Australia Day Sobriety

Hello and Happy Australia Day Bloggites! I know that I am a day early on the salutations, but if I was blogging on a public Holiday it would just be unaustralian.

So I am sure you are wondering how the whole sobriety challenge is going. I am happy to report that it is going well- not one little drop of alcohol has passed these lips in 25 days- yay me :) I think I am up to stage 4 of the yet undetermined number of stages through this challenge. What is stage number 4 you ask. Well I think it might be useful to go through the first few so we all know we are standing.

Stage One: Sleep Deprivation
This may not be the case for every person who decides to ditch the bottle, but for a good 2 weeks my quality of sleep was shocking. I didn't realise that on most, if not every night, I wen to sleep with a bit of a wobble on. So getting to sleep without a wink of assistance was a little trying. But as you guessed it- I prevailed. Nearing the end of the second week I was exercising my heart out, trying to keep days jam packed so at the end of the day I would pass out from exhaustion. I am SUPER happy to say that this stage has passed and I am sleeping like a baby.

Stage Two: Sugar Craving
I have been assured that this one happens to every reformed drinker- The sugar cravings. I bet whilst you where getting tipsy that you didn't know you were ingesting a whole lot of sugar. Yes- especially in beer. Wine is not so bad, but carbs are similar, if not sugar and there are loads of carbs in Wine...
So I went a little baking crazy, starting with lemon butter- an orgasmic infusion of lemon, egg and sugar slowly cooked over a double boiler until it becomes heaven in liquid form. Then there was the ice creams- Banana, Coconut... I managed to refrained myself from baking cookies otherwise I would be the size of a house right now. And my dear friend Chocolate, I know I abused you for a week there, but I have a healthy respect for you once again I promise. To top it off I have watched that much Nigella Lawson that I have been eating sugar vicariously through her. Sugar Cracvings and all, there is still somethings I won't do- Like eating butterscotch sauce by the tablespoon in the middle of the night (or at anytime mind you) Thank you Nigella for sacrificing your arse for mine. I am happy again to say that the sugar cravings have passed and my diet back on the healthy track.

Stage 3: My good I am 17 again- but worse!
Hello pimples! Of course this stage does have something to do with all the ingested sugar over the prior weeks, but it is also a case of the old body going "Hang on a minute... its been a good 2-3 weeks since tahnee has injected toxins into me- EVACUATE TOXINS NOW BEFORE SHE CHANGES HER MIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I am currently sponsored by Natio, Neutragena and the saltwater at Currumbin Alley. Unfortunately I cannot report that this stage has passed, but it has reduced in severity (Thank god! I only have so much fringe to cover my forehead)

And Welcome to the Now.

Stage 4:Emotional Evacuation
This might not be what everyone goes through and it isn't like I avoiding the TV in case a Hallmark moment comes on. But after I stopped trying to distract myself with alcohol and then sugar, the silence that comes after the cessation of distraction is brief. It seems the mind and soul have got the message that the body sent out to my face "Oh, looks like it spring cleaning time. Lets get rid of some of that baggage we have been carrying around shall we?" So I have had the pleasure of recounting some of the more painful and embarrassing events of my life. Though pleasure really isn't the correct word to describe this phase, I know that it is good for me. I am just waiting to feel like it is good for me. But slowly but surely I have been able to let go, piece by piece, like dropping sheets of paper into the wind. I am guessing I have a manuscript of papers to go, but at least I have started.

But on all accounts this is going really well and with all these stages I haven't had a chance to even thinking about alcohol. For the record, I am still my happy positive self, just with a few private moments that's all :)

So happy Australia and I'll raise my Bundy Ginger Beer with you all in toast to this great nation. See you at the Beach xoxox

Off and racing into the New Year

Hello again my poppets. I am sorry that I haven't been blogging my heart out as usual. It is already 12 days into the new year and the days have been flying along! You will be happy to hear that my lack of blog-worthy text is not due to inaction or procrastination. I have genuinely been busy tackling this new year and all the goals I have set for myself. Take today for example. I was up just after 5am and went for 3km or so walk along the beach with my mother. Then back home and into the Wii Fit Plus for some yoga, strength training and a bit of a laugh. Then I grabbed my surfboard and headed out to the Currumbin Estuary where I am keenly practicing my paddling skills so I don't drown or pass out from exhaustion when I finally hit the waves this weekend. Now I am here with you, and keeping on top of my "quit for a cause" campaigning and a brief saunter into the job market to find the job of my dreams. Then off to the Chiropractor at 11pm, work from 12-3.30, then jog till 4.00, swimming with max till 5pm and then back to work till 9.30. So as you can imagine my ceramic teapot is having a restful break as I give the old coffee machine a good workout.

So now I must admit most of my blogs this year will be short and sweet as I briefly flutter here and tell you of my little daily miracles and jog off to that big wide world. I am getting closer to all my goals step by step and I will let you know how it all goes. Until then, let a smile grace your face xoxoxo

Please help make a difference

Dear friends,

Please check out my fundraising page: http://gotaf.socialtwist.com/redirect?l=720166342616002662321

I'm trying to make a difference for a great cause that is close to my heart.

I have created a fundraising page through GoFundraise to help support this cause and raise some much needed funds.

I would greatly appreciate your support by making a donation to through my web page. You can also leave personal messages and get involved yourself. 

Together we can make a difference.

Thank you for your help!

http://gotaf.socialtwist.com/redirect?l=720166342616002662321

Introducing zen into the mixture

Good Morning Bloggites! It has been a while since my teapot and I have made an appearance, and whilst my teapot cannot join us at this time, I only happy to represent us both.

