Winners - 2 Days in New York

The chance to win tickets to see "2 Days in New York", Julie Delphy's new film certainly generated a lot of interest.  Thanks everyone who entered and shared your ideas of where you'd most like to spend two days.

Hopscotch Films generously provided me with three double passes to give away, plus one for me to use.  A friend shared her pass to see the film with me the other day, so I don't need the extra pass - I now have four to give to divacultura readers.

I loved reading your contributions and have chosen four winners on the basis of originality and creativity.  Congratulations to:

• Tania C who would like to spend her two days visiting the afterlife
• lukeod who wrote a little rhyme identifying Budapest as his destination of choice
• Cazbar would like to go to Antarctica and thinks two days might be all she could take
• Sue R says two days in a five star hotel being pampered like a Queen would suit her just fine!

I can't make any of those dreams come true, but I can send you some movie tickets.  Winners will need to contact me via the email link on my profile page with your mailing address so that I can send you your tickets.

You can review all the entries in the comments at the end of this post.

Enjoy the film and don't forget to stop by and let us know what you thought.  If you weren't a winner this time, stay tuned!  Or go make your two day wish actually happen!

If I could spend two days anywhere, I'd love to go to Easter Island.  It would probably take me two days to get there, but the trip would be worth it!

Thank you Hopscotch Films!

My favourite things this week

1. The electrician who called to let me know he was running 10 minutes late!  Miraculous and very courteous.  He was lovely and helpful when he got here too.

2. Car trips with a fellow actor to get to a job on the other side of town.  Even though it was a very early start, two days in a row, we enjoy each other's company and it wasn't much of a hardship.  We spent the time revising our roles, talking about stuff and being silly.

3. A visit and dinner with a very good friend.  Life had kept us apart for about a year which is just too long.  I really value my relationships and this one is important to me.

4. The vegetable curry I made accompanied by my new favourite food product, Rice Plus.  I love rice and made the switch to brown or basmati a while a go, but this take rice to a whole new level.  It's delicious and full of goodness and I can't imagine going back to plain old rice again.  (I have no association with the product - I'm just a very happy consumer.)

5. Giving things to my readers!  There's still time to be in the running. TO WIN a double pass to see "2 Days in New York" comment on this post, telling us where you'd like to spend two days and why.  Entries close  Friday, 30 November.  Winners will be announced on the blog.  Don't forget to check back and see if you've won - you'll need to provide your mailing address details.

Passes are valid during the season in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide and the ACT.

Good luck!

2 Days in New York - giveaway

Image courtesy Hopscotch Films

My friends at Hopscotch Films continue their wonderful streak of generosity by sharing the love with readers of divacultura.  They've given me three double passes to share with readers to see "2 Days in New York".  I really enjoyed the 2007 film "2 Days in Paris" .

Check out the trailer here.

Here's some more info from Hopscotch about the film:

"Julie Delpy strikes back - as writer, director and actor - with a 'sequel' to her much-loved success '2 Days in Paris', a film that redifined the words 'romantic' and 'comedy'.  Picking up a few years down the line, neurotic Marion (Delpy) has broken up with boyfriend Jack and now lives with a new love and child in the Big apple,  Marion's new beau is Mingus (Chris Rock), a radio host and journalist, and they live cozily in a New York apartment.  But their life is upended by a two-day visit from Marion's French family: her jolly father, her oversexed sister and her sister's outrageous boyfriend.  The French trio hilariously have no boundaries or filters...and no person is left unscathed.  The different cultural backgrounds make for an explosive mix, and a deliciously witty romp of a film."

TO WIN a double pass comment on this post, telling us where you'd like to spend two days and why.  Entries close next Friday, 30 November.  Winners will be announced on the blog.  Don't forget to check back and see if you've won - you'll need to provide your mailing address details.

Passes are valid during the season in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide and the ACT.

Good luck!

And the winners are....

Congratulations to Mousicles, John B. Cahill and Merryn!  You've each won a double pass to see "Bachelorette".

Please send me an email with your mailing address and I'll post your passes to you.

Thanks for sharing such great stories too.

You can read their responses to talk about the person they've known longest and where they met over here.

Keep reading for more chances to win!

Win film passes - 3 to give away.

Image courtesy Hopscotch Films

My friends at Hopscotch Films have generously provided three double passes to the film "Bachelorette" for divacultura readers.*

"Bachelorette" was an official selection in the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and stars Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan and Rebel Wilson.

