Come To The Edge…

Posted on March 12, 2011 by Kym Hamer

Many years ago, I went to a work conference.

I’d been to a few before and I’ve been to many since but this one was held at Hepburn Springs (Victoria, Australia) on my 30th birthday thereby scuppering my fervent hope of Champagne Balloon Flight-ing my arrival at the Dirty Thirties (which I sulked about until birthday number 34, when I eventually got over myself and went).

But that wasn’t actually what I started out to share with you so getting back to my point…

…today I came across that conference’s theme, perfect then for a small to medium sized food and beverage company with aspirations to play with the big boys and today, a perfect pick-me-up from the doldrums I’ve seemed to find myself in of late…

Come to the edge, he said.

They said: We are afraid.

Come to the edge, he said.

They came.

He pushed them, and they flew…

Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918)

Hope it gives you a little pick-me-up too…

The Art of Mindfulness…Music To My Ears

Posted on February 26, 2011 by Kym Hamer

During the week, I was flicking through Wednesday’s free-issue Stylist magazine when I came across a piece on The Art Of Mindfulness which postulates that, with technology at our fingertips and able to deliver (almost) every whim and passing fancy, we have lost the ability to live in the now.

“The internet felt like an amazing opportunity but it’s made us slaves. And unable to live in the now.”

Both Susan Maushart (In The Winter Of Our Discontent) and David E Mayer (director of University of Michigan‘s Brain Cognition and Action Laboratory) suggest that multi-tasking is a myth and that what we are actually experiencing is the brain focusing and re-focusing so quickly on consecutive tasks that we are left feeling forgetful and unfulfilled.

I was quite inspired by this notion of being in the ‘now’ so I spent the back half of last week resisting the temptation to flit between facebook, emails, sms-ing and reading during my commute – ‘trying the idea on’ so to speak. I heard the classical strains of Vivaldi as I passed through Vauxhall Station in the morning, saw the gorgeous pink sunset from the train window on Thursday night (no photo to share because I was just looking at and enjoying it) and laughed until my eyes watered at my Turkish friend’s rendition of an 80s-song-to-remain-unnamed (because I can’t remember it!) on Friday night’s commute.

So this morning I was catching up on some of my fellow bloggers musings from the week and in the spirit of mindfulness, read with single-minded determination (that means all the way through – that’s right, from beginning to end – in one sitting) the latest post from Seen The Elephant about expat Russian accordionist Alexander Sheykin. Click here, be still, and be moved by some of the most beautiful and haunting music I’ve ever experienced.

And all through the wonders of the internet.

Sunday On My Mind…

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Kym Hamer

Today’s weather has left a lot to be desired, particularly after yesterday’s more inspiring blue skies, so I have been getting on with a few chores. And washing (of clothes, dishes, hair) done – and trying to avoid looking at the enormous bag of ironing on top of the cupboard – I finally ventured outside between showers (the precipitous, not bathroom kind) to trim winter’s obvious bleakness from my surviving plants and to cut a few choice bay leaves in preparation for tonight’s culinary exploits – a Kym-style take on cottage pie accompanied by roasted squash.

To my surprise, I could see rows of tiny ‘bud-lets’ along the seemingly naked stalks and in recent weeks, my continental parsely seems to have been inspired back to life. The bay tree by the door soldiers on as always and my strawberry plants may just be redeemable with a little TLC so there’s a chore for next weekend already.

The weekday mornings and evenings are getting slightly lighter now and during the week I was delighted to see that my daffodil bulbs had emerged, green and stoic and heralding Spring-around-the-corner. But today, bay leaf snippets in hand and having pocketed my almost redundant secateurs, I turned to check on my brave little daffs only to find four – YES FOUR – flower buds nestled amid the greenery.

And after last year’s flowerless haul, there are no words to describe the joy that the prospect of those happy, yellow blossoms gave me today.

The year is looking better already…

The Piece De Resistance…Of Birthdays!

Posted on February 6, 2011 by Kym Hamer

Last weekend I found myself tucked cosily in my sunlit train seat chugging my way across London to a 1st birthday party in Borehamwood.

Little N was an Australia Day 2010 arrival and having visited him in hospital when he was just a day old (I have the dubious honour of being his first ‘friend’ photo), I am constantly amazed each time I see him how much he’s grown into even more of a ‘little’ person. And it’s been two months, what with travelling, Christmas and the like, so trekking across London on a fine Sunday afternoon seemed the least I could do.

Being of the child-free variety, I had been invited to attend ‘the adult’s party’ where there would be substantially fewer small people and more grown up fare (ie. drinks and nibbles). And after his small person shindig earlier followed by a baby power nap, N was in fine form and ready to receive our assorted offerings in the ’12 months and older’ category. He even gave every parcel his due and careful attention…until the next one appeared!

