A practically perfect International Women's Day!

Happy International Women's Day - a day for us girls to celebrate each other, everything we have accomplished, and everything we can achieve in an ever changing world. There are so many people I could name as inspirational - the suffragettes, Paloma Faith, Marie Curie, Michelle Obama, Marilyn Monroe, Coco Chanel to name a few  - or closer to home, my mum, grandma, best friend. But today I thought I would talk about a slightly different female role model who is precious to me.

Anyone who knows me, will also know that there is one women who inspires as much today as a thirty-something, as back when I was a child. She may not be a physical presence in my life but through P.L Travers original books, the film and on stage she has influenced me in so many way.  Her name is Mary Poppins.

For as long as I can remember she has had a place in my life to the extent I don't actually remember the first time I was introduced to the magical nanny. I have long held the claim that she secured me my first job in the theatre marketing world. If I hadn't been to the world premiere of the stage show just days before my interview, who knows whether I would have been so convincing in my love for theatre. My husband and I walked out of our wedding ceremony to Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (on the harp!), and I have a friend who actually refers to me as Martina Poppins! She's a bit of a force to be reckoned with in my life - and that might me a bit of a geek, but I'm a happy geek.

But it isn't these things alone that make me celebrate Mary Poppins on International Women's Day. It is the strong principles, morals and life lessons I have learnt (from knowing every word of the film!). Long before Madonna she was telling us to express yourself, because you've got a lot to say. She also showed that it is ok to make an entrance, laugh often, that we should think about those less fortunate than ourselves and work can be fun if you just look at it from another perspective. Every song and line has an interpretation and my favourite lesson of all is that although sometimes life offers a bitter pill - a spoonful of sugar can help the medicine go down! So be kind to each other.  The list goes on and on.

So there we go Mary Poppins, along with so many inspirational women, is my hero! She may be fictional, but she is a practically perfect example of how with a bit hard work, strong principles and focus but most of all love and support anything can be achieved.  As she would say "Anything can happen if you let it" - so ladies lets give it a go and see where is takes us.