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Posts tagged Lessons Learnt
Market Stall research Day 2
Aug 16th
Saturday @ The Mathilda Markets
It was bright and early Saturday and I needed to drop the girls off at my parents before breakfast to be at the market to set up by 7am. N needed the day to dig up the yard and my parents had offered to dress the girls in My Island Baby designer wear as little models later in the day. The Mathilda markets are only held about five times a year in each capital city and showcases the most gorgeous baby and kids goods. Stall holders are chosen to deliver divine and original clothing, accessories, homewares and toys.
We had our three trolleys of clothes, a banner proudly displayed at the back and a table showcasing signature items such as baby bloomers and singlet dresses.
It was hard work.
Working the stall at the Mathilda Markets
The three of us worked for the full two hours setting up before the first round of shopping mums and dads arrived. Women and children, prams and babies soon filled the aisles. Quickly pointing out the benefits of each item, “The dresses will become skirts or which dresses will be tops” highlighting the multiple uses of different items to maximise the value. We did well and it was fun. My little girls were a highlight – wonderfully dressed and sold the products just as well. My mother later said I should pay the girls in an account for each modelling assignment.
Compared to the Southbank markets the Mathilda Markets hit the target market. Further benefits included the stalls are held indoors and it is only a short fast paced day (9am to 1pm). Although the other stall holders are within our target market each one had a different and high quality product to sell. Competition was high but we still reached our daily sale goal.
Conclusion
Success. Will book in for the Christmas Mathilda markets in November.
Adelaide our little model.
The Wisdom of Hindsight
Aug 5th
Ok it might just be a downer of a week but the following kept on coming up in conversations starting with the sentence “If I could do it again I would have”:
- Have a gap year and travel the world as a university exchange student
- I would have kids and get paid to do a PhD combing creativity and flexibly with crèche
- I would have bought that house ten years earlier
- I wouldn’t have hang around so long in old relationships
- I would spend more time on learning to love me and be happy and not worry about what others thought
- I wouldn’t have worked so many part-time jobs
- I would have done more road trips
If I had to live my life again I’d make all the same mistakes–only sooner.
TALLULAH BANKHEAD, quoted in Evelyn Steinberg’s The Little Book of Wrinkles
Some comfort is knowing that every decision I have made was right with the information I had in hand at the time.
So this year I start the momentous 30s and we are making more decisions and making more changes. However the desicions are not just soley about me anymore. They are about me, my partner and our children. They might not be perfect and hindsight can be such a wonderful thing but as I keep reassuring myself, “I am making the best decisions with the information I have on hand today.” Wish me luck.
New Zealand New Years Day 2009
Lessons learnt on the Kokoda Track
Jul 25th
I recently posted on Twitter this statement, “The 2007 Lisa hiked the Kokoda track. The 2010 Lisa struggles pushing a double pram uphill. How ironic.” I have been thinking about this statement and its not quite true. The Kokoda track was hard really really hard but what did I learn that I am unconsciously putting into action today? Did the challenge to complete the Kokoda track somehow get me through the physical challenge of a multiple birth, recovery and now the responsibility to parenting twins? Excerpts from my diary are below:
My Kokoda Track Diary
Friday
I heard today that you are supposed to leave something behind on the track; something spiritual, something inside. Like my reason to go on this journey I’m not quite sure I know what it is. I’m here alone. It is a journey and challenge I must make on my own. I want to do it and I can do it. I want to be proud of me. I am so happy and I can’t wait to do more travel and get married and have a family and earn lots of money. Ha! Ha! Lol
Sunday
Not quite sure what to write – been thinking about it for the past few days. I was told the trek was not a pretty trek but they are wrong. It is beautiful. The villages are clean and so well kept. The families take so much pride. I didn’t like Port Moresby. Saturday was a slow start. We spent hours waiting for out charter flight to go to Kokoda but when it happened it was fantastic. The tour group is so well organised. I have a porter called James. Today was our first full day or trekking. It started off quite hard. My backpack was not sitting very well and heavy and my feet were squished. I gave more of weight to James and took the soles out of my shoes. My body aches. We went thought four villages today. John goes through the war history almost at every stop. The group is good. I am getting along with everyone. The tents are great, comfy but 6:15 am leaving campsite is a bit early! I am not all that organised in the dark to pack everything. Fortunately we get to the campsite relatively early today at 3pm. The view is beautiful. I wish I had Milo. I am feeling good though. The muscles in my legs – I am very impressed. I miss N. Miss him lots. Love L
Monday
I miss N. My knee gave way today. I am really trying to perserve but it hurts so much. I have taken anti-inflammatories and pain killers (endone!) and anti-nausea. This track is hard. I think we are at Eora Creek village tonight. It is raining again. I felt so bad because my porter James had to carry my stuff. He is so helpful through the track. Please god make my knee better. Its only two days in. We did ten hours trekking today. We leave at 6:15am and usually get to campsite by 4pm. I’m tired. I have been thinking lots about my life while on the track. Not sure yet what to let go. I wish I had a watch because I wake up at night and don’t know what time it is. I am having chocolate withdrawals. I should have bought Milo and coffee bags. My tummy has been ok. The group has been great. I think it is because you have to be a certain person to decide to go on a trek like this, motivated etc. Everyone has been genuine concerned but I don’t want any attention on myself. Love L
Tuesday
Not the best day today. My wallet and all my money was stolen in the middle of the night and my leg kills. I am feeling depressed.
<Diary ends. One trecker in our group was flown out due to illness. I was told a year later that they had a helicopter on stand-by ready to take me out as well. I think if I had known that at the time I might have given up. Thankfully I made it.>
Monday
Back at home. I am not sure how I am feeling. My brain feels like scrambled eggs. Combined with the intense experience of the Kokoda track, I didn’t quite expect the mental and emotional challenge that came with it.
It was hard, bloody hard. I had been training for about six months for the cardio but the (ITP) iliotibial band decided to play up causing sever pain in my left knee and hip.
I am not quite sure what I am supposed to be doing now. When you focus on something for so long and then it is over it is hard to adjust back to ‘normal’ life. The monotonous sound of the track alone in your thoughts as you concentrate on every step. The words I had playing included trust – trust my boots, trust my walking stick for balance, and trust my porters hand.
My Lessons Learnt
When everything feels overwhelming and too hard just look down at your feet and trust. Trust your feet to take you there.
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