Accepting the inevitable...

To cheat or not to cheat... THAT is the question...

It's over a week now since I have posted - and this from someone who was going to blog on a daily basis this year. It's my first major slip up... and though I could list many things that got in the way, I'm not much of a fan of excuses, admission of guilt is somehow easier. And inevitable.

Having said that, I am going to share with you what I have been up to and give you a quick round-up, of my life since last week...

I have been busy with school. I have had regular Tuesday night classes for the last 4 weeks which have been fantastic. Some of it confronting, a lot of it challenging, and all of it confirmation that this is right. I may not know the destination at this point, but I do know that I am on the right path.

I had last Friday and Monday off and spent nearly the entirety on art and study. It was a really good chance to re-visit some of the theories and practices we have covered so far, and a chance to ponder and reflect. I also managed to finish one of the major parts of the first module which I was happy with, though I have yet to complete a 2000 and a 1000 word essay in the next few weeks. No time to take a break.

Last Friday night I had a friend come and stay and it was lovely to see her. She came straight from work and we went out for dinner, did the final artwork for her upcoming wedding, went out to brekkie the next morning, and spent time hanging out in the city for a few hours, just browsing the shops and sitting by the river with a drink. All the while chatting without break. About all the important things, work, family, weddings, love, loss and grief, clothes and internet dating... Pretty much everything! So so nice to catch up.

I have seen 3 movies, all of which I would recommend - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, My Week with Marilyn and The Artist.

Wow - what a line up. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was a delight to watch - full of colour and spirit, and a great cast to boot. An extraordinary adventure into the exotic.

My week with Marilyn was a moody and beautifully shot insight into another era and beautiful to watch. Both Michelle Williams and Eddie Redmayne were fantastic.

The Artist was an unexpected surprise. Despite it's awards, it was not top of my viewing list, but due to an expiring ticket, I took the chance. Wow. It was really really good. I Loved it. Totally connected with the characters and was captured from beginning to end.

I have been on bookdepository.com and ordered a few books which will add to my pile of reading, as I have realised very early that my reading will have to increase if I am to even survive, let alone thrive, in this course. The TV is not getting much of a showing, apart from maybe a couple of faves, but none of this gazing blankly at the screen when the viewing is of no real interest.

Last Sunday I was invited to a family dinner to farewell my cousin's daughter who is off to India for 3 months of volunteer work. Such exciting times. And so nice to be a part of it and hang out with the young people of my family. They are such great company and full of energy and character.

Work has been ok. Quiet on a few days which has allowed me to catch up on some additional reading and internet surfing/googling. And this morning, my blog. If it lasts for a few hours I may even add in some posts for the last few days.... just to fill a few of the gaps.

I'm feeling good today. It's a Friday, the sky is a bright autumnal blue and I am looking forward to a busy weekend.

Enjoy!

On the boardwalk...

Like Crazy...

Yesterday I went and saw this movie, and whilst I would probably agree with my friend who thought it was a bit slow, I still really liked it.

It was about a couple who meet while she is in the USA on a student visa and (of course) fall in love. The match, seemingly made in heaven, is made more complicated when she overstays her visa.

It's an insight into long distance relationships, lives complicated by distance and bureaucracy, and for me was pretty on the button.

It was a long time ago that I was in the early stages of a similar relationship (though not quite so restricted by the authorities), and I recognised a lot of the situations and connected with a lot of the emotions and frustrations.

It's worth a look. Don't expect a tearjerker or a chick flick romance, and it's not essential cinema big screen viewing, but take a look sometime.

I'm not selling it so well here, but I liked it, and I think it's worth a look.

The new iPad...

It was eventually going to happen... my heart would rule my head and my purse-strings and I was going to weaken.

So I decided not to fight it, and just go with the flow, and join the millions who are all sitting cosily together on the rather crowded apple iPad bandwagon.

Yes, yesterday I picked up my new iPad. I had to go and collect it from the courier as I missed the delivery while I was at work on Friday, and I was not alone. When I arrived at 8:20am, just 20 minutes after the depot opened, there was already a queue. Thankfully it wasn't too too long to wait, and thankfully they found it easily and I was on my way.

