by Krista | Nov 28, 2011 | Gulliver Tuesday
Starting your life over completely is a scary, overwhelming and wonderful thing.
Along the way you run out of money, meet amazing new people, and parts of yourself come to life that have lain dormant for ages.
You have great days and weepy ones, and sometimes, right when you need a shot of hope in the arm, something good comes along to cheer you right up and give you renewed courage.
Like a birthday. In Australia.
I turned 37 this weekend and have to say it was the best birthday I’ve ever had. 🙂
My bear pulled out one surprise after another to make it a beautiful week of great memories and new adventures and I love him for it. 🙂
He started with Nearly Birthday Day, whisking me away to town for silly little things that make me happy. Like taking me to a new thrift store and letting me pick out whatever treasures delighted me: a slightly gaudy medieval necklace, a rather lethal looking rake, two wonderful old books by two of my favorite authors (John Buchan and Baroness Orczy), and a splendid hand-painted champagne bottle that looked like something from Eastern Europe.
We went to a tiny, local butcher and bought bacon that was over a foot long (!!) and a pork roast with a thick rind that will make the best cracklings. Then he loaded up with all sorts of fresh fruits and veg from the outdoor market – I’ve been juicing and cooking like mad with all those yummy things! Next stop was the shopping center for a hot date in the Food Court where we dine luxuriously on hot dogs, potato wedges with gravy, and coffee milkshakes.
Later bear surprised me with a lovely filigree pendant, two new chooks – gorgeous Belgian ones in soft gray with bright red combs – and three adorable baby ducks who cheep like crazy when they see food. We also had dark chocolate mud cake and a jolly visit with dear friends and wow, I felt utterly spoiled.
But the dear fellow wasn’t done yet. Sunday afternoon he picked me up and took me for a drive up through the hills near Toowoomba to the Preston Peak Winery.
It is a gorgeous, sprawling estate of vineyards and flowers with a chapel and reception room for weddings overlooking the valley.
We climbed up further to the tasting room and cafe perched above the grapevines lining the hillsides and took in the stunning views.
Tearing ourselves away from the scenery we entered the Preston Peaks Winery tasting room and were greeted by Kor Ersoy, a lovely Turkish man who made us feel so welcome, answered all our questions, and lavished us with samples. While everything was good, my favorites were the Wildflower series, Golden Gleam (White Muscat), and the delectable Touriga Port.
After all our sampling we were more than ready for some solid food, so we wandered over to the cafe to see what they had to offer.
What they had was a stunning view, cool breezes blowing in through the open windows, and a menu chosen to suit the wines they produced. It was perfect!
We were ravenous so we ordered our bevvies: iced coffee to perk us up after all those tastings, wine and Double Sars (double sarsaparilla) to go with our meal, and then tucked into a feast: spring salad, warm cheesy bread, to-die-for pizza, and an antipasto platter with olives, sun-dried tomatoes with lavender, pesto, salami, smoked ham, caramelized sweet onions, and roasted capsicum. Phew! Needless there’s no way we could eat all of it, and I happily did not have to cook the next day. 🙂
We drove home as the sun was setting over the hills, sleepy, full, and so very, very happy.
It was the best birthday ever.
What is your favorite birthday memory?
by Krista | Nov 1, 2011 | Gulliver Tuesday
A friend wrote to me the other day and asked, “How are you really doing?”
I smiled because I knew exactly what she meant.
When I started my blog two years ago, I was entering one of the darkest, most painful times of my life. Everything seemed to hit me at once and continued to do so for the next two years. This blog became my safe place, my happy place, a spot where I could record at least one good, beautiful thing each day to help me get through the wretchedness of my life.
I posted about lovely people who inspired, comforted, and encouraged, not the ones who seemed to make it their life work to crush me.
I wrote about delicious foods that I could eat, not the ones I had to avoid as doctors tried to figure out what was causing my body to shut down and leave me doubled over in pain for months at a time.
I published pictures of beautiful places I had once traveled to, not the four white walls of my bedroom where I lay month after month longing for relief from physical pain and emotional trauma.
All the happy, wonderful things I posted were real. They did delight me, make me smile, and give me hope and courage to press on.
But they were only part of the story.
Truth be told, I wasn’t brave enough to post the ugly bits. Most days I was hanging on for dear life, the pain of my reality so acute that I needed to concentrate on the good things, no matter how small, just to get through each day.
I wasn’t strong enough to be completely real with you. I was raw and weak and afraid, so I hid behind pretty pictures and yummy recipes because I felt safe there.
And I don’t regret it. Not one bit. Because I met you there. And through your emails and comments, Instant Messenger chats and Skype talks, in person visits and long-distance phone calls I found the courage and strength I needed to start over.
You showed me that there are truly good people in this world. Through you I have experienced true kindness and acceptance and learned to have hope no matter how dark things become.
For that I cannot thank you enough. xo
Although I don’t regret the last two years, I’m also not going to remain in that place of fear and insecurity.
As scary as it is, I commit to being more real with you.
I’ve spent my whole life trying to be good enough, to win and keep the approval of people whose love and acceptance is conditional. I can’t do that anymore. It’s exhausting. 🙂
I want this blog to be a safe place for you and me to be ourselves regardless of lifestyle differences, religious beliefs, or cultural practices. A place where we can be real and know we won’t be judged if we question our faith, politics and worldview, burn two batches of roasted tomatoes, or go without make-up for five days in a row.
