Defining it

This is the kind of love I want.

Jim and Pam from The Office. I know they're fictional, but they depict genuine love and companionship. 

This is what I want.

Sex and the City 2 GIRL DATE

You read correctly! I already have a Girl date happening this Wednesday with a group of fabtastic gals. Sex and the City 2 frockbuster screening and dinner beforehand with the Green Goddess to get our fashion fix. Ask and ye shall receive amen.

This dress is fucking amazing. Since I don't have the budget to afford the real deal I'm going to dust off the old sewing machine and attempt to recreate it. I know my recent Choo purchase would team up a treat with something similar to this.

Tragically I don't even know who designed it!

Friend Finder

The great divide between those who are single and those who aren't is yawning miserably in Brisbane. As a late 20 something I'm feeling the pinch. This is a phenomenon, I'm hearing the same gripes from across the murky river, that isn't present in other cities.

Increasingly friends are pairing off, settling down, moving in, gearing up, crossing over and all these things are really much more important than just hanging out it seems. Makes it really hard to have an active social life!

Added to which, I feel like a newbie in my hometown. Yes it's all very familiar. I have friends and fam here who I absolutely adore. 

BUT

I feel like I'm a different person to who I was before I left for London. To reconcile Me Today with the life of Me Yesterday is not only hard bloody work, but completely illogical, lonely and stressful.

I must find more like minded, like situated peops to chill wit yall. I know things have to give and it's up to me. So I asked my long distance lovely angel Frenchie bestie for some straight shooting advise, the kind she's so good at and that I count on her for.

Her answer: Girl dates.

Hells bells. This will be tough, but I think she's right. Let's discuss strategy. To begin with, I need to source out some female companions who I have things in common with and since my gut has dutifully been reporting back to me more and more often on what it is that we'd like to be doing I'll be focusing on a few hobbies previously listed like yoga class, dancing, photography, volunteering, hiking and writing classes/courses.

Next is the invite. I don't even ask dudes on dates, let alone chicks. I'm hopeless at this stuff as I can be quite 'aloof' without meaning to be AT ALL. I used to get called a bitch in school because of this misconception. In truth, I'm shy. So it's going to take a lot of guts and effort and focus on my part to do the 'so let's swap numbers, do coffee, do you have an email' spiel. But you know what, I've done it before, I can do it again (I can hear Saffa T say in her South African twang "Pull yourself towards yourself!!!").

So there we go people. Yet another journey I'm embarking on. And if the previous journey's successes are anything to go on I'm feeling fairly confident!

Beer Balloon

This is Brisbane.

This is the kind of love I want.

Whiteboard Wit

Welcome to the first installment of "Whiteboard Wit". It's a very slow Friday arvo here at work, I've got a severe case of internet brain and I'm forcing myself through the last 10 minutes of today's work quota by distracting myself and other random passing colleagues by my whiteboard ghostwriter antics.

Note my dream house firmly magnetised there in the corner.

Meditation Tonight

After two weeks off I ventured back to my guided meditation session this evening. I've been feeling remarkably better this week (apart from the germ fest) but you know what I mean, internally, in my SELF. And whether that has to do with:

a) finally being able to release the past and the resulting negative tension build up;

b) being run off my feet with a number of rather large changes taking place in my life;

c) the Sherpa's miracle working hands;

d) embracing my Now;

e) all of the above; or

f) none of the above,

I'm not sure, but I know it's right. And good.

The Sherpa was surprised at how well I looked and said that it's as if a weight has been lifted from me. I like the sound of that. Furthermore I wholeheartedly agree with his observation. I feel lighter, clearer. Inspired.

It's a good place to be. I've worked hard to get here. I have a long way to go and I have the rest of my life to discover.

And I've developed a rad new skill: putting out a candle with the force of the channelled energy flow from my hand.

Namaste

Land of the Giants

It's a big life right now. There are a few mammoth things in the pipeline that I'm desperately wanting to vent on my little plot of web but simply can't; you and I both will have to wait. But for now, in honour of forth coming posts I present to you some other really big things found here in our gorgeous island home that will have to suffice in the meantime.

Big Prawn

Big Crab

Big Pineapple

Big Narni

Big shell

Big surfboard

Big Rex

Big omen

Big sign...(I know it doesn't really fit)

And the corker:

Big Golden Wellie

This is by no means an exhaustive list, though it did make me exhausted just getting these few together. I blame the germs I'm fighting the last of. You can find more big things here.

Wash me clean

This beautiful song is my next conquest:

Birdie

This is how I feel at the moment.

