Vibrant nature

In the middle of grey winter, the red in the vegetable garden screams for joyous attention.
Sometimes a splash of colour is all you need to smile.
What made you smile today?

Linking with #MySundayPhoto

Pop Up Globe

The replica of Shakespeare's Globe theatre has popped up in Sydney and it's fabulous. We went to Macbeth and I loved it so much that we're booking Comedy of Errors in the extended season. It's a fun experience and the venue is delightful in the true sense of the word. If it comes to your town as it travels the world, make sure you see a show. 

If in Sydney, you have until the end of November and then as Shakespeare so aptly said 'Parting is such sweet sorrow!'







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Christmas is coming....

It's 100 days until Christmas. Less by the time you read this.

What?

Where did 2018 go?

So, when I saw there was a free gift with purchase, I decided to start my xmas shopping.

I have a friend having rather a rough time at the moment through no fault of her own, we are just at the age where life can become exceedingly difficult. So while I don't normally get her a big gift, I headed to L'Occitane and got her their advent calendar. So every day in December, she'll have a little treat and hopefully a little pick-me-up to make her smile.

As for the free gift? It will be my MIL's present, as it's perfect for a traveller like her. I consider part of what I paid for the advent calendar the cost of the 'gift with purchase' so I don't consider it a free gift at all (in case that makes me look bad)*.

Do you like Advent calendars? Have you started thinking about Christmas?

Linking with #Lifethisweek

*and we did just buy her a $100 pillow for no reason at all. I'm worried I look like a terrible person!!!

Let the good times roll

You have from now until the 30th September to hit the rollerskating rink on the roof at Broadway Shopping Centre. As part of the Sydney Fringe festival, there's a rink set up with outdoor lounge offering jenga and connect four with sparkling city views and a DJ pumping beats.

The Wednesday club chose this activity, and I'll admit I was slightly terrified. When I turned up to get my skates, the guy asked if I'd done it before. Not for 40 years, was my answer. Literally.

Tentatively I rolled out. It's harder than ice skating, as you don't have the flexibility of the blade, all four wheels need contact with the floor. I did end up getting more confident but I couldn't do any of the 'tricks' I used to be able to do. And I realised my career as a derby girl was never going to happen. Delusions were shattered.

However, it is fun, and I hope to get back with my little one before it shuts. (Note I think you need above a shoe size 9 for kids). I didn't fall, and I did get faster and more co-ordinated in my movements.

So while you can't teach this old dog new tricks, she can at least muster the courage to try.

Now I'm quite tempted to get those roller skates that Santa gave me 6 years ago* out of the cupboard and actually give them a try....

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

23. Get a truck for the Landmine Museum and Relief Centre in Siem Reap

24. Paint a picture

25. Go Rollerskating (check)

 *Six years? I had guessed 4. Where on earth did that time go? And shame on me - not even tried them on in over 2100 days!!!!                                                                                                                       Do you rollerskate? When was the last time you tried something that scares you?                                                                                                                                                                                                 Linking with

Loving Singapore, Loving Life

The HSC gods arranged the music exam in the first few days of the exam period which then allowed  me book a last minute trip to Singapore for the fabulous F1 night race. I was there for 3 nights only, but managed to see 9 exhibitions, 2 temples, 4 bands, shopping, drinks and even a swim and reading my book by the pool. I was lucky enough to have people there to kick around with and was able to get a room for a relatively good price, walking distance from the track (so I could safely and comfortably walk home at 1 am without feeling fearful as a solo woman).

I was saying to my husband last night, that the best part of the weekend was being able to leave the room without having to organise anything for anyone else. No children to feed, no 'stuff' to carry, no one to think about except myself. Everyday there, I'd do my own thing and then meet my friends for lunch. It was a luxury that I'd forgotten, and I'll be honest, I miss. This year, little of my time has been my own. While I can't really complain, it does a little more wear and tear emotionally than I'd realised.

Part of me wants to bring the family next year but part of me wants my respite. That little window back into the person I was, when I could explore as I wished, stay out as late as I liked (without the responsibilities of the morning's obligations pressing into the enjoyment of the night before).

Fittingly, as the closing performer Martin Garrix said, I was high on life. Had Kimi made the podium, it would have been the perfect weekend for me.

Quick thank you to Singapore for as always, putting on the best race weekend of the season. Your Night Race is the jewel of the F1 calendar and your city shines bright for everyone who travels to participate in the festivities.

Do you escape by yourself ever? Would you want to? Do you love Singapore?

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Taking a break, lah!

Just a quick note to let you know I'm shutting up shop for a few weeks - I'm off the the Singapore F1 and one kid has an HSC exam next week and I'm just a little behind in my work. So may be back on my return or may be back after the school holidays.

I saw the Bookclub yesterday, and I love that somehow in Hollywood a woman got a younger love interest. Is that a first? Younger being Andy Garcia but still a decade younger than Diane Keaton.

I love that I'm off to The Pop Up Globe tonight for some Macbeth, speaking of kick ass older women.


I'm not loving that my tax dollars are being used by the PM to read the Telegraph and tweet on their 'articles' (for want of a better word). When's the election?

Loving Nora Ephron's Hearburn read by Meryl Streep in the car.

Loving that I'll have 3 days next weekend to do nothing but look after myself. I've picked a few exhibitions, a few gigs and of course, the farewell to Kimi Raikkonen. I can not wait!!






Back soon, and have fun everyone. What are you loving?

Linking with #Lovinglifelinky

PS If you miss me too much, I will be on Insta ;)

Taking Stock - September

As you know, I'm not the biggest fan of these posts, as I don't really know what you, dear readers, get out of it. However, as I'm about to shut the blog down for a few weeks, I thought I would post for #Lifethisweek. Photos are not related to anything, but do you really want to look at photos of ScoMo and Dutton?

Drinking :  Way too much - or at least too often. Those alcohol free nights are killing me.
Reading : Just finished the Portrait of Molly Dean for book club, and finishing Americanah. Listening to Lost Connections (Hari) while I do the housework.
Next read : Heartburn by Nora Ephron and finish Run like Crazy, Run like Hell (the comic by Tardi)
Wanting : To get our tax done. It's hanging over me like a constant stress. I just need a day to get all the documents together.
Looking : At what to do with my three precious days in Singapore and where to stay for next year's trip to Japan
Enjoying : Seeing movies after a cinema 'drought'.
Liking : Catching up with friends. That seems to have been at a minimum and then all of a sudden, it's a couple of times a week.

Wondering : How goals impact our unhappiness - do we choose the wrong goals or do we accept what society says? (Not personal, came up in the Hari book. It's got me thinking...)
Loving : That the HSC timetable played nice and the music exam date just announced allows me to get last minute tix to the Singapore Grand Prix. Yip Yip - go Kimi!!! Also loving generous husband who said go any way even though it's costing me more than when I book it all way back in January.
Pondering : What is going on in Australian politics?
Buying : A last minute Father's Day present because my guaranteed delivery before Father's Day was apparently only an aim, not an actually guarantee.
Watching : Better call Saul. And looking forward to new season of Ozarks - but we're really struggling in the TV department so any suggestions are welcome!
Hoping : One of my idols appears to have done the wrong thing. Hoping it's just an oversight in paperwork and not a breakdown. Watching from afar, the potential fall from grace of a good man.
Cringing : What is going on in Australian politics!!
Listening: Just discovered Max Frost - loving Adderall and White Lies. (Apologies if offensive to people with genuine ADHD or ADD. It's just so upbeat and uplifting tune-wise)



What are you up to? Any TV recommendations?

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