Baaaa! Murder in the Dark/February/Time at the Sydney Fringe Festival

It's been too long in between theatre visits for me, so on Friday night I braved the cold and visited the New Theatre for a Sydney Fringe triple bill...

Murder in the Dark
The world's fascination with whodunnits and crime shows is indicative of one thing: A killer's mind is a fascinating and terrible thing. It's a point of view so different to the norm, so twisted out of the usual day to day grind that it makes people want to know why and how it happens.

This stage adaptation of Margaret Atwood's Murder in the Dark is a view into one such mind. Through a series of small snippets we are drawn into the life of a killer, never quite sure of what is going to happen next.

While occasionally this production feels a little disjointed, over the course of the piece it becomes apparent how it all fits in together. The cast (Richard Drysdale, Samantha Neaves and Scott Clare) do an amazing job, moving seamlessly through the harshly cut scenes. Awkward silences, the addition of well chosen music and crafty use of lighting only adds to the eerie atmosphere, helping to make sure the audience isn't feeling at ease. Overall a very solid piece.

February
February is the shortest piece of the triple bill, but as a child of Sydney suburbia it's one that spoke volumes to me. Two girls, both trapped in the suburb of their childhood but for very different reasons, are reliving the past and recounting the events that have brought them to where they are today.

The emotion in this piece was absolutely incredible - I was actually blinking back tears at times. Madeleine Jones (Clare) and Felicity Keep (Frankie) really manage to capture the spirit of their characters and they work so well together - there's one particular scene where they are both fighting for your attention and I can tell you, it's not easy to choose either.

This particular piece could easily have been sustained for longer, as there's so much more that could be explored and brought out. As it is, I was left wanting to know more, yet at the same time I had so much to think about from the complexity and twists in the plot. One thing I was definitely left with was how some things just don't change, even though the times apparently have.

Time
After dealing with the heavy issues of Murder in the Dark and February, Time is a little bit of comic relief of the black variety. A successful single woman, an uninvited guest and a few surprise discoveries all add up to an entertaining show.

The story is a well worn idea that has been done many, many times (fans of Terry Pratchett and Monty Python will recognise it for what it is pretty quickly), but the cast and the script really it carry it through and give it a breath of life. Shannon Rae Kappes (Samantha) and Christopher Sellers (the Guest) have an incredible rapport on stage, bringing a sense of the normal to something that is anything but.

I found this production a little predictable (I'm blaming that on my love for all things Pratchett) but that's no bad thing, especially with this piece's place in the repertory. It also doesn't hold back with making the audience question their very existence - there's something about the way Samantha learns how to live for the moment that really gives you a jolt.

I really enjoyed the entire repertory - each of the pieces has their own mark and left you thinking about something different, yet they fit in very well together. I also found that the themes of the Sydney Fringe were very well represented. Spot the black sheep...

Murder in the Dark/February/Time is on at the New Theatre as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival. $24/$20 concession.

Melbourne, part two.

I promised more about Melbourne. Perhaps the most important thing I discovered when I was there was this: I am hopeless at taking pictures and documenting a trip. Why? As soon as the camera comes out I'm constantly stopping to take pictures and I'm not shy about trying to get a different angle of the world. This of course means it takes me about half an hour to get one hundred metres down the road.

As such, on a trip with limited time and a long list of things I want to do, photos tend to take a backseat. It's my own fault I was perpetually in a rush during my stay... but luckily I plan to go back soon. Next time the trip will be more leisurely. I hope.

On Saturday night I caught up with some friends. The original plan was to eat and drink at Borsch, Vodka and Tears in Windsor, but the place was far too busy for us to get a table. We ended up at TGI Fridays. I actually found this tremendously exciting as we don't have one in Sydney. To celebrate, I ordered something I had not had in years. A Long Island Iced Tea.



It was as delicious and potent as I remembered. It also had the side effect I seem to have erased from my memories of previous experiences... and that's the side effect of it making me think that a Pina Colada is a BRILLIANT idea, because I want the tiny plastic cocktail-toothpick pirate sword that holds the garnish together.