Oo-opaaaa!!!

Yesterday was a beautiful day in late May. Crisp air, clear blue skies and Greeks. Paniyiri was on at South Bank and while I'm still up to my eyeballs in tissues and coderal I put on a brave face and went to search out Brisbane's answer to Greek gods. Poorly. The haloumi, souvlaki and honey puffs compensated.

Greek wine is not the best. But I forced it down.

"Grozzie"

Sniper

My sister shares Greece's obsession with tiny sea creatures. GROSS

I wish Zorba dancing was offered as an exercise class at my local gym. It should be.

Guitar Playing

I know, I couldn't come up with a more original title to this post. I'm sick ok!!!

So I learnt to play the classical guitar throughout high school, five years to be exact. I won't tell you how many years ago that was but lets just say it was a few and long enough for me to forget most of my learnings having only picked up a guitar once since that time.

Mum suggested that I should start to play again and I was surfing that same brain wave so I took me down to the Guitar Shop on Le Trobe Terrace and bought this little baby:

Ain't she sweet? At $180 she was most likely the cheapest instrument there but I loved her butterscotch colouring and she makes a lovely sound.

So far we can play a few tunes, but I'm mastering Blackbird by the Beatles. Most people don't know it, I didn't. But its a lovely little song that takes massive coordination. Yes I'm saying I'm massively coordinated.

Someday I'll put a little clipping of my skilful rendition on the 'tube' but until that glorious day arrives here's the origin ale.

Soldier on

I have developed a head cold.

Horrible snot fest, red eyes and tiredness. Horrible.

On the bright side I got a free pair of rad stripy bed socks with my Codral cold and flu tabs.

Yesssss.

Meantime, I'm transporting myself to the gorgeous little home in my head:

ROBERT PATTINSON SIGHTING

It's true. I had a moment on the train this morning. As I was minding my own business, studiously doing my negotiation study homework, I noticed a dude get on and sit on the chair facing me a row removed.

I glanced at him briefly then went back to reading.

Then the penny dropped. I looked up again and lo! The chiseled features, the wily casually tousled up hair, the intelligent, intense eyes, even the same jacket as the one in picture! This guy was Edward Cullen but about three times better. Plus he was in here in the flesh!

Of course I was completely beside myself by that stage, my breath quickened as I desperately figured out how to approach him.

What kind of come on line would work on such a god? Should I offer up my neck to him?

Should I throw myself at his knees and beg "Kill me!??!" I would have.

But I had no balls. Completely gutless. We both got off at Central. He was about 6'6. Ahhhh. It was the BEST train ride I've ever had and I almost scraped up enough courage to slip him my phone number but chickened out, kept walking and regretted it. Made the mistake of telling my work colleagues who proceeded to confirm my gutlessness, tease me and then lecture me about having the confidence to approach this type of situation. Ironically the lecturers comprised the single and the divorced. Hm.

Regardless, I freely admit to being a Twihard and it follows that I'm now on the hunt for Brissie Edward. I will be stalking the trains every morning from now on. No more hiding behind my free trashy newspapers or self help books - I must be vigilant, poised for his reappearance. I have even posted a message in the MX free newspaper....

Melbourne Edition #3

Some photos - I do ok with my trusty little Canon (soon to be upgraded) and they're in no particular order...

I love airports. LOVE THEM. Love the smell, the movement

Cacti on Toorak Road

The incredibly ugly Luna Park face on St Kilda beach - hate it

Santa hard at work in his shop front on Bridge Road

Flinders Street Station of course...

The Yarra

Pointy

St Kilda Road, reminds me of a Parisian Street

Pounding the Pavement

Botanical Gardens

The Shrine of Remembrance

So Melbs was great. I had relatively good weather for my visit - "London cold" - which is brilliant because in the event that I move down there I have a whole winter wardrobe waiting for display on the streets of our nation's self professed 'fashion capital'. TICK

It's very picturesque for the most part. The Royal Botanical Gardens reminded me of Regents Park in London due largely to its deciduous trees and monuments. Plus the eye candy ain't that bad, even if it was a cool 11 degrees Celsius - bring on the unitard winter gear boys! TICK

Amazing Shrine of Remembrance - it houses each kind of Australian flag, ledgers containing names of the service men and women who enlisted and died in the Great war (1914-1918), and the remembrance stone (not to be confused with the Philosopher's stone) set in the centre of the floor inscribed with "Greater love hath no man". It is particularly beautiful given that on the 11th of November each year a ray of light shines in through the entrance and onto the word 'love' on the stone and will do so for the next 5000 years at least. Cool shit. TICK

