Thought I'd start a new happy news thread seeing as I hijacked the last one into a political debate!

My happy news for today is that I'm completely lost in a new story that I never imagined I'd be writing.  I go to bed thinking about it and wake up wondering which scene I'm going to write next.  It will be short so it won't encroach on my fantasy commitments, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

So lovely to wake up and feel purposeful again.  Seems as if when I'm not writing or editing I feel lost.  I guess I'm just not meant to be a researcher!  (lucky I write fantasy)

i know how it feels to have nothing to write and its a terrible feeling:( but im glad youve gotten back into the happy feeling of writing.

My happy news it that it's the holidays!! Lately I've been starting to get sick and tired of the gruelling day at school and slaving away at the books and constantly stressing over the stack of homework and outcomes that must be fulfilled. I also got my English writing task back... and now I'm thorougly disappointed in myself because the marks I got were very disappointing. But like my teacher said I mustn't dwell and work towards the exams coming up in about a month... These holidays unfortunately will not be an actual 'holiday' because I will be studying like crazy and revising over all the work I've done this year in preparation for the dreaded yet all important exams... Arg!! But I'm planning to get some more writing done on my book and get to reading 'Daughter of the Dark' so it won't be all bad.

Yay Lou! That's so exciting! When a story ambushes you, and takes you over. That is so lovely!

Do tell us when your done! And what length and genre and the like so we can feel a part of it.

Sending out happy story thoughts in my dreams for you...

(My hubby dreamt I won $30 million in Powerball last night - do you think there is a conection?)

Yay for Alyson, printing off and posting!!!!
Yay for all of us on "pretend" midsemester breaks who have to study but hey at least we don't have to go to school/uni!!!!!
yay for Louise, who can't stop writing - its times like this that you know you've followed the right path
yay for me who is going to finish her cafe muse story if not her project muse by the deadline.

Had a seriously fab day today. Beautiful day in Melbourne, sunny and warm and yummy. Posted off my MS. Big relief.

Then went to Collingwood preliminary final and it was like nothing I have seen before. 89000 people, most of them going for Collingwood, screaming and yelling and singing so loud we could not hear the half time siren! It was a great day, amazing atmosphere, excellent pasionate crowd and of course a big win!

Next week GRAND FINAL here we come!!!!!!!!

Happy thoughts again please!!!!! (I'm asking a lot of you guys this week happy thoughts wise!)

Yes, Alyson! You are asking alot of me to send out happy thoughts for Collinwood!
It goes against everything I have ever held dear... sorry no happy thoughts for the Magpies!!! BHOOO!!! This from a Wooden Spoon supporter! HEE!

Whoo-hoo for Lou! New story that crept up on you when you least expected it! They are the best kind. That one will win a short story award for sure!
It's sent directly from your Muse as a gift for completing your trilogy...

Great to hear from you again,, Helen. You always add a dash of colour - usually purple and cream filled - to this messageboard. Hope Uni is going well. And you will finish you Cafe Muse story too! What dedication.

And Holidays for Jocelyn ... that's the best news when you are at school! Not so good for us mums with all the kids home.... AAARRRGGG!

deb

there is so much good news jumping around all over the place its crazy! im really happy for you guys ....my college production is comming up soon 'dags' and it should be really intresting and a little scarey ....i got over the whole hating of the play and ive learnt to like it. although i still wish i wasntt the main character cause they put all the pressure on me but oh well.

I just thought that i would put my two cents worth in of happy news. Yesterday I changed my address details in the bone marrow registry, i had already donated blood and put my other details in. I got up to a second match with someone but it didn't pan out. So decided to get my butt into gear and change address details. I have moved from Victoria to Darwin this year. The second bit of news is that I put my name on the organ donation register, it was a big step for me, facing the fact the I would die but I decided that because I didn't need my body parts they may give the gift of life to another person. You gotta feel good about that.
Thanks for listening,
Love and Laughter
kylie

You're right, Kylie, you do have to feel good about that!

So glad everyone is on a high.  And Alyson I can only imagine your excitment (being a cricket, rather than football, sort of girl) but it is a big ask for us to support Collingwood when we live in Lion's turf.  However, I will do my best.

Well, I've had a break from my wonderful story (like Deb, I've got kids home on school holidays too) but am looking forward to getting back into it this morning.