(Between you and me though, I’m afraid that the whole ‘ding dong’ and ‘more things for me’ association that was happening is just likely to yield disappointment and/or frustration for him on all days non-birthday. Sigh…we all have to grow up some time…)

But really, the point of this entire post is to brag about the piece de resistance – I give you (dramatic pause)

…The Cake…

And in case you couldn’t see Drago the Dragon on top, here it is again…

And underneath that awesome icing, there was Red Velvet Cake (from The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook no less)…and Mum A made it all herself!

Do you think six months prior is too early to start dropping hints for my big day?

ps…and before I head off to plan my strategy/plead my case, I’d like to extend a big gidday to new follower, spriteyone. Come on in and make yourself right at home!

Australian Flood Appeal…A Shindig For A Good Cause…

Posted on January 22, 2011 by Kym Hamer

As the world watched our dry and drought-stricken landscape disappear beneath swirling flood waters, first in Queensland and now in country Victoria, Australian expats will have felt more keenly than ever that heart-breaking tyranny of distance as these tragic events unfolded. My urgent emails and phone calls to check that loved ones were safe and the relief I felt as I discovered my family and friends were ok have now been replaced by the sad and numbing realisation that others have not been so lucky with stories like that of 13 year old Jordan Rice, who saved his brother and lost his life, reminding me that the devastation is far deeper as flood victims face the monumental task of re-building businesses, lives and communities.

And it would appear that it isn’t over yet as reports of flooding and the ensuing devastation continues unabated.

This Wednesday (26th January) is Australia Day, a time traditionally for we Aussies to get together for a bit of a shindig and celebrate all that is great about being Australian. One of our greatest traits is our ‘get-on-with-it’ attitude in the face of adversity:

“Without doubt the best quality we observe across the entire Australian community is a natural willingness to pitch in and have a go, to help others….It is a generosity of spirit and a selflessness that is perhaps our most precious heritage to hand on to younger and newer Australians – a nation of people who care for and look out for each other.” General Peter Cosgrove, ex Chief of Australia’s Defence Force

And in fine Aussie spirit, my lovely friend April has been inspired put together a fab Charity Wine Tasting event to mark Australia Day 2011 and provide a way to support our friends and family and the communities afflicted.

Where:

Hemingways Wine Bar

19 Bevis Marks, London, EC3A 7JB

When:

Wednesday, January 26th, 7.00pm-10.30pm

Nearest Tube/s (important over here!!!):

Liverpool St, Aldgate

Tickets are £20 in advance (they’ll be £25 on the door so in the immortal words of Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum, do yourself a favour and book early!) but even better than that, Hemingways have thrown their hat in the ring and 10% of the bar takings for the event will go to the flood appeal. Howzat??

For tickets and to be included on the guestlist, please email April by clicking here or get in touch via the Event Facebook page here.

So whether you are Australian or not, if you fancy a knees up with a bit of additional ‘feel-good factor’ on Wednesday (or know someone who might), get yourself/them down to Hemingways…pronto!!!

Inspired By…Strictly Sparkle…

Posted on December 18, 2010 by Kym Hamer

So Strictly Come Dancing is over for another year…no more ballroom frolics and latin antics (or should that be ballroom antics and latin frolics?) to fill my Saturday evenings with glamour and wistful longing…and every year there’s a tiny part of me that wonders why I don’t go back to it. Obviously not at the level that these guys dance at…but that all-consuming obsessive passion that from the very first time, filled me with joy.

It makes me wonder what the next year will bring, where I will find the moments of joy and passion that seemed a little thin on the ground this year.

There will be those small things like this week’s ‘snow’ moments or great customer service (had a fab experience with John from Oyster Card this week). And then there are the big changes – life as a single girl and an amazing new job to start in January – which whilst presenting some waters which have not been charted for a while, I have to admit are a little inviting.

In the meantime, there’s a holiday to have and the small matter of a large gent in a red suit that may be popping in to sprinkle a little Christmas cheer. And as life in 2010 has been a tough ride (for many people), a little more magic seems to me to be just ‘the thing’ for 2011.

So as there are only 13 days left in 2010, I’ve decided to look for a little extra sparkle every day to make sure I get plenty of practice for 2011…does welling up during the Strictly Final count?

ps…and on another matter, 1 week people, 1 week…that’s 7 sleeps to go (just in case you missed the widget-thingy on my blog). Hope you’ve been good this year!

pps…and congrats to Strictly winners Kara and Artem – you were my favourite!

