Life: One of the boys

Last night. WOW! Last night.

I was invited to M's (friend of R's who I've been told I've met before) 30th birthday party on a boat in beautiful Sydney harbour (we are so spoilt). There we were, V, R and me waiting for the boat to arrive outside Star City Casino. We noted there were a few men around the pier, kinda cute, we were assuming they were likely to be on the same cruise as us. The boat arrived, we were standing waiting to board, we were looking around surrounded by men. All men. We were deliberating passing on the adventure...

All aboard! Well I counted 39 men (we were told there were over 40) there were 4 waitresses wearing either lingerie or bikini's, the captain, the DJ and us - the only 3 fully dressed girls! We were told approximately 90% of the men are single, 95% of the men are from Lebanese decent, 3 single girls.

We were in great need of alcohol... Champers and more champers (4 bottles in total). The guys took a while to talk to us, about 20minutes into the cruise we were being entertained my a group of guys who were "old school friends". I stuck to my 7 minute rule, most lost my interest after the 2nd or 3rd question, I then moved on and was happily circulating within the crowd. Information through R, a couple of the boys were interested in getting to know me a little better (ME!- YAY!)

Dinner time. The 3 girls were seating at the same table, I was declared M's date for dinner (35 year old ex-police officer turned property developer). I haven't laughed so much in a very long time.

After dinner and a couple more glasses of champers we went out side and after my 15th (modest guess) getting to know you conversation I met D, caught up talking about everything and nothing, we went upstairs (to get away from the smokers) and had the entire deck to our selves. It was so nice talking to a man who isn't afraid to say what he wants out of the next 5 years, marriage, kids, 2 dogs etc...

An interesting exchange. He asked how we felt when we noticed we were the only girls on board (other than the bikini girls). If we were intimidated at all, we were slightly, but V and R knew a few of the boys and after a couple glasses of champers, the salty air blowing through our hair and the music pumping we started to feel at home. D said it was more likely the guys felt intimidated as they would all be trying for the attention of only 3 girls.

The entertainment arrived. 2 blonde, tanned and toned strippers.
The highlights:
- The guys wearing blue t-shirts were attracting all the attention from the strippers
- The boys did behave themselves during the show
- Pink is the costume colour of choice
- In a private show the girls go "full Monty"
- Doing the splits naked sure does take some confidence
- The girls looked like they were having a ball working
- The girls did a "slip and slide" act on each other
- The boys advised they don't get "turned on" by the strippers

After the show and back to mingling with the boys, D attentively at my side and the cruise coming to an ending soon a small group of us (okay not small 15-20) decided we would all go to Cargo for more drinks, it was only 9.00pm

At Cargo bar we all made a mention of the late Kerry Packer and saluted the great man with a drink.

As the night progressed V andR were both being whisked away and pashing some boys, I'm still chatting endlessly to D, he sneaked in a couple of small kisses on my check.... V and R both sufficiently drunk called it a night about 10.30pm and I stayed. I stayed with a group of 10 guys that I had only met earlier that night (don't tell my mum).

D walked me safely to get home, he asked for my number and I happily gave it to him as well as a kiss good night...

Christmas Long Weekend

Friday night
Casual drinks with J. at the Robin Hood Hotel (up the road) Great little catch up, a little pressie exchange over a bottle of our favourite faux champers. Home by a decent hour as planned.

Saturday (Christmas eve)
Where did the day go? Before I knew it I was running late for cocktail hour at The Dolphin Hotel. We enjoyed a cocktail each which took too long to make (they should bring the cocktail to the table. Service?)

I had intended on joining V. and the girls for a drink at Cabana Bar, but the streets around Surry Hills and the city were bare (what would the North be like?). I went to I.'s new abode, well where she is house sitting for the next month. The house is amazing! 3 story waterfront in point Piper, 2 outdoor pools (as we all know 1 isn't enough) private jetty and cruiser, fully equipped gym and billiard table, Ohhh the list goes on... We had pizza and a great bottle of wine.

Sunday (Christmas Day)
Up out of bed bright and early, the leg of lamb in the oven, prepare the vegies to follow. The last tidy up of the house. 11.30am before we knew it, my sister and nephew were due to arrive, cheese, pate, dips and crackers ready. Food, food, pressies and food, after a few hours of eating we all went to my aunt's house for dessert. Yummo! We arrived home approximately 8.00pm there was no way I was making it another celebration that night, camped on the lounge and laughed my self silly watching "Bad Santa" (unsure if it's the most appropriate movie for Christmas night)

Monday (Boxing day)
I paid $6.60 for a smoothie! WTF? Cafe Bondi, Bondi Beach. Ok it was a damn good smoothie, but not worth $6.60! Lucky I had Christmas Day leftovers for lunch ;-) Our destination was the beach, great weather = too many people at Bondi. I was with a few school friends, MS. MS and 1 blast from the past, SS, I hadn't seen her since School, 9 years! She was living in Indonesia for a few years, married and divorced now back at home with mum and dad. This house I have the fondest memories of pool parties between the ages of 8-14.

The Sydney to Hobart races kicked off and there were so many people in Dover Heights trying to obtain the best vantage point on the cliffs, the 4 of us girls go straight in the drive way make a bee line to the pool, strip down and jump in. Fantastic. Bonus. We had a view of the yachts from inside the pool!

