Freedom: Living At The Beach

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.. It's The Weekend ..

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Not to make you jealous or anything

But right now everyday is the weekend for me.

I'm taking an extended break from the day job, which leaves me extra time to do things like ...

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take afternoon strolls along the beach

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and snap a few photos

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of this

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and this

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.. So..

I won't make you jealous and tell you how good it feels to be FREE!!

I did though work hard to bring you these images!!

hehehehe

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Have a great weekend !!!

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Another Ruby Time Production:

Produced in association with Mr Fast Dwindling Savings Account and Lazy Buggers Anonymous.

ALL Photography and photo editing by ME - [Being Ruby] - Being Lazy!!!

Dedicated to those of us who cannot bear to live apart from the sea

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If It's Tuesday: Portofino

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If it's Tuesday ... This must be ... Portofino

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Playground to the rich, the famous .. and .. in 1996.. Me!! Well at least for a day trip or two!! After a long long overnight train trip from France, hungry and tired, I arrived in Santa Margherita in the wee hours of the morning. Little did I know it was a public holiday weekend [Ferragosto - Assumption Day] and that every Italian in the region had flocked to Liguria for their vacation..

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Trudging along baggage in tow we systematically went into each hotel in the area trying to find a room... only to be told there were none available. Finally we came upon what seemed like our last chance.. a beautiful old villa, partially restored to it's former beauty with large formal guest areas and a beautifully shaded garden out the back. A well groomed gentleman was carefully sweeping the entry as we showed up, dishevelled from the trip, dressed in denim cutoffs and looking like.. well typical Australian tourists... my friend pounced on the guy and asked in her loudest English if he had a room available... The answer in Italian, accompanied by firm waving of the hands in the direction of the gate.. was quite firmly NO.. no rooms were available.. So then.. in her LOUDEST voice possible.. my friend asked again!!! Why do people do that? Speaking louder is not going to improve the situation.. As you would expect he ignored us and walked away.

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Out of pure desperation and sudden urge for breakfast, I went back in alone and requested in my politest broken Italian ... 'Mi scusi .. Ho bisogno di una camera per due ... per favore?' Amazingly... he replied in perfect English... "Oh yes we may have a room available later in the day.. you are welcome to rest in the garden until it is available'... Bingo!! ha ha ha... Moral to this story.. always try to speak a few words in the native language... it's called 'respect'. Would you want someone screaming at you in a foreign language?

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I had a similar experience a few days later when we went separate ways for the day. I had tried to buy something from the chemist [hairspray] but had trouble remembering the word for hair ['capelli']. Somehow I confused it with the word for Horse! ['cavallo']. So there I was pointing to my ponytail and saying Horse Horse... whilst making hairspray noises.. 'psssshhhh'... 'pssshhhh' .. These two little old ladies were buckled over in fits of laughter.. They sat me down, made me a cup of coffee and proceeded to explain the difference. It was a good day!!! I got my hairspray... I got coffee and I entertained the locals. Getting back to the hotel later we compared stories... My friend has apparently had the worst day, two rude ladies in the [only] chemist in town had not been very helpful!! Case in point!

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So .. how does Portofino come into this. Apparently, the famous Portofino was only a boat ride away. Somehow I overlooked this fact in the Lonely Planet guide, so lucky for me we met some nice Italians boys that were more than willing to show us around! Sadly I don't have any photos of the gorgeous hotel where we stayed, but I did manage a few of the famous Portofino. My only regret of this particular stay, was bowing to pressure and missing Cinque Terre. Oh well.. a good excuse to go back I say!

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So.. it's been a while since I've posted 'If It's Tuesday'. I will try to get back into the habit. Even if it's Wednesday or Thursday.. after all ... What's the point of having a blog if you don't use poetic license?

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Now I know a few of you had the chance to meet the lovely Meredith in my last post. But seeing I was anxious to get my 'Tuesday' post up 'on a Tuesday' .. some of you may have missed out. If like me, you enjoy your life in FULL colour!! [well I do like white also!!] pop over to Meredith's - Count It All Joy blog for a fabulous drool worthy post on her famous Rainbow Cake [here]..

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IMAGE SOURCE: ALL Text, Photography and photo editing by me - [Being Ruby]

Angels And Saints: Keeping It Real

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ANGELS & SAINTS

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Warning: I make no apologies .. this is a long, wordy post.. choose the exit door now if needed

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The beautiful Meredith from Count It All Joy recently passed me the 'REAL Award - My Blog Is Me'. I have to say I was quite touched as Meredith described me as one of her Fairy Blog-mothers. How sweet is that? I often think of her as my blogging Angel. Meredith always sees the best in me whatever I attempt creatively, which fills me with encouragement and inspiration to keep trying. Just visiting her blog invariably brightens my day and allows me to enjoy that warm feeling one has when surrounded by caring and joyful people. She is one of the true nurturers in this world and it shows in her colourful posts about her family, life and cooking session that will make your mouth water...