From Hopscotch Films: 

A group of best friends since high school reunite in Manhattan for the wedding of their pal Becky (Wilson), who they cruelly nickname Pig Face. There's the competitive, Princeton-grad ice-queen Regan (Dunst), who begrudgingly accepts her role as maid of honour despite her horror that her less-attractive friend is getting married before her; cynical wild-child Gena (Caplan), who's determined to confront her high school ex who broke her heart; and the ditzy Katie (Fisher), who is all bubbly exterior until you scratch the surface. 
The single ladies are determined to put their bitterness aside and have an awesomely hedonistic bachelorette party. Armed with razor-sharp insults, a free spirit for fun and a pack of groomsmen, these modern femmes (or mean girls!) embark on one very long and emotional night of misadventure. Bachelorette is the debut feature by writer/director Leslye Headland and is a sassy, funny and sometimes romantic ride that never forgets to celebrate the complexities of female friendship.

You can watch the trailer here.

To win one of three in-season double passes: leave a comment at the end of this blog telling us where you met your oldest friend.  Entries close Saturday 10 November 2012.  Winners will be drawn randomly, announced on the blog and contacted individually.

Good luck!

* Passes are valid even with a "no free tickets" listing at participating Australian cinemas.

Sunday slideshow (on Saturday) & publishing update

 Yes, it's Saturday.  Sunday is the day I feature my photos from the week, but this week is going to be crazy, so I'm doing it now.  I've been receiving some great feedback about my photos - I'm pleased that you like them.

My usual daily publication schedule will be interrupted this week and I'm not sure when I'll be able to publish.  I'll be back in business next Saturday, 8 September.  

In the meantime, if you need a fix, why not trawl through the archive and read some of my older stuff?  Or click on the suggestions at the end of each post and see where you end up.  There's also my "What I've made" and "What I'm reading" pages to explore.  You might even find something to inspire you.

And don't forget the GIVEAWAY of five packs of gratitude cards from the The Gratitude Card Project. Just leave a comment over on the Question Time post telling us who you would like to thank.  I love reading all your comments.

And now, here's this week's slideshow:

Vintage cigarette advertising
(c) divacultura 2012

An interesting instruction
(c) divacultura 2012

Outdoor tables at Kinfolk Cafe, Bourke Street, Melbourne
(c) divacultura 2012

Classic inner city.  The cream Vesper looks great against the dark green wall.
(c) divacultura 2012

The ceiling of the aptly named Cathedral Arcade in Melbourne.
(c) divacultura 2012

Abstract: Looking through the tram window.
(c) divacultura 2012

Looking down Collins Street.  Melbourne Town Hall on the right.
(c) divacultura 2012

Elizabeth Street.  I often look up at this building.  Can you see the table and chairs and plants?
(c) divacultura 2012

My favourite things - this week

1.  My new piano! I bought it last Sunday and it was delivered this morning and I've already given it a thorough workout.  Playing music has always been my way of relaxing and expressing myself.  I also find the way music exercises both the left and right brain amazing.  It's not the best piano on the market, but it's the one that was affordable and would fit in my home.  I've never owned a digital piano before - it feels just like the real thing and I can plug in headphones or turn the volume down if I want to play at unsociable hours.

2. The ability to download and print music online for a fraction of the price of buying a book in a shop is magic.  When I owned a piano over twelve years ago, this capacity didn't exist.  Now, I can even choose what key I want the piece in!  Marvellous.

3. Bach and Phillip Glass.  Two of my favourite composers.  I like the repetition and steadiness of the music.  Glass is always like that.  Bach isn't.  I've dug out my book of Bach's two part inventions and have enjoyed reacquainting myself. I enjoy the symmetry of these pieces and the way both hands contribute equally to the musical conversation.

4. Melbourne!  The days are getting longer.  The weather is more erratic.  The people are still fantastic and there are lots of hidden places filled with people doing interesting things.

5. The Gratitude Card Project!  It felt really great to give my first card to the shop assistant who helped me when I bought a new pair of jeans yesterday.  It seemed like the perfect pair would never be found.  One pair was too tight here, and too baggy there.  The next pair would be too baggy here and too tight there.  The next would require me to have legs as long as stilts and not care how I looked.  The woman serving me tirelessly and happily brought me different sizes, shapes and colours until the perfect pair was found.  When I first gave her the card she looked a bit suspicious, but then her face was illuminated with a wide smile.  I felt good.

GIVEAWAY!
Don't forget you could be one of five lucky readers to get your very own pack of 10 gratitude cards.  All you have to do is leave a comment over at yesterday's Question Time telling us who you would like to say thank you to.  By next Friday please!   Open to all readers, wherever you live.  I really enjoy reading your comments.

