Wendy's Blog

Where the Wild Things Are

Thu, 10 May 2012 03:56:00 GMT

For anyone who read the captivating book, Where the Wild Things Are, illustrated by Maurice Sendak, to their children you will know that he was different, insightful and also funny. Maurice died on the 8th May at the age of 83. He was a and this interview from when he was 80 years young caught my attention and allowed a tear to fall down my cheek. Tell them anything you want. A portrait of Maurice Sendak.

May we all live our passion, loving what we do, being present in every moment. I am a participant at the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course (Jon Kbatt Zinn) and I am loving its simplicity and empowering approach to living with whatever arises. .

Brene Brown - an inspiration

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 03:15:00 GMT

I was guided to Brene Brown's work by another beautiful yoga teacher from Brisbane. I love Brene's work, her talks, her enthusiasm, her celebration of vulnerability... her artwork and courage to be out there... living life fully. Listen to her talk and check out her work if you dare... it will change your life!

Let ourselves be seen

Love with our whole hearts

Practice gratitude and lean into joy

I am enough

Brene Brown

Hollywood love, real love

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:25:00 GMT

I work with people of all appearances, characters, cultures and backgrounds.

There is one couple who are straight out of the Beverly Hillbilly cast. Overweight, sloppy track pants, usually grubby, unkempt hair, their speech drawls... Got the picture? Not what we see on our advertising billboards, or in the glossy magazines. They have been together 30 years and the tenderness and obvious love they have for each other is great for smashing all the Hollywood conditioned concepts and images I have about how love SHOULD look. I celebrate this authentic and unaffected expression of love showing me how beauty is in our hearts, not eyes and minds.

Roger

Treading lightly on the planet

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 05:54:00 GMT

Two of my close friends, in their 30's, have chosen not to become married in the traditional sense and are both very strong and committed in their own spiritual path, work, and study. They spend large chunks of time apart as they follow their own directions (both in environmental fields) yet, their relationship has grown steadily over the past six years.

Earlier this week they have set off into the sunset for an unlimited time in their campervan. Having consciously chosen not to own a home they have lived in their van for a couple of years now staying near the beach (they both love to surf), or in friend's gardens as they have worked and studied. They have helped to form the local community gardens, worked overseas on environmental projects, done research for local councils and supported each other in whatever work or study they choose.

The simple life they lead will continue as they follow their bliss together treading lightly on the planet

I am inspired by their commitment to treading lightly on the planet.

Roger

Rising laughter and love

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 05:14:00 GMT

There is a beautiful couple, who live in the apartment below mine, who have traversed the perilous mountains of relationship. I hear their daily banter and laughter rising up through the veranda decking and my heart always soars to the rhythm of joy expressed in a good old belly laugh. What a delight to live with laughter.

Justin and Aneliese - the first wedding on the 17th Tee at Bonville

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:41:00 GMT

I was blessed to be the first celebrant to conduct a wedding on the 17th Tee at Bonville International Golf Resort. The resort has just opened this magnificent area for functions. The manicured green is surrounded by tall white gums overlooking the elegant course, winding pathways and a picturesque lily pond. The skies were blue and a slight breeze was welcomed by the guests. Aneliese and Justin couldn't have asked for a more perfect setting for their wedding celebration.

We met many months ago down at the cafe overlooking the marina and we clicked from our first meeting. Their ideas and reflections upon marriage were beautiful and gave me plenty to work with when I came to writing their ceremony. We had the rehearsal on the lawns as the Tee wasn't going to be closed until the wedding day. The rehearsal is always such a great time to make sure everyone is comfortable about where they are going to stand and what they have to do.

The day of the wedding was glorious (even though much to Justin's disappointment the suit company had sent the wrong size trousers for him! Nothing like having a needle and thread on hand) He managed with a big smile and knows it will be a story to laugh about after the event!

The wedding guests arrived in the small resort buses and waited in the shade of the tall, white, elegant gum trees, the resort had placed a water station nearby so everyone had plenty to drink if they needed it (with buggies on hand if someone needed to duck back for the bathroom!).

When Aneliese arrived in the golf buggy she was glowing. Escorted by her proud father she came to stand beside Justin. Fabulous and friendly photographer, David Moore, captured the moment.

With vows and rings exchanged I happily declared them to be husband and wife! Congratulations to you both!

