inspiring women

Each Wednesday morning for the past six weeks I have been going to a 'Group Power" class (basically the same as "Pump") at the "Toughen up Princess" studio in Mansfield. The studio was opened six weeks ago by a lovely lady called Karen Christopher at the back of her home in their converted shearing shed. As you can see from the photo it's a gorgeous new space - light, bright, airy with views of their swimming pool and the surrounding farmlands. This is a view of the pool from the studio...

And of the studio from the pool...

My greatest disappointment is that I only get to go to one class per week! I can't tell you how much I LOVE going - it really has been the highlight of my weeks. The best thing is that by simply adding more weight to your bar you can really increase the intensity of your workout and in 6 weeks I am noticeably stronger and fitter. Not only are the exercises great, the other highlight is our instructor, Karen, who is so motivating and inspiring. She's a person who exudes kindness and care for others and who is so clearly very passionate about what she is doing. And - it's infectious!! She very kindly agreed to let me take some photos and ask her some questions about how she came to be doing what she is doing now. It's an inspiring story...

Karen is now 41 years old and is married to Bo, with four boys aged 13 down to 6 years old. She said that for the first half of her life she really didn't know what she wanted to do. She started a Physical Education degree at University, completing the first year, but decided not to continue and, instead, to go out and see the world. She spent two and a half years travelling, unfortunately almost dying of cerebral malaria in Africa and eventually came home to Mansfield to fully recover. Despite the illness, Karen said she came home feeling that she now knew who she was and felt far more comfortable within herself.

On her return to Mansfield, she promptly fell in love with an old school friend, Bo, and they married, started a plumbing business and went on to have their four children. After son number two was born Karen took up walking and then running, to find some time to herself - we all know how important that is for mothers in order for them to keep doing the best they can. Exercise became her "time out" and she says that her husband, Bo, understood that and helped make it happen for her. 

Possibly as a result of the malaria, Karen became very sick about 5 years ago, developing a cyst on her brain that had to be removed. She was unable to run for a period of time and it was this experience that helped her to realise what is most important in her life. She said "I never makes excuses not to exercise any more - my health is the most important thing to me as it enables me to be the best mother, wife, daughter, friend and person that I can be!" 

It was after this that Karen started to entertain the idea of becoming a personal trainer as she wanted to help others also achieve their best in health and fitness. When she told her husband about her dream he was totally supportive and encouraging. So, with their youngest son going off to school this year, it was the time to start making the dream come true.

Karen spent 6 months travelling to Melbourne for two days a week to complete her full time course in Certificate 3 and 4 Fitness, allowing her to become a Personal Trainer and Gym Instructor. As well as attending classes, there were weekly tests and assignments to study for, around managing a busy household and a business. Karen said she often left home in tears feeling that she hadn't done enough to prepare the family for her absence, but the sacrifices were worth it in the end.

She was daunted by the idea of doing the course - says she lacked confidence and felt self-conscious (hard to believe!!) "It was a huge thing for me and I put everyting I had into it, tried my absolute best. I felt so passionate and it was so important to me that I wasn't going to waste my time with a half-hearted effort." The hard work paid off as Karen was awarded the "Institute Champion" by the instructors, out of all the participants in her course.

Karen says she felt so self-conscious at first that even the idea of putting on a microphone was completely embarassing. She has clearly grown used to it as she has no trouble waking us up with comments like "What's your core doing?? Turn it on!" or "Don't think about what you're going to do for the rest of the day - focus and engage the muscle!" My favourite - "Squeeze your butt - you should be shaking - if you want results, you need to feel that pain!" It certainly works - we all "make every second count".

I asked Karen "What simple pleasures in life make you happy?" to which she replied, "My kids make me happy. I love the little people that they're becoming. I've always been a Mum who did everything for my kids, because it was easier, but this year they've had to step up and become far more independent. They're proud of me too and see me differently than they used to. They're interested in what I'm doing, ask about my day, how the classes went and try to help when I'm tired. My husband tells me how proud of me he is too and he taught me, when I came across obstacles, to find another angle and keep trying to overcome them." (Oooh he sounds like a lovely guy doesn't he!)