Question Time - who is Jenny Peers?

A couple of weeks ago I received an email from Jenny Peers.  I'd obviously signed up to her mailing list when I saw her art somewhere.  In a moment of space, I read this email and learned about her Gratitude Card Project.  I had to speak to this woman!  The idea of creating a beautiful way to commemorate a moment of gratitude appealed immensely.  Combining it with social media to explore interconnectedness made the whole thing even more interesting.  I signed up to be an ambassador immediately.

My cards came wrapped in purple tissue paper it was like receiving a gift.  They are gorgeous and I felt a pang of regret at the thought of giving them away.  Then I realised that commemorating a moment of gratitude with something beautiful is significant and generous.  Jenny found the mandalas which are printed on the cards through ordinary sources like nature and textiles.  I can't wait to give them away and show my appreciation to people.  (I regularly thank people, but I think the significance of this can often be lost in the hurly burly of our lives.  And people often aren't very good at receiving thanks!)

We met yesterday at The Hub in Melbourne and had a lively conversation over a couple of hours.  We discovered that our lives overlap in interesting ways.  I learnt a lot!  I hope you enjoy meeting Jenny Peers as much as I did.

What inspired the Gratitude Card Project?
There's no simple answer to that.  It's a confluence of my interests.  I wear lots of hats.  I'm particularly interested in organisational culture.  To create a culture of innovation there needs to be organisational creativity, which needs collaboration, which needs trust which needs emotional maturity. I took myself on a "solo corporate retreat" to do a life review.  It was about exploring what I was put on earth to do.  I devised a set of rules for living.  Gratitude was one of these things

What do you hope to achieve with the Gratitude Card Project?
It's a combination of art, social science experiment and chaos and complexity theory.  I'm interested in the idea that one simple act can cause change.  What happens as a result of that act?  I'm also tracking where the cards go.  The cards are all numbered.  This enables us to note and remember the moment of gratitude.  The facebook page is a place to keep track and share stories.  If you're not on facebook you can still stay in touch via email.

I have this stuck on my fridge to remind me each day:  "Globally, there is a groundswell of opinion that the problems facing our planet can only be fixed in a spirit of creative collaboration, requiring a new way of interacting and being in the world.  So I am stepping up to the plate to do what I can to foster this new way of working, living and finding solutions.  My work will be with individuals, groups and organisations."

What are you grateful for?
Little things: health, my 5 faculties, living in this wonderful city, family, girlfriends, music.  Today.  At the end of each day I think about three things I am grateful for.  Even on the worst day there are always things to be grateful for.

If you were in charge for a day, what's the one thing you would do?
I'd wave my magic wand and rebalance the world's yin and yang.

What's your favourite word?
Curious.

If you could script your dying words what would they be?
"That was interesting."  I'd like that as my epitaph too.

What gets your hanky in a twist?
Ignorance.  Channel 7. Prejudice.  Politicians fiddling while Rome burns.  People talking at me.

If I wasn't doing what I'm doing now I'd be...
...doing something I've already done.  I'd be living out who I am, my life's purpose.  I like to think about a poppyseed.  In that tiny seed are all the instructions to make a poppy - the hairy stem, the petals, the colour, the stamen - everything that a poppy is.  That's what a life is.

Find out more and get a set of gratitude cards at the website: http://gratitudecardproject.com/
Follow and share stories on Twitter: @gratitudecards
Join the conversation on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Gratitude-Card-Project/218709621529387?ref=ts

START A RIPPLE OF YOUR OWN!
Jenny is generously offering five packs of 10 gratitude cards to giveaway to 5 lucky readers.  To be in the running to start a ripple of your own, leave a comment on this post and tell us what you'd like to thank someone for.

Entries close on Friday 7 September 2012 and are open to all readers, where ever you live.

And the winners are...!

What a pleasure it has been to read your comments as a result of the giveaways I've been conducting.  I hope you're all excited, because I'm about to announce the winners!

Firstly, seven people responded in relation to tickets to see The Sapphires, courtesy of Hopscotch Films.  To enter, you were asked to share your thoughts on your favourite musical film.

The Sound of Music is still the One for a lot of people, although Sue B's story about spontaneously breaking into "I am sixteen going on 17" is almost as good!  Little Shop of Horrors, Cabaret, Guys and Dolls and Hot Mikado also scored a mention.  You can read all the comments here.

But KB took the cake with her flattering answer.  Her favourite musical is anything that I (divacultura) am in!  She is clearly very discerning.