Later that night I had drinks at The Golden Sheaf at Double Bay with H. Great night. I met a boy, a cute boy. Yes, I do have his number ;-)

Tuesday (the public holiday AKA the biggest sale day of the year)
I battled the crowds, only for 2 hours that's all I could handle. My pre-Christmas shopping instructions need to be leveraged to post-Christmas sales. Insane! Never again!

Of course I pick out the only pieces not on sale.

One word - beautiful

Voktor & Rolf
Valentino

Ellie Saab
Christian Lacroix

Stumbled across some new music

I'm a huge RnB fan - have been since I can remember, both modern and old school.

I always have a variety of music in my car (10CD stacker) consists of approximately 6 RnB compilations, some happy music on a rotation eg. Britney, Michael Jackson, Ricky Martin, Chaka Khan, Prince, Robbie Williams, George Michael, Madonna, I recently purchased the best of Blondie.

At home I love THE KING -I dance around the house to Elvis. Also Barry White, James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, Sinatra, The Dean, ahhh Ray White and good ol' Stevie Wonder (I also love the B).

Well I'm listening to radio online and WOW I'm really enjoying: Chuck Brown, Slave, Change, Bass Construction, Heatwave, all in the FUNK genre... I had never heard of these artist - I'm loving it!

The best gelato ever!

I met dad and Gloria for dinner last night as they will be away over Christmas. We went to a traditional little Italian restaurant in Botany (on the wrong side of the tracks - but it was worth it). After my big Christmas lunch with TC. I wasn't overly hungry so we shared a salad and some pizza based garlic bread for entree, the menu was impressive, traditional Italian food - none of that arty farty crap we have become accustomed to.

I looked at my main course and swear I gained 2kg! It was so tasty.... I had chicken breast with Camembert cheese and avocado. So rich. So delicious. Dad & Gloria had veal, of course a sampled both.

9.30pm we bid all goodnight and exchanged Christmas well wishes.

I rang my dear friend SL as I was around the corner from his house - the corner takes me to the better side of the tracks ;-) As luck would have it, he was near my house! We met for a gelato and ventured to WBJ as the entire shopping centre would be open for the Christmas shoppers.

My gay boyfriend and I purchased our gelato and started wandering around the shopping centre, good looking men as far as the eye could see. I tended to be attracted to men wearing navy blue shirts for some reason? Hmmm... I highly recommend battling the traffic and the car park for a little perve - we didn't leave until 10.50pm and the shopping centre was still pulsing with the sound of credit cards being exchanged for copious amounts of goods. The night will go down as the best gelato ever!

It only take a couple of people to bring back my Christmas Spirit

My Christmas story...
I completed all my Christmas shopping last week, I usually do try and have it all done early so I beat the crowds (as per my recent shopping instructions).

For Dad and his partner I bought a set of White Egyptian cotton fluffy towels and face washer, I was informed yesterday by the queen of Sale Scoop and my dear friend that Sheridan was having a 30% off sale! (of course I'll purchase a couple of towels at the discount price for Jules too "jinx") I feel like this always happens to me, but it wasn't too late - I thought I will go to Sheridan which is conveinently located 30 seconds walk from my adopted office and purchase the towels at the discount price and return the others (cheeky I know, but this saving I need - I'm soon to be unemployed again).

As I was seeing Dad last night I really needed to do the dash and buy the goods. I had lunch plans and couldn't get away. After work it is, its Thursday late night shopping - I finish my work day at 5.30pm, easy.

Not so, I went straight after work - Sheridan was closed! I almost walked into the glass doors so convinced the shop would still be open, especially since WBJ was trading til 12.00am. The sales girl took pity on me, she opened the doors and let me in....

Merry Christmas to the lovely 2 sales girls at Sheridan Double Bay!

Mum's Christmas story...
Mum caught the bus home from work as usual on Wednesday and she found a purse, not convinced the driver/bus company would track down the owner to return it.

Mum brought the purse home and looked for some ID or contact number. Mum found a little piece of paper with "mum" and a mobile number. She called, the woman on the receiving end was sounding ahhhhh drunk to say the least and didn't have a pen to take down our number and asked is mum could call back in 10mins! (unbelievable) Mum called again later and was finally given Taryn's contact number, mum arranged to do her grocery shopping at Eastgardens as opposed to Randwick so she can return the purse...

Taryn, a young girl with $175, centrelink information and not much else in her purse. She was gob-smacked when she saw my mum and handed over a box of chocolate and a thank you card which read "Dear Pam, Thank you so much for your effort and thoughts. It's people like you that make Australia the wonderful place it is, Taryn"

Given the recent events in Sydney this little note almost brought a tear to my eye...

I can't deal with some people - they are idiots!

I feel like screaming at these people! So my temporary job is: Customer service. How can I service these idiots?

Phone call:
Me: "Standard office gre...." cut off
Client: "I need to speak to "name" urgently."
Me: ""name" isn't in the office at the moment, would you like "name's" mobile number, I can transfer you to "name's" voicemail or I can take a message" please note: this person is at lunch, but it's urgent
Client: "I don't want to be put through to his voicemail!"
Me (again!): "Would you like his mobile number?"
Client: "yes, that's what I asked for"
Me (through my teeth): "Certainly, his number is 0402...."
Client: "Wait, I need a pen!"

