Second last blog.

Grateful for Chris Lilley marathons with the little sister for the last two nights, a trip to Cairns with the family today, DnMs with Gracie and general sisterly comraderie. Goodnight, all.

Much love.
Lise xx

Dancing in the Rain

Grateful to have finally completed my blue card application forms.

So very grateful for a walk up Mt Baldy this afternoon. I have not felt that good, that full of joy and so content with the world, for a long time. It was certainly hard going on the way up the hill but the soft rain and the smell of wet vegetation and storms helped me along. I made it in half an hour - my new personal record. And on the way down, in the drizzly rain, twisting along the path with such a magnificent view stretching out all around, I felt better than I have in some weeks, perhaps months. Everything was beautiful and I noticed all the little things; tiny purple flowers beside the track, the feel of different trees as I brushed against them, the clear sweetness of the air, the smell of rain and pine needles. The very air was full of light and love and amazing energy, like an electrical charge of happiness. I may have done a bit of lame, cheerful, what-a-wonderful-day-to-be-alive type dancing on the flatter areas of my descent. :) it was just a half hour or so of the greatest tranquillity and joy and peace of mind and heart that I've felt in what seems like an eternity. I was very grateful for that.

Goodnight. Dream of majestic, stormy forests. Much love.
Lise xx

Dad's 45th Birthday.

A rainy day, a beautiful stormy landscape at the Nerada Tea Factory, family visits, still more food, herbal tea and feel-good movies with fabulous people such as a young Hugh Grant, corny enough to restore your faith in the possibility of true love. This has been my day and I hope all of yours were equally satisfying.

Grateful for a talk to Jorge, it's been a while and you and your family are in all of our thoughts and prayers. No words or kind gestures can make it feel better, but knowing that people love you cam ease the load of hurting on your own. Much love and light, and we're just a phone call away.

Goodnight, all. Happiness.
Lise xx

Season's Greetings

Grateful for a beautiful Christmas Eve mass, as ever, and a day full of joy, family and food for Christmas Day itself. So wonderful to be surrounded by people I love, and who love me, for what is essentially my last Christmas as a "child". If my plans come to fruition next year, I won't even be in the country for Christmas. I hope everyone had a similarly wonderful Christmas :)

Grateful today for a day of reading, rain and hot cups of tea. Beautiful in its simplicity.

Sweetest dreams and much love to all.
Lise xx

Drive, drive, drive your car...

Grateful for the opportunity to get my learner driver hours up today, chauffeuring Dad all over the town :) He tore his meniscus in his knee the day before we went to Cairns for concert rehearsals and is on crutches and in a knee brace. Grateful that we finished off the Christmas shopping and for a pleasant chat with Joel on the way to Big W :) grateful for lunch on the sidewalk and to have finally lodged my cheque from my camera, after almost two years! and to have gotten all the materials required for my planned goodbye gift to Rere :) it was a really nice day out with Dad :)

Grateful to have gotten my Christmas paper run tags done tonight as well; it makes me happy to do these things for other people even if it is such a tiny gesture :)

Congratulations to the fantastic Kate for her big achievement - Vice Chancellor's scholarship, you champion! You should be so gosh darn proud of yourself :) best of luck with everything, as always :)

Best be off to bed now. Dream sweetly.
Lise xx

Silver Bells.

Grateful today for a day of rest - it pretty much became one big nap, since I'd missed so much sleep the night before. But then, grateful for a Christmas-light-hunting drive around Yungaburra with the family, listening to carols, as tradition dictates, and a Christmas movie :) That was lovely :)

Goodnight!
Lise xx

So much wonderful.

Grateful for a wonderful, wonderful party at Rere's tonight :) I will add photos when they come my way from her camera :)

Pasta salad with fruit and amazing vege fritter things, bougainvilleas in the punch (thanks Rere) and a nice vibe despite it being a bit of a going away party :) grateful for group hugs on a truck, dancing like mad, relationship advice from Waylon, a good chat to Gavin and a great time with everyone there. Steven perching in the bathroom, carrying a very sleepy Reegan from the van to the couch, Becca's positively wonderful new haircut and a great two hours of sleep at the end of it all :) So much more, too, but that's all I can think of at present :) thank you, all you beautiful people.

