I'm a little off all the driver line ups and rookies - no idea why, just a bit meh about it all so not listened to the off season podcasts like I usually do.
I need them to start racing to get hyped again...
Though seeing these as I walked out of Melbourne airport made me smile.
I'm not booked for Singapore because we were going to do a reno. Now we don't have the money for that so I'm eyeing off if I try and go. Elton John definitely adds to the appeal....
#Allseasons linky runs from Thursday to Wednesday each week.
Link one post that shows something seasonal. Traditional weather wise, a seasonal nature marker or a seasonal celebration.
Make sure you link back to this #AllSeasons post.
Please comment on the post before yours and the host. Don't dump and run.
READ In January I read the Convenience Store Woman and stumbled across this loved little ode to Convenience Stores in Japan by Pico Iyer. Worth a read if you have a few minutes. Very lovely.
WATCHED Conclave - again. I went to see it when we got back from Japan and fell asleep almost immediately due to jetlag. I was glad when my friend suggested it and I loved it. I thought it was really interesting all the political machinations of how the church has distorted from it's original intentions. And a great film for now as it feels like we are watching it in real time. Interestingly my friend found it a little boring. It's funny how we can sit next to each other and watch the same thing and experience two very different things. I guess there's a lesson in there somewhere.
HEARD This is my new favourite song. I'd LOVE Don Diablo to come out.
As an aside, I also love his Avicii song... (Maybe don't watch this if prone to epilepsy, flashing festival stage lights)
WORE Orthotics, flamingo feet and arch stretching compression wraps on my feet. I am also trying to wear in a pair of shoes I bought about 5 years ago and never wore because they give me blisters. They are perfect for a wedding in a month. My dog walks have fancy footwear involved at the moment. Ha!
The photo however is of one of my lovely Kitten D'amour dresses.
LASTLY My top three moments of the month? Very hard to narrow down as there's been a lot of fun outings with friends and lovely little moments of joy. I will go with my day trip to Melbourne which was sensational and my weekend with friends in Hawks Nest and at Currawong, our last time in the big house...
I had initially thought "I've not really done much this month" but when I look at Insta to prod my memory, I then find it so hard to choose which three topped the list. And I guess that is something to really appreciate.
So that's about it for February from me. How was your month?
The Bee Sting - I started reading this and got very annoyed and bored with it. It's very long and the library needed it back when I was 3/4 through. I got back in the queue and it took a few months to get back. It seemed to pick up a bit so I don't know if it was me who changed or if the book was hitting it's peak so the pace was better. It's quite good by the end but just too long to carry the story in my opinion. Good story, plenty of menace but just diluted in the lengthy telling of it.
Star Spangled Jesus - Someone on one of the blogs recommended this, and as I recognised the author of Insta, I thought I'd give it a go. It looks at the rise of Christian Nationalism in America (something that to those of us outside of the States seems very UNChristian and against most of Christian values. It's ok to be Christian and love your country but when that comes at a cost of helping the poor and the sick and persecuting people, there's something very, very wrong with it). The book gives a clear insight into how it came about but where this book differs, is she used to think all these things. A lot of her quotes and examples are her own tweets or essays (or even songs she wrote and performed). She uses her own misguided behaviour as examples, so it helps you see how it happens, and not just write it off as crazy or nasty people. I've recommended to a friend already, so I guess it's a thumbs.
The Group - Someone also recommended this. It's a strange book. Maybe translation makes it odd but I did like it. It's got a bit of a nasty edge and is a little uncomfortable at times (but that might be my age). An easy to read, and only took me a few days, so I guess that's a good sign.
The Reflections of the Queen Snow White - The concept is great but I struggled at times with the execution. Snow White was a little annoying and the sex scenes were really ick to be honest (maybe it is my age??). The idea is interesting but not a must read.
The Intruders - This is a little comic about a returned soldier with PTSD. It's very melancholy and a little surprising. I found it very sad. It's super short, I read it on the train to the city. It sort of stuck with me so I guess that's a good sign.
The Sydney Mardi Gras runs for 17 days and last year brought in over $30 million. It's has a few key events - Fair Day and the parade being the notable public ones, plus a film festival, theatre, music, comedians and parties. And probably more I don't know about.
Some houses in my neighbourhood are pretty excited, and Sydney airport is definitely welcoming.
You can spot the tourists pop up in our neighbourhood, looking a little unsure of where they are going, or sometimes if they should be holding hands (or maybe I just look so old and conservative I scare them?). As a woman I'm aware of having to be mindful of safety, but can you imagine having to be constantly vigilant of hate all the time? Even from little old ladies? We must do better as a society, and I feel the Sydney Mardi Gras does do that.
If it brings in a huge boost in tourist dollars, all the better.
Please note: I will delete any bigoted comments. Read more John Palovitz:
"No, being LGBTQ is not a sin.
The sin, is the hatred that refuses to let go of that notion when evidence requires it."
#Allseasons linky runs from Thursday to Wednesday each week.
Link one post that shows something seasonal. Traditional weather wise, a seasonal nature marker or a seasonal celebration.
Make sure you link back to this #AllSeasons post.
Please comment on the post before yours and the host. Don't dump and run.
This month I managed to get the right prompts but I missed the link up weekend! Argh. And that tells you pretty much everything about where my head is at!
Something I loved I made a new discovery of a new Street Art Museum in Melbourne. There will be a lot more on this in the travel post so I'll keep it short here. It is excellent and it is free. There is no reason not to go. Just round the corner from Hosier Lane (famous for it's street art, though not one of the best laneways in Melbourne for art if you ask me.) The Outsiders. The collection changes each month, so pop back if you've already been! It was such a joy for me to visit.
Something I learned As a young woman, venturing into art, Yayoi Kusama wrote a letter to Georgia O'Keeffe whose art she loved, who not only wrote back but advised her to go to New York and show her art to anyone who would look at it. And so she did, and we now get to delight in her magnificent work. The lesson being, it never hurts to ask.
As an aside, even when I read the name, Georgia O'Keeffe, I get this song running in my head. Decades after I last listened to it.
Something that went well We had a parents night at the new school, and while I find these things very hard, I worked the room, I met a lot of parents (plus caught up with a few I already knew). I just think it's good to see who your kid is around and have some way to reach out should you need to, or just put faces to the names in the group chat.
Something I let go of I don't think I've grown in this way at all this month. Will need to focus a bit more going forward. I've plenty to work with!
