Back to basics

So we're back in London and left Sydney, Australia behind.

What a journey its been.

7 months in a fresh new (very vast) place to explore, new people to meet, new jobs to do and new climates and time zones to adjust to. Its amazing how we adapt to surroundings and settle in somewhere that feels so familiar but then like in a dream, little differences are prominent enough to make us feel a little alien. Like: the signs saying 'Don't be a tosser' to remind you to pick up your litter, not being able to park facing oncoming cars, wider pavements and roads, bigger spiders, parrots as common as pigeons (but way more beautiful), TAB betting shops in most nice pubs (as well as the standard ones), gym apparatus on the coastal walks (where we would just have a bench), very few good Indian restaurants, double decker underground trains, weird tasting Cadburys chocolate, hardly any supermarkets stocking Marmite, central heating only in new buildings, no Quorn available (terrible for us veggies), no Topshop / Zara / H&M, the worst road manners (despite them being a very laid back, chilled, kind nation), being allowed to turn at traffic lights even if the pedestrians are walking across and the green man is lit up, paying for all medical costs and claiming back, drive thorough off-licences (known as bottle'o's), Gold Class Cinemas (where you have reclining chairs, only 10 pairs of seats in the cinema, table service for dinner and of course alcohol), all designer items exceptionally expensive, notice boards still used for promoting local businesses (who rarely have websites), the list goes on!!!

And although the charm of all these differences could definitely be something to get used to, we knew the time was right to return to the mother land and start another chapter. It really did feel like the end of one era, leaving London and starting again, with only a suitcase and a box (albeit a large 35kg box) and now a new one has started. We're going back to basics. Finding a new place to call home, new work, new tube lines, new coffee shops and restaurants, new experiences. Family and friends couldn't just hop on a flight over to Oz and we missed them more than we could have ever imagined.

Trusting your instinct to move on when it feels right (whether physically from your surroundings or in situations) is such a great guide in life and flowing with the outcomes and with no resistance, will get you to where you feel you belong (for now). There are never any mistakes, only learnings. The energy and creative buzz in London is like no where else I have ever been. I needed to fall in love with our capital all over again. And believe me, I have.

Beautiful Jen

I have always been a fan of Jennifer Aniston, ever since the beginning of Friends. And it has been so inspiring to me to observe as she has dealt with situations all women may face at times in their lives with dignity and grace whilst having the intrusion of the press and tabloids. This shot is taken from the Harper's Bazaar shoot (UK ed. May) and I just fell in love with the style of the photography....sunny and hazy. Very appropriate for summer in Europe and the US....here in Sydney however, the temperature has dropped (to around 15deg some days) and the storms are definitely a reminder of British summertime! So it was nice to see some summery shots of such an incredible, aspirational woman to make me feel a little warmer!

Wheat!

Well, I have been learning about how wheat is NOT so bad for us in every way after all....I have avoided wheat pasta for a while now (which in Sydney is harder due to lack of spelt pasta available in supermarkets) and its so hard when I am such an Italian food fan! I love pasta so much! I try hard not to eat too much bread and the like, I know how wheat does not digest well in the human body. But I have now been finding out about wheat being good for our skin! And at age 31 I am more and more aware of good skin care and treatment products that are available for anti-aging and the more natural the better! So check out REN SH2C serum - 'Keep Young and Beautiful Serum' as its also known (sounds good to me). It contains wheat peptides that plump the skin and it has a natural, visible botox-like effect - apparently! Now it costs $120 here in Australia, so no doubt you London lot will get it for a lot less. I'm hoping to give it a try asap - will let you know how I go. Anybody else wants to post about it, please do.

Being firm about what you want!

Something I am applying to my life at the moment. Being firm and direct with cosmic ordering, manifesting, attracting, however you like to refer to it! "I need it now"! Being specific and firm can have great results instantly. (Also saying please and thank you to the universal source too though)! I have been using this idea from Doreen Virtue's Goddesses and Angels book, she believes that sometimes you can be demanding and you will get instant manifestation. I'm sticking with it for a while...

Vogue Italia Jennifer Lopez

She looks like a real woman. Beautiful yet not totally out of this world and with a look not unachievable. Healthy and shapely. Loving the glamourous, BIG hair!

I had to post this today after having watched the filming of the shoot for Vogue Italia featuring Jennifer Lopez in various designers Gucci, Dolce e Gabbana....looking just breathtaking - and I saw it via a new blog I have connected to, www.backstagefix.com

Its an amazing page with updates from back stage all over...check it out when you get chance. But do make sure you watch the video of Ms Lopez on youtube.com. Its just beautifully shot and easy to watch glamour with a contemporary twist. Can't wait for the import of the magazine to Australia!

Chanel!

Oh I just love the sight of a whole shop dedicated to Chanel cosmetics! Black, shiny and slick with colours I could just dive into!

I have been so pleasantly surprised by Rouge Coco, the colour Vanessa Paradis is wearing in the Chanel ad, I'm not usually a red tones lipstick kinda gal, but this looks so subtle, classic and oh so Francais! Rouge Coco would suit any skin tone, any hair colour and any eye colour.... if you haven't tried it yet, pop in to a concession or Chanel store (this pic - Westfield, Bondi Junction)....let me know your thoughts. x

'You can heal your life' by Louise L Hay

'You can heal your life' is the DVD produced by Louise Hay (HayHouse) and I have watched it again, lost count of how many times! Every time I watch it, I gain something else from it. Depending on where you are at in the moment you watch, you will hear or see or feel a different message, call it intuition or instinct if you like. Its wonderful and the story of Louise and the people who have worked with her and still do, people who have healed their lives and the fictional characters with whom so many of us can relate to, can help us to open up more and allow the next part of our journey to present itself to us and UNFOLD.......