31 days: nine

One of the Sydneysiders I am going to miss hugely is the beautiful Martha of Martha B fame. Somewhat of an urban legend, Martha is the secret to hundreds of women sporting perfectly groomed eyebrows along the east coast. Introduced by bestie, Kate, I have been trekking from the northern beaches to the east's Surry Hills for the past year and a half to see Martha - and it was always worth every commuting minute. Martha is not only ridiculously talented with a pair of tweezers or make up brush, she is also the biggest sweetheart you'll ever meet and my 30 minutes with her were always full of chatting goodness.

Testament to Marfie's skills and due to the excited whispers amongst ladies at the bar, she rarely has a slot in her diary. But if, on the rare occasion she does, I highly recommend you snaffle that appointment. You'll find her in vibrant hair salon, Fringe on Crown with the lovely Tommy & crew. Martha, I miss you and your lovely face (and tweezers).

31 days: eight

A few weeks before I was due to leave Sydney, I had arranged to meet Suzy Reading at North Curl Curl, in one of my favourite spots. Suzy and I had been introduced by a mutual friend, the lovely Dan, creative genius at Shoebox. Suzy is a Sydney-based qualified psychologist, yoga teacher and health & fitness coach and was in need of some fresh shots of her in action. I adore yoga and alternative therapy and don't need to be asked twice to get snaptastic, so our skills and talents were a perfect match. 

We spent a few blissful hours in the glorious October sunshine as the waves crashed and Suzy and I talked and giggled our way through our photo session. I was amazed at the skillful poses Suzy could hold, while I snapped and got the perfect angle on some pretty rugged terrain, all the while Suzy smiling, looking serene and peaceful. This is one balanced (in both senses!), calm and happy lady! 

I was just so thankful to be able to work with Suzy on that day, in one of the most beautiful places on earth. A new friendship was made. Thank you Suzy, for a lasting memory that will always remind me to be grateful, soak up the simple things and take the opportunity to meet new people - you never know who you will meet or how they will change your life.

xxx

Focus

Life has been quite unconventional of late. Resignations, saying goodbye, moving country, unemployment, adjusting to very different weather, meeting new people and settling in. A lot to take in and absorb - it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But in those heady moments, what always brings me focus and clarity is to see the amazing things around me. The burst of orange and flame red in the autumn trees. A stranger holding a door open for you. A puppy bouncing along, enjoying the best walk he's ever had. Freak hail storms. Big bold rainbows. These things are everywhere - to see and be uplifted by them is a choice.

I'm choosing to soak up the beautiful things, and in the meantime, trust that everything else will eventually fall into place.