Lest-we-forget
This floral tribute to ANZAC Day ensures that we will remember them.
Cnr Hall and Glenfield Rds, Auckland. New Zealand.
Carolyn Gibson - Get the Facts! |
WeighInOnline |
Carolyn Gibson - Get the Facts! |
WeighInOnline |
This floral tribute to ANZAC Day ensures that we will remember them.
Cnr Hall and Glenfield Rds, Auckland. New Zealand.
Every Easter my daughter Victoria used to buy her Dad a BIG boxed Easter egg and every year he would tell her he didn't like chocolate eggs and why didn't she buy him a chocolate bar. It was Easter for goodness sake - that's why!! Say no more.
There was a ritual that followed. He complained, he put it down behind his chair in protest, I retrieved it and put it on the top shelf of the pantry and eventually threw it away before the arrival of the next egg.
One day I was home alone and went to visit the pantry "as you do".
I stared blankly at the groceries that offered no treat until my eyes rose to the lofty heights of the top shelf. THE EGG.
I broke in from the back, carefully tore the golden foil, and knocked a hole to allow me to break off a 'wee' piece. I smoothed the foil and returned it to the cupboard - perfect.
From time to time I revisited the egg until one day I realized that someone else had also been to the top shelf. Only the bottom piece remained. When Victoria came home I asked 'have you been eating your Father's Easter egg?' "I have!' she said defiantly, 'but I wasn't the first there!'
We laughed and decided it was time to lay the egg to rest. I grabbed the egg and together we sat crossed legged on the floor as I ripped open the box and dropped the last remaining piece onto a plate. To our horror we realized that we hadn't been the only visitors to the egg - it was crawling with moth maggots!!
So an Easter Message.
Don't eat your chocolate egg in the dark!
Share it with friends!
Have a wonderful Easter.
PS. This is not a lone story. Last year it was reported in the newspaper that several outlets had eggs returned with maggots!
It's Sunday afternoon and I have just whipped up a batch of scones for my Mum who's coming over. As I rolled out my scones I was hit with a huge wave of nostalgia about the scones my grandmother used to make. I loved her scones and sometimes if she had some fresh cream left over she would add that and they were her special scones.
But my nostalgia was tinged with regret. Regret that I hadn't been more insistent when I asked for her recipe and she said "oh no recipe - just rough measurements. I couldn't tell you exactly." I had eyes! Why didn't I ask "can you teach me?" or "can I watch you next time you bake?" I was too easily deterred as I raced to the table to enjoy the warm buttered treat.
Maybe it is because I am a grandmother now. Will anyone ask me for my family favourite recipes? Okay, so I have the published cookbooks BUT this is different. I cherish the few aged, handwritten recipes my grandmother lovingly did write out for me for her Bread and Butter Pickles, Christmas Pudding and Marmalade. All far more precious than a typed copy.
So my thought today was let's start writing down, in a little book, our specialties of the house - our families favourites - add a little thought for the day, press an autumn leaf or two and create a legacy that hopefully someone just might treasure in the future.
Let me know what you do, go onto my Facebook or Twitter. I would love to hear your ideas.
PS... check in later today. After my Mum has gone home I will post my recipe for Orange Infused Date scones using an old recipe from my Irish side of the family with just that added sweet treat of the dates. YUM. Mouth watering as I write - I am off to enjoy my batch now.
And I know – you were all thinking I had packed up my tent and left town OR that I was out and about having fun.
Absolutely not!
No – it has been head down and dare I say it, 'bum' up as I pounded the keyboard writing my new book. In fact I have pounded so hard I have actually worn the letters off some of the keys. Just as well I am a touch typist!
I am grateful to my family and friends who were still there and waiting for my emergence because I can tell you that there were some glazed over eyes and suppressed groans when the word went out I was about to write my 10th book.
Writing is a challenging experience. Wonderfully formed sentences float into your head… usually at around 2am… which one tries to scratch down on a piece of paper, in the dark, before it flutters away. You can imagine what Jac thinks about that flurry of activity!
But here we are finished and I am back.
I will keep you all posted about the launch date in November.
Very exciting.
"I'm going to run away", I said to Jac.
"Yip, I am going to run away, change my name and start a new life"
"What's brought this on so suddenly?" asked Jac.
"I want to be WILD, free as a bird, live on the road – and not have to return to the city. In other words I want to holiday-on."
"You are already somewhat wild, free as a bird and live on the road" said Jac.
"Yes I am wild, wild at having to go back, yes I am a bird and yes I do live on the road but traveling most of the day in congested traffic jams is not quite what I had in mind.
I am definitely for the off!"
"What are you going to miss out on by going home?" Jac asked.
"Got you!" I thought. "The sound of waves breaking on the beach, seagulls paddling in the surf, clear beautiful evenings – I want to capture these moments forever AND I can’t do that at home."
