My favourite things... this week

I was away in Sydney this week having a very busy time.  The days were long and time available to think and write was limited.  Prioritising sleep was critical.  So, sorry there were no posts this week.  It's a freezing, wet and windy Friday in Melbourne so coming back from lovely weather interstate was a bit of shock.

Here are my favourite things this week.

1. Time spent walking up and down the long driveway of the place I was visiting - to retrieve a forgotten item from the car, to meet a visitor, to make an appointment with a colleague - was to be relished.  I spotted this marvellous tree.

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 When I looked out the other way, this is the view I saw:

On the third trip up the driveway, I stopped and took in my surroundings.  I could forgive the long days and the lack of space to do my own work.  It was like a mini relaxation session.

2. As I was reading a notice advertising changes to train services over the weekend I noticed someone had failed to proofread:

Footscary?
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Last time I checked, Melbourne did not have a suburb called "Footscary".  There is one just down the road, along the train line, called "Footscray".  Footscray gets a bad rap.  Any wonder when the people running Melbourne's trains can't even get your name right.  When I tweeted this photo, many responders advised that the misprinted name was more apt.  #changefootscray2footscary

3. Sitting in my assigned seat aboard a Qantas flight yesterday afternoon, I was reading my book.  The flight was full and it seemed most people had 27 pieces of hand luggage.  (Why don't they enforce the limits?)  Suddenly I was hit directly on the top of my head.  A man was moving bags in the overhead locker and a very heavy one landed on me.  I cried out and then burst into tears, both from pain and shock.  It really, really hurt.  The man said nothing.  Didn't apologise.  Didn't check to see that I was okay.  

A fellow passenger who witnessed the incident asked if I was okay and asked me if I was bleeding (I wasn't).  He advised me to tell cabin crew and told me he would be a witness if required.  

Qantas cabin crew were amazing.  They brought me pain relief immediately and checked that I was okay to fly.  Throughout the flight most members of the crew checked on me to make sure I was okay.  I was most worried about my neck and I had a hell of a headache.  

You might be wondering why this is a "favourite  moment"?  Firstly the care I received from cabin crew was wonderful.  Secondly, so far, I seem to be okay.  I'm monitoring myself for any evidence of an impact injury.  I've also changed my seating preference from aisle to window.  (It's the second time a passenger's activities in the overhead lockers have resulted in something landing on my head!)

4.  It's great to be home!  (Even if it is cold and miserable!)

What were your favourite moments this week?

My favourite things - this week.

It's been a strange week.  It's been the kind of week where nothing immediately springs to mind - just the kind of week when it's a good idea to focus on the good moments.  It would be much easier at this moment to write about the bits that weren't so great.  Let's see how I go...

1. I finished knitting the bits of the first cardigan I've ever made for myself.  I have a back and two fronts.  I've put it aside for now while I rally my strength to do the next bit (joining the shoulder seams and picking up stitches for the neck and sleeves).  Even though it's not really a cardigan yet, I'm very pleased with my work so far - nice even stitches, the bits that need to be the same size as each other are the same size as each other!

2. A colleague and I emceed a team dinner for an IT crowd during the week.  The room set up was terrible and not what we'd been expecting.  We were in a marquee next to St Kilda Road, so it was noisy.  We had some audio challenges.  In spite of all these challenges we had the 50 guests laughing and mingling and having fun.  This was our brief, so we did well.  We learned some lessons about things to do differently next time, but overall we left a happy crowd behind us.

3.  At the same function one of the guests recognised me from the Glen Eira Strings concert I emceed in May.  She told me what a great job I'd done, covering the long gaps as musicians, instruments and furniture were moved on and off the stage.  It was great to be remembered and acknowledged in this way.

4. On a cold and drizzly morning, my resolve to walk to the office instead of catching a tram wavered.  I looked over at the crowded platform and it didn't look inviting.  There was no sign of the number 1 tram, so I decided to keep to my commitment (as part of the Global Corporate Challenge) and walk.  My favourite moment was when I arrived at the office about 15 minutes later at the same time as the tram.  I was very pleased that I'd used the 15 minutes to have some exercise rather than standing at a cold and crowded tram stop for ten minutes.

