She didn't know him, but as their eyes met she knew that she wanted to.
He had turned around and left the counter just as she walked in, and they almost collided. He looked at her and then looked away as he said 'excuse me' and made his way around her. She watched him walk away, her eyes taking in every inch of him as he went to a table and sat down. She quickly looked away and walked to the counter to place her order.
As she stood waiting for her hot chocolate she allowed her gaze to wander back to where he was sitting. He had taken out a book and was reading it while sipping his coffee. She sighed as the barrister handed her her drink. Across the cafe she walked, wondering if he was watching her. As she walked through the door she turned for one more glance to find that he had been watching her and once again their eyes met. She gave a small smile and turned walking out of the cafe and away from the man.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
what I did today
Today is Sunday, and after an early morning motorbike ride (ok, it was 11am but since it's Sunday that is pretty early!) I decided to finally make something with this fabulous material I saw a while ago.
When I saw this fabric I fell in love with it...I was just drawn to it for some reason. But at $24.95 per meter I was naturally very hesitant to splurge on it. To put things in perspective I usually spend about $8 per meter on material, lately I have been lucky enough to find some great fabrics on sale (but even at full price they're no more than $15 per meter!).
When I finally realised that I couldn't stop thinking about it I went to buy a couple of meters so that I could make a summer dress (halter neck style). Unfortunately they only had 1 meter left! But I bought it and today I made this skirt.
I had a particular idea of what I wanted, but unfortunately I didn't have a pattern that would create my idea...so I made it without a pattern! I had an idea and I made it happen. I know it's a pretty simple skirt, but it is a Duchess original!
People often say "you must have so much time on your hands" when I tell them that I have made something. But this skirt only took me a couple of hours. And sure, I probably should have been cleaning my house, but apart from housework what else would I be doing if I wasn't sewing?
When I saw this fabric I fell in love with it...I was just drawn to it for some reason. But at $24.95 per meter I was naturally very hesitant to splurge on it. To put things in perspective I usually spend about $8 per meter on material, lately I have been lucky enough to find some great fabrics on sale (but even at full price they're no more than $15 per meter!).
When I finally realised that I couldn't stop thinking about it I went to buy a couple of meters so that I could make a summer dress (halter neck style). Unfortunately they only had 1 meter left! But I bought it and today I made this skirt.
I had a particular idea of what I wanted, but unfortunately I didn't have a pattern that would create my idea...so I made it without a pattern! I had an idea and I made it happen. I know it's a pretty simple skirt, but it is a Duchess original!People often say "you must have so much time on your hands" when I tell them that I have made something. But this skirt only took me a couple of hours. And sure, I probably should have been cleaning my house, but apart from housework what else would I be doing if I wasn't sewing?
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
saying goodbye
Last weekend I was out at my parents place and I decided to help with my Mum's effort to clean up by sorting through some of the stuff that she is still keeping for me. I found some great treasures (a couple of watches), a lot of that stuff you keep for no reason (boxes from jewellery), and things that I thought it was time to let go of.
In particular I threw out my horse ribbons and most of my horse books (I only kept one).
After being involved with horses through most of my teen years I became un-involved when my parents and I moved to the country. It turns out that it is harder to find horse agistment in the country than it is to find it in the city. I moved my horse from a paddock that had established yards, dressage arena, jumps and trail rides to an empty paddock with nothing in it. I also went from a paddock where other people would ride and you could make friends to not knowing anyone. Then when I decided to go to Uni and I was working a lot I realised that rather than leave my lovely horse (who was still quite young) sitting in a paddock doing nothing I should sell him to someone who would use him.
My horse, Doc Holliday, is now in the Snowy Mountains doing regular horse treks and apparently he is well taken care of. Selling my horse is one thing that I really regret. But I have to be honest and say that I didn't ride him half as much as a should. I had a bad fall from him and I was admittedly a bit nervous. He is better off somewhere where people ride him regularly.
So when sorting through all of the stuff Mum has kept for me I came across a pile of horse ribbons that I had won when I was young. There was only one blue ribbon, and that belonged to Doc not me. One of my friends took him in an event and won on him - something I never could do. So the ribbons have gone. The saddles have gone (except for one that my Dad has kept for himself, just in case). The grooming kit has gone and the horse books have gone as well. I have let go of that part of my life, but I yearn for the day when I will have the time and money to ride again.
In particular I threw out my horse ribbons and most of my horse books (I only kept one).
