Little Wandering Wren …. chats!

I am a Yoga teachers worst nightmare... Whilst I've booked the BALI holiday with a yoga retreat, others have booked a YOGA retreat in Bali. I'm drawn to yoga  because I have a dodgy knee, and can no longer run, Others are drawn to yoga  after life has thrown them some very curved balls. Whilst I'm a  'Come on Inner Peace, I don't have all day'  sort of yogic...  others have bounced straight here from a week long  pranayama and meditation journey to personal self discovery in Queensland. And little old Wren? Well, she has just wandered in, for the holiday! At the end of the day none of this mattered. Our yoga teachers were skilled in making the week the best for each of us  I had a great time and a few giggles along the way... One of our yoga studios at Ananada Cottages, Ubud Whilst others turn up with professional yoga mats and all the gismos. I arrive with an old aerobic mat chosen specially  because it i

I do like a fabulous spa, they don't call me the Spa Queen of Asia for nothing! So when this Crazy Soccer Mum is Bali bound,  it is exciting to discover that my 'Zen Mum' y oga retreat  includes several spa treatments. Just look at the view from my hot spice bath: View from my bath for Our Beautiful World A day at a gorgeous spa has been a long, long time coming... Stunning: our Maya, Ubud spa day No longer living in affordable Asia,  such occasions are nowadays reserved either for special treats,  or a bargain Groupon deal! Karsa Spa, Ubud To our delight we find in Bali  the average cost of a local massage is $10 USD. In Australia we're talking $70-$100, and that's way out of my budget... TIP : take your own  aromatherapy massage oil which will turn an average Balinese baby oil massage into a way better experience.  Bliss Spa pedicures in the garden A perfect spa experience starts with a lovely set

'Mum, I bought a dog We sacked the Security Guard and I spent $5 on a puppy He's covered in fleas but he's very cute'... Daughter Number One is in Africa.  She is living with no running water, infrequent electricity, sporadic internet and this mutt. Saturday Critters: New Guard dog! Her e-mail arrives whilst we are in New York on holiday. The next day we find ourselves wandering round the American Museum of National History I am drawn to the African Mammals  and wonder how many of these exotic animals she will get to see during her time in Africa? 'Suppose it could be worse - she could have a pet monkey or pigmy hippo?! Black and White Colobus Monkeys  American Natural History Museum, New York So unable to forget about this poor flea infested dog, I'm in the pet shop a few weeks later... 'I need some worming and flea treatment for a puppy'. 'No worries - How old is the dog?'.... 'Ermm not

Dearest Sally Sorry I’ve not visited for a while... I'm in Bali on a yoga retreat; a lovely Christmas and birthday present from my family. There's plenty to photograph and blog about as I'm in one of the most beautiful  places in the world. But I’ve been going through a bit of a blue void... My life spent searching for a massive blue car wash,  blue monkey,  or indeed something, anything blue,  to give me some credibility amongst the regular Blue Monday’ites.  Our Beautiful World: Paddy rice terraces in the mountains around Ubud Well! Imagine my excitement when I’m riding on the back of a scooter,  on my crazy ' Eat, Pray, Love' adventure,  to visit a lady who hands me a photo of myself with not a stitch on... Yes Sally, I hope you're not about to censor me but you'll see I'm completely buff, naked! Which ultimately leads to me needing to purchase a blue necklace!  The only thought in my mind was: 

I'm in Bali, Indonesia on a yoga retreat. I know no-one, apart from my room mate,  and have barely met the yoga teacher. It seemed like a good idea back in October when I managed to convince my family this would be a really lovely Christmas & birthday present... There I was sitting cross legged in a new yoga class,  the words Namaste  barely having left everyone's lips... When the teacher says  ' if I anyone would like to join us, we are organising  a  Yoga Retreat in Ubud, Bali. Flyers are here, up the front'   The words 'like a rat up a drainpipe' spring to mind ...  The form was completed the very next day, leaving the teacher to comment "you are obviously a women of action and in need of a yoga retreat' Spot on! Zen Yoga Mum is a work in progress. Our pad in Ubud That was before both daughters left home for opposing continents, or before DH came home everyday with the option of moving to a different country