About Me

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I am a full-time mama with a passion for writing and talking to fascinating people. I live in a one horse town with a Cowboy and my son. Thank Lord for cyberspace! I lived a colourful life in Sydney for a number of years. Working in advertising and journalism for FPC and the Sydney Morning Herald. During my time in Sydney I competed in a Dragon Boat race, choreographed a dragshow, used the Share Accomodation advertisements as a way to meet men and was told by Noiseworks frontrunner Jon Stevens that I was a bitch! Then came the decision to move back to country for 3 months to help out my Father with newspaper business while he was having treatment. Convinced I was a city girl I was caught by surprise when I fell in love with a farmer (and no, he didn't want a wife... still doesn't it seems!) convinced him that we needed to see the world, popped off to Vietnam to teach english in Saigon - before realising that the "food" in Nam didn't agree with me... turned out to be Monte - my son who is now with the Cowboy and I back in country NSW! I am in a wonderful stage of my life where I am focusing on the things that really make me tick. Including writing these chronicles.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Cowboy Fesses Up, Heather Cleans Up and I Give Up

Sharnanigans!


Posted: 17 May 2010 11:17 PM PDT
Cowboy fesses up about living with a girl who writes poems about fitted sheets.
Posted: 17 May 2010 10:31 PM PDT
After tearing my hair out from what I thought was Monte-induced insanity the last couple of days, I finally channeled the Swami and am learning some lessons...
Posted: 17 May 2010 08:16 PM PDT
Congrats Heather Conroy you are the winner of the Meatless Monday challenge - thanks Nikki Griffin for running the competition.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Swapping Roles


Sometimes I'm not sure who is the wisest in this Mother/Son game... hoot hoot...
"The value of marriage is not that adults produce children, but that children produce adults." - Peter de Vries
I was having an online chat with my friend Juliette today, she always inspires me - she home-schools her son, runs an inspirational book store and is soon to go to America to do a workshop based upon 'Nurturing Spirituality in Children', with author of said book, Peggy Joy Jenkins.
She is so excited about this her words danced off the screen and did a little jig around my lounge room!
I confessed to Juliette that I was struggling to nurture the spirituality in Monte, though I desperately wish I could.
By that I mean  I want to nurture what is natural and authentic about him before modern and pop culture influence him to such a degree that he starts to lose sight of the very soul that he is.
Even though I am passionate about this subject, I still put him in front of the TV so I can write.
The last couple of days have been challenging to say the least. I'm not sure whether it's because Monte has entered a new phase of independence or if I am just losing the plot or a combination of the two but suffice it to say mayhem has a new address.
Every new phase Monte enters, I enter one as well.
Traditionally, you think of raising the child as the parent teaching all they know to this innocent little being, and it is the parent that is all wise and knowing- but it is the opposite, my God it is the opposite.
I am the student and Monte is the teacher.
In the last couple of days Monte has really been focusing on areas I need to develop: Patience and presence of mind.
To teach me these tough lessons he has come up with some really creative techniques...

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Meet Natasha AND (drumroll please) THE COWBOY!!

Sharnanigans!


Posted: 16 May 2010 03:08 PM PDT
Natasha works in PR, has her own kinesiology business and dabbles in stand up comedy and is an all-round fascinating gal - come meet my reader of the week!
Posted: 16 May 2010 03:04 PM PDT
Reader Andrew asks Cowboy what makes a "real Australian" and if the man on the land is a dying breed.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Ask the Cowboy, Camera Victory & A Day In The Life

 

Sharnanigans!


Posted: 14 May 2010 03:25 PM PDT
Is it time for the elusive Cowboy to step out from the shadows? The Sharnanigans Team need your questions!!
Posted: 13 May 2010 09:04 PM PDT
Thanks to everyone who voted. I am now the very proud winner of a Samsung Camera.
Posted: 13 May 2010 07:54 PM PDT
Honest, warm and engaging - A Day in the Life is this week's Friday Fertilizer. Grab a cuppa and go on over meet Corinne!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Virtual Stylist & a Giveaway !

