Posted in Food!, Uncategorized on April 28, 2010| 2 Comments »
Monday
Tuesday
Posted in IDEAS, Uncategorized, tagged Burlesque, Crafts and designs, Events, Fashion, Future, happiness, Jobs, re-invention, Theatre on April 27, 2010| 1 Comment »
So I feel I have come to that part in my life where I should make a decision on a career path for me to try to follow. I know that it may not be where I end up but I would like a direction to head in at least. So I have been doing a lot of thinking and researching lately of possible avenues I could take. And as I day dream at my desk each day these are a few of the futures I have come up with…
Working in Fashion. most likely in Fashion Merchandising. I would love to be the person who designed all the amazing window dressings for the big brand stores. To have lunch meetings or travel for my work. Ooh I would love to dabble at being a buyer and being sent on a business trip to find new designs.
Working in Theatre Production. After Studying I would be skilled in all aspects of theatre including Stage Management, Set Design, Lighting, Sound and Costume. Making me able to freelance in many different areas and theatres all over the world. Would also give me the experience I need to put on my own productions and shows.
Running an Events Company. Specializing in entertainment and design for events. Ideally having a variety of different performers on our books. Our office would also consist of a rehearsal space that we can use to tailor certain performances to suit the style wanted by the client. It would also be hired out when not in use for external dance classes etc. To have a warehouse full of costumes and props for different themed events. To have the means to travel our events and performers, not limiting them to the area our head office is. To have pre made packages for clients to choose from, but be willing to make and produce totally new events. I feel this job is closest to my heart as I would be creating constantly with everyday being different. Also I would still be able to have business lunches and travel!
Wedding and Deb Events, A different and more traditional way of having an event company. Still very exciting in its own right but not incorporating performers as such. I think making up a Proposal for Deb sets would be quite an interesting endeavour. Including dance teachers, design and decorations, photography, video production and catering. Also working out with businesses that are connected with Debs, such as Hairdressers, dress shops etc that they can get discounts at these stores. Also it would be nice to make up a Deb Guide Booklet, including everything from getting your shoes in advance to practice with to when the best time is to get a spray tan. Many of these things can translate to weddings aswell however a wedding would be on a very personal level with more one on one interaction. I love the organisational aspects, the idea of making someones life into a performance and that it is different every day, moving and not just stuck in an office.
Owning a Boutique, My friends are starting a new business called Boulevard Rouge specialising n making 40’s 50’s vintage reproduction clothing. If they are successful in drilling up as many clients as the lovely Vivien of Holloway they would want to open a boutique shop in Melbourne which I would run. It does sound quite fabulous so I would be very interested.
Owning a Burlesque Cabaret, This could be in conjunction with some other future career. I would like to Produce an amazing burlesque/cabaret show. Think the antics and enthusiasm of Dracula’s with lovely aerials and silks. Fans, fire and stilts. Semi circus but with a very cabaret style show. All coming together to collaborate a particular theme or story. Where we would have a specific rehearsal days and rehearsal venue. A long run so we can get full use of our ever fabulous costumes. Cocktails or meals tailored for the show
Selling my own designs, I quite fancy making an assortment of wonderful things and selling them. I have been browsing through etsy every other day feeling more confident with the quality if items I can make. I have come up with a few ideas t start-up as etsy shops. Pet carrier made from recycled handbags, Hand made recycled paper items, Re styled clothing, Burlesque pasties and corsets. I have a picture on my wall of an elderly lady with long blonde dreads wrapped in a scarf, sitting in brightly printed clothing in an exotic looking room in the middle of africa, where she lives making hand dyed and printed cloth that she sells over seas. This is the person I want to be when I am no longer able to run jump and dance. I will buy up a beautiful cottage somewhere in like Thailand and spend all day making crafts.
Posted in Food!, Uncategorized on April 26, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Saturday
Sunday
Posted in Food!, tagged cooking, Crafts and designs, Events, food, life, newcastle, Travel on April 24, 2010| 2 Comments »
Last year I was devastated as I missed the EAT! Festival in Newcastle. So I am going to make the most of it this year. It really is one of the best food festivals that I have heard of. It runs for over two weeks and has many many events of which I am struggling to decide which ones to go to.
My favourites include:
The Pearly Dinner, a world first event where there is no menu in sight except for the one floating around in your head. The fine chefs will cook you whatever you like. From Lobster to cheese toasties or a giant cupcake mountain.
Cakebook ‘Flash Mob Picnic’ , where you are given a local iconic structure, for example the Tyne bridge and then you make that into a cake. Then on the day of the picnic they reveal the secret location and you show up with your cake and place it on a giant edible map of the city where it is judged and then shared amongst all.
One of the most extravagant events would be EAT! at Sea, where you jump on a cruise ship and cruise over to Amsterdam and back. While onboard there are feasts and cocktail making, mini markets and cake. It takes three days and is full of lovely food goodness. They better have the sea-sick pills on hand!