Karen says "It also makes me so happy when people tell me about the improvements they're feeling in their fitness. I'm so grateful that people are enjoying what I'm doing and taking it on... Chocolate makes me happy too."  Of course I expressed a little surprise that she eats chocolate, to which she replied, "Oh yes, it's all about balance. I have more balance in my life as a whole now. I do the bookwork for our plumbing business, which I hate and find very boring. These days, instead of labouring through it, I do it quickly without a hassle, so I can get on with doing the things I love."

I asked "What makes your home a happy one?" Karen said that her idea of a happy home has changed. It used to be cleanliness and order - but with more children and less time she had to let it go. Now, she says, her home is happy when the children are laughing and having fun together. "I'm happiest when we're all together having fun - like in Bali on holiday this year - we all learnt to surf together."

About living in a small country town, Karen says "Great friendships happen - people really look out for you. We couldn't have started this fitness studio without the help of our friends and family, who assisted with renovations, dropped off meals, picked up kids etc. We're very grateful to them. But really I could live anywhere as long as I've got my family with me. The two most important things in my life are my health and my family."

Needless to say, Karen's next 6 week block of "Group Power" classes is already fully booked and you won't be surprised to hear that I secured my place very early on! Thank you Karen for inspiring me to be fitter and healthier and making it so much fun...

a perfect evening

Timbertop is a very quiet place at the moment. All of the students and staff are away on the 6 day hike, leaving we families with an almost holiday-like feeling. Thus, capitalising on this festive mood, we all decided to go down to nearby Mirimbah park on the Delatite River at the foot of Mt Buller for a picnic dinner. It's only 10 minutes from home and such a beautiful place. Everybody contributed bits and pieces to dinner and we pulled together a delicious, healthy meal. The kids played in the playground while they waited for it.

Being such a warm evening - still 30 degrees at 6pm - it was down to the river for a play after dinner.

Teddy was a bit traumatised after having a leech stuck to his groin and decided to take off...



He just couldn't get over it for quite a while, even when comforted by his big friend, Jem...



Eventually it was time for little 2 year olds to go home to bed...



A perfect evening was had by all of us. I'm so grateful that my children and I live in this stunning environment and have these wonderful people to share it with.

community

One of the wonderful things about living at Timbertop is the fantastic community of people that we live amongst. As well as the very talented and energetic members of staff, there are the partners and children of staff, who also live here on campus. We partners tend to rely quite heavily on each other for company and for support, particularly on weekends when our spouses are working. There is certainly no need to feel lonely - if you want to find someone to talk to you only need to step out for a walk or pick up the phone.

Over the past two years we have taken to holding a playgroup at someone's home on a Sunday morning. We all turn up for morning tea, a craft activity and a play, organised by whoever feels like doing it that week. Now, speaking of creative friends, our friend Sue, today organised a Christmas Card making activity at her place for all the kids. The Christmas cards are then available for anyone on campus to purchase and the funds go to the school's sponsor child.

The children loved it and made lots of cards. Once they had had enough of that they all went off to eat home cooked muffins for morning tea and played discos in the bedroom. Then the Mums enjoyed making some cards too as well as coffee and chats. We even discussed how lucky we feel to have the support and friendship of one another - it's a big reason why we continue to be happy here.

The newest member of the community, baby Serena, is one of the major attractions when we all get together. She gets passed around for lots of cuddles...

Which provides her Mum, Marina, with a little break...

The Dad of the house popped in for a shower after the 'King of the Mountain' run up Mt Buller and couldn't resist a Teddy cuddle...

Even Teddy made some Christmas cards...

Somehow I missed getting photos of the other kids so here are some of other playgroups we've held. On this day we had a puppet show...

And then there was the time we had a lunch of chicken noodle soup (the Chinese believe that eating noodles on your birthday will bring you a long life) for Lori's birthday. It felt quite decadent for all of us and Lori said it was the first birthday party she had had.

Being thrown together in a somewhat isolated community gives us the opportunity to become friends with a wide variety of people whom we may not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet or get to know well and to learn to appreciate everyone's strengths and differences.





creative friends

Since moving up to the country I have met some beautiful new friends, all of them creative in their own ways. I've managed to talk a few of them into letting me take photos of them and their homes so I can write about them on my blog. They are a bit embarassed but thank you girls for humouring me!!

