amy + nic xxx

Life seems to be accelerating at an even faster pace at the moment, as I turned the calendar over to November I caught my breathe as I realised I had to have a bit of a think about Christmas craft, what gifts am I going to make this year and exactly how am I going to manage it all amongst, life, parenting, partnering, being, markets and Blue Caravan?  Hmmm, not quite sure but I know I am going to try and keep it simple (do those two sentences together make any sense at all, probably not).

In the meantime, we have just emerged from another action packed weekend beginning with another beautiful wedding on Friday finishing with a bit of a hangover on Sunday (yes, the first one in 7years, was very mild and easily dealt with; by eating a huge breakfast) after an amazing River Festival (there are a few pics and clip here) on Saturday (but more about that in the next post, waiting to source more photos and footage).
On Friday Amy and Nic got married and I was lucky enough to have been asked to capture the day, 1300 photos later, I could safely say, it was captured. Both Nic and Amy are very passionate about the environment and all that there is in caring for it (it was only recently that they actually bought a car, until then it was quite a common sight to see Amy, pregnant, on the back of their cargo bike, a totally gorgeous sight), yes, they are totally awesome. So as you would imagine, every bit of their wedding also had the environment in mind; from getting a local brewer to brew the beer, having everyone bring a plate of delicious food, upcycling outfits into stunning wedding outfits, composting food and plates/cutlery, paper bark runners on tables, encouraging car pooling through to having their rings made out of antique silver forks (and a whole lot of other stuff, if you are interested, I am sure Amy and Nic could run through it with you, they covered everything in an aware and gentle way.

Amy and Nic's wedding was also literally oozing with love, love in a real and intimate way, they have been together for 8 years in total, have known each other for 14 years and have a true understanding of their relationship, they know relationships can be hard but promised to hold love in their hearts and for each other. I especially loved Nic, acknowledging how much he loved how Amy pushed him, pushed him to her vision of even more greatness, aspiring to keep growing, wanting to be better, better together. Yes, there were tears, lumps in throats, snotty noses  and red eyes all around, ahhh love.

Dorrigo Bluegrass Festival 2012

We were set, tent in the boot, along with many other camping and sleeping aids, food packed, bags packed, instruments, check, children, well once we picked Poe up from the bus stop, check. Up the mountain we go. Up the mountain to Dorrigo for the Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival. Scott was already up there, he had spent the last two days in Banjo heaven, participating in a Banjo workshop run by Ross Nickerson, an amazing Bluegrass Banjo player from America (Ross, had also been staying with us the past week and had become accustomed to the kids addressing him by his full name; "Good Morning Ross Nickerson, Ross Nickerson, have you met my friend, etc etc). 

Anyway, back to the story, after we pick up Poe from the bus he mentions that he is feeling a bit car sick, although Poe had never previously been car sick, I acknowledged his feelings, got him to strip off to cool down, gave him water and set on our way. Yes, yes, I know you can see what is going to happen, blatantly obvious you think. Well yes, the road to Dorrigo is windy and steep, with many sections where you are unable to pull off anywhere, even if you have a child vomiting in/across/on the back seat. Yikes. I did eventually pull over, and just stared at the mess, after a few deep breathes, I used all our drinking water and some tea tree to clean poor Poe and the car up (not able to do that great a job on my pillow that got vomited on though, damn it). So what to do, travel up, travel down? Hmmm, Poe was keen to go home, have a bath then go up again, but I didn't think that was very wise, so we slowly, slowly made our way up. 

And we got there, with only one small vomit on arrival, but I was ready. We found Scott, we set up, and poor Poe lamented "Oh, how I wish, I could run around with my friends, but I am too sick, oh how I wish I could kiss you, but I am too sick".

Luckily I soon received a call that cheered me up, Nicole and Oscar had arrived, woohoo, I hear you thinking, but wait there is more. They were about to set up their tent (they were in the general camping area, we were in the performers area, due to me basically being unable to think clearly with all that vomiting going on, I headed to the closest and easiest campsite), yes, they were about to set up their tent but they only had a fly and no tent. So we welcome them with open arms into our tent. Lovely. Following on from this we also smuggled Ellie, Gabe and Rani, into the performers section as well, so we could all camp together and we could share the childminding at night, a perfect plan.  

However due to a poorly Poe, night one was kind of a right off, well, right off in the way that I didn't participate in the festival festivities but actually it was great because with Poe being sick, I just fell asleep with the kids and awoke, fresh and sprightly on Saturday morning, as did Poe. 

After a deliciously hearty breakfast of rejected muesli, we made our first festival stop, at the flatfooting workshop with the gorgeous Martha Spencer from the Whitetop Mountaineers, hailing from West Virginia. If you are thinking, flat what??!?! Check out the clip below, but be warned there is already talk about town about forming a local group forming, beware, this may just change your life. Flatfooting is getting poised to take over the world (yes, it is nearly 12.30am as I write this), totally hot and oodles of fun for everyone. I would also like you all to pay attention to those backward legs spins, whoa! 

Below are some highlights of the festival, it was such a delightfully easy and fun time, shared with lovely friends and a lot of folk from all around.

Stomp Kats, my personal favourites. 

Cath and her totally awesome panelvan with Victoria and Ilo.

Mustered Courage doing some jamming

A spectacular beard from Black Train

The Mid North, of course, starring Ilo.

The Whitetop Mountaineers, you should see her play the fiddle and flatfoot at the same time, oh my.

Crowd favourites, The New Worlds from Nashville.

