Omfg this was HILRAIOUS how did i forget..

I wonder if it is culturally acceptable in China to smear poo around the place!?

Yesterday 20 chinese journalists did this official tour of our offices, I think it was set up by the mayor blah blah, they are here learning about the Australian Media and producing lifestyle product etc- all very official and ...protocol'd.

When they left, they had left 'faeces' all over the men's bathroom! There was poo on the walls, toilet seat, in the toilet, on the sink, and on the taps!!!!

i think we were all in shock at the time- but now i can't stop laughing!! Is it a cultural thing in China to wipe poo everywhere!? HAHAAHAHA. (one of the bosses had to clean it up)

Here's the group in more innocent times (pre poo incident) listening to a talk about Australian TV production...

ACTUALLY on second thoughts, I better not post it.. it has my boss in it! haha. He would freak if somehow his image was released with the story!!!

Dresses be Gone! (& new hair & shoe contemplation)

I did a mini clear up today of the wardrobe.. there's still a few things I should aim to sell, but to start with here's a couple of things.

the twenty8Twelve dress. What a complete disaster. It certainly does not look like this when it's on!

It was the most unflattering dress in the world.. and what's more it was enormous! And the blue was more like a steel grey. It was almost motherly? (I could visualise my mum wearing this fabric as a Theatre dress)I knew when i opened it it would be WAY too big, but holy crap.. when i tried it on, what a disaster. So bad i couldn't wait to get it off, and didn't take a photo record because that would be too depressing. The only way this dress would look good is if you had Triple Z boobs.. there is THAT much excess fabric.

Bye bye ..

Next up, Im hesitant to part with this Fleur Wood Oversized purple Embroidered Smock. It's so pretty in theory, and it's a nice cut around the boobs (a little bulky perhaps in the body.. I guess that's the style? but not ridiculously so) but something holds me back from wearing it... In fact in the year I've had it, I've probably only have worn it once or twice- everyone said how much they loved it, but then i rode my bike one hot lunchtime to the shops, and ended up with sweat stains! They were almost black the colour of the fabric changed so much!!! hahaha.

Like everyone online, I have also been eyeing off the Icelandic designers, Kron by Kronkron 's shoes. I have to say i was enamoured at first sight with every single pair, however this has subsided (there's a little bit of tack to them that Im not so sure about) .. however this pair remains firmly entrenched in my mind...

They appear to be 39,990 kron.. I read somewhere this is 150 quid, or 280 US. So let's say they're about 3 hundie. Not too bad?... hmmmm.....



And if i take a break from emptying my pockets, how's about my new hair. THANK FLIPPING GOD. When i was in there, she seemed to be putting a discplaimed on the whole process... even brought out a colour chart so I could pick my colours, then explained why what i was asking for wouldn't work (um, it's what Ive asked for the last ten years- creamy mix of blondes, lattes, coffee.. no gold, no caramel) Anyways.. im happy. Phew phew phew. Looking back at my europe photos my hair was actually bright yellow. I looked like a clown!

the roots..
The hair in general. Driving to work, killing time waiting for a boom gates to open in a sidestreet jam packed with traffic.
The fabric on the roof of my car has started falling down.. how bad does it look! Since last night it's fallen so much I can't even see through the back window. Will have a closer look later today and see if there's some way i can fix it... doublesided tape!? Superglue!? Pins!? Man, it's going to look so dodgy!

Amazing .. the Ann D copies arrive!

I had a package waiting for me in my desk when I arrived at the office this morning- which i promptly ripped open, to find my amazing Ann Demeulemeester copy boots! The size is perfect. They are beyond comfortable- LOVE. Can't wait til summer when I lose a few kegs and wear these babies with summer dresses.

So to celebrate, here's a completely indulgent number of 'shoe pics'!
The shoe is soooo comfortable, the heel super stable, and the lacing not an issue-
there's side zips! And here is me in my gym gear enjoying the new addition!
Ignore the perspective, these shoes make my feet look no bigger than they ARE! hehe. I actually went down a size, what a ped-delight!

Oh Sydney, I love you..

Today I did a gourmet food tour of Sydney... I think I've had a 'providore overload' !

There is such a culture of 'gourmet grocers' grasping for the riche market.. and, whist i love getting the chance to get out and explore, i ended up never wanting to see another Spelt sourdough olive loaf for some time (otherwise, potentially my favourite loaf!) So i think you could call the sydney food scene right now a bit .. 'pretentious'!?

BUT who can complain about work when i spent half the day eating and shopping! :)

I love sydney for all it's lovlieness. For example...

Having breakfast at Jones the Grocer (even if it is a $9 baguette that basically is just rocket and a slither of prosciutto)
Beautifully presented florists on street corners.. Poppies, my favourite, are in season right now..
Simon Johnson, a well-known name on the above-mentioned providore scene..
A butcher that can charge almost $200 p kilo for meat...
But the meat was so amazing that it deserved some extra attention.. "Drumsticks" window display, geddit!?
Aged beefs..
More .. it's like shopping at louis vuitton.... but for dinner!?
Meat drying room.. it's air dried for 5 weeks off site, then brought in daily to be prepped for sale...
Fratelli Fresh... Fruit + veg!
The fromagerie, Occelo..
The hottest bakery in town (for now), Bourke St Bakery in Surry Hills
Cornershop..
It was raining in Melbourne..
If only i had a gazillion dollars i would like to live here, somewhere..
Maybe i would chose here.. actually, i would go woollhara or lavender bay... but surry hills would do too! I think Im looking quite strange from too much YSL radiant touch!?
And hanging out in William St, Ginger and smart was closed, but im quite keen on this maxi, and the silk cardigan on the right.