I'm told that there is a picture of me brandishing said pirate sword cocktail stick, but I haven't seen it yet.

After feasting on deep-fried macaroni cheese and burgers, we wandered back down Chapel St and managed to get a table at Borsch Vodka and Tears, where we proceeded to drink our way through as many different Polish vodkas as possible. I personally had Żubrówka (one of my favourites) on the rocks, Wódka Żołądkowa Gorzka straight up (delicious!) and an Apple Pie - Spiced vodka, apple juice and cinnamon.



Much more civilised, don't you think?

I will definitely be revisiting BV&T on my next trip to Melbourne.

Another thing that absolutely knocked my socks off in Melbourne was the Tim Burton exhibition at ACMI. If you get the chance, go! There are no cameras allowed in there so I don't have any exciting photos... but the view into Burton's head is weird, wonderful and at times a little disturbing. There's drawings, sculpture, video and movie props and it was far bigger than I thought it was going to be. When I walked out I was reeling from the sheer volume of amazing that was in there!

A shoutout also to Mr Johan Vonshag who sent me to the best coffee in Melbourne. You rock, sir.

I am a bad blogger

But then, you all already knew that.

I think it stems from having so many ideas and so many things I want to say. I sit down to post... and stuff comes out. Just a jumble of words that really, really don't reflect the fact that I am actually capable of stringing a sentence together. There's no coherent idea or structure that comes through.

While this is probably caused by my not actually sitting myself down and writing enough (thereby causing a metric shit-tonne bucketload of ideas trying to fight their way out every time I do), I'm choosing to blame the internet. Purely because the internet must be to blame. MUST. It's certainly to blame for the fact that every time I have an idea I start wondering if I could fit it into a 140-character space, therefore it is at fault for my inability to write longer pieces. It's also to blame for several pairs of shoes, countless books, lots of clothes and various other things that I don't quite need but that's not for here.

So, where was I?

Ah yes. Melbourne! I took the time to visit the place recently after a hiatus of several years. Joss Whedon was coming to town and a fellow geeky friend stood over me telling me I should go until I bought a ticket gently reminded me that it would be a great idea. He was right! Joss was funny, interesting and inspiring. It was an opportunity I am glad I didn't pass up.

I was (recites alphabet in head while counting) ten rows back and mere metres away from one of the audience question mics, so I managed to snap this pic (as usual, all pics in this post are enabled for clicky-embiggen):



I know he looks demonic, but I think that adds to the Buffy-esque charm.

Other than a wonderful evening with Joss, I also spent some time enjoying a plush hotel room (where's the fun if you don't splash out a little every now and then?), shopping (but of course! pictures to come at a later date), catching up with some friends and wandering through Fitzroy Gardens.

Fitzroy Gardens is probably one of my favourite places in Melbourne. I love walking through the gardens from the East, feeling like you're so far away from everything... only to emerge in the CBD. The times I've spent in the gardens it's usually been quite quiet as well, which only helps the illusion.







(Notice the balloon stuck in the tree?)

More Melbourne to come...

I have new shoes

But no time to take pictures yet.

Such is life. I have a week off work next week (and a trip to Melbourne on the cards), so stay tuned.

iPod Lotto, the second.

Here we go again - a short iPod Lotto played on the way home last night.

Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Aerials.Spans.Earth - Mr Kessler (Links to a free, legal MP3. This track was a triplej unearthed winner back in 2000.)
Metric - Satellite Mind
The White Stripes - My Doorbell
Tom Tom Club - Wordy Rappinghood
Lily Allen - Friend of Mine
Simian Mobile Disco - It's the Beat
Itch-e & Scratch-e - Imperial Rockets
The Beatles - Ballad of John and Yoko
Dutch ft Crystal Waters - My Time
Urthboy - Hellsong
Basement Jaxx - Where's Your Head At?

Would you work for free?

...Or why it's important to read Ts and Cs.

I'm sure that most, if not all, people would agree that volunteering for a worthy or charitable cause is rewarding and a jolly good thing to do.