Where do I start? She was aggressive to begin with. Didn't listen to my helpful options. If all she wanted was another contact number she didn't even have a pen - Idiot!

The office Christmas Party

Last night, yes a Tuesday night, I had our office Christmas party. I've only been here for 2 weeks today and I'm only a temporary member of staff (contract terminates 23rd January 2006) I was totally stoked about the invitation being extended. I have been working weekend contract work for the company for over a year (along with half a dozen other people who were not invited)

We finished work for the day at 5.30 and headed straight down to have pre-dinner drinks at W Bar Woolloomooloo. I'm a huge fan of Water Bar, the extensive cocktail list the welcoming ambiance, the friendly bar staff (not overly competent but the amicableness makes up for it).

Water Bar has been named "Bar of the year" for countless magazines and given "top ten bar in the world" status by Conde Naste Traveller. Built in what was once a giant wharf warehouse (for sheep shearing) the interior is simply stunning. The lighting is dreamy and the furniture not only looks the part it's also the sort you never want to leave! I had 2 Mellow Yellow cocktails, a taste of French Passion and a Lycee Martini and of course an Apple Martini, then went back to my Mellow Yellow. YUM lemonchello and strawberry liqueur....

Dinner at the famous Kingsleys Steak and Crabhouse on the finger wharf, where the kept flowing and the seafood platter was delectable. The steak cooked to perfection smothered with bernaise sauce for dessert Belgian dark chocolate mouse and a coffee to complement accompanied with my ultimate favourite side chocolate covered coffee beans.

I have been to a few work Christmas parties in my time, never had I seprofessionalional team over the age of 40 throwing the chocolate covered coffee beans? That's not all folks there were a couple rounds of Quick Fucks to top us off.

Half "the team" (I say it like I belong) went back to W Bar for another cocktail, closing at 12.00am 4 of us decide to venture out further. We went to a quaint little bar at Kings Cross, a few more vodka's and 1 member of our group crossing to another table with a couple guys who were making eyes, there was a glance at my watching saying 3.00am and it was then time for me to find my bed. Conveniently 1 of the guys lives around the corner from me, sharing the cab ride home, jumped out at the pedestriantrain crossing near my house and said our "see you tomorrows and goodnights"

Walking across the road I was thinking "was that an intentional goodbye kiss on the lips?"

Men wearing diamond encrusted sunglasses are not for me

Seen! Yep. At Cabana Bar on Sunday afternoon. I was out having a couple of summer drinks with the girls, a little get together before the Christmas break, we were drinking Rose' (yes, again. Great summer drink).

We were observing our surroundings of the upwardly trendy, when our attention is drawn to a group of whom could only be described as in high school terms as "the cool group" 2 of the guys were wearing huge Dior sunglasses with diamontees.

Not only were 1 of the boys wearing the diamond encrusted sunnies, he was also wearing a pink shirt! Okay, we all thought "same sex orientation's" but, he had his girlfriend there next to him stealing a couple of kisses etc...

We all decided we couldn't consider dating a guy who would wear something like that! That's when the notorious topics of what we look for in a man comes up (as 3 out of 4 of us gals are single we entertained this). What we found even easier is to make a list of what we don't want in a man...

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin and Domino's Pizza

I really needed a quite night in (preferably a quite weekend). From October until last weekend I've had a birthday party or drinking function to attend. This last weekend I needed a break the most extreme outing I was anticipating was seeing a movie or a cheap eat somewhere.

Friday night I went over to J's armed with 2 dvd's planning on consuming our joint birthday present from RFi. We ate Domino's Pizza and drank a bottle of Veuve Clicqout Ponsardin. So unfortunate we took to long to get together and enjoy the flourless chocolate torte - it had mould growing on the base on 1 side....

My "to do list" for Saturday was as follows: A substitute date for a Christmas party, a birthday party for a friends boyfriend and attend a nightclub opening. What did I do? I went over to I's house and drank a bottle of Rose' and had a great chat, MS Joined us and her flat mate and 2 friends came later in the night.

Places I've been and want to visit Part 2 - DUBAI

LOVE DUBAI!

The shopping WOW! The Shopping!

The Gold Souk in Deira...

This place is indescribable. Must be over 1000 shops all in rows, selling nothing but Gold, Diamonds and Pearls. The gold is all minimum 18ct (its the law) and the diamonds are amazingly cheap. No tax or duty.


The day we ventured to Deira Gold Souk our hotel had a black out - little did we know the ENTIRE CITY was experiencing the black out. No air conditioning when it's 39 deg! We wanted to purchase a couple of items from Deira, knowing how cheap the gold is, the gold is priced according to weight and not design.

The shopping list: me a necklace, my dad a gold bracelet, me a watch, dad, buying his partner a necklace and earring set... Unfortunately the merchants weigh the gold using electronic scales, and of course unable to work without power. We went looking around in approximately 30 stores trying to find the perfect necklace / earring set. Approximately 3 hours of looking around and many people at the hounding us all the time "You want copy watch?, copy handbag? Copy DVDs?" but as soon as you tell them "no", they leave you alone. The heat starting to get to us and many bottles of water later....

