One PhOtO a DaY dEcEmBeR 2024:

 

DECEMBER 1st HALF FULL: It’s actually been a full on day but I did remember the prompt at dinner and well yes my favourite kind of half full. Only totally full would be better!

DECEMBER 2nd MONEY: Cambodia uses two currencies and payment and change can come in one or the other or a combination of both so it certainly tests your maths skills

NOVEMBER 3rd CHEERS: the travelling trio returned home this afternoon and it’s almost wine/ beer o’clock but I’ll have to blame this prompt for the early start 

NOVEMBER 4th SPARKLE: nothing quite sparkles like fireworks

*this was selected for the notable nine on Facebook!

 DECEMBER 5th MERRY: Just strolling past the Chinese temple on our way to the movies when we heard the clatter of cymbals and pounding of drums. Then we spotted a lion dance rehearsal in full swing. A merry group of acrobatic performers

DECEMBER 6th LIGHTS: In our hood the streets light up every evening and the bars do a roaring trade - Phnom Penh Nightlife Street spelt out in lights. It helps you know where you are if you’ve had a few too many as an added bonus

NOVEMBER 7th XMAS TREE: I’m no artist but I’m making labels for Xmas cakes and this was the best of the batch

NOVEMBER 8th THIS IS CUTE: We attended a massive products of Cambodia Xmas fair today and had a bit of a spending spree but we didn’t buy this despite how cute it

NOVEMBER 9th ON THE SHELF:  in a local community retail space was this watercolour with an accompanying touch of Xmas

NOVEMBER 10th A HAT: Not just any hat but the Panama hat we bought in Peru and both still wear. An archive shot because today has been mostly overcast and windy

DECEMBER 12th STAR: In the floor of the newly renovated Central Post Office in Phnom Penh is this beautiful terrazzo star set in the original tiles

NOVEMBER 12th THIS IS JOYFUL: Having guests from both Australia and the USA visiting at the same time and all enjoying hanging out together and all chipping in to bake the final batch of Xmas cakes

NOVEMBER 14th CANDY CANE: Taken on the fly from a tuk tuk this morning actually. This is on the roadside down town in Phnom Penh unfortunately in front of casino which is why I didn’t want stop

DECEMBER 15th SHOPPING: I almost never buy anything online but this laptop stand is something I have been looking at for ages and finally I bit the bullet this morning and got one delivered. Maybe the fourth online purchase and delivery in seven years.  It is exactly what I wanted and I haven’t been near a shop all day

NOVEMBER 15th FESTIVE: A tasty, tempting festive morsel  made with pistachios, cranberry sponge, mascarpone and cream

NOVEMBER 16th MAIL: Just about to head to the post office with this morning’s efforts for my snail mail project. The card is extra special as we just bought ourselves a framed, over sized print of this exact image for the living room wall

DECEMBER 17th DECORATION: When we are about to take off on a little island jaunt and therefore there are no fresh cut flowers in the house I use my collection of dried seed pods found in the neighbourhood streets as a the decoration on the hall table

DECEMBER 18th RED AND GREEN: These are Cambodian Kramas and they have a thousand uses from rolled up as a children’s ball, a baby’s hammock, sun protection, belt, scarf or tow rope. Every Khmer owns one and I always give one to guests who visit us. I own several, love them and wear them regularly

DECEMBER 19th WRAPPING: This is the deconstructed wrapping I did late last night so we could enjoy homemade sandwiches at the ferry port in Sihanoukville  after bussing here from Phnom Penh. They were delicious too

DECEMBER 20th SANTA: Not a Santa in sight on this Cambodian island but I did snap this one as a precaution a few days ago in Phnom Penh when I thought that might be the case

DECEMBER 21st ON THE FLOOR: The ocean floor counts right? That’s where this one time fishing boat seems to have met it’s demise and that is where it remains regardless of the high or low tide

DECEMBER 22nd PARTIAL: Who isn’t partial to a stunning sunrise over the ocean and even more so when on a holiday break?

DECEMBER 23rd SILLY: On our morning walk along the beach this morning we saw this very fresh chilli in the sand at the shoreline. It certainly hadn’t been there overnight as it was so fresh and there wasn’t a soul about so it’s the silly discovery of a chilli for me today

DECEMBER 24th A GIFT: to me from me - oriental lilies and a new, custom made to my preferences and design, handbag made from recycled single use plastic bags. Merry Xmas

DECEMBER 25th CELEBRATE : Xmas is just about the only day of the year when alcohol for breakfast is de rigueur. The celebrations begin now

DECEMBER 27th DECOR: The latest addition to our home decor is still waiting to be hung. Fingers crossed Sunday will be the day. It contains all the elements of Phnom Penh we love: the street scape with residential properties, like our own and monks, hornbills and frangipanis