But what about essentially volunteering your time and writing for a large corporation... who will be using said work to promote their brand (and sell more product)? What about even paying for the privilege of doing this?

No, not so great.

A person I follow on Twitter shared a link posted by the Sportsgirl Twitter account today. It's a competition to win a trip around the world (and a new wardrobe) and blog as a roving global blogger for the Sportsgirl brand.

It sounded like a lot of fun and I considered entering - so I decided to read the terms and conditions to see what they said about the blogging side of things. I wanted to know what would be expected of the winner in terms of posts and content.

What I found was not what I expected.

7. The Prize. The winning eligible entry will win 2 STA Travel Round the World airfares as part of the competition entry. The prize is for 2 people only. The prize value includes airfare costs and applicable airline taxes only. The prize does NOT include accommodation or additional costs as stated below.
8. Spending money, meals, travel insurance, passports, visas, transport to and from departure point and all other ancillary costs, as well as obtaining any of these, are the responsibility of the winner.

The prize, as per the Ts and Cs, is two plane tickets. That's it. If I were to win this competition, I'd have to organise and pay for my own accommodation in the four cities allowed on the flights. I'd have to organise all of my own transfers, my own meals and spending money. I'm essentially left with the bulk of the cost of the trip... and a deadline in which to find the money and do it in, as understandably there is a deadline on the travel time allowed.

So, the winner gets to pay for most of the trip AND spend time writing a blog for Sportsgirl while they're on it! Interestingly, neither the blog or the new wardrobe are mentioned in the terms and conditions. There's no mention of what kind of writing exposure the winner can hope to receive.

Personally, all this has turned me off entering as I am not interested in paying for the privilege of helping a company expand and promote their brand - using my image and words. I'm glad I clicked through and read the Terms and Conditions. I wish any entrants good luck and hope that they also read the Ts and Cs before entering - just so that they know what's expected of them should they win.

Today's irony: I've just given the brand a free plug by posting this. Huzzah!

Today's most awesome moment: realising that my tweet response to Sportsgirl is the first tweet on their live tweet app on the competition homepage! (Ok, that's a little petty... but hopefully it makes entrants read the Ts and Cs before they decide if they want to enter this competition.)



Feel free to comment - am I too cynical and have I got this wrong? Is it just an amazing chance or are Sportsgirl trying to get some serious marketing mileage for not that much money?

Pumpkin Soup

An experiment.

I love pumpkin soup but wanted to try making it with tofu rather than cream - to get that added creaminess without adding dairy and also because I'm a sucker for experimentation with food.

I wasn't sure what I was going to end up with, but the result was delicious. Time to scribble down the recipe I used so I can recreate this later!



Easy Pumpkin Soup
Makes about 2.5L of delicious goodness

1/2 butternut pumpkin, diced
2 carrots, sliced
2 russet potatoes, diced
300g silken tofu, diced
1/2 medium onion, finely diced
1 1/2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 reduced salt vegetable stock cube - or other stock of your choice. See note.
olive oil

Sweat the onions and garlic with a little olive oil in pot with at least 3.5L capacity. Once the onions have softened, add approximately 1.5-2L water (see note), the rest of the vegetables and the stock cube. Stir well, bring to the boil and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Once all vegetables are cooked, add the tofu. Return to the boil and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Allow to cool, then blend the soup using a blender or food processor until smooth.

Eat when you need something delicious.

Notes:

I use a single stock cube that is meant to make 500mL of stock to 1.5L water in this recipe.

Gauge the amount of water depending on how thick you like your soup. Remember you can always add more water if the end result is too thick.

Ice cream of the amazing kind.

My friend Kris shared an amazing post on google reader.

The world's easiest ice cream recipe. No small claim!

I just have to say that I am sitting here eating a bowl of this ice cream and loving it. Delicious, easy and healthy. Sorry I can't say more, I have to go continue eating this stuff. Lucky there's a container full in the freezer.

