• writer • philosopher • dog magnet •
I can’t believe the year is a quarter gone – it’s passing me by. I had grand plans, but I’ve achieved nothing. Panic has set in. It’s time to take a deep breath, stop dithering, and get stuff done. You can see more of my Haiku here. Image by Arieth via Canva.
I’m cold, it’s wet outside, and I’m wondering if I have enough warm clothes, so that makes it time to develop my 2019 Signature Wardrobe Winter Plan. Outfits I’m still working with outfits, still looking at: 5 interchangeable work/errand/social outfits 1 exercise 1 house cleaning 1 yard work Wardrobe Plan Following the 2018 Summer Update, there are some changes for Winter. Budget It’s a new year,…
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We have this thing called “The Great Australian Dream,” which is basically to own a house on a quarter acre block. This dream has its roots in returning servicemen wanting to live the good life they fought to defend. It was part creating a comfy family nest, part preventing the land going to “undesirables”, and part an asset to draw…
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I’ve met someone new. We met on a warm sunny morning, in a pretty cafe I’ve not tried before. Outside a couple of dogs lounged on the sidewalk while their owners drank steaming lattes. And nearby, a flock of sulphur-crested cockatoos debated the day’s business. My New Friend She told me she’s very busy with her small business and community…
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We’ve had some cooler weather, the mornings are darker and it’s too nippy to leave the doors open. Daylight savings ends in a few short weeks. So, it’s time to do my 2018 Signature Wardrobe Summer Update. My 2018 Summer plan was for a basic 8 outfit wardrobe: 5 interchangeable work/errand/social outfits 1 exercise 1 house cleaning 1 yard work For my $750 budget, my planned…
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And already February 2019 has passed. I mentioned last month that it would be interesting to see how the record heat/climate change would affect election campaigns, and the major parties are already off and running. My local member sent me a postcard to tell me that he (personally) had secured $15m to build an extra 500 free car parking spaces…
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We recently replaced our old worn out mattresses. Not before time, because you can’t beat a good night’s sleep. They’ve had a decade of good solid use. And they’ve probably seen the rise and fall of a civilisation or two of bacteria and other creatures. Who probably got a better night’s sleep than we did. The mattresses are mostly made…
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Since I read Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying, I keep falling over intense, library voice (whispered) bookish debates about whether to keep or not keep books. More often than not, the argument centres on not keeping, and Ms Kondo’s insistence on only keeping those that “spark joy.” Can/does a book “spark joy”? Well, I guess that depends on…
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If you hadn’t noticed, we’re just starting the Chinese Year of the Pig. I have a few words about pig perspicacity. Mainly because it’s a nice alliteration. Though according to Chinese lore, pigs aren’t very clever (or perspicacious). But they’re not bent on world domination or harming others. They’re pretty laid back and generally make good friends. And their chubby…
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Have you ever had one of those days where you spill your coffee, nick yourself shaving, or some other little thing? All of a sudden what seemed like a reasonable day is in a ditch, and you’re looking for ways to make a bad day better. Preferably before you end up in a Newton’s Third Law style chain of cause…
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This Stress Free Bushfire Dinner Party is a bit of a cheat because if you’re having a Dinner Party and a bushfire breaks out, it’s time to abandon the party and activate your bushfire plan! Having said that, I was inspired by local tv coverage of a cafe madly making lunches for the volunteer firefighters working to save the town….
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That’s January 2019 been and gone. I feel like we’re off to a good start, but I’m exhausted thinking about all the stuff I hope to get done should I survive the Summer. January 2019, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, was the warmest on record here in Victoria, as well as Australia as a whole. And with a Federal…
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If you’ve caught up with the Project Worthwhile Life, then you’ll know I’m changing direction. Getting back in the swing is more like falling off the swing, hoping there’s a safety net somewhere. Or ricocheting off the roundabout onto a new swing entirely. I’m a bit nervous, and a bit scared, both good things to be when you’re embarking on a…
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I’ve had some thoughts on things: The things we buy, The things we keep, and The things we throw away. That’s a lot of things. Things We Buy My thinking is partly inspired by shopping for Christmas gifts, and partly because we discovered an antique/junk warehouse. And for the first hour, it was exciting and fascinating, but after a while…
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Before we start planning 2019, let’s take a quick look back. According to global horoscope predictions, 2017 would be a difficult year full of turbulence (check). and 2018 a year or rebuilding and gradual progress (maybe). And now 2019 brings positive change and offers hope for a joyful and focused year (about time). 2019 Vision, Misson and Virtues Last year…
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