Gasbagging and Tea

I've recently just come back from my dad's jaunt up in Maryborough, hence the lack of posts on here, and am finding myself thoroughly bored now that I'm separated from the crystal blue, deserted, 50m outdoor pool that holds much of Maryborough's attraction. That, and the amazing treasure trove of opp shops that are there. Seriously, Maryborough is an opp shoppers Eden.

So with this new found boredom I thought you might want to get to know me better, and thanks to a questionnaire I found on a friends blog, I hope it's kind of interesting. Cheers Camilla   : )

1. Your hair: Blonde and long. Veeeery long. 
2. Where is your phone: ... Guilty. I have no idea.
3. Your father: Surveyor of his property.
4. Your mother: Works to much.
5. Your favourite food: Hearty mexican Enchiladas with avacado.
6. Your dream from last night: That I put a hole in my wetsuit and started crying. Which is true, I would cry.
7. Your favourite drink: Ice coffee, whatever the weather.
8. Your dream/goal: To see my dad swim in the seven oceans. And swim them with him.
9. What room are you in: The unimpressive loungeroom.
10. What is your hobby: Writing. I'm actually doing a book, you should check it out sometime.
11. What is your fear: Seeing my parents pass away.
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years: Ahhh, hopefully writing full time for a science journal, with a house and maybe be married.. if I can stand a guy long enough to marry him.
13. Where were you last night: Recovering from the Rip View ocean swim.
14. Something you are not: Grounded and sensible.
15. Muffins: Clarissa's, and Jenni's famous apple and cinnamon ones.
16. Wish list item: Exactly the same as Camilla actually, a nice new macbook. You'll be mine when I turn 18 oh sweet piece of technology.
17. Where did you grow up: In many places. Wagga Wagga, Orange, Daisy Hill, Maryborough, Hamilton, Ballarat/Daisy Hill. In chronological order.
18. Last thing you did: Raided Jenni's CD collection while she is over in NZ.
19. What are you wearing: My signature t-shirt and shorts.
20. Your TV: Needs an update a-sap.
21. Your pets: Murphy and Molly. Deliberately named so they both start with an M. Both have way too much sway in the house.
22. Your friends: Bunch of nutcases.
23. Your life: Perfect.
24. Your mood: Freakin' tired.
25. Missing someone: Clarissa, cos she's jetted off to Torquay just as I come back from Maryborough. What timing.
26. Vehicle: Fingers crossed for a Ducati Monster.
27. Something you're not wearing: Something pretty. I'm all for comfort.
28. Your favourite store: Any bookstore. My love affair with books has been a steady relationship for about 13years now.
29. Your favourite colour: Bluuuue, glorious glorious blue.
30. Whens the last time you laughed: At my brother sporting a Mohawk.
31. Whens the last time you cried: Christmas day. With laughter. 
32. Your best friend: Clarissa who has abandoned me for Torquay.
33. One place you go over and over: Any place where there's water. Beach, pool, dam. You name it.
34. One person who emails you regularly: Fucking Facebook.
35. Favourite place to eat: While on the run.

In 79 days I turn into an adult.

- xx

I Love A Sunburnt Country

"A land of sweeping plains, 

Of ragged mountain ranges,

Of drought and flooding rains..."

One of my favourites... but I didn't just mention it randomly, it's linked somehow, I swear. 

I was riding up to my violin lesson and I found myself super dooper early so in a heat-induced desperation, sought shade in the bush lining the road. As soon as I was engulfed by the gums I felt at home, secure.

That got me thinking of my affinity with the bush, how that if I could live anywhere in the world, I guess I would ultimately choose a large house smack bang in the middle of the Australian bush with a expansive veranda, hammock and large windows. Sure Paris has the fashion, culture and history, New York the modernism and opportunities, Tokyo's buzz or the lazy Mediterranean. They all have fantastic points to them, but I would only feel like a foreigner. And that's bound to happen where-ever I go with this milky skin colour.

I guess in the bush, it's somewhere that I'm comfortable. I can be moi without the etiquettes of society or the need to interact. It's like a release, a certain- can't believe I'm saying this- freedom..

Now before you laugh, pat me on my head and send me on my way, just wait and think. I reckon everyone has experienced this kind of satisfaction at least once, so can you remember when you felt something similar?

 

So I stayed there until I really had to move or I would be late and Mrs Smith would be twiddling her thumbs wondering whether I had been hit by a rouge 4WD. But man, I could have sat there an eternity and gotten thoroughly sunburnt.