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So onto the award which is described as follows;

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'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'

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Pay It Foward

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Now the part that I always find difficult. Trying to narrow down the sea of inspiring and thought provoking blogs to just three! Harder still as I have made some wonderful friends in blogland who support, encourage or amuse me daily [you know who you are]. So I am choosing based on authenticity [as required], but also that these individuals have inspired me to want change in my own life... Their blogs dedicated to their lives and craft have given me hope that I too can take 'the road less travelled' . ... One Day! Maybe! haha

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Meredith - Count It All Joy

[here]

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Meredith is the real deal.. For all the reasons I have mentioned above.. I am gifting this award back to her... So thank you Dear Meredith.

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Meredith's posts are about as real as it gets. Sure she throws in humour to keep it light, but in between those lines of text one gets a real sense of the caring person she is. She doesn't frighten away from telling it warts and all and posts about the simple daily things that perhaps we all take for granted. From Meredith's clever pen [or perhaps index typing finger] she consistently brings us her love for her family, friends and faith and a good warm glow that makes you wish you lived in her house! If Meredith sees a shining light within you... she will foster that light until it burns just a bit brighter.. Thank you Meredith for your constant encouragement.

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I should also mention she is one of the wittiest bloggers I've come across. Everything she tackles she does so with unabashed wit, humour and an abundance of beautiful beautiful colour, bursting out as bright as her own personality. She is one of our very own earth angels.

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Cathy - Simple Things Small Joys

[here]

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Now anyone who has read my blog for a while will know how much I admire and appreciate Cathy's blog and creative talent. Hers was the first blog I ever found and inspired me to start my own. Her gorgeous charms spoke for themselves and found their way into my life. Not only is Cathy's work adorable, but her lifestyle is one I envy. She incorporates her creative talent into her daily life, her business and her love for her family and home. She has strived to live her dream and has taken us along with her via her blog. A simple beauty filled life lived with creativity. I do believe she has found her niche ... and this inspires me to try and find my own. Cathy is another nurturer who encourages me and other bloggers to move forward and pursue their creativity. If you'd like to read my previous post on how Cathy has inspired me you can find it [here].

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Coty - Styling by Coty Farquhar

[here]

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And finally, I pass this award to Coty. You'd be hard pressed to find someone who isn't delighted and awed by the beauty that is found on entering the magical world of Coty. She has one of those blogs that is just packed with image after image that mesmerize and delight. All of it being her own work.. The photography, styling, artwork... all exceptional and from her own hand.. In fact the whole family is talented. A wonder-world of talent going on there in the Southern Highlands. Now here is the thing... Coty is also very down to earth... modest about her achievements and happy to share and encourage others.. She will show you the glamour but also explain the work and effort that goes into creating her dreams.. I like this.. it's keeping it real.. and by doing so it presents itself as potentially possible for mere mortals like ourselves... ha ha ha.. Another nurturer and encourager... who sees a light in others and will readily jump in to encourage their growth.

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Saints

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Now in case you were wondering where the Saints comes in.. Australia finally has it's first Saint.. Mary MacKillop of the Cross. Announced by Pope Benedict last week in Rome. I am not very religious but do have a healthy curiosity with religious artifacts, saints and e-votos. Symbols of hope. As there are a few people in my life right now that need that extra serving of hope, I find this quite inspiring, not to mention extraordinary as Australia is such a relatively new country and I always think of Saints as those cloaked in mystery from centuries ago. Mary MacKillop was a true struggler and fighter for the truth. A dinky-di Aussie. She also kept it very real so fits into this post perfectly.

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Congratulations For Getting To The End Of This Post!!

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Thanks for hearing me out.. Now in someway I believe every blog is a reflection of oneself. Unless you have someone out there doing the posting for you! ha ha The bloggers I have mentioned have somehow inspired me on my own personal journey and that is why I have chosen them today. I have one more award to share given to me by the lovelyJeanne from Collage of Life.. I'll do this sometimes in the near future, but meantime pay a visit to all of these wonderful bloggers and brighten your own day.

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IMAGE SOURCE: Text, Photography and photo editing by ME - [Being Ruby][with the exception of the award image and description]

The Angel photo was taken on a bridge in Roma. This angel is one of ten that lives on the Pont Sant'Angelo - Roma.

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FREEDOM - Wind In My Sails

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FREEDOM

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Serendipity found me today arriving at the bay just as a flotilla of sailboats passed by. I stopped to watch these beautiful creatures hopscotch the bay, cloths billowing as they inhaled the sweet afternoon breeze

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THIS was my FREEDOM today!

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Somehow these beauties lifted my spirits and gave me a sense of personal FREEDOM. Beauty often does that. It changes the perspective, it glimmers with hope and possibilities. It whispers to you quietly MAYBE !

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MAYBE is a good word!

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A liberating word! A word to consider. To Plan. To Dream. MAYBE isn't as scary as I CAN or I WILL. Being less definite it leaves room for permutations, escalations and renovations of ones DREAMS. It allows flexibility and choice!

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MAYBE

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Can spell FREEDOM

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I have a flotilla of these photos to share from today's excursion, but for today

My wish for each one of you this weekend, is to find your personal FREEDOM

or MAYBE just to DREAM a little

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IMAGE SOURCE: ALL Photography and photo editing by ME - [Being Ruby]

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