Not a 10

The Chaser podcast did an episode on the Nvidia drama and in it said that the CIA (?) had a talk they said to people that ran along the lines of 'You're not a 10, if she's a 10, then there's something up'.

I was reminded of a very rich middle aged man that had braces on his teeth as an adult and was telling me, actually telling my husband as he never really spoke to me - I was just window dressing, how much young women really loved his braces. "Chicks really dig them". I was baffled that he genuinely believed this and didn't realise it was his money that they loved (and probably his 'social' standing....at least hoping to get their photo in society pages).  He was definitely punching above his weight in the looks department. 

I find it interesting that if someone young approaches me, my first thought is that they are going to rob me - because why else would they be talking to me? Or at a festival I look around to see if I'm being filmed - are they just talking to me to make amusing content? So far, as far as I know, they are just being nice, and in their addled state thinking it's cute - being nice to the old lady....

We all think we wouldn't be so dumb or so vain, but I guess over time, with so many sycophants around you, you start to believe their 'reflection' of you.

So I guess a good rule of thumb is "You're not a 10, so...."

Linking with #WeekendReflection

Jacaranda Season again!

Every year, Sydney bursts with purple as the Jacarandas bloom.

It is glorious!

This is the perfect description, in my opinion: “Dazzling jacaranda petals covered the sidewalk like a carpet of amethyst velvet. It always amazes me how the trees sit so quietly, unnoticed all spring, until one day it feels as if every single one throughout the city bursts with blossoms at the exact same second.” by Kim Fay, in Love & Saffron.

And of course, we don't get the flowering without the purple snow soon following....

Before we get to #Allseasons linky - a quick question - every year I've done a link up in the 6 weeks to xmas on Fridays. I've noticed a decline in linking and commenting (and I too am struggling to keep up with my commenting when I link up), so do I bother? If you are interested in the #XmasLinky, let me know. Otherwise I might skip it this year.

More Jacaranda pics here & here

And here we are for another week of #Allseasons

#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 or event.  Please link relevant posts only.

Make sure you link back to this #AllSeasons post. 

Please comment on the post before yours and the host. Don't dump and run.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Self Portrait in Flowers

Linking with #FloarlFridayFoto #WordlessWednesday #HappyNow (this silliness made me happy)

 #WeeklyWonder and #ShadowShotSunday

 

Valiant

 

The little plant in the big city.

Linking with #WaterThursday  #WordlessWednesday #SundayBest #PictorialTuesday #WordlessWednesday

Full Circle

27 years ago, I got a Belly Basics maternity dress for $99 (a fortune back then) for work and evening attire. I still wear it sometimes on ‘fat days’ for concerts or parties. For those younger me, the belly basics box of 5 or 6 items (skirt, dress, leggings, tee and tunic which I lived in) was $129. $99 for a single maternity dress was ridiculously extravagant to me but due to hormones I got it anyway. This is sort of what the Belly Basics Kit was - I can't find a photo of the Australian version.

I find it funny that I often get compliments in it, and people asking me where I got it or asking if it was a new dress? It's weirdly still in pristine condition.

The other night I went to the gig in it with the baby that I purchased it for at that time. I announced ''You were in me when I bought this dress!" She looked mildly horrified while she laughed at me.

But that is fashion running a full circle.

I wore it because of her AND with her.

So the lesson is sometimes the expensive dress is worth the expense or as Coco Chanel said "The Little Black Dress is a timeless piece of fashion that will never go out of style." but I'm not sure she was thinking maternity wear....

Linking with #FashionFiles #TrafficJamReboot

 #TusedayTwirl #TalkaboutitTuesday #Stylewithasmile #WeeklyWonder #SeniorSalonPitstop

Juju & Friends pop up in Sydney

 

This weekend, C J Hendry's Juju & Friends has popped up in Sydney. I popped down to the White Bay Cruise Terminal to check it out on Thursday and the crowds weren't bad. I imagine it will be busy today and tomorrow.

There's a giant ball pit and inflatable slides, Juju themed of course.

However, to me, this felt more like a shopping experience, than Flower Market, which to me felt more like an immersive art experience. (She's a commercial artist so that's fair, I'm just talking about my experience - No shade, I just really loved everything about Flower Market and was happy to line up for hours for it).

There's the Pandora beads and Juju necklaces to put together. I didn't do that but I did succumb to a Blind Box.

She has put a call out for carers and teachers of people with additional needs to email about getting some of the balls from the ball pit at the end of the exhibition (for free, I think) so look at this Instagram post for the details as you need to email her. I love this!

