My French Life

Okay, I know I'm jumping on the Vicki Archer bandwagon very late, but I just bought this book and absolutely love it! Carla Coulson's photos are gorgeous, and Vicki's words reads like prose - beautiful. It's like comfort food for my soul!

Coco

Hurrah! The Coco Chanel movie is released into Sydney cinemas tomorrow.

Brrrrr!

Wish I was a bear and could hibernate through winter. Even in a city like Sydney where the top temp today is predicted to be 20 degrees C, it is still too cold for me. Please wake me in the Spring!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Why do so many people find what they want to do with their lives in mid-life? I know of many middle-aged people who changed careers mid-stream - usually to pursue much more creative pursuits. Having worked in many different fields over the past 30 years I've finally started to listen to that inner voice that has been telling me all my life that I'm a writer and an artist. Even typing those words makes me feel pretentious, however, I'm pushing through that barrier of self-consciousness to explore the creativity inside of me - even if no-one ever reads a word I write, or gazes upon my paintings, because I've realised that it's not about seeking the approval of man, but finding the satisfaction in expression.

Do not covet your ideas

Give away everything you know, and more will come"The problem with hoarding is you end up living off your reserves. Eventually you'll become stale. If you give away everything you have, you are left with nothing. This forces you to look, to be aware, to replenish.Somehow the more you give away the more comes back to you" PAUL ARDEN

Bikie beggar

Walking to work in the rain listening to my iPod when suddenly a male voice cut through saying, "Can you spare a dollar?" Peeked out from my umbrella to see a tall leather clad bikie boy who kept asking me for a dollar - and with each request he moved closer and closer in, his voice becoming more aggressive with every appeal. 'No' I stammered, 'I'm sorry, I don't have a dollar' - which I have to say was the truth. Whilst I had my wallet on me it contained no cash.

Unbelieving, he kept persisiting, until finally, I said as sternly as possible, "Go away!" the adrenaline pumping through my body and panic lifting my feet to move faster. I stopped dead in my tracks as I realised he had begun to laugh and somehow, strangely, surreally was saying my name! I looked at him full in the face and saw his eyes through his bike helmet. It was my little brother who was now falling about with laughter! I gave him a shove, realising that I had been got and then my fear gave way to laughter.

Funny reaction that. Last night I was listening to a film director talk about a film scene set in WW2 London where the city had just been bombed, and the patrons in a pub having heard the explosions go off outside after a moments of silence, all start to laugh. And he said that his research showed that this was a common reaction! I'm sure someone out there can explain the phyisological reason behind this - but I find it a charming reaction and I'm glad we humans have it!

Pursuit of beauty

Sydney summer is now long gone and in a desperate attempt to keep that beachy feeling, I parted with $25 to buy a new hair product called 'Old Salty' which claims to give your hair that "fresh from the beach malleability". Excitedly I applied it and as suggested finger combed my hair and allowed it to dry naturally. I felt great walking through the city precinct on my way to work, knowing that I looked liked I just been for a surf. It wasn't until I saw myself in my office elavator's mirror that I realised, I didn't have 'beach hair'! I had messy hair that looked liked I just climbed out of bed!It reminded me of a time many years ago when I bought 'Clear Mascara' for that just got out of the shower look (why I wanted to look like I just got out the shower I'll never know!). Again, eagerly applied it to my lashes and waited and waited. Until slowly it dawned on me - that it looked as if I had NOTHING on my eyes! I empathised with the foolish emporer in the children's tale about the emporer who finally realised that he had been fooled into thinking he was wearing the finest garb of gold and silver silk, when in fact he was naked! Oh how the advertising men must laugh at us hapless consumers!

Accidents do happen

On Tuesday afternoon, I had arrived at Edgecliff station and was traveling up the escalator when I heard the most sickening thud behind me. I was almost too scared to turn around, and when I did I saw an elderly man lying upside down on the steps. Apparently he had lost his balance and fallen backwards down several steps and he hit his head on the sharp metal edge of the step. There was only one other passenger on the steps and she was behind him. We both froze for a moment and then I heard an inner voice inside me say, “Quick move!” and I raced down to him and realized that he was unconscious.

At first I didn’t have a clue what to do, but I prayed for help as the other lady rang for an ambulance. Blood started to pour from the back of his head quickly forming a large pool underneath him so I ripped off my scarf and applied pressure to the wound. His blood covered my hands. Suddenly I found I knew exactly what to do, as others came to help, it was me who had taken charge! I told the people not to move him but we supported his head and neck which was hanging back over the step, and I asked someone to loosen his tie to allow him to breathe clearly. He had gained consciousness by now but was very groggy and I held his hand and calmed him down.

By the time the ambulance staff had arrived, the man was making jokes! I left him in the capable hands of the ambulance staff but continued to pray for his recovery. The next day I rang St Vincent’s hospital and was advised that he had been held overnight for observation but had been released that morning. Thank God!

Tiny ponies

A photographer friend of mine is obsessed with tiny ponies! Check out her blog which is completely devoted to this cute little creatures at: tinypony.tumblr.com

Caffeine

It's been 6 weeks since I changed my diet to a "migraine-free" one i.e. no coffee, no cheese, no salty foods, no salami etc. and that with along being happier, seems to have had an impact as even though I've had a couple of attacks they haven't lasted longer than an hour (when they used to last for days and would send me to bed). Hmmmm interesting!

Happy

Someone at work mentioned to me last night how happier I'd seemed lately. My first thought was "Oh no, how grumpy have I really been?". Upon reflection I realised that I have been surrounding myself with people who make me laugh more and more and making a conscious effort not to worry about those people who just haven't got it yet and seem hell-bent on making your life miserable!

Happy Friday

Just popped out of the office to grab some lunch and the blustery wind took me by surprise - felt like one of these umbrellas! I had to force myself to take a short walk as I'd been locked up in a meeting all morning and felt the need to breathe! Love the messge on this pic. as I was thinking that I needed to go and buy a new top, but found that just the short walk and the chill of the wind made me feel alive again!

April in Paris

Been reading a friend's husband's blog www.phillipprideaux.blogspot.com (they are Aussies currently living in Vienna), and Phillip or 'Badger' as he is known, has written about his recent stay in Paris, and it has set my heart ayearning to return to that magical city which rates No.2 in my favourite cities of the world. Sydney is of course, No. 1.

The 'eyes' have it

One thing I have on my 'to do' list is to buy new glasses. Always an odious chore, as I cannot see that well without them and therefore am not able to confidently judge if the glasses suit me. I've made some bad mistakes over the years - like the pale pink pair that I bought in the late '80s which with my fair skin and blonde hair made me look like albino! Or, the time in the '90s when I converted a pair of rayban wayfarers thinking I looked super cool like a female Elvis Costello only to be asked by my friends if it was too late to take them back! Now with geek chic I would have been cool!

To Do

Worked back late tonight as I have a lot of things to do. The last thing I did was to write up a list of "to do's" for tomorrow (otherwise I forget!).

Looking at the long list of tomorrow's tasks made me feel slightly overwhelmed. Maybe I should draw a circle around the list tomorrow as suggested above - do you think they will look better then?

I like the list above, especially the last item!