Two weeks ago my Mum died. It's been quite a journey, since then, sorting out emotions, sorting out practicalities, sorting out her things. Dad is with us, living downstairs in their part of the house. Having him close has been great. He and I have been doing quite a bit together, as well as remembering,
When I started early morning swimming at my local beach, I was warmly welcomed into The Buckettes - a community of wonderful ladies who swim. I am pretty much the baby of the group and for a while, felt a bit awkward. This is a group who have swum together, socialised together and been there
Ummmm. . . do I have to take all my clothes off? The short answer is "No, absolutely not". This is one of the most asked questions about massage so I thought I'd write about it. When I studied massage, many years ago, we were told to say, "Take off whatever you're comfortable with". That's
How?s your jaw feeling? Most people carry some tension there. Most people often don?t think of this area as being in need of massage either! Your masseter muscle is your main chewing muscle, covering the sides of your jaw just behind the cheeks. This muscle is the one that clenches your jaw and grinds your
Lying on the massage table, getting oiled up for my Lomi Lomi massage the other day, I realised that I had left it too long since my last massage. How did that happen? Usually I'm pretty consistent about having at least one massage per month - I can feel it when I'm overdue. I figure
Everyone wants a massage, but sometimes getting?in to see your favourite massage therapist is too hard or inconvenient. In moments like that, knowing how to give your partner a decent massage yourself can?be really useful. But ... do you know how to give a good massage? Giving an at-home massage isn't that hard. Here are
My biggest baby's tears rolled down my arm as she sobbed silently, chest heaving. We rocked together, heads on each other's shoulders. We rocked and talked and cried. She found Snowy's star - in Lion King the kings and queens become the stars in the sky when they die. Snowy was certainly a Queen. Regal
As the sun rose on a cold, silent morning at Anzac Cove, ?the mist swirled around us. Overlooking the beach we felt the ghosts of the ANZACS. We walked through the trenches and at Lone Pine we cried for the wasted lives. Julie, my friend, and I visited Gallipoli as part of a backpacking
Cold water swimming! Mid-July a friend finally, after several months, convinced me to join her in the ocean pool at 7am on a Saturday morning. It's the middle of winter! To even contemplate swimming in the sea is crazy! (I only get in the water when it has passed above 25C.) My friend picked me
Today my period arrived. It's been six weeks since the last one. Once, long ago, I'd have been sweating on my period arriving, anxiously awaiting confirmation that I was not, after all, pregnant. On its arrival, the relief would wash over me and then life would carry on as before. Less long ago, I