"No problem," said Jac, – "it can be arranged."
So, courtesy of Jac, let me share with you my captured moments.
Oh… and I haven't given up my thoughts of running away, in fact when I mentioned it to a few people they were keen to join me. I will let you know when I am for the 'off.'
In the meantime join me at the beach.
Thanks Jac.
We all love a good 'before and after story' and I guess that's because it leads us to the anticipated happy ending.
And it is here, with the word "ending" that I have an issue - for many things in life, the ending, is in fact, the beginning of the next story.
I want to share a before and after story with you – and this one has a bit of a bite.
Seven years ago I was advised I had a problem that, if not attended to, would lead to complications in the future.
The solution was drastic – unthinkable – how would I manage to eat, face people – three years of treatment!!!? WHAT WOULD PEOPLE THINK!?
I procrastinated for two years – in fact wasted two years of treatment time. My decision to proceed shocked even me – and after the initial treatment I sat in my car, looked in to the mirror and screamed – "What Have You Done!?"
For nearly THREE years, (did you get the 3 years!!?) I endured discomfort, difficulty eating – my speech was impaired and I suffered ulceration. The old saying that 'time passes' (when you are having fun) is so true when the time has passed – but let me tell you it was one hell of a long time - at the time!!!
Everyone had an opinion.
"What does Jac think about it all then?"
"Why are you doing it? – you were alright how you were."
"Does it really matter at your age?"
"Do you think it will make you look younger?" Now that did amuse me. At my age, 3 years of looking like an apprentice of Dracula, with the hope of looking younger.
NO. NO. NO!
Last week I went for my 2 year check-up.
My specialist made an important point – "Everyone can't wait to reach the end of their treatment – but it is the 20 year outcome that is important to me – the maintenance of the treatment long-term." A small movement was detected and an adjustment was required – I am back in a splint for another 2 months.
We work hard to achieve our success story – we need to feel equally committed to the long-term outcome. As it is with weight loss –
we want to lose the weight but we often equally don't really want to have to do it. We choose the outcome we get. Thoughts of – it will take too long – can't wait. Time passes – regardless.
Maintenance of what we have achieved continues – deal with small changes rather than starting again. I work on a 1 kilo margin – and have never been above it.
Is it worth the effort? – Absolutely – without doubt!
Oh yes – my 'critic' had some input too.
"What a shame, dear, that you left it so late in your life."
Maybe – but I intend to get good mileage out of these choppers - just look out for me in the rest home – I will be the one smiling.
Setting a personal goal begins with a single thought that flutters through our mind like a summer breeze.
As we return to this thought it begins to evolve into an idea which we visit regularly.
It is at this point that our idea will either be allowed to flourish into a goal, or is squashed and ground beneath our heel.
Five years ago I had a thought which became an idea. So excited was I that I raced to friends and family for them to share my enthusiasm. Few people can immediately share your vision – because it is yours alone and sometimes words cannot fully express it – yet.
So here come the buckets of cold water.
The technology isn't available.
The cost would be prohibitive.
How would it work?
Who has the IT knowledge to create this?
… and on it goes.
As the words tumble down on us we feel our enthusiasm wane, dilute and begin to drain.
Doubt replaces the vacated space.
Maybe they are right.
How silly of me to even think about it.
I knew it was outside my expertise.
Perish the thought that I might succeed!!
Forget it.
It is easier to walk away because to not do so opens us to ridicule and "I told you so" from the spectators.
How often is a brilliant idea lost before it has the opportunity to become a goal?
How often, in the future, do we see the maturation of 'our idea' being developed and feted by someone else?
"Oh," we say, "I thought of that…"
My thought, all those years ago, was of an 'accountability partnership' online.
My idea was a website where I could personally provide one-on-one guidance, an interactive diet, a food planner that as you fill it in it displays on my screen and all the tools for successful weight loss without physically attending a class.
My goal of the WeighInOnline website has been realized and was launched last Tuesday in partnership with an amazingly talented technical and creative team.
Yes there were challenges - buckets and buckets of cold water.
But I brought an umbrella.
Nurture, embrace and follow your thoughts-ideas-goals - their realization is in your hands.
You realise how fast time is flying by when you have just had the closing ceremony for a 'significant' birthday and WHAM! – the next one arrives.
I was dwelling on this when I discovered a whole new and positive dimension to getting oldER.
Last weekend we were on a flight to Sydney. The cabin attendant wandered through the plane, he passed us, but then he stopped and returned. He smiled and leaned towards me.
'Would YOU like a blanket?' he said in a very kindly manner. Do you know how hard it is to get a BLANKET on a short flight!?
"Isn't that nice," I said to Jac.
A 7am departure with a 5am check in gives new meaning to red eyes - when you are a year oldER. Now it is red eyes with a face severely challenged by gravity!