Sharnanigans!


Posted: 13 May 2010 03:07 PM PDT
Nikki Parkinson is my style guru. Her website Styling You is so wonderful I approached her for some 'virtual' assistance. In this post she becomes my cyber Trinny & Susannah and offers some fantastic style advice for all women!

Posted: 12 May 2010 11:08 PM PDT
Unique and funky gift pack of 6 cards designed by Wild Fillies Photography to giveaway. Your creative ideas needed....

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

BLOGGY GET TOGETHER OHT

Any Grass Watering, fun lovin' , life livin' , adventure seeking friends who til now only know me in an online capacity want to come to the OHT for a weekend of bloggy socialising mayhem?

3/4 July is the date.

It's off the beaten track, but hey, when is the last time you stepped off the beaten track?

Isn't it time you did?

Step AWAY from the computer and meet some of these people who you comment with on a daily basis.

Yes, I am calling for REAL LIFE COMMENTING - over some vinos and beers and food! Perhaps on a kayak down the Murrumbidgee river... ?? 

If you can fly to Griffith (NSW - Rex Airlines) I can get you here.

I am working on some sponsorship with the aim all you will need to pay for is your trip here....

Let me know asap if you are interested.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Plenty of Mother's Day Cheer here!!

Hi Chronicles Diehard Fans haha - went a bit nuts yesterday with Mother's Day pieces, an ode to the Fitted Sheet & even a tasty recipe.... have a lovely day - and you can read any that might tickle your fancy by clicking below.

Sharnanigans!

Link to Sharnanigans!

Posted: 08 May 2010 03:38 PM PDT
Winners of the Little Acorn Books Mother's Day Giveaway Announced...
Posted: 08 May 2010 03:38 AM PDT
An Ode to my nemesis
Posted: 08 May 2010 03:00 AM PDT
A mothers day special...
Posted: 07 May 2010 10:19 PM PDT
I have been possessed by a gourmet chef (well to me I am) Somebody STOP ME!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Helping People Become Winners Are Grinners

You know how I run lots of giveaways on my website, well this time I need your help to win something.

Just a quick one dear readers.

There is a competition on Mama Mia website to win a Samsung Digital Camera.

I could dearly do with one of these babies to assist with this website and my Monte-isms.

To win, people simply have to vote on my comment, by giving it the thumbs up.

I am well in the lead at the moment, but competition goes until Thursday. Anything could happen, anything could happen.

My comment is under SHARNI

Please help me win the camera by clicking here and giving me the thumbs up or of course, you might win it yourself and take me on!!!

I would really appreciate your thumbs up!

ps - this is not cheating is it? Making the competition winner the comment with the most thumbs up they clearly want people to do what I'm doing right? It's marketing and bringing the numbers in for both Mama Mia and Samsung (OK conscience clear - thanks , love youse all - I will do a very special post and photo shoot if I win it!! )

Monday, May 3, 2010

Follow The Yellow Click Road

Hello.

Just using the poor old Chronicles as a billboard to inform you I have a giveaway, do yourself a favour and enter it will you.

Click here and I will direct you to your chance to win a lovely book of your choosing

And Then There Were Two...


photograph by Kathryn's Creations
Cowboy went back to work today after two months away with a broken wrist.
What a two months it has been!
Aside from having a broken wrist and not being able to play football or work, I do believe something magic took place.
I didn't have to go and pick up nappies or milk, AND he mopped the floor.
Monte and Cowboy bonded.
I am not saying they hadn't bonded before, but the hours Cowboy takes doing his Cowboy duties (with sheep) meant he used to literally see Monte for about one hour a day.
Most of that hour, bless him, was spent trying to get our boy to GODDAMN SLEEP!
So two months away from work, away from football and just hanging at home was a great gift in some ways.
Monte has had a chance to really get to know his  Dad. Please read rest of the story here