Coco LOVES ducks … they’re not so sure about her!
The speed of light has nothing on how quickly this year has gone.
It’s Autumn here in Ballinamore and today was really lovely … clear [ish] skies.
I have taken Coco dog for a walk every day this week. We walk into town … stop and say hi to Dee and Gabriel in the Forge … keep walking down the street to the canal.
I love the canal in all seasons and it’s particularly beautiful now as the leaves are shades of green and turning gold and red.
As soon as we get to the canal I let Coco off the lead and she’s off!!
She LOVES running and running and looking and just being a dog … and she makes me laugh.
Really elegant looking … wish people were as unselfconscious as dogs
I throw the ball and she brings it back … except when we lose one into the canal. Coco will not go into water and I’d not expect her to jump into the canal … so a few tennis balls are now on a lovely journey down [up?] the river.
She is now over 2.5 years old and comes back and sits [nearly] every time … good Coco.
As we walk back through town I often see people to say hello to and have a chat … and we stop in the Forge on the way home. Today we stopped in at Maggies.
So the exercise is about 60 to 90 minutes but the whole journey takes 3 hours sometimes!
I’ve been telling people about my plans to move to Bali late next year.
Lots of good wishes from people and I think I’ll need to rent a hotel … so many people want to visit … me or Bali?
I don’t underestimate the planning and work to be done before I can move there … visas … save money to live there for a year … get Life Dreaming launched so I can earn money … all the stuff to get Coco into Bali … and lots more.
It’s all an adventure and I’ve moved so many times in my life that it’s not that scary … more exciting than anything.
The key reasons for moving?
- to live closer to my family … 2.5 hours flying to Singapore and Australia. It takes longer to get to Cork!
- to live somewhere warm. I’ve loved living in the seasons here in Ireland and I want a tad more warmth in my bones
- to live in a place where the cost of living is relatively low. Regular readers will know that my consultancy has been hammered by the recession since 2008. I also wanted to change direction in terms of the work I do over the next 20 years [no retirement for this possum] and Life Dreaming may/will give me that chance.
- to experience living in a non western culture. I’m not terribly brave when it comes to travelling and experiencing new cultures so Bali is a relatively easy option.
By the time I move in late 2011 I would have lived in Ireland for over 18 years [the last 5 of them in Ballinamore].
In many ways I’ve grown up in Ireland … even though I was 33 when I came here.
I’ve had too many adventures and great times to even remember … amazing people … a landscape that is now embedded in my psyche … and a place I will always call home.
And that’s in the future.
Right now I’m working between 6 and 10 hours a day … every day … on designing, building and launching Life Dreaming.
The Life Dreaming blog is 3 weeks old tomorrow and is growing a lovely steady readership … some of whom are loyal and fab readers of this blog.
Many thanks to you all for supporting this new enterprise … I don’t feel alone and that’s wonderful.
Liz Biz has always been a personal blog that I waffled away in … and loved … still do.
Life Dreaming is a blog that will be a key part of building my Life Dreaming business … and I love it as well.
What I didn’t expect was how different it is to run a business blog. Here are a few things I’ve learnt from the last 3 weeks of the Life Dreaming blog:
- Creating posts takes a lot longer
- There’s a whole promotion and communication effort required to let people know about each post [Facebook Page; My personal FB; Twitter]
- There’s a huge learning curve about developing an online business [and any business]
- Writing the blog is only the tip of the iceberg … there’s business and marketing planning and action; building the site; designing the LD online course; setting up a company; teaching myself about online business strategies ….
- I look at the Google Analytics stats more than is healthy … Marc [my brother and business partner] may stage an intervention any day now
- There’s more fear involved and I’m dealing with it … fear that no one will like what I write … fear that no one will buy what we develop
It’s all about the transition from the old to the new … something I wrote about today in a Life Dreaming Morsel … The Space Between 2 Trapezes.
And boy am I in transition … Big Time.
The weird interesting thing that is happening as I develop Life Dreaming is how much the posts and Morsels that I create help me sort things out in my life … they are helping me.
Nothing like being the guinea pig for everything you create.
Am I glad I’m building Life Dreaming … with all it’s uncertainty and fear … and excitement?
Hell yes.
If I wasn’t scared and excited then I’d wonder what was wrong.
And the best part of creating Life Dreaming for me?
I’m creating it with Marc … a man with immense creative talent, wry wit and endless patience with the tsunami of emails his sister sends him every day … and he makes the best cocktails in the world. Thanks Marc.
And the support and encouragement I am receiving from readers, family and friends around the world lifts my heart.
Thank you all.
xxLiz
Ooh, loved this little tour of the canal area…it’s been a while. Makes me feel like I’m right back there!
and you will be …next year
Hi, Liz.
First let me say that people like what you write. No worries there. I can only speak for myself regarding LD – I love it.
I was trying to think how long I have been following your blog – before Coco adopted you and she was a pup when she found you.
You are really pouring the coals to the fire as far as LD is concerned – I predict it will be a total success. 😀
Lindy
Thank you Lindy.
I’ve had Coco since July 2008 and I started this blog in January 2007. I think you are one of my first readers and have been a great commenter and supporter.
I do believe your prediction about Life Dreaming will come true … lots and lots of work to do and I love it.
I want to thank you Lindy for all your support on this blog and with Life Dreaming.
Your feedback on the LD online course [as a Life Dreaming Test Team member … only 12 chosen around the world] has been so helpful.
I spent quite a bit of time a few weeks ago reframing and creating a whole pile of new activities for the online course.
It’s very exciting.
And your own journey is fab.
I was thinking of you tonight and your Facebook comment about not giving away Coco when I move to Bali … as if!
On my FB I said I would be giving away nearly everything I own to people I love and admire.
I decided tonight that I’ll be mailing you my wonderful books on cob building … the tops books by the American and UK people.
I’ll email you for your snail mail address.
It would delight me to be able to provide you with the 4 or so top books on cob building to help your own research and learning for the home you want to build.
xxLiz
Liz,
Sounds wonderful! A grand adventure!!
I truly, with all my heart, wish you the very best on your new adventure to Bali and with Life Dreaming. I will miss seeing you when I am in Ireland but I will think of you when I am there 🙂 I can’t wait to read about your new life and to learn more from L.D.
~kimme
Thanks Kimme.
I’ll see you when I come visit soon … and when you and your tribe come visit and stay with me in December.
Your support and good wishes mean a great deal.
Liz,
We all can’t wait to see you soon and also in December 🙂
xoxo, kimme
I might be able to sneak over the week after next. Looks like some money is coming in at last.
I’ll check the dates and let you know on Monday.
Take good care
Liz
How wonderful that life is full of transitions, each leading us to a better and more interesting place. Had dinner with 2 girlfriends last night and all of us in some way or other are leaping through the air – like your image – and waiting to land in new places in 2011. I wish you and us all the best – with good planning, wishing and trust – all will be revealed soon I’m sure…
It’s never boring in our lives Mary … that’s one constant.
xxLiz