Hi my name is Elizabeth and I'm the author of these pages. I come from a large family, I'm one of 11 children, I'm the third youngest. Two of my brothers are deceased, and so are my parents. My dad died quite recently, in September 2000. My home life wasn't that crash hot, especially in my childhood with physical abuse and sexual abuse.  Not that this "about me" page is going to be all about that side of my life.  Read the Abuse pages for insight into my feelings about all that. I can happily say that before my father died, we healed the rift that started in my childhood from the physical abuse, and although he was a strict discplinarian when I was young, he lightened up alot in my older years and grew to be a man I easily loved, adored and respected. I grew up in a rough neigbourhood so became street wise from a very young age. When I was in school, I used to get picked on and then I became the bully, hanging with the wrong crowd. My parents panicked, took me out of school and sent me to business college. And I hated it! I gave the teachers hell and was very rebellious! I was 15, what could you expect for my age? Eventually I settled, and after I finished the course, got my first job in an office. But I wasn't really that happy with it. From there I tried a range of jobs and courses to help decide where I really wanted to go professionally. I've been in the beauty industry, sales, office work, counselling and customer service.  I have a passion for counselling on a voluntary basis.  But maybe one day I might take that up professionally, unless of course, I get "discovered" and commissioned to write poetry books, any publishers out there.  I enjoy a variety of hobbies, interests and past times. I will list them, under headings, so if you're interested in it too, you can read my views on it, or if not, just skip that paragraph. ~ Counselling ~ Eversince I was young people came to me for advice. My nickname used to be "Dear Abby, I have a problem....." I started to look at counselling more seriously, as a profession, in the late 80's and did a private course on it. Unfortunately, the government didn't recognise the course I did, so therefore I could not get work as a fully qualified and paid counsellor after I graduated. So I volunteered in a number of counselling services, mainly street counselling of the homeless youth. Years passed, friends still sought me out to help them with their problems and once again I was drawn back into the profession. I did a second private counselling course. This second course was much better than the first one I did years previous. Unfortunately, conflict in the "powers that be" caused the school to close down, five minutes away from my graduation! So I'm now hunting for another counselling course, to finally become qualified and reach out to those I believe I'm called to help. My life experiences, ie: childhood abuse and grief of losing my parents, amongst other life experiences, enables me to give so much more to another soul, in helping them overcome their own personal hells, than what I could learn in a text book. ~ Psychology ~ I love psychology, to understand why one behaves the way they do. Why people react or respond to particular stimuli. How you can change your future and not let the past dictate your present and on-going life experiences and scenarios. I study this subject, I read books on it, and I never tire of the on-going learning process. ~ Self Development ~ Because I've had such a tumultuous life, I don't want what happened to me to be a reason to continue in "victim" mode and not be an overcomer. By the same token, I don't want my past abuse to be my identity. I don't just want to exist, I want to live and love life to the full! I also want to help others to get there too. So if I get there first, I can show the way. The way to improve myself, help out my next generation and break the chains of bad habits and behaviour. To do this I must understand myself, why I am the way I am, change the way I think and feel to reach a better me. ~ Journal Writing ~ As a writer I enjoy puttting my thoughts into a journal, sometimes my journal is quite poetic, well I am a poet, so it comes naturally to me. Where some poetry can be more abstract in description of what's going on in my life, my journal is more specific. This is where I find the real me, discover and grow. It's great! Especially at 2 in the morning, when there's no one to talk to and I can write to my heart's content! ~ Reading ~ I like reading anything from psychological thrillers to self development and psychology. I also enjoy the odd women's magazine and life style publications, especially with fun quizzes and surveys on personality types and relationships. ~ God ~ I've seen too many miracles not to believe in a God or a higher being. I don't belong to any traditional religion, at the moment I'm with a Church of Christ fellowship. My faith gives me hope for the future and an understanding of the past. I've had a turbulent spiritual life, see my poems "Dance With The Devil" in the Reflection and Inspiration pages and "Damnation" in Dark Poetry, for more insight into my spiritual life. I believe in spiritual and inner healing. I'm into holistic care, aromatherapy and such. I like to meditate and listen to ambient