We lost our telephone service on Saturday - the whole exchange went down, three suburbs - and only got it back this morning, Tuesday.  My mobile phone was also out of action in one of those weird cosmic coincidences, so I had a very quiet weekend.  The happiest thing is that I didn't stress.  And in fact, I felt as if the universe had given me a quiet time for a reason.  So I spent it with the kids which was lovely.

But now the muse is calling, so I'll get in a couple of hours this morning (when I finish replying to all the emails and phone calls that have banked up!)

 

 

 

 

no phone louise? i would have gone crazy but its good that you had a nice and quiet weekend:)

Mmmm, not sure where you are Louise but my aunt who lives in Portland, Victoria had exactly the same sort of thing happen with her phones as well on the weekend.

I have got a little bit more happy news, my husband is coming home on Thursday after two months of being away.(He is in the Army) Yah!!
Love and laughter
Kylie

hey everyone... I'm from Portland, Victoria. but ive been up here most of my life in brissie. however my good news is that my bf got his holidays in january so we will be down there for a holiday for my cousins wedding :D

apart from that the only other good news i have atm would probably relate to me still doing fairly good at uni. i could definately do better, yet getting no result below a credit in anything is a fairly happy achievement. just handed in a psych essay which i was told by my teacher was more advanced than any other she had seen at that point :D that made my head swell!

I finished reading Daughter of the Dark a couple of days ago. Absolutely loved it. Its going to be a long wait till the 3rd book comes out though. But I definately can't wait. Good work Lou and glad to hear you've got a new project in progress.

Holly xx

thats pretty good news I'm happy for you holly.

Glad everyone is on an 'up'.  Can't imagine how hyped up Alyson must be.  All we get on the television up here (Brisbane) is Lions this, Lions that.  I'm sure it would be worse in Melbourne with Collingwood.  Sunday's chat will be lively!

Well, I'm thoroughly enjoying the school holidays with my children.  It's so much easier having them here when I don't need to work.  I've asked my publishers to try and get the schedule worked so I don't have to edit over the Christmas school holidays, so will hope that works out.  I had a big edit last year and it was really hard, particularly as I missed all the good cricket matches! (Difficult to concentrate when you can hear Ritchie Benaud in the next room saying "He's out!  Oh, I say, what a catch!) 

But my happiest news was my editor saying "There's so much less to do on this third book" which is such a relief.  I'd imagined that all the loose ends needing to be tied up would require a lot more work, but I must be getting better as I go along.   A happy thought indeed.

The happiest news of all!

I HAVE GRAND FINAL TICKETS!!!! For anyone down here they would know that's a huge deal. They are sooo hard to get and after a week of calling in favours and fretting and worrying that after the hard slog we put in this year we would not get to go, suddenly we ended up with extras!

Ended up even getting two from Collingwood - my hubby and bro-in-law know Neil Balme and Eddie's personal assistant through work and they managed to wanlge us a couple of last minuters! It's funny that in Brissy we would never have known anybody wtih clout but down here we can get tickets to anything. It's very weird!

Anyway, am very, very, very happy. Sigh...

Hopefully I will be high as a kite for Sunday chat, unless of course I am lying flat out at Vic Park, soaked through (considering its supposed to rain and hail with gale force winds - hmmmm... the gods are coming out in force for this one)

I am SO happy you did end up getting tickets, Alyson. What a buzz to go and scream with so many people. YAY!

Sorry that Collingwood lost though, Alyson. For your sake.
It was a huge game though... I watched it and thought of you cheering you little voice out!!!

Every one is full of happy news. I am so please for you all.

Good news about not having to edit so much for book Three, Lou! What a relief...

Holly, doing well without trying your hardest! Good for you. Imagine if you really pushed yourself?

Kylie, Hubby coming home!!! Yay for you. Know where you are coming from! My husband is in the army too.

deb

I am glad that everyone is so happy, i find it heartening to read the posts when I am a little bit down, your excitement and happiness just bounces off the page. Anyways my happy news, I have just been to my second Reclaim the Night meeting and am going to the fundraiser where there will be some great bands and i wll be lending a hand and the Universe willing heaps of ppl.
Love and laughter
Kylie

Kylie, what is Reclaim the Night?  Do tell us all about it.

My happy news for today is that I saw a psychic this morning who did a reading for me and confirmed a lot of things I've been thinking about lately, regarding my life's work and how to go forward with it.