After being involved with horses through most of my teen years I became un-involved when my parents and I moved to the country. It turns out that it is harder to find horse agistment in the country than it is to find it in the city. I moved my horse from a paddock that had established yards, dressage arena, jumps and trail rides to an empty paddock with nothing in it. I also went from a paddock where other people would ride and you could make friends to not knowing anyone. Then when I decided to go to Uni and I was working a lot I realised that rather than leave my lovely horse (who was still quite young) sitting in a paddock doing nothing I should sell him to someone who would use him.
My horse, Doc Holliday, is now in the Snowy Mountains doing regular horse treks and apparently he is well taken care of. Selling my horse is one thing that I really regret. But I have to be honest and say that I didn't ride him half as much as a should. I had a bad fall from him and I was admittedly a bit nervous. He is better off somewhere where people ride him regularly.So when sorting through all of the stuff Mum has kept for me I came across a pile of horse ribbons that I had won when I was young. There was only one blue ribbon, and that belonged to Doc not me. One of my friends took him in an event and won on him - something I never could do. So the ribbons have gone. The saddles have gone (except for one that my Dad has kept for himself, just in case). The grooming kit has gone and the horse books have gone as well. I have let go of that part of my life, but I yearn for the day when I will have the time and money to ride again.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
dream diary 5
Last night I had a dream that I am sure I have had before.
In the dream I am in some kind of military unit (I don't know whether it is the army, or a private thing) and I'm in Central America or Mexico to be exact.
I arrive on the base with a heap of other people (I think before hand there were some issues with packing). While I'm sitting on a bench taking in the surroundings, which includes a body of water, I see an Alligator coming up! Oh my god!! I jump up on the bench and start freaking out! But it turns out that the alligators are actually soldiers who turn in to alligators in the water, but are human on land, and can be stored in photographs so that they don't take up a heap of room when travelling.
With one of the other women I start going through a series of gates when she tells me to stop and starts trying to get something off my back. It turns out that there was a giant black scorpion on my back!! Arghh!!
Then we go into a room where we're all dancing and making fun of our national dances. The zoom gets stuck on my camera while I'm taking photos, but I fix it.
The end.
Weird, huh?
Some interpretations from www.dreammoods.com:
Alligator: To see an alligator in your dream symbolises treachery, deceit, and hidden instincts.
Scorpion: To see a scorpion in your dream represents a situation in your waking life which may be painful or hurtful.
Army: To dream that you join the army suggests your feelings of superiority. You feel that no one is a match for you.
Dance: To dream that you are dancing signifies freedom from any constraints and restrictions. Your life is balanced and in harmony.
Those are some pretty conflicting symbols to have in the one dream!
In the dream I am in some kind of military unit (I don't know whether it is the army, or a private thing) and I'm in Central America or Mexico to be exact.
I arrive on the base with a heap of other people (I think before hand there were some issues with packing). While I'm sitting on a bench taking in the surroundings, which includes a body of water, I see an Alligator coming up! Oh my god!! I jump up on the bench and start freaking out! But it turns out that the alligators are actually soldiers who turn in to alligators in the water, but are human on land, and can be stored in photographs so that they don't take up a heap of room when travelling.
With one of the other women I start going through a series of gates when she tells me to stop and starts trying to get something off my back. It turns out that there was a giant black scorpion on my back!! Arghh!!
Then we go into a room where we're all dancing and making fun of our national dances. The zoom gets stuck on my camera while I'm taking photos, but I fix it.
The end.
Weird, huh?
Some interpretations from www.dreammoods.com:
Alligator: To see an alligator in your dream symbolises treachery, deceit, and hidden instincts.
Scorpion: To see a scorpion in your dream represents a situation in your waking life which may be painful or hurtful.
Army: To dream that you join the army suggests your feelings of superiority. You feel that no one is a match for you.
Dance: To dream that you are dancing signifies freedom from any constraints and restrictions. Your life is balanced and in harmony.
Those are some pretty conflicting symbols to have in the one dream!
Monday, January 11, 2010
divorce
Everywhere I turn people seem to be splitting up, getting divorced or cheating on their partners.
There is the friend I work with - her husband left her when their 2nd child was less than 12 months old.
There is the friend of my sisters - her husband left her with 4 children, no job and no work history (she started breeding as soon as they got married right after school).
There is my uncle - his partner of close to 30 years kicked him out and had a new guy move in after a week (how she found a new man I have no idea!!).
There are the parents of a friend of a friend - they went away, the husband went home early and by the time the wife got home he had cleared out all of his stuff and left her.
There is the husband of one of my friends - I think he makes advances towards me, but I just freeze him out. I feel, however, that were I to encourage it he would easily cheat on his wife.