DECEMBER 28th PEACE: Spreading peace and love in the world through assisting the poor and needy - the Sisters Missionaries of Charity. Despite not being Christians, we had the honour of joining them for a food distribution event at their mission. So happy to offer our time and labour

DECEMBER 29th REFLECTION: The silhouette of the small sampan in the foreground is only visible due to the reflection of the lights on the sunset cruise boat behind it. Riverside atmosphere is enhanced by the refections 

DECEMBER 30th POP: This prompt came a day too early for me. I will be waiting until midnight tomorrow to pop the cork on the bubbles but we’re ready to celebrate a new beginning 

DECEMBER 31st LOOKING BACK: from the start line down the line up for the New Years Eve Parade in Phnom Penh. It’s all about to start happening 

PROMPTS

2024 Reflections, lessons and perspectives: 2024

10 Highlights

1 Returning to Bhutan to teach and realising I still have that magic in the classroom and enjoy the interactions with the kids more than ever, was an unexpected plus. 

2 Keeping the connection with new and old friends and making new acquaintances of vastly different ages, races and beliefs was a real blessing. 

3 Reuniting with Lhendup and Thinley and spending time with them and their wives brought us both so much joy.  

4 Traveling across Bhutan from west to east, for a month, revisiting old haunts and new locations and sharing part of that journey with Barry really helped me to recover from the financial, emotional, social, physical and mental health impact of teaching there again. 

5 Initiating  having three Bhutanese movies screened at Meta House, all of which drew good crowds and connected us to more likeminded people, made me feel more in touch with this community. 

6 Doing some simple home renovations and improvements added to my sense of belonging. 

7 Having many guests and visitors in Phnom Penh was fantastic. 

8 Attempting to teach an adult to swim and seeing vast improvement in terms of confidence in the water, was very rewarding. 

9 Having both my sister and brother here in Phnom

Penh at the same time was long overdue and a big plus. 

10 Seeing the Royal Ballet perform for the first time early in the year and again later in the year gave me a new insight into the Khmer culture. 

 5 Disappointments 

1 Realising that despite the joy of upgrading my skills, embracing more technology in the classroom and making real connections with kids, I will never choose to be a full time classroom teacher again. 

2 Finances are tighter than ever even though we are more frugal and prioritize how, where and when we spend. 

3 Traveling less both internationally and within Cambodia does nothing for my wellbeing. 

4 Compared to last year there have been many fewer alcohol free days even though the quantity being consumed is much less. That’s a habit we need to readopt. 

5 

…… how lucky am I I can only think of 4 disappointments 

 3 Game Changers 

1 Deciding to visit Australia next year and making the prepayments of many the expenses required is both motivating and an achievable way to make it happen for us. 

2 Joining the Phnom Penh Sports Club and playing table tennis and swimming there regularly has had huge mental and physical health benefits.  

3 Writing more, reflecting more and continuing to remain both analytical and sensitive are not a choice but a necessity for me. 

3 Areas of Focus

1 Committing to not following a routine but to mixing it up, deciding in the present, choosing to learn and grow  and living more mindfully brings huge benefits. 

2 A simple, slow, sustainable and safe lifestyle really takes a huge ongoing commitment and more effort but is more important than ever.  

3 Understanding that if you don’t stand up for the things you believe in, you will be forced to brace yourself for a life lived under the tyranny of the powerful and mindless dictators of our times. Words without action are only hot air. 

3 Things I forgot  

1 The Bhutanese system and especially the educational one is based on rank, privilege, class and bias and having forgotten that had a very negative impact on  me. Having grown up in a working class family it just doesn’t sit well with me. 

2 The best way to lose a friendship is to lend or borrow money. Like oil and water, money and friends never mix. 

3 When you fail to see the perspective of others you fail to become your best self.  

Reflections 

Much of what has preceded this is already very reflective and it’s a daily practice for me these days. Nonetheless I am finally beginning to feel more comfortable in my own skin and able to step out of my comfort zone, take risks and even fail without persecuting myself or becoming lost and anxious. I am learning to embrace my weaknesses and to focus on what I want to change rather than what others would like me to change. 

Yes I’m sensitive. It’s a trait I value. I am and continue to respect that even when no one else does. Having almost lost myself in many previous disasters, I refuse to allow anyone to attempt to alter me to suit their needs. 

I remain true to me. I endure not only because I’m not a quitter but because I have a work ethic, discipline and well balanced sense of the me I need to be. 

An extract from my May 4th journal 

“I will do my best to survive and endure whatever comes next and endeavor to not get upset or react, regardless of the injustice of the judgements or inadequacies and shortcomings in my performance implied. 

The need to have all the team present and call upon higher office bearers too if necessary, once again reinforces the rank, privilege, compliance and authority mentality that is the real foundation of the system. 

The hard working, principled, working class kid with a background and faith in unionism in me, baulks at this.  Again I come to the realisation that I cannot afford Bhutan”