fashion forecast

it is steamy hot again in sydney. the constant change in weather is making me dizzzzzy... but it does give me a chance to drag out those gorgeous summer dresses for one last twirl. I wore a very pale blue frock today with itty bitty polka dots, capped sleeves and a lovely tie waist; the perfect dress for flowers in your hair/sunshine lunch in the park/tap dancing in the gutter.

Today i lay in the park at lunch with my friend april, who just so happens to be an oh-so-stylish fashion editor. "April," I asked, as we lounged on our backs in the grass, staring up at the dappled leaves twinkling in the bright light of the sun. "What clothes will I be wearing this winter?" She gave my question deep thought before turning over onto her side and propping herself up on one elbow. "Lots of geometrics... black and white, stacks of fabulous bright prints - think tribal! It's all about power dressing - high waisted skirts, shoulder pads [cue ness shuddering], wide glossy belts. Lots of leather teamed with lace, v.high shoe-boots - edgy but glamourous - pair with red lippy and smudgy kohl eyeliner." 

Ah, don't you love this time of year, when the next season's fashion is just out of reach but still close enough to dream about? Close enough that you can practically picture yourself dashing through blustery rain in glossy ankle boots and a high collared crisp white shirt, but still far enough way that money really isn't an issue... 

After work, I stole a lift in my friend's car and we rode high across the harbour bridge with the windows open and radio blaring out the psychedelic tunes of the lovely luxe ladyhawke. I ate dinner at Govindas, a Darlinghurst institution. Run by the Hare Krishnas, it serves a buffet-style vegetarian feast, and upstairs, an intimate movie theatre which boasts squishy sofas and cushions and has a strict NO SHOES policy. I skipped the film but gorged on the dahl+lentils+pappadums+salad+bread, which are all truly amazing and leaves you feeling very sleepy and content. I twirly-twirled home through the Cross in my dotty frock, past the bikies and the hookers and the tune-deaf busker who sings sesame street over and over with a monkey puppet on his hand, all the way home to miss holly who promptly bit my ear. bless her little socks...

ness x

flight of fancy

oh frock. I've done it again. Left you, i mean.

darling readers, I don't mean to stop blogging, really i don't. Work has been completely draining every single ounce of creativity/brain activity out of me. Honestly, by the time i drag my poor wretched ass home, all i seem to be able to do is fumble for the light, kick my heels off, pat the cat and fall into a crumpled heap on the couch. After ten or so minutes of waving my arms dejectedly in the direction of the fridge, i stumble to the kitchen, get some cat food for miss holly, some human food for me (rye crackers + peanut butter has been featured quite extensively on the menu this week) and then fall back into the same crumpled heap and sleep. 

sad, aren't I? such is the joy of deadline week, and this month has been particularly bad, probably because it is also the time of year all the design fairs are on, retailers and PRs are hosting numerous media briefings and stacks of fabulous new collections are being added to the market. You've got to get in quick quick quick if you want to stay on top of the trends, and beat the other mags to that exclusive feature. 

I spent most of the weekend at the annual Life in Style trade fair, over at the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park. Hundreds of designers and retailers set up mini versions of their stores, with all of their newest collections on display front + centre. I love it - you get to chat one-on-one to the designers, make new contacts and best of all, get an exclusive preview of the most style-savvy and innovative products making a splash in 09. I collected tons of fabulous tidbits and photos to share with you all -- will update Saturday hopefully so make sure you check back then. 

Before i fall into my stress-induced slumber, i simply have to share with you the newest collection from one of my fave NY designers, Re Jin Lee. Her label Bailey Doesn't Bark is whimsical, quaint and just a little bit frivolous -- all the right ingredients for a homewares collection me thinks! I featured her divine shhh... birds sleeping on wire dinner plates, cups and saucers in the mag a little while back, and she now keeps me updated with what she's working on. 

It hasn't even been released onto her website yet, but a little birdy told me that her next collection is flamingo-inspired... pics below.

hmm... first sparrows, then owls, now flamingos... Will the bird trend ever end? My bet is on deers next...

ness x

limbo land

sydney is leaking, it seems. out of nowhere the blue sky has cracked open, revealing an ugly torrent of splotchy raindrops. neither hot nor cold, the air is stalwart; frozen in time. women scurry around with summer dresses stuck wet to their thighs, umbrellas clutched nervously at chest. boys' feet are muddy from cheap rubber thongs, and the funny combination of shorts + striped hoodies holds them in limbo. 

yesterday i went to good vibes with my friend P. the forecast was for 20 degrees; overcast with "rain periods". oh. my. GOD... i have never been so cold and wet and completely rain-sodden in all my life; made even worse by the fact that it was completely by choice. thank god i had a cute yellow paddington bear-esque poncho to brave the storm in style...  The music was bloody good though; and I am now completely in love with Yelle, a fabulously quirky French rap artist who had all the shirtless boys in absolute rapture.  

i actually meant to make this post yesterday -- on valentine's day -- not because i wanted to bang on and on about romantic love, but because i wanted to express my love for all things that I, well... LOVE! I'm not a big fan of hallmark holiday's (v-day,mothers/fathers day, christmas-when-you're-not-religious) but I do think that Valentine's Day can be a fab day to think about all the things and people that make you happy.... my list is below and I'd love to hear some of yours, no matter how simple they be may.