Crustgate

I was going to write a very long post about Crustgate, but Warlach pretty much read my mind and posted what I was thinking. You can read Warlach's post here.

I was among the first responders to Crust's original tweet, a fact that got me quoted on mUmbrella - something I was quite surprised to see! (By the way, does that make me some sort of celebrity who is going to get free champagne and designer clothes? No? Ok then.)

I wasn't particularly offended by the tweet, but I was disappointed. The video had absolutely no link to their product. It was poorly made (were some of those so-called female drivers even women? You couldn't see) and there was no witty, thought provoking message. I honestly thought that as a brand, Crust was better than that.

In advertising - and these days that means any forum in which you are participating in using your company's name - you need to think your message through. It's obvious that in this instance it wasn't. It went from a promotional tweet to something totally inappropriate for the company's image.

Crust is to be commended on their swift handling and apology - it's the one part of this storm in a teacup that they handled really well. I'm still waiting on the call they promised that the PR company would give me though.

iPod Lotto: The First

I often get comments on the interesting mishmash of music I have on my iPod. To be perfectly honest, I listen to a wide variety of music and I like to have a variety available to me. This can lead to interesting (and sometimes downright weird) results when I play iPod Lotto.

What is iPod Lotto? It's my term for shuffle - I feel it describes the results I get more accurately.

I had monster drive home tonight - 1.5 hours thanks to traffic chaos. What's a girl to do? Crank up the music and indulge in a little iPod lotto. I hit the Gaga Jackpot tonight with three Gaga tracks in the mix and found what I got was great for keeping me (relatively) happy on the way home.

Here's what my iPod felt like playing tonight, in order:

Chicken Payback - The Bees
Hand that Feeds - Nine Inch Nails
Nine in the Afternoon - Panic! At the Disco
Root Down - The Beastie Boys
Unsent Letter - Machine Gun Fellatio
Ride On Time - Black Box
The Others - TV Rock vs Dukes of Windsor
Soup Kitchen - Eva Trout
Let It Be - The Beatles
Take Me Away - Lash
Teeth - Lady Gaga
Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen
Holy Groove - Yolanda Be Cool
Walking Away (Tocadisco remix) - The Egg
Hustler - Simian Mobile Disco
Intergalactic - The Beastie Boys
Reptiles - Them Crooked Vultures
Sly PI - Fatt Dex
Happy Up Here - Röyksopp
Get Down - Groove Armada
Selfless, Cold and Composed - Ben Folds Five
I Want I Want - Digitalism
Speechless - Lady Gaga
Again Again - Lady Gaga
Pure Massacre - silverchair
Semi Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
Toxic - Mark Ronson feat. Tiggers

Action-packed

Wow... what a week so far!

I've been sick and stuck at home, so World Cup replays and watching drama unfold have been the order of the day week.

The Socceroos got knocked out of the World Cup - however they left with their heads held high, having defeated Serbia in their last game. Well done boys.

France was also knocked out, much to my Francophile chagrin.

We have a new Prime Minister! It started last night as a whisper on Twitter, ended up with an announcement of a ballot this morning and then... bam! Julia Gillard, Australia's first female PM. History was made today as she was sworn in by the country's first female Governer-General.

I have to say, I teared up at Rudd's exit speech, was wowed by Julia's first address and nearly dissolved again when she was sworn in.

A truly momentous day.

As a side note... (it adds to the action-packed theme but is hardly on par with any of the above), this blog has been renamed and had a bit of a redesign. Welcome to <ikepela_is_redambition> aka - what this blog is now called!

Trouble brewing

I always know that I'm going through a tricky patch in life when the activities and things I love don't feel like fun anymore and inspiration is lacking. It's at times like these I feel like I'm stuck in a rut - but it's a comfortable rut, and one that I don't want to leave.

There's nothing wrong with having times where things just don't go to plan - it happens to everyone and it's part of life. The problem arises when it seems like to much effort to get out of the rut and get things going again.

I've been in a such a rut for a while now in my creative outlets. I've shunned all the creative projects I've taken on this year, preferring instead to sit in front of the computer or television for long stretches of time. Brain-numbing? Yes. Productive and happiness-inducing? Not so much.

