Do you set yourself goals?

I do, and sometimes the goal itself isn’t the reward (although according to the book I’m reading Your Life in Half a Second, it should be). But no, sometimes the goal is a bit shit, like paying off some debt or doing a First Aid course, so I have to structure in a reward once I get there.

And sometimes the goal is awesome, but it’s painful to get there, so I have to give myself other bits of pain, to help me along. I know, I know, it’s weird, and I should be motivating myself to move towards pleasure, instead of away from pain, but I wonder sometimes if I’m just not wired that way.

When I was a baby, I apparently HATED having a wet nappy, and so I reportedly toilet-trained myself at 9 months. (Yes Mums, my Mother swears this is true… Hmmm…)   The same went for not being able to get into ALL OF THE THINGS, so I learned to walk. So even then, I was motivated by either getting stuff, or moving away from undesirable situations.

This year I wanted to go to the USA for Christmas. I have a brother and sis-in-law there, another brother and sis-in-law who will be going there, and Mum who jet-sets around the place like nobodies business. So everyone else saved their pennies and booked their flights and prepared for fun times with egg nogg and Ugly Christmas Sweaters and singing by the open fire. Except me. I mean I saved a bit, I guess, but not enough. “I can’t help it,” I wailed, “it’s expensive to be me you know.” (And etcetera.)

As the time to loc- in a flight drew ever and ever closer, I had to invent more and more leverage to get me to save the money. I imagined missing out on all the laughs, I pretended that perhaps one of my mob was dying, or would die in the next year, and this would be my last chance to see them, I thought about my kids not waking up with the Nanny they usually have Christmas with. None of it was working.

And then, in the backbackback of my crockery cupboard I found this:

Not sure if it’s for drinking out of, or bathing in

And I vowed, that until I saved the money to go to America, I would not be allowed to drink my morning coffee out of anything else, nor would I be able to drink any other coffee than this:

I suspect this may be poison

There was to be no Nespresso at home, no capps at the local cafe, no sneaky little jaunts with friends after drop-off for ping-jections of that sweet brown nectar of the gods. Nope.

Times were getting desperate, friends, desperate indeed.

And then, somehow, with the help of Flight Centre, all night google searching of airline prices, a change tin filled with two-dollar coins, and the invention of early Christmas presents, this happened:

YES, THIS!

And then this happened:

Cheers to holidays

And now THIS CAN HAPPEN:

Sweeet

I’m not sure what I’m more excited about. (I love you, Nespresso Machine.)

So, what are you doing for Christmas?

And how the heck do you motivate yourself, other than drinking daily poison?

…From The Ashers

It’s been a funny old week this week hasn’t it?  What with super moons and cold days and a feeling of melancholy lurking around the edges of everything.  Did you hold your people close to you this week?  I bet you did.  It’s time to shake off the week, so here are the Hits:

1.  This little cup.  I ordered it from Nespresso with my coffee supplies this month, mainly because it is called Ritual, and I really love the idea of that, a daily coffee ritual (I’m a marketing person’s dream).  I was planning on gifting it, but then I found it was a SCIENCE CUP.  It came with it’s very own brochure, possibly researched at the Ponds Institute.  It tells me that it has a carefully calculated height and diameter to release the aromas fully, it is slightly curved to allow for smooth pouring of the coffee, it has a concave base for a perfectly formed crema and it is made from light porcelain to keep the coffee at the ideal temperature (WHAT?).  I shit you not, this is a the actual truth (according to the brochure).  So, as you can imagine, I can’t possibly give it away now, because: science.

Perfect science cup, you shall be mine… Allll mine…

2.  I follow a clairvoyant lady on FB, and she sometimes does a selection of cards.  I chose this one yesterday, and I love it.  I think she meant it for all of us.

3.  As you RRs know, we said goodbye to Watters this weekend, but he left us with a most precious gift, in the form of this card.  So cute.  I am pleased and honoured that we were able to be part of teaching a kid about some of the greatness that resides within.  We don’t always know how we will fare in the face of new challenges and situations, and Watters, at 11years of age did it with grace and an infectious sense of fun.  His Mum sent me an email thanking us for giving him an experience that was “bigger than him”.  Mwah Mrs.Watters.

