Forget your troubles and dance - Bob Marley

I mentioned awhile back The Wednesday Club booked into Boot Scootin' and the date finally came round.

Despite my lack of co-ordination and difficulty remembering my left and right (for real!) it was relatively easy and a LOT of energetic fun!

The best part, it was quick. You spend less than 5 minutes learning the dance, then you did the dance to a whole song and then you moved on to the next dance. 

I had been worried that we would spend an hour learning one dance as I had in other dance classes.  However, these dance moves are repetitive, so you actually get better at it as the song progresses. It didn't take long not to care about skill and if you mucked it up, it was easy enough to get back in time with the group, so great for beginners like us.

We all had a good time and are booked in to go again at the next available session. It is booked out months in advance so if keen, there might be somewhere closer to you.

I had said while venting to my husband that I was 'maxxed' out on stress levels just a few hours before, due to family issues and work problems (all falling on me at the same time), plus trying to juggle the kids needs. I walked to the venue to get some exercise but was still grumbly on arrival.

However, it didn't take long to transform that!

I was laughing at how bad I was, and then I was bouncing around energetically with the music plus the bonus of memory exercise. By the time we left I felt transformed! 

As an aside, the teacher was hilarious - there was a warning before we were filmed (to avoid a Cold Play moment) and she made fun of us (in a funny way, not hurtful) as we were a jumble of fairly hopeless skill levels. So there was quite a comedic element to the frivolity too.

I was too busy dancing to take photos and while I just wore sneakers, I was very taken with the instructor's glitter heeled boot!

As they say, there are shortcuts to Happiness and dancing is one of them!

Thus another thing is ticked off the Torschlusspanik List.

Torschlusspanik List

1. Shooting (check)
2. Fencing (check)
3. Play croquet at Croquet Club
4. Laser skeet (check)
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)

26. Do Chinese Square Dancing

27. Do some life drawing (Check)

28. Make something on a pottery wheel (check)

29. Try Axe Throwing (Check)

30. Get into a nightclub with 'a strict dress code'. (check)

31. Go to a gig that starts after midnight. (check)

32. Glass Blowing (Check)

33. Go line dancing  (check) 

Linking with #WWWhimsy  #RandomandHappy 

 #You'retheStar

Stranger in a strange land - the joy of visiting a subculture

 The same little gang always go and see the Furnace Christmas show, but last year, one of us couldn't make it so in January, when we saw they were playing a festival in May, we booked it as she'd missed the fun & then forgot all about it.

It swung around and we'd somehow discovered we were going to Meatstock - a meat and BBQ festival. One of us asked "Why are we going to this?" and I replied "We were in a mood". There was really no other reason I could think of. However, we'd paid and there was Furnace & the Fundamentals so it would be good. Weird but good.

We went for a few drinks and then followed the music, which was surprisingly good and then asked the guy on security how to get in. He pointed out it was Chris Lake and Fisher playing a show for fashion week and we were not meant to be there, to which I replied "Are you sure? That sounds like where we are meant to be!" but no go, and we went on our merry way.

Entering Meatstock was like entering another universe. There were cowboys everywhere. Well, urban cowboys - all hat and no cattle as they say. The crowd was heavily male (not like the usual crowds I move in) and the music blaring was country music and everyone seemed to know the songs.

We grabbed some surprisingly good brisket (at the stall with the shortest line near some tables) and watched the strange world go by. One of my friends remarked it was like we'd somehow transported to Texas.

And it sort of was. We were strangers in a strange land, visiting a subculture we didn't know existed.

Anyway, Furnace came on and we hit the dancefloor, had a great time (as always) and headed home. (as an aside, UK, I think they're heading your way soon).

 

On the train, we all decided it was surprisingly fun and we were glad we went.

The next day I booked the Wednesday club into Boot Scooting. Which I've never done before and never wanted to do before. One of my friends, when agreeing to go said "Surprisingly, I want to do this too. I think we were brainwashed at Meatstock" and it occurred to me that maybe that was why I suddenly had this strange urge to give it a go. (That and I'd just watched Accountant 2 so I felt the Universe was sending me a message).

So another thing is added to the Torschlusspanik List.

