Thoughts of my girls in India

 Many who know me, know that I have a passion for a group of girls in Tamil Nadu, India. I have been visiting this school and hostel, volunteering as an english teacher, since 2007. ODAM works to educate girls and women in their community to break the cycle of poverty and give the girls a better future. The girls live in and study at the school full time. Many of these girls did not have opportunities to go to school, and some were sent to work from as young as 5 yrs old. Our school offers them an accelerated learning program from 6th standard to 8th standard. In those three years at primary school, the girls cover the full primary school curriculum. They live in to ensure that they cover all their studies.

 I consider these girls my girls, and they are close to my heart at all times. So when I hear news like this, my heart aches. When young girls are targeted and raped, the reality of gender violence is bought again to the forefront of my mind. The news story is not about my girls, but it's close.

I have also been genuinely touched recently by a local Australian act of generosity. I was asked to speak about my school and the work of ODAM at a function last weekend. The local church youth group, a small group of about 16 kids, decided to hold a soup and dessert dinner to raise money for the establishment of a security fence at our hostel. I was surprised to find a hall full of people, all genuinely interested in our cause. I was even more overwhelmed by the beautiful young people who were hosting the event. They were genuinely interested in making a difference for 'my girls' in India.

I am excited to say that we did raise nearly $700 towards the new security fence. AND the very same week, I received exciting news that another $1000 was donated by the Kiwanis after I spoke with them earlier in the year. It was the Kiwanis group who suggested that we could actually see the fence happen. ....

I want to thank the Kiwanis, and the local youth group, for their wonderful contributions. I hope that together we will see the fence happen, and that 'our girls' will be safe while they are finishing their schooling.  If you would like to help too - see the pay pal link at the top right hand corner of my page.

I am returned to the quote at the top of my page "one hand can not clap".... Together we can.

It's Official - Paris in July starts here!

Yep - it's official... Paris in July starts here. It's time to sign up. Please sign in at Karen's Blog where the official Mr Linky is located.

Karen and I have been involved in e-discussions with our global team of partners this year - and I am confident to say this year's blogging event is going to be just amazing!

Partners this year include;

• Karen - awonderlinglife
• Dolce Bellezza
• Adria in Paris
• Nicole - Obvious State

 We have plans for daily posts to appear on one of the partners blogs every day - there'll be heaps to follow, and inspiration for all.  For me, I will be posting

• Monday Menu - a list of the activities planned for each week
• Tuesday Travel
• Thursday Food Fun
• alternative weekends I will do a summary post

Once you have signed up on Mr Linky at Karens Blog, I will create a list of participants on my blog so we can see who else is playing with us. Then, at the end of the month, I create a record of participants on my challenges page (like these previous years).

If anyone has any special requests please let us know - we have a great team involved this year, so Im sure we could try and seek out answers to your Paris questions.
a bientot!

Hidden Door - new challenge

 The Hidden Door (reviewed here)

I toy with the idea that I could be more focused in the way I live out my values. I love my garden, my voluntary work with the emergency services, my voluntary work with Amnesty, and the work I do with ODAM. They are things I do to live out my value. I also enjoy my hobbies and distractions - studying French, hosting Paris in July, reading Japanese Literature  (yeh for the JLC no 8) and riding my bike. But I'm wondering how to be more mindful? This has captured my attention.

What sort of culture might appear if we took seriously the essential values and principles that form the deep structure of voluntary simplicity and used them to inform a new perspective of the good life? Might we discover an exit from the confining cell of consumer culture? Can we find the passage leading beyond individual lifestyle choice to cultural renaissance? This book aims to help seed this renaissance by widening the conversation about how we transition from the road to extinction to a path with heart that has a future.

So, I'm hoping to read this - not in a hurry, but my goal is to finish it by the end of the year. So, in my journey this year, of trying to live simply so that others might simply live, this book will challenge me and I hope to reflect on it from time to time here. I hope you'll humour me.

 Produce from the garden this weekend

Loofa's (Asian Gourde), Herbs, Lemons, Tomatoes,

Guavas, and black sapote (chocolate fruit).

Planning for Paris in July

 Paris in July is on its way and Karen and I are preparing our plans and activities for the month. It's going to be awesome. We have a team of players this year, and each of us have chosen a key focus. My focus this year will Food and Travel.

I have an exciting opportunity to interview a real french chef - so I'm coming to you now - what you want to know from a real french chef? What would you like me to ask about? I'm keen to take ideas and suggestions before I do the interview.

What are you planning to do for Paris in July? Start posting your thoughts and inspire me and others!

Slow and Simple

This week I've been on holidays, but not my usual holidays. I'm usually one to take leave from work for something special, a family event, an overseas holiday, or a retreat. This week I just hung out at home.  I was feeling a little out of sorts because of this - until I watched this interview


In the video, Brooke talks about moving to the slow life - she talks about decluttering - not just the house, but the social schedule, the head, and the busyness. That is what my week of leave has been all about - decluttering my head.