4. Free shit.

Sometimes in my line of work people bring me stuff.  It can be amazing produce from their garden, little gifts of chocolate or wine or beer, or even little things they see when at the shops and know that I’ll love.  Anything from essential oils or scented candles, through to picnic blankets, and did I mention beer?  I must have been particularly nice this week, because I received a bounty: a box of choccies, a bottle of wine, some special peppercorns, some champagne flutes, some lemons, and these babies:

Yeah, I know, I have the best job in the world, but even better, I have the best patients in the world.  If any of you happen to be reading, you rock.

5.  Stairway to Heaven.  Liam is learning it on guitar, so we have been listening to it on the way to school every day, and have used old video of ‘Money Or The Gun’ with all the versions of Stairway, as a musical education.  Embarrassingly, I realised I’ve never played them The Doors, or even the B52s, so we have had a musical education this week, ripping out the old vinyl.  So much fun.  A good reason to have kids.

How was your week?  Any hits involving hits?

…From The Ashers xx

Buckle up people, here’s some hits here for you…

1.  This coffee:Most every day I thank my intelligence and good sense (Or maybe it was just the pic of George Clooney with his ‘come hither’ eyes) for buying a Nespresso machine.  To all you coffee aficionados with your Gaggias and your, um, some other fancy coffee machines, I say: piffle.  In under a minute I can have a smooth and tasty coffee delivered to my mouth, with no cleaning up. I love you little pods.

2.  This meme:

The internet cracks me up sometimes.  I don’t know why, but this one just makes me giggle.  Not only the stupid face Leonardo is pulling, but the fact that someone has taken some stills and gone to the trouble of making this.  What a strange and wondrous world we inhabit.

3.  All of you readers.  I love that you take the time to read, and sometimes to comment on my jottings.  I love doing this blog thing, and even though I know it’s self-indulgent and meandering, I love how you guys are taking the time to come along for the ride…

4.  The Little Fiddlers concert at school this week.  Yes, that is their name.  And yes, they all play violins (with a couple of cellos and double bases) and yes, they are all “very talented”.  Read that bit however you see fit.  My ears may have been assaulted, but the cute factor made it all worthwhile.  Doncha just love how kids of a certain age have no real self awareness, so that have no self consciousness either?  They played, we clapped, so they must have been awesome.

5.  The weather.  Shhh, don’t tell The Sunshine Coast it’s Autumn.  We are going to hit the low 30s again here on Sunday and Monday, and I for one, could not be happier.  Warm sun and not much humidity.  That’s what I’m talking about.

So how about you, got some hits?

What’s the weather like at your joint?

…..FROM THE ASHERS… XXX

HIts of the week:

1.  Blood donors. “Bloody” legends.  And lifesavers.  Our life is completely different this end of the week, with Coco all topped up with the claret.  Can’t thank all those anonymous donors enough.  Call 13 14 95 to find your nearest donation spot.

2.  The music therapy lady at Nambour Hospital.  I’ve got be honest, although my face was saying “Oh yes, music therapy whilst my screaming child gets treated like a pincushion, what an smashing idea”, my head was saying, “FFS you crazy bloody hippy, piss off and leave us to our misery and our work you friggin’ lunatic.”   Turns out, she was right and (gulp) I was wrong.  The music did help.  Go figure.

3.  Oh hello coffee delivery, yes please.

4.  And to go with said coffee, check out this mug.  I have no idea what or why this was invented, but who wouldn’t want one?

For the person who gives you the shits?

5.  These new shoes.  I know, I know, they’re bloody ugly, but in my other life I have a real job (No I’m not a highly successful and award winning author- who knew?) where I spend the whole day on my feet.  This week I finally chucked my old pair, and got these babies.  Just like going home.  Thanks Get Set Footwear on Gympie Terrace… (Tell ’em I sent you, they’ll give you a good deal.)

And a late entry… After my anti-bird rant, this popped up in my Instagram feed. Oh Jamie, I already love you, and then you wear this.  Not sure if its a turkey or a giant penis, but I like that you don’t look impressed. #birdssuck

What are you loving this week?

And what do you think of Hitwave Alison?  Should I also be including my top 5 shits?