The important thing for me is to realise that I'm in such a rut (which can be hard - it's so easy to make excuses about it) and then making a conscious effort to change the thought patterns and behaviours that keep me there. So help me, I'm going to get working on some creative outlet activity every day. You're looking at the first effort.

On a totally unrelated note: GO SOCCEROOs! I can't wait to see the match tonight! I was planning to go into the FIFA FanFest in Darling Harbour with a few friends to watch the game, but my head cold has turned into a chesty cough and a nasty headache, so I'm being sensible and staying home, out of the cold. Not as much fun, but eminently warmer.

WWKIP Day - Sydney NSW

ATTENTION KNITTERS!

World Wide Knit In Public day is drawing near: this Saturday, in fact!

Are you going to an event? I'll be at the Sydney one, organised by the fabulous PomPom.

DETAILS!

Abraham Mott Hall, Argyle Place, Millers Point. 1.30-5.00pm.

There are lots of prizes (including an awesome basket from Mosman Needlecraft), competitions and fun to be had, so please come along! There is no food available at the venue, but beverages will be available for gold coin donations.

See here for the full details.

See you there!

Going Gaga

This was too good not to share...

Soldiers in Afghanistan. Doing Gaga.

Autumn Catch Up

I'm finding it hard to admit to myself that we are already well into Autumn. The weather here has been so warm and inviting, and seeing everyone walking around in summer clothing means that the reality of the season doesn't really set in.

Sure, I've been getting up in the dark - luckily that will stop when daylight savings stops - and there's been an undeniable chill in the air every morning. it's just easy to fool yourself when the rest of the day is glorious and you're still getting sunburnt if you spend too long in the sun!

With autumn comes change. It seems that when the seasons change I go mad, wanting to shop til I drop and refresh my wardrobe. I also get castonitis as all the new, delicious knitting patterns come out. More about that later.

It's been a tumultuous time for me. (when isn't it really?) The start of the year was paved with good intentions, but sadly not everything has turned out the way I planned. I guess after so long of having the quiet life, having activities, things to go to and commitments has really gotten to me. Throw in some unexpected events, and here we are.

I'm behind on a lot of things I planned for this year: My photography project, my knitting (but the socks are ahead of schedule!), my sewing... need I go on? Regardless, I'm happy with things the way they are, so it's not a huge issue.

I'm house-sitting for a friend this weekend. i had such grand plans for this time, but again I'm not achieving what i wanted. Work ended up really crazy at the end of March, so after a few nights of midnight finishes I was too exhausted to do much yesterday. I had a long nap and then stared at code for a while. Yes, HTML code. Crazy? Maybe. That project is nearly done, something I am very happy about. The skills I have learnt on it will mean that I can do a revamp on this blog too.

So much to do, where do I find the time to do it all?

Another thing to add to the list

Those of you who have seen the odd post with photos would assume that I own a digital camera.

That would be inaccurate. I actually own two digital cameras - one was won in an AFL tipping competition last year, and it is in it's box, totally unused.

The digital camera I have unpacked tends to sit around, not really being used unless I decide to pull it out for a special occasion or take a bunch of knitting pictures. When I purchased it, I specifically selected it for it's myriad features, the great optical zoom and the ability to control pretty much everything on it manually, even though it's technically a point and shoot.

I see so many amazing and interesting things nearly every day. I take photos of so few of these things because I only have a phone camera. Granted, some of the time I wouldn't be able to get a real camera out, that's what my phone camera is for, but sometimes I would like to take a "proper" picture.

I don't hold any grand aspirations. I don't wish to become a master photographer... but I can't expect to develop any skills without some work on my part. I also want to expand my use of Photoshop - and again I can't expect my skills to develop on their own. While it's not totally necessary to be taking photos myself in order to play around in Photoshop, it's certainly a lot harder to come by a range of images to play with.