Torschlusspanik List

1. Shooting (check)
2. Fencing (check)
3. Play croquet at Croquet Club
4. Laser skeet (check)
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)

26. Do Chinese Square Dancing

27. Do some life drawing (Check)

28. Make something on a pottery wheel (check)

29. Try Axe Throwing (Check)

30. Get into a nightclub with 'a strict dress code'. (check)

31. Go to a gig that starts after midnight. (check)

32. Glass Blowing (Check)

33. Go line dancing

As an aside, this mural is now up the road from me so I feel the Universe is definitely sending me in a direction...but do I buy the kmart boots I saw the other day?

Linking with #WordlessWednesday and #MundayMurals

Better late than never....

Way back in 2012 added laser skeet to my Torschlusspanik list on a whim. I just thought it would be fun, and I'd just been at a gun range for the first (and only) time.

                                                                                                                                                

In Sydney, you can do this on a tall ship, the Soren Larsen, a lovely old vessel. For the brave, as part of the morning you can climb the mast. I considered it but when a much younger woman chickened out midway up, I knew I didn't stand a chance. To be fair to her, it's not so much the height but the gap between the rope rungs in the rigging looked very large, adding to the difficulty if you have short legs....however, many did do it so maybe I'm just unco-ordinated.

We had booked for April and the booking got moved twice. On the day we went, we had a beautiful sunny day, but very windy. When it was time to return, we didn't even need to raise a sail. The wind was pushing the current so fast that we chugged along at the same speed we had when under motor. However, this was just floating on the current!

There is a lovely hot lunch of curries, and you can buy drinks if you wish.

But the main activity is the shooting. You are competing in groups of 4, and after three rounds of 5 or 6 shots (maybe 1-0, who knows?) there is a play off for both the best and the worst. There are no bullets, the hits are recorded when the laser from the modified rifles hits the target. There are crew in a dingy picking the targets out of the water when they land so no ocean or environmental damage is done. 

It was so fun. I would definitely do it again. If you are a tourist to the city, it's a great way to see Sydney from the water. I purchased a voucher from adrenaline, as there was a sale or book direct.

One thing that got mentioned, was the crew gets free food and board, and a small amount of spending money. You do 2 night trial and then you sign up for 3 months (I think). This could be a great way for someone on a gap year or a Uni student. It's normally based and berthed in Sydney (near Pyrmont but it will be heading down to Hobart this year for the wooden boat race). 

You can book directly here. It really is a lovey morning, and a great way to try shooting.

So with another activity ticked off, the list now stands as:

Torshlusspanik List:

1. Shooting (check)
2. Fencing (check)
3. Play croquet at Croquet Club
4. Laser skeet (check)
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)

26. Do Chinese Square Dancing

27. Do some life drawing (Check)

28. Make something on a pottery wheel (check)

29. Try Axe Throwing (Check)

30. Get into a nightclub with 'a strict dress code'. (check)

31. Go to a gig that starts after midnight. (check)

32. Glass Blowing (Check)

Linking with #WBOYC #HappyNow #KeithsRamblings #ThruMyLens #WaterThursday #WeekendCoffeeShare

Life Drawing at the Opera House

On Sunday afternoon I went to a Life Drawing workshop at the Opera House Centre for Creativity. It's heald a few times a year and usually books out quite quickly. Everything is supplied, though experienced drawers (artists?) brought their own utensils. 

I'm not a good drawers, nor am I really that keen but the lure for me to this expereince was instead of nudes, the model was an opera singer who would sing to us, in costume. She changed costume three times over the course of the afternoon, and sang three songs.

It was a really lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon with friends - one was an avid drawer and one a novice. The first timer found the instruction really helpful, and was actually quite good at it. After each song, there would be a little lesson on composition, how to draw hands, proportion, shading, which utensil to use and other beginner class tips. (Please note permission was given to take photos but most life drawing all photography is banned)

I've become a bit slack on my Torshlusspanik List and I never did the follow up on the Life Drawing class I did before. That one was with a nude model and it was interesting how quickly you stopped to notice. You focus more on 'fragments' of the person - curves, shadows etc so it's not like seeing a naked person at all after the initial (for want of a better word) shock. I enjoyed that evening immensely for the zen nature of it. You become so focused that you don't notice time passing. We started with 1 minute poses and ended with a 15 minute pose. The 15 minutes seemed to fly as fast as the shorter ones. It was quite amazing how you built to that narrowed attention, even as a novice.

