As some may know I'm currently in Melbourne looking after my daughter's apartment and gorgeous kittie Miss Callie for 6 weeks. Despite living in Australia I'd never come to Melbourne for anything but a business meeting type thing, so have had the fun of discovering just why it is the amazing city it is. Exploring the city, discovering its hidden treasures thanks to friends who know it well, and enjoying soaking up the vibe. So my question to you is, what is your 'go to' place in a new city? A city you've never been in before, what do you do first? My answer below!

Many decades ago I was a part of a community that formed on the Visitor's Book (VB) of the Irish dance show Lord of the Dance (LOTD). And a regular post that started to appear daily was by a woman who became a close and dear friend, Babz. She called it the 'Daily Phil' - for her daily philosophy. It was either a motivational or thought-provoking, or sometimes humourous quote that we all began to look forward to each day. I want to introduce this here in the Village, and have a Category tag for just this! If you have one you'd like to post, please do - I suggest you use the same title above, but obviously with the date being the date of you posting it, haha! Here goes!

Hi, and welcome to Clearwater Village. I'm glad you've decided to pull up a chair and join us. This post is where you can comfortably post your first 'comment' to get you started! If you're ready, introduce yourself and share: - your name and city/country - if you know it, the story behind your name - and your beverage(s) of choice! Yes I believe you can have more than one, after all for me it depends on what time of day it is! And if you haven't already, go now to the Classroom where your Welcome Guide is ready for you. It's being revised regularly so if there's anything you're not clear on, or think would be great to add, let me know! We look forward to e-meeting you here!

I have been thinking about this lately, the word village, because it gets used so often but I think everyone carries a slightly different picture of what it actually means to them, and I would love to know what that picture looks like for you, because when we understand what each of us is hoping to find here, this space becomes something we build together rather than something that just exists around us. For me, a village is a safe space of like minded individuals who feel free to share their everyday lives, their thoughts, their struggles, their energies, and also the little things that bring them joy, the small wins and the quiet moments that do not always feel big enough to mention anywhere else but that matter so much when someone actually sees them and shares them with you. I think a village is the place where you do not have to perform or have it all figured out, where showing up honestly is enough, where the hard days get held with the same care as the good ones, and where the people around you feel less like an audience and more like family you found later in life. I am curious and want to hear from the other members here, when you hear the word village, what comes to mind? What do you want this space to feel like when you show up here? What do you need from the people around you, and what are you hoping to give in return?

I've been wondering what to call Saturday as there are so many options with alliteration. And now on this Saturday I just typed the above, so I'm going with it, and am giving it to you to build with. Unlimiting, and yes we want to share how your week has been. Has it been super special? Or super strained? Or simply tough. Or just step by step? It doesn't have to be something fantastic, or wonderful, just how has your week been for you? To get started mine's down below...