1. i love... my father's generosity, his strong work ethic and his unwavering interest in my life

2. my mother's sage advice, witty observations and her incredible style

3. freshly washed sheets, still steamy warm from the dryer

4. frosty fruit ice blocks

5. the Sunday magazine supplements, and the Spectrum liftout in the weekend Herald

6. watching Holly Golightly the kitten sleep. twitchy eyes, fluttery paws and a dangerously conniving smirk

7. downloading trashy TV shows from iTunes

8. books. the smell, the transportation, the words, the characters, the love/life/loss/laughter

9. Ecoya vanilla soy candles. Best. Smell. Ever

10. freshly cut flowers bought from the markets, all dripping wet and swathed in soft brown paper

11. dvd watching on a rainy friday night

12. running in the evenings. past wooloomooloo wharf and around Sydney Cove, the harbour bridge and opera house gleam bright in the foreground. buildings all lit up, other runner's panting, the wind cool on my cheeks & good music on iPod. then... taking off my socks and getting a tingly feeling run hot through my toes

13. buying gifts for friends and family. the planning and the plotting, the card-writing and the wrapping. bliss!

14. my sister's ability to live every day as it comes, her beautiful artistic eye and philanthropic spirit

15. delicious morsels of fresh food. hommus spread thick on rye bread, grapes that go POP in your mouth, dark chocolate infused with orange, flaky salmon that falls apart on your fork, greens beans, baked potatoes, ham-and-cheese-toasties, scrambled eggs and caramello koalas (of course)

16. living alone in my beautifully teeny tiny shoebox apartment

17. magazines. the texture, the escapism, the lust-inducing shoes, the words, the industry

18. tea. english breakfast, early grey, russian caravan. with milk, with sugar, with honey, with... biscotti?

19. finally finding and downloading that elusive song that's been driving you around-the-bend-BONKERS for weeks

20. going to the cinema

21. working in an environment in which passion, creativity, blog-reading (!), and obsessing over magazines/fashion/design is encouraged

22. the ability to rely on myself for happiness, entertainment, financial freedom and self-suffiency

23. my friends. CM for her passion, luce for her sweetness, prue for her telepathic thoughts, N for her generosity, P for her zest for life, M for her style, Lee for always getting me, and everyone else who has listened to my woes/made sense of my babbling/gone along with my crazy ideas/loved me for me.

lots of love here tonight! sleep tight all...

ness x

ding, dong, dump.... LINGS!

i am: curled up on my couch, listening to the drunk boys outside my window slur the lyrics to somewhere over the rainbow and suffering from a severe case of dumpling fever (how many can one girl stuff in her face in just one evening? the answer, i have discovered, is A LOT). oh and you know what else? steamed red bean buns are deliciousness in soft doughy wrapping. In drizzly weather after a long week, comfort food with friends in a steamy asian restaurant is sometimes exactly what you need.

in between writing today (and calling in products to shoot, replying to squillions of emails, answering readers' letters about the bushfires & drinking 4 cups of milky chai) i did a little bit of music-hunting (which admittedly is not really work-related but... meh). I came upon three female singer/songwriters who both bring a fresh spark and originality to their work, plus a funny little cover tune to amuse and a lovely blog for you to gobble up.

Texas-born Erin McCarley reminds me a little of Regina Spektor, only less seductress-y and more poppy. her music is beautifully written and an interesting composition of jaunty melodies and haunting piano tunes. her new album love, save the empty is out now. check out her myspace page for a sneak preview.

I've been a little obsessed with Ingrid Michaelson for a while now (the song breathing from her 2008 album be okay is almost disturbingly evocative). I only recently discovered that she collaborated with Sara Bareilles late last year on a little number titled winter song. Its honest lyrics and soulful melody took me by such surprise. You can listen to it on Sara's myspace page, but i urge you to check our Ingrid's as well; have a listen to breathing. You'll fall in love, i promise. 

The sequin-loving prue alerted to me to the musical genius of Lisa Hannigan today while i was sipping my morning coffee. preoccupied by the sheer excitement of pay day (it only comes round once a month), i was of course distracted and was only listening to Lisa in the background. soon i was completely head over heels and emailed back, "oh. my. GOD. where did you find this girl?" Turns out this sultry songstress hails from dublin, and brings with her a fascinating (albeit quirky) life story, which you can read here, on her equally adorable website. stitches and songs? GENIUS! check out her myspace page here.

"heathcliff // it's me, your cathy // i've come home now // so cold, let me in at your window" 

powerful. these have to be some of the BEST lyrics ever written me thinks. Now, i'm always fond of a little Kate Bush but her screeching does get a little tiresome after a while to be honest. Thankfully, the divine Josh Pyke has recorded a little cover of this iconic song. I love Josh's adaption, but it's certainly different. The video is below; what do you think?

the uber-talented Sarah Blasko and i go way back; i was a naive and very awkward 18-year-old in 2004 when i proclaimed perfect now to be my FAVOURITE SONG EVER. Funnily enough, that's still true, and Sarah is always there for me when i need her. she's in snowy sweden right now recording her third album; you can read all about her adventures over at http://sarahblasko.wordpress.com.  

ness x

"look at al pacino - never been married. happy as a clam!"

evening lovelies! just got home from the media preview of he's just not that into you at fox studios. apart from the seriously annoying popcorn-crunching-drink-slurping woman kicking the back of my chair the whole time, I quite enjoyed the film. No doubt about it, this is a fluffy rom-com with zero brain power required but... just something about it hooked me in. Apart from being very cleverly edited and directed, there were lots of lovely witty one-liners and giggles to be had, the actors were all on top of their game (Ginnifer Goodwin, how i heart you so) and a lot of the content ran very true. V. good soundtrack too.

my only gripe? No matter the heartache and agony the characters went through throughout the span of the film, the only thing that seemed to matter at the end was whether they'd finally got the man to propose/found a boyfriend/found a girlfriend/achieved the perfect marriage. What about supporting independent, free-thinking women who don't need to to rely on a man for their source of happiness? Talk about a needy bunch; it was a freaking wonder they managed to do normal daily life things like pay bills and go the toilet what with all this whinging and whining about "finding that special someone", like it's a race or a prize to be won. What about enjoying your life, being okay with yourself, taking the journey as it comes? 