Postscript: Just had an email and they were caught up in the flooding in Fiji, they are ok however they are now planning honeymoon take 2!

Living With Our Dead

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 08:30:00 GMT

Living with the Dead is a great project created by celebrant, Victoria Spence, a vivacious and bold young woman whose passion is evident in her approach to her celebrancy and working with issues of death and dying. The opening paragraph from the Living with the Dead website captures it best.

"Living with or Dead is a project that fosters individual and community artistic expression,k placing death as a significant part of life. The project encourages personal and idiosyncratic expressions of how we live with or dead - or people, animals, flora and fauna. And through this, to understand what living with or dead may offer us as individuals and communities. This project is creating a new language and aesthetics of death and remembrance."

Another great link on Death and our choices....The Groundswell Project website also has some great information and links to other inspiring websites ie engage with grace... awesome. Go to either and open to the many possibilities that await. And finally a fabulous talk by Peter Saul on Dying in the 21st Century

Grand Designs - one plus one equals more than two

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 05:40:00 GMT

I watched a wonderful programme, Grand Designs, recently about a couple in their second wind of life.

They found each other 5 years previously having both had families of their own. Looking for a change of scenery from their office jobs they decided to look for an old house to do up together. With a small amount of savings and the potential proceeds from the sale of their home they began browsing the internet for run down properties in the U.K.,

Mistakenly, or fortuitously, they found a ruin in a remote village in rural France. Neither spoke French and had never thought of living there. Within a few days it was signed and sealed. The building was a 4 storey ruin which had been a resistance centre during the war. The Nazis had burnt it in 1944 and only 4 shaky walls remained...but it was cheap. Both were hoping the other would say yes, and this was to be the secret of their huge success. They both wanted to make this happen in their own hearts, so there was no need for either of them to compromise. There was absolute joy that the other wanted exactly what they wanted.

As a result, even though they were in their fifties, they found the energy to work from dawn to dusk, seven days a week, doing most of the work themselves. They bought books to learn how to do all the building from walls to tiling to plastering, plumbing etc. They had to decipher building codes and write up plans in a foreign language, it's hard enough in plain English.

They had to learn French as they went and fit in to a close knit village community. The result is so uplifting, beautiful and successful on all accounts. According to the show it was all done with a genuine smile on their faces that lasted the several years it took to accomplish. What a great story of loving what you are doing, when the love comes from deep inside, and is free to find its own expression. It is also a lovely story of synergy...where one and one equals so much more than two.

Meeting Roger

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 05:18:00 GMT

I would like to introduce you to Roger, my partner of 15 years (this August). I am delighted that he wants to support me on this venture of blogging. I love his musings and hope you do too. I will slip in a few tales of our journey over the next few weeks as well.

No regrets...

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:29:00 GMT

I found this article about a nurse's experience of working with people who were dying. She recorded their regrets and came up with the Top Five.

The top one: I wish I hadn't worked so hard. If you need to slow down, now is a good time to do so.

Three funerals, weddings and a baby...

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:23:00 GMT

March Madness... On Monday I had a wedding meeting with a beautiful couple at 9am, followed by a funeral discussion with a family. Then one of my yoga students asked me to be at the birth of her baby which came hot on the heels of these two meetings. What an amazing morning and such a privilege to be a part of three transitions in each family's life.

The month has seen me conduct a beautiful funeral which we had planned in the period leading up to the lady's death. It was a powerful time for the family and they appreciated the space it gave them when their dearest wife / mother passed away. Margaret's funeral celebrated her role as a mother and the huge role she played in the family's life.

Joan, was a well known character in the life of Bellingen, larger than life, vibrant, colourful and another key player in many people's lives. Her celebration focused on her rich (and often wild) history and love of music.

And, this week I also farewelled another lady, Pat, whose ceremony was held in her favourite garden with her closest family, friends and village community. One of her dear friends sang the country version of Amazing Grace which he had sang to her as she died. A very touching moment.

Many blessings to the family and friends whose lives have been touched by the loss and grief of these beautiful women.

Happy Valentine's Day - dedicated to Tom

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:26:00 GMT

I was driving home today listening to the radio and heard a beautiful story. A woman wrote in to Classic FM requesting for Valentine's Day that they play, A Red Red Rose sung by Kenneth McKellar, for her partner, Tom.