I came away feeling really positive and focused.  A good way to be when I start my structural edit tomorrow.

I've always wanted to see a psychic and see if what they say is right or not... Was it expensive, Louise? Coz aren't they usually like really costly?

This was a tarot reader, and only $20 for 15 minutes, so that's not a huge amount.  But it is best to find someone who's recommended.  I'm sure there are rip offs out there, but I haven't come across any yet.

On further happy news, I'm half way through reading my editors notes for the structural edit of book three and its all easy stuff to fix so far.  She'd said this was a much lighter edit but I hadn't actually believed it until I started reading her comments.  Looks like I'm improving with practice - a happy thought!

A "lighter edit" I like the sounds of that! Good for you, Lou... see even wonderful authors improve with time and practice.

My Happy News is I finally got a new computer!!! YAY!!! Still have my old laptop for my novel, but this is a you-beaut family one with a big hard drive. Lots of room.... 80 gig!!! Whoo hoo.

Other happy news...100,000 words is getting closer. I am up to 94,000 now... What a countdown.

deb

thats great lousie! I want to get my own deck of tarrot cards when I get some money...when you learn how they can be realy inlightening.
deb 100,000 word? wow! thats great I'd be jumping up and down if i were you

Deb, I'm so pleased for you.  Of all the new appliances you can buy, a new computer has to be the most exciting.  I hope you get to spend some time on it and the kids don't hog it all for themselves!

And please, please do let us know when you've reached 100k.  You must be so excited about that as well.

Yay Lou! A 'lighter edit' sounds great. Hope you are having a ball tweaking.

Yay Deb! I bet you are feeling like a boiling kettle, the words rising and spilling onto the laptop keys ready to burst you past that elusive 100K mark. Can't you just picture if the computer realised what a benchmark that was and suddenly exploded with tinsel and confetti and a huge shower of streamers!!! I'm visualising it with all my might for you!

Booked a trip to Tassie with my hubby second week of November. Will be sooooo nice to have some time with just us. Flying and hiring a big glam car. Loving my new job, tiring but such fun and really lovely girls. And my bro-in-laws car was stolen a few days ago (not happy) and was found today (happy!!!!)

Alyson, sounds like you'll be in Tasmania the same week I'll be in Bundaberg.  Wonder who'll be wearing the jumper? (not me).

Happy news for this week is that I've been invited to a panel booksigning at the Angus and Robertson Post Office Square bookstore (biggest A&R in Qld) in the first week of December for a promotion they're doing.  Apparently authors from other genres will also be on the panel as A&R try to encourage customers to buy books and have them signed for Christmas presents.  I was pretty chuffed to be asked and am really looking forward to it.  I never get tired of signing copies of my books

A trip to Tassie, Alyson! Whoo-hoo!
And you're off to Bundaberg, Lou! Are you going to sample some rum?

I am so happy for you, Lou! What an honour to be asked to a panel signing... See slowly but surely your name is becoming famous.

deb

i think sighning books would be great fun!!! i heard storys of rowling signing books and theyre so funny! one boy recited the first page of book four and said i can go on and she was a amazaed ...it would be awesome to meet youre fans and hey louise you are making a name for youself!

Lou! That is so great! Congrats on that honour. Will they have lots of both books ready to go? Hope you have a ball.

Non writing/other work related news but still good. Found out today the State Manager specifically requested I attend the State conference for Sussan next Monday. Only the Managers get to go so this is a big deal (eek!). The conferences are always very lavish with big eats and fashion parades and lots of great info. Should be fun.

wow alyson youre getting lots of great oppotunitys its really good!

A HUGE!!! congrats, Alyson on being asked to attend that conference. You must be so happy!

A friend sent me this poem he found and I thought you all would appreciate it...

Big Mud Puddles and Sunny Yellow Dandelions

Author Unknown


When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard.

My kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money and I look away.

My kids see someone smiling at them and they smile back.


When I hear music I love, I know I can't carry a tune and don't have much rhythm so I sit self-consciously and listen.

My kids feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words. If they don't know them, they make up their own.


When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk.

My kids close their eyes, spread their arms and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing.


When I pray, I say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that.

My kids say, "Hi God! Thanks for my toys and my friends. Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. Sorry, I don't want to go to

Heaven yet. I would miss my Mommy and Daddy."