We went back to a jeweler and negotiated the best price for my Raymond Weir watch. Basically - they wanted to make "a" sale during the day and we had a limited amount of cash, no eftpos or credit facilities available during a blackout ;-) We did find one store (along with too many others - there was a line up outside) in the midst of the souk with a power generator, we knew there had to be another. Searching and searching we found one with the most stunning arrangement of necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Done. Purchased a necklace for me. Necklace, bracelet and earrings for Gloria. (Dad wanted another design which we found later at the airport).

Upon return to our hotel I striped off my recently purchased Gianfranco Ferre White linen pants to find the red top I was wearing had the dye run! No air conditioning and sporting red top with white pants is not recommended!

After an afternoon at the beach a shower we were off again shopping. This time we went to one of the largest malls Deira City Centre

We had authentic traditional dinner here at 9.30pm. The food hall was so full we had to wait for a table!

Shopping was totally satisfied! Purchased:

- 2 pairs of 4" high heel shoes (me)

- Dupont lighter (dad)

- Gianfranco Ferre black leather bag (me)

- Marc Jacobs pink bag (me)

- Balenciaga red motorcycle bag (dad bought for me)

- Carton of cigarettes (dad) he was over the moon a carton of longbeach cost AU$12!

- Camel snow globe (sand globe) so very cute gift for my nephew

- Louis Vuitton scarf for my mum

- Louis Vuitton black leather belt for my sister

- A fridge magnet (embarrassing, but yes)

Of course we did do the tourist adventure, that included the fish markets, the grand Mosque, drive past the Race course where the Camel Races are held, the Spice Souk and taking in again the Gold Souk.

Typically as in all destinations while on holiday we went to the museum. Brief history on Dubai... Originally a small fishing settlement, Dubai was taken over around 1830 by a branch of the Bani Yas tribe from the Liwa oasis led by the Maktoum family who still rule the emirate today. An independent emirate for most of its history, in 1971 Dubai came together with Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and (in 1972) Ras Al Khaimah to create the federation of the United Arab Emirates. The discovery of oil in 1966 dramatically transformed the emirate by allowing the development of the economic and social infrastructure which laid the foundations for today's modern society. Much of the credit for this development can be traced to the vision of the late Ruler, HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who ensured that Dubai's oil revenues were deployed to maximum effect. His work has been continued by the present Ruler, HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

inevitable to say, the Museum was fairly modern and the gift store consisted mostly of camel statues.

When we booked our little tour through the hotel they organised a German tour company! Ahhh... I speak ohhh about 5% Deutsche. Luckily my father is fluent and the entire Dubai tour was being translated for me. Now, UAE is liberal when it comes to Westerners, they have to be as 75% of the population are not UAE residents, in my opinion we are to respect the traditions and culture of the country we visit. One of the girls was wearing a singlet and a knee length skirt. Not on.

I don't think I put enough emphasis on the huge camel population - 1 more pic to be sure ;-)

Places I've been and want to visit Part 1 - DUBAI

BEEN THERE!

I want to go back! Recently I've been obsessed with my memories of Dubai. Dubai holds the world building summit annually and recently Australia's Multiplex has won the $389, 000,000 building contract - I want to go there and work...

Dubai. The quintessential home of sand, sun and shopping, mountains, beaches, deserts, camel racing, Bedouin markets and legendary duty-free shopping, all packed into a relatively small area.

Driving from Jumeireh Beach to the city along the 4 lane road comprising of many 4 lane round-a-bouts (Very hard to imagine not being involved in an accident there on a daily basis) on the left there are science-fiction skyscrapers alongside the mosques and to the left wind towers of Old Dubai with too many camels to count *slurp*

Dubai is one of the richest citys in the world with grat thanks to oil. Dubai, where you can have The World if you wish or The Palm Islands which has been self-declared 'Eighth Wonder of the World'.

I was lucky enough to be staying at Jumeirah Beach Hotel. This hotel was luxury. Luxury. Luxury. I was spolit by this 6 star hotel. Beautiful Egyption sheet, goose down pillows, godiva chocolates on the pillows and what a view from the balcony!

I stayed here:

I loved being in the middles of the dessert and able to go to the beach!

Of course I went to Wild Wadi Fun Park! The most amazing water slide collection, with slides that actually push you UP the slides, not using gravity like they normally do when you ride down them.

I'm just not interested...

It's the Christmas silly season. There are so many events to attend and I'm just not interested at the moment. I don't want to be out mingling. I don't want to have to fight over the last canape. I don't care to have free champagne and feeling like crap the next day. I don't want to be a friends substitute date for an evening. I'm interested in enjoying the company of my closest and dearest friends over dinner or taking in a movie (as there are so many good ones presently).

They should take more care

I love my Audi therefore she gets a good bath every month @ $32 a wash & vacuum and my recent employment position I think my little baby should be happy.

I always go to the same car wash and relax with my book and the free coffee (well, included coffee). I jumped into my car after she had a wash and what happened? The rear view mirror wasn't there! Of course I approached the staff to make it known, I was asked if it was like that when I came in. WHAT! I drive around like that and prey on others to take responsibility and make payment - I don't think so! So, after another complementary coffee and the on duty manager making many calls to find a mechanic open at 5.30pm on a Saturday afternoon I still don't have a rear view mirror.

