Daisy Chains and Picnics

In a world where we feel the need to compare ourselves to others, where we feel that if we don't comply to certain standards we feel less about ourselves, we go through a vicious cycle of self loathing, self hatred, feelings that you are not good enough, not pretty enough, not thin enough, not clever enough, lot's and lot's of 'if onlys'. I have felt this way most of my life, I have struggled with the fact that I just don't really like me!!, and it is something I DO NOT want my children to go through, they, like everyone else on this planet, me included, are unique, one of a kind, no one else like them, special in their own way, smart in their own way, beautiful in their own way, their body shape and size is unique to them, they SHOULD NOT be made to change how or what they are because others and society feels they should or makes them feel uncomfortable. No one has the right to dictate to them how they should or shouldn't look, what the should or sh...

Hume Castle is situated three miles south of Greenlaw in the Scottish Borders. Standing proud on top of an outcrop of rock, the views from here are spectacular, on a clear day you can see for miles the beautiful countryside of the Borders. Built in the thirteenth century, it saw it's fair share of conflict. It was captured by the English during the Rough Wooing and later burnt by the forces of Elizabeth 1. Finally Cromwell's army destroyed the castle during the invasion of 1650. Information sourced and f or further information go  here Hume Castle was a favourite of ours to take the kids on a summer evening, they loved the open space and wildlife. It was an absolute must to visit this beautiful place again, the views are amazing, it never fails to impress. The sun was just starting to go down when we left, dimming the light on the stunning countryside.

It is hard to believe we left Scotland for a new life 10 years ago. 24th September was our last day in Kelso, 25th our last day in Scotland.  We had spent the previous few days including Jodie's 10th birthday packing all our belongings into the removal container ready to be shipped to Australia, leaving the house in Kelso, not to arrive at our house in Tassie until 4th December 2008. Celebrating Jodie's 10th birthday at gran and granda's as the removal men were in our house and everything was packed. The weeks prior to us leaving we visited family to say our goodbyes before leaving Scotland and everything we knew, the life we had grown up with to embark on a new different kind of life, one that was alien to all of us, we had never set foot in Australia before emigrating there so you can imagine how scary and daunting it was, from now on it would be just our little family of 5 against the world as we had no family or frie...