Catherine

We can't believe we have only been in our new Sydney apartment for a couple of weeks! It feels like a lifetime and we are currently in a demolition site. Everything costs more than Europe due to the improved salary conditions so budgets are having to be carefully managed. Once again, we are giving a sad and neglected apartment a new life. Having visited various areas, we kept coming back to a suburb that has the beach 15 minutes away by foot and public transport every which way. There is an arty Art Deco cinema minutes away ambitiously called

"The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned." — Maya Angelou. At this stage, we are nomads and it is crazy to realise that in two days, we will have been back in Australia for a whole month. In some ways it feels like more than that and in other ways, it feels like we are on a holiday and will be returning to France next week. We have experienced the usual highs and lows of leaving a country, apartment and friends and arriving

Considering that it is an old Celtic tradition of frightening away ghosts and spirits on a night where the veil between the living and dead draws back, it is interesting to see the bright and cheerful decorations coming out in full force. As old celebrations tied to religion seem to have diminished, the Hallmark occasions stand out and already we see Christmas decor in the shops mid-October. For those in the Northern Hemisphere with the days shortening and the light darkening, perhaps we need the lights, glitter and bright colours to get us through to the next spring. Happy

“There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving and that’s your own self.” So said Aldous Huxley and our experiences would agree with him. It is likely that your front door opens into this section as does our current apartment door. This is an area often overlooked being the area for skills, self study and understanding of other parts of your life. It can involve study, developing knowledge and also finding a better sense of your world. Currently, many friends are moving into a new stage of their lives. Some have lost careers

Emerson said that, “The earth laughs in flowers”. Years ago, I worked with an older colleague who was in a new relationship. When asked about his day, he talked about it being his girlfriend's birthday. We asked him what he had given her and he replied that she said it didn't matter about presents. From the looks on our faces he realised that he shouldn't have taken her literally! We immediately suggested flowers and called a florist for him. The next day he told us cheerfully that the bouquet was received happily and he would ignore her response next

Here we are ready to sign on selling our apartment and looking for (expensive) rentals in Sydney. It is so interesting to see some of the Feng Shui layouts and there is instantly a vibe when something is angular and has some strange decor.  Beds stuck against a wall, kitchens in a tiny cupboard and other aspects. It is all exciting but stressful at the same time and even choosing a hotel or short-term rental is important for interior harmony. I say this as I look at this cushion and through lack of deep sleep resonate with these ladies!

"Bees do have a smell, you know, and if they don't they should, for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers" - Ray Bradbury. I love this idea and as we are heading in to the final weeks of summer, the sun is still intense, the sky is blue as can be and as the aqua sea beckons, I dive in for a sense of calm and happiness.  

When summer arrives, beach chairs appear and it feels as if the air is brighter and lighter. As Walter Winchell said, “It’s a sure sign of summer if the chair gets up when you do.” Now we are in full sun and have had some weeks were everyone felt they were frying! This section focuses on the outdoor spaces attached to your apartment or house. These include gardens and balconies. First, they are part of your space even if they feel like an extension. Feng Shui practice 'pulls' these spaces into the overall Bagua map of your area to

Help, My Space isn’t a Square! Now that you have your floor plan matched with the Bagua sectors, it may highlight that they don’t quite fit in the overall space. First of all, there is no perfect plan. There will always be a room or area that presents a challenge. Many friends have modern homes where the garden is in the back left hand or right hand corner. Depending on where this is placed in the Bagua sectors, a tall light and a seating area can be placed to ‘connect’ the garden with the house.    Another friend had