books....

Tagged by the lovely Leonie.... here are my books:

One book that changed your life? Alchemist by Paulo Coelho… actually anything and everything by Paulo. Eleven Seconds. Zahir. My two other favourites by him... but they are all brilliant. Totally.

One book you have read more than once? Time for Joy by Ruth Fishel... mmm can you tell how well read this is? This little gem is so lovely... somedays I read if for the day intended. Other days I just open up at whichever page feels right… the answers are of course always perfect for the circumstance.

One book you would want on a desert island? The Souls Code In Search of Character and Calling… this is my lifetime to read book.

One book that made you laugh? When in Rome by Penelope Green... this young Australian woman's account reminded me of much of the year I spent living in Italy. Fun. Lovely. Vibrant. Italian. Very much la dolce vita.

One book that made you cry? Family {Moments. Intimacy. Laughter. Kinship}... the most amazing photography... and also because my darling Naomi gave it to me as a gift.

One book you wish had been written? The Rough Guide to Tuscany and Umbria… and I wish *I* wrote it.. because that would mean that I had spent years and years combing the area ... tiny piece by piece… and would know the land like the back of my hand. Nath and I will own a villa in Tuscany one day *grin*… always good to have fantasies.

One book you wish had never been written? The flowers in the attic trilogy... oiw ~ I could not put them down, but they scared the crap out of me. So much ~

One book you are currently reading? Mmm I am not reading at the moment…not really ~ although permanent on my bedside table are:

• You Can Heal your Life by Louise Hay
• Perfect Balance by Paul Wilson
• *my very own visual diary*… artists journal
• And many more shoved in the top draw. Ha!

One book you have been meaning to read? Women who run with wolves… I have been recommended this book THAT many times!

One book you loved as a kid? Blinky Bill. But now I love "Lukes way of Looking" for Mikaela.. it is the perfect budding artists story.

One book you loved in school? This is so very cliché… but I would have to say The Diary of Anne Frank… struck a cord with me.

One book that is your all time favourite? I read this when it was first published in 1995, I was approximately 23 years young. Holding the Man… about a 15 year gay male relationship. It is beautiful and moving… and opened my eyes. I am still inlove with this book and their story.

Maybe I will get down to the bookstore soon and get myself a novel to sink my teeth into.Last time I went to the bookstore was a couple of weeks ago for the launch of Carmen Lawrence's book "Fear and Politics"... if Nath and I were patient... and bothered with crowds.. I would be reading that now. Its fabulous.

I tag Darlene only *grin*... always makin' up rules of my own. Ha.

Happy Reading.
Bx

Saturday = Soccer, Sanding & Movies...

Mikaela and I went to see Jake (Jode's boy) play soccer this morning. I was of course like papparazzi ... taking tonnes of photos. Jodes and I joked that Kaela was a "footballers wife"... big sunnies, velour tracksuit. Oh yeah... she fit the sterotype. Plus the cute footballer boyfriend {who even scored a goal} to boot (excuse the pun!)

Kaela hung with Jode and Jake while I ran around collecting furniture.

So my scrap room is getting a bit of a make-over... I have a beautiful new bookshelf... which I adore.

And this piece of furniture, a "buffet" of sorts... which cost me $20! Makes up for the amount we paid for this cute little electric cordless sander Nath picked up for me... such a dream machine. Fit perfectly into my hand and I have practically finished. Kaela helped me by removing the dust with the broom, which worked, but also resulted in her banging me in the head a fair bit. I was too into my sanding to care. Fun stuff.




























Last night was mall-rat... usual spending on more scrapping supplies. I got a couple of mini card albums... looking forward to my project with those. Few stickers for Mikaela... she is into the whole wedding theme at the moment... a small hint to Nath and I *grin*. Cleaned my scraproom up a bit and an early one to bed *bliss*

Kaela and I have just now finished watching Fairy Tale - A True Story... and no doubt by now she is peacefully dreaming of fairies. She was so enchanted. As was I... cuddles on the couch with my girl, a blankie and fairies... life is gorgeous.

My guy is now patiently waiting for me to post so we can watch a movie together. Wimbledon. I have already seen it... and it is a sweet one indeed. Gotta go, its started!! Crap!

Enjoy your weekend loves.
Kiss kiss...
Bx

Another Soul Sista....

I met this wonderful womyn the day of my brother, Brett's funeral.
She is an absolute soul sister.
We just clicked.
She rocks.
She is a Mama of 4 gorgeous souls.
She has a wicked laugh {remarkably similar to mine actually.... bahhahahahahah nihhhiiiihhhhhii}
She has a beautiful smile.
And a very warm heart.
She will be another lifer... this I know!
I *heart* her.
Oh... and S. I will email you soon sweetie. Yes I will.
Big kisses and hugs to you and your clan.
Oh... and dont ask me to remove this photo sweets. I wont *smile* !!
Bx

Introducing *Jodie*...