The first I want to introduce to you is Cindy (short for Cynthia). Cindy moved up to the foothills of Mt Buller about 6 years ago to live with her partner Paul, who already lived here. They were expecting their first baby and , with the help of some friends, turned what was, apparently, a daggy little ski shack into this gorgeous, compact and innovative home.  Paul runs his own solar electrical business called 'solarphase' and so has included many energy saving measures into their home. The combination of both Cindy's and Paul's creative and practical talents mean that there are so many photo worthy corners in their home - and I've tried to capture some of them here.

Despite having a small yard, Cindy, who is a keen gardener, has made the most of the space and the garden at the front of the house greets you with a mass of different colours and textures, as well as special secret corners for kids to play in. Cindy is also an excellent seamstress and made the skirt she is wearing. In our Thursday Timbertop group she is our mentor, usually having superior sewing knowledge to the rest of us, which has been passed on to her by her grandmother and mother.



After entering the house through the very cool red front door, this view of the kitchen and eating area is the first thing you see. It's so colourful and full of light.

These kitchen shelves are a definite highlight, which Cindy says always surprises her, as they really just happened without a lot of planning...

In this room Paul has installed a fantastic wood fire that not only heats the whole house, but also Cindy and Paul's water supply. Cindy is in the process of collecting and reupholstering some old chairs to go around the kitchen table.

Heading upstairs leads you to the living room, bedrooms and verandah with some pretty stunning views.

The Japanese style cushions, Cindy made from old kimonos purchased while living in Japan.

Cindy reupholstered this old chair herself many years ago (although she wants to change the fabric now, you can see it still totally works in the space) and made the floor cushions too.

The black cockatoos were purchased at the previously mentioned fantastic homewares store in Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, called Wilkins and Kent.

Right along the north side of the house is a verandah that lets in tonnes of light as well as providing a great place to sit and look at the views of the mountains that are just so close...

This is the view from the picture window in the lounge room at the front of the house...

The view of Mt Buller from the front of the house...

One thing that I really admire about Cindy is that as well as taking care of her two little boys, Willow and Max, and running her business making lambswool products (www.lambcare.com.au), she still makes time to be creative, whether it be in the garden, sewing homewares and clothes, or building things from timber. In fact, as well as all that, Cindy just won a prize in the "Writes of Spring" short story competition. "Writes of Spring" was a short story competition open to all ages. Entrants were invited to collect a Writes of Spring postcard entry-form from their local public library and write, draw or paste a story (inspired by Belinda Suzette's vibrant illustration) directly onto the postcard. Over 2,400 creative, surprising and intriguing entries were submitted. Winning entries will be published in a book that will become part of the collection of every public library in Victoria. Winners will receive a $50 book voucher, a copy of the book and a place in Victoria's literary history. Isn't she clever!!





As you can see Cindy's unique style, together with partner Paul's, has created a beautiful home for her family.







the King Valley

Last Saturday I woke up feeling that all was right with the world. It was Saturday, my husband had the day off, I was still in bed with a cup of tea on my bedside table and to top it all off the sun was shining! With all of these factors aligning so perfectly, for us there was only one thing to do - a day out at the King Valley.

One of the great things about living in Mansfield is its proximity to this other (as well as many others too!!) very beautiful place to visit - the King Valley - only about an hour's drive away. Not only is it beautiful, but there also a number of really great places to eat and wineries to visit.

The menu...

Our choice for that day was the King River Cafe in Oxley, just near Milawa. This place suits us perfectly as it has "honest, unpretentious, yet delicious food" (as my husband describes it) as well as a courtyard where we can sit with our children and not bother anyone and a park just across the road! Despite the boys' initial protests about the length of the drive, I think they had as perfect a day as we did. Incidentally, our other favourite  places to eat with kids are the Milawa Cheese Factory and the Mountain View Hotel in Whitfield - and there are definitely others that I haven't mentioned!

The lovely courtyard...

The very conveniently situated park...

With space for a kick of the footy...

Beside the courtyard was a garden perfect for wrestling and chasey...



Food was delicious...

A stop at the apple truck between Benalla and Mansfield yielded a week's supply of  gorgeous fuji apples...



As I've said before, if your children are happy so are you... Each member of our family had their simple needs met that day and what a happy day it was!