Are you sitting comfortably?

So here I am. Back. I hope. I've missed you! Shall we have a little catch up? A little recap? Do you have a cup of tea/glass of wine? Good.

I've been the Production Manager on a movie - extraordinarily all consuming and hectic but an amazing experience. The film should be coming out next year some time - so no doubt you will hear more about it then!

I got the job I got the job! I am now an associate lecturer in Design for Theatre and Television at Charles Sturt Uni. It was a long week of waiting to hear back after my interview - but I have a full time permanent uni job starting at the end of January. Security. Annnnd I probably won't talk about it much more than that here. Students have a wily way of finding you on the internet.

The house. Well we didn't move in last Friday as hoped because the floors still need to be done and ermmmm we have no bathroom - but next Friday we are going to attempt to move in again. We've spent the whole weekend puttying and painting (which is why I haven't been here as I hoped) and it's looking good. It has been so nice hanging out there together. a) we haven't spent time together in agggges, and b) it was nice just being our little family of two plus puppy. We even camped the night there on Friday which was great.

 

Christmas. Christmas is reallllly close, and I've hardly given it any thought except the fleeting - oh crap I haven't thought about Christmas - thought, which doesn't do much good. It's really strange not to be going anywhere. Normally Tim and I are either going to Wagga or Adelaide... but this year we are just... staying in Wagga... Surrounded by boxes and half painted walls. Life has a very determined way of not giving you what you plan for yourself doesn't it? At least we should be back in our house. Which is a lot more than a lot of others. And we will be eating a heap of home grown food... which leads we nicely to...

The garden! Basil and herbs galore, onions and garlic, corn, potatoes, parsnips and ermmm very small carrots. A bed of poppies, roses and giant sunflowers - which really diserve a post of their own.

Hello September...

What a lovely month.
There's a storm blowing outside right now.
The tree's are glorious in their Spring suits.
There's warmth in the air.
I've started jogging again - a few winter kilos to loose.
The film screening is on on Friday - I have a dress and some fancy shoes picked out.
Tim's birthday is around the corner.
Best of all work has started on our house. The end is in sight!
I feel like we are making friends here. We like it here. A lot.
I have busy busy months of work up ahead until December - and then .... nothing. Just Christmas - and I'm working towards that quite happily for now.

Pictures from a full household outing yesterday - there wasn't a dog for me - so I took the camera instead!

Dreaming, Planning, Waiting...

I spent a whole year dreaming and planning about moving into this house while we prepared to leave Sydney. And after a brief holiday of living there (5 weeks) We have now not lived there for 5 months.

And so we dream and dream and plan and hurt and wait. Even my ever so ridiculously patient husbands patience is wearing very thin.

To not go completely mad we have been:

Stripping, sanding and painting our dining table.

Listening to some new music.

Washing and prepping our pantry.

Picking lights and ceiling fans.

Picking colours. Dreaming of our house.

And still no work has started - except the insurance builder put a sign out the front of the house. Surely we must be edging closer. Surely? Surely?

{Just some pictures of Spring beckoning}

Dear 8 years in Surry Hills,

I will miss you:
* Dasher the Wonderdog
* St Minas fruit and Veg
* Yullis (lets try somewhere different for a drink... naaahhhh)
* Coffee coffee coffee
* The Hipsters
* The laneways to explore
* Bumping into people on the street
* Feeling like I live in the centre of the World
* The bike lanes
* Cat Alley
* Bakers Bun Yes (screw you Bourke St Bakery!)

I won't miss you:
* The crazy loud neighbours
* People pouring out of The Clock at midnight every night
* The expensiveness
* The Hipsters
* The buses
* Renting
* Never feeling cool enough
* People Puking/pissing/defecating (no I'm not even joking or nuthin') on our back steps...

I can't actually believe its our last day being Sydney-siders. Wow. Just. holy fricken wow. Tim and I have been counting down for a while now, and the eyes... the look of "....wow" really lets us know that we're both feeling the same way.