I must say it is extremely inconvenient driving without a rear view mirror (No I'm not one of those girls who applies their makeup at the lights utilising my mirror). 4 days and I'm going crazy and getting it fixed this afternoon. I have experienced more difficult driving arrangements eg. No clutch. No air conditioning. A piston not working. Blocked fuel line therefore having to rev the car to hell. The list goes on... Thankfully these weren't my cars ;-)

I feel like I can't escape

I'm working at Double Bay for the time being, on contract/temp role - how very convenient it is, the office I have been on contract with for the last 9 months working Saturday and Sunday on one of their projects has their receptionist and sales secretary has gone on holiday for 6 weeks, could it better timing? This role will see me over the Christmas / New Year period and give me the flexibility to attend job interviews. YAY!

Well, I've been here 1 week.

I've already dated 1 of the boys here in April this year.

I went out for lunch on Tuesday and I see a man I dated in '99, and experienced that long I recognise you stare and we both move along without any further exchanges of acknowledgment. OK. I did have the 1 date with him, coffee, a few days later I walk past him on the street. I honestly didn't see him! He then popped into my office at the time as accused me of being a snob! Oops....

Yesterday I'm happily walking to buy my afternoon chocolate when I see my last boyfriends mother. She gives me 1 of the biggest loving hugs, tells me she is going to visit my ex-boyfriends sister's new office. She said I should come as S would love to see me, she puts her arm around me and almost kidnapped me to S's office. I'm welcomed by a huge hug and kiss. Wow this family is so beautiful. S's office is literally 6 doors down from my temporarily adopted office.

What will next week hold?

A small bite to eat and a much needed drink

I met J. & her friend J. at Mu Shu at Bondi Beach. What a great little treasure this place is. They have "beds" instead of tables at the front where we are obligated to remove our shoes and lazy about eating great nibbles from the bar menu and sipping on cocktails. I didn't have much of an appetite therefore the deep fried sticky egg and a dirty martini was right up my alley - I had forgotten how hard it was to drink a martini :-o

I couldn't go through with it...

After many appointments to try and establish what this damn lump is, it was my ultra-sound deep core biopsy appointment yesterday.... It sounds horrible. I was there with my mum to hold my hand - I freaked! I starting crying hysterically. My breathing was faster than I've ever known. I started seeing little white dots before me. I couldn't go through with it.

The technician sent me up to see "the specialist". He had been notified of my anxiety attack. When I walked in the good doctor pointed to me and instructed me to SIT! I felt like a 6 year old who has just disappointed her teacher. My fear of needles has been prevalent since I can remember kicking my doctor when he was going a tetanus shot when I was knee high to a grasshopper. I now have nightmares so similar to Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction.

We discussed my options:
1. Go back and try again (no)
2. Wait until January and have it removed (yes)

I will go under the knife in January and basically skip the biopsy step, I will be knocked out and not have to see the needle and another bonus in this process I will save $280.

My mother told me "now I have something else to worry about, I'll probably have a heart attack, you have to do it". On the way home my mother didn't talk to me.

The silence was deafening...

Dinner, Dinner, Dancing and Drinks

On Thursday night I took my dad out to dinner at Peacock Gardens in Crows Nest, in my humble opinion the best Chinese restaurant in Sydney. We ate till our belly's were full of great pinot noir and seafood. I bumped into an old buddy of mine whom I haven't seen for a year or so and jumped back into each others life as if we hadn't skipped a beat of course the topic of conversation consisted of the hype of Australia making it into the world cup! As soon as N left the table Dad and G asked if he had "a friend".

Friday night was J's birthday dinner. G works at Chez Rene it was magnificent! I had for entree Escargots a I'Ail (snails served with champagne garlic butter sauce), main: Filet de Buffle au Vin Rouge (Buffalo fillet, served medium-rare with a French mushroom sauce) for dessert we shared: Vacherin Glace (Three layers of homemade icecream on a meringue base) - My mouth is watering thinking about it....

After dinner we went to join S's celebrations! He finally graduated from Uni! Congratulations! We were dancing to ol' 70's & 80's classics (I usually enjoy this tunes after many alcoholic beverages, but I was designated driver).

Saturday morning I was up bright and early to watch the World Cup 2006 draw. So exciting! 178 days to go!

I then met L and her mum for day number 2 wedding dress shopping. L had been flicking through numerous wedding magazines and always been drawn to a specific designer. She slid the dress on and was dancing around the store - happiest I've ever seen her... L put the 50% deposit on the dress right there and then! We discussed the dress for the next hour over brunch at 5 ways. I'm so unbelievably happy for L.

Saturday night was at Cargo Bar for drinks. V's birthday celebrations. V and her friends are so beautiful I so enjoyed spending time with un-pretentious girls and guys with plenty of pink faux champers flowing (no one was asked to leave this weekend).

Two Words... Tom Ford

Tom Ford

Unfortunately he quit the runway early last year, Tom Ford showed up a lot in 2005. The former creative director at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent launched a sunglasses collection, sexed up Estée Lauder, took a high-profile guest editor gig for Vanity Fair's Hollywood issue, and announced plans for a menswear line.

