Handing Back The Crown

Yes dear Hedgies, its that time of the year again - my dear Company's Annual Sales Meeting, whoopee! I've had a lovely year milking my Sales Specialist of the Year Award for all its worth, but on Wednesday night I need to hand over my crown to the next sucker lucky Winner at the big dinner. If you missed the goss on what happened this time last year, you can read all about it here. After a huge argy-bargy intelligent discussion with MOTH, I've finally cashed in my Travel Voucher prize from last year & booked Millie & MOTH's Grand Vacation - more of that soon. So with the crown jauntily perched on my head, it's off to Sydney for me for the rest of the week. As you can tell, my excitement is palpable. Image: Neobeatificvision

Blog Love - Pass It On

Many of you know Jeanne over @ Collage of Life. She's a gorgeous gal, part-American, part-Aussie, part-Kiwi & now, part-Pom. I'm not sure what line of work her husband is in to cause all these inter-country moves, but I have a theory that he's an international counter espionage agent, however I'll leave that to Jeanne to confirm or deny!! Jeanne became a much-loved Hedgie a couple of years ago & I'm so glad she did. I have so enjoyed watching her wonderful blog grow & evolve since her first post. She has the knack of mixing things up perfectly. You can be sure of something different each time you visit her - humorous posts, visually breathtaking posts (from Miss Very Talented Photographer!), empathetic posts, thought-provoking posts, intellectually stimulating posts...... each one a treat.

Jeanne was kind & generous recently in acknowledging those of us who have been with her since the very beginning & are still with her today. She has done this via a Blog Love button - it's a way of saying...I love your blog & thank you for inspiring me.

To be a recipient of Jeanne's Blog Love we need to:

1. Provide the photo and link to our very first post.

2. Share the love and pass it on to whomever we like.

Why the first post?
It is when you took your first step and if you hadn't we would not be reading your words now. Passing on Blog Love is to let others know that we appreciate their friendship & that we love their blog.

This is my first post from Sunday May 18th 2008. It's title was It's Raining!.
And nearly 3 years later, nothing much has changed up here in the misty Adelaide Hills!

Here's what greeted me this morning in our quiet country lane.

The tall trees in our garden looking very grey & mysterious in the early morning mist.

So 665 posts & 9903 comments later, The Hedge is still here. I'm finding it very difficult to pick out a small group of favourites, so to pass this on I'm going to do a Millie-shortcut! Just go to The Hedge's Home Page & look under Fabulous Friends! If you find yourself there its because I appreciate your friendship & love your blog! If you'd like to pick up the Blog Love button & muse about your first post, please do so, I'd be honoured.

What Am I?

A lot of this will be done.

These will be worn all weekend.

This will be attacked with gusto while assuming the supine position on the sofa.

This will be eaten for at least 2 meals.

This arrived just in the nick of time in its QuickFlix envelope.

And so has this.

And this will happen tomorrow arvo.

Yes, you've guessed it, I'm home alone this weekend & I can hardly wait!! MOTH's been given a Permission Slip for a Pescatorial Retreat (aka Big Boy's Fishing Trip). He says there will be lots of deep spiritual introspection & reverent praying over the weekend - yeah sure.

A belated thank you to the delightful Annette from Under The Loupe for the Stylish Blogger Award. This requires me to list 7 things about myself you may not know. And because it's Friday & I have a rare weekend of exquisite self-indulgence fast approaching, I'm taking the easy way out & sending you here!

Annette leads a very busy life on a property in rural NSW & also creates the most fabulous range of jewellery which she sells online through her store here.

See I told you it was gorgeous! It's the weekend, so go enjoy!

Sweet Things

Two beautiful things to post about as I head off to the weekend.

I first discovered Rosemary's blog Content In A Cottage even before The Hedge was a twinkle in my blogging eye.

Little vignettes of carefully researched & compiled beauty & wisdom appear each day on CIAC. It's an addiction impossible to break.

Thank you dear Rosemary for your friendship & support & for this delightful Sunshine Award.

Not long after The Hedge was let loose on the unsuspecting Blog world, I received a sweet comment from Trina, who had also just launched her blog. From my very first visit to A Country Farmhouse I was hooked. Trina & her husband Mr. A Country Farmhouse (aka Mike) have almost single-handedly transformed their home from a tired & lack-lustre property on acreage into the most exquisite gem of style & elegance. With Trina's commitment & vision & Mike's skills, they have created a home of great character, warmth & charm.

To complete their journey, they have just announced that there will be one further room to renovate & decorate - a nursery for a precious set of twin babies due just before Christmas. Trina's post on this wonderful news is compulsory reading here. Much love to you both, those babes already have a zillion fairy Blogmothers looking out for them! A happy weekend to you all.

Image: Maxine Brady

Good Things Happen To Nice People

I've just heard that an interstate Sales Rep. from one of my competitors won $5m. in Lotto last week. She's been in the job for years, has worked really hard & isn't far from retirement, so this is wonderful news! As my industry is small & everyone knows everyone, we're all really delighted for her. I've had this little gem of an image tucked away in my file for ages, so I reckon this post is made for it. Just in case she wants to install a Home Theatre this simple little number will be perfect!

