Welcome, 2012

Hello there, everyone.
Tonight I am grateful for the company of good friends. For a lovely dinner with the Turner family, including a game of pool, coffee, concert photo sessions, pigs on a truck in Bali and gossipping. For all my wonderful friends - Jarrah, Rere, Jake, Becca, Ryan, Gavin, Reegan, and anyone I may have accidentally omitted, it was grand indeed to welcome in the New Year with you. Thank you to the Beatons, for being wonderful hosts, and for the fireworks set off in the paddock and the lovely paper lantern. Grateful for meaningful conversations, a bit of crazy dancing, a very nice midnight message from Tahlia, armchair boats, toasts to anything we fancied and a rose which smelled delightful. It was a great night (and morning) and I'm glad that I could begin this new year and new adventure surrounded by wonderful people as I was.

We've reached the end of another year, and this blog has been going for exactly twelve months. It's been an interesting project, challenging at times but I think I got out of it precisely what I intended to - to be able to find the little positive things in even the worst, most dreary, want-to-hide-under-the-covers-forever type days. Even when everything seemed to be going wrong there was always something (there IS always something) that I was grateful for that day. If it was a friendly shop assistant, a lame joke, the completion of a difficult task...always, there is something to be grateful for each day. I hope that in some small way my blog might have helped the lovely people who read it to ponder what they were grateful for, too :)

I've got 221 blog posts for the year, and so many things that I have been grateful for in 2011. It has been a big year not just for me personally, but also a year of great change for the whole world. There have been countless devastating earthquakes, floods, fires and other tragedies. There has been a royal wedding and the death of Osama Bin Laden. Sudan gained independence, Egypt and Libya broke free from the tyrannous claws of dictators. Many talented people, including Elizabeth Taylor, Steve Jobs, Brian Jacques and Amy Winehouse have left the world and as always new talent is rising. Closer to home, Tropical Cyclone Yasi devastated the Far North Queensland Coast, Parliament passed a bill legalising same-sex marriage in Queensland and Darren Lockyer played his final football game for the Brisbane Broncos.

On a personal level, this year has also been a big one. We lost our beloved Grandad Col earlyish in the year, I was maid of honour at the Deb Ball and was honoured to be crowned Atherton Maize Queen. I graduated high school with not one 'C' on my report card and exited with an OP score of 2. I gained my teaching qualifications for BDA tap and jazz, spent an amazing week with friends at Mission Beach to celebrate graduation and had a blissful time at various musical festivals. I performed in my final Dance Connection production, acted like a fool backstage with all the marvellous people, drank champagne and giggled with the girls. I've been on camping and road trips. I've watched good movies, heard beautiful music, met wonderful and inspiring people. To all the wonderful friends I have kept and the new ones I have made - thank you, you are wonderful and the year has been so much better for your presence.

This is my final blog, and I feel that I'll miss the experience of keeping it. I'm so very glad that I did it, and am ever so grateful to those of you who have read it, regardless of how regularly that may have been.

Last year, my New Year's resolution was to keep up this blog for the entire year, which I have somehow managed to do successfully. This year, my resolutions are;

- to learn to speak Italian
- to get fit and eat healthier
- to work hard and save as much money as possible to go to Europe with at the end of the year.
- to let go, emotionally, of what is no longer needed, however rose-tinted and lovely it may seem, and look to the future in the hope of finding a more true and fulfilling sense of happiness and purpose within myself.

Thank you for your support, and for the last time I wish you a good night's sleep (or not, as the case may be) and the very sweetest of dreams. May this new year be as glorious and prosperous as you could possibly hope.

All of my grateful, grateful love.
Lise xx

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