Sugar and Spice, and Everything Nice

Unfortunately I have fallen victim to the silly season... in a festive way that is!

In honour of St Nic and Jesus's birthday I'm having a dinner party with all the ladies. I'm hoping it turns out to be a fine affair. Which woman doesn't secretly like dressing up and being a 1950's domestic goddess? So I get to express my full seasonal flair through roast lamb with fresh 'erbs from our own garden, Christmas pudding +/- brandy custard, fine wine and classy music. We all love dressing up all nice and special like, and us girls haven't done anything stylish in a looooong time so I jumped on the opportunity.

Apparently the boys are revolting and designing their own cheery evening involving Cuban cigars and exotic beer. I think it's more along the lines of chips, Carlton draught and a night in front of the Wii. 

I'm sure their night's not going to be a severe as that, but it's not hard to imagine :D Ah, I love the kids.

- xx

Images courtesy of artists from deviantart

How's The Serenity?

Ah, The Castle. The very stereotypical and surprisingly uncommon Australian family.

But unfortunately today I'm not brushing on the rissoles or that fishing can be divided into 10% brains, 95% muscle and the rest good luck. I'm leaning more towards the serenity.

I was sitting at my newly arranged desk, surrounded by trinkets, tea and tasty treats, leaning back on my red leather chair when I said quietly to myself, "Ah, the serenity."

While I have the whole room to myself, the comfortable bed and overspilling bookcase, I reckon if I had to sit, work or be confined to one spot, it would be that crowded little desk. It's where I've toiled over mathematical, scientific, literary and historical feats, where I've let my creativity flow in my sketch book and through the words of my new novel. This, I concluded, is where I'm at my best.

And all the little nick-nacks scattered on its ordinary surface paint my life. It's in the shape of a bright money tin, a growing stack of cd's, discarded wrapping of a precious tea cup, a plateful of ribbons, jewellery and buttons, a jar filled with sweets and my overly-zealous sketching mannequin.

This, my friends, is my life, structured upon this insignificant table that somehow means the world to little me.

- xx

They may not be the best quality photos, but they're mine.

We Make A Grand Salute

My friend posted an interesting question on her blog recently. She asked us what we were passionate about, and as I clicked to answer I had to pause and think. 

Sure, I love some things, but I couldn't really put my finger on what I was passionate towards. For me passion is about something that I can get so fervently caught up in that I don't emerge for some time.  A feeling on something or someone that I can't seem to justify, that just takes me on a wild, exciting, frightening, loud, tumbling ride, full of- well- passion. 

Only when I was listening to music (all great things come with music) did I recognise the things that stir that kind of feeling in me.

I open in the sun. I dance with the rain. I get caught in the undertow of colours. I become entangled in love. I breathe for those rare funny moments. I feel a zest with every morning and a calm at every night.

No day is worth not waking up for.

 

Now I sound all airy-fairy... but not a truer word was spoken.

- xx

Images courtesy of various artists from deviantart.

With Love From Lindorff, Stuttgart

Sometimes don't you just wish you could be talented at something?

At our house we have this old piano, it's been in our family two generations, so that'd make it Grandma's. Upright, made of beautiful wood and gold detailing it stands tall and never gets played. It's out of tune, dusty and thoroughly over loved but it just sits there with chipped keys and creaking pedals. 

And I so wish I knew how to play piano.

- xx

The Answer To Love, Life and Everything

What is 'romantic'? I want you to think of it. Look it up, see what it actually means, and what it actually means to you.

I know what it means to me.

- xx

Summer Spun Dreams

There's something new in the air, and boy is it contagious.

Sun dances on my skin and pinches with intensity that I simply love. It feels like I'm reborn again, peeling off layer after layer till I'm bare to the bright golden disk in the sky. It's as if we've just woken up from a deep hibernation in a dark, dank cave with hairier legs than Momma bear. Where are the waxing strips! I feel guilty though if I'm not spending every waking moment outside in the glorious sunshine. It almost feels like I owe a certain tithe to the sun god, the bringer of tropical fruits, tans and gnarly surf.

The honeysuckle is out in full force on my hedge and it fills the air with its scent that is intoxicating, positively sinful.

And as we enter this brilliant younger sibling of the seasons, I have this deep seeded thought that this summer will be the best yet. Maybe that extends from it being the last that I will spend with my friends that I dearly love.

The next time we'll probably see each other is at our ten-year reunion, which is simply a platform to compare our success and the size of our… paycheques. 

In the words of The Mountain Goats, “I'm gonna make it through this year.”