Happy 'Back to School' - here's to a year of amazement, great teaching, inspiration and positive experiences.... in the playground, the classroom and around the home kitchen table.

I think it should be compulsory for kids to read National Geographic. It's a big, wonderful, dangerous, amazing world out there but maybe we are all forgetting that. I was reading about stormchasers in America last night. Incredible what nature dishes up. Or what about the people that swing through caves to retrieve birdsnests, or sit for hours up a tree in the Amazon to sight a certain type of bug.  And the photography!! Even just grab the NG's Top 100 Photographs issue and look at the images. They will inspire and enthrall, I promise.

Do you know what I'm liking at the moment .... nice people. People who respect your opinions, your space, your property. Not just 'mine' but everybody's. Please, people, look around you and see how wonderful the world is. Love it, enjoy it, respect it....but I guess if you are a visitor to my blog you do this already.

When families move to live in Australia the parts of everyday Aussie life that we take for granted can be overwhelming or confusing. Enter my French friend Laurence Aubineau and her (French & German) family. Together we created a series 'Nina's Australian Adventures' and the first book which we wrote for the series is out - WELCOME DOWN UNDER.
Aimed at ages around 8, this chapter book has great colour illustrations throughout. It is about Nina who has moved from Germany with her parents, her new Australian home and friends and all the strange new ways Nina experiences ....and a magic charm bracelet. It's informative, funny and a great read. Readers can even collect the bracelet and charms as the adventures progress.
Available from Hearts and Minds Art (0407840745) or email me at julieholland1@bigpond.com.au for more info.

So, Year of the Wooden Horse. One of my sons (Mitchell) is under this year so onward Mitch!!
I have always liked the saying "On the cruise ship of life, is your deck chair facing where you are going or where you have been" - I think there are positives in both. Here's to looking to a great year ahead, but don't forget the value of memories. Here's one sent to me by my sister of us as Beach Babes. Classic.