One of the teachers did this while showing us shading and spacing
See Pina Bartolo for more of her work

I am not an artist, and I have no talent in this field but I can happily attempt the curve of the dress or hips and buttocks - I just have to cut out hands and heads, which are hard. In the nude class, she put a lampshade on her head to be funny and that I did a fully body for (sans hands). She later asked if we had been ok with that and I told her it was actually the best for me cos I struggled with faces!

Bottom line, life drawing is worth an attempt for the mediation like qualities. If you really aren't comfortable with nudity, or with your artistic skill, this one with the opera thrown in is great, because you will still be moved by the beauty of the voice and music, even if art is not your thing.

And that's what's been on my calendar!

Life Drawing at the Opera House

Life Drawing at Camelot - this also has live music. I've just realised I picked both for the music not necessarily the drawing! Ha.

For those that don't know about my Torschlusspanik list, the origins lie here.

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)

26. Do Chinese Square Dancing

27. Do some life drawing (Check)

28. Make something on a pottery wheel (check)

29. Try Axe Throwing (Check)

30. Get into a nightclub with 'a strict dress code'. (check)

31. Go to a gig that starts after midnight. (check)

32. Glass Blowing (Check)

Linking with #TrafficJamReboot #WowOnWednesday #TheRandom #FineWhatever #SundayBest #WBOYC 

#ConfidentTwosday &  #Stylewithasmile for the Opera Australia Costumes

“Comfort zones are most often expanded through discomfort.” — Peter McWilliams

Over the years I've become quite used to being the odd man out, fish out of water and so on. I've become quite comfortable being the oldest person in the room, ignoring looks or comments. If that's the price of a good time then so be it.

However, a friend really pushed me to my limit. After the elation of Palm Trees festival, we were both seeking to repeat the endorphin high. So she suggested Garden Party, an event at Ivy. I pointed out that this would not be like a festival, and even with a ticket they wouldn't let us in because we were old and bringing the vibe down. (They'd make up an excuse to do with what we were wearing but it would be literally our faces or bodies that were the problem). I suggested we see someone at Liberty Hall because they wouldn't care and it would be dark and so on. I thought we were in agreement.

Then she rang and said "I got us tickets to Garden Party". 

Linking this photo with #RubyTuesdayToo & #BlueMonday

So I spent a good month workshoping with anyone young what I could wear and how to avoid the humilation of being denied entry for being us. I had seen this post by the fabulous Iris Apfel, where she said you needed to get comfortable outside your comfort zone. So when my friend told me I didn't have to come if I really didn't want to (because I was banging on about the drama ahead), I said i would go and if we were turned away, we'd go and grab a cocktail somewhere and laugh about it.

In the end, as I had zero vaguely appropriate clothes (and had to wear sneakers if going to dance for 6 hours), I opted for my normal plain attire, dressed for invisiblity & comfort.  

We went for lunch and some cocktails before hand and then with some dutch courage, we headed to line up (and in my mind, certain humiliation). I was genuinely anxious about what they would say to us. However, as we reached the line, a man much older than us strolled up. Then more arrive. I said to my friend "Oh, we're golden. We're not even the oldest here".

We went in and danced our cares away. The Rave to the Grave crew suddenly making us socially accpetable and completely normal.

The moral is, there are more of you than you think, you just have to find your tribe.

The amount of time I spent preparing for insulting rejection in my head was absurd. I felt every inadequacy of appearance and ageing for weeks. I prepeared for a soul destroying humiliation, and felt the sting of it at times too. However, it never eventuated. Perhaps I have another lesson in that - to stop worrying in anticipation of a problem. 

Ulimately, I learnt even though I do a lot of different things and have grown my confidence in many ways, I'm still cruising in my comfort zone. And there is a lot more fun once you push through....

“Coming out of your comfort zone is tough in the beginning, chaotic in the middle, and awesome in the end, because in the end, it shows you a whole new world. Make an attempt.”

— Anonymous

And so I have another ticked off the list....

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)

26. Do Chinese Square Dancing

27. Do some life drawing

28. Make something on a pottery wheel (check)

29. Try Axe Throwing (Check)

30. Get into a nightclub with 'a strict dress code'. (check)

31. Go to a gig that starts after midnight. (check)

32. Glass Blowing (Check)

33. Push myself right out of my comfort zone. (check)

Linking with #UnlimitedLinkParty #AnythingGoes #KeithsRamblings  #TrafficJamReboot #Dreamteam #TheRandom #SeniorSalonPitstop #WordlessWednesday