I had a brief 24 hours in Melbourne, so spent much of the time tearing around the city. After dumping my bags I walked down to the markets to see if my handpainted stocking lady was there to replenish my supplies (she was, yay!).
As I rounded the corner, I was met with a sea of rainbow umbrellas in Hosier Lane.
Even as a spectator, this seemed like a magical event.
It summed up (and set the tone) for my much needed break and luxurious trip (of time and for me to nourish my soul in art and indulgence).
A later google discovered this as the purpose. I realise Humans in Melbourne is probably I page I need to follow before my next trip. This is the mural they mention in the post.
So while there will be many more things that made me happy in that 24 hours (see my Insta for clues) I will say that the serendipitous art or experience really made me feel lucky to be given this chance to recover a bit of me.
I liked the quote because I think we need to reassess how we view failure. It's not something we need to be scared of as I've discussed before. It's just a learning tool. It is a shame when we're young we avoid it so much. We limit our options when we do...
"Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end." – Denis Waitley
I've actually had a pretty great week (except the ongoing missing passport - which clocked in at 5 months since I applied and 1 month since the Passport Office found it but still no progress on creating the passport and sending it to me - my weekly attempt to contact them and find out what has happened is becoming quite distressing).
I went to AJR who were absolutely fabulous. They were almost video performance art/theatre so it was delightfully engaging as well as the music - which the audience treated as a loud singalong. Think if Blue Man Group could sing...I really loved it and left elated.
Caught up for dinner with a friend who I haven't seen properly in along time - she's been going through a lot so it was good to hear whatever she wanted to share and just connect again.
I have done a heap of walking this week, and even managed time in the botanical gardens for the magnificent Fleurs De Villes Femmes. It ends this weekend so get in while you can. It's a stunning exhibition. There's even live music and lounges in the cafe so it's really worth allowing time to stay awhile.
In short, I guess friends, the city, music and beauty are making me happy. And I guess the lesson is when I'm down or overwhelmed, seek out these things for a boost.
Something Loved: Lost Frequencies can do no wrong at the moment - I adore the disco inspired Chemical High but his gospel(ish) Sun is Shining or the uberbanger Where are you know? are still on high rotation. He doesn't seem capable of a dud if he tried. He is still on the Rise (see what I did there?) Now I just need him to come out here!!
Something Gleaned: I learnt two things this week. Firstly, people use more than one serum in their morning skincare routine. I only just started using serums after I was gifted a facial and the therapist was so horrified at my dry skin that she gave me a pile of free serums to use...now I discover I'm meant to use more than one at a time! Did people know this?
The other thing I learnt was that Bombay Duck got it's name because the fish was moved on the mail train (Daak) and that got changed to duck in the slang that evolves...Long story as to why I needed to google this but there you go!
Something Achieved: Been super busy but don't feel like I've achieved anything. Just bouncing in reaction to mini dramas. We have this family tradition of playing putt putt on the kids birthday because my dad was a golfer and it was something they could all do together. My mum would always choose not to play and to keep score. She's been reluctant to go out because of Covid but not only did I manage to get her to agree to go out for lunch, she decided she would play putt putt too. She did not come last and she had a good time. So I feel that was quite an achievement. There were lots of laughs and given she lives alone now, I think it would have been a very therapeutic experience for her. Why do you think she waited for dad to die before she decided to give it a go? (I don't want to ask her as it might make her self conscious but I am very curious)
This is on a very busy street in the inner city. What do you think that's about?? (That's outside a pub...?) The other pictures are a Physio that's gone into an old church.
I was delighted to see the first cherry blossom in bloom on my dog walk, only to walk then meet a friend for coffee and discover the streets were full of them and the season had been going for weeks. A lesson in that sometimes it's just our small corner of the world that distorts what's actually happening....
Lessons in perspective are everywhere....
And in a few weeks the pink petal snow will fall...
I am in theory going away this weekend (given it's been postponed twice I'll believe it when I board the plane...) so I will be MIA on the comments this week...will try to catch up when I get back.
All Seasons is open from Friday through Wednesday 5pm, Sydney Time.
1. Please link one 'seasonal' post a week.
2. Make sure you link back to this #AllSeasons post.
3. Please comment on the post before yours and the hosts. Don't dump and run or I will delete your posts. It's rude.
One of the few entertainments I kept up from lockdown is the continual planting without purpose. I will plant for the sheer joy and entertainment of watching something grow. If it takes off I will move it into the garden or plant it on the nature strip out the front.
I've had to give away my idea of chickens because of the lead all over Sydney but these little gems, as not really eaten (or never producing enough to really eat more than a tiny bite - and from a pot so not in contaminated soil) bring a smile to my face as they begin to flower.
As I'm a little careless with the seasonal rules, I am feeling this is a sign Spring is coming...given the chill still in the air at times, I'll take what I can get.
What are the signs for you that the season is changing?
I was lucky enough to see both Chris Rock and Aaron Chen this week. While I adore Chris Rock, and rate his Never Scared show as one of the funniest shows you can see (used to be on DVD so I'm sure you can stream it somewhere), this show seemed it still had a little way to go. It was the hassle of going out to Homebush and the weirdly cleansing experience of sitting for an hour (what felt like an hour as we had no access to clocks) without our phones.
Aaron Chen was at the Comedy Store - we zipped over for the early show and was home in time to put the kids to bed. I used to go more regularly when Giant Dwarf was open, and I was reminded how much I miss it. To be entertained and laugh constantly and hard. It does indeed have a medicinal effect. You feel rejuvenated.
So the one small thing making me happy this week is laughter. Plenty of it. Also the reminder that has sparked some determination not to be so lazy and start heading to see comedians more often. (And possibly try to spend some 'waiting' time not looking at my phone. There was something cleansing about that too).
As soap is to the body, so laughter is to the soul. — A Jewish Proverb
What's the #OneSmallThing making you happy this week?
(I didn't take photos at either venue, so these are just reflective shots I took at Strike Bowling in King Street Wharf while my youngest had a bowling and karaoke party.
I had a brief 24 hours in Melbourne, so spent much of the time tearing around the city. After dumping my bags I walked down to the markets to see if my handpainted stocking lady was there to replenish my supplies (she was, yay!).
As I rounded the corner, I was met with a sea of rainbow umbrellas in Hosier Lane.
Even as a spectator, this seemed like a magical event.
A later google discovered this as the purpose. I realise Humans in Melbourne is probably I page I need to follow before my next trip. This is the mural they mention in the post.