My money goes to Chicago, but I'll also quietly admit to be partial to a cheesy Elvis movie!  I love listening to Elvis sing, even if many of the movies were pretty silly.  It was never long to wait for the next song.  When I was a teenager my favourite musical film was The Pirate Movie, mainly because of the presence of Christopher Atkins.  This embarrassing fact did help my trivia team win an important round when I was the only person in the whole room who recognised one of the songs.  So there!  Apart from that, my all time favourite musical has never been made into a film, but will be on stage in Melbourne soon - Chess.

KB, Cat Black, Merry, Kim, Mousicles, Sue B and Paul S, you've won a ticket.  Please visit the "about me" page and use the email link to send me your mailing address so I can send your tickets.e!

The other giveaway is my birthday present to readers to celebrate divacultura turning one.  I have enjoyed reading comments about why you read.  Thank you!  This blog started as a writing exercise for me but is enriched by the community of dedicated readers.  I love reading your feedback here and on facebook and twitter.

I said I would give away two pairs of my hand knitted socks, one to a local reader and one to an overseas reader, based on whose comments I liked best!

It has been hard to decide.  There are many quotes I could use on the "cover" of the blog (or book, when I write it).  Here's what I liked...

"I'm impressed you see details that we often don't have time to appreciate." Mousicles.

"You're like the Oprah of blogging." John B. Cahill.

"I love reading Diva." Danielle.

"Bravo & kudos to you for your massive creative exercise that has honed many of your talents and been a pleasure for us to share in. Very generous of you." Cat Black.

"You continue to ablaze me with your dedication, wit, passion, vocabulary and all round delightfulness." Warwick.

"I love your enthusiasm for the everyday and your sense of humour. Also, I see some qualities in your personality similar to those I most admire in my mum (optimism, interest in politics, common sense, sharp feminine wit)." Tracey Dundon.  

I feel all tingly now!

The local prize goes to Rose Wintergreen.  She wrote a song! Here are the lyrics to read along while you listen.  Thank you Rose! And congratulations.  I'll be in touch to organise your socks.  (In case you missed it, find out more about Rose on Question Time.)

I wanna read Divacultura
I wanna be Divacultura

She's there almost every day
Writing things I wouldn't know how to say
Seeing things differently
Sprinkling colour on everything

I wanna read Divacultura
I wanna be Divacultura

She turns spam into entertainment
Shows that creativity's all how you frame it
Seeing things differently
Sprinkling colour on everything

I wanna read Divacultura
I wanna be Divacultura

She digs deep with her juicy questions
Shining light on things people wouldn't otherwise mention
Seeing things differently
Sprinkling colour on everything

I wanna read Divacultura
I wanna be Divacultura
I wanna read Divacultura
I wanna be Divacultura

The overseas prize goes to Corenne who has also featured on Question Time.  As Corenne said, she's been here for most of it.  Corenne, let me know your mailing address and I'll send you your socks.

I've decided to give away the remaining three passes for The Sapphires.  After a random draw, conducted out of a  cake tin in my kitchen (without government regulators) Danielle, Tracey Dundon and Warwick have all won a pass.  Please contact me via the "email me" button on the "about me" page with your mailing address.

I hope that you continue to enjoy divacultura over the next year.  I'm already looking forward to the second birthday!  Thanks for reading.

Question Time - who is Annemarie Lloyd?

This week's guest is a woman I've never met, but whom I feel I know.  We met over the virtual Scrabble board on facebook over a year ago and she's been beating me regularly since then!  As we started chatting, we discovered we shared quite a few passions - music being one of them.  

I'm yet to see her perform, but it's on my list of "must do's"!  

Lately, we've been pondering the popularity of the Shades of Grey books (we don't really get it) and talking about the appeal that the city of Darwin holds.

1. Who is Annemarie Lloyd?

Annemarie Lloyd as herself

Annemarie Lloyd is a complex individual. While I think I’m hilarious (and am not shy to admit as much), I’m also a quiet corner dweller when it suits the mood. I am at once creative and analytical, and this can cause some internal arguments. I am a capitalist and a hippy all at once. Confused? Try it inside my head.

2. What inspires you to perform?

I love to sing. I love to make people smile and laugh. I am inspired by great songs, great sound and a room full of people waiting to see what you have in store for them. Using my voice in as many different ways as possible is a real turn on for me. If I had to sing the same style/genre every day I would have stopped performing years ago.