Grateful also for a Christmas-present-exchange with Jarrah. Thank you, you are lovely :)

Oh and Rere; my zucchini slice is still in your fridge. Get into it, if you wish. If not, I'm sure Charlie wouldn't mind it :)

Much love and the most wonderful happy vibe from tonight.
Lise xx

Not much.

Grateful for a lazy day watching movies and chilling out :)

Coffee and cake and a nice chat at a friend's house where Will went for a play, then to Jarrah's and the Emperor's New Groove :) grateful for a fantastically relaxing massage in the afternoon then home.

Not much else to report.
Lise xx

Catching Up.

Grateful for a fantastic night and day catching up with Danielle :)
Arrived at her house after the mandatory completion of the annual Santa Photo, had a very grand yet cruisy time with her, Jarrah and her boyfriend Karl :) grateful for floating around the pool, late-night chats, Mission Impossible, Oscar the pervert cat, walking aruond, sitting on the tennis courts, swaggering like basketballers, loud music and laughs. Thanks, all three of you, for a great time :)

Grateful also to Karl for the very kind lift he gave Jarrah and I to Cairns Central today after we dropped Danielle to work. Grateful for another movie (hurrah for animated!) and finishing off the Christmas shopping, smoothies and an amazing omelette and talking about travelling :)

love. So good to catch up :)
Lise xx

One Night Only.

I am so grateful for the last three days - the very best concert of many, and the last for the seven of us.

Grateful for an OP 2! Worked my butt off to get it, but pretty darn proud of myself :) congratulations to everyone :)

The rehearsals were long and exhausting, and everything that could hurt did hurt. But we made it through, we made jokes, we messed up, we swam in the pool and talked rubbish.

As Annie so very nicely put it;
Now just a few memories... Poolside DnM's, deliriously laughing, being dinosaurs (Helen you’re the queen), ‘flower power’, crumping, the videos hahahahaha, ‘Highway to heaven’, many photos, bashing each other up, using our teeth as type writers, three old men in the corner (you know who you are), the crazy as night last night, little chats, screaming, laughing, crying, hating, loving... I thank you all for these hilarious memories! Love you ♥

Tahlia and Annie particularly, my God I will miss you two! I am so, so grateful to you both - you are the queens of freaking hilarious and we have the greatest times together. I'll miss our chats and nonsense so much. I wish you both every possible happiness in the future and we must stay in touch, please! All my love to you beautiful, beautiful ladies. You don't need dental work! ;)

And Remy - you know I love you, you crazy little thing! Stay hilarious :)

Grateful for such a fantastic night once concert was over - champagne and nibbles and giggles with Tahlia, Annie and Jenna. Thank you for the great company and the best time! Facebook stalking, perhaps? haha the best possible way to end almost thirteen years of dancing :)

Annie, Helen, Jenna, Marie-Lee, Jordan and Holly, we're finished with dancing. But thanks for the memories :) now onwards to Christmas and ALOT of sleeping in!

All my love
Lise xx

Monday.

Friday, grateful for a productive rehearsal and a rather immensely painful walk up Mt Baldy in the afternoon.

Saturday and Sunday, grateful for a rather fantastic night with Jake and Jarrah; good chats, Tenacious D, movies, guitar. Pizza and champagne. Much awesome. :)

Today, grateful for rehearsals and a job offer phone call :) completed resume and an afternoon nap :)

Sweet dreams.
Lise xx

Seniory Things.