Graffiti. Ok look I've lived in the biggest cities in the world. Some parts of NYC weren't all that great in terms of 'streetscapes' and London had it's fair share of unsavoury scribble, but seriously there isn't a building free of it in Melbs! I'm really not a big fan. It just makes the place look messy and like it needs a good hose down with an industrial high pressure nozzle and some white king. Maybe I'm just a snobovich. CROSS

I'll be honest, grungy Fitzroy isn't my thing. I would definitely consider living in South Yarra, Toorak, Port Melbourne or Richmond. If I had my way I'd take up residence on Collins Street so that I could gaze upon Chanel and Hermes until my eyes started to water. TICK

All of these things are important and nice but what really blew me away was the people.

1. Miracle of miracles, there were actually real, live, grown, well dressed, single men there; and

2. The girlfriend that I met up with, who I haven't seen in a couple of years and only briefly worked with, was absolutely the hostess with the mostess. She had organised dinner with a couple of her friends on Sat night to talk all things Melbourne and to convince me that it was an amazing city to be living in. I could not have felt more welcome and grateful for her warmth and sheer down to earth genuine nature. And the same went for her friends, they were so open and lovely and we had an absolute ball in an amazing gastro pub in Sth Melbourne. The girls even offered to swing by in the morning, give me a small tour, take me to a favourite place for brunch and then dropped me at the airport! Just so incredibly nice. I think in recent times I've been a bit disillusioned by the changing nature of friendships and this took me by surprise. If these are the kinds of peops rollin down south then count me in! DOUBLE TICK

So there we have it folks. There's obviously a lot more drivel I could crap on about but it's my bed time and the good lord knows I need my beauty sleep right now.

.....TICK!!!

*****Transmission Interrupted*****

This book has temporarily highjacked my blogging time and energy. Apologies, I know I owe you all a run down on the Melbourne trip and it's totally on its way, but this book has sort of got me hooked. Please don't judge it by its cover. Yes it's slightly trashy and I think I figured out the ending by the fifth page but its jam packed full of adventure, reinvention and heady sexual tension. I'm all up in that.

Watch this little slice of information superhighway re Melbs....

Universe, seriously?

Message from Mr Frog (obligatory wealthy French yacht broker friend):

Mr Frog: LJ I take flat in London but not there, for you to stay summer in London"

Me: thanks so much Mr Frog, such a generous offer but I'm in Melbourne this weekend.

Mr Frog: then you fly Melbourne to MC and then take flat in London after, I send fly ticket for you no problem

Universe: hahahahahahahhhahahaha

Fuck.

Melbourne Edition #2

Melbourne is welcoming me with open arms it appears. This morning I received a few emails for interviews and dinner dates so the ting of angst at being alone in the big smoke has now completely dissipated and is replaced with excitement and an amazing sense of freedom.

I know I’ve done loads of travelling in my long-legged life so far, but this trip seems fresh, like a new chapter is about to start. I’ve also managed to nab a seat in the pointy end of the plane – and rightly so - I'm kitted out in Melbourne chic for the journey. Leather jacket, Chanel ballet flats and a mop of rock n roll blonde hair (blow dried it last night and woke up to a seriously rad do).

Look out Melbourne...

Gut Guestimations

Good news. My gut finally came back to me with a memo on a few things we'd like to try out, including, but not limited to (bloody hate that legal jargony phrase, it's completely unnecessary in my mind, legal mastermind that I am):

writing

photography

yoga

French (men and language)

Golf

Meditation

Hiking

Art

Quilting

Gigging with just me and my guitar

Ballet

Ok so I've started the ones in red already which I'm enjoying so far.

The confusion in me never stops. I'm slowly figuring out what I want through the things I know I've tried and don't want. Process of elimination.

Having also downloaded a "find your true calling in life" set of questions I'm going to spend some time with myself in Melbs answering them. Interesting times ahead!

Backwater. I mean, Blackwater....

Occasionally I have to fly to Blackwater for work.

My mosquito

The red earth outback, and naughty me taking photos while driving!

Locals

My little working buddy. He kept appearing in all my files.

This time last year I was on a private yacht on the Cote d'azure sunning myself, champagne in hand, about to watch the Monaco Grand Prix. It's a crazy world.

Overheard

QR driver on the 5:03pm train to Ferny Grove: "please remember to take your belongings with you when you leave the train, if not you will be able to find them on ebay tonight. Happy bidding and good night".