3. What's your work routine?

I have two jobs. One a vocalist/entertainer, the other being Remedial Massage. The early/middle part of the week belongs to remedial massage and the business side of my endeavours. So apart from a couple of days a week in my massage rooms, there’s cleaning massage towels (along with costumes and wigs), computer work – accounting, BAS etc along with learning new songs, invoicing and marketing for the months ahead in the music industry. Also reminding/re-reminding people about their massage appointments (via SMS) and then changing and re-arranging according to their responses ….

…. Sorry, just had to take a call about another appointment change …

Later in the week (generally) are the gigs/shows. If it’s a show, the whole day leading up to it might be in preparation – packing costumes, arranging charts for musicians, early setup/soundcheck etc. If I can, I get a rest in the afternoon prior, even if it is in my car. If it’s a simple duo/solo gig, there’s not much prep, just packing, driving & setting up.

4. What's your favourite word?

Cumbersome. A high school English teacher used to use it all the time. I never knew what it meant when she started, it was just this word that rolled around the classroom and has a satisfying amount of consonants and syllables.

5. If you could script your dying words, what would they be?

Ok, that was interesting … what’s next?

6. What gets your hanky in a twist?

People who walk behind reversing cars in shopping centre car parks.

7. What do you want to be when you grow up? Is the answer the same as it would have been when you were 8 years old?

Hmmm..."grow up". There’s a notion. I often wonder why people who are the same age as me seem older. Does it mean I haven’t grown up? I don’t know. I guess I want to be a singer and I did when I was 8 so that worked out ok. As I actually do (kind of) grow up though, I realise that what you do is not who you are.

8. What are you reading?

I’m reading a trilogy that I stumbled upon when I first did a Kindle search for “50 Shades of Grey”. More adventure than dominant/submissive with a lot more wearing of clothes. Definitely a light-weight series, but fun. Entitled the Alexis Stanton Chronicles, the books are called: Colour Me Grey, Shades of Grey and Reflections of Grey.

These books came up on the same page at Amazon Kindle when I first typed in 50 Shades of Grey and have held my interest more. Mind you, I have a healthy sex life so do not feel the need to live vicariously through a submissive to “save my marriage” or various other justifications that I’ve heard on the radio about this fascinatingly dull series of books.

9. Finish this sentence, "If I wasn't singing I'd be a lot wealthier!"


IT'S MY BIRTHDAY & YOU GET THE GIFTS!
As I contemplate renewing my commitment to divacultura for another year, I feel excitement and affection.  Thank you for sharing some of your time with me. As a thank you gift - and so I can gain a better sense of who's out there - I'll be giving away a pair of my hand knitted socks to two very lucky readers, where ever you are in the world (ie two readers will receive a pair of socks each).  To be in the running, leave a comment on this post by Friday 17 August 2012, stating why you like reading divacultura. My favourite responses will receive the prize (my decision is final).  Why not take the opportunity to sign up and follow too! 

And there are still passes to see The Sapphires available here for Australian-based readers.

The Sapphires - ticket giveaway

Regular readers will know that I love going to the movies.  One thing I love more than going to the movies, is winning free movie tickets so that I can treat myself and a friend.  Well, now I'm going to share that experience with ten lucky (Australian-based) readers!

My generous friends at Hopscotch Films have shared the love and I have ten 2-for-1 tickets for The Sapphires.

I saw the stage show here in Melbourne a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the story told with such humour and great music.  

Here's the blurb from Hopscotch Films: 

The Sapphires is an inspirational tale set in the heady days of the late ‘60s about a quartet of young, talented singers from a remote Aboriginal mission, discovered and guided by a kind-hearted, soul-loving manager. Plucked from obscurity, the four spirited women with powerhouse voices - called The Sapphires - are given the opportunity to entertain American troops in Vietnam. Catapulted onto the world stage as Australia's answer to the Supremes, their journey of discovery offers them not only the chance to show off their musical skills, but find love and togetherness, experience loss and grow as women.

The Sapphires is an adaptation of the hugely successful Australian stage musical of the same name, and is inspired by the remarkable true story of writer Tony Briggs' mother and three aunts. The four Sapphires are joyfully played by AFI Award winner Deborah Mailman, Australian pop sensation Jessica Mauboy and newcomers Miranda Tapsell and Shari Sebbens. Bridesmaids actor Chris O'Dowd delivers a tour de force comic performance as their manager, that is at once incredibly funny, likeable and genuine. 
Receving a ten minute standing ovation at the prestgious Cannes Film Festival, The Sapphires is a crowd-pleasing combination of comedy, heart and romance and an unbeatable soul music soundtrack, set against the racial and social upheaval of the late 1960s. A jewel-bright charmer and an Australian classic, The Sapphires is not to be missed.