With all of that in mind, I found myself signing up for the OTF 2010 Photo Project. (OTF is a forum I frequent). Seeing as one of my goals is to take photos and use flickr this year, I found this challenge to be ideal. One photo a week, with a theme decided upon randomly each week. hardly taxing, but enough to make me keep thinking about taking pictures, and enough fodder for some Photoshop play.

Week one (this week) was floating. I came up with this:



But before I got there I also took these:





(The oil burner photo was as a result of me trying to get an oil floating on water picture, but I used the wrong essential oil and the lighting was terrible for that kind of shot. It didn't work so I took some pics of the burner itself instead).

Not a bad start... but I have to keep it up!

Introspective

I'm not psychic by any means, so I'm not going to try and guess what 2010 holds for me. I'm also not one to make resolutions. They are simply another set of pressures to add to my already hectic life. I will, however be setting myself a few goals for the coming year. These goals should all be attainable if I keep my mind on it.

So, I present to you my list of goals for 2010.

Find my personal style

Shopping is a little tricky for myself at the moment. There's a part of me that wants to be achingly hip (and another part of my brain that yells "MUTTON!" every time that I pick up something in said hip stores). There's a part of me that wants to dress with class and old-world glamour. There's a part of me that wants to wear shorts and a singlet (thankfully this part of me is mostly quashed and is only allowed out at home).

None of this is really an issue... but for the net result that buying clothes is a total PITA and I chicken out of buying things that really appeal to me because I'm scared that I won't end up wearing them.

So 2010 - time to build a style and build a wardrobe around it. This will have a secondary knock-on effect of me getting to know myself more.

Be creative

2009 was a year where I realised a lot of my creative outlets were pushed aside. I'm going to make an effort to actually be creative. I have a few mini goals within this one:

Knit one lacy item
Knit one total garment - jumper, vest or similar
Knit one sock per month (six pairs for the year)
Relearn at least one song on guitar
Use some of the canvasses I have lying around and paint a small picture
Sew a garment
Start taking photos and using my flickr account again

None of the things on the list is really huge, nor is the number of things I've set for myself too big. I don't want to overwhelm myself with pressure to get it done, so I've kept it small. If I exceed the list - great. But I want to be sure I can reach these goals.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle

This might sound drastic, but it's really just keeping myself on track and not letting myself get lazy, along with keeping an eye on my food. I've done it before, I know it's attainable and I just need to keep at it. Nothing but a progress goal here!

Work on me

This is a pretty simple one. Taking time for me, doing things I enjoy and not feeling guilty. Finding myself a new place to live. Doing things that will make me happy. Learning to say no when I have to and not feeling guilty. The problem is not so much doing things I love or taking time out. The big problem I've had is feeling guilty when I do. Time to get rid of that.

It's not a huge list, but I think I have a lot to keep me busy next year.

Happy New Year to all... what are your plans for 2010?

Retrospective

It's certainly the fashion to post about the year in review at the moment, what with it nearly being over and the world poised to leap into the new decade.

I could certainly go into many details about the year past that would keep this blog post going until the world ends because the Mayan calendar runs out or something, but many of those things are intensely private and not items that I wish to put out there.

Suffice to say that this year was not the best for me. It's been a long, hard journey and has certainly had some very low and rocky moments. (Oh no. I'm starting to sound like a bad 80s power ballad. I promise this bit won't last long.) Things are getting better and I'm starting to make some very necessary changes to my life and to myself. To my support network, thank you for everything. For just being there, for the random messages, for the tea, sympathy, coffee, knitting, DVDs, laughs, and above all your company. Thank you.

I've learned a lot about myself and changed a lot in the past 12 months. Whether any of the lessons are useful remains to be seen. My taste and style have changed too, and I'm picking up things that I had set aside for so long. Hello video games, music, art and generally creative pursuits again. It's been a slow uptake as I learn to let myself have this time for these activities again.

I seesawed a little in terms of my fitness regime and weight. At the moment I am happy with where I am. I am back into running. I am doing two boxing classes a week. I've acquired the Wii Fit Plus software and balance board for core strength and rainy day exercises. I'm well placed to kick start the new year and keep working on my fitness.