But the place we saw the most of Ford was the November issue of W, where he appeared in a 19-page photo spread. Nude.

Single life has its ups and DOWNS

I've been single now for 11 months. There has been very few instances I have missed having a significant other in my life.

1. When I visited the Archibald exhibition at the art gallery followed by a walk through the Botanical gardens (very similar feelings to Pissarro visit)

2. Aranka & Mikal's wedding in Czech Republic. I'm realistic enough to realise I was at a wedding, love was in the air but not for me, I was also the only person unable to speak more than a dozen words in Czech.

3. Yesterday. I had an appointment with a "specialist" to prod at my body (again) to investigate this damn lump I recently found. I really wanted someone, a man, a man I love and loves me to be holding my hand.

Inspiratioal things to learn about others

Ten Things I Have Learned - Part of AIGA Talk in London
November 22, 2001

1. YOU CAN ONLY WORK FOR PEOPLE THAT YOU LIKE
This is a curious rule and it took me a long time to learn because in fact at the beginning of my practice I felt the opposite. Professionalism required that you didn’t particularly like the people that you worked for or at least maintained an arms length relationship to them, which meant that I never had lunch with a client or saw them socially. Then some years ago I realised that the opposite was true. I discovered that all the work I had done that was meaningful and significant came out of an affectionate relationship with a client. And I am not talking about professionalism; I am talking about affection. I am talking about a client and you sharing some common ground. That in fact your view of life is someway congruent with the client, otherwise it is a bitter and hopeless struggle.

2. IF YOU HAVE A CHOICE NEVER HAVE A JOB
One night I was sitting in my car outside Columbia University where my wife Shirley was studying Anthropology. While I was waiting I was listening to the radio and heard an interviewer ask ‘Now that you have reached 75 have you any advice for our audience about how to prepare for your old age?’ An irritated voice said ‘Why is everyone asking me about old age these days?’ I recognised the voice as John Cage. I am sure that many of you know who he was – the composer and philosopher who influenced people like Jasper Johns and Merce Cunningham as well as the music world in general. I knew him slightly and admired his contribution to our times. ‘You know, I do know how to prepare for old age’ he said. ‘Never have a job, because if you have a job someday someone will take it away from you and then you will be unprepared for your old age. For me, it has always been the same every since the age of 12. I wake up in the morning and I try to figure out how am I going to put bread on the table today? It is the same at 75, I wake up every morning and I think how am I going to put bread on the table today? I am exceedingly well prepared for my old age’ he said.

3. SOME PEOPLE ARE TOXIC AVOID THEM
This is a subtext of number one. There was in the sixties a man named Fritz Perls who was a gestalt therapist. Gestalt therapy derives from art history, it proposes you must understand the ‘whole’ before you can understand the details. What you have to look at is the entire culture, the entire family and community and so on. Perls proposed that in all relationships people could be either toxic or nourishing towards one another. It is not necessarily true that the same person will be toxic or nourishing in every relationship, but the combination of any two people in a relationship produces toxic or nourishing consequences. And the important thing that I can tell you is that there is a test to determine whether someone is toxic or nourishing in your relationship with them. Here is the test: You have spent some time with this person, either you have a drink or go for dinner or you go to a ball game. It doesn’t matter very much but at the end of that time you observe whether you are more energised or less energised. Whether you are tired or whether you are exhilarated. If you are more tired then you have been poisoned. If you have more energy you have been nourished. The test is almost infallible and I suggest that you use it for the rest of your life.

4. PROFESSIONALISM IS NOT ENOUGH or THE GOOD IS THE ENEMY OF THE GREAT
Early in my career I wanted to be professional, that was my complete aspiration in my early life because professionals seemed to know everything - not to mention they got paid for it. Later I discovered after working for a while that professionalism itself was a limitation. After all, what professionalism means in most cases is diminishing risks. So if you want to get your car fixed you go to a mechanic who knows how to deal with transmission problems in the same way each time. I suppose if you needed brain surgery you wouldn’t want the doctor to fool around and invent a new way of connecting your nerve endings. Please do it in the way that has worked in the past.

Unfortunately in our field, in the so-called creative – I hate that word because it is misused so often. I also hate the fact that it is used as a noun. Can you imagine calling someone a creative? Anyhow, when you are doing something in a recurring way to diminish risk or doing it in the same way as you have done it before, it is clear why professionalism is not enough. After all, what is required in our field, more than anything else, is the continuous transgression. Professionalism does not allow for that because transgression has to encompass the possibility of failure and if you are professional your instinct is not to fail, it is to repeat success. So professionalism as a lifetime aspiration is a limited goal.

5. LESS IS NOT NECESSARILY MORE
Being a child of modernism I have heard this mantra all my life. Less is more. One morning upon awakening I realised that it was total nonsense, it is an absurd proposition and also fairly meaningless. But it sounds great because it contains within it a paradox that is resistant to understanding. But it simply does not obtain when you think about the visual of the history of the world. If you look at a Persian rug, you cannot say that less is more because you realise that every part of that rug, every change of colour, every shift in form is absolutely essential for its aesthetic success. You cannot prove to me that a solid blue rug is in any way superior. That also goes for the work of Gaudi, Persian miniatures, art nouveau and everything else. However, I have an alternative to the proposition that I believe is more appropriate. ‘Just enough is more.’

