7 Things...

Well, I've finally succumbed to the challenge! Ness from Marley and Lockyer, Carla from Carla Loves Photography and I think Brooke from Velvet and Linen (sorry if I've missed anyone) have all tagged me to tell you 7 things about myself. First up I need to explain the rules..... Say who tagged you and link to their blog, share 7 things about yourself and challenge 7 other blogs at the end of your post by naming their blog and linking to them. Let them know by leaving a message for them... okay, here I go.... (stop me at any time now - once I get started, well there's just no stopping me!)

1. I was born Shannon Elizabeth Fricke on 6th April 1969 the only child of these two people - Joan and Klaus Fricke. My mother is Australian (of Portugese and Irish heritage) and my father is from Bremen, Germany. Groovy aren't they! This is the only picture that I have of the three of us together back then, as not long afterwards my parents divorced. Sadly, my father was a fractured soul and suffered terribly from anger and alcoholism - you wouldn't know it from this pic - he was such a handsome lad. He died aged 52 - just three months after walking me down the aisle.

I learnt a valuable lesson from watching my father wrestle with his soul - to be grateful for the life that you have been given and to greet every day with grace - and a smile.

From my mother I learnt another lesson - to always live the life that you deserve and that if at times  your dreams don't turn out as you had hoped - pick yourself up, dust yourself off and continue on with your journey in the best way that you know..... 

2. Growing up there was nothing that I loved more than spending my time figure skating at the local ice skating rink. When I wasn't skating, I was dreaming about skating - imagining myself spinning and flying through the air like Tinkerbell. I'd hoped to make it to the Winter Olympics one day - until I realised that even though I loved skating more than anything - I really wasn't very good at it! Oh the reality of it all! Eventually I gave it up - opting to spend my time hanging out at the beach with friends instead. Although every now and then, I'll pop the skates back on and get out on the ice - and pretend, just for a second, that I'm flying...

3. As a pre-teen I was completely obsessed with Brooke Shields and used to keep a scrap booked filled with cuttings from magazines that she appeared. She was such a lovely beauty (still is) and her life just seemed so glamourous to this little girl living a simple life in 1970s/80s Australia. Following her work in magazines such as Vogue, Glamour, Seventeen sparked my interest in visual media and publishing which helped me to decide the direction that I wanted my working life to go. Who would have thought that it all started with Brooke!

4. When I was 19 I moved to London for no particular reason other than it seemed like a good idea at the time. I had $1200 to my name and didn't know what I was getting myself into - ah, the crazy things you do when you're young! After a year in London I moved to Paris, enrolled at the Alliance Francaise and survived by au pairing for an English family. I lived in the 5th (Latin Quarter) and spent my days getting to know the beautiful Paris, it's wonderful streets, parks and cafes. I'm so grateful for my time there - what an incredible rite of passage.

5. After almost three years living in London and Paris I arrived back in Sydney - and within a few months met the love of my life - my husband Michael - and we married 18 months later. We've been married for 15 years now - where has the time gone! Michael is my best friend and my greatest supporter - I feel very fortunate to have someone in my life who is happy to know me warts and all! I love being married - although at times it can be a challenge too! Michael and I have done a lot of travelling together over the years - and this pic was taken in Scotland - one of the most beautiful places I've been.

6. From the time I was a little girl I imagined myself as a mother. I wanted a brood of babies, at least six and was so excited when Michael and I decided the time had come to start a family. I thought that falling pregnant would be a breeze - I mean, how hard could it be right! Three years of trying (a lot!), loads of tears and trips to the doctors seemed to lead nowhere. Just as I had reached the point of wondering if we'd ever be able to have a baby - the universe blessed us with this little angel - our daughter Inez.  A strong and feisty girl with energy and drive - Inez has taught me that with hard work and perseverance - you can make your dreams come true... 

7. I felt so grateful to have had Inez but never imagined - after having waited for three years to fall pregnant- that I would ever be able to have another child. Of course, the world works in mysterious ways - and when Inez was only 6 months old I discovered that I was pregnant again! Nine months later our beautiful Joe was born - a dreamy child - who believes in magic and wishes that the whole world looked like Disneyland.  From Joe I've learnt to trust in life and to sit back and enjoy the ride. And to believe that at the end of the day - the world is unfolding exactly as it should.... 

Well, I hope I didn't bore you all too much. Now, I believe that I'm supposed to elect 7 others to do the same - but I know that you've all been tagged before because I've loved reading the insights into your lives. Is there anyone out there that wants to be tagged? Let me know!

Au revoir!