Grateful for a fantastic day with Annie, Helen and Jordan working on the seniors' project for dancing. Grateful also to Elspeth for the delicious lunch :)

I very much wish that I could put up photos of what we achieved today, but just in case any of the dance teachers look, I can't! Ah, I will when concert is over :)

night all!
Lise xx

A Really Nice Day :)

I liked the way the light fell on this pineapple, sitting on the windowsill for whatever reason it may be :)

Grateful for a relatively relaxed day, and a day off from rehearsals! Woo hoo!
Went and bought the necessary items for the seniors gift that we will be working on for the dance teachers tomorrow, then had lunch with Jarrah from Dee's wonderful deli. Hurrah for pumpkin cake! :) Wandered back to his house and collected the gifts for our school teachers, got a lift to the school from his neighbour (for which we were both very grateful, as the weather was insanely hot today) and delivered them. After a quick chat to several of the teachers (now our ex-teachers!) we watched a slightly ridiculous yet amusing movie, The Gods Must Be Crazy, and then off home for me :)

Grateful for making apricot balls with the siblings tonight (unusually, not a single fight broke out) then watched a lovely Christmas movie. So, a productive day really :)

And now, I really must be off to bed. Night!
Lise xx

Slumber Party. :)

Grateful for a girly night in/sleepover with Tahlia and Annie :) I love you two. Silly accents, movies, youtube videos, a bit of sleep talking and snoring. We had a great time, really glad we organised it :) grateful also to Elspeth, for feeding us as always :)

Had fun in the afternoon looking through old photos, with Annie...my God, how people have changed! We all look so very, very young. And chubby, some of us :P grateful that rehearsals went well although I must say I was grateful when they came to an end. seven hours is a long time when we went to bed at two!

Must get to sleep now. Goodnight everyone :) much love.
Lise xx

My last 2nd rehearsal, ever.

Grateful that my last dress rehearsal is done and dusted, with much tired-and-sore-ness of course and, as you can see, much we're-tired-so-we'll-act-ridiculously. Grateful that the rehearsal ran fairly smoothly and didn't drag towards the end. Glad for the highly hilarious Aidan and Baedyn getting in touch with their feminine sides to amuse all of us :P

I feel like I should be sad that its over, but I'm really not. Its like school - by the time we were done, I was more than ready to go. Its the same with dancing, really. Its been a wonderful part of our lives, but we're ready to start the next chapter and pas de chats don't feature in the plot line :)

Grateful to Nanna, Francis and all the other mothers who are frantically sewing, altering, sequining and generally being wonderfully helpful and to the teachers for putting in the long hours alongside us. Grateful to my fellow dancers, without whom I would most likely have a breakdown at these rehearsals :P its good that we all have someone who understands.

Have sweet, sweet dreams. Dance on clouds.
Lise xx

in2dance

Grateful for another great night out at the in2dance concert at the community hall tonight :) Mary Poppins and Shrek, plus other variety dances, really enjoyable to watch everyone should be proud :) had such a splendid time eating MnMs and dancing with Annie and Sarri-Mai. Fantastically awesome to catch up with Sarri-Mai again, its been much too long :) Just a quick blog tonight, early morning tomorrow for 2nd rehearsal!
Love.
Lise xx

The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Had the loveliest night at the Malanda Majestic Theatre watching the Malanda Theatre Company's performance of Sweeney Todd. I've never seen the recent movie, nor read a synopsis of the story so it was all like a wonderful surprise. The music and acting was amazing - everyone involved should feel so proud of themselves, it was a truly magnificent performance :) Jake, you made a fantastic Italian con man :P

So grateful that I skipped a rehearsal to go to the show. No doubt I would have regretted it if I hadn't gotten the chance to see it :)

Sleep tight, all. Congratulations again, cast of Sweeney Todd. Twas amazing :)
Lise xx

On the first day of Christmas...

Grateful for the completion of tradition for yet another year - up goes the Christmas tree on the first of December. The brand new, eight-foot-tall Christmas tree which, after much trial and tribulation, Mum finally got :) inspired by the Christmas spririt, I wrapped up all the things I'd bought for other people and put them under the tree too.

Grateful for a long, exhausting but productive reherasal tonight - despite the thousand drawbacks Dance Connection has suffered leading up to this year's show, it is all coming together quite well.