6. STYLE IS NOT TO BE TRUSTED
I think this idea first occurred to me when I was looking at a marvellous etching of a bull by Picasso. It was an illustration for a story by Balzac called The Hidden Masterpiece. I am sure that you all know it. It is a bull that is expressed in 12 different styles going from very naturalistic version of a bull to an absolutely reductive single line abstraction and everything else along the way. What is clear just from looking at this single print is that style is irrelevant. In every one of these cases, from extreme abstraction to acute naturalism they are extraordinary regardless of the style. It’s absurd to be loyal to a style. It does not deserve your loyalty. I must say that for old design professionals it is a problem because the field is driven by economic consideration more than anything else. Style change is usually linked to economic factors, as all of you know who have read Marx. Also fatigue occurs when people see too much of the same thing too often. So every ten years or so there is a stylistic shift and things are made to look different. Typefaces go in and out of style and the visual system shifts a little bit. If you are around for a long time as a designer, you have an essential problem of what to do. I mean, after all, you have developed a vocabulary, a form that is your own. It is one of the ways that you distinguish yourself from your peers, and establish your identity in the field. How you maintain your own belief system and preferences becomes a real balancing act. The question of whether you pursue change or whether you maintain your own distinct form becomes difficult. We have all seen the work of illustrious practitioners that suddenly look old-fashioned or, more precisely, belonging to another moment in time. And there are sad stories such as the one about Cassandre, arguably the greatest graphic designer of the twentieth century, who couldn’t make a living at the end of his life and committed suicide.
But the point is that anybody who is in this for the long haul has to decide how to respond to change in the zeitgeist. What is it that people now expect that they formerly didn’t want? And how to respond to that desire in a way that doesn’t change your sense of integrity and purpose.

7. HOW YOU LIVE CHANGES YOUR BRAIN
The brain is the most responsive organ of the body. Actually it is the organ that is most susceptible to change and regeneration of all the organs in the body. I have a friend named Gerald Edelman who was a great scholar of brain studies and he says that the analogy of the brain to a computer is pathetic. The brain is actually more like an overgrown garden that is constantly growing and throwing off seeds, regenerating and so on. And he believes that the brain is susceptible, in a way that we are not fully conscious of, to almost every experience of our life and every encounter we have. I was fascinated by a story in a newspaper a few years ago about the search for perfect pitch. A group of scientists decided that they were going to find out why certain people have perfect pitch. You know certain people hear a note precisely and are able to replicate it at exactly the right pitch. Some people have relevant pitch; perfect pitch is rare even among musicians. The scientists discovered – I don’t know how - that among people with perfect pitch the brain was different. Certain lobes of the brain had undergone some change or deformation that was always present with those who had perfect pitch. This was interesting enough in itself. But then they discovered something even more fascinating. If you took a bunch of kids and taught them to play the violin at the age of 4 or 5 after a couple of years some of them developed perfect pitch, and in all of those cases their brain structure had changed. Well what could that mean for the rest of us? We tend to believe that the mind affects the body and the body affects the mind, although we do not generally believe that everything we do affects the brain. I am convinced that if someone was to yell at me from across the street my brain could be affected and my life might changed. That is why your mother always said, ‘Don’t hang out with those bad kids.’ Mama was right. Thought changes our life and our behaviour. I also believe that drawing works in the same way. I am a great advocate of drawing, not in order to become an illustrator, but because I believe drawing changes the brain in the same way as the search to create the right note changes the brain of a violinist. Drawing also makes you attentive. It makes you pay attention to what you are looking at, which is not so easy.

8. DOUBT IS BETTER THAN CERTAINTY
Everyone always talks about confidence in believing what you do. I remember once going to a class in yoga where the teacher said that, spirituality speaking, if you believed that you had achieved enlightenment you have merely arrived at your limitation. I think that is also true in a practical sense. Deeply held beliefs of any kind prevent you from being open to experience, which is why I find all firmly held ideological positions questionable. It makes me nervous when someone believes too deeply or too much. I think that being sceptical and questioning all deeply held beliefs is essential. Of course we must know the difference between scepticism and cynicism because cynicism is as much a restriction of one’s openness to the world as passionate belief is. They are sort of twins. And then in a very real way, solving any problem is more important than being right. There is a significant sense of self-righteousness in both the art and design world. Perhaps it begins at school. Art school often begins with the Ayn Rand model of the single personality resisting the ideas of the surrounding culture. The theory of the avant garde is that as an individual you can transform the world, which is true up to a point. One of the signs of a damaged ego is absolute certainty.
Schools encourage the idea of not compromising and defending your work at all costs. Well, the issue at work is usually all about the nature of compromise. You just have to know what to compromise. Blind pursuit of your own ends which excludes the possibility that others may be right does not allow for the fact that in design we are always dealing with a triad – the client, the audience and you.