It runs 10am-8pm each day. Free entry.

Linking with #WordlessWednesday #HappyTuesday, because this bit of cuteness made me very happy! #WeeklyWonder 

The Little Things

Linking with #GaleriaHimmelsblick

I feel this month has flown by and very little has happened that is worth mentioning but let's see what we can do...

Linking iwith #Skywatch

READ I read on Instagram "Don't match negative energy. Just shut the power off" (@r.h.sin via @tesssssy.b) and I think that's perfect advice. Eventually you have to call quits on people who do not make you feel your best, nor bring out your best. A simple yet good reminder.

Linking with #WeekendReflection

WATCHED Boys & Girls at STC. That is a play that you can't get out of your head. I can't talk about it because of spoilers but it's got some disturbing facts and a recent news event really highlighted how factual it was. Justine Clarke is excellent in what must be a very exhausting headspace for her to be in night after night. Also went to Strong is the new pretty (also STC) - the new Suzie Miller. Not a difficult watch like her other two plays. More feel good(ish) history. 

We saw Wild Horse Nine which is excellent - very funny though slightly depressing as the political machinations are despicable yet true. Also saw the new Godzilla, which was my first, and was better than expected - though we saw it at IMAX and were too close - subtitles and Imax only work if you are far back. We also went to History of Concrete - a very odd and kooky film. We'd never seen his tv show so it may not be so weird to people that know his style. It raised a lot of questions that we discussed for days after - to do with the film rather than concrete. It showed New York from a very sad and crumbling decay, which I don't think I've ever seen before. That was an eye opener.

HEARD I went to see Noah Kahan but didn't want to spend the big bucks so was literally in the back row. The woman in the seat in front of me said to her date "Oh, this is great, we can see everything!" which I thought was so charming as I'd just been thinking how terrible my seat was. So high five to such a thoughtful lady changing the mindset of the sulky lady behind you & making your date not feel bad about his tickets. She's a keeper. And obviously I heard this song*.

Also went to Bunt - who is awesome - and I was transformed into my happy old self, feeling so great with the burst of energy infused for 2 hours. So fun! I know I share this song all the time but you need to see the crowd - having been at Anyma, I just don't think you need all that. It's getting the crowd into a joyful frenzy that matters. And Bunt def does that. We didn't have the pyrotechnics in this clip but the crowd energy was the same.

Linking with TforTuesday

 (These are some of the delicious dishes we had at Don't Tell Aunty which is an easy walk to the Hordern  - and my friend ordered the insane drink! I stuck with my negronis...)

MADE My youngest had friends over and they made these jack-o-lanterns. I thought they were very impressive...

I made a mistake - there seems to be a lot of that at the moment. I discovered I had booked friends to see a gig AND myself at a festival on the same night. I only discovered when I went to organise the pre gig dinner booking. However the festival got cancelled so I was spared the drama. I've no idea how I booked tickets for everyone yet didn't write it in my diary!

WORE I've not been out much this month so it was really nice to get dressed up for a date night to see a band. I had to wear shoes I could walk in because I was making the 6km trek to the venue on foot - takes about an hour if I walk fast, as I've not had time to exercise much this month, so it felt great to be able to do so. I Like this chiffon top as it's floaty and hides a multitude of sins....I guess I shouldn't say that - it makes me less conscious of my normal aging body is a better way to describe it.

MY TOP THREE MOMENTS FROM THE MONTH GONE BY 

Linking with #AwwMondays

Having been house bound and cancelling things with a number of personally dramas, and a very sick dog, it was great to get out and see friends, art and music. Even eat in a restaurant! A reminder of how much that stuff nourishes your soul.

My youngest sat her last school exams, she's left school. We await results and Uni confirmation (she's been accepted and got her college booked, so it should go as plan, marks permitting). It is a strange but very happy time for me. Then I need to start making plans for me next year. I can probably do my current job and look after mum in 3 days, so maybe find 2 days work somewhere or work a bit harder on writing or 'extra' work.

Got everyone together for husband's birthday and Imax, plus went to a gig with my eldest. Family time is rare but so special!

Halloween. The spooky street decorations always make me smile! The one above makes me think of Pamela Allen's Inside Mary Elizabeth House.

That's 4 but I've been so negative in my posts of late, I feel I owe you some cheer. 

Linking with #TalkaboutitTuesday #TheLittleThings, #TrafficJamReboot (and my Insta is here if you like to follow along in real time...) 

Sadly I went for this song, not realising it's 12 years old!! He didn't do it....:( Where does the time go?? I thought it was his biggest hit! Ha!