samadhi bliss

Love this picture for two reasons - it is great (legal) wall art and it is the back wall of my yoga studio - Samadhi Bliss.

You know you're a yoga nerd when they tell you about the Xmas party:

a 6pm yoga class, followed by a chanting class, then vegetarian food and chai tea - and you think "WOW - I'll be there!"

Seven Random Facts.....

I've been tagged by the erudite Dandelion Seeds to share seven random or weird facts about me - so many weird facts, so little time!

1) I have three sisters and only one brother. All sisters blog.

2) I once had elephant ear fish on the Mekong River for Christmas Lunch. (Yum!)

3) The most memorable meal I've had was soft cheese, baguette and packet bisque from Denmark, in Paris.

4) I "collect" New Year's Eves in exotic places: Viet Nam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Paris, Antarctica. Was tempted to add New York city this year, but decided to wait till spring.

5) I came to teaching later in life, and I love it (most days!)

6) I part-owned a racehorse that won the Summer Cup at Randwick in 1982.

7) I love my 'boyfriend' (we're a little old for the boy/girl tag!) but I also love my independence.

Election Eve

I took this pic last Saturday, shopping in vintage shops at Newtown with daughter Eliza. It is, however, a good snap for election eve - I am hoping for a change of government: from one that cares little about our aboriginal people, the environment or workers rights, to one that

is offering a much better approach. I'll be handing out "How to Votes" all day for the Greens - our preferences go to Labour, so I'll be hoping for a win for them. Greens need votes in the senate - keep 'em honest!

Reports, reports, reports

I would give these sculptures an A+.........I am immersed in school reports at present. There seems to be no way to hurry them along, so I am trying to be very Taoist about it: work less to accomplish more.

How would your own report card look this year? Here's mine:

"Cate has worked hard this year. Sometimes she takes on too much and the quality of her interactions suffers accordingly. Cate is mostly well prepared for school; however, after busy weekends, she has been known to try to "wing it", with predictable results. Procrastination has been an issue at times. Cate has tried her best to balance work and play, and has taken up yoga and art classes this year. Well done, Cate!"

Art Therapy

Making and viewing art is one of the most relaxing things I can do. I'm half way through a ten week Mixed Media course, which is 6.30pm to 9.30pm on Thursday nights. I should get home on Thursday after school and just want to flop in front of the TV - but no, I am eager to get back in the car and drive half an hour to Newtown to spend three hours making art! We've played with ink (white, sepia and black), charcoal on a plastic support and acrylic background, collage, (those old books with yellowed pages have a new use) and conte pastels, plus everything at once on various supports. The people are friendly, the teacher (Gina again) is her usual supportive, encouraging self, we play our favourite music as we work, and the time passes so quickly I am always surprised when Gina suggests we stop for coffee. In a busy term with reports taking many extra hours at the moment, it is an oasis of calm for me.

Sculpture by the Sea

After a week of rain and cool temperatures, I was woken up on Saturday morning with a phone call from early-rising loved one - "lets have our brunch at Bondi - the sun's out"...goodbye sleep-in, but sooooo worth it. This annual event has sculpture on the beach, on the cliffs, in the park overlooking the beach - I took heaps of pics. to make a slide-show for my class to inspire their own sculpture. I'll post random images over the next few weeks. Thsi will make my son, going into a NYC winter, a little homesick (sorry, Paull)

We finished with brunch at a Sydney institution, the Bondi Icebergs Club. Blueberry pancakes and the best view ever!!

(click to enlarge - its worth it)

Dancing in the Street..........

Anyone who has ever stayed with me has probably been to the Green Bamboo at Panania for dinner. It is a funky Vietnamese restaurant, usually fairly quiet. Last night, however, it was GOING OFF!! Who knew what goes on there some Sunday nights? My friend invited me to share a table of eight at "Entertainment Night". She said they have a female impersonator who is really funny....OK, I said, I'll go........

and it was a great night. An irreverant comedian with a terrific voice singing old 60's ballads, she (he?) really had the room buzzing. The grand finale ended up with a conga line snaking out into the street where we stopped traffic and actually danced in the street.....I've always liked that song, and now I've actually done it!