Then there are a lot of my friends and people I work with who complain about their partners. And most of the women in my Women's Motorcycle Club are divorced - getting a motorbike seems to be the thing to do if you get jilted!
I know a lot of this blog is me complaining about being single. But I am quite happy to not have to wonder if my partner is flirting with the new girl at work, or if he is leaning too closely to one of my friends, or if I have his babies will he leave me. I am quite happy to be single to avoid these thoughts.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
a year in review
I am about to throw out my 2009 Diary, but thought I should go through it an see if there is anything I need from it, as well as taking the opportunity to review the year of 2009.
January
On 29 & 30 December 2008 I got my motorcycle L's, so I started the year with an exciting new adventure! I picked up my new bike (Pagsta 250cc Cruisa) on the 10th. I also had three social events to go to that weekend. Then there were social events through the week and on the next weekend as well. January ended with my sister visiting, and me getting badly sunburnt at the Australia Day concert.
February
In February I went on my first ride with Girls on the Move, and became a Tupperware demonstrator as well. I was hating my job as a Marketing Manager (well more hating the people I was working with than the job itself) and I was itching to do something else. I was studying French on Monday nights and doing Swing dancing on Thursdays. There were also a lot of social gatherings going on. I decided to quit my job and start my own Event Management business. I also started getting injections for my upcoming trip to Egypt. I finished work on Thursday 26 February.
March
I started March looking for work, but I have come to the conclusion that Employment Agencies are a complete waste of time for people looking for work! They may do their jobs if you're looking to hire someone, but if you're trying to find work they are no help at all. They put you through a long interview and assorted tests and it is a waste of time! But early in March I found employment through a friend of mine and I have been there ever since. March was also the month of my super wedding weekend, with a wedding on Saturday and one on Sunday. They were both great, but I was exhausted afterwards! I also met my sister's French boyfriend.
By this time I was also doing Tupperware parties and quickly learning how annoying Tupperware is! I also found a new crush at my work.
April
I departed for Egypt in April and spent a month travelling around Egypt and Jordan, returning to Canberra in early May.
May
Back in Australia, back at work, back in to Tupperware and back into my social life. I also did a few Yoga classes at the gym I was paying for, but not using. Another thing I started was a walking group with my friends. I would send out an email and go for a walk every weekend. This really only lasted just over a month! I think May was when I started losing touch with one of my friends, or noticing that she was in a different space to me and that we really have nothing in common any more.
June
June started with my motorbike breaking down in the middle of the night. Very annoying! Then I started noticing how dismal my finances were. This led to a change in Health Insurance, which hopefully won't come back to bite me on the bum!
July
In July I decided to cancel my planned trip to New York (I was going to go in November). I realised that my finances just weren't going to accomodate it. And there were social things that I wanted to be able to do, and I didn't want to have to say the dreaded "I can't afford to go out" - it's so boring! I also went rock climbing this month, it was great fun! And I started tap dancing, also fun but a bit tricky at first.
August
August was a social month with quite a few outings due to the Fireside Festival - this included some trivia nights, dinners, etc. This was also the month of the dreaded hens night, where I got so drunk that I vomited on myself in the taxi home. It was hideous! I hope never to repeat it!! I also got my first official client in August, although really they're my friends, but they are insisting on paying me, so that's official enough! I also started my blog in August.
September
This is the month that my sister got engaged, by bike broke down again, I started making my first quilt, I went to my first Opera, and I think I started giving up on my crush round about nowish.
October
Looking through my diary October seems to be quite boring. But thinking back it was horribly hectic. It was the month of Motorcycle Awareness Week and GOTM were working hard on the Pink Ribbon Ride, and the MAW Fashion Parade. And nothing wears me out more than dealing with unorganised useless people. So it may have been quiet, but I think that is because I couldn't deal with talking to anyone!
November
In November I committed to advertising in the Local Wedding Guide for 2010 and I took a week off from work to just take some time out. Instead of taking time out or doing all of my house work that I needed to do, I sarted making my wonderful Regency period dress. This is the month that I also decided to submit items to the Craft section of our "State Fair" in February 2010. Sometime in the past couple of months, I can't remember when exactly, I coloured my hair changing myself from a brunette to a red head or "ranger".
December
Apart from the usual Christmas things (which this year also included making a lot of my own gifts) nothing else is happening.
So that's my year. I did a thing on facebook that listed some of my status updates for the year and it was very funny! I'm a bit crazy with "I love boys" then "I hate boys", it made me laugh to look back on it.
Hopefully I've made you laugh as well.