Some were not so lucky... being told their delivery could not be located and they would be contacted when the item was found. Most likely on Monday. Yikes. I would not have been happy about that.

And, as if I needed confirmation that I was not alone in my eagerness to purchase the latest apple 'it' thing... apparently the couriers delivered over 4,500 devices on the release day.

WOW! Four thousand five hundred - just in Melbourne. Incredible!

Happy St. Patrick's Day...

May the luck of the Irish be with you in 2012. To be sure, to be sure...

The Jeans Test...

Many years ago, when I was a teenager, when fashion was a daily concern and what you wore was paramount to how cool you were at school, tight jeans were all the rage. 

I expect they are today also (judging by what you see in the streets) and have been many times between, with a few seasons of bootleg and stretch thrown in. Comfort now rules for me, and whilst snug is fine, tight without any stretch just isn't even going to make it into the change room.

In any case, back to my teenage years...

What my peers thought was cool and what my mother deemed as acceptable, sensible, reasonable and value for money, was generally poles apart, and so my mother (in the name of peace) came up with a test that I agreed to follow...

Tight jeans could be bought, if, and only if, once they were on with the zip fastened, I was able to sit easily on the floor of the dressing room and get myself back up without assistance. Level of comfort was whatever I could hide from my mother, which meant my face changing to different shades of red was also a likely deal breaker.

In any case, the jeans test worked well and many a denim jeans equivalent of the straight jacket was returned to the racks in the name of healthy blood flow to my legs. And although I was never part of the cool group (truth be told for reasons that stretched well beyond my fashion sense) I had a great group of friends that didn't care too much about what I wore nor me about them and we all survived despite it all... 

And so, with this rule in mind, I am blaming my night of broken sleep on a slip up in the 'test' this morning. After a long weekend away followed by a busy week of nights out after work, I have a pile of waiting washing and an ever decreasing limited stack of options. This morning as I sorted my way down past shorts, 3/4 pants and a denim skirt, I came to a pair of jeans that I had forgotten I even owned! 

Now, THAT should have been warning enough, right?

In any case, after my shower I pulled them on and was delighted to find they fit (rather snugly perhaps but not so tight that I needed a coat hanger to pull up the zip!) So, across the next 15 minutes as the clock ticked and I started running late, I congratulated myself on my find and it was not until I got to my car that I realised my oversight.

In my eagerness to get out the door, I had neglected the jeans test. 

And let me tell you, had I applied the rule, I would not be sitting at my desk right now, with a day of work ahead of me, feeling rather uncomfortable, wondering if anyone will notice if I undo the button, if I do if the zip will stay up!

Oh, if only I had remembered to take the jeans test this morning!

Summer 2011 flashback...

Against the grain...

Hudson - Against The Grain from Dropbear on Vimeo.

Melbourne on a balmy autumn evening...

I'm loving being classified as a full time student... Concession public transport is awesome.

And at 22 degrees at 10pm, it was a fine night to take in the view as I waited for the tram home.

I love Melbourne.

After a long weekend roadtrip...

I wish I could curl up here...

Hamilton wishes...

Yesterday when I posted I was in Hamilton, blogging friend Cam (aka Curly Pops) commented that this was the area where she grew up. She made a few local recommendations, and today I found the wishing well in the Botanic Gardens.

The plaque read '1 wish to remember former Hamiltonians'.

It seemed the natural thing then, to make my wish for Cam.
So Ms Curly Pops, this one's for you.
May 2012 be your year.
I have everything crossed for you. X

Long weekend road trip...

So my Mum and I are making the most of this long weekend and taking a bit of road trip. Destination Hamilton, Victoria. 3.5 hours from home.

When people asked me this week why we were going to Hamilton, I said I wasn't sure. And now I'm here, my answer is unchanged.

Hamilton is... ummm... quiet.

All shops close Saturday 12:30. We arrived at 1:30. Seems most of the people (excepting a few stray window shopping tourists) had disappeared.