These are just a taster of the many events. Not all are as extreme, there are many markets and stalls, whisky, wine, chilli and beer festivals too keep everyone entertained.
So I am going to make it my business to get the most out of the festival. Because we all know how much I love my food.
Here is the event line up:
http://www.eatnewcastlegateshead.com/xsdbimgs/Eat2010.pdf
So with this week-long gorging coming up in June I have decided to make sure I eat better until then. I will start recording my eating habits so I can see what a good girl I have been 🙂
Yesterday I ate:
All this just so I can gorge on cakes wine and cheese. But I am sure it will be totally worth it 🙂
Posted in remember when..., tagged australia, England, Future, Jobs, life, newcastle on April 23, 2010| Leave a Comment »
I started working at a young age. Well I actually started working the day after I turned 14 and 9months, the legal working age in Australia. I got a phone call the day before from my mums boss asking if I wanted to work as a rat catcher and rugrats indoor play centre. Being a rat catcher wasn’t running around chasing ras out of the building. It was however walking around the play centre making sure no kids got stuck in the tunnels, that they didn’t run on the concrete and that they didn’t start a war with the balls from the ball pit. Quite quickly I was promoted through the ranks and became Head of Parties and worked on the front desk. Mainly because no one liked these jobs. Front desk was a one person job and very lonely and Parties included looking after birthday kids mothers and cutting ice-cream cake which is one of the hardest things in the world to cut nicely.
After working there for two years I quit so I could concentrate on my last years of school and to work towards a future. Ha! How silly it all sounds now as the many jobs that followed most of them have nothing to do with “future ambitions”. They are as follows.
2004- Photographer and reception at Kelly’s Antique Photography!… never heard of it? That’s alright it lasted about 6months before vandals took off with all our gear in the middle of the night. It was essentially a place to dress in period clothes and get a nice sepia tonne pic.
2006- GPAC, the Geelong performing arts centre as a casual usher for two wonderful years. It didn’t really feel like going to work at all, unless you had to usher a calisthenics competition.
From 2006-2008 the jobs just seemed to all blur into one. I had several jobs at the same time, a total of 6 at one stage. These jobs don’t include the full-time events course I was doing or the many theatre productions I was working on. Lets just say I am a very organised girl 🙂
Timboon Fine Icecreamery- Was essentially a cute little ice cream van that travelled around to all the fares and special events in the area selling the best tasting ice cream you have ever tasted. It was a big perk being able to “sample” all our produce, my favourite being the apple pie ice cream!
Karingal – I worked as a dance teacher once a week teaching children with disabilities.
Pam Hutchinson’s Photography – I worked for Pam over the summer helping her out at Weddings or doing Admin in the office.
Rays Outdoors – Yes I did get the job because my dad worked in the head office. I worked on the floor in clothing and footwear but also went canvassing when we had big sales on. I also modelled for the brand so my face was plastered on all the products, commercials and signage giving me the unfortunate title of “the rays chick” which I don’t think I will ever live down.
The Geelong Conference Centre – As a housekeeper. I didn’t mind the 8hour shifts changing bedding or vacuuming. I quite liked singing away as I worked. It was the two-hour early morning shifts working from 6-8 that killed me.
Run M Ragged- Once again an Indoor play centre where my mother worked. I was a Fairy and Entertainer. You wouldn’t believe how good I became at Face Painting, Balloon animals and party games 🙂
Burger Inc. – A gourmet burger joint who were opening a new store in town. I was to work full-time hours but for some reason when they opened I only got a shift a week if I was lucky. So one day I didn’t turn up and they never rang me, so that was that. They had great burgers though.
Salesforce – Oh the root of all evil! Basically a telemarketing job disguised as a customer billing line. You got a lovely week of induction, then four weeks of training all paid for and then they threw you to the sharks. I think the thing that got to me the most was when we would have little old ladies ring up saying that their bill was $200 and you just knew that someone must have talked them into some contract that you couldn’t get them out of and on top of that you had to try to sell them something. it broke my heart. I lasted three months.
Muffin Break – I was an all-rounder, Head Barista/Customer Service/Baker. I did actually have quite a bit of fun at this job. We would be so busy during the day that I would go home with coffee orders swimming around my head. I only left to go over to America. But it still isn’t my idea of a dream job 😛
Camp Scatico – In upstate New York I worked as the Head of Theatre at a summer camp. predominately rich jewish families attended so it was a lovely camp. I worked their for three months.
The Perfume Connection – When I got back from my travels around America Europe and Thailand I started as a Christmas casual. I think this is one of the best jobs I have had. I got to play with pretty makeup and perfume and I felt good about selling and up selling. I think I was there for about 4 months before I got my Visa for the UK.
Cafe Go – The most trendiest place in Geelong. Known for its quirky ways and for being a Gay Hot Spot cafe go was one of my favourite places to hang out. Unfortunately I made the mistake of getting a job there and it stole a lot of the magic for me. But still it has the best breakfasts in town!
