Just a Quickie..

Off to Sydney today to see my bubby Godson Liam and my good friends Saffa and Darren.  Am very excited and feel rather happy for the first time in awhile. 

Have got about a zillion posts in my head but have been having trouble getting them out.  Will post the mother & daughter one when I have calmed down after the weekend. I’m contemplating whether it truly is so impossible for a mother and daughter of very different ideals but the same temperaments to live together.  After I dwell on it a bit more over a few bottles of wine in Sydney I’ll let you know.

PS. I look smoking hot today.. you never sure who you will meet on the plane xx

My New Happy Place

I have never been against paying taxes.  I mean, I use the roads, I appreciated the free health care I received when I was hospitalised with Glandular Fever. 

But I have never been overly thrilled with the general services that the local council have provided.  Playgrounds are all very well and good if you have children (which I don’t) or are a child (who don’t pay taxes anyway).  All the council funded sporting groups are good for athletic people (which I am not).  But there is one service which I will praise until I am out of breath.

The local Library is one of my new favourite places.  For a few simple reasons:

• FREE Wi-Fi
• FREE DVDs
• FREE Books
• Lots of sunny comfy armchairs where you can quietly enjoy the above.

During my “enforced career break” I have become a frequent user and I am grateful for the many hours of content entertainment that would have otherwise been mind numbing and soul destroying.  It’s not often that I use Secret Life to be positive about something.  But today I am.  Long live the local library. 

Life in Black and White

I have always been considered by those closest to me to be somewhat of a geek. And I am ok with this.  Throughout my short life I find I have been increasingly frustrated by my generations lack of interest in the remarkable works that previous generations have produced.

I have so many friends who will refuse to watch movies that are black and white, or that were made prior to their birth.  And I feel sorry for them as they are missing out on some truly remarkable stories.  I am currently working my way through the “1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die” book and am I’m thoroughly enjoying it.  So many of these films were made in a time before special effects, before actors got $20 million per picture.  They are the benchmark for films today.

My favourite movie of all time is “The Wizard of Oz”.  Made in 1939 (And this year celebrating it’s 70th anniversary) it is a film that must have astounded audiences in the day.  In the age of black and white, it dazzles with its special effects, musical numbers and its transition to glorious Technicolour.  Today people laugh at the fact that you can see the strings holding up Lion’s tail and the painted backdrops are clearly visible.  Compared to the effects of today it is almost laughable, but how many movies of today do you think will entertain generations of children, families and adults for 70 years? 

Since the first “talkie” film in the 1920s there have been thousands of brilliant stories portrayed on screen and young people are missing out on enjoying them because they are “old”. 

It is the same with music.  I was once called a “stupid hippy” because I loved The Beatles.  That’s right, laugh at me because I love the music of a band who were at one of the most change-filled decade in history and who’s music is still enjoyed by millions 40 years on.  Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I don’t think that Ministry of Sound albums will inspire the same life-long affection in listeners.

I may be fighting a losing battle, but I am going to continue to watch these films, listen to classical music and the music of my parents and grandparents generations, and I’m going to try and get my future children to appreciate them as well. 

This is one part of my geekish nature that I am proud of.

Meet Aunty Ginger – She Has Cats

It is a truth universally acknowledged that the moment a young girl has read Pride & Prejudice she will eternally lust after a Darcyesque character.  Problem is, there is only one Mr Darcy (well 2 if you count Mark Darcy from Bridget Jones Diary who is a direct parody of Austen’s character) and not only is he taken, he’s not even real.

After years of romantic notions of lightning bolts, swooning, too many Hugh Grant movies and thinking that there is “The One” I have come to the conclusion that this may not happen to me.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not being pessimistic. I would love to fall in love and live happily ever after. But my firmly imprinted singleton status, as well as a few drunken evenings alone watching Ally McBeal  (Barry White aside – actually a v.depressing show) has left me with the thought that I may just be one of these women who never get married, which means I may never have children (call me old fashioned but no ring – no offspring).  2 years ago, or even 6 months ago after ending the relationship with Mr “I thought he was the one but turns out he was an asshole” this would have given me chills and an anxiety attack.

Today however, I’m not completely against the idea. I’ve accepted the fact that it is an option and have somehow dealt with this in my head in a sensible way that is not like me at all. Many fabulous people have spent their lives alone, like Jane Austen my all time favourite writer.  If it happens I’ll have my extended family of friends children and my darling nephews to spoil rotten and also a higher disposable income than most of my friends, so whilst they all start going through divorces and mortgage troubles I can go on holidays to fabulous places and say “Who’s laughing now!”. These are all positive things! I’d have a life of love without any responsibility.

HOWEVER, I was discussing this with my very dear friends Ali & Andre (engaged & expecting but with none of the smug-coupled-up attitude.. LOVE them) suggested that I get a cat for company (giggling to themselves in the process).  And then I pictured it… my nephews or my godson not wanting to visit Aunty Ginger because the house smelt like cats.  My mind then progressed to the crazy cat lady on The Simpsons.  And I am therefore determined to never let this happen. 

After all, I don’t even like cats.

Technorati Tags: Mr Darcy,Jane Austen,Single,Relationships

23 Years of “What Was I Thinking” Unpacked

Apologies my (few) dedicated followers for my lack of posting in the past few weeks. As many of you are aware I have been in the throes of moving house and FINALLY starting casual work. Many topics have been floating around in my head so this blog shall be an eclectic mix of my jumbled thoughts.

My new home is lovely.  Well, to be honest it is my parents home and as I am ridiculously poor since returning from London (ie. practically destitute) and I therefore must live under my parents rules. Which is fair enough if the rules are reasonable.  Not having ANYTHING out on the bathroom bench (toothbrush included) is not a reasonable rule.  Also, anyone who knows my family knows that we are collectors, horders and in general have a lot of stuff. In particular my mother has a lot of knick knacks, ornaments, antique glassware etc.  I am currently at breaking point with all the “Should this ugly china figurine of a dog go on this shelf or this shelf, or maybe on the Cadenza?” (note – still trying to establish what a Cadenza is).

But the biggest challenge of all has been sorting out all my worldly possessions.

After being out of the country for nearly 3 years I had literally no idea what was packed in my boxes.  It was like Christmas morning going through some of my lovely things however most boxes left me sitting in befuddlement over why the hell I have kept so much shit over the years. I’m talking Pez dispensers (which I just sold on eBay to someone sadder than me) McDonalds Happy Meals, birthday cards from people who I am STILL after days of contemplation struggling to recall who they are. And ditto of framed photo collages of people who I only have vague recollections of.

So a few things have been listed on eBay… most is going to the dump.  Which means now have an empty storage trunk just waiting to be filled again with more useless crap. Excellent.

PS. Very much enjoying reading my High School diaries. There is really only one word to describe me back then - “Loser”. Thank heavens I grew out of the awkward phase.