Alright, that's quite a big gripe. But seriously, I really enjoyed it -- minus the self-deprecating women -- so please do go and see it. trailer below...

ness x

the victorian bushfire appeal

so stupid little blog posts like the one i made late last night seem very insignificant in comparison to what everyone suffering from the weekend Victorian bushfires are going through right now. My heart and deepest sympathy goes out to all who have lost family members, watched friends and co-workers perish and had all their life possesions ripped from underneath them. I can't even comprehend the magnitide of the devastion.

The Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal is desperately seeking donations to assist with the emergency fund. The Red Cross are currently experiencing very high traffic, so if you have a spare $20 or $50 to donate, you can now deposit the funds straight into their account.

Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund: BSB 082-001, Account number 860-046-797.

They're saying that money is most appreciated right now, and some large businesses in Victoria like Myer and Bunnings are even matching donations dollar for dollar. please give generously...

(for my overseas readers, haed to www.smh.com.au or www.news.com.au for the latest news)

ness x

of a tree called life

oops. tonight i drank the lethal combination of sangria + white wine and now i have the hiccups. BADLY. But it was worth it; my friend CM's boyfriend and all his lovely friends have just moved right around the corner from me, which means a) fabulous fancy wine on tap (one of his housemates owns a restaurant) b) no cabs needed after late nights out and c) CM and I can now have boozy tapas dinners together and then walk home afterwards. hurrah! everyone i know is moving closer and closer to me. I already have the rooftop, and the complicated relationships; now with friends practically living next door my life is becoming more and more secret life of us every day. 

"you know when you're sitting on a chair and you lean back so you're just on two legs, then you lean too far and you almost fall over but at the last second you catch yourself? I feel like that all the time" 

thursday trend-watch

how great is it when a bunch of tiny good things become the subliminal building blocks of a good day? this morning my coffee was perfect, the new Vogue landed on my desk just in time for lunch in the park, i finished not one but TWO articles i had been procrastinating over, and I downloaded the newest episode of The Office from iTunes. hurrah! 

I also had a spare hour or two this afternoon to go trendwatching, uncovering a delicious little stack of design goodies for you all to drool over. 

I am currently completely obsessed with lighting, and designer Gregory Bonasera's sublime ceramic creations take the cake. Tea, anyone?

Speaking of fabulous lighting, my darling mama absolutely went ga-ga for Szilvia Gyorgy's "Cut Series" Porcelain Lamps when she was in Sydney last year visiting me. Seriously sleek and oh so luminous, these beauties even come in a mini tealight candle size. me wanty!

The uber-talented Clare Press of Mrs Press fame has added a new line to her already blossoming collection. The fashion designer known for her silk knickers, satin slips & lacy camisoles, has ventured into the brave new world of candles+soaps with her beauty accomplice Alexandra Spring (current Beauty Ed at Vogue). As Cecil Beaton once said, "What is elegance? Soap and water!" Right you are Cecil darling, as long as it's triple-milled and smells like Warm Spice of course..

Though it's been out for a little while (since chrissy i believe), Giselle Scanlon's newest book is definitely worth a mention. The Goddess Experience ($39.99, Harper Collins) is the companion to Giselle's best-selling The Goddess Guide (the decadent flocked cover was enough to draw any fashionista in). Like it's older (but none the wiser) sister, The Goddess Experience is jam-packed full of Giselle's European adventures. 

The Irish-born fashion journalist shares with us her London shopping tips, the best place to buy melt-in-your-mouth macaroons in Paris, what inspires fashion queen Vivienne Westwood and tries to answer that interminable question: what makes us happy? Giselle is my modern-day Jane Austen and without doubt always manages to inspire me when I'm suffering from a case of the mean reds. 

My darling fellow chocoholics, Easter is just around the corner (or so the grocery stores try and convince us) but Easter eggs don't necessarily have to be cocoa-based. Ok, quit your gaping (mama, that includes you!). I'm talking about a healthy mix of Haighs' and fresh barn-laid eggies, of course... 

So, what better way to serve your soft-boiled eggs + buttery toast soldiers than with a pair of Egg Pants? Stifle those giggles, I'm eggly serious. NY designer Liz Kinnmark has invented a way to keep your breakfast treat standing tall while you slouch over the Sunday papers and sip your steaming long black. Better yet, you can buy these direct from aus online design store Mod Cons so you don't have to fret over the shoddy exchange rate. 

image courtesy of Devin Kho (http://www.flickr.com/photos/devinkho/991567337/)

Still got a little more to show off, but my tootsies have fallen asleep under me, my eyes are awfully blinky and it's finally cool enough to sleep. Have a fabulous friday everyone - eat some cake, drink some beer and wear a pretty frock (at least that's what I'll be doing...)

ness x

je suis de retour!

oops. so it seems my self-imposed hiatus went on for a little longer than i planned, tres` apologies my lovelies! When i returned from my chrissy break in adelaide + hobart, i thought I'd take a week or two off, wait to get back into the swing of things at work and then start blogging again. But truth be told -- I just haven't been terribly inspired lately. It's always just harder than i think to get back into the writing groove after a long break. So we'll see how we go... I can't promise daily posts again but hopefully at least three or four times a week. 

