First of the Month Fiction - July

I'm shutting the blog a little early so I can focus on all my tax responsibilities before the school holidays hit us. Have a great break and enjoy. (and may you all get refunds).

For newbies, write a story in 100 words exactly or one less than 30, add it to the comments and then link your blog. Mine's 100 but I've cheated with the title.

The Museum of Broken Relationships.

He knew before Valarie moved in, he'd have to get rid of it. The memories stored in his bathroom vanity. Small bottles of perfume, a hair elastic, a worn pink toothbrush. He didn't know why he'd kept them so long. Most days he didn't notice it. Occasionally an item would catch his eye and he'd finger it forlornly. The tangibility of lost romance quietened his unease. Not pain nor longing. The guilt of looking back on an old relationship a little too often for someone in love?

He picked up the perfume, inhaling deeply. He could treasure it for another week.


There actually is a Museum of Broken Relationships (there's actually THREE!) and I love that they have gift shops. I've been quite obsessed with this idea since I read about it. Anyone heading to Croatia, check it out!

An InLinkz Link-up

Travel safe and enjoy the break! See you in July.

Faith

We lost the ipad on the way to Europe - I thought my youngest left it on the plane. We emailed Singapore Airlines in hopes of picking it up on our return flight. We emailed again when we got back to Australia, in case it had turned up since in lost property. No luck. I rang our insurer and ask if they cover it, as it was our carelessness not theft. They said they did. I found all the many documents, going back years for receipts. Once submitted, I was told they didn't cover it because we left it in a public place. Thanks for nothing, Covermore. You should have said that over the phone and not wasted my time.

Fast forward two and a half months after we lost it, and I receive an email from Denis in Amsterdam. He's found it, and asks if we can we describe it so he knows it's ours. He found it in the airport. I suspect in the seats at the baggage carousel. I offer to pay for the postage. He is going to send it and sends me his bank details. I can pay him after it's been sent if I want.

I am going to pay him in advance. My partner asked how do I know if he's really found it, or really going to send it? I figure it's too much of a hassle to be some nefarious ruse, all this emailing. More importantly, I don't want to believe there are people who would do that. I want to believe that the majority of the world is full of good people who do the right thing. I know this may be naive, but I want to think that's the truth, and so I shall.

In a weird addition to the list, I'm adding 'Trust a stranger' to the Torschlusspanik list. Partly because it makes me feel good to believe in the good in people, partly because if I found somebody's ipad, I'd do the same thing.

"Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Now, is there a cheap way to transfer Euros into a bank account?
Do you think I'll see the ipad again?
Should I wait to send the money? (I'm not going to, I'm just curious)

Torshlusspanik List:

1. Shooting (check)
2. Fencing (check)
3. Play croquet at Croquet Club
4. Laser skeet
5. Off road buggy driving
6. Play Assassins Creed
7. Jetpacking (check)
8. The Color Run (check)
9. Invent something
10. Cooking Masterclass (check)
11. Master a Masterclass (check)
12. Perform a rap song (check)
13. Trampoline adventure (check)
14. BMX Riding (check)
15. Do a cart wheel (check)
16. Ride an Electric Bike (check)
17. Astonish Myself
18. Write a book.
19. Participate in a distance event (check)
20. Climb Sydney Tower (check)
21. Dance in a dance class (check)
22. Trust a stranger

Linking with the #UltimateRabbitHole

Scent of a Woman

I'm reading Roxanne Gay's Untamed State (it's very harsh and I'm not sure I'd recommend it - not because it's bad, I just find it disturbing, so read some reviews and decide for yourself - I'm quite the delicate flower in some respects) and in it the mean mother in law says 'That perfume is too young for you. You smell like a high school tart.'. It's an inconsequential line but it got me thinking. Does perfume have an age?

I understand lilac and rose may be 'too old' for a young person, but does the reverse work? I'd never thought about it until now. I posed this question in a group and so many people agreed with her. As someone who just wears smells that I like, I was surprised how many people thought about perfumes and scent.

I discovered that the vanilla, which I sometimes wear, is considered young, whereas to me, it's a bit old lady - comfort in baking smell. My favourite perfume is the Dali original. I have a small stockpile that I wear on special occasions, as it stopped being made a decade ago. (So if anyone sees some on sale, do let me know!!). I like Frangipani and Jasmine, because they remind me of holidays. I like green tea because of fancy Bvlgari smell, from luxury hotels in holidays gone by. Clearly I get comfort from my perfumes, with the 'feelings' of happiness and well being that they connect to.