Sleep time now. Dream sweetly.
Lise xx

A Little Gathering.

Grateful tonight for a gathering of some very rad people to say goodbye to Jas and Anthony; you two are both so spectacularly lovely, I wish you every happiness and the best of luck :)

Grateful for swimming in the freezing pool, a hamburger picnic on the ground, a fire and a strange exercise machine, an amusing game, Steven's peculiar bird stance, a friendly cat and just generally grateful to Anthony and Jas and her parents for having us :)

Prior to the gathering, grateful for an absolutely hilarious day Christmas shopping with Mum and Aunty Becky. So pleased that I've got all the family's gifts sorted :) grateful to Aunty Beck for her assistance in scheming! The drive home, laughing so very hard at our stupid accents and sayings. It was such a nice girly type of day :)

Goodnight!
Lise xx

"Schoolies"

Grateful for the most fantastic, fantastic week, possibly ever, at Mission Beach this past week to celebrate the end of our secondary education. Grateful to Becca, Rere, Jarrah, Jas, Anthony and Ryan for their fantastic company and hilarious conversations and various shenanigans :) I can't think of a better way to celebrate the end of one chapter of our lives and the beginning of another than by spending a week with six beautiful people such as yourselves.

Grateful for walks on the beach, chilling in the pool, Mighty Boosh and Monty Python, drinks on the beach, Xbox and time to read and think. Grateful for staying up all night and watching the sunrise over Dunk Island, dinner out even though it was quite a hike, collecting seashells, dancing like lunatics, finding a great gelati shop in karmic return for Woolworths being shut after we trekked all the way there, friendly wildlife like the snake that joined us for dinner a few times, amazing food and the most ridiculous and intriguing discussions. But it is you six wonderful humans that made the week what it was. Thank you, I'm grateful that it was you I shared it with :)

Grateful that there is no Sunday rehearsal tomorrow - I think all the seniors will be! Extra day of rest :) Speaking of which, I hope everyone's schoolies week was as spectacular as mine was and I'm now off to bed :) Sleep well!
Lise xx

200th Blog Post, and I'm a Graduate. We all are.

We did it. We survived high school. It's over now, we're graduates, we are the Atherton State High School Class of 2011. And we are done.

Handed in the chemistry, biology and English assignments on Friday the 11th November, finished  my last ever Maths B on Tuesday the 15th and had my last ever (high school) block exam on Wednesday the 16th, Ancient History. Returned all my textbooks and felt a mix of relief and wistfulness :)

Grateful for a lovely picnic with everyone at the grass on Wednesday, nice to have everyone in the one place, signing shirts and eating muffins :)

Wednesday night was the senior scavenger hunt, in which I'm proud to say we ladies finished first :) Annie, Brooke, Becca and Adriana, thank you for the amazing night, it was so much fun, so many laughs and great memories. Haven't run that much in awhile haha :) What an adventure. Love to you all. A shooting star topped the night off brilliantly.

Formal last night was a beautiful, beautiful event. Arrived at 8am to set up and chaos ensued, but everything was done and as far as I know everyone got away on time to hair and make up appointments :) Everything looked fantastic, an enormous thank you to everyone on the formal committee and to everyone who helped set up :) Thanks to Pompey for the loan of his beautiful '59 Fairlane and for driving me, and to Jodie once again for her gorgeous, gorgeous photography :) Thank you to my formal partner Daniel and to every one of the 2011 Seniors for making the night such a great success. It has been wonderful knowing you all and I wish all of you every happiness in the future chapters of your lives.

The after party, I was grateful for a bit of crazy dancing and some nice conversations. It had a nice vibe and I was happy to be there and a part of it :)

Today, amongst the many tired and maybe-a-bit-hungover faces, we officially got our certificates, graduated high school and walked through those gates for the final time. Not too many tears, but a lot of hugging and talking and lingering before everyone headed home.