This is my crazed 20-something INXS groupie look - the actual night in question - yes we had a photo shoot in the hotel hallway and promptly got busted - ROCK N ROLLLLL

(but that is totally my dress that I actually nabbed in Melbourne on a previous trip down there!!)

(oh and I was still finding knots from the 'fro' three days later - shocker)

A Weekend in Melbourne Edition #1

I've been deliberating for a while now as to a mini Aussie vacay down south and finally today I cashed in my Qantas frequent flyer points (24000 of them) and have booked a gorgeous weekend down in Melbourne for sheer pleasure and indulgence - for want of a better expression - I'm loving myself.

I just need to get out of where I am for a bit - to gain that amazing perspective you always get when you travel. I have a few meetings on Friday for work(ish) and after that I'm free as a bird.

But why Melbourne you ask? Honestly I wouldn't mind living there sometime in the future and the last time I was there I was a crazed early 20-something with a golden afro (thanks Bubble) getting drunk in the green room of the Crown with INXS (minus the glorious Michael H though)....

It's funny I don't really know many people in Melbs so I've had to scrounge up the few peops I do know to sort of rekindle the friendship flame. People, I need the inside scoop on the following:

• where to go


• what to do, where to eat


• where to shop, where to say


• where to be seen


• where to relax


• the best chai latte


• the best facial


• bike hire


• markets etc etc.

So far I've found this hotel to bunk in - it seems to be great value but then, photos are nortoriously deceptive!

Help and advice is greatly appreciated from any Melbournian gurus....

Oh and also, let me know if you want to hang out! I promise you a feature article in my blog...weeeeeeee!!

Heaven on Feet

My ridiculously wonderful purchase arrived today in the mail:





Andddd....

Tried them on already, perfect sizing and I would upload a piccie of them on my feet but seriously I'm in at work and I think Saffa T may reach over and bite my arm out of sheer jealousy.

Now I can walk around on my little bit of London even though I'm only there in spirit!

LOVE

Letter to my Gut

Hello Gut,

How are you feeling right now? You're a mischievous little bugger and you keep your secrets well hidden from my mind. You've been causing me a lot of strife over the last few years by being so passive, now is the time to rise up! Speak up! What is it that you desire? If you could have anything in the world, what would it be?

Why don't you have lunch with my heart, workshop it and then get back to my brain once you've come up with a few suggestions eh?

Lots of Love,

L

Blogging Buddies

Buy Me Love

Retail therapy should never be over looked and is absolutely a valid alternative for releasing tension full stop. Of late, I've been buying bags full of therapy and more often than not, therapy through the click of a mouse! C'mon people, you know you love a good shopping spree.

It's no secret I love labels and one of my most recent purchases was a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choo's from Net-a-Porter. Why you ask? Well why not?! It's the way the shoe fits my foot, it's the precision tailoring, the quality that I love so deeply - my feet deserve the very best and I consider it a sound investment. They arrive next week - countdown....

Theraputic benefits? It's more about the ability to purchase, the symbolisim; the handing over my savings card is a form of deep thankfulness for the means to have the things that I want. And whoever said money can't buy you happiness is a bloody liar.

I've just finished explaining to Saffa T and SunnyDays (another work colleague) my recent acquisitions and now, after their squealing disbelief about the price tag and the "but we're in BRISBANE why would you bother?!!" comments I'm feeling like I need to justify myself.

Look, I know these are just material items that will eventually leave my possession, or I will eventually leave them, but for right now, the planning, the act of acquisition and owning something that I want to have, brings me happiness and isn't that what I'm striving for? Besides, I'm exceptionally good at it proven by nabbing four new dresses from ASOS.co.uk last night which also arrive next week, and of course I don't care if they're summer fun and I'm skidding on into Winter, they were a bargain and I scored.

FUN, HAPPY, LOVING

Daily Affirmation

I am a divine expression of life. I love and accept myself where I am right now.

Oh my Blog!

Thank you MamaL for referring me to the top blog you found! It makes me excited to be a blogger!Not fancy, just excellent content. xx

Sherpa Session #4

Saw the Sherps last night again. Even before I'd walked into the Cottage I could feel the doubt creeping into the corners of my mind, the questions - is this really doing anything? Is it working? I'm so impatient - INSTANT GRATIFICATION. It's the bain of my existence. I want it all and I want it NOW NOW NOW. NOW. And this whole spirituality and oneness quest I'm on is no exception! It's been a few weeks of doing my utmost to love myself, do things that I love doing, treating my body with respect, feeding it nutritious tidbits, meditating, chanting affirmations to myself in the mirror but I still rocked up to my session last night feeling like I'm in a stalemate.

