December 2014
My grandmother was a very special woman to me. She lived to the grand
age of 95. She was my greatest cheerleader and someone who never ever
had a bad word to say about anyone. She was kind, thoughtful, never
asked a lot of and always enjoyed being with me and my family. I
regularly drove to her rest home and had her come and stay with us. She
loved it. I loved it.
She had a huge love of cats and I always found my fur babies sitting on
her lap soaking up her attention because she never stopped patting them!
Her favorite drink was a rum and coke at 5pm. Her favorite meal was
fresh crumbed fish, mashed or roasted potatoes and peas! She loved to
bake so I always made an extra effort when she stayed – although I have
never and probably will never ever master her melting moments recipe.
She loved me bathing her as I took the time to massage her body using
her favorite essential oils with a face washer, she particularly loved
me scrubbing her back. She always joked about how old and frail she was
getting, needing my help to shower and dress her. I never minded. I felt
it was a privilege as we shared many wonderful stories and moments in
the bathroom.
She loved our beloved Twenty8 and was actually a guinea pig for all the
original skincare products. She loved them all but was particularly fond
of the Face Lift Serum and Everyday Body Lotion. Her favorite oil was always Lavender and still to this day she is the one who has sold more Lavender (in her Kingaroy rest home) than anyone else.
My English born grandmother often spoke fondly of her husband who sadly
passed away from war injuries in 1969 when I was just one. She never
re-married or had another relationship. Clifford was the love of her
life. She loved her three grandchildren – my brother, my sister and I.
We often went to her place after school until our parents finished work
and I vividly remember us guessing what she would have baked us on the
days we visited.
One of her happiest moments she told me was the day I married the love
of my life. She was so proud of the fact her new grandson was a famous
NZ cricketer. She loved the game and would often ring to tell me how
well he had played.
She was a great grandmother to six children, sadly she never met the
youngest but she adored them all. She loved reading to them and
especially loved it when they were naughty or in trouble. She loved the
stories about them and it was thanks to her that I learned to appreciate
that if I could picture me laughing about what they had done in a few
years time then it was not so bad. She was right.
She never asked for a lot but always enjoyed being part of what was
going on. She loved it when I took her to family functions, to my book
launches or out for dinner. And she especially loved it when I took her
shopping.
My dear grandmother had good health most of her life considering she was
told by her doctor to start smoking when granddad died as a part of her
stress relief. She suffered a heart attack when she was 90 and we were
all called to come and say our goodbyes. She defied them all and not
only survived but immigrated from NZ to live in Queensland (she hated
the cold) at 91years of age. My grandmother was a quiet type – quietly
stubborn! She did not complain a lot either but was never impressed with
the shocking food the rest home served her or how grumpy some of the
staff were – hence why she sold so much lavender I am sure!
I always loved to remind Grandma that she would receive a letter from
the Queen when she made the magic 100th birthday. She would quietly nod
her head and say I don’t think so dear. And she was right. Grandma sadly
passed away at 95years just as we launched Twenty8. There is not a day I
do not miss her or hear her wise words in my ear. My only wish is that I
had asked her more about her life. Or recorded her stories or filmed
her more. I miss her.
We recently celebrated Twenty8’s fifth birthday. Grandma would have been
100. It was such a special day and one I will remember for a very long
time. We had a beautiful turn out with a huge group of amazing souls
filling our new premises, people who have supported me day in, day out.
And it is moments like this when writing my newsletter that I feel so
grateful to you all. My family, friends, customers and colleagues –
thank you. I am so grateful for all your support but none more so than
my beautiful grandmother Dorothy who never stopped encouraging me to
dream big.
And so this month I want to dedicate this newsletter to her and share
with you her delicious Christmas Cake recipe and a poem I wrote in honor
of her. As Christmas approaches there will be many beautiful families
celebrating their precious loved ones. But I also take a moment to
acknowledge how many families will be missing special souls who are now
no longer with us. My love and hugs to each and every one of you.