It's amazing what can be achieved when the hectic work, commute, social and other wise full days are slowed right down. So, borrowing a list from 'Think Big, Live Simple' - this is what I've been up to...

Making:   My photo album from my holiday to Christmas Island in 2012 - reliving the memories.
Cooking:     Lots of different dishes with Loofa (Asian Gourde) and Pumpkins. Really like this Asian soup recipe
Reading:  Lots of articles associated with my course on cooperation in the contemporary world - an international relations online course.
Enjoying:   Sunny days, drinking tea and sitting in the garden
Waiting:    for Paris in July to start!
Wondering:  if I will actually be able to do the 100km bike ride I've sign up for on Sunday?
Loving:   the little sleep ins you can have when you don't have to go to work.
Hoping:   I can loose that last 2 kgs before my Dad's 70th birthday and the family reunion that is associated with that...
Wearing:  my oldest daggiest jeans when Im home in the garden - no bra and no shoes!
Following: The Giro d'Italia - this means late nights here in Ozland!
Noticing:  that the man isn't coping very well with the late nights either! The Giro d'Italia is a bike race that goes for 2 weeks.... it's just a practice run for the Tour de France - which is 3 weeks!
Knowing: that the slow life is actually OK, and that my lack of engagement in the outside world this week has been good for me.
Thinking:  about the curtains we need to get in the lounge room to help manage our passive heating, and how much curtains cost!
Giggling:  at the dog, who doesn't understand why I'm getting up at midnight.
Feeling:  a little apprehensive about going back to work, and more apprehensive about tomorrows bike ride!

Have a good week everyone.

Paris

Photo Credits

Guess What!!

It’s coming.... the excitement is building.... we’re anticipating something ....yes – PARIS IN JULY  is on it’s way. Celebrating our 5^th birthday, Paris in July is coming back with some new developments.

For those who don’t know – Paris in July is a month long blogging event for anyone who loves anything about Paris and France. We blog about books, food, travel, perfume, films, music, favourite markets, poetry, history and almost anything else – it’s like a virtual trip to Paris. Who could resist that?

Aussie blogger, Karen (previously from bookbath, now at awonderinglife) and I, have always enjoyed the experience of co-hosting this event together (see here for our first ever intro post). This year, we’re excited to welcome two new team members, making this a truly virtual and global event. Dolce Bellezza joins us (from the US) with her wealth of experiencing in blogging, events and her love of French perfume and literature. Adria will also be joining us as a real author in Paris – Adria is an American living in Paris, and we’re excited she’s joining the team with her Parisian perspectives.

How does it all work? It runs the whole month of July, and during that time all you need to do is post something about Paris or France, or a French author/cook/ director/ actor/ musician etc.. you might only do one post, you might do lots – we love them all. Check out previous posts here

Each of the team members here at Paris in July will be joining in with special topics

Karen – Fashion and books

Dolce Bellezza – Perfume and she promises some give aways!!

Adria – all things of Paris

Me – Travel and Food

This year we have three different buttons you may use with your posts - choose one or all... link them back to one of the host sites..

 So – start planning, dreaming and prepare for the best ever virtual journey to Paris. We look forward to travelling with you!              Keep an eye on our sites for more info soon.... 

International Permaculture Day!

Today is International Permaculture Day - a day to celebrate and remember the small and yet powerful contrbutions all permaculturalists pay in taking care of our earth. For me, it is a day of rest from my commuting lifestyle to the big city, and a day of rest means playing in the garden. I told my man this morning, I will celebrate by working in the garden, then I corrected myself - I will celebrate by going out to watch my garden - because in a permaculture garden, there's not alot to do for maintaining it.

Today, Becs at Think Big, Live Simple, has launched a lovely way to celebrate I P Day - she's giving away really helpful things. All she's asking for participants to do is answer the question “What interests you most about Permaculture?”

My answer is about the circle of life. I believe that humans are part of a bigger picture, and that our spirituality and existence is linked to all aspects of the living earth. Permaculture principles marry together the practical, spiritual, political and social aspects of these beliefs. In permaculture garden design, we try and bring all the elements of the cycle of life together, to allow the natural environment to care for itself and us. If we are all interconnected by our actions, and joined to the environment by our needs and responsibilities, then the cycle of life demands we care, contribute, respect and share. That's what interests me...

Todays' harvests include Rhubarb, guava's, lemons, mandarins, Loofa's (Asian gourde) and mini eggplants. Spinach and Lettuce are still productive and tomatoes are slowing down but still there. A hand of banana's is trying to ripen on the palm, but I think it's coming inside soon to be supervised.

 Todays harvest 

Mandies, Loofas, Lemons, Guava (Basket) & Rhubarb

Also featured here is our new stainless steel compost bucket!

 Leeks are just loving the change in season

Maybe difficult to determine - but most of the greenery here is

Warrigal Greens - a native spinach. 

 Loofa hanging on the vine

Loofa flower

My little International Permaculture Day gift to myself is an annual subscription to PIP, the Australian Permaculture Magazine.

I hope that you come across something from a permaculture garden or the permaculture principles some time this week :)

Living simply, that others might simply live