Ideally, making everyone win through acts of accommodation is desirable. But self-righteousness is often the enemy. Self-righteousness and narcissism generally come out of some sort of childhood trauma, which we do not have to go into. It is a consistently difficult thing in human affairs. Some years ago I read a most remarkable thing about love, that also applies to the nature of co-existing with others. It was a quotation from Iris Murdoch in her obituary. It read ‘ Love is the extremely difficult realisation that something other than oneself is real.’ Isn’t that fantastic! The best insight on the subject of love that one can imagine.

9. ON AGING
Last year someone gave me a charming book by Roger Rosenblatt called ‘Ageing Gracefully’ I got it on my birthday. I did not appreciate the title at the time but it contains a series of rules for ageing gracefully. The first rule is the best. Rule number one is that ‘it doesn’t matter.’ ‘It doesn’t matter that what you think. Follow this rule and it will add decades to your life. It does not matter if you are late or early, if you are here or there, if you said it or didn’t say it, if you are clever or if you were stupid. If you were having a bad hair day or a no hair day or if your boss looks at you cockeyed or your boyfriend or girlfriend looks at you cockeyed, if you are cockeyed. If you don’t get that promotion or prize or house or if you do – it doesn’t matter.’ Wisdom at last. Then I heard a marvellous joke that seemed related to rule number 10. A butcher was opening his market one morning and as he did a rabbit popped his head through the door. The butcher was surprised when the rabbit inquired ‘Got any cabbage?’ The butcher said ‘This is a meat market – we sell meat, not vegetables.’ The rabbit hopped off. The next day the butcher is opening the shop and sure enough the rabbit pops his head round and says ‘You got any cabbage?’ The butcher now irritated says ‘Listen you little rodent I told you yesterday we sell meat, we do not sell vegetables and the next time you come here I am going to grab you by the throat and nail those floppy ears to the floor.’ The rabbit disappeared hastily and nothing happened for a week. Then one morning the rabbit popped his head around the corner and said ‘Got any nails?’ The butcher said ‘No.’ The rabbit said ‘Ok. Got any cabbage?’

10. TELL THE TRUTH
The rabbit joke is relevant because it occurred to me that looking for a cabbage in a butcher’s shop might be like looking for ethics in the design field. It may not be the most obvious place to find either. It’s interesting to observe that in the new AIGA’s code of ethics there is a significant amount of useful information about appropriate behaviour towards clients and other designers, but not a word about a designer’s relationship to the public. We expect a butcher to sell us eatable meat and that he doesn’t misrepresent his wares. I remember reading that during the Stalin years in Russia that everything labelled veal was actually chicken. I can’t imagine what everything labelled chicken was. We can accept certain kinds of misrepresentation, such as fudging about the amount of fat in his hamburger but once a butcher knowingly sells us spoiled meat we go elsewhere. As a designer, do we have less responsibility to our public than a butcher? Everyone interested in licensing our field might note that the reason licensing has been invented is to protect the public not designers or clients. ‘Do no harm’ is an admonition to doctors concerning their relationship to their patients, not to their fellow practitioners or the drug companies. If we were licensed, telling the truth might become more central to what we do.

Don't put me in a box

I had a "long weekend". It's was fantastic! Varied excursions on my to do list.

I knew I have a working contract commencing the following week therefore able to relax and enjoy the time off work. I spent most of my free time while unemployed or more preferable "between jobs" watching consecutive episodes of Sex and the City, 3 seasons down another 3 to go - cheap and cheerful.

Friday I was up bright and early. I needed to send out some thank you emails for all those wonderful people who attended my and J's birthday party on the weekend. I sent out individual thank you's. Yes, I chose to do individual emails just to show my true appreciation, not enough people go to any effort to send out a simple "thanks for being part of the night".

Next on my to do list for the day was the Pissarro exhibition. I love the art gallery. Pissarro is one of my top 5 favourite artist's, I feel consumed with emotions when I admire the impressionists - "my heart rage a thousand emotions" Art. Life. Love... While I'm at the gallery my thoughts include wishing I had someone to share this experience with, on the other hand I love doing it alone, looking at the pieces getting my thoughts lost in a time so very different to today and not have to compare notes with another "would you like this painting in our house?" or questions alike (a past love used to ask these questions - he wasn't an art lover, bless him for trying).

That night saw me out and about with A. and H., 3 bottles of pink faux champers at Cargo Bar! Ahh... What a night, H was politely asked to leave the venue due to intoxication (there's a theme here, last week A. this week Hayley maybe next week it will be my turn - lets hope not).

Jamiroquai concert on Saturday night at centennial Park, I'm so spoilt to have such a beautiful park at my door step. The Cat in the Hat was absolutely fantastic! The back up bands were great fun. Sensational night except the 45 minute wait for the toilet and unable to find J afterwards therefore we both enjoyed the concert in different locations dancing away in the midst of over 25,000 of strangers!

Sunday afternoon a paid homage to my past and went to the autosalon It was compulsory for me to attend a few years back. Hasn't changed at all, same faces, same cars... I did see the best friend of Dom and after a very brief chat he gave me enough information not to worry about seeing him in the flesh considering what happened last time...

I was asked on Monday what I did on the weekend and I was on the receiving end of a strange look... Is it really that hard to believe a girl can love art, obsessed by sex and the city as well as admire super modified cars?