hello
i'm melanie
I’m a published author, entrepreneur, Positive Psychology practitioner, and self-confessed stationery
addict. My world is probably its own Wonderland, where I am Alice.
Let’s go down the rabbit hole into Wonderland to delve a little deeper into me. You’ll discover that my world is far from perfect -my mental health can sometimes make me feel like the Mad Hatter, there are days where I wish I was like the Cheshire Cat who can disappear, but come back with witty one – liners of wisdom, get on the wrong side of me and the Queen of Hearts puts in an appearance. Running my own business, I constantly feel like I’ve painted the roses and the paint is dripping off, revealing the truth underneath, and with everything I’ve got on the go, well, the White Rabbit’s panicked ‘I’m late’ is a common thing.
Yet, as the classic book says, ‘You’re mad, bonkers, but all the best people are’, I welcome you to my online scrapbook & diary of my everyday life.
All About Me
THE MH QUIZ
1. FAVOURITE MEAL
Steak, chips/fries and peppercorn sauce (when not on keto)
Steak, chips/fries and peppercorn sauce (when not on keto)
Sausages, tomato & cheese (also when not quite on keto)
All of the above
21. SEASONS (in order)
1. Autumn (Fall)
2. Winter
3. Spring
4. Summer
2. FAVOURITE WINE/ALCOHOLIC DRINK
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
Argentinian Malbec
Vodka & Coke Zero
Gin & Tonic
All of the above (not together)
22. TEA OR COFFEE?
Tea
Sometimes cappuccino
3. CURRENTLY WATCHING ON TV
Cold Case
23. MAC OR PC?
but recently with some updates who knows ….
4. FAVOURITE TV SHOWS (SOME CURRENT, SOME
OLD)
Criminal Minds, Law & Order SVU, (early seasons) Grey’s Anatomy, The Witcher, Virgin River, Vikings, Outlander (early seasons), Black Sails, Elementary, Monarch of The Glen (early seasons), Stranger Things
24. IPHONE OR ANDROID
iPhone
5. FAVOURITE TV SHORT SERIES
Anne of Green Gables
(the original one with Megan Fellowes)
25. FAVOURITE weather
Snow
6. FAVOURITE MOVIE:
Breakfast at Tiffanys
Last of the Mohicans
All of the above
26. LOCATION:
a. City
b. Coast
c. Countryside
7. FAVOURITE BOOKS
Alice in Wonderland, Room with a View, Pride & Prejudice,
Far from the Madding Crowd, Everdene
27. FAVOURITE PLACE TO SIT
In an armchair by an open fire
8. BATTLE OF THE PERIOD DRAMAS ADAPTATIONS (TV or Film) – and in order of the ones I liked:
2. Jane Eyre – the BBC series with Toby Stephens and Ruth Wilson, but closely followed by the 2011 film with Michael Fassbender as Rochester
3. Pride & Prejudice – the BBC series with Colin Firth & Jennifer Ehle
4. Emma – the BBC series with Jonny Lee Miller and Romola Garai
5. Persuasion – the BBC series, but very closely followed by the 1995 film version with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds
6. Sense & Sensibility – the BBC series
7. Far from the Madding Crowd – the 2015 film version
8. Lady Chatterley’s Lover – the 2022 Netflix film version
28. FAVOURITE WALK
Anywhere along a near – deserted beach with my feet in the water
9. FAVOURITE FLOWER:
Rose
29. FAVOURITE TRAVEL DESTINATION
This one stumps me as can’t think of an obvious stand – up main place
10. FAVOURITE SHOE DESIGNER (in order):
2. Jimmy Choo
3. Christian Louboutin
30. FAVOURITE CAR
Peugeot 3008 GT Premium (mine)
11. CLOTHING BRANDS:
Barbour, Fat Face, Joules, Cath Kidston, Laura Ashley, Joe Browns,
Hunter
31. MOST MEMORABLE GIFT
Packet of chocolate
A packet of chocolates the giver picked up randomly in a convenience store because the brand name reminded them of a nickname for me
12. MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND WEARING:
My Barbour jacket, short or tall Hunter wellies and a floral long dress
32. FAVOURITE HOBBY
Lego collecting and building
13. FAVOURITE HANDBAG:
Islander – Harris Tweed backpacks, hand bags etc
33. OBSESSION
Pens and stationery
14. FAVOURITE PIECE OF MUSIC:
Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis
by Ralph Vaughan Williams
33. SKINCARE
Currently Tatcha and Sisley Black Rose. Also love Jurlique.