Knitting-wise I reached an important milestone this year. I finished my first cardigan. A whole garment - done. Admittedly it took a lot longer than it really should have, as there were long periods this year where I wasn't really knitting much. But it is done, and I am so happy to have completed it. The style is no longer what I would consider in a cardigan. It's loose with little shaping, but even if I only choose to wear it around the house, it's mine and I made it myself. It's also warm and a little luxurious - a merino, mohair and cashmere blend with a mohair trim. I particularly love the buttons.





Not many other knitting projects surfaced this year. In general I neglected it. That's something to fix.

I'm sure there is so much more to write about, but at this very moment it's escaping me. Not to worry - rather than focussing too much on the past I need to look to the future. Which is what my next post will be about.

The clothes maketh the woman... or do they?

Today I attended a networking and mentoring lunch for women in the ICT industry. It was run in a joint effort by FITT and GGD.

I had an absolute ball. I had the chance to meet other women who work in the ICT industry - women who I may not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet. I was able to speak with women who had worked in ICT for a long time and had a lot of advice to offer, and others who were looking for advice. It was a great experience.

There was one topic that came up that did bring about some interesting conversation, and that got me thinking. I was asked if I was treated differently depending on what I wore. I had to respond in the negative - I've been treated the same at work whether I wear jeans, a suit or my boxing gear (if I'm working late after boxing)... but I have now been thinking about clothes all afternoon, and not in my usual "I want to buy this and this and this" way.

Disclaimer: I'm a girly girl when it comes to these sort of things. I like clothes. I like shoes. I like handbags. I like makeup and nail polish and... you get the idea.

When I get dressed in the morning, I wear what I feel like wearing. While there are times that I do dress to impress if I have an important meeting or function, I also try to tailor my outfit to the event and my personal style. If I don't feel comfortable in an outfit, I won't wear it. (With the exception of tight exercise clothes. While I hate hate hate them with a passion, they make boxing class much easier. So apologies to anyone who ever has to endure a boxing class with me.) My number one priority when dressing myself is me.

When it comes to dressing for the workplace... it's a tough gig. What's appropriate at some times or in some workplaces isn't appropriate in others. In the course of my career, I've had times when I've been told I dress too casually, too funky and too corporate - and sometimes it's been said by managers, sometimes by colleagues. I've taken it in my stride and moved on each time, changing my style where it's needed.

Should someone be judged and treated differently according to how they dress at work? First impressions do last, and there are definitely times where it's better to overdress than underdress (a job interview or meeting with an important client springs to mind)... but at the same time I don't respect anyone any less because they happen to be wearing jeans instead of a suit. I think someone's overall presentation and manner are far more important than the clothes on their back. (As someone who has had to attend important meetings in casual clothes thanks to last minute notice... I hope that other people think this too!)

I'd also like to say that I don't think it matters specifically what a woman wears for work, but I know I'd be wrong. I wish I didn't have to be. It's a fine line that we walk. Some items of clothing just seem to mark you as different amongst others. Is it fair? Not at all. While I haven't experienced direct issues as a result of the clothes I wear to work, I know that there are those who judge me and other women by the type of clothes we wear.

Personally, I'll keep dressing to please myself. As long as I feel I'm dressed appropriately and I feel good about it, I'm happy.

Who Am I?

It's a question that I've been asking myself a lot recently.

With a lot of changes in my life recently, I've felt a bit lost and confused. It showed me how much my life had become defined by things that were not me. Other people, material objects, where I lived, yarn, work. All things that made up the picture of me.

Then things changed. I do a different job now, I have different people in my life, I live in a different place. Those three changes happened pretty close together, so I feel like I'm flailing a bit. I'm not too sure what is ME any more, and what is me defining myself through something external.

I always have such trouble answering questions about myself - about things I like or questions about me and my personality. I don't know if anyone else has this issue, but I find it a little unsettling that I don't appear to know myself that well.

Time to spend some time contemplating my navel, maybe?