Travel Tales

It's true what they say about travel broadening your horizons. It doesn't matter if it is three hours from home or a long haul international flight, there will always be something you will learn, about the place you are in, about a different culture and about yourself.

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to spend a couple of weeks in Japan with my beloved. We knew at the outset that it would be an adventure, but what an adventure it was! Not only do I now know how to make chopsticks work enough to not starve and how to say thank you in Japanese, I learnt so much about myself along the way. 

Fushimi Iari-taisha

There are always surprises and unexpected things around the corner. Sometimes you do not find what you were looking for but you might find something else amazing. 

Ryozen Kannon

If you can master the public transport system and cope with being a little lost occasionally, the world is your oyster, or mackerel or prawn. There is a lot of fish on the menu in Japan!

Imperial Gardens, Kyoto

Local knowledge is invaluable. Things are not always what they seem but this does not always diminish their beauty. 

Suirokaku Aqueduct,
Nanzen-ji

Sanmon Gate

Some things are worth getting out of bed early for. 

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

There will be new friends to be made along the way and despite planning, the things you stumble on may end up being some of your favourite moments. 

Otagi Nenbutsu-ji

Try new things and always know that even if you don't enjoy it, it might still make a pretty picture!

Nishiki Markets

Gion

Enjoy and embrace all the things that make your destination different from home. 

Hiroshima

 Go with the flow...

Shibuya, Tokyo

Many things about Japan were well and truly out of my comfort zone...and I enjoyed that!

 I tried to speak the language, ate different things, remembered that free wi-fi and google maps are every traveller's best friend, packed an even smaller bag than last time, lost my bags (momentarily and on the way home, thank goodness), enjoyed the uninterrupted company of my beloved for the first time in a long time, got lost, found things I was not expecting and took so, so many photos.

Every time I travel I long to see more. I become braver and my wish list contains more and more destinations I would not have considered before. I want to try new things while I have a new and stronger appreciation of what I have at home. I have had long and monotonous travel time to ponder on what is really important to me, what I am passionate about and how I will prioritise these things. 

So while the dramas and workload of Term 4 that is familiar to all teachers encompasses my days, I dream of the next destination...and the one after that and the one after that!

Kate xx

Here & Now ~ September

It has been a while but I am still here...
This is a very small snippet of what has been going on.

Loving // The change of season and the abundant wildflowers this year. It has been much wetter than it has been for a long time and the paddocks are alive with colour. It takes me back to my childhood and memories of collecting paper daisies or going out on our property to look for Sturt Desert Peas with my Grandpa

Eating // Testing out the Broken Hill School of the Air cookbook, Boots Off Apron On and making jam drops. They make me think of shearing. I think they were one of the Smoko Box staples!

Drinking // Beautiful English Rose tea given to me by a friend for my birthday. 

Feeling // mixed emotions about changes and saying goodbyes. I keep hearing that quote in my head from The Sound of Music ' When the Lord closes a door, somewhere he opens a window.'  Other days I just hear Elton John singing 'The Circle of Life'. Ah well, if nothing else I am entertained.

Making // Time to just be. Tricky, but essential

Thinking // About seas of white paper daisies, clumps of yellow billy buttons and splashes of red desert peas...

Dreaming // Of days spent adventuring, exploring, getting lost, being an intrepid travellers
 with my beloved...these days are coming! Soon...

Enjoy the spring flowers (or the autumn colours), wherever you may be.

Kate xx


Linking with Sarah from 'Say! Little Hen' for Here and Now

Here & Now ~ Lazy Days, Vintage Love & Pizza

  

vintage clothes



making pizzas at a family celebration



I fell in love with this old grandstand

Loving // All the photo opportunities there are in my everyday. I just need to make the time and look up.
Eating //  Too much! I am still thinking about the banana bread and mascarpone with strawberries and coconut that I had for breakfast while in Adelaide recently with my mum. It is definitely time to go back to work and get some order back in the eating regime!

Drinking //  I have a little thing for rose at the moment and I got my hands on a Bird in Hand D&B Pour Les Amour rose 2015....so lovely

Feeling // Rather soggy. It is very humid here, not something that happens often and I will only put up with it if there is rain accompanying the sogginess! We've had a little...fingers crossed for more.

Making //  Photo books on Snapfish. I have many photos and while we have a digital screen and photo screen savers, it is still nice to hold them. I have made a book with a selection of pictures from 2015 and another with photos of my dad to help the grandchildren remember,and cherish those special memories.

Thinking // About a family holiday. I have the travel bug since our family adventure last year. Where to next I wonder...N.Z., Canada, Italy, Switzerland, maybe Austria again???

Dreaming // Of finding some cool vintage clothing. I have been watching Dawn O'Porter in This Old Thing, Friday nights on ABC2. I love her clothes, as well as some of the finds she has made in vintage and second hand clothing shops

I'm joining in 'Here & Now' with Sarah at Say! Little Hen. Pop over and see her 'Here & Now' post if you have time...such beautiful photos :)

Kate xx

...and so the adventure begins

                                     "one's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things" ~ Henry Miller  

I have been lucky enough to have been on a big family adventure. I have seen some things I have thought about for a long time and some things I couldn't have imagined and I have learnt, questioned, wondered, laughed, despaired, followed, led, tasted...
Here are some random thoughts and some new ways of seeing things!

travelling with children is an adventure, exhausting, eye opening, challenging...

                                                              Australia has REALLY good coffee

    for every moment that is uncomfortable, there will be a thing of immeasurable beauty

                               
                               go to see the things you've heard much of, but be prepared to share it!

                                        breath...

never underestimate the value of pictures and arrows on signs

                            
                         explore what is under the city as well as above

                                                          look up

do it your way
                              

                                                                                                     wear good shoes

                    everyone knows where Sydney, NSW is...

                                                        in Europe, Australia really is the other side of the world!

hunger is a traveller's enemy

                                airport security is a necessary evil

                                                                                       catch up with old friends

             make new friends

                                 keep a journal

there is nothing quite like your own pillow

                                                                                     pack your sense of humour

...and of fun!

                                                                                                   free wifi is your friend

There are so many stories, too many to share and so much was gained by all of us, big and small.
The most important thing I will take away, other than memories, is to enjoy the little things for one day I will look back and realise they were the big things!

Kate xx