Let sleeping dogs dream

One of the upsides of Facebook, is the memory aspect, I see things I've long forgotten. My eldest, close to a decade ago, was filling in proverbs for homework and she wrote "Let sleeping dogs dream" It may not be traditional, but I'm going to stick with that - more optimism and grander plans.

There is so much going on at our age, everyone is busy and juggling their own problems. This can be consuming and cloud our thinking. It can make us forgetful. It makes us see short term, not long term. I know for me, I can rarely think beyond the logistics for the next few days, not weeks ahead like  used to. I can safely say I'm also probably more guilty of what I'm about to discuss than I realise.

Yesterday, a friend, at a lunch I had organised with her, was complaining to me about another friend who always overlooked her and never invited her out, that she was always doing the inviting. I had to bite my tongue, as the behaviour she was criticising was the exact same thing she does to me. All the time. I understood she was hurt but I know this other woman doesn't have a mean bone in her body and would be devastated that she'd upset her friend. I couldn't understand that the one complaining couldn't see it from her friend's shoes. When she does it to me, I always just presume she didn't think about it,or the dinner was organised on the spur of the moment, or she presumes we're busy or whatever. If I waited for our offers of hospitality to be reciprocated, I'd probably never see anyone. Ever. I know she has no ill intent, so I don't take it personally, and let sleeping dogs lie. 

Better yet, I wish her happiness, so I'd rather let the sleeping dogs dream.

Do you keep score on the invites? Do you try to keep the intent in mind over the action? Will you too let sleeping dogs dream?

Linking for #StayClassyMama, #KCACOLSand #UltimateRabbitHole

"We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us." Winston Churchill

I had a fly in, fly out lunch in Melbourne the other day. I went for Hockney (definitely go if you haven't been already) and then raced to Supernormal and then back to the airport. Luxury and indulgence at it's best. 

I've not been to the NGV for a good decade, I think. It was really nice to return. I enjoyed the streetscape, the art of the building and of course, the art IN the building. (The street art was covered in last weeks post).









I really hope to get back to Melbourne this year for a weekend, as they're is so much to see and do. It's an ever changing city with so much of whatever takes your fancy.

 I just really liked the moss in the fountain - it's alluring yet dirty....

Do you look closely at the buildings that house the art? Are you in love with Hockney at the moment? Do you adore Melbourne?

Linking with #WeekendReflection for the top pic & the mirror pillars.

Must watch tv...

We were late adopters of the digital tv and netflix bonanza, me being one of those people that happily went to the video shop and chatted with the film buff behind the counter...but alas, no more. As is the way of the world, they shut down.

So we moved onto Apple TV and Netflix, and can I tell you, what a let down. We wanted to watch Die Hard - had to dig out my dvd. 30 Rock? Dvd. We've watched hardly anything on Netflix, resorting to buying series on Apple TV.

The Night of (with John Tuturro) is great. I like Blunt Talk but the second season isn't as funny as the first.

That's about all I can recommend. We're watching Legion but not loving it. Watched WestWorld but only ok.

I don't know what to tell you. There's nothing really out there that's 'must watch tv'.

So if you haven't already, watch Arrested Development. It's so hilarious and probably the best thing made in the last decade or so. Breaking Bad? House of Cards? We like the Americans...

What are your favs on TV at the moment?

Struggling to write on this weeks prompt for #LifeThisWeek

Taking Stock - Feb

I will be honest, I'm not a fan of these kinds of posts so it will be short and sweet. I'm just not sure what's of interest to the reader, and what I get from doing it, as the writer....

Life this week (well, last week) saw me:

Eating the fabulous watermelon cake




Drinking cocktails

Pondering if I should spend the big bucks to hit Womad on the Sunday night (fly back first thing Monday) to listen to Hot 8 Brass Band and the AMAZING Parov Stelar? Still deciding, stay tuned. With airfares and a hotel, it's BIG bucks...






Reading the new(ish) Herman Koch which I'm loving (I adored The Dinner, but was not enthused by The Summer House with a pool (or whatever it was called).













Watching the new Trainspotting at the movies (I liked it) and Barbu at the Opera House (tomorrow night).

Thinking about my smart daughter's advice - If you aren't smiling, you're doing it wrong.

Writing, hopefully, my First of the Month Fiction for Tuesday's #IBOT.

Linking with #MondayMusicMovesMe
Anyone want to tell me I MUST go to Womad?

PS I've not watched all 6 mins of this clip so I can't tell you if it's suitable for work or not.

“A picture is a poem without words” - Horace

I had a sensational Friday, jetting down for the Hockney exhibition - but more of that to come. On my short cut to lunch (and big up Supernormal on the half serves so I could order three dishes while dining solo!) I cut through Hosier Laneway and here's what made me smile.











I was definitely loving life that day!

 

  
Linking with #MuralMondays

If you're not smiling, you're doing it wrong

My daughter has a little Kanye in her - this is not a criticism. I think there's a lot of good in the Kanye headspace (haters, take it elsewhere - I've written before on his enviable view of self perception and self-esteem). She just wrote a book which she illustrated, titled "You are one of us. Champions!". There were pages reminding you that you are strong, you are brave, to hang in there and you are adventurous. I love that kids believe in themselves, whether they have the skills to back it up or not. I think we need to back ourselves a little more in all that we do.

What I love more is that she made this book for her friend, who she was concerned for because the friend didn't believe she was any good at anything (we just had the swimming carnival so go figure!).

I'm envious of this trait in children, that they can throw themselves into whatever they do with 100% enthusiasm, and no little voice of judgement nagging them and tarnishing the experience. I don't know why we lose it as we age. It seems a flawed evolution if you ask me.

While cleaning out my handbag, I found this:

I have no idea when this came into my possession (possibly a year ago!) but I think it's my new motto in life.

So as you go about your day, just remember, if you're not smiling, you're doing it wrong.

Linking with #AwwMondays

I don't want to be a Princess

'How was school, Princess?" I asked my little one.

'I'm not a princess. I don't want to be a princess' she replied. So I asked why not.

She'd thought about it. Based on the story book princesses, but when you consider modern royalty, still applicable centuries on.

1. You don't get to choose your own clothes. You're told what to wear and it's always dresses or skirts. 

2. You have too many slaves and never get to do anything on your own. (I did point out perhaps they were servants not slaves but I agree a princess would rarely get to wander around by herself).

3. You have to spend a lot of time doing stuff whether you want to or not. (I'm guessing she means all those ceremonial functions).

4. You can't just look at your phone when you want to. (I don't know protocol but I'm guessing she is right).

5. You wouldn't be able to start a blog and mouth off about things that were annoying you (obviously this is my input not hers)

So next time you see those photos of royalty, think about the people in it. How overwhelming and invasive a lifestyle it must be. Even a child can see it wouldn't be fun...

Linking short and sweet for #TalkaboutitTuesday