At her partner's funeral, this haunting track was supposed to play, however the funeral directors made a mistake. When the celebrant saw the look on Tom's partner's face, the celebrant apparently raced over to fix the problem. However, before she could get there, one of Tom's friends stood up and sung the song unaccompanied, in his broad Scottish accent, much to everyone's joy and tears. Tom's partner wrote, ''this was the highlight, if there could be one, of Tom's funeral'.

A big thank you to Tom's partner and Classic FM for sharing her story with us. If you want to listen to Kenneth McKellar's version of My Love is Like a Red Red Rose listen here.

Groom wouldn't sign stat dec

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:02:00 GMT

All couples getting married in Australia have to sign a statutory declaration before they get married. It states there are no legal impediments to the marriage: ie they are over 18 years of age, not in a prohibited relationship (ie closely related), not legally married to somebody else or any other reason that would be legal impediment).

A celebrant contacted me saying that two days before a scheduled wedding, when she said the normal bit about the stat decs, the groom would not sign! So the moral of the story is, don't ever take this part of the routine lightly. As celebrants it is important that we state the legal implications of making a false declaration and that "the penalty for a wilful making of a false statement in a declaration is four years in prison".

The wedding did not go ahead, the celebrant wasn't told why he would not sign...and yes, she told me she had her fees paid in full before the last meeting!

This story reminds me of an elderly lady who rang saying that she wanted to get married however would she have to state on any of the forms that she had been married before as she hadn't told her 'groom' that she had been divorced. When I told her it would be on the forms and certificates she thanked me, closed the call quickly and hung up. I can only imagine her dilemma!

Carissa and Josh's Wedding

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:36:00 GMT

I fell completely at home with Carissa and Josh the first time I met them and we were all excited about their wedding on Look at Me Now Headland. They have five children between them and make a great family. Their wedding celebration was to be a small and intimate affair with just their family present. The venue was very special as it was were they had spent of lot of time together walking, swimming and having family outings with the children. It was a place they all loved... and I, too, hold a great fondness and love of this magnificent headland and beaches.

One of their friends had given them a beautiful book of quotes about love, friendship and marriage when they first met which they shared with me at our first meeting. We used her ideas to create the main reading for the ceremony and honoured her contribution. They wrote their own vows, using the Love Letter exercise from my wedding book, and they were divine: simple, articulate and full of appreciation.

The rings were nestled in two beautiful nests made of beach flotsam and shells. Josh's children bought forward Carissa's ring at the time of exchange and Carissa's children bought forward Josh's rings.

It was the perfect day on the headland, a gentle breeze coming through and blue, blue skies... after all the stormy days and wild southerlies we didn't know what to expect...all was well and only later did the clouds and rain come in when they were all safe and sound up at the beautiful Saltwater Restaurant were they were having lunch.

Congratulations Carissa and Josh!

Happy Australia Day

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:23:00 GMT

A cup of tea, scones, jam and cream were on the menu for afternoon tea with mum and dad for Australia Day... we were dry and out of the pouring rain, that was important! Not very Australian I know, however to make up for it...there were a group of young guys down in the reserve just in shorts, no shirts, playing football as the rain teamed down, the more it rained the more they laughed.

Not too many barbeques happening up here on the northern NSW coasta with widespread flooding and more rain to come.

I am deeply grateful my parents migrated out from England in the1960's to come to this beautiful country. Our family came out on the ten pound pom scheme which gave assistance to British families to migrate and start new lives in Australia. My parents were charged ten pounds for the fare and us four children under 12 travelled free. For my parents it was an amazing adventure to undertake, to leave their families and friends and all that they knew. I am impressed.

They were given employment and housing and promised a more relaxed lifestyle and a better climate... all of which was true... although Tasmania is climatically like many parts of England, cold and wet... so they felt quite at home. I remember arriving as an eight year old and we stayed in the Wellington Hotel, Hobart, which was like many of the pubs I knew as a child and wondered where all the kangaroos were. That was my total expectation!

I love Australia ....from Tasmania where we landed to my teenage years in Canberra, starting a family in Dorrigo and now Coffs Harbour - diverse landscapes yet rich with abundance, possibilities and great memories.

Wherever you are in this great land... Happy Australia Day