She's Gotta Have It

I don't diet. But way back when I was in my late teens or early 20s and tried a couple of times, I noticed that the minute I decided I couldn't have a certain food, it was all I wanted.

Resolving not to buy anything unnecessary is the same sort of thing. Suddenly I NEED a white/cream blazer for summer, some metallic sandals, a couple of new scarves, maybe even a new suit for those occasional corporate moments ... or a maxi-dress.

Of course I don't need any of it. But I confess I snapped up a pair of True Religion jeans when they landed in my email inbox at a staggering discount. They are this cut, but not this wash or this stitching. And, miracle of miracles, they fit 100% perfectly, except for length. How many women out there wear size 25 jeans and are 6ft tall? I just have to wonder, given how LONG these are.

Tomorrow, apparently, I have to buy a bath. I'd much rather buy some more clothes or shoes or books ...

The Lost Weekend

It was a weekend of house stuff, mostly pulling out dreadful plants that having been growing wild for almost 30 years. On Sunday afternoon we did manage to have a small gathering of sorts - we invited all our current neighbours to come and have a look at the new place and drink a glass of bubbles with us. The picture above is our (haha) 'water view' from the upstairs living room, which has improved slightly since the large daytura (Angel's Trumpet) has now been removed. I must add that the mess at the bottom is the neighbour's backyard, NOT ours!

It was fun, and was the only time on the weekend when I wasn't dressed in ripped denim shorts and a faded, paint-spattered Nanowrimo t-shirt. Obviously enough, things sartorial were far from my mind, although the very warm weather (30 degrees on Sunday) did bring out everybody's summer wardrobes.

I celebrated by donning white jeans - so impractical, which is why they always feel slightly glamorous to me. I noticed when dashing up to the shops for supplies for Sunday afternoon that the maxi dress was EVERYWHERE. I'm still not sure about it. I can see the appeal but I'm not sure it's something I could do ... maybe because I'm too 'petite' (just say SHORT, people!). Or maybe because I'm not great with prints. Hmmm.

The Big Easy

Inspired by my inability to finish anything right now, I bought more yarn ...

I love the look of this simple cardigan, which is sort of a shrug with a bit of body added to it, so I decided to splurge. The sage colour is this picture is beautiful, but I worried that it might not go with enough things. I bought grey. Am I terminally DULL?!

Changing Lanes

Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. - John F. Kennedy

Today [this was written yesterday] is the day I get the keys to the new house. So it seems wonderfully fitting that my daily 'meditation' email was the quote above.

Of course, moving over the back fence is NOT a big deal. I've had much more momentous changes in the past. In fact, I used to be an itchy feet sort of person. Maybe that itself has changed?

Before this house, the longest I'd lived anywhere as an adult was almost four years - and that was our apartment at Bondi, which preceded this place. I think part of it is having kids. The big one is deeply averse to change; the little one is happy wherever you take it, but both of them love our area. We are part of the community, what with school and baseball and soccer and swimming ... and bumping into at least five people you know every time you go out. It's hard to break with that just for the sake of it.

I wonder whether it will change again when the kids leave home and we are empty nesters? Will we move again - I like the idea of a small house or apartment in the city and a small block of land in the country - or will we be SO habit-bound by then that we DIE in the same house!?

9 to 5

I know I'm lucky because I don't have to go into an office every day. I know I'm lucky because my work is something that fits my skills, indulges my love of solitude and pays reasonably.

Here are the Top 3 things I don't love about it:

1. Clients who think that they are writers. They brief you. You write exactly to brief. They change it all, with particular attention to adding words and syllables, then send it back to you so that you can take in their changes. You wonder why they hired a writer in the first place. You grit your teeth and bill them.

2. Clients who don't know what they want. They don't brief you. Instead, they call you in for meeting after meeting. You make suggestions. You submit proposals. They still don't know what they want. You go ahead and write something anyway. They discover what they DON'T want - which is, of course, what you've just written. Grit teeth. Bill.

3. Clients who think you sit around all day waiting for their call. They ring you or email you and say 'I need some help with this'. You say 'Fine, I can get it back to you by ...'. 'Oh no', they say, 'Actually I need it this afternoon.' You wonder how long it has been sitting on their desk. Depending on how often they pull this stunt, and how many other client sins they commit, you grit teeth and get it done, or say 'sorry, no can do'.

I am really complaining a lot at the moment, aren't I? I probably just need a slap and a good shake. Or as a friend of mine used to say 'Remember - at least you're not plucking chickens in the Western Suburbs'.

The House of Sand and Fog

Lordy, that was a sad movie. Then I read the book (I normally do it the other way around) and it was more than sad. It was bleak beyond belief.

So, a cheery introduction, no? I'm feeling a bit like that today. This morning I went (in the drizzle) for a final pre-settlement inspection of the half house we've just bought. It seems to have got even smaller than last time I looked at it ...

I have been dying to get the keys and get started on fixing it up, but my enthusiasm seems to have waned. I hate shopping because there are too many options, and I get overwhelmed - it seems to be the same with this renovating lark. Just as I think 'yes, I'll do it like that' some helpful person says 'oh, but have you thought about THIS?'.

Looking on the upside, there is a strange room that we have decided to call, rather pretentiously, the 'library'. In the short term we'll just pile all our bookcases in there - nine at last count; longer term we'll build them in right up to the ceiling and have one of those cool library ladders. The library also has a working fireplace and french doors onto the internal courtyard, so it's potentially a fabulous place to curl up with a book or some knitting ... there will be NO television in there.

Home Alone

I've just been in Perth visiting my oldest and dearest friend (we grew up together in Singapore) for a few days, which was great fun. While there I cooked a huge chilli crab lunch for family and friends and much eating, drinking and laughing was done by all.

Although I had a fabulous time, I did miss my people, and was very happy to see them all last night. This morning it was back to the airport again, dropping my mother off to catch a plane to visit her sister for a week.

So right now, for the first time in weeks and weeks, I am in my studio, all by myself. It is almost disconcerting ... I may even have to do some work.