You never know who you might meet waiting at the Queanbeyan train station at 6.30 in the morning.

Today I meet an amazing woman, a total stranger, but her ordinary life story was by all means unordinary, and this was only in the first ten minutes chatting with her.

This women is in her mid seventies, she just got off the plane from Spain. She's been travelling around for a few months now. Carrying only a 7kg luggage bag, with all her belongings is a formula she now has down pat. She's only started traveling this way in the last six years.

She looks amazing for her age! average height, trim body, except for an injured knee which has fully recovered now, after recently falling off a motor bike... as you do in your seventies.

All her life she was a dairy farmer, working seven days a week. In twenty plus years she's never had a holiday! She's never traveleved any where. She's couldn't due to her commitments on the farm.

She’s a love of horses and animals, she told me of her adventures, bungie jumping, going up mountains and sliding down them on her belly, riding horses down the steep slop of the snowy mountains, in which she expressed with great enthusiasm that I should try it!

I told her I'm meeting my family in Sydney, as my dad just celebrated his 70th birthday the other day. She said wow, he's the same age as her. She said age is only a number.

She dosn’t own a home, she's always unsure of what she likes as she’s moving from place to place. She's extremely active, working non-stop, she's also taken up ballroom, square dancing and rock ’n’ roll, in which she does during the week.

What an inspiring women! Not letting life bring her down or her age! She even mentioned that she recognises me from somewhere... I told her I do live in Queanbeyan, she said that's it, she may have seen me around town.

At every stage in life we all go through changes, tides, dips and waves. You just need to keep going, challenge yourself, try new things, embrace life as its never to late to live life to the fullest.

Croatian soccer club, Deakin Canberra, ACT -
12 October 2019.

What a fantastic turn out it was, on one of Canberra’s overcast days in spring, it did not disappoint! It included a huge spread of platters of cheeses, salami including many home made cakes and a stunning performance by ’klapa samoana.’

The Croatian cultural association from Canberra and Geelong, brought a warmth and look into the food culture and vast food history. It has made a special homage to all Croatian mothers, grandmothers (baka’s) who have brought the love of cooking into the family home.

With special guests renowned artist Charles Billich and his loveky wife Christina, it was a great honour to have them present, as Billich’s painting is on the front cover of ’My Mother's Kitchen’.

Most of the guests all received a signed autograph by the artist, including myself. This book is one that is rich in Croatian culture, with many recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation. This book brings special memories for myself, with many recipes I have been brought up on that have been shown to me from my mum and both my grandmothers.

If your looking for that great gift for Christmas or for someone's birthday, someone who enjoys food and culture, this book is it!

More infonation here:

#artelierbillichsheraton #billich #mosmondesign #croatiafulloflife #croatianfood #croatianculturecommunity #mymotherskitchen #croatiansoccerclubcanberra #wearecanberra #geelong #canberra @ccageelong

It’s been nearly two months since my position was made redundant at the Canberra Business Chamber, 30 applications, 10 interviews and on top of that battling personal issues and I still haven’t managed to secure a job.

A normal person with skills in my area would have no problem to obtain a new job in 3 months. But I know myself, getting back into the workforce is always a challenge, due to my stutter. It’s a constant battle.

Stammering can be covered under the Equality Act 2010 if it has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on carrying out normal day-to-day activities. (British Stammering Association, June 2019)

I have recently experienced on two job interviews this question being asked: ‘Would you like a pen and paper?’ This is implying that I am unable to communicate with the interview panel; that I seem to apear weak; that I lack communication skills; that I need special assistance in answering a question. These assumptions are irrelevant and should never be brought up in a job interview situation.

In our current society, organisations must be educated and having a person asking a stutterer this question is an insult, and it is discrimination. The person that had made this statement may think they are ‘helping you’. To a stutterer no they are not helping, they are actually putting you down!

It’s ignorance and judgment that is getting in the way. We need more people to be educated in how to communicate with others who have a disability. It’s about embracing people not judging them and encouraging others when they are in a tough situation.

Here is my Toasmasters Speech I performed, which addresses my experience at a Job Interview. I hope this helps and educates people to be more aware of what difficulties and challenges people with a disability/ impediment in our society have.

This weekend was one of class, beauty and elegance... and I’m not talking about the intimate number of guests at the launch which was held at the ‘Artelier & Billich’ at the Sheraton Hotel. It was the amazing dresses that were presented at the first Australian Launch organised and presented by Alenka Bonic, owner and Director of Artelier&Billich.

If you haven’t heard of Matija Vuica, well Hollywood is going crazy for her right now. This collection that was presented last night in Sydney on the 3 August is something that Croatia and Hollywood are very proud of! As a designer myself, I have a passion for clothing and this fashion show last night was outstanding!

Watch this space! Looking forward to see what journey is in store when Artelier&Billich bring two Croatian icons Charles Billich and Matija Vuica together.

#billich #atbillich #artelier&billich #mosmondesign #fashiondesigner #croatia #art #fashion #fashionshows