Jennifer Johnston @jenniferjblog - Tumblr Blog

Farewell my beige Billy

Death is inevitable – we all know that. But if you lose a family member, or friend what you’re not prepared for is the feelings that crop up in unpredictable moments. Subtle reminders the person who was once a part of your life is now no longer.

My father passed away in April this year after a few years of declining heath. It wasn’t from a debilitating disease like cancer where the loved ones…

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#fathersday #a daughter remembers her dad #Father&039;s Day #special memories #your dad is special

Win a trip to Cambodia

Thought the title might interest you – but sorry after that headline grabber – this post is actually about me trying to win a trip to Cambodia (not the other way round!)

I’ve entered a blogging competition with a worthy prize – the only thing I need is your vote – so to help me win a trip to Cambodia please go to my entry Naked Communion – a divine onsen experience and follow the links.

This is…

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#travel writer #Peregrine Travel Qld #Travel Blogging competition #win a trip to Cambodia

Giving back - an inspirational story

Giving back – an inspirational story

Meet My Huong Le

When travelling through Vietnam, I was fortunate to spend a day in Vung Tau with this amazing woman. She opened up to me about her childhood, being taken from her mother at the age of five during the Vietnam War. My Huong was part of operation baby lift, an initiative towards the end of the war by American President Ford, where children from southern Vietnam were adopted out to…

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#finding your birth mother #LiftMagazine #Looking after orphans in Vietnam #My Huong Le #Operation baby lift #Operation baby lift adoptees #Single mother #Vietnam #Vung Tau

How I lost half of myself

A weight loss journey

Background to the story

It’s well known there is a noticeable drop in the number of female lifesavers who continue volunteering once they reach age 50 and over. To continue as a lifesaver requires passing an annual proficiency test which involves a swim, run and obviously a certain amount of fitness. Maybe it’s hard to make the commitment later in life as other priorities…

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#losingweight #active women in their 50&039;s #Helen Hallett shows how its done #Lifesavers doing their job #lose weight on your own terms #weight loss stories #Who loves their job?#why I lost weight

Seen better days

I had visions of 2017 being a year of many things. Getting around on a pair of crutches with a broken leg was not part of my vision.

It all happened on day five of our Japan holiday. Myself with Mr 18 and Mr 13 were on a two-week vacation in Japan. (My other Mr 13 stayed home with Dad – “I don’t like skiing Mum.”) Like most trips, I’d done a fair amount of prior planning. This was my first visit…

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#breakaleg #seenbetterdays #skijapan #visitscotland #accidents while travelling #break a leg on holidays #expect the unexpected #future travel plans #Japan #Pete Murray #Pete Murray seen better days lyrics #ski Japan #ski nozawa #snow monkeys #Travel Japan #Visit Scotland #what does breaking your leg do to you #what happens when you break your leg on holidays #what not to do in Japan

Home Towns or close to them

Caloundra isn’t my home town but Caloundra feels like a home away from home – so close to Brisbane.

Here’s a link to a few home towns including mine on Caloundra shared on Travel Blog All Around Oz

Moffat Beach

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#SunshineCoast #Aussie Home Town #Caloundra #discover great places in Australia #Home towns

Japan – finally! My next adventure with two of my lads awaits! Japan. Read about the motivations for this

#Japan #ski Japan #travel #Travel Blogger #Travel Japan #where to ski in Japan

Renovation - the home run

Renovation – the home run

Don’t dream it’s over

Love that the Crowded House song and thankfully I’m not dreaming, the (BIG) reno project is almost over! All that is left is the waft of paint fumes and clutter of painter’s trestles and paraphernalia as the painters finish the outside. It won’t be long and I can remove the project manager hat. Hard to believe after 18 months the project is almost complete. I say almost…

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#Renovation #House transformation #lessons learnt in renovating #Managing your own project - my tips #Project managing a renovation #Renovation pitfalls #Renovation Rescue #Resene paint #what to think about when renovating

East German mis-adventure - a Travel story

East German mis-adventure – a Travel story

The Berlin Wall near Checkpoint Charlie

A travel memory shared on my travel blog – an East Germany adventure while backpacking (only a few decades ago!) Wondering why we did these things – probably being young and feeling ten foot tall!