When I see a mud puddle I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty carpets.

My kids sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross, and worms to play with.


I wonder if we are given kids to teach or to learn from? No wonder God loves the little children!

Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

I wish you Big Mud Puddles and Sunny Yellow Dandelions!!!

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by

the moments that take our breath away."

deb

Deb, that's so beautiful.  I'll never look at muddy puddles the same way again.

Alyson, you have a great time on Monday - relax and enjoy.  You've been working hard so you deserve it.

Cassie, glad to see you popping in and cheering everyone on.  Please tell us your happy news when something nice happens to you , so we can tell you that you deserve it too

I've almost finished uni for the year. 2 weeks to go. Its gotten to the point where im actually bored with the work load so the sooner its over the better. but i know i'll be coming out of this course with much better than average results so im happy with that! Got a distinction on my psych assignment yesterday. Fairly good effort considering i felt it ended quite weakly.

And i've been so eager to get right into my book after having such strong support and encouragment from my bf's best friend. He loves it and he hasnt even read much of it yet. He's hurrying me to get into it so he can read the finished product! too bad ive got such a long way to go. But it feels good to have that type of encouragement!

deb, that poem was amazing, i loved it! i think it really help to put tings into perspective.
louise, errrrr happy news over here is running a little dry but the 2nd harry potter movie is out soon! and it my birthday in under a month and im preforming as the main character in my play next wednesday (eeeeek!)
holly, i know what it feels like to be so far away from the finish line and its easy to lose the drive but keep going and isnt it great when you have people encouraging you? id love to have someone nagging at me about my book excitedly im really happy for you.

and yes ...i know i have terrible spelling (my english teacher was no happier than to mention that today ) but im sure you can read it

deb, that poem was amazing, i loved it! i think it really help to put tings into perspective.
louise, errrrr happy news over here is running a little dry but the 2nd harry potter movie is out soon! and it my birthday in under a month and im preforming as the main character in my play next wednesday (eeeeek!)
holly, i know what it feels like to be so far away from the finish line and its easy to lose the drive but keep going and isnt it great when you have people encouraging you? id love to have someone nagging at me about my book excitedly im really happy for you.

and yes ...i know i have terrible spelling (my english teacher was no happier than to mention that today ) but im sure you can read it

Cassie - I can't believe your play is so soon. Have a fab night and do tell how it all goes.

Deb that was a great poem. REminds of of Bobby Kennedy's quote: "Some men see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never why and say why not?" - had that on my bedroom wall as a kid.

Now I have printed out your line: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away." That is soooooooooooooo unbelievably true. What a perfect beautiful happy bright affirming quote. Thank-you for bringing it to our attention!

Cassie, good luck with your play.  Is it old fashioned to say "break a leg"?

Holly, two weeks to go.  You must be counting down the days.  Hope you get to relax and write after that.

My happy news is that I've been practising my meditation and feel very calm and happy.  When I get better at it I'm sure it will make my mind a lot clearer too, which will no doubt be beneficial for my writing as well.

And we had a thunderstorm last night!  I love thunderstorms (even if I did have three loads of washing on the line ).  I lay there for ages watching the lightening and listening to the rumble.  Ah, the simple pleasures of life.

i love thunderstorms too! no its not to old fashioned to say break a leg....actually weve started a new tradition of having good luch tissues(dont ask me why) and if i whisel(cant spell) in a theartre space(i always whisel the harry potter tune) it drive the teacher crazy cause itsa bad luck and shes supersticous.

The days have just flown by!
I have been down the coast with the kids for the last few days so I am a bit behind on what's going on, on our messageboard. I will have to spend some time catching up reading all the posts!
Had a lovely time refilling my 'creative well' both at the sea and in the rainforest! YAY!

deb

Deb, so glad you had a nice time away. Did you go with all the kids? Where abouts did you stay? You didn't let on you were going on a trip, you big meanie. I could have visualised being there with you, the salty air, the sand in between your toes, the unseasonal warm weather. Sigh....

I have the day off tomorrow! That's happy news.

My hubby met Nathan Buckley. That was happy news for him. Sold his fiancee a stereo. Chatted for about half an hour and says he is the lovliest guy. Really nice, wanted no discount. So nice for him to be that way. It's awful when people you look up to don't measure up. Happy, happy, happy!