Before we get all re-aquatinted again (there's just so much to catch up on) I must introduce you to the newest member of the ness family.... holly golightly! 

Nope, not the fictional character with a penchant for the powder room but a tiny grey-white kitten i found in Kings Cross about a week ago. Either she was dumped or escaped somewhere, but she was horribly skinny and dirty when i found her, and so hungry that she ate about two cans of tuna on the first night. The vet estimates about 9 weeks old; she is terribly affectionate but mad as a hatter. 

her likes: pouncing, eating salmon skin, licking my nose, nibbling my toes

dislikes: vegetables, the washing machine, being told what to do, running water

I didn't plan on getting a pet, but like in breakfast at tiffany's, i guess we just kinda 'hooked up by the river one day'. It seems a bit cruel to give her away when i am perfectly capable of giving her a home....

Australia Day tomorrow... not sure what i love more: the chance to celebrate my fave country in true aussie style with beer and snags, or having a day off work. I'm off to the triple j hottest 100 broadcast in Paramatta Park tomorrow which i'm so excited about. Has been a fab year for music so am really curious to see who makes it into the final countdown. My bet for top position is either Kings of Leon's Sex on Fire or MGMT's Electric Feel.  I hope it's MGMT; you all know my stance on Sex on Fire by now i'm sure...

'tis late; i just had a marathon skype date with luce and still need to bake cupcakes for tomorrow (philly i hope you're reading this!).

ness x

all our tomorrows

hello lovelies. bit of a change of scenery tonight -- gone is the gritty hustle and bustle of kings cross, replaced by the gentle hum of late-evening adelaide, basking in the aftermath of a hot summer day. I'm sitting in my dear papa's l'apartmento, overlooking the bright glow of city lights and the shadowy darkness of the adelaide hills. In the distance dark clouds soar overhead, illuminated by the faint pulsing of those red lights on dangerously high cranes.

not terribly much to report, only that i flew in to the motherland eary yesterday morning and am having a marvelous time gallavanting around familar streets with family + friends. I saw the film Slumdog Millionaire (which gets 5 very gold stars fom this reviewer) yesterday, visited my slightly deranged grandmother in a retirement home and paid a mouth-wateringly delicious visit to the Haighs HQ in Unley. I've drank Long Island iced teas in the hot sun, shopped for jam jars, sunk my teeth into hot salty chips from my fave greek cafe Eros and lounged around with my dad watching thriller spy movies on foxtel. Early night tonight, then dinner with the girls tomorrow morning. god i love holidays....

ness x

summer playlist

sundresses // salty lips // wet hair on bare shoulders // blackened toes peeking gamely through sandals // minty mojitos // cherry lipgloss // picnics in the park // sandy sheets // blurry polaroids // summer tunes...

that beep -- architecture in helsinki

turbo love -- bag raiders

you don't know me -- ben folds feat. regina specktor

polite dance song -- the bird and the bee

the sea is rising -- bliss n eso

halo -- bloc party

awkward orchid orchard -- the boat people

dawn of the dead -- does it offend, yeah?

in step -- girl talk

here's the thing -- girl talk

oh my god -- ida maria

i like you so much better when you're naked -- ida maria

the fear -- lily allen

brandy alexander -- feist

the youth -- MGMT

electric feel -- MGMT

the festival song -- pez

soon we'll be found -- sia

the summer -- josh pyke

paris is burning -- ladyhawke

my delirium -- ladyhawke

dusk till dawn -- ladyhawke

ness x

it's just a hop-skip-jump

'tis very early saturday morning here in ol sydney-town. rain has been blanketing the city since midday yesterday and seems it will never stop. What a funny state the world becomes when the weather gets out of kilter! A dark sky, the gently pitter-patter of salty rain and suddenly.... traffic turns to gridlock, people cancel plans, abandoned umbrellas turned inside out from gusty wind line the footpath and inappropriately dressed girls wail and clutch the hems of their crotch-skimming skirts. 

All trains going to the eastern 'burbs were cancelled this afternoon so I walked home from the CBD in the rain; one of my favourite things to do. I shoved my mangled umbrella in my bag, pushed my fringe out of my eyes with my fabulous new Mimco headband (thank you zeddy! -- who ever said rain was unfashionable?) and fast-forwarded to the rainy-day tunes on my ipod. 

I've been listening to a lot of Girl Talk lately which is peculiar considering i ab-so-lu-tely HATED him when he first made the aussie airwaves a year or so back. I think his mash-up remixes are pretty freakin' good though, and it's grown on me to the point that it's the first music i play when i leave the house each morning. Something about it puts a little hop-skip-jump in my step. You can listen for yourself on his myspace page; my faves are In Step, Here's The Thing + Let Me See You. 

I went to sushi + el cheapo vino night with friends this evening; now I am sprawled out on my bed with the windows pushed wide open and a strong breeze cool on my cheeks. Somewhere far in the distance someone is playing wailing Irish tunes, and a girl is yelling repeatedly for a taxi. Sires are bleating, cicadas are chirping and the sweet tang of dope wafts through my bedroom window. Talk about oxymorons.

And the air smells damp, like it's been locked up for years and years, left in a heap in the back of someone's Great Aunt Mildred's mothball-ridden closet. Now it's finally been released and is playing havoc on all the sandal-wearing, sunscreen-toting city residents. 