Wow.

*

With a little free time recently I've been sorting my stash and organising my ribbon. Mmmm organised ribbon. Sexy non?
I also added to my stash from the local oppy. How great is this fun 80's fabric? It's like school jumper material, smooth on the outside and soft and fleecy inside, but what to make with it?! Ideas?


PS. Happy Halloween to those that do that!

In the bag...

 

In my bag this last week:
Water bottle, wallet, keys, spoon, bandaid, lolly, Blistex, panadol, spare hairbands, tampons, purse to keep all those little bits in, cable ties, lighting gel, sunglasses, script, phone, notebook, pencils, pens, sharpie, electrical tape, solder, the label of my bike tyre packet, bike lock, plastic bag (to cover my leather bike seat in the rain), leatherman, screwdrivers.
Needless to say, it's been busy. 
Ps. Go see our play, on until Saturday...

The show must go on...

 So you may have gathered from my thankful post, that my boss has broken his leg. It happened during a live performance at our theatre. And it was pretty dramatic. Thankfully the curtain was in and it didn't happen in front of all 900 people - they would of all heard his yell though and the sound of the 750kg wall as it landed on him. Obviously this majorly sucks for him.
For me this means a lot more responsibility, a lot more stress, a shortened holiday in febuary and well, it means everything that could go wrong that he would normally fix has. I started to feel like I was getting on top of all the new things I had to do today and then bam. Something doesn't work. And I don't know why and I don't know how to fix it and so I end up feeling completely incompetent.
Luckily my boy knows how to cheer me up. Popcorn, lollies, accompaning me to the christmas party and reminding me of the blissfully crazy family long weekend that lies ahead - Hurry up Friday and go away Monday!

{source unknown - If this is yours, do let me know}

What my brain looks like...

D2 x height x .79 = volume, bring going out clothes for Friday, half diameter of the winch x 19 for ungrooved or 12 for grooved, bring a whistle and passport to class on Thursday and Friday, buy limes for muffins, one long whistle two short to make a crane go right, remember not to swear in front of the 13 yr old posh school kids, try finish off 3 more bracelets before Saturday, becket load plus ( becket load x no of sheaves / 20) = load in the lead rope, safety nets have a max diametre of 100mm, if I make the biscuit pastry in advance will it still roll out really thin, remember to wash steel rust off hands before attempting to bake or play with pretty thread, it is a bad, repeat, bad idea to overload cupcake cases, it ends in kitchen disaster, albeit delicious, wowa my dear friend is engaged, when can I get to Tassy to see him, Eep it's my brothers birthday soon, oh yikes and I have international visitors, oh yeah, w x r / b / n / V = size of packers used under crane outriggers, how do I make shadows look nice on ruched fabric?, how about pale green and blue and deep red as a colour combo....
My normal job has never looked so good! *s*

Country air.

 

 I've had such an awesome short break. We ate a lot of food and drank a lot of wine, and planted trees and went canoeing on the Murrumbidgee and horse riding and walking and fed the calf my folks are looking after, we soaked up the fresh air and quiet nights and it was blissful, so we day dreamed about moving to the country just that little bit more. Winter has been wet in the Riverina and so every ten minutes someone would comment on how green everything was. Tall grass with soft heads mixed in with yellow daisies and purple pattersons curse. We drove past the full river and luminous yellow canola fields and gorgeous foals on wobbly legs. MY nose got kissed by the sun, and all my clothes got filthy. All in all a super time!

Link love for Friday...

 My dears, it pains me to say it, but I pretty much havn't been on the internet this week. What with removing a large house and all its various lighting paraphernalia from the theatre and replacing it with a completely different lighting rig which has decided to be, unsuprisingly, uncooperative, (the lights are always uncooperative when the boss is away and I'm left in charge) there hasn't been much time for surfing. So with that I present you with these few links. Though diminutive in number they are massive in cool content... yup.
* Faux taxidermy on Etsy!
* Sustainable design shops in Sydney...
* A disused Sydney Tabernacle is being turned into a new indie theatre space.
* Check out all the pictures I collect on the internet...