Check out the trailer for the movie here.

TO WIN: Leave a comment on this post telling us what your favourite musical film is by Sunday, 19 August 2012.  Passes will be allocated in order of comments made, so get in fast!

And don't forget...

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY & YOU GET THE GIFTS!  Only one more week to enter!
As I contemplate renewing my commitment to divacultura for another year, I feel excitement and affection.  Thank you for sharing some of your time with me. As a thank you gift - and so I can gain a better sense of who's out there - I'll be giving away a pair of my hand knitted socks to two very lucky readers, where ever you are in the world (ie two readers will receive a pair of socks each).  To be in the running, leave a comment on this post by Friday 17 August 2012, stating why you like reading divacultura. My favourite responses will receive the prize (my decision is final).  Why not take the opportunity to sign up and follow too! 

My favourite things - this week.

I've been on the road this week, so my favourite things are travel related.  (I could also write a list of my unfavourite things, but I won't.)

1. Room service!  I've been a few places this week. This was a business trip and it was pretty intense.  I arrived in Coffs Harbour in the middle of the afternoon.  The sky was very blue and my overcoat was unnecessary (I would need it later in Canberra).  I checked in to my hotel and made myself a cup of tea.  I checked email, returned some calls, ironed my clothes and prepared for the next day.  At about 4:30 I went for a walk, enjoying just being in a different place.  I decided to order room service for dinner.  The menu was interesting and I ordered a piece of rib fillet steak topped with a soft shell crab!  It was delicious and I ate it while wearing pyjamas and watching TV.  Room service is a nice treat sometimes.

2. My personal taxi driver.  I've had my personal taxi driver since before I moved to Melbourne twelve years ago.  Charlie and Gary are completely reliable, the cab is clean and they're funny.  Highly recommended to take one of the stressful, unpredictable parts out of travel.

3. My prepacked toiletry bag.  I learnt this trick years ago when I was doing the fly out Monday morning, fly home Friday night routine.  I have my toiletry bag permanently packed with travel sizes of the stuff I use.  There's no last minute scrambling around.  It lives in my suitcase.

4. My Sony e-reader.  I finished three books this week and started another one.  In the olden days that would have meant lugging them with me or buying another book at the airport - frustrating when I would think of all the unread books filling my shelves at home.  Now all I need is my e-reader.  Not only do I have a selection of books available to choose from (I keep it well stocked), but I have several dictionaries available also.  Before I had one, I never thought I'd want one.  Then when I was given one, I wasn't sure I'd use it.  Now, I can't imagine life without one.  Currently I'm reading The Richmond Conspiracy by Andrew Grimes.  I have to finish before book group on Sunday.

5. Vacant seats.  I don't know how it happened, but I'm very glad it did: on all five flights I took this week I had a vacant seat beside me.  Even on a short haul flight, this is bliss.

And for this week, there's a sixth thing on the list: the public art in Canberra.  It seems that on every corner and in other unexpected places, there is art.  Of course, I took some photos to share with you.

I noticed this spectacular woman on the way out of the new part of Canberra airport.  She's quite something.

(c) divacultura 2012

Taken from inside at the top of the escalators
(c) divacultura 2012

Not drowning...waving. I love this photo.
(c) divacultura 2012

Big foot
(c) divacultura 2012

Drain cover in Garema Place, Civic.
(c) divacultura 2012

Giant silver pillow, Garema Place, Civic
(c) divacultura 2012

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY & YOU GET THE GIFTS!  Only one more week to enter!
As I contemplate renewing my commitment to divacultura for another year, I feel excitement and affection.  Thank you for sharing some of your time with me. As a thank you gift - and so I can gain a better sense of who's out there - I'll be giving away a pair of my hand knitted socks to two very lucky readers, where ever you are in the world (ie two readers will receive a pair of socks each).  To be in the running, leave a comment on this post by Friday 17 August 2012, stating why you like reading divacultura. My favourite responses will receive the prize (my decision is final).  Why not take the opportunity to sign up and follow too! 

Publication schedule this week - quick update

Publishing on divacultura may be erratic this week.  I will be all over the place, with my attention focussed elsewhere.

I'll be back with Question Time which will be published later than usual on Thursday night.

In the meantime, if you need a fix, why not delve back into the archives? (The links are on the right hand side of the page.  Click on a month, close your eyes and just click, you never know what you may re/discover. Or visit my What I've Made page for inspiration or What I'm Reading if you're looking for something longer to read.