So, in the spirit of being real, tomorrow I will answer my friends’ question for you:
How I’m Really Doing.
In the meantime, I’d love to know: Are you ever afraid of being real? And how do you deal with that fear so it doesn’t control you?
by Krista | Oct 11, 2011 | Gulliver Tuesday
Good morning, luvs! Yesterday I bid farewell to my beloved – but oh so stormy – Amsterdam and flew to London.
My parting was bittersweet knowing I’m leaving behind family and friends who mean a great deal to me. But I’m so excited about this next phase of my life, starting with a few days spent in England with people I love.
I arrived in a London I didn’t expect to see: a sunny and warm one, with light dancing across the Thames and setting Big Ben aglow. It’s my first time in England and it’s truly a dream come true. I confess I am head over heels in love with this place. If I wasn’t so happy to be moving to Australia, I’d move to England in a heartbeat.
My dear English friend Katy from Starry-Eyed Travels is my guide and compatriot in this adventure, and we’re having a marvelous time. I can’t wait to share photos and stories from our rambles. 🙂
My favorite moment of our trip so far is from last night. We were sitting in a coffee shop in Soho, chatting and writing in our journals as we sipped hot drinks, and suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up and who should it be but my BROTHER!! He is in town on business and just happened to be across the street with some colleagues when he spotted me in the cafe. 🙂 It made my day, and London suddenly felt warmer and friendlier.
What is a place you’ve always dreamed of visiting?
by Krista | Sep 20, 2011 | Gulliver Tuesday
My first night in Montepulciano, Italy I found myself sitting at the train station in the glow of the setting sun, watching the local gang of old men assemble at cafes and under trees for their evening ritual of chit-chat with their mates.
My family arrived just as the sun disappeared and whisked me off to a stunning old villa rented by our friend Pia. She had invited us all over for a Tuscan BBQ to celebrate our first day in Italy.
It is a splendid place hidden far down a maze of gravel roads so twisty and turny that we couldn’t actually find it until Pia rode out on her bike to lead us in. It was well worth our haphazard journey though. Peaceful, secluded and so welcoming you really felt like you’d arrived home.
We were entranced by the splendid old wood-fired oven that was just perfect for grilling plump sausages, pork chops, chicken breasts and steaks. My brothers, Ryan and Dana, were grill masters for the evening, churning out massive platters of succulent meats that smelled heavenly.
We sipped glasses of Prosecco and nibbled on marinated beans and crisp potato chips while Pia and the others whipped up one delicious veggie dish after another: raw fennel drizzled with olive oil, red wine vinegar and salt and pepper, fresh tomato salad, fresh cucumber salad, oniony steamed spinach, pasta with sausage, green salad with radicchio, on and on it went.
When everything was ready we piled our plates high and sat outside to eat by candlelight under a moonlit sky, marveling that we were really, truly in Tuscany.
After thoroughly stuffing ourselves, the makers of our feast relaxed with Prosecco or played wild games of Foosball while the rest of us clustered around a couple sinks to wash up mounds of dishes and wrap up leftovers.
It was a grand evening, a splendid way to get acquainted with new friends and soon-to-be family members as we started our week of wedding festivities.
What is your favorite must-have dish at a BBQ?
by Krista | Aug 23, 2011 | Gulliver Tuesday
One of my favorite moments in Malta was on the island of Gozo, as I strode the glorious cliffs towering above the Mediterranean with my dear American and British friends Barbara, Janet and Colin.
The sun blazed down on us as we stepped carefully along rock-strewn pathways, stopping to gaze in awe at the stunning azure waters and blindingly white rock faces.
I love how even with lack of rain and blistering heat, greenery and flowers still manage to thrive among the rocks.
Before traveling to Malta I had never even heard of Gozo. Now it’s one of my favorite places in the world, a place I long to return to when the weather cools a bit and I can walk for hours without sweating buckets.
Although I was utterly smitten by the views, culture, and food of Gozo, it is the people I love the most. Janet and Colin, our wonderful Cockney hosts at the King’s Lodge Bed and Breakfast, made our adventure in Malta an absolute gift. I can’t wait to tell you all about them and our jolly ramblings very soon.
Where is your favorite place to go walking?
by Krista | Aug 16, 2011 | Gulliver Tuesday
It’s always a bit scary reserving rooms in a country you’ve never visited, a house you’ve never seen. But I needn’t have worried when I booked rooms at the Knights in Malta Bed and Breakfast in Naxxar, Malta.
Our host – a kind British man named John – picked us up at the airport and took us home through the hot dusty streets.
From afar Maltese towns look like one long stretch of pale yellow limestone buildings. But once you get down into them, you find the most beautiful sights.
How blissful to step in out of the hot, narrow streets into this oasis of coolness and calm.
We were greeted by our hostess Dee who introduced to their Maltese Terrier, Daisy who accompanied us on our tour.
We started with the lounge then made our way to the breakfast room.
We ascended a flight of tiled stairs and I couldn’t believe it when she opened the door to my room.
The stone walls are a good two feet thick and keep the room beautifully cool in spite of searing temperatures outside. I love it so much – the comfy bed, cheery yellow shutters, and a chair by the window.
And I especially love my view of the courtyard below.
How I wish you were here with me, sitting in the courtyard sipping something cold and delicious, visiting about the days adventures and planning new ones for tomorrow.
xo