Big celebrations in our lane yesterday, as our lovely neighbour John was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. He's a builder, so as you can imagine MOTH's confidence in receiving a gong has sky-rocketed! 'Arise Sir MOTH' - yeah sure!

Along with his sweet wife, we couldn't ask for nicer, kinder neighbours. Congratulations dear John!

Images: 1 David Marlow 2. Heritage Medals

A Most Awarding Experience!

A very busy week in Melbourne for the FY2009 Sales Meeting is over!! Late, late nights were required to ensure I was adequately briefed by my gorgeous interstate colleagues on various 'business' matters. These important Meetings were held in various lounge bars in the vicinity of our Hotel. If the Company Accountant is reading this post, I suggest you take an additional one of your 'De-Stress' pills prior to opening my next Expenses Report, you'll need it!!!

I was really looking forward to the glitzy glamoury Awards dinner on Monday evening. It's always a delight to see one of my lovely hard-working colleagues receive recognition on the night. I was having a great time sitting up the back at the noisy Rabble table when the Award presentations commenced & I must admit I wasn't really giving the C.E.O. my full attention. So I was somewhat surprised to find myself stumbling down the front to accept the gong for Top Sales Interventional Cardiology Aust./N.Z. Sitting back down again, & about to dash out for a loo break, I was back up the front again being handed the Top Sales Interventional Radiology Aust./N.Z. Award (I do a dual portfolio). By this stage my table were screeching like a troop of excited monkeys as I plonked the second Award back down. I knew I'd had a good year, but this was beyond anything my by now befuddled brain could take in.

Thinking I'd better move onto the mineral water pretty quickly in an effort to clear my head, the room went very quiet as the C.E.O. announced the Sales Specialist of The Year Award. This is the big one & I had my eyes firmly fixed on my favourite Sydney team-mate who I just knew would receive it. She is such a star, & my heart was racing for her. This Award encompasses all 6 divisions of our Aust./N.Z. business & is highly competitive. Then the Winner's name was announced, & it wasn't the name I thought it would be, it was mine. I honestly couldn't get out of my seat, it needed the strong & supportive arms of everyone at my table to propel me up to the podium.

To receive the Trifecta is so mind-blowingly awesome, back home this morning I'm still in shock. I'm so lucky I do what I love & love what I do & I've received Awards before but these are extra special, as now at 54, I'm the oldest Sales Specialist in the Company.....so I guess there's still life in the old girl yet! The Award comes with a very substantial travel voucher that will allow MOTH & I to have a fantastic overseas holiday sometime this year. It couldn't have come at a better time, as we are both in need of some time away from the renovations to refresh & recharge our batteries before commencing the kitchen. Planning our itinerary will commence over a celebration dinner with the boys on Saturday night. We could be heading your way dear overseas blog chums, so be very afraid!!!!

One Click Of Separation

I've been honoured with 3 beautiful Sunshine Awards, & have used the opportunity to push the rules a little using the Awards as a catalyst. I decided to conduct an experiment to try & broaden my bloggy horizons which have become a bit limited lately, & here's what I came up with.


I went to the Awardee's blog & chose a blog they had listed on their blog roll that I didn't know. I went over for a visit & then randomly chose a site from that site's blog roll & continued on. I had a heap of fun in the process, & definitely want to do it again. I've included a link with each Header, so I hope I've given you some new places to visit & enjoy as well.


Thank you to Jeanne over at Collage of Life . This gorgeous girl came onto the blog scene last year & what an ride it's been for all of us who have followed her adventures! Her posts are always visual feasts, as she's a highly skilled photographer who can back up her wonderful words with fabulous images (I would be so lucky!). I started my journey with Jeanne & here's the results.

Thank you to Pam over at Red Ticking . Blogging from the awesome city of Seattle WA, Pam is renown for generally posting just one fab image & following it up with a few succinct words that complement the pic perfectly. I'm trying to be like Pam, but am failing miserably! Here's where my Red Ticking journey took me.

Thanks to Rita from A Refocused Life . Her stunning blog is always a delight to visit, her gentle, encouraging words & scrumptious images always put a smile on my face. Style, elegance & grace are 3 words that come to mind whenever I think of Rita.

From Renee With Love

As much as I would want it otherwise, I don't have a creative side to my personality. I am happiest analyzing, mentally deconstructing, then reconstructing & presenting solutions. I'm a 'Thinker'. And over the Christmas vacation I was doing a lot of thinking on the beach. Thinking about this blog.

What's it all about, where is it going, where do I really want it to go, the content, the format, the look, but more than anything I was thinking about you. The loyal band of blog brothers & sisters who are The Laurel Hedge. Those of you who have been here since my first post, who still come by each day. I adore you, each & every one of you. Then those who've followed a trail here through others & have stayed as well. Lovely, lovely people that you are. And then there are those who will come by in the future & join in, an exciting thought. I have a responsibility to you all & that's what I was thinking about the most. Not that it worries me, quite the opposite. I really enjoy the ritual of thinking about & writing a daily post. It's added a balance to my left brain world that was missing.