5. I've been having some moments of insecurity lately.  I'm co-authoring a chapter in an academic book.  Academics approach things in a very particular way.  We've agreed to produce a thought dump as a first step as we're living in different countries.  To me, a thought dump is a list of points, or a map of points showing the relationships between the points.  One of the team has produced eight pages of what feels like a polished essay to me.  I started to question what I'm doing and whether I'm qualified to even be involved.  I mentioned my worry about this to one of my colleagues in the field after a day of co-teaching.  She looked at me like I was from Mars and said that my approach was respected and that I'm fantastic!  Wow.  I was jolted back to earth and remembered that my points of difference is what makes me and my contribution valuable.  I'm the expert practitioner in the field about which we are writing.  It was a great moment to note.

How was your week?  What were your favourite moments?

My favourite things - this week

It's the day after yesterday and woke up again to more sexism.  This time West Australian radio announcer Howard Sattler thought he'd use the privilege of access to Prime Minister Julia Gillard to repeatedly ask whether her partner Tim Mathison is gay.  That he thought it was okay to ask is bad.  That he harangued and repeatedly asked as he said "I'm not saying this, but people are" is terrible.  That he is "flabbergasted" at his sacking really says something about the man.

Why is this included in a post of my favourite things?  Because the radio station acted swiftly and sacked him.  No namby-pamby suspension and then quiet reinstatement later when everyone has forgotten - gone.  Congratulations 6PR.

Baz Lurhman's film, "The Great Gatsby" took up most of the holiday for the Queen's Birthday on Monday.  I loved the film.  I loved Leonardo Di Caprio's performance and Joel Edgerton and Carey Mulligan.  And the music and the swoon- worthy fashions.  My favourite moment though was the footage of a young Queen Elizabeth II with the message "Happy Birthday Liz" played before the film at Yarraville's Sun Theatre.  "Oh yeah," I thought, "that's right...that's why it's a public holiday today."

Loved this piece on the 10 books people will judge you for reading.  I've read 4 of them and have no intention of reading the remaining 6.  E readers are a god send.  That's all I'm saying.  (I will make no mention of being ensconced in "World War Z - an oral history of the zombie war" at the moment.

It's well and truly winter in Melbourne and I for one am enjoying the chill.  It gives me plenty of opportunity to show off my selection of handknitted scarves and fabulous hosiery and boots.  The rain is a bit annoying, but it hasn't stopped me achieving my daily target of 10,000 steps in the Global Corporate Challenge.

Monday nights and The Voice are still a great moment in a week's television viewing.  The final is on this week and I reckon Harrison will win.  I was sad to see Miss Murphy go - it ruined my perfect record of predicting who would go through.  I will look forward to Danny Ross' album.

Lastly, I need to finish now so I can make some more sourdough toast with a smear of Maggie Beer's pate to accompany a glass of peppery shiraz. Mmmm.

My favourite things - this week

I'm loving my new vocal group.  I went to my second rehearsal this week and enjoyed singing Sarah Maclachlan, Zap Mama, an African song and Rachmaninov - sung in Russian!  And they have a very funky name - Tongue and Groove.  Lovely group of people with a solid group of excellent male voices.  Heavenly.  I'm switching between my usual soprano spot to sing first alto on occasions and am enjoying exploring my lower register.

Today's job was pretty good.  It involved wearing pyjamas and a hospital gown and lying in bed.  There was a bit more to it than that, but it's really easy to get ready for work when that's the brief!

Walking tall
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I accidentally bought some new boots today.  Or I could tell you they followed me home...but I don't think you'd believe me.  Another pair of Fluevogs joins the collection.  The style is called Map and the colour is called Ontario Blackberry.  Yum.  I think I like this new "no black shoes" policy (apart from the one pair for corporate work).

Red boots on Fluevog day.
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Another favourite moment was when one of the women in the office told me she liked my red boots.  Well she didn't say that exactly.  She said they were "jazzy".  I found this very confusing, but said thank you because she meant well.













Even though it's cold, I love being able to parade around in the lovely scarves and hats I've knit.  The one I wore today is one of my all time favourites.  The colours make me very happy.

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The other favourite moment was being at home when the water started running out of the ceiling and being in the right place at the right time.  None of my stuff was damaged!  Thank you universe.