The Mid North accompanied by The New Worlds and yes Ilo. Black, this time on harmonies and hand claps.  

inner thoughts

A friend we have known for a long time (I actually wrote 'old' but then realised in light of the following maybe it wasn't quite right), works as a producer for Richard Glover on 702 ABC Radio, she wrote this fantastic post on the ABC Blog and then they chatted about it on air. I thought it was brilliant, hilarious and beautiful and couldn't resist sharing here. 

Am I the only one having difficulty reconciling my inner thoughts with the things I know I’m supposed to say to my children, for the sake of their developing self esteem?

We’re told over and over that children’s attitudes around body image and nutrition are shaped by ours. 

The message is that if we want our children to grow up happy and body-confident, we need to model this behaviour. You can’t BE what you can’t SEE, the experts tell us.

So, the stakes are pretty high… and the pressure to get this right is turning me into quite a brilliant actor.

Mum, why are your legs so big? (Charlotte, 9)

She’s right. They really are chunky. I have to stop those 9pm licorice binges…  All those years of ballet made me too muscly. 

‘Aren’t they FANTASTIC!  That’s because I do all that wonderful exercise!  And notice how shapely they are? That’s because mummy did ballet when she was younger. Here, feel how strong the muscles are. I’m so lucky to have strong legs.  Some people don’t even have legs!’

Mum, what are those lines on your face? (Phoebe, 4)

I’m really going to have to stop raising my eyebrows so often.. I wonder if there’s a different way to look surprised.. It might be time to try that expensive cream.

‘Oh, you mean my expression lines, darling?! I think they’re one of the best things about my face! The smartest, wisest women are the ones with the most lines.. See these ones around my eyes? They’re extra special. They show how many times I’ve laughed. I lovethem! I wonder how many laughter lines you’ll get..’

Mum, are you on a diet? (Charlotte, 9)

Sh*t. She’s noticed!

‘Of course not. We don’t do DIETS. I’m just trying to eat healthily to make sure my body gets all the nutrition it needs. It’s good to make sure that our bodies get the right kind of energy so we can do all the things we love to do..’

And it’s my twenty year school reunion Saturday week…  

And ‘the trousers of truth’ don’t fit.. Actually, none of the trousers fit...

And all the coolest clothes at the op shop are too small, because people used to be smaller.. or maybe just the cool people were smaller. Whatever. Nothing fits!

And I’m just two kilos outside my healthy weight range..

And we’re going on a beach holiday at the end of the year and there will be lots of photos… and this might be my last chance to ever look good in a swimming costume again!

‘Besides, diets are silly and diets are dangerous, darling. I’d never go on a diet. I’m on ahealthy eating plan’

Maybe I’ll try those meal replacement shakes.. they’re meant to work really fast.

Mum, why do you wear make up? (Phoebe, 4)

Because without it, I look exhausted. Why does it take me twice as long to look half as good?

Apparently Cate Blanchett uses illuminator.. Maybe I should try that.

‘Oh, it’s just a bit of fun, sweetheart… I just love mucking around with the different colours. It’s a bit like when you play dress ups.. And see my beautiful eyes?  If I draw around them with this pencil, they really stand out..  Some people use this thing called mascara, but you and I already have beautiful long eyelashes so we don’t need it’

I’ll put the mascara on in the car..

Mum, why do you dye your hair? (Charlotte, 9)

Lisa Wilkinson doesn’t dye hers and she’s fifty. This means it’s possible to be a natural brunette until then… So I can stay brunette until I’m fifty.. and then I’ll just slowly start going lighter and lighter until I’m a blonde.. that way the regrowth will be harder to spot. I wonder if I’ll have more fun as a blonde.

‘Oh, I just love the colour of your hair, Charlotte, so I’m trying to make mine the same colour’

Mum… Why are your boobs lying down? (Ben, 7)

My poor, pathetic, deflated breasts. I'm standing up, but you really are lying down, aren’t you? You used to be so perky. Why didn’t I let you out more in my twenties? I’m sorry there aren’t any pictures of us from back then. We should have done a photo shoottogether. You were so great. Remember when we used to pass the pencil test? Now we can’t even pass the pencil case test. Maybe if I just spend the rest of my life walking around with my hands on my head….

‘Take a good look darling.  This is exactly what a 38-year-old woman’s breasts should look like. They’re fantastic. They’re perfect! They fed each of you for fifteen months. That’s 45 months. How many years in 45 months?  That’s right. Nearly four. Aren’t you getting good at maths! After all that hard work feeding you guys, it’s no wonder they’re lying down. They need a rest!’

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The funny thing is, the more I tell my children this stuff, the more I start to believe it.  I guess it’s like gradual, accidental, cognitive behavioural therapy.

And lately I’ve been noticing a change in the internal dialogue.

Actually, these legs are rather toned.

My face is changing.. and I sort of like it.

These breasts really did feed those three children. How incredible.

Maybe they don’t look so bad after all.

Sydney snaps

my beautiful mumma, i got to spend some very precious one on one time with her in the city, such a delight just to wander about. I haven't been here since it has become a vegan cafe, so delicious but not as delicious as the company, Robin and Elsie, such a delight. Next stop a quick catch up with Ollie and her beautiful, smiling babe, Lenny, oh my goodness I just wanted to eat him up. Saul at school.
In between all this I had dinner with Ruth, a delightfully nourishing and beautiful time with Tracey, Vince, Jenna and Remy (as always), a quick glimpse of Dom, a fabulous concert and lots and lots of wonderful, heart warming and safe chats with Jen. Finishing up here at this yummy cafe.

phew.

A quick little post before we head up the mountain to the Dorrigo Bluegrass Festival, we will be camping the whole weekend, should be loads of fun.