The mystical pull of the regional Op Shop..

I love travelling regionally.. there's such a peaceful feeling to so many country towns, and if it lacks that pretty 'provinciale' charm- then provides a sense of relief (that i get to go home at the end of the trip!). If I didn't have a reason to go to some of these locations, then i likely would never set town in that area- and I'd miss out on so much of sleepy Australia! For example, Today I drove from Sydney to Richmond, to Grose Vale, to Windsor, to St Mary's, to Penrith, then i swung all the way back around on the M4/M7 and ended up at a Game Farm in Galston. Hawkesbury experience.

BUT the most exciting part of these trips is how many op shops there are in country towns.
Im always so surprised how a tiny town can be serviced by 3 different Charity Shops. .. and
they're always busy with locals!

My neck turns to rubber as I cruise the main streets.. and even when i know there won't be anything good, I am still compelled to get out and have a look. What if..!?

So today in Penrith i found the ultimate cluster of Op Shops.. they were jam packed with genuine
vintage! So many crazy floral dresses, and bizarre 60s bird shaped bottle openers etc.
I was on a tight schedule, so I couldn't go bananas.. and it wasn't until afterwards I realised i
should have been buying some ebay stock!

But for myself, I did end up with the following things, somehow i need to fit these into my teensy weensy mandarina duck cabin bag.
1. Pair of green horses. My new obsession. I don't like real horses at all, but i love the idea of sets of ceramic horses, and this will be my third pair (much to LP's distress... on the phone earlier he said our room may start to appear 'weird' to outsiders with this addition!)

2. Japanese friendship plate. So cute- i thought this could be LPs and i, with tinkerbelle! Am going to maybe use it for
my rings. It has wire on the back.. not sure how ill resist not hanging this somewhere!?

3. I Have been looking for one of these (ugly) mug stands for MONTHS! I am going to use it for bangles.. i am going
to paint it either gloss white, or maybe with a bright pattern/ clear gloss- and it's going to become cool + PRACTICAL!

4. Gold + Purple brocade dress. Perfect size + fit.. maybe needs to tweaking done to the boob darts- they're a bit pointy!

5. purpley green top- it kind of looks like animal print, which i thought was cool!

Oh, and it's mine and nick's 7 year anniversary today... first time i think it's ever been
realised on the day!

Ok, right now im in rushcutters bay... time to snoooze.. up early

Is this what i think it is?

Nope.. it's a necklace! An eagle head necklace, made by Chloe that I bought circa 2003.

Strangely.. I wore it proudly. What an innocent young lady I must have been! Now that I look back, it would undoubtedly be the most phallic shaped pendant I have ever seen.

The only thing more in reference to a penis, would be a penis!

Whilst it's got a sharp, beaked end, no matter how many times you look away and back again, it reverts back to the immature part of your brain. teeheehee it's a black ....

Luckily these photos are from when I sold it on ebay- i had forgotten it ever existed! I found a whole folder of such oddities. What a treat. Must do a post once I get my head around all the photos. In the meantime..

Out with the Old..

An issue for the last few months has been my piece of sh@%^T Nokia. This model was a replacement that I's bought on ebay last year, after the previous one I'd bought on an overpriced plan ($79 cap) basically fell to pieces when the side clips snapped off. This slide model in particular has caused me SUCH frustration Ive been tempted to throw it out the window multiple times- MANY TIMES! I would rather live phone-less most of the time, than persevere with this technological turd. If it wasn't so unprofessional not to have a phone, perhaps I'd think about it more seriously. Instead I've put up with the sporadic alerts, message clumps coming through ten at a time two days after they've been sent, and the freezing. My god don't get me started on the phone's freezing habit!! I think I am well and truly over Nokias for ever.

So you can imagine my delight when i called Telstra to change my billing address only to find that i was out of contract! woo and woo and woo! I've been paying an overpriced cap for nothing- whilst this is annoying, it also made way for my new phone...

So yes, along with the rest of the modern world, I am now in the possession of my own brand spankin' new iphone. And it's a $49 cap for a phone a bazillion times better. hooray for now.

Second excitement of the day: I finally spent the David Jones giftcard! The general confusion and cashier panic it caused funny, because i actually remembered where the "Gift Token" payment option was within the system from my days at Djs many moons ago!

I chose this Sass & Bide oversized Tunic.. I think it's kind of overpriced, and the colour is not great for me - but i LOVE the style, and i think that these reasons made it the perfect gift voucher purchase- as it was something i may not buy otherwise.

I took this photo at lunchtime, headed back to the office, realised i needed it, and went straight back to chad after work.

The necklace details are removable for washing, the only issue is that they're pretty heavy- which pulls the front of the dress right down. I can see this being an hilarious problem when i need to bend over, pick things up, lean forward- any general movement really!

Chaddy is changing each time I go- which is often! I couldn't believe the new sass and bide store- holy guacamole, amazing set up. Ive heard they've also opened in the GPO.. which makes four stores in melbourne now? I think this is probably not a great thing.. the mega exposure may cause them to go back down as they did after their last peak? And i think some of the clothes are getting a lil lazy... Mimco suffered this ... let's hope it doesn't happen!

New Chaddy attractions.. oh chanel boutique, you're too much to bare..
Louis Vouis. Can't wait for the shock when I walk in and all these shopfronts are ready!

And on a side note- I had this rose in my room this week.. it didn't last long, but i cut it from the front yard and i thought it was so pretty.
It's in a vase I found at the Op Shop in Elsternwick last week that im using as a bracelet 'stand'. I actually want to find one of those mug stands for my bangles as there's so many more - the really 90s ones you'd see on kitchen benches...