One of my hottie besties.
She is hot.
She is a bestie.
She is a wonderful, beautiful and inspiring woman.
Who I love much.
We have over a decade of friendship.
We have weathered BIG storms.
There have been times I worried... we would not recover from a rift.
But my Soul Whispers told me otherwise.
And I knew them to be true.
This girl.... she is a *lifer*
The best kind.
My kind.
I love you girl.
Always.

Today I am wearing some jewellery she made me and I feel like a princess. So I am taking my princess self down to doing reading for Mikaela and her class mates.

I LOVE having Thursdays off *work*... no demands. YEAH RIGHT!!! I only have about 87 things on my "To do list" this morning itself.
Bahahahaha - Fuuunnneee!
Peace and Love peeps.
Bx

This angel...

is my friend.
A Goddess... a young woman so many years beyond her age.
Astounds me.
Makes want to 'tell' her things.
Ugly things.
Painful things.
Not things *I* did.
Things I have experienced
And she gets it.
Totally.
And I feel blessed to share my story with her.
I am not a victim.
I am surivor.
I survived the worst kind of disease imaginable.
A toxic Mother.
A tragic, tramatic and temultous childhood.
How does one recover from that?
A fair amount of optimism... reprogramming the negative into postives.
With sheer determination, belief, and conviction.
I choose love and happiness.
I choose life.
My life.
I have a vision... it will crystalise.... to help young children born into the situation I was.
And teach them to see their very own beautiful souls.

We took this photo for Darlene... blowing our kisses to her because she was not feeling well.... I hope you are feeling better now sister Dar. And her post today... tells me she was with us at our lunch by the lake. Across the world... sharing the same thoughts and feelings about what we may consider a shitty hand dealt at times ~but which is in fact a blessing~

I am loving my life and my Goddess friends. So much. Thank you beautiful ones.
Peace and Love my commrades...
Bx

Me & Ali & Cathy....

Photos of me with two women who have done so much for scrappin'.
And inspire me daily.
Cathy doesn't look so enthused in our "cheesy shot" but its because the camera would not work!! And asides Aidan had just arrived!
Ali is just so kewl, so very nice.... I was squeezing her.. oh yeah! She rocks.
Both so sweet.
The memory of this weekend will last a lifetime. For sure.
Bx

Elsie IS coming to OZ.....

Thank God. Just in the nick of time too.
I was beginning to fall into the "downer" after the biggest scrappin high I can imagine.
I had to give Kyle a little pep talk about it yesterday.... Its all good, other great things will happen for us... yadda yadda.
But I was starting to P.A.N.I.C about not actually knowing when and where Elsie would be coming to Oz.
I heard the rumour.
I needed the facts!!
I LOVE this GIRL.
SHe totally rocks.
Found out about it here. Thanks Lee.
It will be held here.
Phew.
Bx

I love illy ....

My favourite.
Right here...
I have a bit of an obessession with illy coffee. Okay a LOT.
Nath doesnt even drink the stuff... but he goes on the net to check out where the illy cafe places are in any given town we are visiting ... I so adore him.

My obsession with illy began about 12 years ago... my sister Megan lived in Melbourne. ANd her love at the time was a distributor. A few years later I went to live and work in Italy... and the family I lived with ~they had illy by the box full~

I was in heaven!!

And I still am... on days like this... when I take the extra 10mins to get to work - I drive past the cafe...and get myself a takeaway.

The return to my desk... well it doesnt feel near as bad. *grin* Oh and the (only) choccie... well I have a few of them a week. Tis a bit naughty... but oh so very nice!

What is a little indulgence of yours?
Bx

And today...

I got to catch up and hang with my two favourite people. We stayed at the Stamford Plaza in Double Bay last night... it was l.o.v.e.l.y.



This morning we caught up with two of my {three} sisters, Meeges and Lee for brunch.

Loving these pics of Kaela and Nath in the pool. They had a BALL.

ANd Kaela with her "Laura the Explorer Lion"** and the Lion mummy statue. Gorgeous! LOVE HER. TOTALLY. She was SO sweet last night... all cuddly and snuggly. Sweet.




** My other little sis Katie bought it her for her yesterday when all three of my sisters took Mikaela to the Zoo.
Peace and Love.
Bx

And I met my heros....