15. FAVOURITE PIECE OF MUSIC:
Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis
by Ralph Vaughan Williams
35. MAKEUP
Way too many to list
16. FAVOURITE SOUNDTRACK(S):
Gladiator & Last of the Mohicans
36. FITNESS ACTIVITY:
Ballet – Ballet Beautiful
17. FAVOURITE PIECE OF MUSIC TO GET ME DANCING/HAPPY
Strawberry Swing by Coldplay
37. BEAUTY TREATMENT
Monthly manicure & pedicure
18. YOUTUBERS I MOST
WATCH:
Life – Jonna Jinton, Darling Desi, Cecilia Blomdahl, The Cottage Fairy
Home – How to Renovate a Chateau
Tech – Sara Dietschy
Journalling/Crafts – Torryn Marie, Jennifer McGuirre ink, Dainty Diaries
Other – Christine McConnel l (who rarely posts these days sadly)
Running a Youtube channel – Sunny Lenarduzzi
38. HAIR
Never go anywhere except Jo Hansford
19. INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS I LOVE:
Stationery brands – Archer & Olive, London Gifties, Notebook Therapy, The Washi Tape Shop, Note & Wish, Leena Journals, Inkpot Journals, MisoPaper
Horoscopes & Spiritual stuff – SacredSpaceEmily, Francesca Oddie, Manifestation Babe
Business & Entrepreneur – Amy Porterfield, James Wedmore, Manifestation Babe, BossBabe,
39. FAVOURITE SPECTATOR SPORT
Rugby Union
20. TIME OF DAY:
a. Sunrise/Dawn
b. Midday
c. Sunset
d. Night
40. FAVOURITE car
Peugeot 3008 GT Premium (mine)
All About Me
THE MH QUIZ
1. FAVOURITE MEAL
Steak, chips/fries and peppercorn sauce (when not on keto)
Steak, chips/fries and peppercorn sauce (when not on keto)
Sausages, tomato & cheese (also when not quite on keto)
All of the above
2. FAVOURITE WINE/ALCOHOLIC DRINK
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
Argentinian Malbec
Vodka & Coke Zero
Gin & Tonic
All of the above (not together)
3. CURRENTLY WATCHING ON TV
Cold Case
4. FAVOURITE TV SHOWS (SOME CURRENT, SOME
OLD)
Criminal Minds, Law & Order SVU, (early seasons) Grey’s Anatomy, The Witcher, Virgin River, Vikings, Outlander (early seasons), Black Sails, Elementary, Monarch of The Glen (early seasons), Stranger Things
5. FAVOURITE TV SHORT SERIES
Anne of Green Gables
(the original one with Megan Fellowes)
6. FAVOURITE MOVIE:
Breakfast at Tiffanys
Last of the Mohicans
All of the above
7. FAVOURITE BOOKS
Alice in Wonderland, Room with a View, Pride & Prejudice,
Far from the Madding Crowd, Everdene
8. BATTLE OF THE PERIOD DRAMAS ADAPTATIONS (TV or Film) – and in order of the ones I liked:
2. Jane Eyre – the BBC series with Toby Stephens and Ruth Wilson, but closely followed by the 2011 film with Michael Fassbender as Rochester
3. Pride & Prejudice – the BBC series with Colin Firth & Jennifer Ehle
4. Emma – the BBC series with Jonny Lee Miller and Romola Garai
5. Persuasion – the BBC series, but very closely followed by the 1995 film version with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds
6. Sense & Sensibility – the BBC series
7. Far from the Madding Crowd – the 2015 film version
8. Lady Chatterley’s Lover – the 2022 Netflix film version
9. FAVOURITE FLOWER:
Rose
10. FAVOURITE SHOE DESIGNER (in order):
2. Jimmy Choo
3. Christian Louboutin
11. CLOTHING BRANDS:
Barbour, Fat Face, Joules, Cath Kidston, Laura Ashley, Joe Browns,
Hunter
12. MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND WEARING:
My Barbour jacket, short or tall Hunter wellies and a floral long dress
13. FAVOURITE HANDBAG:
Islander – Harris Tweed backpacks, hand bags etc
14. FAVOURITE PIECE OF MUSIC:
Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis
by Ralph Vaughan Williams
15. FAVOURITE SOUNDTRACK(S):
Gladiator & Last of the Mohicans
16. FAVOURITE PIECE OF MUSIC TO GET ME DANCING/HAPPY
Strawberry Swing by Coldplay
17. YOUTUBERS I MOST
WATCH:
Life – Jonna Jinton, Darling Desi, Cecilia Blomdahl, The Cottage Fairy
Home – How to Renovate a Chateau
Tech – Sara Dietschy
Journalling/Crafts – Torryn Marie, Jennifer McGuirre ink, Dainty Diaries
Other – Christine McConnel l (who rarely posts these days sadly)
Running a Youtube channel – Sunny Lenarduzzi
18. INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS I LOVE:
Stationery brands – Archer & Olive, London Gifties, Notebook Therapy, The Washi Tape Shop, Note & Wish, Leena Journals, Inkpot Journals, MisoPaper
Horoscopes & Spiritual stuff – SacredSpaceEmily, Francesca Oddie, Manifestation Babe
Business & Entrepreneur – Amy Porterfield, James Wedmore, Manifestation Babe, BossBabe,
19. TIME OF DAY:
a. Sunrise/Dawn
b. Midday
c. Sunset
d. Night
20. SEASONS (in order)
1. Autumn (Fall)
2. Winter
3. Spring
4. Summer
21. TEA OR COFFEE?
Tea
Sometimes cappuccino
22. MAC OR PC?
but recently with some updates who knows ….