So the Sherpa, being his yoda-ry all knowing oracle self, picked it like a nose. Damn my aura! He istantly sensed my hostility and doubt and we launched into a discussion highlighting the fact that I'm constantly thinking about things. Dah yes I know. But he meant that I need to start feeling things instead and be lead from my gut more. Tune into what it is in my heart, my true core.

Me (enthusiastic): "Yeah I think I can do that!"
Sherpa: "DON'T"
Me: ?

But the key is in the thinking. Or not. I think. :) My mind is a gift, the CEO of my company and without it I wouldn't be able to function, but it is not who I AM.

Much to think about (there I go again!). Sherps didn't re-book me, rather has sent me out into the big wide world to start feeling around. Said I would know the right time to come back for a session. Honestly I felt a little bewildered by that, almost rejected but the truth is he's right. The answer to my internal struggles is not the Sherpa, it is me. He is merely a guide, but admittedly I was beginning to use him as a crutch, a part of me hoping deep down that he would give me answers, a To Do list, a format or template, a precedent, anything to find peace. He's certainly given me guidance, but there is no template, no structure for this so I have no choice but to do as he says and feel my way through.

Turn Turn Turn

The seasons changed last night. Literally as I was walking home from the train station, a realisation came over me that I felt that familiar 'bite' to the air. And all of a sudden this morning I had to completely rethink my work wardrobe (was going with the white pencil skirt but instead have opted for black capris, it being casual Friday and all..) as there was no getting out of bed without my big pink fluffy dressing gown and slippers!

Brisbane doesn't have as distinctive visual seasonal changes as London. Some trees are getting barer but the roads aren't coated with orange maple leaves whipping around your feet. The quality of the air gets 'crisper' and we lose the debilitating humidity of the Summer months, but all in all, it just gets slightly colder and that's really it.

This is the first Australian winter I've had in two years so I'm looking forward to the mildness - and to giving my London Winter wardrobe a run in my home town!

Green Tea and Ceremony

I drink a crap load of green tea, daily. In fact if I think about it, I’ve consumed litres upon litres of the stuff over the last 7 or so years. So I did a little digging and found a few Green Tea facts that will hopefully convert you – if you aren’t a subscriber already!

Origins
Chinese legend holds that in 2737 B.C Emperor Shen Nung was boiling water when leaves from a nearby tree blew into his pot. He was amazed with its beautiful smell and taste. Later in 800 A.D Buddhist monks returned from China to Japan bringing with them Green Tea. Green Tea is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, that have undergone minimal oxidation during processing which is why it is more special than your average black or oolong varieties. The leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound (below) from being oxidized - so it's purer.

Technical Stuff
Green Tea is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. There are also links between the amount of Green Tea consumed and the ability to stimulate fat oxidization leading to weight loss, reducing the chance of heart disease and even promoting healthy teeth and gums (according to new studies).

Ceremony and Spirituality
Green Tea is beneficial in more ways than purely physical. The Japanese have a traditional Green Tea Ceremony that has been practiced for thousands of years and the theory behind it is quite beautiful and incidentally fits nicely into my spiritual journey theme that is starting to develop on my gorgeous blog!

Tea ceremony developed as a "transformative practice", and began to evolve its own aesthetic, in particular that of wabi. Wabi, meaning quiet or sober refinement, or subdued taste, is characterized by humility, restraint, simplicity, naturalism, profundity, imperfection, and asymmetry [emphasizing] simple, unadorned objects and architectural space, and [celebrating] the mellow beauty that time and care impart to materials.

The ceremony itself is a sequence of movements, ritualistic cleansing of the tea making utensils and the slow practiced preparation of the tea itself which is a powdered tea called 'matcha'. Each movement has a specific purpose for instance there are movements incorporated to move the sleeves of the kimono aside for pouring.

The ceremony recognises that every human encounter is a singular occasion that will never recur again in exactly the same way, and so every aspect of the tea ceremony is savored. This is such a beautiful sentiment, meditative and Zen.

There isn't much of an oportunity to attend such a ceremony in Brisbane, I think there may be a haven in the Gold Coast hinterland that provides lessons on the art.
Meanwhile, I have my own tea rituals. Each morning I make myself a cup of 'greenie' and go sit and chat with my mum around her fish pond while she feeds pellets almost directly into the mouths of her goldfish! Then around 10:30am at work I go get a green tea in my 'L' cup (L standing for Lovely of course) and I will usually close out my day with a lovely cup of a concoction I picked up at Perfect Potion to promote sweet dreams.

So there's my tea and ceremony.