How's your week been?

My favourite things...this week.

Usually I write this post on a Friday, but after hours of work, driving to the airport in Sydney to return to Melbourne and then actually arriving home, I did not feel like sitting down to write.  So I didn't.   Having just finished my Business Activity Statement and a couple of other pieces of work for a client, I just want to step away from the desk, but I'll write this first.

One of my favourite things this week was an early text message on Saturday morning from my dear friend S. who now lives interstate.  She was in town and wondered if I would be free for coffee.  Would I?!  We had a delightful morning catching up on the news and just enjoying each other's company for a couple of hours before I headed off to my jazz vocal class and her 8 month old son became a bit cantankerous.  It reminds me that with good friends, no matter how much time has passed, each meeting takes place as though the last one happened only yesterday.

A particularly challenging project I've been managing for a client all came together this week.  We're producing mental health scenarios working with simulated patients and clinicians which are filmed in Melbourne and sent over the internet via web conference to NSW.  The technology has been touchy and the team wasn't very tech-savvy to begin with.  It's been a painful birth, but this week EVERYTHING worked.  I knew this moment would come, but I don't think my team did.  We really needed this moment!

I had a moment of observation where I consciously noticed myself embrace fear and leap in anyway.  I selected my first song (one of two) for the jazz vocal workshop.  I'd never heard it before and I loved it the moment I heard the lyrical melody.  When the words were revealed I couldn't resist.  As I took the stage to explore further, Bob Sedergreen told me this was a really challenging song with a lot of key changes.  "It's really difficult.  Are you sure?"  My response was, "Excellent!" For that I received a round of applause.  

My next favourite thing comes from that class too.  While I'm all open to experience whatever happens, I've noticed that that is not the mindset of the entire class.  There are a couple of people who are very worried about everything they don't know.  They want information NOW about things that will be revealed in due course.  Instead of relaxing and just being where we are, they become anxious.  Initially, I could feel myself pursing my lips and a little voice of judgement was seeping in: "They need to relax and just BE!"  Then I realised that this applied to me too.  We're all in different places and one of my lessons is to be cool with where other people are.

My fabulous day in Sydney on ANZAC Day was a highlight of the week.

Lastly, travelling home on the train yesterday afternoon I noticed a young man with the piano score for Percy Grainger's "Gumsuckers March" spread before him on his lap.  He was playing "air piano" so intently I could almost hear the music.

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What were your favourite things this week?

My favourite things this week

Today I played the role of a woman whose partner has some kind of cardiac event before her very eyes, about four weeks after open heart surgery.  Luckily, I had the pleasure of working opposite a man with whom I work regularly and is a good friend.  We drove in together and started to play our characters from the moment we greeted each other.  We were asked several times during the course of the day whether we are partners in real life.  Other people who knew we weren't continually stated that we looked like a couple.  I'm constantly amazed by the power of acting and it's always fun to play scenes like this with a person you know.

Working out how to delete books from my Sony e-reader is a major achievement.  There are forums all over the internet and none of it made much sense.  I just started pressing buttons on the reader and it worked!  This is my standard approach to technology and it generally works.  A known issue with the reader is that it will sync multiple copies of each book from the software on the computer to the reader.    Apart from being annoying, it meant I actually ran out of space on the reader.

Related to that, I thought I had an SD card in my reader, but discovered that I only have a piece of grey plastic, shaped like an SD card.  One of my favourite moments!

The change of season from summer to autumn is finally happening.  We had rain, wind and cooler nights.  I even turned on my electric blanket last night before I went to bed - just to take the chill off the bed.  It's always fun to rediscover the rest of the wardrobe - all those gorgeous scarves I've knitted.  It also means I don't resent the days I have to wear a suit for work.

I recently discovered the band, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.  I've been listening to the album all week on LOUD.  They're great!

This morning I didn't have to start work until 10:30am so I was able to sleep until after 8am!  Bliss after a series of 5:30am wake ups.

How was your week?

My favourite things...this week

It's been a bit of a strange week.  Not a week that I've been in love with.  All the more reason to take the time to acknowledge the good bits.