23. IPHONE OR ANDROID
iPhone
24. FAVOURITE weather
Snow
25. LOCATION:
a. City
b. Coast
c. Countryside
26. FAVOURITE PLACE TO SIT
In an armchair by an open fire
27. FAVOURITE WALK
Anywhere along a near – deserted beach with my feet in the water
28. FAVOURITE TRAVEL DESTINATION
This one stumps me as can’t think of an obvious stand – up main place
29. MOST MEMORABLE GIFT
Packet of chocolate
A packet of chocolates the giver picked up randomly in a convenience store because the brand name reminded them of a nickname for me
30. FAVOURITE HOBBY
Lego collecting and building
31. OBSESSION
Pens and stationery
32. SKINCARE
Currently Tatcha and Sisley Black Rose. Also love Jurlique.
33. MAKEUP
Way too many to list
34. FITNESS ACTIVITY:
Ballet – Ballet Beautiful
35. BEAUTY TREATMENT
Monthly manicure & pedicure
36. HAIR
Never go anywhere except Jo Hansford
37. FAVOURITE SPECTATOR SPORT
Rugby Union
38. FAVOURITE COLOUR
Burgundy
39. FAVOURITE car
Peugeot 3008 GT Premium (mine)
1977
-
2023
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1977
Win my first award for fundraising through Australian Red Cross
ipsum
dolor
1982
My ‘proper’ learning begins at school
ipsum
dolor
1986
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
ipsum
dolor
1990
Secondary school (with a scholarship)
1996
Graduate with Diploma in Business (Tourism Management) and a move to England
ipsum
dolor
2001
And back to England… & graduate from Postgrad in Marketing
2005
Scholarship to Henley Business School to study my MBA
2009
Time back in Australia
2010
And once again back to England – this time to Devon
2012
Return to England again & start my first company consulting
October
2015
My world is turned upside down – my Mum is killed
October
2016
Trek to Everest Base Camp
March
2017
The person who killed Mum
pleads ‘not guilty’
July
2018
Sentencing of the person who
killed Mum
August
2022
May
1977
in South Australia
(fun fact – there is an episode of The X-Files where Mulder & Scully are walking in a hospital past a sign that says Burnside Memorial Hospital
ipsum
dolor
Early days
My love of gardening comes from farming great-grandparents
1982-1990
The ballet years
ipsum
dolor
1988
First travels abroad to Timor, Indonesia (& again in 1989)
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dolor
1995
First travels abroad to Timor, Indonesia (& again in 1989)
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dolor
2000
A stint back in Australia
2004
Complete Diploma & Qualify as a Life Coach
2006
Manifested my first ‘big’ dream – when I was about 10 years old (so late 80s) , I’d done a school project on my future career. Mine was a business plan on running a Scottish castle tourism business. My teacher’s comment – ‘her head is in the clouds and not very realistic’. I’d cut out pictures from a travel magazine to illustrate it. Fast forward to 2006 and I am appointed Marketing & Tourism Development Manager for that very castle & estate.
ipsum
dolor
2011
A trip to New Zealand for my first Rugby World Cup (& then time back in Australia)
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dolor
February
2015
My first novel, Everdene is published, and goes on to be featured in ‘The Bookseller’ in March
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dolor
April
2016
Start my 62 in 62 Life is Short Challenge
January
2017
Start my 62 in 62 Life is Short Challenge
March
2018
Trial in Australia is cancelled at last minute when person changes plea to guilty
April
2022
Founded Inspoverse LLC
ipsum
dolor
Feb
2023
Present
“Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec”
(fun fact – there is an episode of The X-Files where Mulder & Scully are walking in a hospital past a sign that says Burnside Memorial Hospital)
Win my first award for fundraising through Australian Red Cross
when I was about 10 years old (so late 80s) , I’d done a school project on my future career. Mine was a business plan on running a Scottish castle tourism business. My teacher’s comment – ‘her head is in the clouds and not very realistic’. I’d cut out pictures from a travel magazine to illustrate it. Fast forward to 2006 and I am appointed Marketing & Tourism Development Manager for that very castle & estate.
– this time to Devon
– my Mum is killed
WILL I BELT JULIE ANDREWS? MAYBE.
My Favorite
things
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
WILL I BELT JULIE ANDREWS? MAYBE.
My Favorite
things
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
dive a little deeper
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Everdene
Nicknamed the ‘Icy Bitch’, Catherine Everdene is an independent career woman who wins over boardrooms using her flirtatious sparkle. Used to being in control, that all changes when she encounters Dillon Oak in the London office. Her seduction of his mind goes astray when he begins to penetrate the cracks in her closely-guarded heart, and she escapes to New York, where her complicated love life really starts to get messy.