Living just with my hubby since bro in law moved back to Brissy. We've decided not to have anyone else live here and it's bliss! Very very happy!

Most likely going to Melbourne Cup next week with some friends. If the weather holds up we'll be there! Should be a blast. We moved to Melbourne to experience all it has to offer so it would be a shame to not do this!

Deb, so glad you had a great break.  You deserved one, and there's no better place than the sea for restoring calm.

It must be lovely to have your husband all to yourself again, Alyson.  Do have a great day at the Melbourne Cup.  If you wear a funny hat we must have a picture of it!

My happy news is that I've finally got a handle on how to go with these edits on book three.  I've had minor breakthroughs but still felt there was something missing - something not tied up.  Then a friend of mine who had just finished book two rang up and we got to talking about the theme of the series and it all fell into place.  I'll never understand why talking through ideas with someone helps my mind work, but it does.  So, I'm back into the process with renewed vigour and feeling really good about it.

I am a big meanie... Sorry Alyson. It was a spur of the moment thing... We just booked and went... Needed to relieve some tension in the house so we just thought going to the beach was the solution.

Must be bliss having the house to yourself, Alyson. :)No one else there to have to think about but you and your hubby. And he met nathan Buckley too! WHOOHOO for him!

LOU!!!!! YAY for you!!! I am SOOOOOOOOO happy you have your edit smoothed through. What a brilliant but suptle way to link all three novels together. The theme... the underlying feel of the books would be like a thread that embroiders all three together. So happy for you.

deb

Only 5 days to go now and michael and i have been together for 1 year!! isn't that grand?! My mother has paid for a room up at Mt Tamborine for us for 2 nights this weekend. I have an annual leave day on Monday and I couldn't be happier at the moment!

We're going up on Saturday and are heading back on Monday morning, but I think we're actually going to Movie World on the monday Cannot wait!

I also bought two books on the weekend. One is about getting intouch with publishers before writing your manuscript up in final draft.. and the other is about writing more freely (not trying to edit and fix the first draft after each paragraph of work!!) Its a great book, and has lots of great exercises that help me write more naturally every day.. its called "The Right To Write: An Invitation & Initiation Into The Writing Life", writen be Julia Cameron. I strongly recommend it for everyone with this very, very bad habit

It will be a long week for some, so take an hour out on the coming weekend and get outside for some fresh air, if you can- take the laptop or a notebook and start on a few pages of writing!

Writing Frees The Thoughts of Our Hearts!

p/s When are we meeting next???

Keep smiling,
Kerrie

Julia Cameron was also the author who wrote, "The Artist's Way", Kerrie and that is a great book. This one sounds just as good! I must get it! I LOVE books on writing!

deb

Went to Melbourne Cup and it was a great day. Bet on every race picked a couple of firsts and a few places ($1-00 each way so did not rake in big bucks but came out on top). Ended up with a group of about ten. Nice people all. Made lots of new friends - all people very friendly at the end of the day and lots of women who were gorgeous and classy and sopisticated in the morning being dragged back to the train without shoes and looking a little sloshy at the end of the day! Hilarious! Great people watching day as well as horsey watching! Dressed up pretty, wore a nice hat, had a ball.

Off to Tassie on Saturday so I'll miss Sunday's chat. You'll just have to talk about how much you all miss me!

Al

You just have the best 'happy news', Alyson! Going to the Melbourne Cup and now you are off to Tassie! Have a wonderful time! And we will miss you!

deb

Started a new story today, a little different to my usual style but managed to get a rough 1,023 written! i was quite suprised at myself really.. i didn't even re-read what i had writen before shifting it off to holly for a preview.. i was just amazed at what my writing is capable of doing when i am not really concentrating on any goals or when i am not stressing over perfect wording.. whos to say this story will make it very far, but the only one writing it is me and the only want to find out where it leads is if i write it.. so hip horrah for me

Kerrie

ps alison - some of us have the life.. geesh! lucky thing!!

Kerrie's has gotten her new story idea off to a great start. She should definately be proud!

Me on the other hand... no bursts of writing this week but Uni's over... YAY! so plenty of time to get into the swing of things. However I am currently looking over some old stuff I've written. Some of its got definate potential so I cant complain!