Tomorrow the wind will halt and change direction, the clouds will sink lower and the sun will rise high in the morning air, raising the temp to a sweltering 34 degrees. Hello summer dresses! no wonder we're all so bloody confused... Considering it's my last full weekend in sydney before i jump on a jet plane and soar back to adelaide, i wouldn't mind getting up early-ish but knowing me, i will spend the next hour ordering cream blush and rich night creams from www.strawberrynet.com (my mecca for makeup) and then complain when i have dark circles the next day. moral dilemma indeed....

ness x

tea with jam and bread (and jam! jam and bread!)

being ever so partial to copious cups of milky earl grey while i tip-tap all day long on my mac, i was HORRIFIED to find that my beautiful teacup had disappeared from my desk overnight. i checked the kitchen, i asked my colleagues and i even quizzed the cleaners, but alas -- it appeared to have gone to teacup heaven. 

Using one from the work kitchen cupboard is not even an option, as they are stained and manky (plus, they are all chunky mugs and i like my tea in a beautiful, delicate teacup), so i shed a quick tear before setting off on the task of finding a new one.

This is my old one.. 

...a fabulous Turkish-inspired cup+spoon set i picked up on an impulsive shopping expedition to T2 six or so months back. I LOVE the beautiful colour and delicate handle -- it always garnered plenty of compliments from the other mag girls while we paraded together in the kitchen come 3'oclock. Now, i could go back to T2 and beg them to dig deep in their storage cupboards for last-seasons teacups (quell horror!) or i could go with something else...

My ultimate lemming is the ever so fabulous Limoges teacups, but at $15oish a pop, we probably won't be rendezvousing by the Twinings and biscotti anytime soon.

I do have a Royal Albert teacup that i use at home, and don't get me wrong, i love the innate delicacy of the thin gold-rimmed lip and the fine bone china saucer, but i think it's just a little... fancy schmancy for work. what do y'all think?

And of course there's the funky and ever so frivolous Margherita Missoni cups. These call for a floral dress paired with a motorcycle jacket and ankle boots, wavy hair and smudged black eyeliner. Well, you have to match your teacup to your outfit, no?  

Jasper Conran is one of my fave designers -- just look at his stunning collaboration with Wedgwood and you'll see why. The fine brushstrokes and smoky colours pop against the fine bone porcelain. Whimsical high tea anyone? I'll take a scone with lashings of jam and cream please!

Decisions, decisions... I'm off to ponder yet another moral dilemma while i gulp hot mouthfuls of sweet chai and chew tangy turkish delight. how awfully ladylike of me (aside from the gulping of course. what can i say...?)

please feel free to throw any more delicious teacup suggestions my way...

ness x

nightminds

i am...  listening to the rain, falling in love all over again with ani difranco, drinking mango nectar, cleaning my apartment, wishing it wasn't already monday morning, trying on new shoes, reading new confessions on PostSecret...

a little yellow mellow

eek! has it really been a week? tres` apologies my lovelies, for deserting you for so long.... Now, i suppose i could bang on about horribly-busy-week excuses, not-feeling-inspired-enough excuses etc etc or i could just shut the hell up and blog.

I woke this morning, slightly panda-eyed and a tinsy bit hungover (christmas work party), to a cacophony of sounds. A girl in the next-door backpackers hostel was sobbing, the muffled cries creeping through her open third-floor windows and floating on the beat of the carrying wind. She was taking gasping hiccupy breathes and i so wish i could've asked what was wrong. It's a little discerning hearing stranger's cry; even now I'm still pondering what was making her so sad on a sunny saturday morning. 

Some of the homeless folk from the nearby Wayside Chapel must have went a little crazy on the town last night (didn't we all), for sprawled out on the alleyway this morning on the searing concrete were 5 or 6 of them, beer bottles in hand and heads slightly lolling to one side. "fuuuuucck" the one with the beanie repeats sporadically. Then the rest chime in "fuuuuucck" After a while one of the men turns his beatbox on, and the stactic-y mumblings of early morning talkback radio joins the girl's hiccupy sobs on the passing breeze. 

And up on the backpacker's rooftop, a rowdy gang of scantily dressed boys are frying up bacon and eggs on their rusty Webber, squirting tangy sauce into squishy white rolls and scoffing them down, ciggys in hand. A couple of the still-slightly-drunk boys kick empty beer bottles around like soccer balls, exulting in glorious glee when a goal is scored. At around 11 they'll quieten down, and retreat to their beds for a midday snooze so they'll be ready to partake in another night of noisy reveling. It's always the same. 

And soon, the girl will cease crying, and a police car will roll gently into view, usher the inebriated men and their talk-back radio friends back to the Chapel, where they will be clothed and fed and showered, and no doubt continue to loll on the pavement in the hot morning sun. It's always the same. 

Any second now I'm going to peel myself from the couch and do a spot of apartment cleaning, have a shower, drink some juice etc. I'm off to the coast tonight; my friend's having her engagement party up in Terrigal so another friend and I are driving up there this arvo and staying the night in a creaky house by the sea. I haven't been any further north than Manly yet so am awfully excited to go exploring. 

I might go for a wander down to Paddington today too; i still need to buy an engagement gift, do some more chrissy shopping and am desperately craving a mango smoothie from Ampersand. Tomorrow night I will be popping along to my best friend's house in erskineville for a garage sale and barbeque (read: excuse to drink beer on a Sunday night) although I should probably be good and go to yoga. CONUNDRUM

While i let my moral conscious fight it out, i shall bid you adieu and vehemently SWEAR that i will be back posting more regularly from now on. (cross my heart and kiss my elbow)

ness x

now coming to you a little bit older (and none the wiser)

tis my birthday today dear readers! I am twenty-three years old (or i will be at 9.51pm tonight). I would like to quickly shout-out to all my beautiful friends, colleagues and, of course, my dear ma+pa and sister for the lovely gifts and cards and flowers and general well-wishes that i have received this morning (and all before midday!). I hate to get all sentimental on you but i do feel so very lucky to have so many inspiring people in my life. 