1.  I had the best sleep of all time at the Novotel at Homebush in Sydney on Monday night.  I was exhausted, but that doesn't always guarantee a good sleep in a hotel.  That bed was heavenly.  The curtains didn't let in even a chink of light and I woke up in the morning wondering where the hell I was.

2.  Work on a difficult professional relationship culminated with a request for a hug.  Magic. Relief.

3.  I tried on a dress and discovered that I have dropped a dress size.  All thanks to quitting sugar!  It's both the hardest and the easiest thing to do.

4. I received a glowing probation report in relation to a project I've been leading.  I knew I had been doing good work but it's still great to see it in writing and have the conversation.

5.  I enrolled in Bob Sedergreen's jazz vocal course.  My Saturdays are free now so there's an opportunity, but I also want to tease out my inner jazz diva.  Stay tuned.

6. Going out to see comedy on a school night!  "Hot Box" on Wednesday and "Prick - the Musical" coming up on Sunday night.

7.  Hearing good news on the work front for a good friend of mine.  It's so good to share those moments with people who matter.

What was good for you this week?

My favourite things - this week

1.  My score on the happiness test!  84 out of 100 where 70 is the benchmark for happiness.  I have to say, I'm pretty happy about that!  It made me think about the fact that my life is not perfect - it never will be - yet I am content and making progress.  Why not try yourself?

2.  My first book group meeting of the year.  At the start of our thirteenth year, we met to discuss Hilary Mantel's Booker Prize winning "Bring up the Bodies".    It was generally favourably received.  I personally liked it much more than the first book, "Wolf Hall" and confessed to weeping during Anne Boleyn's execution, it was so beautifully and delicately written.

3.  Impro Melbourne's season opener of the Maestro format.  I went to the opening night last Sunday night and was so thoroughly entertained I nearly forgot how hot it was and that I was stuck to a vinyl seat.  The most thrilling part of improvisation in any art form is that the creation exists only in that moment, is never to be repeated and you have to be there to witness it.  Sunday nights at 7:30pm at The Space, Chapel Street, Prahran.

4. My wish came true on Wednesday afternoon.  A tiny glimmer of hope.  I don't expect this experience to be regularly repeated, but I wish it would be.

5. This photo.  I took it when walking across the pedestrian bridge over the Yarra River from Southgate to Flinders Street station.  It was about 7:30pm.

Sunset on the Yarra
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My favourite things this week

1.  I know that the death of someone is not usually something that would turn up in a post like this, but jazz musician Dave Brubeck's death caused me to dust the cobwebs off the playlist and rediscover his music.  It's been a while.  From that exploration, I went for a wander around iTunes into Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk territory and have been feeling mellow and groovy ever since.  I even took some jazz for a wander around the piano keyboard myself.  I did it for hours this evening and it made me feel happy.  Oh and when will we be able to get the soundtrack to the television series Homeland?  I'm in the mood.

2.  Brief encounters have been a theme this week: a coffee here, a lunch there, a truncated work assigment, a few lines in an email.  They've all been good and left me wanting more.  Ah the freedom of freelance.

3.  Lying down on the job.  Today I was doing some simulation work that required me to lie on a hospital bed for the day.  I had my vital signs taken several times.  It was very relaxing - so relaxing that I had trouble staying awake.  Playing with the buttons on the adjustable bed is fun and provided some amusement in between students.  If they didn't look so hospitally, I'd get one of those beds for home.  My scientific observation for the day: my resting heart rate for most of the day was around 60 beats per minute and my temperature was about 36.8 degrees Celsius.  I had a styrofoam cup of instant coffee (bleh) to try and stay awake and immediately after my pulse was 74 beats per minute and my temperature had risen to 37.1 degrees Celsius.  I can only imagine what a good quality short black would do.  Or an encounter with George Clooney.

4.  Work offers that are exactly what you want, what you need and at the right time for everyone.  There's nothing else to say about that.

5.  This website:  The World Needs More Love Letters.  Sign up, why dontcha?  I have.  (Thanks to my friend Sue who put this in front of me.)

I'm nearly on holiday!  Only a couple more pieces of work for the year and I'll be onto my summer holiday reading list and crazy nail polish colours and plotting my novel.

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!

