Beach House at Rodanthe

'If a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it.' Edgar Watson Howe

Loving beach houses as I do, I simply had to see where the house that featured in Nights in Rodanthe was located. It has since been sold, and moved, and as these pictures will tell you just in time. The house was at Hatteras Island North Carolina, and many of the other houses have fallen to the sea. The video below shows the home being buffetted by waves.



Below is the film of the house being moved...

Whenever trouble comes

There is a park at Ulmara in Northern NSW where the local school kids have written on plaques and pinned them to trees. They have left little messages all over to inspire or uplift. The park is situated beside the river, with rose gardens, large trees to rest under and water to watch drift by. If you are travelling along the Pacific Highway it's a pleasant stop off point to have a cuppa and a break from the road.

Whenever trouble comes, consider it a joy... or perhaps a gift, as it is by going through trouble and coming out the other side that we develop compassion for others.

Click here to see the park on Google Maps

Fridays are Art Days

Fridays are Art Days. Also known as occupational therapy, fun with the girls, time for ourselves, bright light at the end of the tunnel... We have a great time painting and learning new techniques, challenging ourselves to throw paint at canvas; not care about results; encourage one another; let go; you name it, it happens in art class.

Our class is led by our wonderful teacher Robyn, who is a genius at teaching, she gently guides us in our own paths as artists. She is remarkable and wonderful and we all manage to feel great about our art.

Don't waste your life

A friend and I went for a coffee yesterday at Sea Acres Rainforest Cafe in Port Macquarie. The cafe is such a beautiful place to sit and have a delightful moment or so. Set, as it's name suggests in a pocket of Rainforest, and it is right next to Shelly Beach.

Anyway, my friend had been experiencing a bit of a challenging time in her life, as you do occasionally, and as I looked up from where I was sitting, another cafe dweller, had on a t shirt with 'don't waste your life' printed on the back of it.

I love how every so often you might just notice something that really makes an impact on your life that may be just the right 'word' or you listen to a piece of music that has meaning for you, that uplifts you and inspires you.

Outside the school in Port Macquarie there has been a sign that said... 'The Power of Choice' and then outside a church in Harbord at Christmas I noticed a sign that had written on it.. 'Don't let Christians put you off Christ'.

Have you seen any sayings or T Shirts that have inspired you lately?

The Lighthouse at Bell Rock.

"Whenever I smell salt water, I know that I am not far from one of the works of my ancestors'. ′When the lights come out at sundown along the shores of Scotland, I am proud to think they burn more brightly for the genius of my father!" Robert Louis Stevenson 1880

Image of the Bell Rock Lighthouse. © Copyright Derek Robertson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

"Situated 11 miles out from Arbroath the Bell Rock Lighthouse was built 200 years ago by Robert Stevenson upon the infamous Inchcape reef. At high water the reef is hidden about 12 foot below the water level, at low water it is 4 foot above the sea".

It seems to me that Lighthouses are the most amazing structures ever built. Take the Bell Rock Lighthouse in Scotland for instance, I stumbled across this lighthouse in a book I read called, The Lighthouse Stevensons by Bella Bathurst. I picked up Bella's book in the local library thinking it was a fictional read, and as I started to read, I realised it was quite a wonderful true story. I have been fascinated with Bell Rock Lighthosue ever since. Later I was fascinated to watch 'Bell Rock' on The Seven Wonders of The Industrial Age where I viewed a reproduction of how the lighthouse was built. oh my goodness, what the men who built the lighthouse went through, to give the Scotish people safety in otherwise deadly, treacherous seas. Prior to it's construction, many ships sank, people perished, and their goods washed up on the nearby shores thanks to Bell Rock. Looking at the picture it isn't hard to realise why, when you think about the rock that supports the Lighthouse, granite, hard, unforgiving, once used to lurk just beneath the surface luring ships to their end.

Robert Louis Stevenson's father Robert Stevenson commenced building Bell Rock Lighthouse in 1807 was finished around 1810 and was finally lit on the 1st February 1811 - and to think it is still standing, with the waves that constantly buffet it. Amazing.

I wonder why we relate to Lighthouses so much and why we are drawn to them? The symbols of light to guide us to safety, or their steadfastness when the sea swamps them, yet they stand regardless... what do they represent to you?

Guess where I'd like to be on it's anniversary next year?

An inspirational young man...

In my Cheryl Richardson email newsletter this morning there was a link to the you tube video above, all I can say is if you are having a bad day, watch this. It really makes you consider all the gifts you have that you aren't using. This is a very inspirational young man.

Not a shred of evidence exists...

"Not a shred of evidence exists that life has to be serious". Unknown

Beach calligraphy

Have a look at this amazing beach calligraphy by Andrew der Merwe
click here

Plates of art

This is a plate I painted for a wedding gift - I learned from Suzi down in Sydney. Suzi now owns a gorgeous Japanese style shop that is adjacent to the The Buddha Belly restaurant (click here to for a online tour) in Terry Hills and is selling some of her work there. If you are visiting there, stop in for a coffee and have a calming walk through the Japanese garden, listen to the little waterfall, chill out in the zen rockery, be inspired, and visit her shop, you'll be in for a real treat.

Kahlil Gibran

"I have learned silence from the talkative, tolerance from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers." Kahlil Gibran

Mosaic Bowling Ball

A few years ago I visited a gorgeous nursery not far from Newcastle and it had some great little nik naks around the garden. One of them was a mosaic bowling ball. I'll never forget it, it had hearts in the center of flowers, and I asked if I could buy it... then when I heard 'no it's not for sale' I begged to buy it. But it really wasn't for sale. So every so often I have a dream of the perfect mosaic bowling ball... this one isn't it, it's my version.

But have some fun, get yourself an old ball, some tiles and make one for yourself. It's fun.

Our new rooms...

I am so excited, finally our renovations are underway for our new rooms to massage in, and teach massage and dance... how exciting!!! We had hoped that they would be ready prior to Christmas, but now it looks like March. One thing I have learned about building over the last year is that time estimated is never the time that will occur in building.

I love to watch Grand Designs on TV, and I constantly wonder when host Kevin McCloud poses questions such as 'but will they get it done on time? to budget?' if he is really living in the same world as I do. Has he got contacts I don't? OK stupid question... well yes, obviously, really... please Kevin tell me your secrets of how to get things done on time, and to budget, because I really, really, really, want to know. Stop asking if they'll get it done on time, because the rare ones that manage to, well, that is just one step short of a miracle in my books, and let we everyday renovators know; 'how to do it'.

Massage Training

It's that time of year again, to start thinking about refreshing your training and perhaps thinking of learning some new skills. At Frangipani House we offer training from one hour up to one week. In one hour we help other therapists learn some forearm techniques, or we also supervise and mentor therapists who are just starting out. New therapists have found that it is really reassuring to have an experienced practitioner there to give advice and help add to their massage skills if it is needed. Mostly though we find that therapist come along wanting to learn Hot Stone Massage, or some Lomi Lomi Massage Techniques.

Based in Port Macquarie, many of our students have found that they have a lovely weekend away while also learning new skills.

Learn more at: Frangipani House