It was pointed out to me that at the recent Writers Festival, there was a focus on fragrance, writers using smell as means to draw the reader in. One can't forget the first volume of Proust's work, the surprisingly hilarious Swann's Way, has the smell of a tiny cake leading to a book worth of memories. The last book I read, The Nest, talked a lot about a character wearing Nina Ricci's L'air du temps, signifying a very New York thing at a certain time and for a certain age. It is definitely in fashion in literature.

It's funny how such a faint ephemeral thing can govern so much.

Do you get too old for a perfume?
What are you currently wearing?
Do you have a signature perfume?
Have you actually thought about it?

Linking with #StayClassyMama

Lights out - end of VIVID

Over the last three weeks I went to VIVID eight times, with and without the kids. Sometimes with friends, sometimes solo. I went to two VIVID concerts and dined at The Burrows, the VIVID pop up. I love VIVID. It makes me go out at night, it makes me enjoy the week nights, instead of sitting around watching tv, waiting for the weekend. It makes me love Sydney.

I am always a little sad when it is done. The only things I had left to see was the Airport installation and the Zoo (I'd rather spend my money on dinner than paying to see the lights, though I have friends that rave about the zoo, so I acknowledge I may be missing out)

These are the photos I took at Barangaroo, Darling Harbour and the Gardens, that I never had time to post.

All bubbles have a way of bursting, and all fun comes to an end. But why? Why does my behaviour fall back into dull routine?  

Good thing the school holidays are fast upon us, as I can fill the days with fun and exploration. 

Do you get sad at the end of a festival or event?

 For three weeks I was loving life. Now, it's a little meh. But I had dinner out with friends and slunk off to Sherlock Holmes yesterday so I really am still loving life a little. It's just not as colourful as it was.What are you loving at the moment?  Linking with #WeekendReflections because there are plenty of reflections on the water, but also on the glass in Bulletin Lane. Also linking with #MySundayBest #InspiremeMondays #WordlessWednesdays #GlobalBlogging #TravelTuesday #PictorialTuesday #LNRseasons #OutdoorWednesday #WednesdayRoundTheWorld

Reflections

A quick one, to let you know I'll be shutting the blog early on the 24th, with tax time and the school holidays pending, and as always, First of the Month Fiction will remain open for the duration, until the 20th July.

While wandering around Vivid, I was struck by the beauty of the reflection and reminded from a line in a Katherine Hepburn movie (I think?) ' There once was an old man in China who drowned while trying to kiss the moon in a puddle. He was drunk, but he still made beautiful poetry'

 My point and click didn't do it justice but it was a stunning low orange moon on Sunday night.

Linking with #WeekendReflections #TPThursday #ThroughMyLens #MummyMondays #THeRandom #WordlessWednesday

Concerts

I can't write about my first concert, as I have no idea what it was.I'm old. Who can remember that far back into the last century?

I can write about my last concert, because it was last night. Beth Orton at the Opera House for Vivid. It wasn't really my type of music. It was in 1997, but that was twenty years ago and I've moved on, musically speaking. It didn't help that I mixed her up with Meredith Brooks, who was kicking around the same time, all those years ago. A lot of people seemed to enjoy it, and she almost filled the concert hall but for me, it was a waste of time.

So I will talk about my second last concert, the Thundamentals at the Enmore. Love the venue, we were right up the front, and they're a lot of fun. Got quite a workout jumping around. I did get a little weirded out by their constant talk of our need to love each other - I wondered if they were some sort of christian cult, but no, just trying to encourage peace.

A man at the bar complained to my friend that he felt old in the crowd. She asked him how old he was, and he replied 28. She's only just 40, so I kept very, very quiet. Safe to say I was probably the oldest person there, but it didn't matter, and no one seemed to care. And best of all, neither did I.

What was your first concert? Can you remember? More importantly, do you still go to gigs?

Linking with #FortheloveofBLOG

VIVID Rocks! - what are you waiting for?

Time is almost up - VIVID ends this weekend (17th) so get out and explore. The Rocks Precinct is lots of fun this year with plenty of interactive and immersive installations.

This one was my favourite - it's at the Overseas Passenger Terminal (but if you have kids with you, you will be hit up for massive fairy floss!)

Lots of fun for the little people and the tech savvy teens.
















Take some photos on your camera and Cannon will kindly give you a large printed copy of one of your VIVID pics. You do need a memory card though.

Cannon  HQ

The interactive building projection at Cadman Cottage is great fun, Dance on keyboards to create the film.

Just nearby is this entertaining creation

In Argyle Place there is the fabulous Gullivers Travels, where you control the action. Light up hopscotch and a little further along, the wonderful Undercover World.

 So what are you waiting for?




Linking with #WeekendTravelInspiration #OutdoorWednesday
 #StayClassyMama #TheRandom #CountryKids #WWOAT #OurWorldTuesday