My favourite things - this week ( in pictures)

Lygon Street Carlton
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You never know what you'll see.  I was on Lygon Street in Carlton on Monday afternoon when I saw a man dressed as a cowboy riding his horse down the street!

Spencer Street
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 The city was shining in the weak morning sunshine, helped along by the rain that had fallen.  The view from the top of the escalators at Southern Cross Station was beautiful.  The streets look silver.

Wood 'book' panelling
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I visited the city library today to collect my reserved copy of "Savages" by Don Winslow.  (Need to read it before I see the movie.)  They've had a makeover.  There's sculptural wood panelling that's in the process of being installed.  It looks a bit like books.  The timber is from trees that had died within the City of Melbourne.  A great way to give them a second life.

Shoe parade
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Waiting to cross Collins Street at Elizabeth Street today, I noticed the bright yellow snakeskin shoes worn by a man wearing orange trousers and a navy blazer.  If he had turned around and was wearing a cravat I wouldn't have been surprised.  At the same lights was a woman wearing an incredible pair of shoes with rectangular, diagonal heels.

Spring glimpse
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On a very cold day, at the end of a very cold week, I was happy to see this little green sprout, evidence that spring is here.  Really.

My favourite things - this week

1. My diary for next week is my favourite thing this week.  There is NOTHING in it!

Empty
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 It's not often I feel happy about that, but with the recent frenetic pace, I'm quite happy to know that I can spend some time at home.  I know there's a lunch date sometime.  I have some accounts work to do.  I have some follow up from the empathy project.   These things can all be done at home.  That feels really good!

2. Getting dressed and ready for today's job.  I didn't even have to get dressed if I didn't want to.  I didn't have to shower.  Didn't do my hair and applied no makeup.  I picked up a pair of holey jeans  and a stinky t-shirt from the laundry pile.  Today I was playing a woman suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.  She is currently homeless.  It was a tough gig, but the wardrobe requirements were a dream.

3.  Flying on a plane with no audio visual distractions.  Usually I love the inflight entertainment, especially on longer flights.  Flying back from Brisbane last night there was not a screen anywhere to be seen.  I took the opportunity to put in some quality reading time.  I'm now 100 pages from the end of "Freedom" by Jonathan Franzen.  I'm loving it!  I did plug my ipod in and enjoyed the soundtrack to the Almodovar film "Hable Con Ella" (Talk to her).  It's gorgeous and perfect in the background.

4.  Surprising dining experiences in regional Australia.  I've been out to Traralgon a couple of times in the last couple of weeks, pulling into the Century Inn, right on the highway.  I sighed the first time I pulled, not expecting very much, but I was soon happily surprised.  The food in the restaurant is sensational!  I enjoyed a rib fillet steak with lyonnaise potatoes, baby leeks and red wine jus and a rocket, pear and parmesan salad on the side.  Beautifully cooked and bursting with flavour.

5.  Lipstick pink hire cars.  Everyone looked at the car as I zipped along the road.  It was fun, but I don't think I'd buy that colour.  Resale would be hard, but it would be visible in the parking lot.

Lipstick pink Yaris
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My favourite things - this week

1.  Being at home for a few nights has been excellent.  I do love to travel, but I also like to be at home where I can play my piano. Melbourne is wonderful - especially the random hail storms and winter temperatures yesterday.

2.  Spur of the moment meetings with friends.  Coffee with one, lunch with another, dinner with another.  All organised at the last minute, on a whim, where I thought I'd just put the feelers out.  The feelers were felt!

Tim Rogers - "let me be the gristle in your tenderloin"
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3.  Watching radio being broadcast.  I was part of a very small audience to the final hour of Raphael Epstein's show on ABC 774 Radio this afternoon.  I had to run to catch a tram and then run all the way to the ABC cafeteria to be there on time.  Also in the studio was musician Tim Rogers, football tragic and commentator, Francis Leach and movie buff Josh Nelson from film blog, Philmology.  It was a mixture of end of season footy party, with some art, refinement and good natured ribbing included.  It was a great way to finish an intense day working as a simulated patient for post graduate paramedic students.  I heckled Tim Rogers, but it's out of love.  How's this for a lyric:  "Let me be the gristle in your tenderloin".  Love it.