Inspired By…The Original Single Girl

Posted on December 4, 2010 by Kym Hamer

I was catching up on reading last weekend’s Times magazine (and listening to some Laura Branigan, but that’s another story!) and I dipped into a column that I have not read for quite sometime – Things You Only Know If You’re Single written by the fabulously single Hannah Betts.

(For those of you who don’t know, I am, once again, a single girl – again, another story, and unrelated to Laura Branigan.)

Anyway, the topic of singledom was this – that “Elizabeth I was the original career single”. Intrigued, I read on.

Betts includes some supporting quotes (which I will share here as if you want to read the column on-line for yourselves, The Times in their commercial wisdom, will now make you pay to read their stuff) such as,

“Better beggar woman and single than queen and married”

which, while I don’t subscribe to being the marrying kind, seems a little blinkered and/or extreme; and one which is entirely up my street:

“I will have here but one mistress and no master”

There is a lot written about Elizabeth, her life and her reign during the Golden Age – a lot of which I’ve read. But I was inspired to go-a-googling to see if I could find a statement that would sum up how much this frivolous yet wily and conservative political genius achieved during the 44 years of her reign…

When she ascended the throne in 1558, England was an impoverished country torn apart by religious squabbles. When she died at Richmond Palace on the 24th March 1603, England was one of the most powerful and prosperous countries in the world. (http://www.elizabethi.org)/)

So the Virgin Queen pretty much rocked her world. But I have to admit, I don’t think I’d have ever been prepared to forego potential sexual misadventures for it (be honest, would you?!!)…and let’s face it, THAT horse bolted a long time ago.

But Betts is right – Elizabeth I is absolutely a true hero among ‘lone ranger’ icons.

ps…it’s exactly 3 weeks ’til Christmas today…and while the beloved widget thingy (which is on my blog for those of you receiving this by email) is still marching festively towards the 25th, the advent calendar will be marking its annual pilgrimage towards the big day in a communal fashion on the office filing cupboard…

Adding Up The Small Things…

Posted on November 14, 2010 by Kym Hamer

In my weekly peruse of Dr Alan Zimmerman’s Tuesday Tip, I found another little pearl of wisdom I had to share…

“Bigness comes from doing many small things well. Individually, they are not very dramatic transactions. Together though, they add up.” Edward S. Finkelstein

Sounds like my life at the moment!

And with the widget thingy telling me that there’s only 41 sleeps to Christmas, I am suspecting that unless I get cracking on a few small things, I may be faced with a rather large ‘transaction’ (aka meltdown) in a few weeks time…

Methinks it’s time to get some skates on!

Motivation is an inside job

Posted on November 7, 2010 by

One of the things that drops into my inbox each week is a newletter from Dr Alan Zimmerman, a motivational keynote speaker whose Tuesday Tip brings his thoughts on attitude, motivation, teamwork, communications and work relationships right into my mid week commute.

I am often fascinated by this whole idea that the ‘universe provides’, that there is an energy in the universe that means if you do the things that move you in the direction you want to go in, the path seems to open up before you, signposts and all.

Those who know me well know that the last few weeks have been difficult to say the least and while the path is yet to materialise (it’s just one step at a time at the mo’), this week’s Tuesday Tip, Motivation Is An Inside Job, seemed to be a great signpost for the weeks and months ahead.

Dr Zimmerman starts by saying that no-one is 100% motivated 100% of the time (no really?), that external sources of motivation can not really be counted on ad infinitum (no sh*t Sherlock!), that the best source of motivation lies within ourselves (obviously!) and then goes on to provide some hints and tips on being your own motivational generator.

But that’s not what inspired me to get tap-tap-tapping here at my front window. His thoughts actually reminded me of something I heard 8-9 years ago from a course leader with Landmark Education:

When you take responsibility for your own happiness, others show up as a gift.

Think about it: imagine being able to generate your own happiness in spite of your circumstances. Then others don’t have to bear the burden of delivering happiness to you, all gift-wrapped with a big shiny bow.

I don’t necessarily mean we need to be happy all the time (personally, and particularly right now, I would find that exhausting) but consider taking responsibility for all the feelings we have and not that they are caused by someone else.

Powerful….and scary…stuff. Because then there would be no-one else to blame…

…but me.

Damn! Poor-me-ness has been foiled again. Quick, get back under that duvet before I start waxing on about the buck stops here and all that malarky…

…even though it really does.

ps..just to leave you with something else a little motivational (or otherwise depending on your point of view)…the widget thingy says there are only 48 days til Christmas…

Bah Humbug!

Motivation Is An Inside Job…

Posted on November 7, 2010 by Kym Hamer

I have often been fascinated by this whole idea that the ‘universe provides’, that there is an energy in the universe that means if you do the things that move you in the direction you want to go in, the path seems to open up before you, signposts and all.