Kim x
What My Grandma Said To Me…
Kim Morrison October 2014 ©
As each new day begins my dear
I urge you to smile and give it your all
When it seems there’s only darkness my love
Be the beacon of light for all.
When it’s hard, unjust and so unfair
Make it okay to shed a tear
Know that when you surrender like this
It’s a sign how much you care.
Yes life can seem difficult
And challenges come what may
But I insist you step it up my love
And go for it anyway.
Some will say there is no chance
You may wonder how you’ll cope
Just know my angel the secret here
Is a life that’s filled with hope.
There will be days you feel exhausted
Wondering will it ever end
As long as it’s for the greater good
I say keep going – make ‘tired’ your friend.
You see the road is rough and winding
There’s no protection not even a buffer
Just show them you can dig deeper love
And that the tough in you can get tougher.
You see the greatest gift you can bestow
Is self-love and self-respect
If you can give this to yourself my dear
It will create a greater ripple effect.
Now my darling love may hurt you
To the point you’re numb, no sense above
But there is nothing like forgiveness my dear
A broken heart that still believes in love.
And remember when others are hurting
Yes – the pain is raw and sad and real
But your job is guided compassion sweetheart
And it’s their job to do the work and heal.
Some days you will feel alone and lost
Scared, confused and lacking brazen
Be brave my love it’s perfect for growth
Don’t ever be afraid of perturbation.
Throughout your life you will meet some souls
Some seem to hurt you for no reason
Just remember to let them go my love
And know they were there for just a season.
Some will judge you some will lie
And some will take advantage
I hope you know it is more a reflection
Of their own inner-critical ravage.
We think our job is to change another
It’s our way we think they should sample
But the lesson my darling to change another
Is YOU have to be the example.
From here on in I would suggest
That when you cross paths with another
Your greatest task in that moment
Is to reflect their beauty like no other.
Now go out there and give it your best
Know there is no one to compare
To shine your own light so brightly my love
Is your absolute duty-of-care.
My darling angel you have been given gifts
That are rare and truly ornate
You are the brightest star don’t ever stop
And remember you are the conduit for Twenty8!
Dorothy’s Delicious Gluten-Free Christmas Cake
750g premium mixed fruit (sultanas, raisins, currants)- 1 cup rapadura sugar
- ½ cup brandy or sherry
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup crushed pineapple (including the juice)
- 185g butter, chopped
- 3 organic free range eggs, beaten
- 1 ¼ cups buckwheat flour
- 1 cup almond meal
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate soda
- 1 Tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 4 drops orange oil
- Preheat oven to 130 ̊C – 140 ̊C
- Place mixed fruit, sugar, brandy, water, crushed pineapple and
butter in a saucepan. Bring to the boil, stirring all the time and
simmer over a medium heat for about 5minutes. Allow to cool. - Add the beaten eggs then fold in sifted buckwheat flour, almond meal, baking powder, soda, spices and orange oil.
- Place in a lined and greased 23cm tin. Decorate with slivered almonds.
- Bake for approximately 2hours or until cooked and tested with
skewer. Check after 1hour and again at 90mins. When cool sprinkle over
the top some straight brandy and allow to seep into the cake.! Serve
with fresh whipped coconut cream or cream and ENJOY!
Please note: I also use Natural Earth Health Products Blendz products
in place of the cinnamon and spices – oh my it is heaven! I also get my
beautiful Buckwheat flour, almond meal and aluminium free baking soda
from Sarah and her gorgeous team. You can check her out here –
www.naturalearthhealthproducts.com.au And I also use Changing Habits rapadura sugar and occasionally add 40g cacao wafers
in stage 2 to give it a wee chocolate twist! Because I am not a huge
fan of peel of course to me there is nothing better than the Twenty8 Orange Oil for that citrus twist! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! Hugs to Dorothy all round!!!! xx