After a quick stop at our motel, we visited the local gallery (which i found a bit disappointing), then we took a drive to 2 waterless waterfalls and did a quick drive-by of the 'big wool bales'. We might leave a visit there for tomorrow... Don't want to see all the highlights on day one!

Having said all that, it's not all about shopping and entertainment. And despite my complaints, the sun has been shining and the air is clear. The terrain is open country with lots of sheep gathered under huge gum trees and the skies are blue and big. We are having a good time.

Thinking outside the square...

Aurora Australis may be visible tonight...

Yes, it's true. For people in the southern states of Australia, this may be the perfect night to see Aurora Australis. Conditions are right apparently, after solar flares earlier this week.

This is incredibly exciting to me and I would love to see it (have been wanting to see them for many years), but living in the city, chances are I will not see them tonight. BUT it is possible they will appear tomorrow or maybe Saturday night too, and given I will be down the coast and with a clear view South... there is time. There is hope.

But in the meantime, as you think about heading to your bed tonight, or as you wake in the early hours of the morning, please please please get out there and take a look to the Southern skies. And by the way, I believe (though I could be wrong) this also means the chances of seeing Aurora Borealis are also increased. So those of you who live in the Northern parts of the Northern hemisphere, eyes up too...

If you see them, be still and soak up the moment, because this is a rare occurrence... Capture it if you can... and make sure you come and let me know.

If you want more information, you can go here to spaceweather.com.

The above photo is of Aurora Australis over the city of Hobart, found here on the internet. Amazing isn't it?

Age doesn't guarantee wisdom...

Hurting the harmless...

Our next door neighbour has (allegedly) been leaving poison out for the possums. There was a little ringtail possum lying dead on the paving in our courtyard this morning. The sweetest little thing... The second one poisoned in less than a week.

This is the same man who allows stray cats to breed and reproduce in his backyard and then leaves them to fend for themselves... The kittens that grow onto stray cats that spray at my front door and attack native birds and animals.

Love thy neighbour?
Not a chance.

Queen Mary 2...

Big news in Melbourne today was the arrival and departure of the cruise liner Queen Mary 2. Twice the size of the MCG, this boat is big - real big!

It left Melbourne at 6pm tonight and has just gone through the heads, past Point Lonsdale. I'm guessing my Mum and Dad were there and no doubt joined by a huge number of the curious onlookers as they gathered to get a glimpse of the biggest ship ever to sail into (and out of) Port Phillip Bay.

This was the view from the Port of Melbourne Webcam from Point Lonsdale Lighthouse as it went through the heads. Makes me wish I had driven down there tonight to see it close up.

As I said, that's one big boat, and that's one huuuuge electricity bill...

Sunday snippets...

Whoa.
What a weekend.
Seems like I caught up on a lot of sleep.
Two early nights.
Two lie ins.
AND two Nana naps.

But in amongst it all, in all that time of rest, I have also managed to do some sewing and catching up with friends (Thanks Lyn for your wonderful patience and guidance in pulling together Nikki's purse pattern - I reckon I bought the kit at least 18 months ago) and also great (as always) to catch up with H too.

Such a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon on a lazy weekend.
And how cute is this purse?

Hugo, I love you...

I finally went and saw the movie Hugo today. And thank goodness I got to see it at the cinema, because THIS is one of those movies that you really SHOULD see on the big screen.

And whilst I'm not a huge fan of 3D movies (they often seem to be 3D for no real reason, going for a wow factor that is perhaps absent in the actual film), Martin Scorsese has created magic that is truly enhanced by the 3D effect. It is beautiful.

If you have seen it, I hope you enjoyed it too.
If you have not seen it yet, try and get to it at the cinema while you can.
Lose yourself for a couple of hours.

Creative reading...

Autumn...

In honour of the first day of Autumn in Australia, here is a pic of my Rob Ryan autumn plate... one of a set of four that I gifted to myself at Christmas. Collecting plates is not really my thing, but this little bit of art was impossible to resist.