Things I Find Fun

This photo is here just for fun.  Freshwater Bay, Peppermint Grove.

Inspired by Fairlie and The No. 1 Melbourne Ladies Bookclub I am reading Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project.  Gretchen's blog was one of the first I started reading five years ago but as I got into more serious endeavours, such as working in an office, I stopped reading.  Which is why I am finding her book so important right now.  In my earnestness to move back into the corporate world I stopped having fun.  Maybe, maybe, I never really was one for fun anyhow.

Any how, I have had cause to think about what I find fun, rather than what I think I should find fun.  Here is my list so far.  It's been such a long time since I really thought about this that I may need to come back to this from time to time.

Here are my first two.

Maps.  I love all sorts of maps.  Especially ones that relate to something I'm doing or reading.  I am just as happy reading a street directory as I am reading an old map of London.  In fact I will often just pull out the street directory and start flipping through it. For fun.

Walking around the streets, just looking.  I love to familiarise myself with an area by exploring the streets. What types of houses are built here? Who lives/lived here? What makes this street great or horrible?  I love walking as long as the walk has interest.  When I go on walks from home I try to take different routes each time.  Routine is my enemy; it gets me down.

It comes as no surprise to me that I love the idea of Geocaching.  Geocaching is a worldwide treasure hunt which combines "orienteering-lite" with a scavenger hunt where you come home with the thrill of the find but, usually, no prize.  I could seriously get into it but I fear that friends would start to back away slowly...and there's no fun in that.

Five Years

early morning over Mosman Bay, Perth, Western Australia

Today I've been blogging for five years.

In that time I've

finished post-graduate study
started seven blogs, one of them private
stopped writing to four of them
written at first regularly, then intermittently,  to three of them
opened two twitter, one fb and one LinkedIn account
been a stay at home mum
been a part-time worker
started working full time
turned 40
spent lots of money on potions for my face that I know won't make a difference
spent some money on clothes that I'll wear for ever
spent more money on clothes that I never wear
lived in three different homes
in three different suburbs
in two different states
one of those houses was for six months while we renovated so maybe it doesn't count
seen my daughter graduate from primary to high school
had my son start at three different schools; all of them excellent
listened to clarinet, piano, trombone and drum practise
ferried kids to soccer, ballet, hockey, swimming, tennis, cricket and karate
renovated a home
moved interstate 6 months later
learnt to crochet
re-ignited old knitting skillz
done loads of cool stuff that will come to mind later and I think "crap, I should have put that on the list".

and

met lots of wonderful people online...and then in real life.  Thank you bloggers for being such a wonderful community and for sharing your lives with me.

Blogging is a very important creative outlet for me.  I feel am yet to find my own blogging voice and style, I think; but when I do it will probably start here so stay tuned.

I shall not wear black shoes like all the other mothers

If you were to peer into my wardrobe you would be drawn into its inky darkness.  Little Black Dresses? Check.  Black shoes? Check.  I am drawn to black clothes.  It is hard not to be.  I think I look better in black than most other colours  and there is something so beautiful about floaty black chiffon tops.

But enough is enough.  Wearing black everyday is dreary so this year I made a New Year's Resolution to not buy any black clothes or accessories.

It is proving quite good for the wallet.

Is it just me or are all the most beautiful clothes made in black?  The shops are full of colour this year but it seems so bright and jewel-like.  If I am to venture into colour I imagine that venture being somewhat more pastel.

Anyway my resolve has been sorely tested of late.  My favourite Mary Jane black work shoes are looking a little tired and my trusty long black cardigan (which looks fabulously corporate when I need it or casual when I don't) has developed holes.  The horror.

I tried to convince myself that these were basics, like underwear, and that of course I could replace them with black versions.

But then I remembered the movie Chocolat where Vivien's daughter whines: "Why can't you wear black shoes like all the other mothers?"  I don't remember what Vivien's reply was but it was something along the lines of why be like everyone else?

So I decided that my black Mary-Janes were no longer basics.  When I stumbled over these red Mary-Janes I decided Red was the new basic, and I feel fabulous wearing them with every corporate outfit I own.

Now to find a sassy long cardigan, that is not black.

Things Perth People Like: Made in WA

Enter a food shop in Perth and you will be confronted with two choices - buy WA, or buy something from somewhere strange and untrustworthy.

In the mid 2000s National Foods faced an angry public when they started marketing the Pura milk brand in WA.  West Australians thought they were to be overrun by milk from Eastern States cows. The Parliament discussed what percentage of Eastern States milk was packaged in WA.

If it is Made in WA then you know it.  Pre-packaged carrots, almonds, milk, eggs are all clearly branded with the WA symbol so you know which product to pick up.  You will pay double for an Avocado here than you do in Sydney but it's ok - it's Made in WA.

This is not a Food Miles thing.  Western Australia is an enormous State.  It takes as long to fly to Broome as it does to Melbourne.  West Australians, however, are proud of their self-sufficiency and any suggestion from the East that they are not is roundly criticised.  Hence, our position is that we can support ourselves (with resources, grain, tourism) and we can feed ourselves (wine or olive oil from Margaret River anyone?), and in style.  Who needs the rest of Australia?

It is not only food - homewares have realised the marketing potential.  Over the weekend I saw an advert for bedding store BedShed with a stamp "Born and Bred in WA".  And as a recent returnee from the East I find myself explaining first that I was Born and Bred in WA before temporarily (16 years) decamping to the Eastern States but now have found my way home.  Conversations go so much easier after that.