To all the 2011 Seniors, and particularly those of you who I am privileged to count as good friends, thank you for an amazing senior year. We're off into the world now but I hope to see a lot of you  around at some point or another :) To everyone at the grass, I love you all and you've made the time fun. We've all had our moments, but overall its been a great, great year.

Tomorrow, off to the beach to celebrate the end of it all. I'm really looking forward to it :) Goodnight, all. Dream sweetly.

Lise xx

Two.

Grateful on Tuesday for a plot hatched during chemistry to infiltrate the school, Damian drawing squares and circles on the board to represent guards and where each of us would parachute in from and the like. :) such silly fun. Also grateful for a good night at dancing :)

Grateful today for a productive morning, the wonder of Neurofen, finishing my Biology draft and a delightful afternoon. TimTams and coffee and a lovely chat with Debbie on the back deck while the colour in my hair set for formal, a sock stolen by Joey the chihuahua and a successful hair trial for formal :) grateful for a night of trashy TV and humming to myself in the kitchen surrounded by newspapers and coffee attempting to imitate papyrus for my final English assignment :)

Chemistry continues now. Sweet dreams.
Lise xx

View.

Hello there.

On Friday I was grateful for the end of a long week, for a lesson to read my book and for a nap in the sun.

Saturday, for a lovely morning walk up Mount Baldy with Mum and Dad, Will and Grandad Mal :) such beautiful views, and still almost the whole day ahead when we got back down.

Sunday, a small sleep in and a successful shopping trip to Cairns :)

Today, grateful for an afternoon nap and getting a decent amount of work done.

I find it immensely bizarre that we have only one weekend left of school. Ever. Then off we go into the big, wide, scary world to do what we will. Very much looking forward to finishing up assessment, formal, scavenger hunt and all that sort of thing that comes with graduating :)

Sleep beautifully, everyone.
Lise xx

Three Days.

Tuesday:
Grateful for the opportunity and privilege of modelling at the Melbourne Cup luncheon in Mareeba. It was a lovely day and I had some great conversations, watched the race with new friends and generally enjoyed myself :)

Wednesday:
Grateful for a day off dancing, which gave me extra time for studying.

Today:
Grateful for a nostalgic day with Rere, playing Dropple and eating frozen yoghurt under a tree in the afternoon.

Now, off to study. Goodnight, with love.
Lise xx

Clear as Crystal.

My inner nerd never ceases to amaze me.

Another grateful Monday.

Grateful for an afternoon mostly to myself, with which to work on my mathematics, have a long shower and briefly rediscover the sheer joy of my trusty ol' Gameboy SP. :)

Study well and dream sweet. You have my love, dear people.
Lise xx

On a Walk.

Do not mourn the loss of the old, for in its place will come the new.
Make peace in your mind, stillness in your soul and fire in your heart.
Always remember to love and be thankful.

Grateful for a lovely head-clearing walk, some photos and friendly cows, meditation and a sunset.
Happy Sunday, everyone.
So much love.

Lise xx

Hello, Strangers.

Yet again, I fail to blog for an unreasonable amount of time.

15th October was the annual St Joey's fete - grateful for a nice evening, watching the class entertainment, eating fudge, cent sale and all that sort of thing. Spent my time, mostly, eating all the fantastic things from the cake stall and helping Mum with the craft stall. Not sure which I enjoyed more :P

Tastes of the Tablelands on the 16th October, where I was grateful and privileged to have been asked to model for Blue Lagoon in Mareeba. By happy coincidence, I adored one of the dresses so very much that it will become the dress I wear to formal. Grateful and excited :)

17th October was a student free day and I was grateful for a most glorious day in Cairns; people watching, art gallery, the Lion King, op shopping, gelato on the Esplanade and a variety of other things. A great day to chill out after the stress of school was starting to set back in and put people on edge.

On Thursday night, 20th October, Atherton State High School had its first Leadership Soiree at Tinaroo Lakes Resort to hand over our roles to the newly elected 2012 leaders, as well as launch the Community Connect program, which links the school leaders and the school itself with community organisations like the QCWA, Lions, Masonic Lodge, etc and has been in the pipeline all year. I was grateful to be chosen as one of the Prefects to make a speech and it was a really lovely night for everyone involved, one of the many things I'll remember from my senior year.

