All About Me

I updated my "about me" page... in case you missed it here's All About Me...

Hi and Welcome to my little corner of the World. I'm so very glad you dropped by.
I thought I should introduce myself properly...


My Name: Simone
It's pronounced Simonne  as in "on", not Simoane as in "moan". You can call me Simoney (like they do in Scotland, which is my blog name), or Monnie (as some of my friends do). My husband calls me Babe.

Where I'm From: Auckland, New Zealand

For those of you geographically challenged types, that's down near Australia in the South Pacific. My home town is Auckland, a city of a million people - quarter of New Zealand's entire population!

We live in the leafy suburb of Mt Albert in a 1920's bungalow which I love. You can read more about my lovely slice of paradise here...

Being from Downunder, I might use some different words for things. If you're confused about some of my Kiwi-isms, then click my Guide to Kiwi Speak for a Kiwi-ese dictionary. (Kiwi's are how we New Zealanders refer to ourselves; just in case you thought I was meaning the fuzzy brown Fruit. Or the flightless Bird.)

My Family: Mr G (hubby), Dash (7), Miss Fab (5) and Scrag (2)

This crazy bunch of party-mad lunatics are quite often the focus of my writing. They are a bunch of energetic extroverts, never short on an opinion or two, all with minds of their own, which makes for plenty of fun'n'games, if you know what I mean?? There are no nerd-librarian-types in our family (apart from me). I am alone in my nerdy-ness. Although I am working on cultivating a love of books and art into at least a couple of my outgoing offspring. To read more about that lot click Meet the Family.

Note: "Dash", "Miss Fab" and "Scrag" are not their real names. But they are called those nicknames from time to time. Real Names have been changed to protect the guilty!


My Interests:

READING: I can chew through a thick novel in two days... or if it's a really good one I'll sometimes pull an all-nighter (but not very often these days).

WRITING: A re-discovered child-hood passion. I'm working on co-writing a book with a friend of mine.

BLOGGING: I think I may be a blog addict. I'm thinking of starting up a 12-Step Programme online called Bloggers Anonymous. (Nah, not really).

PLANNING KIDS PARTIES: My husband thinks I'm out of control. I think I'm creating great memories and using my creativity...

PHOTO-SHOPPING: I love messing around in Photoshop. I have no qualifications, I'm totally self-taught. I designed a bunch of kids birthday party invitations and stuck them on this website so people can print them off and use them for free. I'm nice like that.

PHOTO-TAKING: Different from Photography, in that I lack skill and a fancy camera... but I photograph anything and everything. My family call me a snap-happy tourist (actually they call me a Japanese tourist but I thought that was a bit un-PC).

COFFEE: One of my favourite things is going to a cafe with a good friend or two. Always gives me a boost. Especially if it also involves Cake.

TRAVEL: Nothing better than getting stamps in your passport, even with kids in tow. Places visited so far: Australia, Canada, USA (California), England, Scotland, France, Italy, Malaysia, Bali, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga & Mauritius...

THE GYM (not!): I joined the gym recently and I am attempting to go regularly in the faint hope of holding back the tides of time. I turned 40 in November 2009 (gasp) and as a naturally lazy couch-potato I figured if I didn't do something pretty soon they might eventually need a crane to hoist me out of the house. But seriously, with my energetic bunch, if I don't get fit I'll be left behind!
I can't say I enjoy exercise (yet). Or that I do enough. Or that I am seeing any amazing results. I think I like food too much. Sigh.

Pet Peeves:

Housework... oh the pointlessness of it all.
Housework... I am not a housewife! I am a full-time mother. There's a difference! Really!
Housework... seriously, the sooner they invent robot cleaners the better!

What I blog about:
Honest to goodness real-life.
The joys and pitfalls of mothering. Things that make me laugh, or that make me cry. I share creative ideas I think will help make others' lives easier or more fun. I share my thoughts on soul stuff. I sometimes share about Living with Depression. If you really want to understand me, read My Journey.

What I don't blog about:

This is not a product review blog. I do not receive payment for recommending stuff. If I recommend something to you, it's because I like it and think you might too. I also don't do very many giveaways. If I do, it's because I want to bless you. I blog because I love to write, and share ideas, and connect with others. That's it. :)


My Beliefs:

I'm a Christian. An often-struggling one, but very definitely a committed one. Basically I am thankful to God for never giving up on me through my long and winding road; thankful for the blessings he has brought into my life, and aware that were it not for him, I would not be here.
 
I don't use my blog as a soap box or pulpit. I won't hard-core preach to you. But if things move me, or I have an insight or thought that I think would encourage you, I will share it here. My relationship to God is what you might call, "defining". It's the most important thing in my life.
 
Contact: greatfun4kids@live.com

I love to "meet" my readers and get feedback from you. Like every other blogger, comments make my day. And I always try to reply or visit you back. So leave me a comment OK? It's not hard. You don't even have to have a blog, just leave your name (and email if you want a reply!)
 
Or you can email me. Especially if something I've shared here touches you, or relates to your situation.
I've made many dear friends that way. Some I've even got to meet in real life. But I won't know you've been if you don't say hi... so drop me a line.
 
I look forward to meeting you!