January
On 29 & 30 December 2008 I got my motorcycle L's, so I started the year with an exciting new adventure! I picked up my new bike (Pagsta 250cc Cruisa) on the 10th. I also had three social events to go to that weekend. Then there were social events through the week and on the next weekend as well. January ended with my sister visiting, and me getting badly sunburnt at the Australia Day concert.
February
In February I went on my first ride with Girls on the Move, and became a Tupperware demonstrator as well. I was hating my job as a Marketing Manager (well more hating the people I was working with than the job itself) and I was itching to do something else. I was studying French on Monday nights and doing Swing dancing on Thursdays. There were also a lot of social gatherings going on. I decided to quit my job and start my own Event Management business. I also started getting injections for my upcoming trip to Egypt. I finished work on Thursday 26 February.
March
I started March looking for work, but I have come to the conclusion that Employment Agencies are a complete waste of time for people looking for work! They may do their jobs if you're looking to hire someone, but if you're trying to find work they are no help at all. They put you through a long interview and assorted tests and it is a waste of time! But early in March I found employment through a friend of mine and I have been there ever since. March was also the month of my super wedding weekend, with a wedding on Saturday and one on Sunday. They were both great, but I was exhausted afterwards! I also met my sister's French boyfriend.
By this time I was also doing Tupperware parties and quickly learning how annoying Tupperware is! I also found a new crush at my work.
April
I departed for Egypt in April and spent a month travelling around Egypt and Jordan, returning to Canberra in early May.
May
Back in Australia, back at work, back in to Tupperware and back into my social life. I also did a few Yoga classes at the gym I was paying for, but not using. Another thing I started was a walking group with my friends. I would send out an email and go for a walk every weekend. This really only lasted just over a month! I think May was when I started losing touch with one of my friends, or noticing that she was in a different space to me and that we really have nothing in common any more.
June
June started with my motorbike breaking down in the middle of the night. Very annoying! Then I started noticing how dismal my finances were. This led to a change in Health Insurance, which hopefully won't come back to bite me on the bum!
July
In July I decided to cancel my planned trip to New York (I was going to go in November). I realised that my finances just weren't going to accomodate it. And there were social things that I wanted to be able to do, and I didn't want to have to say the dreaded "I can't afford to go out" - it's so boring! I also went rock climbing this month, it was great fun! And I started tap dancing, also fun but a bit tricky at first.
August
August was a social month with quite a few outings due to the Fireside Festival - this included some trivia nights, dinners, etc. This was also the month of the dreaded hens night, where I got so drunk that I vomited on myself in the taxi home. It was hideous! I hope never to repeat it!! I also got my first official client in August, although really they're my friends, but they are insisting on paying me, so that's official enough! I also started my blog in August.
September
This is the month that my sister got engaged, by bike broke down again, I started making my first quilt, I went to my first Opera, and I think I started giving up on my crush round about nowish.
October
Looking through my diary October seems to be quite boring. But thinking back it was horribly hectic. It was the month of Motorcycle Awareness Week and GOTM were working hard on the Pink Ribbon Ride, and the MAW Fashion Parade. And nothing wears me out more than dealing with unorganised useless people. So it may have been quiet, but I think that is because I couldn't deal with talking to anyone!
November
In November I committed to advertising in the Local Wedding Guide for 2010 and I took a week off from work to just take some time out. Instead of taking time out or doing all of my house work that I needed to do, I sarted making my wonderful Regency period dress. This is the month that I also decided to submit items to the Craft section of our "State Fair" in February 2010. Sometime in the past couple of months, I can't remember when exactly, I coloured my hair changing myself from a brunette to a red head or "ranger".
December
Apart from the usual Christmas things (which this year also included making a lot of my own gifts) nothing else is happening.
So that's my year. I did a thing on facebook that listed some of my status updates for the year and it was very funny! I'm a bit crazy with "I love boys" then "I hate boys", it made me laugh to look back on it.
Hopefully I've made you laugh as well.
Friday, January 1, 2010
the dress that launched a thousand ships
I don't know why I have titled this post "the dress that launched a thousand ships", but maybe because I think it should be able to launch a thousand ships. I made it from scratch with my own two hands and I am pretty impressed by it.The pattern is from Butterick and the material is from Spotlight.
It probably cost around $100 to make (including pattern, fabric, lining, trim, etc.) and would have taken roughly 30 hours - the longest part being the cutting of the fabric and the overlocking of the edges.
Huge thanks have to go out to my Mum who paid for all of the materials (part of my Christmas pattern) and helped me by pinning the hem and yelling at me to stand straight so that the hem would be straight!
If I use this pattern again to make a more simple dress I will make the sleeves a little pouffy! What do you think??
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