Fabulous Dame Edna frocks.
Check out the parrot epaulettes on the frock (left)
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4.  Conversations with random strangers.  My friend and I wandered into the Arts Centre on the way to Flinders Street Station following our hour with the ABC.  We found a display of dresses worn by Dame Edna Everage and Kyle Minogue.  While we were sitting and talking, a man came and asked if my friend would take some photos of him in front of the dresses.  My friend threw herself into the task, directing him to look up, tilt his chin, look majestic and kingly.  It was hilarious to watch him happily and obediently comply.  He then turned into a boring man who talked about his life in the welfare sector, but there was a flash of something fun there.
























5.  The view of the city at night from the Arts Centre side of the bridge over to Flinders Street.  The sky was very dramatic tonight and the milder air made it easy to enjoy.

Melbourne at night across the Yarra River
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My favourite things - this week

1. Public transport that runs on time and is cost effective.  I've been working way across the other side of Melbourne over the last two weeks.  I've been catching the train to a station near where my colleague lives and he drives from there.  After a fairly frustrating week last week, this week reminded me how great catching public transport can be.  My trains ran on time.  Connections were so smooth that often I didn't have to change trains at Flinders Street.  I've read several books this week.  Travel of about 120 per day has cost me less than $33.  I've minimised my contribution to pollution and congestion in Melbourne.  None of these things would be possible if I was driving every day.

2. Camera accessories for my iphone.  I haven't had a lot of time to play with these as I only picked them up from the post office yesterday, but I've been fiddling and familiarising myself with the various bits of hardware.  I bought an Olloclip lens, a Holga lens turret and a very portable tripod on ebay.  Very impressed with all of them.  I'm looking forward to the creative flexibility that these will offer.  Stay tuned for some shots.

3. Discovering that I can be up and out of the house in 45 fewer minutes than I think I need.  This is my silver lining moment.  In a tired haze on Tuesday night, I forgot to set my alarm for the following morning.  I've been waking up at 5:30am so that I can wake up properly, have a shower, eat breakfast, make lunch, do my make up, be dressed and at the station ready to catch a 7:04am train.  On Wednesday morning, I woke up at 6:17am marvelling at the fact I'd woken up before the alarm went off.  I was about to roll over and keep sleeping when I had a sense that it felt later than usual.  I was right!  I showered, dressed, did my make up and hair and caught the train.  I managed to buy a sandwich and coffee at Flinders Street on the way through.  Phew!

4. Working with excellent people.  One of the things I really like about freelancing is that I have the opportunity to work in diverse settings with some excellent people.  I learn lots of things about their world and also lots of things about myself.  This week I've had some wonderful and challenging conversations about the role of empathy in healthcare.  The work has been intense, but the relationships with the key people I work with have made it possible to sustain.

5. A dear friend taking my hand as we crossed the road, dodging trams and cars in heavy rain.  That's more of a moment, than a thing.  Definitely a favourite.

My favourite things - this week.

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1. My delivery of yarn, all the way from Germany is top of my list - I just picked it up from the post office.  Check out these amazing colours! They are Wollmeise and quite hard to get.  I'm quite taken with orange at the moment.  This is a new thing and when I saw "Clementine" on offer, I snapped it up.  It will vibrate really well with a vibrant fuschia I have in my stash.



2. My phone has been running hot this week!  All the connections I've been making are waking up and the work is flowing in.  Some people call it luck.  I call it being curious and strategic.  Many of my best opportunities have arisen because I asked the right question and have discovered something even better just waiting to be uncovered.  People love to talk about themselves and what they are doing.  We generally love anyone who shows an interest in these things, so why not be one of the people in the world who does this?  You never know what you will discover.


3.   The Whiffenpoofs!  The Whiffen-what's? The Whiffenpoofs are fourteen Yale men in their senior year who form this very special a capella vocal group. You may have seen them in Season 4, Episode 11of The West Wing.  I was fortunate to catch them at St Michael's Uniting Church in Collins Street on Tuesday night for a mere $20.

The Whiffenpoofs - it's a bit wobbly - I had to lean around a pole and not use any flash.
But I think they look very dashing, right down to their white gloves.
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This group provided the perfect mix of spine tingling harmonies and high-spirited banter to keep the program moving along.