The next afternoon, Friday 21st October, I finally took the plunge and got my hair cut short. Grateful to Debbie for the fantastic job she did for me and for the bizarre feeling of liberation it gave me. Folk Festival started that night, and so had a great evening wandering around, talking to hippies about fossicking, eating kofta and walking around and having some good chats with fellow wristband-less people Jarrah and Jake when the others went into the paid venues to listen to the music.

The next morning was spent cheerfully eating mangoes from the markets, then putting jam on scones and serving tea and washing dishes with the ladies from the CWA. Had some lovely conversations about all sorts of things. Spent that afternoon wandering through the Folk Festival, went home and had a lovely cat nap for a few hours :P then back down to the festival til around one in the morning, I believe.

Grateful for Sunday morning brunch at the Whistle Stop, brownies and a wonderful snooze in the sun at Frawleys to round out the weekend :)

Thursday the 27th was presentation night. Grateful for so very much fun with Annie and our silly rambling the whole way through, and to be awarded the prizes for Senior English and History. Congratulations to Gracie on being Middle School Dux for 2011 :)

Grateful last night for a family gathering for Liam's 5th birthday, Pikachu cake and Just Dance battles, Gnomeo and Juliet and chatting :)

Grateful today for a sleep-in, a day to study and, hopefully, a walk up Mt Baldy this afternoon :)

I hope you all have a beautiful day :)
Lise xx

Reunion.

Hi, all. It's been awhile.

Almost a whole month without a blog. Despicable effort on my part, as I'm sure you all agree. So much has happened, so very much to be grateful for. It's hard to think where to begin.

Grateful that the term was over, and spent the next couple of days digging through my entire room in am enormous, whirlwind cleanup. Grateful for the feeling of satisfaction I got to gaze on a clean room and into a tidy cupboard - felt good to de-clutter. Plenty of rubbish bags were hauled to the bin on those days.

Grateful for a fantastic, fantastic weekend at the Wallaby Creek Festival - so much fun was had. Jarrah, Rere, Jake, Jas and Anthony, you were all such wonderful company and o was grateful to share the weekend and it's experiences with you all :) grateful fir hippie dancing, groovy music, a timid guitarist who Rere and I befriended, kofta balls, long walks through the rainforest, the refreshing and rejuvenating feeling of swimming in the cold creek, sitting under waterfalls and lying in the sun, sleeping snuggled up under the stars for the first time and the preachings of Poppy Rainbow :). The freedom and relaxed vibe of the whole place was just so beautiful.

A few days after Wallaby Creek, off to dance camp in Cairns, where I was grateful for simultaneous hard work and fun, singing madly on the pool, stealing teabags, tantrums in the bathtub, silliness in general, fasta pasta, awful chick flicks, being on the news and a variety of other things mainly revolving around the beautiful, oh-so-awesome and very special dancing girls :) Annie, Tahlia, Remy, Kayla - you guys are nuts, but I love you, you brighten my life :) and I will miss you all so much next year.

Return from dance camp, a lovely relaxed day watching movies and chilling out on Sunday and back to school the next day. Ah, dear. First week was not so bad. Grateful for the Wednesday night spent in Cairns with Annie, Elspeth and Riley, splendid time eating Italian and watching a show of short dance pieces. Intriguing.

And then on the Saturday, Full Noise concert in Townsville :) Eskimo Joe, Grinspoon and Illy were the definite standouts/highlights. Really enjoyed the trip with Annie and Adriana :) people-spotting, Red Bull and moshing like crazy cats. Dirty, sweaty, tiring and an amazing night :)

And now, it's Monday again. Grateful today for a nice quiet day - everyone still getting back into the swing of term, both at school and dancing.

That's about all there is to say, for tonight. I'll be more diligent with my blogs, truly :)

dream sweetly of lovely things.
Lise xx