But what I truly enjoy the most is seeing what others have to say. And that got me thinking some more. What is it that attracts me to their blog, what makes me want to become a regular reader & most importantly, what, if anything can I contribute. I guess it's only human nature to wonder if a comment I left did make a difference. Well this week I had my question answered here at Renee's post. The criteria for The Real Award is as follows:

This is an award is for those who are brave enough
to expose just enough to
reach, touch, and possibly help someone else
to see something differently.

I am giving this award to only 3 blogs.

The only requirement is authenticity.
Use these awards wisely.
And do a post on the award telling why you wish to pass it on.
Please link the award on your sidebar to this post.
*Then the meaning of this award will not get watered down or changed.*

And believe me, when I see this award on a blog,
I will STOP, READ, and LISTEN to the message,
and the messenger.
Maybe others will too.

OK this means that I have to think again & I've been doing lots of that. I want to ensure the criteria of Renee's beautiful Award is carried forth. So here are the three blogs that to me fulfil Renee's criteria perfectly. These 3 friends, through their postings and comments (like Renee said so kindly about Willow, Deb & myself) have touched me in ways they will never know. And they are authentic.

Meredith @ Count It All Joy. For ripping the sugar coating from the challenges of mothering a big brood of very active, inquisitive & loving kids. And for having the courage to share your doubts & vulnerabilities in the most exquisite of ways.

Carolyn @ Little Bear Studio. For true grace in all things. And for the positive contributions you make to others through your generous comments & considered observations.

Heidi @ Heidi Claire. For being Phyllis Diller's zany love child. And for making me run the gauntlet of every emotion in my body in 3 seconds flat with one of your brutally honest & soul-searching posts.

George & Millie's Awards

MOTH & I saw George's new movie Up in the Air yesterday & absolutely loved it!! In fact MOTH was so caught up in it, he didn't wriggle in his seat once. So in recognition of this once-in-a-lifetime event, I need to give George the No Wriggling Award for services to theatregoers everywhere. Let me know a time that's convenient & I'll organize a presentation luncheon - anyone interested? And kudos also to Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner for adapting Walter Kirn's original novel so eloquently. The script was tight, punchy, ever so thought-provoking & with just the right amount of quirkiness. A must see.

Thank you to the lovely Rita over at A Refocused Life for my Happy 101 Award. Rita's blog is so stylish & elegant & her posts are always such a treat. If you haven't been over to visit Rita, stop reading this & head over right now!


Thank you to Jeanne from Collage of Life for my Kreativ Blogger Award. Jeanne came onto the Blog scene last year & posts on her adventures relocating her family from one side of the world to the other. They make for fascinating reading.

I've always said how much these Awards mean to me, so thank you again to Rita & Jeanne for your thoughtfulness & recognition. Can I direct you to a previous post 'Thank-You's' here. The list of things that make me happy & things that you didn't know about me are there in great detail!

Images: Up in the Air

Chair Love + Thanks

I'm a shocker when it comes to pillows on chairs & sofas. Not only do I want them for the extra pizzaz they add to a room, I need them desperately for behind my back. I drive everyone mad as I flop down in the seat. At least a further 3-5 minutes of wriggling, plumping, fussing, arranging & finally sighing, goes on before I truly settle down. These beautiful chairs come from Pimpernel & Partners in London. Yes, they are a blank canvas sans pillows, but just imagine how they'd look with some beauties of your choice. Their shapes are gorgeous & each tells its own story - so do tell us which shape turns your head & what pillows you'd add to make it truly your own. P.S. Because I love a bedroom chair, the ever-so pretty Capucine has my vote.

The Malplaquet (a gentleman's armchair in the Georgian style)

The Pakefield Wingback (a replica from the first decade of the 20th century capturing a ‘no-nonsense’ simplicity)

The Capucine (named after the similarity of its shape to a nun’s veil)

The Combray (robust & roomy replica of a 19th century French chair, with a chapeau de gendarme shaped back)

The Percy (named after the Pimpernel himself, this 1940s French replica is a low, very comfortable, country chair)

The Scroll-Back (a replica of a French early 19th Century chair of the Napoleonic age - delicate and a little raffish)

One of the loveliest things about Blogging is that someone else thinks you worthy of a special treat. I was thrilled to receive these Awards recently - thank you so much to each of the Treaters, you really made this Treatee's day!

Marina at Iced Vo-Vo's is an Aussie girl living in London with her family. Her very stylish & fun posts are a must read. Her shopping gene is in excellent working order & we get to see the results. Thank you Marina for my 5 Diamonds Award!

If you haven't made your acquaintance with the gorgeous Carolyn over at Little Bear Studio, then stop reading this & head over pronto. A more caring, beautiful person you won't find. Yes, she's a Kiwi (I forgave her long ago!), but her delightful posts always leave you wanting more. Thank you dear Carolyn for my Gorgeous Award!

Rosa over at Un Peu Plus Jolie posts the loveliest images of her home & family. A gentle & spiritual soul, she uses her carefully crafted pieces to add beauty to her home in the most wonderful way. Thank you Rosa for my Ooh La La Award!

Chair images: Pimpernel & Partners