I almost didn't go.  I'd been up since 5:30am that morning and had facilitated three workshops during the day.  As I travelled back into the city on the train, the rain fell down and I felt  like just going home.  When I arrived at Flinders Street station, I discovered when I stepped off the train, that I only had to step right back on and I'd be on my way home.  I kept walking, thinking that I'd buy an umbrella at the pharmacy upstairs.  If they weren't open I'd go home.  They were open and I added a lovely red, frilly umbrella to my collection.  (My friends mocked my "parasol" mercilessly.)  The prospect of a glass of red wine and a quick Italian meal with some new friends kept me going.  I'm so glad I went.  Their second encore summoned the tears - "I'll be Seeing You".  It never fails!


4.  I recently discovered Striking Truths and their Daily Manifesto.  Have you?  This week, Make Room for Bravery really struck a chord.  You can have your daily manifesto sent direct to you in box.  It takes 30 seconds to read and is often provocative.  The idea of making room for bravery spoke directly to me!


5.  The trouble I've had travelling all over Melbourne on Metro Trains could have made me very unhappy if it wasn't for the wonderful follow up with Andre in Customer Service.  Several trains were cancelled, drivers were confused, connections were missed, colleagues were left waiting, it was raining and I literally walked into a workshop I was facilitating with two minutes to spare.  I had a very informative conversation and gained some new insight into various aspects of our train system.  It didn't change the inconvenience (and stress) I suffered, but I felt appreciated for bothering to let them know about what was happening.  Apparently, I was caught up in some interesting and unusual chains of events.  Lucky me!

What rocked your world this week?

AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT....

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.

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
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Not drowning...waving. I love this photo.
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Big foot
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Drain cover in Garema Place, Civic.
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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! 

My favourite things - this week

1. The idea of the Olympics is a favourite thing this week.  I wrote about it and the spirit of Olympism here.  The idea of the Olympics is much more inspiring than the reality of Channel 9's free to air coverage (see what the Lazy Civil Servant had to say about it) and the twisted notion of winning and losing.  Having said that, I was completely absorbed in the women's K9 at midnight last night.  Who knew it could be so interesting, so technical and that Eddy is more than just a boy's name.  Naturally I'm now an expert on everything to do with kayaking.  Goodness knows what my area of expertise will be tonight.

2. Winter sunshine is a great invention.  This week in Melbourne has been spectacular.  We've had very cold mornings - luckily, I avoided most of them - followed by clear blue skies and sunshine.  I love to feel the cold winter air on my face, perhaps even see my breath, and then look up to see a glorious, sunny day.  I even went out with my heavy winter coat today!

3. Free movie tickets!  I've been to the movies twice this week and haven't paid a cent!  On Monday night I was a guest of ABC 774 (our local radio) to see "Beasts of the Southern Wild" which is screening at the Melbourne International Film Festival.  It was a magical film with an incredible performance by the 8 year old girl in the central role, Quvenzhane Wallis.  The second outing was this afternoon to see "Hysteria" courtesy of Hopscotch Films.  They were kind enough to give me a double pass for my own use, as well as the three that I gave away here recently.  Free movie tickets rock!

4. My electric blanket is something I've only recently come to appreciate.  In the absence of central heating, it's excellent.  I don't have to roll around in bed for half an hour to warm up the bed before I can go to sleep.  I turn it on about half an hour before bedtime and turn it off when I get in.  My goose down doona does the rest, keeping the warmth in the bed.

5. This photo!

Flinders Street Station subway.
(c) divacultura 2012

If you can spit on the ceiling then you're fantastic and we're going to turn you into an Olympic champion!

What were your favourite things this week?  Anything to share?

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! 

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

Glass reflections.
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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.

My favourite things - this week

1. I was back to working almost full time this week and regained appreciation for my freezer and my microwave.  I knew that I would be home late and out early and as the week wore on, I'd be too tired to cook.  I made some soups and basic sauces, divided it into serves and put it in the freezer.  By Wednesday night, I was very pleased that I had done this.  As my eyes closed during the 7pm news, I was able to thaw and heat good, nutritional food in the microwave and have a satisfying dinner each night. That reminds me, I must wash up...