music to relax and unwind. I see God in the quiet moments and feel His presence during times of reflection and growth. The poems in my religious pages also show how God has blessed my poetic gift in writing for  and about Him. ~ Relationships ~ I'm into relationships in a big way! They're the most precious and priceless of all possessions on this world. My relationship with God, my husband Andrew, my large family and wonderful friends, is very important to me. I am rich in love with the people who share my life in a special way, and I'm really grateful for all of them. I like nothing more than dining with friends, going out for drinks, seeing movies with them, partying on and organising the odd girls night from time to time. ~ The Telephone ~ There's no better way to communicate than through the telephone and I love it! Chatting to friends and family. I can talk for hours, laughing and loving life through the many conversations I enjoy with those who are close. Of course, there is also chat lines, and buddy lists where you can talk to your friends on line. It's fabulous! I spend alot of time on the telephone and Internet, sending emails and such, communication is a beautiful way to spend the morning, afternoon, evening 24/7! ~ Health ~ I'm into health, exercising at the gym, eating healthily and looking and feeling good. As a society we spend too much time in doors, on the computer, with longer working weeks, and not enough time playing sport and treating our bodies well. So, I make a point of exercising regularly and I see a personal trainer who's helping me to loose weight and become fit and healthy. If only the chocolate would stop calling me at midnight! ~ Music ~ I love all types of music from retro to heavy metal and alternative. My favourite bands and artists, in no particular order, are: Limp Bizkit, Pseudo Echo, AC/DC, Metallica, Kids in the Kitchen, Madonna, Dead or Alive, Kylie Minogue, Type O Negative, Offspring, Doors, Skid Row, Guns n Roses, Moonspell, Barren Cross, Abba, Wham, George Michael, Tori Amos, Bon Jovi, Culture Club, Alice Cooper, Sinead O'Connor, Duran Duran, Cyclone Tracy, Pegazus, Lenny Kravitz, Kiss, Marilyn Manson, Inxs, Fear Factory, Motley Crue, U2, Aerosmith, The Cult, Dream Theater, Faith No More, Extreme, Queen, Poison, Belinda Carlisle, Destiny's Child, Simple Minds, Prince...80's music and some top 40. ~ Movies ~ I love nothing more than snuggling up with my hubby and watching a good movie together. Some of my favourite movies, in no particular order, are: Air Force One, Regarding Henry, Benny and Joon, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Patch Adams, The World According To Garp, The American President, American Pie 1 and 2, American Beauty, The Vanishing, The Lost Boys, Interview With A Vampire, Dating The Enemy, Con Air, Parenthood, Grease, Rocky Horror, Steel Magnolias, When Harry Met Sally, Scream One, Fear, Mad Love, Girl Interrupted, Titanic, Face Off, Bar Fly, Harold and Maude, The Wedding Singer, How To Make An American Quilt, As Good As It Gets, Reality Bites, Leaving Las Vegas, House Sitter, Jerry Macguire, Sid And Nancy, Natural Born Killers, Cruel Intentions, Blow, The Crow, Demon Knight, Detroit Rock City, Devil's Advocate, Disturbing Behaviour, From Dusk Till Dawn, Fallen, Family Man, Final Destination, Pearl Harbor, Practical Magic, Road Trip, The Shawshank Redemption, Shrek, The Sixth Sense, The Gift, The Southpark Movie: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, The Stand, Stigmata, Swordfish, Very Bad Things, Wayne's World 1 and 2, What Lies Beneath and What Dreams May Come.   ~ TV Shows ~ When I've been to the gym, computerised myself out, done enough reading, I like to sit and vegg in front of the telly. I don't get to watch my favourite shows each and every week, and I rarely record missed episodes, but when I do get the time, the programs I enjoy, in no particular order, are: Beverly Hills 90210, Big Brother, The Simpsons, Just Shoot Me, Friends, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, X-Files, The Others, Mysterious Ways, Southpark, Charmed, Rove, The Panel, Law and Order (Special Victims Unit), Looney Tunes Cartoons (Tweety's my favourite!), Sex And The City, The Oprah Winfrey Show (especially when she has Dr Phil on Tuesdays) Jag, Rage, Video Hits, Everybody Loves Raymond and Will and Grace. Other than my other interests, I'm also a bit of a hoarder, I especially enjoy collecting: quotes, key rings, fridge magnets, cards and photos, some of which I'm sharing with you.   I also enjoy playing golf with my husband and our friends, amongst the other activities and such, listed above.  And before I go, if I could take a minute to thank three people, my friend Andreas who scanned the photos I'm sharing with you.   My tireless web builder and dear friend, Chrissy, who without her help, guidance, graphics and motivation, this page wouldn't exist. Thank-you girlfriend  And of course, my dear hubby Andrew, for inspiring me, thanks sweetheart, love you too  This is me with the Love of my Life, my husband Andrew Me with my friend and webuilder, Chrissy Me with my friend Andreas who scanned these photos for me. As I have many photos to share with you, I have created a separate page for my "Photo Album". Please enjoy them.