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#Backpacking adventures #East Berlin #Fun times when travelling #remembering the Berlin Wall #the Berlin Wall #Travel Memories #what not to do when travelling

Renovation jitters - the next phase

Renovation jitters – the next phase

Renovation phase three

You’d have to be living under a rock if you haven’t been exposed to stories about renovations. They’re everywhere. Magazines and blogs share renovation yarns. Reality TV shows like the Block and House Rules allow viewers to gain an insight into the tension a renovation project incurs. As both a reader and a viewer – none of these prepare you for what reno stress actually FE…

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#Renovation #how to find a good builder #interior design #Living through a renovation #project manage your own renovation #Renovating #Renovation adventures #renovation diary #Renovation Tips #what you experience when renovating #worried about renovating?

Sharks and how Aussies manage them

Two laid back Aussies

I watched one of the funniest clips I’ve seen in a while on Channel Ten’s Project last night. The segment was following up the incredible photo moment captured by Nathan McLaren of a shark leaping from the water near surfer Daniel Caban. The incident occurred the day before, around 2pm at the southern end of Caves Beach near Port Macquarie, New South Wales.

McLaren was on…

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#breachingsharks #Aussie share their story #Beach siting of shark #great white sharks in Australia #Nathan McLaren #shark breaches at Newcastle beach #shark breaching #Sharks #sharks breaching #surfing with sharks

Mosquitoes and soft tofu - another side to Vietnam

Mosquitoes and soft tofu – another side to Vietnam

Vietnam so many highlights – what about the lowlights? Here’s my travel story with a few of both Mosquitoes and soft tofu – another side to Vietnam

Transport styles

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#looking for a unique Vietnamese experience #Mekong Delta #Nguyen shack #Saigon #the best tofu in Vietnam #Travelling in Vietnam #Vietnam #What to do if Saigon gets too busy #where to stay in the Mekong Delta

So the reno begins

Renovation update

This blog post has been written / not published / added to but now its time to publish and update as the reno project finally takes BIG shape!

To recap

The renovation madness upped its pace significantly last month. All was under control. I was working towards a start date in 8 weeks. But a phone call from the builder about 6 weeks ago asking how I was going with finding rental…

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#raisemyhouse #Renovation #theblock #Brisbane builder #challenges when renovating #home renovation #Project Management #Renovating adventure #what happens when you renovate

Lest we forget

A War medal finds it way back to family

A story about Family / tragedy / intrigue / mystery and relevance for ANZAC day

Digging in his Tarragindi side garden, Mat Schliebs discovered a piece of metal. “Initially I thought it was part of a child’s toy or a piece of scrap metal,” said Mat. “It was buried almost 30cm deep.” He showed it to the rest of the family. They cleaned the dirt off and to…

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#ANZACDay2016 #a lost war medal finds it way back to family #Anzac Day #Anzac Day 2016 #Buried Brisbane war medal returned to family #Family #Family History #Lest we forget #POW #Sandakan POW #Soldier #treasures found #war medal returned to family

Outlander Series 2 – the Power and the Passion

Droughtlander is almost over

With the imminent release of the second in the Outlander TV Series, what is sending Australian fans into the mature version of a One Direction frenzy?

Jennifer Johnston investigates what all the fuss is about?

Outlander fan’s excitement levels are rising rapidly as they count down the days for the much anticipated release of Series 2. This is April 10th for…

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50 Shades of grey - my experience

50 Shades of grey – my experience

Glad the title drew you in! But I’m not talking bondage and love trysts (sorry not this time) I’m talking hair. This is all about embracing your grey? Read about my guest post with Champagne Cartel Embracing your outer grey

Denise O’Neill, a 52-year-old administrative assistant from Belfast, Ireland, found out going grey actually enhanced her beauty. “The way I see it, the beauty of grey…

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#grey #50 shades of grey #Denise O&039;Neill #Embracing your gray #go grey on your terms #going grey #Grey hair is cool #grey is ok #look stylish and gray #silver is the new grey

Melbourne and the Grey Haired Brigade

Quality Time

I spent a weekend away in Melbourne with my mother recently – the main purpose was to see the Royal Military Tattoo performance.

Check out my story Melbourne and the grey haired crew

Edinburgh Castle in Etihad Stadium

Sometimes its important to just slow down and take some time out to be with those you love.

mother and daughter time

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#TattooTour #Edinburgh Castle #Exploring Melbourne with your mother #fun things to do in Melbourne #Melbourne #Royal Military Tattoo #Scotland #what to see and do in Melbourne in a wheelchair

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