FYEO & PG – Two clubs that I worked in whilst in England. There wasn’t much nanny work up north or really any jobs for that matter. You gotta love a recession! I learnt a lot working at these places and will probably write a book on it some day 🙂
Camp Rockwell Ireland – A very interesting 10 days! yes I only lasted 10 days. I wanted to do something fun over the summer and thought going back into a camp leader role would be a blast. It wasn’t! Very unorganised and dodgy place. People dropped out everyday and I didn’t even make it to the point where we were looking after the kids. It’s a story to tell at least.
And Finally…
Theatre Royal Newcastle – Box Office Assistant that is meant to be casual but works 37+ hours a week. I am not complaining at all, bring it on. You have to love more hours. I have been working here for 9months and still have the energy to go in everyday. It is easy enough and the people are great and frankly there isn’t a lot more than I seem to be doing nowadays apart from coming to work and going home.
I have had 18 jobs before I turn 23! None of them really helping me move towards my future or career of choice. But then again I don’t really know what that is yet…
I just hope that all this experience I have had will amount for something wonderful and guide me towards good career choices in the future. If not only to help me know what not to do.
Posted in Uncategorized on April 14, 2010| 3 Comments »
For a long time I have been in love with Japan, but I don’t want to admire it from afar forever. I don’t think a country has captured my imagination as much as Japan has. With its traditions seeping through to our western culture as the newest and trendiest things I feel I must go before all its magic to me has disappeared.
Origami has always been a therapeutic tool in my life. It started in year 12 when I was sick for over a week. I was going crazy sitting there watching television and ended up completing a origami one-a-day calender. From then on anytime I was bored I would pick up discarded piece of paper and turn it into a crane. At the moment I am working in a Box Office where there can be a lot dead time sitting at a desk so at the moment I am making an origami zoo. My favourite being this loveable panda.
Sushi is my idea of heaven. At the moment living in england it can be very expensive. I am so used to grabbing a hand-roll for $2 or a bento love for a fiver. But I still do reserve some special nights to feast of this lovely cuisine.
The Harajuku girls blow me away with their bold over the top fashion decisions. I long to be in a world where they will not bat an eyelid if I dress up like a Disney princess on acid. That social acceptance and encouraging creative is something I dream of.
Oh and memoirs of a geisha made me fall in love with such a different side of the country. I just feel that the japanese have an eye for beauty like no one else. Such events as Karaoke and the famous yearly Penis Festival just make me smile from ear to year.
Yes Japan is one of those must see places for me:)
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged cooking, food, happiness, life, sophie dahl on April 9, 2010| Leave a Comment »
One of my favourite delights in this world is a wonderfully cooked meal.
I find that I will cook on so many different occasions to achieve joy in my life. When I am having a down day I will happily get into the baking to lift my spirits. When I have a loved one over I like to show my appreciation in the form of a carefully thought out dinner. When there is a birthday or event I will make individual chocolate boxes or try out a new cake recipe. Everything about the process of rummaging through cook books, the excitement of a new recipe, licking the bowl clean and the satisfaction on a loved ones face after their first bite fills me with joy.
One of my new favourite delights is sitting in front of the telly on a Tuesday night watching ‘The Delicious Miss Dahl’ who is a woman after my own heart. You may know of Sophie Dahl as either the grand-daughter of the famous author Ronald Dahl or from her career as a plus size model, but this remarkable womans new cooking show and book just make my heart melt.
The way she views cooking and food are the very same way I seem to. She cooks for her mood and for the joy of making something special. She reads poetry and rummage’s through antique stores while gorgeous music drifts in and out of every scene. It makes you think of fairy tales and childhood moments and above all it is full of love. So here is to Sophie for putting a smile on my face half an hour each week.
I am going to try my hand at making a delicious looking tomato soup that made my mouth water.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged happiness, life, re-invention on April 8, 2010| Leave a Comment »
The past year I have lived a somewhat comfortable day-to-day life. Pottering around happy enough. However, it has been brought to my attention that I am not as happy as I seem to be. Someone I love very much believes me not to be happy in my everyday life. That I complain about something everyday. That I am just down most of the time. I thought, how outrageous! Of course I am happy. Then I started to scrutinise my every move and it turns out.. he was right.
Yes I am a woman and we do love to complain a little bit. But I have obviously crossed the line from being a woman to being downright depressive. As hard as it was to recognise, it will be even harder to set straight. And even harder not to fall into a deeper depression now that I can see how unhappy I am. So to keep on my toes the good old blogging is going to come in handy. Putting up all the things that are running round in my head, all aspirations or ideas, so then maybe I will be able to find out what I want and what makes me happy.
Luckily the fantastic WordPress is one of the sites that is not blocked at work, so there will be no excuse not to post and keep progressing.
wish me luck
Somewhere beyond the sea 