I'd also like to thank God, and the Academy.... nah, just kidding. But i would like to thank YOU for continuing to read this funny little blog, and for supporting me in this writing tirade. Since it's conception only 4 months ago i have received over 5,000 visits, read hundreds of comments and made fabulous new blogging pals. 

More posts to come after I have danced myself silly this weekend....

ness x 

my desk at work... the beautiful hydrangeas and roses courtesy of the girls at work, cards from my mama, sister and friend prue, blue Tivoli radio courtesy of myself (triple j is playing all my favourite songs today; those clever presenters!) and the white porcelain "milk jug" from the fabulous Prue (again). Aren't i spoilt? 

 

tell me what can i do

the next three weeks leading up till the 19th (when we break from work) are going to be absolutely crazy busy so when i discovered that i no longer had to babysit tonight, i decided to skip yoga (bad ness) and instead do the following

-- paint my toenails

-- wash my dishes

-- listen to Sia really loud on repeat

-- jump around my apartment dancing like a loony

-- choose a dress to wear to my birthday dinner friday night and try it on with all my heels until i have the perfect combination

-- call my friend Prue and gossip about how atrocious it was that Danielle got booted off Stylista

-- then, sit in bed with a cup of tea and read Englby (Sebastian Faulks) until my eyes go blurry

i am delightfully shallow, no? granted, i'm normally a pretty always-on-the-go kinda girl but don't you just ever need a free night just to do whatever the hell you feel like doing...?

ness x

festively speaking, of course

it's just after 2am on sunday morning; I'm lying in bed with my covers twisted around my ankles and a strong wind storming though my open bedroom window. The strains of 80's brit pop can be heard faintly from the backpacker's opposite; when the weather gets particularly atrocious the tanned european boys tend to congregate on their rooftop and crank static-y tunes from a rusty beatbox till the hot sun blooms fresh the next morning. 

My friend lee is crashing on my couch; the sound of her breathing is muffled by the pillows and blanket I threw in her direction before i crawled into my own bed, makeup still on and feet a little dirty i hate to say. I did offer up my bed but she fell asleep before i could insist. Granted, it's been a long day. We met this morning for coffee before hitting the office at 10 for a good solid 6 hours at work. I got stuck into picture archiving -- such a satisfying task. We had dinner at Tropicana in Darlinghurst (on Victoria St, just near the fire station. Sydney-ites, you must try their chicken caesar salad -- it's simply addictive). Bought a dress at Lotus Pod (birthday money again, thank you mama xx) and went back to mine to try on our new purchases. 

Lee's friend was having a housewarming in Paddington, so we decided to check that out for awhile. Turned out to be AWFUL, completely fake and over-the-top mutton-dressed-as-lamb women doing the whole air-kissing and totally obvious networking act. We tried to rescue her friend from her new housemates and their icky friends but she felt the need to stay and protect her new pad from being trashed. poor thing. Parties like that remind me why i live alone.

In serious need of a drink to quell the nauseous feelings of just being hit on by 40-year-old men, we hit Darlo Bar in the cross for a bottle of vino. I love drinking there -- the crowd is fantastically ecclectic and totally unpretentious. The city was buzzing tonight; christmas party season is well and truly upon us, made especially obvious by the half-naked women strutting around Darlinghurst Rd dressed as retarded bunnies and sequin-clad salsa dancers. 

Even the strip clubs make an effort at Christmas time; strung up on the balcony above 'Porky's Palace' is three fake pine trees drowning in sparkly tinsel and heavy baubles. In the sex shops next to the mannequins in feathery lingerie, wreaths have been decorated in meticulous fashion and tinny Christmas carols play as you walk past. The staff at McDonalds are sporting santa hats, and the pubs are beginning to advertise their Xmas Day Roast Special, all for the very low price of $14.99 (including a glass of chardonnay of course). 

I have to work in the morning, which means i should probably untwist my covers from my ankles and rest my slightly-still-drunk head. Falling asleep to the jaunty tunes of Madonna's Like a Virgin will be an interesting task... 

night lovelies. sleep tight.

ness x

apples + bees = eco bags?

so i'm sitting at work today, listening to the new Sia album on repeat and tip-tapping on my mac keyboard, furiously alt-tabbing between an article I'm finishing off and an email conversation I'm having with a friend about potentially scoring Homebake tickets (eiii!) WHEN -- we get a delivery. now, deliveries in our office normally constitute one of two things: cupcakes and/or alcohol. Having vehemently sworn off indulging in office treats, I was tres` happy to discover that our present was none other than a bundle of goodies from apple&bee.

although it has the unfortunate fate of sounding like nearly every other homewares/fashion/beauty label out there (um, crabtree&evelyn anyone? i think it was those kids who started off that crazy faze) I'm pleased to report that this whimsical brand completely stands on its own two feet. Their aim is to create the most beautiful travel, cosmetic and baby bags while at the same time looking after mother earth. Organic cotton, bamboo silk, hemp and calico are all employed to create beautiful fashion accessories that are guaranteed to out-last all the latest 'it' bags. 