2. Melbourne football crowds.  This may sound like it should be on my least favourite things list, but I do intend it to be here.  Tonight I arrived at Southern Cross Station in Melbourne city and had to make my way to Spencer Street, walking towards the tide of people heading to Etihad Stadium for Friday night football.  I've always admired the fact that Melbournians know how to behave when there's a lot of them together.  Everyone just works it out and generally everyone gets where they are going.  I put it down to the training from a young age.  Kids are used to being in crowds from the moment they can walk and so they grow up just knowing how to do it.

3. The Gertrude Street Projection Festival is my final favourite thing.  In fact, I'm just home from singing on the streets as part of the festival.  With the trains on my line hardly running, I was late, but the relaxed nature of singing on the street meant that I could slip into the back row, joining the sopranos part way through the third song on the set list.  We sang at this festival last year and I remember it being very cold.  I had tights on under my jeans and enough layers of clothing to make me resemble the Michelin Man.  This year was warm by comparison.  It was lovely to see people out on the street, enjoying the company of their friends and stopping to enjoy some music and projection art along the way.  It's free and runs for ten days.  Check it out if you're in town.

After we finished singing, I walked back into town to catch the train home and took some photos along the way.

Corner of Brunswick and Gertrude Streets, Fitzroy
(c) divacultura 2012

Lighting up the towers on Gertrude Street
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Charcoal Lane windows - I love the shadow the tree casts.
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Charcoal Lane windows - detail
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St Patrick's Cathedral on the way back to the station
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Stony silence
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Gothic corner of Melbourne
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Lights at the top end of town - looking over at the Princess Theatre
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Same view, but the fountain is blue and I've used a different filter.
(c) divacultura 2012

My favourite things...this week.

This week, I'm struggling to find favourite things.  I seem to have spent most of the week sorting out problems with just about every aspect of my life.  I've spent hours talking to people in call centres being belted around the ears with the words "policy", "procedure" and "there's nothing we can do". Sigh.

1. In amongst that though, my high point was receiving my first reward for participation in the myki customer experience panel.  I've previously written about my experiences with myki and it hasn't all been pretty.  Participating in the panel requires a fair bit of time.  I'm happy to give that as I see it as part of my community contribution.  I'm learning a lot about the ins and outs of myki and it's great to know that someone is listening to the feedback that is being given.  Today I'm off to spend the first voucher I've received. Thank you!

2. Soup.  Especially home made!  On the weekend I bought some lamb shanks, put a pot on the stove and made some Scotch broth.  With the pearl barley and the clear broth, this soup reminds me of my Granny who always made it.  The resulting soup is sweet and nourishing.  I feel better immediately when I sit down to a big bowl.  I've put some portions away in the freezer so they're available when I just don't feel like cooking.


3.  My new iphone 4s.  I wasn't looking for a new phone but then the offer from Vodafone came along and I decided I may as well take advantage.  I'm always concerned about the built in obsolescence with our gadgets.  Experience tells me that if I ignore the opportunity to secure a new phone, my old phone (which is about 18 months old) would probably die the very next week.  It's largely the same as the iphone 4 except for Siri, the assistant.  I've only had the phone for a day and already Siri and I are friends.  It's so much easier to say what I need than typing on the phone.  Great innovation and I like that she has a local accent.

9 days after application in colour "Here today, Aragon tomorrow"
(c) divacultura 2012

4.  Gel nail colour.  During the winter months I really love to wear rich dark colours on my nails.  The problems with these colours is that even with the best manicure techniques, they usually start to look shabby after four or five days.  I'm always sceptical about claims about nail polish that will wear for weeks without chipping, but I decided to try OPI's new gel colour.  I'm hooked.  It really does wear for weeks!  I've had three applications about three weeks apart.  There's a bit of fiddling to get the colour off, but once it's on and cured, the colour is set.  No more smudges in the first hour.  




5. Electronic billing.  I know that receiving bills is no one's favourite thing, but paperless billing has to be one of the greatest things in the world.  My ultimate goal is to receive ONLY electronic bills.  I have a little way to go, but I'm getting there.  It's so much easier to file and keep track of records and they don't take up physical space.