Charlie's Birthday

I felt very special when not only did little Charlie ask for an Echidna cake for his 3rd birthday but his mum sent me a lovely photo & letter telling me of "the great impression Eric has made in our house" It's moments like these that gives me a sense of happiness & achievement in something that I have done.

26th January, 2011

Australia Day
Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas & welcomed in the New Year with gusto. Unfortunately January has seen most of the east coast of Australia engulfed in flood water. But Australian's do what Aussies are renowned for & that is helping our mates. I have got behind my local town & supported the Toowoomba Disaster Appeal & also signed & donated copies of my book to the Queensland Police Service Academy "Toy & Book Drive"

This year I have a cheque ready to hand over to the Breast Cancer Association of Queensland & all books that are sold through the St Andrews Hospital Oncology Clinic I will be donating $5.00 to the ward from each book sold. I'm also off to Tasmania in April to promote my book in some of the gift shops & book stores on our travels.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer awareness month and I have been super busy promoting awareness in my local community. Every year Toowoomba is well known for it's Carnival of Flowers and this year we successfully incorporated a breast cancer survivor float to raise awareness in our community.

I have also made a guest speaking appearance at Fitzy's on Church for their Color of Change Luncheon to raise money for the Toowoomba Hospital Breast Screen Clinic. It was also a good opportunity to promote my book. A great day was had by all.

Wakakirri Performance of Eric

Exciting, spectacular, wonderful, mindblowing and so so soooooooo proud are a few things that come to my mind after viewing the Wakakirri performance of my book by Kartwheel Kids Gymnastics Academy. Thanks to the kids and support team that put together a fantastic production. Heartfelt.

Cutest Dingoes you've ever seen.

Hanging around with a couple of possums

Cuddly Koala

Weekend away

I have just had a relaxing weekend at the Bunya Mountains, about an hour west of Toowoomba, enjoying bush walking, fine food & a bottle of wine with friends. I managed to see quite a few of the wonderful wildlife that feature in my book....possums, kangaroos, kookaburras, bowerbirds but no echidnas (had to do that in my own back yard Thank you to Kay & Terry who run the Bunya Forest Gallery & Tearoom for the lovely afternoon tea of yummy treats & for including my book for sale amongst the arts & craft at their gallery.

Eric reaches for the Stars

I'm soooo excited!!!! My little book is about to hit the stage. I can't believe it but move over JK Rowlings & Stephanie Meyer - 'Eric the Echidna Has Lost His Spikes' is about to become a stage production in the 2010 Wakakirri competition. If you haven't heard of Wakakirri it is similar to Rock Eistedfod and involves 7 minutes of story telling, music, dance and costumes using one common element of reduce, reuse and recycle. (I've included a sneak peak at one of the costumes. Cedric the Crocodile) Kartwheel Kids Gymnastic Academy on the Sunshine Coast has taken the story of Eric and turned it into a major production for their entry in this years competition. I can't wait to see it. Good Luck Kids.

Echidna in my garden

Talk about miracles & magic moments. I was visited in my garden by a real Echidna who even came up to me and said hello. Even though I have written a book about an Echidna I've never actually been up close & personal with one until yesterday. What a humbling moment......They are my knees in the photo as he walked passed - so close, I could touch him???????

Welcome

Welcome That's Life readers to my blog. When I sat down to write my book I never imagined that there would be notoriety involved. I even had a chuckle to myself as I was introduced to a classroom of year one students during book week last year, as a Famous Lady who had written a story. Never the less I was excited to see myself in this weeks edition of TL. I'm not sure how my children ages changed in the article. But Josh will be 20 in June & Kirsty is sweet 16.
But by getting noticed I hope to achieve two things. Firstly by get my book out there and being loved and read by children & their families. The second is to raise awareness for women, that it is important to do their self breast checks, as early diagnosis can save your life. In Australia in 2010, 14000 women will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer. If we can decrease the numbers that actually die from the disease, it is a good thing.

Fun day at Angus & Robertson

Kids fun day at Angus & Robertson was a great success. Echidna loving 7 year old Jennifer Evans brought her entire Echidna collection in to share with me & to add a copy of my book to her collection. There was also face painting, mask making & a drawing competition. Thanks to all those who attended and brought a copy of my book.