Of course!
And they were lovely, brilliant and so very down to earth.
Great women!
LOVED THEM. Still LOVE them.
Even more.
They made me CRY.... good, good tears. All weekend. Not just me.. everyone.
These gals have the GOODs!
And *Me and ALi*... we are tight now.
Oh yeah.
Friends and all !
Trick peeps... coffee.
Bahahaha!
Photo of me and Ali to follow.. Kyle has it!
Oiw and my sisterhood.... I have been friends with these wonderful women for 37 years in total... and they TOTALLY ROCK !! BEST Girly weekend EVER. Best weekend ever. ANd to share with them also. Was just pure bliss.
Bx

The Goods...

Here is a sneak peek at the items I created at Kiwi Scraps {if you are Aussie and have not been to one of their events.. get on their mailing list * you ARE missing out*} ... and my girlie weekend doing Ali and Cathy classes. SUCH JOY.

I cant believe that in two days I produced all this stuff.... and I LOVE them... I have always been a 12x12 scrapper... none of them little albums.

And I met this kewl chicky in Ali's first class... actually according to the evidence on my camera I met her in the bar the night before. NO WONDER she was being so nice to me.... she helped make my journal blocks, cut them and stamped them and all. Such a sweetheart. Check out her take on the weekend here and here.

And another high energy womyn... I did not actually meet {as such}... her account is here .

I think I have been converted. But not entirely... I will NEVER give up my 12x12s. Ever. Now I just have more to do. Ah yeah, okay?
Bx

What happens on TOUR....

...Stays on Tour.
But I can share this... "Rock Star Bek" made an appearance on Thursday night!!
And lets just say I have decided that she is now officially in RETIREMENT.

We met Dan (Cathy's hubby)... and had way too much to drink in the hotel bar!

But all in all an amazing experience, which taught me what gorgeous friends I have in these three woman.

There was MUCH excitement... and anticipation of a weekend of scrapping with our heros...
Bx

Two more sleeps peeps.....

***RANT WARNING..... *grin*

It is only two more sleeps...
Until I am doing THREE Ali Edwards classes.
THREE ! Oh my.
AND I am even almost ready!

You know that woman {who does so many things all at once, who is kinda like a superhero}.
Oh okay she IS a superhero.
We are all SuperHero's....
But some do it better than others.
And Ali is one-a-them.

Anywhooooo.... she sets homework for her classes.
Yep she does.
And its not... do in five mins type homework.... it takes TIME.
Bloody hell I says.
And it wouldnt be so bad... if she didnt change said homework along the way.
Nice.
AND would be EVEN better if not ALL the photographs required for her projects are Landscape/Horizontal....
Think about this.... for just one second peeps...
How are MOST of your BEST photos orientated....
YES... YES >>> YES..... Portrait... Vertical !!
Rest my case.

So I am STILL really excited to be doing her classes and meeting her.
Probably get some photos... you know, probably!

Anyways lucky for me.... I am also doing TWO of Cathy's classes.
And if you check out her PodCast here.... I think you can tell/hear... we are in for a rockin' time.
Plus... Cathy loves Emily and Tara.
Says it all really.

So there you go.
Two more sleeps... and I will be in scrapping heaven.

Oh... and please DO NOT let my rant about Ali's homework... suggest in ANY way that it has anything to do with panic, or lack of preparation, or anything at all along those lines.
Nah- uh.... I like my chaotic artistic way.
I like to work under pressure...
Its me.
I ROCK (like SuperNova.. oh yeah Nath and I LOVE that show, its our latest fave).
Now.... just wait until Ali and Cathy meet ME.
Bahahahahahaha
I AM a nutter.

Oh dear... when I get excited.... I tend to rant, and digress alot!! and embarass myself (and my dear friends)...
I just get a bit N.U.T.T.Y with excitement.

Peace and love and a little self deluded greatness {for what exactly... I have NO idea} for all.
Bx

This morning....

I listened to this {link not yet available... will update then}... and it made me feel 100% ME and better. And even wanting to celebrate this CRAZY world of ours which I LOVE and adore. My favourite radio station Triple J.... Mel Brampton's morning show.... Culture Club segment:

And this was last weeks segment, equally interesting....

The Culture Club: 2006-07-17 (1.7 MB) 17/07/2006
In the words of Gnarls Barkley 'Yeah I was out of touch but it wasn't because I didn't know enough, I just knew too much...maybe I'm crazy'. It's common to hear this sort of connection made between 'craziness' and intelligence, Cee Lo had it, so did Vincent Van Gough. Would they have been so great without it? Listen to the Culture Club and find out.

So yeah... listen, enjoy and let me know what you think!
Does it make sense to you?

Peace and Love and tonnes of craziness....
Gotta LOVE a bitta crazy in your life.
Bx