Emerging from the Terminal ar Sydney, an elderly man rushed up to me and said "Give me your bag".
PANIC! OMG! It's a Bag Snatch!!! – Jac stop him! Quick!
"Relax," said Jac – "did you not consider that he is trying to help you?"
"Isn't that nice," I said to Jac.
Jet-lagged (after a 3 hours flight!!!) we wandered around the city and stopped wearily outside a busy café during the lunchtime rush. Indecision. Was this a good place to eat? What was on the menu? Were there any tables?
A waiter, watching our dilemma came to the rescue. He ushered us in to the café, showed us how to order from the counter, found us a table, made suggestions on the SANDWICH we were ordering off the blackboard and even moved a couple of business men in suits who tried to sit at our table. "Oh no," he shouted waving his arms, "that table is for THIS couple!"
"Isn't that nice," I said to Jac.
But where was our hotel? No map, no idea!
It was now 5pm. We stopped a courier as he raced down the street, head hidden behind parcels. "Excuse me. Are we heading in the right direction for Jamieson St?" Jac asked. "Wait there," the courier called, "I will be back soon." Not only did he return, but he took us to his van, located a map, found the hotel and gave us detailed directions on how to get there.
"Isn' that nice," I said to Jac.
"People have been really lovely to us today and I suddenly know why. It is because when they look at us they see an 'old couple'. We now qualify for the 'Silver-Haired Service!'
So I approach my birthday with a whole new attitude.
I don't feel any oldER so I will take the painkillers for the aching joints, I won't look in the mirror with my glasses on and I will gratefully accept all the new benefits of Silver-Haired Service. It is a win – win situation!
After having endure my endless commentaries about this year’s latest “Dancing with the Stars” on TVNZ, my friend Anna gave me a special gift this week.
It is Stefan Olivieri’s autograph – Wow! I’m thrilled, over the moon!!!
But it has led me to question what is it about celebrity autographs that causes us to value ownership of a scrawl on a page? I mean, what is it – a bit of ink or what?
I decided it was all about ownership and confirmation that ‘our’ star lived up to the high expectations we attributed to them and, in a strange and probably pathetic way, makes us feel ‘connected’ to them. It also means that they recognize and acknowledge us as fans. Payback time for unwavering devotion.
However, it isn’t always so. Read any magazine and you will find headlines “Star smashes camera, ignores fans - refuses to sign autographs.”
I witnessed an example of this a few years ago. For some obscure reason, long forgotten, I had attended a Dave Dobbyn concert with my daughter and her friends. Front row was their priority and we shoved our way to the stage.
As we waited for the show to begin, I chatted with the young guy beside me who was a HUGE Dobbyn fan. He was clutching the star’s latest CD and a specially purchased gold pen to get Dobbyn’s autograph. At the first opportunity he held his CD high and asked Dobbyn to sign it. “Too busy, can’t do it now… I will sign it at the end of the show.”
He never signed it.
I can appreciate the pressure on stars, especially at these shows, but as I watched the young man leave the venue, head down, gold pen unused and no autograph – Dave Dobbyn not only lost the young guy as a fan but also he lost my respect, and no doubt the respect of all of the people I have repeated this story to. I don’t know why but I still think about that young fan.
It upset me at the time, and obviously still does because I am still going on about it. I felt so sorry that the poor guy’s hopes and efforts to get that ‘scrawl’ were of no value to the celebrity.
Celebrity status, so sought after in the early years, does come with a price – fans. No fans – no sales, no status.
So Stefan – what a star! You deserve your Celebrity Status, thank you for my little bit of ‘scrawl’ and for that – you have a fan for LIFE.
Oh, and what was that song that DD used to sing? The one that the fans loved and became a huge hit because of the fans? Oh, right! Yeah that’s it… LOYAL! What a joke!
PS. Marg just told me that she was at a Bryan Ferry concert and saw Mr Ferry sign an old vinyl album that a fan was waving at him - in the middle of his concert! Joan Armatrading was supporting act at the same show and shesigned autographs in the foyer during intermission!AND John Key was queued up alongside Marg while they were trying to get to the bar! Oh that would have been LOTS of "scrawl". No big heads there…
Carolyn Gibson lost 28 kilos over 25 years ago. This experience prompted her to establish the successful "Weight In Slimming Clubs" with the belief that learning to monitor portions while eating delicious, easy-to-make recipes would provide a platform for permanent weight loss. Today Carolyn is the author of nine bestselling diet cookbooks. She is married with one daughter, Victoria, a qualified personal trainer, with whom she has co-authored "The Kiwi KISS Workout" book and "Kiwi KISS All Seasons" cookbook. In 2008 she brought her Kiwi KISS diet to the internet with her successful WeighInOnline website.