The last few weeks have been a truly marvelous time for me. I have enjoyed another fabulous Christmas with my family, I have got my best friend back from Panama and I had the opportunity to travel throughout Vietnam with my mother. I have done more in the last two months than I have in my whole life and honestly I couldn’t be happier. The traveler’s bible, Lonely Planet, cautioned in jest “Warning: Traveling to Vietnam may change your life”. As clique as it sounds, it has. If I a woman still in the wilderness, I am truly among it rather than gazing upon it. I finally feel at home in my own skin.

Last night was the first time in my life that someone had described me as calm. And at that moment I realized, I was no longer nervous about the world, I was no longer trying to manipulate it or control it. I am finally just enjoying the ride. For that and many lessons, Vietnam I thank you.

In addition to enjoying the ride, I have truly found the meaning of gratitude. Sometimes all it takes it a walk in another man’s shoes to realize how comfortable your shoes are. For all the bitching and moaning I used to do, I give anyone living in a third world country the permission to slap me…gently. I have finally realized the fulfillment of life is to focus on the haves, not the have-nots. If all I had in this world are my family and friends, I am wealthier than most people than most people I meet. Believe it or not, I am truly blessed.

So what I going to do with this “zen” energy? I am going to DO. You hear me, Tahnee, the master procrastinator is actually going to start putting her money were her mouth is. And if I were you, I be edging your bets in my direction, because this year I am on a winner. Just for starters, this is what we can all expect to see me cross of the list in the new year:

I will get an awesome job
I will find an awesome pad in the city that is perfect for the three ferrets in every way
I will dance Salsa, Hip Hop and Contemporary
I will write a song… or two( woo hoo... sorry I have the rhyming fever)
I will give up alcohol and raise money and awareness whilst doing it
I will write, read and continue my research
I will take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself
I will be kind to myself
I will learn French
I will be financially free

And that’s just the beginning people. And Richard, if you are reading this, I haven’t forgotten you- You on the list too buddy so watch out!

Well Goodbye for now as I am off to conquer the world, and rest assured I will keep you posted.

Book List Updates

I have powered through the following books:

Lets not Crew it, Let's Just do it- Richard Branson
Act like a Lady, think like a man- Steve Harvey
The Richest Man in Babylon- Richard Clarson

The Ease of Achievement

Well the ceramic teapot has been replaced with vietnamese iced tea, but the vibe is still the same- small steps to achieve a much bigger picture. I have been amazed the little things I have achieved that graduate on to bigger accomplishments and make the final challenges appear so much more attainable.

For example my climbing challenge-

Step One: When I first put this down in writing my friend Steve called me and invited me to go indoor rock climbing at burleigh before I left for Vietnam. I scrambled up those walls with joy and abandon and though little of the physical strain it takes to climb those walls. The hardest thing was letting go

Step Two: I arrived at the majestic temples of Angor Wat and Thom where I climbed my first "mountain"- the locals call Bayon, the temple mountain. It is only about 50m to the summit, but I found that my new found skills came in handy as the steps are shallow and steep. This was also the case at the terrace of the Leper King. I must admit although it might not seem that high I felt a great sense of accomplishment when I reached the top. And Mum did a fantastic job. She has a raging case of vertigo but sucked it up and made it to the top as well.

Step Three: In Battambang, to get to the Killing CAves, you need to climb Boat mountain. Admittantly, there are steps up the mountain but it is much, much higher and again when I reached the top, dripping in sweat from the Cambodian heat, the smile again was broad. I was yet another step closer to achieveing my mountain climbing challenge

Now I await the mountains in Sapa in Northern Vietnam. It will be trekking up the mountains but there are no predetermined steps. Soon, on to the next step where I will be on the side of a mountain, harnessed up and finding my footholds and telling you about the biggest smile ever!

This challenge in itself has shown that I need to be kinder to myself, take joy in the little accomplishments and that joy will propel me further and faster into the future that I create for myself, step by step

Off with her hair!

Hello and greetings from the busy Ho Chi Ming City! I have a quick report in that I have crossed something off my list:

I CUT OFF MY HAIR!

I figure as it is almost as hot as hades here, that this was the time and the place to take the leap, or should I say cut. Can you believe that I got a cut, colour, shampoo, blowdry and massage and got my mum a pedicure and manicure for just over $40- I LOVE THIS PLACE! Most off all I am finally coming to understand why I came to this place- to understand fully the privledged life we leave in Australia.

Here is a quick comparsion: As a supervisor at BHH I could make up to $800-$1000 for a 38 hour week, depending on loadings and public holidays. Last night we meet Tai, manager of the Go2BBQ here in Saigon. He works everyday but Wednesday, but currently works everyday as his staff are new. He can make a MAXIMUM of 4, 000, 000 VND per month (Which is about $200 AUS). About 1, 500, 000 goes to his Mother in Denang as she has debts and has 8 children in total. His share accomodation is 500, 000 per month (and god knows how many people he shares with). The last 2,000,000 VND (approx 500,000 VND per week) is all he has left. His ambition is to become a tour guide- which you have to UNIVERSITY for! So he works hard for his tips as you can imagine. This is the story of someone that is somewhat well off here in saigon. Imagine what it is like for the street peddlers and other vietnamese people that break their back for a meagre wage. I came to realise, that no matter what you do here at home, whether it is "f***king scraping dishes" as chef so eloquently puts it, we truley have it good in Australia