Thanks for your engaging and thoughtful comments about why you read divacultura...keep 'em coming.  I love reading comments and I do respond.  There's an added incentive for you at the moment.  As part of my birthday celebrations I'm offering a small reward - one for Australian readers and one for overseas readers.
Details are here.

Happy First Birthday - divacultura celebrates!

Today is divacultura's first birthday! On Thursday 28 July 2011, I wrote "Beginnings", the post that outlined my vision for divacultura's incarnation as a blog.

Looking back on that first post, I struggle to remember what my original title choice was.  After some hard thinking I remembered.  I'm glad that my longed-for title wasn't available.  I have the right title!

One of the reasons I started blogging was to create a daily writing habit.  I had had one many years ago, but had lost my match fitness.  I needed to start exercising my writing muscles regularly; they were a bit flabby.  I was also interested to see how my writer's voice developed and whether I could be as compelling on the "page" as on the stage.  I'm still exploring that question and I think it depends on the subject matter.  I've been delighted to receive feedback from you, my readers, about my written voice.  It's fascinating.  Also a wonderful reminder that applies to any artistic/creative practice, that one's work takes on a new life the moment it is handed over to the audience.

I've done pretty well establishing my daily writing habit.  366 days after I started I have produced 348 posts.  That's roughly 18 days I've missed.  I'm counting that as success on meeting my commitment.  I've had holidays and been travelling for work where it hasn't been possible to post.  When this has been the case, I've flagged it.  (I'm still mystified as to why one of these posts is my third most popular post of all time.) I do acknowledge that some posts are purely pictorial and contain no, or not much, writing.  That's okay with me.  I've started to take photographs again and have noticed myself being more observant and sensitive to the world - ingredients essential for nurturing creativity.   More importantly, I now feel the compulsion to write each day - confirmation that I have successfully ingrained a habit.  


At the beginning I wasn't sure whether many people outside my immediate circle would read.  I thought some of my Twitter followers would come over and read, because divacultura is also my Twitter name, but wasn't sure how long it would last.  While I'm always conscious of audience, in the beginning I was largely writing for myself. Now, I write for my audience and am always curious to read comments on the blog and also on facebook.  So please, if you feel the urge to say something, I'd love you to act on that impulse!


My other commitment was to produce copy that was error free.  I've remembered how hard it is to proofread and sub-edit your own work and from time to time posts do contain typos and other errors.  I'm very lucky to have a very diligent and eagle-eyed post production editor - my Mother.  Mum reads everything and gives me feedback and reactions.  She will also provide feedback on corrections.  Sometimes we have an arm-wrestle when I've made a stylistic choice that clashes with formal grammar/usage.  I win those ones, but it's always provocative and I appreciate having the opportunity to read my work from a different perspective.  My writing is better for it.  Thanks Mum!

A year on, I'm taking stock and thinking about how this body of work is relevant to how I position my business.  A year on, I've become much more aware of other bloggers and have enjoyed learning from their experience.

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY & YOU GET THE GIFTS!
As I contemplate renewing my commitment to divacultura for another year, I feel excitement and affection.  Thank you for sharing some of your time with me. As a thank you gift - and so I can gain a better sense of who's out there - I'll be giving away a pair of my hand knitted socks to two very lucky readers, where ever you are in the world (ie two readers will receive a pair of socks each).  To be in the running, leave a comment on this post by Friday 17 August 2012, stating why you like reading divacultura. My favourite responses will receive the prize (my decision is final).  Why not take the opportunity to sign up and follow too!


*****
In the meantime, here are some stats:


divacultura's biggest audience is in the US, followed by Australia, Russia, Ireland and the UK.

You can see the top five posts on the home page.

The next five posts which complete the top 10 are:

6. Photo a day - June round up and July list  (My interest in the July list waned and I haven't followed through on this one.)
7. Secondhand fumes - ever come across someone chroming on public transport?
8. Challenge accepted - the challenge in question was the first Photo a Day I participated in.
9. Prayers to the Goddess of parking
10. Question Time - who is the Lazy Civil Servant?  The launch edition of this regular feature.  It was fitting to feature the person who inspired me to start blogging.

And just for fun, here's one of my favourite pieces - The Man on the Steps.  A purely creative piece sparked by a glimpse while I was out and about.  It highlights the importance of being in the world with my head up and my eyes open and a preparedness to shamelessly eavesdrop!

My favourite things - this week

It's that time of the week again where I reflect on things I've loved during this week and share them with you!

