Lessons from the mother

• Cook with flair and abandon. The recipe book is but a guide.
• There is $50 hidden in the M section of the Margaret Fulton cookbook if you ever need a taxi home
• Always look good, for yourself. Know that fundamentally no one else cares
• When Jesus said "love thy enemy" he meant the shadow self. See and love your shadow self. Don't be afraid of the shadow self, it is you
• Everyone deserves a second chance, everyone. Except in my class room
• It takes a village to raise a child. You are a product of the village
• You are a product of education and you will need to live on your education
• Money grows on trees. Whatever you need, God will always provide
• A covenant is a life long contract with yourself, God and all the people you made it before. It cannot be undone or erased, ever
• New is good. Interesting is good, risk is good.
• See the funny side. There is almost always a funny side
• Understand unconditional love. A mother gives her children unconditional love. You may fall over and over but I will love you unconditionally
• It is ok to fail. Many times. As many times as you want. Trying is fantastic.
• Bad experiences are good dinner party conversational provender. Your bad stories, that of your kids...
• True friendships dont age or fade. There is no need to talk a lot. When you pick up the phone you are back where you left off
• Never ask anyone to do anything you wouldn't do yourself
• The most important quality in a person is integrity. This does not mean being good at sport.
• Never tell anyone who you will or did vote for. It is no one's business. It is a secret ballot
• The Tasmanian's knew what they were doing when they drafted the constitution in term of proportionate representation in the senate and the ballot system with respect to any referendum
• Strangers are often wonderful. Use your instinct
• Dont use florid language like the word 'wonderful'. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Expect to be judged on it.
• Things are just things. You cant take them with you. You take nothing with you.
• Iraqui nationals push each other in cues.
• Its ok to share a room with a Japanese man, unless he is drunk. If he is drunk, it is a very bad idea
• In a family, one person carries the anger, one carries the sadness and one holds the secrets
• A speech should never be boring. A speech never needs to be boring. There were some good speeches about the introduction of the GST
• Dreams have meaning. Listen to them, hear them, write and talk about them
• The Kurdish people have had a bad run
• There is always time for another person who needs us
• Dont pay tax on alcohol. Better to drink it all at the airport or the border, to avoid paying tax
• Money grows on trees. God will always provide
• Our home is yours, there is always room at the iIn
• Check for bed bugs and hot water at the Inn. If you are in Mexico, also check for cold.
• The Christmas Ghost is always welcome. We are all the Christmas Ghost at some point
• People are fundamentally good
• It is ok, it is good, to ask for help if you need it
• You will live through the dark night of the soul and you will get through the nine circles
• You are safe
• Laugh about it
• You have never disappointed me