Also. I am going away for the long weekend - incredibly I have wrangled 3 days off in a row. We are trotting off at sparrows fart tomorrow morning to my home town for a rousing family gathering. So, I will continue to not be very present. If you too are an Aussie have a fantabulous long weekend!

{Mine. The cherry blossoms are glorious!}

A whole year!

Today is my blogs first birthday. Who would of thought I could keep something up for so long?! Not I! But I'm so glad I have. I feel quite connected to the blogging community now, it has become not only something I enjoy but something I really care about. After a year I still don't really know how to catagorize my blog, and I think I've given up trying to be something in particular. I just do it because I enjoy it. Because I feel kinda compelled. Because I need the creative outlet. Because it's like talking to someone when I'm alone for big chunks of my time. Because it makes me get excited when I see a comment (even though it's not about that it still makes me smile every time). Because now I have a permanent place to keep all those lists I make. because...*shouts over orchestra as it begins to play "get off" music* I love you guys ...*voice begins to crack*.. and and you're the loveliest *dignified sniff*.
I read more blogs than I could poke a large stick at and it really is quite marvelous. I've found heaps of inspiring women, crafty people, hilarious mum bloggers, people with amazing eye's for design and people that just make me smile.
In an inspired fasion, I would love to send 5 of you a mix cd. So leave a comment and I'll draw a winner (I promise I'm not into industrial screamo...). Consistent readers without a blog may also apply - that includes you Mumma! (though you should Like me on facebook!)

These are some of my favourite post's of this past year:
* My first things to be thankful for.
* Remember that time I got engaged...
* Changing & Growing up...

Link love for Friday...

 * Home grown veggies... is it worth it...

* Check out Mr Ashley English's (Mrs Enlglish is of Design Sponge fame) patience!

* Some drama in Taylors Square. 

* An artisits interpretation of the effects of acid...

* Got a jargon problem?

* My idea of heaven and...

* Some beautiful art work, photography collages. {Both Via Slow Lane}

* Went and saw this typography on Sunday... prettyness.

* And a cute music video... hope your weekend is just like this one...{via Black Eiffel}

Chat roulette

So has anyone ever been on chat roulette? I'd only advise it if you have a stomach of steel. There are many ahem... *whispers* penises to wade through before you can find anyone to have a real conversation with... It's an amazing concept really, there's a video screen of you from your computer and a blank one. You hit next and someone else will pop up in the video screen. If you don't like the look of them you can next them or... they might next you first. Eventually we found a nice chap in California wearing a chimpanzee mask... believe me this did not seem strange considering all the things we had speedily next-ed through previously. We chatted about where we were from, whether we liked the leaders of our countries and what kind of monkey we thought he was. Vaguely amusing to try... but I don't think I'll be going back in a hurry.

Absent

Lovelies, we have a show coming into the theatre this week and so I'm not gonna be around here much. I have a couple of scheduled things, but I just wanted to let you know... its not you..its me.

Pictures from the Sesse Islands in Uganda.

Today is a good day for:

* my favourite new old jumper. It even has an elbow lovingly darned.
* Staying in bed, drinking earl grey tea, and watching crap tv.
* Going for a walk in boots, wearing scarfes, kicking leaves, taking pictures.
* Drinking cider in a pub with a fire.
* Catching ferrys.
* Holding hands, rubbing noses.
* laughing really hard so you cry.
* Dreaming about the future.

I went to work instead, but in my mind I am doing all these things.