All of their pieces come packaged in the cutest calico totes, and there's a massive range of different prints and colours to choose from. They do bowling bags, small/med/large makeup bags (and lets be honest, a girl can NEVER have too many cosmetic bags), plus baby bags, change mats and Grace Kelly-esque circle travel cases worthy of all your Chanel red fire-engine lippies.

With stockists all over the country (incl Myer), this will definitely be going on my chrissy to-buy list this year. 

go forth & shop! 

ness x

soon we'll be found

oh my god. can't sleep and am so in love with Sia's new single Soon We'll Be Found from her debut album Some People Have Real Problems. 

i first fell for Sia's unique voice while working in hospitality in 2006; i would walk home from night shifts at 2 or 3 in the morning through Rundle Street Park, just listening to breathe me over and over and over again. Strange how particular songs link you back to a certain time and place, isn't it? Although you don't realise in that moment; it isn't until you hear the music months afterwards that you get a jolt of electricity through your body, triggering that most important/painful/happy moment in time. 

any CD's you can't listen to because of particular memories? 

ness x

...the old man is snoring

one of my favourite things to do on a friday night when i am without plans (or sufficient funds) is catch a 6.45 yoga class, pull a rainy day dvd off the shelf and eat a steamy bowl of udon noodle soup. 

As i walked home from yoga tonight, trying to balance my mat, purse, keys and japanese takeaway without much luck, the wind suddenly stopped. The air shifted; i could feel it cool on my cheeks. A blurry streaky mess of hot blues and dark indigo covered the sky, erupting in a series of spectacular light shows and casting shadows on the nearby city skyscrapers. The clouds swam recklessly before my eyes, quickly turning the colour of swollen bruises and spilling open to reveal thousands of tiny hot droplets, which ran rivulets down my temples and into the small of my back. 

The backpackers across the way are dancing in the rooftop in their underwear; fluro coloured sparklers alight from their fingertips. The drunk boys congregated in the main strip of the cross yelp and holler like adolescents, while the scantily dressed girls scream and grab at the ends of their chemically straightened hair. The only happy ones are the club owners; bad weather means more patrons inside and more patrons means more drinks, food and sex bought. The homeless men and women at the Wayside Chapel duck ungracefully under old tarps, shopping trolleys and moldy blankets. What is a lightening show for us -- a bit of fun and games and something nice to fall asleep to -- turns into yet another daily obstacle when you have no place to sleep at night. 

I have recently started volunteering at the Wayside Chapel. nothing fancy, just an hour here or there, mainly in the op shop but it's an experience challenging in itself. I'm not up to writing about it -- yet -- but they are after a couple of essential items, so if you're in the Sydney area and have a) any blankets, pillows, sleeping bags b) any unused laptops/PC's (still in good working order) or c) crockery/cutlery that you no longer use, please drop off at Wayside (29 Hughes St, Potts Point). they do such an amazing job over there and really can use all the help they can get. 

have a fabulous weekend my pets. i am planning to wine and dine with some old adelaide friends so i know i will :)

ness x

i want a song i can sing forever

just a quickie tonight cos i am v. tired, my feet are sore and i'm coughing like a pack-a-day-smoker (okay, quit gaping. i don't smoke, it's only asthma). BUT... i just got home from seeing Josh Pyke play live at the Oxford Art Factory and i have to share how freakin' amazing it was. It was a free gig as part of Triple J's aus music month; we lined up for 2 hours on Oxford St and i have to say he was worth every second. We were two rows from the front and had a perfect view of Mr Pyke, who took us through songs from his first EP, and his two albums (Memories & Dust + Chimney's Afire). 

Josh, dump your girlfriend and marry me instead, okay?

(For all you Aussies, they're replaying the gig on Monday 24 at 8am on triplej if you want to listen to Josh's antics and his impersonations of barking dogs... don't ask)

ness x

tugging on my purse strings

happy monday! No media musings today I'm afraid, instead i want to share a recent obsession of mine: hunting for that perfect, no-fail, quintessential purse. You see, I've had my darling red eelskin Pratten clip purse for almost 18 months now. It was given to me by my last boss when my contract ended, and i absolutely love it. I really hate wallets, they feel terribly clunky and cumbersome to me. A purse fits so neatly in your hand, it's compact and can be carried in it's own right as a fashion accessory.

To my despair, my lovingly worn and slightly faded Pratten broke last week; the clasps no longer 'clasp', I'm sorry to report. My friend told me (quite meanly, i should add) "just throw it out!" But i soldiered on, praying that it would miraculously repair itself  (i have this view on lots of things actually. I once held onto a broken camera for three months, sincerely believing that it would one day fix itself. My friend again sighed and said "just throw it out!") 

Note to self: inanimate objects do not "get better".

Thus, my cards and coinage have been spilling all over my bag this past week, which is extremely unhelpful, especially when you are in the middle of an important interview and your pen runs dry and you have to fossick in your oversized handbag for a new one and the VERY cute Italian textiles designer you're talking to suddenly has a birdseye view into your disgustingly messy coin-and-receipt-filled bag. 

So now the conundrum: do i get another Pratten, or do I jump ship and get something totally different? Here are the Pratten purses that i have my beady little eye on:

Pratten Navy Snake Square Clip Purse

A slightly different take on the one I have now. I kind of like this royal blue colour (matches the silver clasps beautifully), unfortunately it doesn't really come in any other shades that i'm thrilled about. The harsh square shape may be a little too "old" for me as well.

Still, there's something intricately classy about this one...