Holly xx

My happy news is that I bought a new car a few weeks ago!! It's a black Suzuki Grand Vitara 4WD. It's only 3 years old and low K's... traded in my old pulsar (which I loved!!) as I wanted a newer car and one with 4WD capabilites, so I can go offroad. My parents often go up to Stockton beach near Newcastle and have a dune buggy that they use up there. Now Craig and I are planning to go to Fraser Island next year for a holiday (I haven't been there for about 10 years). I have a lovely loan to pay off, but I don't mind cos I love the car!!

congratulations on the car, Fi.  There's nothing quite like that small of new (or almost new) upholstery.

And congrats on the writing, Kerrie.  It's a great feeling when you have a new idea and it's all flowing (looking forward to that myself when I hand in book three)

My happy news is that it's raining tonight.  Been so long since we had rain my sprinkler is almost worn out!  And I'd forgotten how comforting and cozy it is to hear rain on my tin roof.  Can't wait to go off to sleep listening to it.

 

Kerrie! Yay for you!
I think just letting go of the control biutton and letting a story tell its self is the the best way to write. I am so glad you are writing and are happy with the result.

Fi! Zoom zoom zoom. OH that's the Mazda add... doesn't matter!

I used to own a Suzuki Vitara and I loved that car. Great on fuel and fun to drive. You can take your two puppies all over the place in it. By the way how are your two little tail waggers going?

Holly! Whoo hoo for you! Uni is over and you can do what you want for a while. I bet it feels wonderful.

I love the rain, Lou! My friends used to call me Mortisha (Addams Family) because I am most happy when it's raining.

I don't really have any "Happy News" as such But I am feeling pretty good and am writing every day so I consider that Happy News.[

deb

HEY!
That was supposed to be a zoom zoom car on your part, Fi! Sorry!
I must have not clicked and pasted right. Oh well here it is anyway!

HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!


This is the last time... I don't know why they are coming up all wrong!

deb

Hey Deb! You always make me smile!!! LOL I love the pix!

I have updated my webspace and finalised the design... added heaps of new pix to the album too (running out of webspace!!) Have a look at it here: Silver Deva

As for puppies - that's my only drama at the moment. We've been having a lot of trouble with the two of them barking at all hours of the day (like 5am and all afternoon)... double trouble was right... we sent Ellie to my parents' place for a week to try and get Sable behaving better on his own. Well he was almost an angel by himself, but Ellie was causing havoc at mum's and had to come home within a week. Since she came home on Saturday she has been barking HEAPS and being rather naughty, and Sable is being funny - he keeps crash tackling her and nipping her to try and get her to stop barking!! I think he has started to figure it out... anyways, we are thinking she may be happier with a family where she is the only dog and doesn't have to compete for attention... I'm not really happy with the idea, bit I can see why it would probably be better in the long run. Will let you know how it goes.

Fi

sorry i havnt posted for a while but hey! school is stressful, im glad to see everyone is so happy!!!! and deb your little pictures are cool.

Fi, I love Vitara's!!! I have a little dark green Mazda 121 jellybean car which is the one I always wanted but if and when I upgrade a little 4x4 would do very nicely thank-you very much! Give the naughty puppies a big hug from me!

Deb so glad to hear you are writing every day. Can't get much happier news than that. And that fairy *gif was gorgeous!!! How do you do that! I want that fairy!!!!!

Lou, I bet you can't wait for Selwa's weekend. That much be such an inspiring and refreshing event. And I know the Novotel at Brighton Beach sooooo well!! Isn't it the most heavenly hotel. I used to be in the Broncos cheersquad and whenever we travelled to Sydney we'd stay there. Very glam, with gorgeous views, that cool lagoon pool, great little club, and its worth staying there for the delicious buffet breakfasts alone! Ooh, my mouth is watering thinking of it! Have fun!

Kerrie and Holly, every little bit you write helps, no matter the genre of the number of words, it is all new and fresh and yours! Enjoy it all!

Tassie was absolutely amazing. We hired a car and just drove and it is gorgeous. Rugged, untamed, and starkly beautiful. I took a zillion notes about every place we drove through so I can write about it. In an hour's drive you can go from lush green farmland to apple orchards to reforestation to untouched rugged rocky outcrops with perfect clear springwater. Amazing and beautiful. Loved every second of it. Ate too well, seafood in Hobart was magnificent. Definitely going back!

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!