1. One of my favourite things this week is happening right now!  I'm giving stuff away.  There are two more winners of a double pass each to see the film "Hysteria".  Congratulations to Anonymous (I know who you are) and Merryn. The things they wished they'd invented are fantastic and would be better versions than those currently available.  Find details in the comments on this post.  I love having such inventive and witty readers!  (*** Merryn and Anonymous, please email me your mailing address and I'll send your passes.)  Mousicles also won a pass and saw the film today.  See what Mousicles had to say about the film in the comments too.

2. One of the truths in my life is that I know some amazing people.  This week I had some inspiring conversations which left me thinking and with fewer available pages in my notebook.  (Lucky I have a store of notebooks.) One of my favourite things from this week was the ability to spend time thinking and exchanging ideas with inspiring, thoughtful people.  I also had French toast and strawberries.

Breakfast to be inspired by.  It takes stamina!
(c) divacultura 2012

3. My new way of working, with its flexible work schedule, is one of my favourite things this week.  It's not that new in terms of years - I've been changing the way I work since 2008.  It's been over a year since I established my business (and it's divacultura's first birthday tomorrow!), but I had been working fulltime since 1991, so it still feels new.  Anyway, I love that I can schedule personal appointments during the day away from the after hours and weekend crush and that I have space to think and be creative.

4. It's festival season in Melbourne.  I have a wishlist of events already marked for the Melbourne Writer's Festival - one of the best events of the year.  It's affordable and thought provoking and it can take a little time or a lot.  I'm off to the Melbourne International Film Festival on Monday night courtesy of ABC Local Radio 774.  (I'll be seeing Beasts of the Southern Wild.)  There's an Israeli Film Festival.  The Melbourne Festival is coming.  Hamer Hall has reopened after its refurbishment.  I love that Melbourne doesn't let winter restrain her spirit!

5. The view from the seventh floor of the Myer store in Bourke Street.  With floor to ceiling glass panelling it's the perfect place to see interesting perspectives on the world outside.  Now that I always have a camera with me, I like to wander up there and take some photos.  I've been up there before and shared some photos.  Here are a few more.

Time wrap.
(c) divacultura 2012

 This is virtually the same photo as the first one in this post, but it's being refurbished now.  I like the real one better.

Rear windows.
(c) divacultura 2012

 Looking down from the seventh floor.  The diagonal black line is part of the Myer window I was looking through.

Glass reflections.
(c) divacultura 2012

Looking straight down from the seventh floor.  Interesting reflections from several layers of glass at different angles.

Water spout - Little Collins Street
(c) divacultura 2012

This one has nothing to do with anything I wrote above, but I really like this photo and wanted to share it with you.  Walking around in the rain in the city is not one of my favourite things.  Taking a photo like this makes it all worth while.  It was about 12noon today.

It's hysterical - more film passes to win!

Congratulations to Mousicles - you've won a double in-season pass to see the film "Hysteria".  Please email me (use the link on the about me page) with details of where to send them.

I have two more double passes to give away to Australian readers.

To win, please leave a comment at the end of this post before Thursday.  Two winners will be selected through a random draw.

For more details read this post.

Giveaway - Hysteria film passes

I have a little something to give to readers.  Hopscotch Films has provided me with three double passes to the the new release film "Hysteria".

It looks like fun!  Here's the blurb:

"Based on true events, in 1880 London, the handsome young Dr Mortimer Granville (Hugh Dancy), a believer in modern medical theories, lands a position as the assistant to society doctor Robert Dalrymple.  Dalrymple is a specialist in the female ailment "hysteria" - a catch-all diagnosis that seems to be affecting half of England's women!  Their treatment involves a literal hands-on method, and demand becomes so great that Dalrymple and Mortimer cannot keep up with 'curing' women.  To keep Mortimer working, Dalrymple promises him his business, and marriage to his beautiful, young daughter.  But when Mortimer falls for Dalymple's older and unconventional daughter Charlotte (Maggie Gyllenhaal), his future looks doubtful.  In desperation, he invents a machine that will at least solve his medical challenges - the world's first vibrator.  In the delightful spirit of Calendar Girls, Hysteria takes a rather remarkable and daring true story and turns it into a gentle, warm-hearted comedy."

You can view the trailer here.

The passes are complimentary in-season passes for cinemas in Australia.  Thank you Hopscotch Films!

To win, please leave a comment below telling me in 25 words or less the one thing you wish you had invented.  Entries close this Friday, 20 July at 5pm.  Names will be randomly drawn and I'll be in contact regarding delivery.

I'll be offering something for overseas readers soon...stay tuned!