{via}

Autumn

It's my favourite I reckon. This morning I sipped earl grey tea from my favourite mug, read my book, snuggled under the doona, the window slightly open so I could feel the mild breeze on my neck and hear the rain pattering. Bliss, indeed. (I work till late so mornings are my relax time - in case you were wondering about my lazy habits...)
Autumn heralds scarfs, tights, cardigans, leaves, trees, soup & baking, boots and more reasons to hug and snuggle (as if more reasons were ever needed) also the desire to nest, read, walk, watch films, jump in puddles and drink port.

image {via}

image {via}

image {via}

image {via}

Wishful thinking

Today I am
reading: Oranges are not the only fruit, Jeanette Winterson
finishing: An entire packet of jelly beans.
working: 14 hour days
dreaming: Of being at home with my love, buying a house in the country, working in a cafe, having babies, baking and wearing a pinny, growing all the food I could ever want to eat...
wishing: I didn't feel so sad about making the right decision about something.
wondering: what to post about next and if I like my new blog header.
disliking: half the "music" on this dance show.
feeling: okay about my lighting operater skills.
tasting: the amazing risotto Timmy made me for dinner.
wanting: it to be home time.

{via}

5 senses friday

Hearing: The Stars. *love*
Seeing: endless possibilities. reddening tomatoes and strawberries, and a backpack waiting.
Smelling: dust (must vacuum), glowing tarmac
Feeling: sweet summer sun, floaty cotton, excited and in love.
Tasting: coffee and blueberry muffin.


Play along {via} lovely abbytryagain.

The Time Travellers Wife

The other night I went and saw The Time Travellers Wife at the movies. I love the book a lot, and thought it would make for a good film. My housey was equally excited and the boy came along because of the cool prospect of time travel that we told him about.
Well tell me if you think differently.. but I was bitterly dissapointed, and bummed to have to keep saying to hubby, oh in the book it isn't like that, in the book it's so much better. Now, of course the book is better, they almost always are, but seriously, it went SO wrong.
My critisisms in brief:
The Music: Underlying the entire film is an irritatingly pseudo romantic string score. The book has references to GREAT music. Iggy Pop, The Velvet Underground, The 70's - 90's of cool. None to be seen or heard in the film. Bummer. Instead the violins are humming in the background every time the film makers want to convey emotion.
The Script: Dear Lord. Could they make it anymore stagnent?? It almost seemed staged, instead of mimicking life, like a film script should. It made the actors jobs very hard, having to say the most obvious and cliched lines in a heartfelt way. It was clumsy and deliberate, and therefore took a large chunk out of the believeability of the film.
The Acting: Could of been better.
The Cinematography: Seemed to me to be inconsistent, with odd camera angel choices. And the way they did the whole dissapearing thing. Lame. It's an effect that has been used heaps before and was a real opportunity for the director to get creative. But he didn't.
Overall I felt it had been hollywood-ised. And/Or seriously mutilated by some producers down the end of the line. All the cool story lines in the book were cut out and what remained of the story was presented in such a slow and laboured way. I wish they had sped what there was up, and fitted in more of the interesting details of the story. The music, the sex, the fear, the need to run, the moment by the lake, the Gomez & Clare story line, the whole ending of the book when Clare is an old lady...

I give it 4 out of 10. A point each for the cuteness of the kids, the prettyness of the medow, Eric Bana's nice abs and Rachel McAdam's nice bum.

I give the evening itself 9 out of 10. It was so nice to have an evening free to go to the movies with friends, eat silly amounts of snack food, and sip wine after. Yay for a normal life!

the sea!

Yesterday I finished work early (after the Melbourne Cup horse race, every one just gave up on pretending to be working) and went with my lovely house mates and our lovely friends at St Michael's house to sculpture by the sea! It is my all time favourite art exhibition in Sydney. Every year sculptures are installed along the cliff walk between Tamarama beach and Bondi. Lots of them are just abstract shapes and things, but often there are moving ones, funny ones, thought provoking ones and just blissful ones. Then we swam in the sea! My first swim this Spring, and it was divine! So much fun splashing around with friends. Then we had fish and chips. THEN we went home and ate ice cream and blueberries. Wonderfulness!