Pratten Black Quilted Clutch

A little boring I know, but i love quilted bags+purses, and am a sucker for monochromatic accessories

Pratten Aqua Eelskin Double Clutch

I love this wallet masquerading as a purse (or is it the other way around? I can never quite tell). May be a little too big for me but i love just the same. I shall just have to find some more useless cards to pop in the beautifully stitched pockets. Hmm i wonder how many video stores i can join before they become suspicious?

Now at the other end of the spectrum, here some Etsy and Dawanda finds that i am lemming...

Panther Purse, girlbyAileen, Etsy

Love the design, not totally 100% on the colours. 

Geisha Cluth, girlbyAileen, Etsy

This is gorgeous. Simple and understated. The fabric is by one of my fave textiles designer Amy Butler, whose pieces always have that wow factor about them.

Flowers on Ivory Purse, fieldofroses, Etsy

PRO: Very whimsical. Reminds me of summer and Japanese artwork. CON: As i am a grub, and have the horrible habit of leaving leaky blue pens in my handbag, this purse would get veery dirty veery quickly.

Green Polka Dot purse, fieldofroses, Etsy

I love the shape of this one, but i wish the fabric on the inside was actually on the outside. Not a huge fan of dots, but the colour is to die for. 

I Miss You Rabbit purse, edememarta, Dawanda

LOVE. I do think it is a bit too "little girly" though, something i actively try and avoid portraying. The black stitching against the white is divine...

Do you see my problem now? the more i hunt, the more i find. What do you think my lovelies? 

ness x

the capital of everything possible

one day i will go to new york and eat bagels and drink horrible coffee and ride the subway and step in gum and go to the ballet and visit gloomy secondhand bookstores and listen to jazz in underground bars and learn to finally like martinis and work in a publishing house or maybe at the new yorker and buy a loft where i will live with a grey cat called cloudy. 

"over the great bridge, with the sunlight through the girders making a constant flicker upon the moving cars, with the city rising up across the river in white heaps and sugar lumps all built with a wish out of non-olfactory money. The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and beauty in the world"

-- F Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

happy dreaming...

ness x

give me britney! christina! show tunes! anything!

is anyone else sick of the Kings of Leon song Sex on Fire yet? it seems that every man, his dog, his neighbour and his mum's best friend's cousin is playing it at the moment. I must have taken at least 4 cabs this week and i swear i heard the song at least twice in each one, and on different radio stations no less. I was in Balmain last night, doing a spot of book-browsing before babysitting, and there it was again. In my work's cafe, in the clothing shops, pounding through the earphones of the guy next to me on the train....

So today, i got struck down by the dreaded tonsillitis (it feels akin to having thousands of little bugs with sharp claws crawling all over your throat; just in case you haven't been lucky enough to have been infected), i leave work at lunchtime, come home, peel off my work clothes and climb into bed, close my eyes and... BAM. Sex on Fire, booming across from the bloody backpackers rooftop. And those brits just keep playing and playing and playing that same song over again for at least an hour, until suddenly they stop. I open my eyes. I can finally peel my ears away from my pillow. joyous, golden silence...

I had peace for about an hour, long enough to write some emails, do a bit of writing and scratch irritably at my throat. They're all back up there again now, cooking something greasy and delicious, dancing around in their boxer shorts, beer stubbies hanging from their fingertips. I always have a bit of a laugh whenever I go up to my rooftop though, and i can see the boys' underwear, towels, sheets and t-shirts hanging precariously in the spiky trees surrounding us. I'm sure they don't have a clue either, probably think it's some sort of clothing fairy stealing their clothes, rather than the sydney wind. One day I'm going to buy an extra pack of pegs from woolies and chuck it over to them with a note that reads "wondering where all your clothes go? Look below". of course, whenever I go to woolies that intent just flies straight out the window. 

I bought a blender yesterday (thank you Breville, your media discounts are VERY nice indeedy) and i plan to put it to use this weekend and blend up some lovely concoctions that will help soothe my throat. Although I can only think of the usual suspects, like banana smoothies.... any suggestions?

ness x

VICTORY!

He's done it. thank you thank you THANK YOU.

In 20 years time, when i am nearing my mid 40's, someone will say "where were you when Obama won the election?" just in the same way one asks, "where were you when JFK was shot", or "What were you doing during 9/11?" It is that kind of historic moment, and i feel so proud right now to call myself a member of the human race. If this can happen, anything is possible. 

righto. off to have a class of champagne to celebrate Obama Day. I'll be sleeping happy tonight....

ness x

not in this lifetime

We're so, so close...

Still sitting at my desk, nervously waiting. Found this, and it gave me goosebumps...

ness x

crossing my fingers, toes and earlobes

When i was at uni, my minor was American Politics. The year the Al Gore/Bush election was on, my incredibly kooky US professor invited the entire class to his house to watch the election. We sat on beanbags in his downstairs 'basement', drank lime cordial and ate sandwiches his wife has made for us. 

Today at work, I'm reminded of that day once again; the extraordinary camaraderie that develops between people who passionately care about the state of the world. My co-workers and I all have CNN open in our browsers (it looks as if Obama might've just snaffled Vermont), and I'm refreshing every ten minutes with fear and excitement in my heart. There's a bottle of champagne cooling in the fridge, my palms are sweaty and I'm praying (as an atheist only knows how) that the right result will emerge today.

yours in hope,

ness x

a time for change

dear americans,

tomorrow you will go to the polls and the world waits with bated breath. I'm a little worried, to be honest. It's a fact that the past often dictates the present, and if voting for Bush not once but twice is anything to go by, then quite frankly, we're screwed. The polls are up, the news keeps reporting. Obama is strong, he's unbeatable, he's the one. But still, I'm obsessing about it. My palms are sweaty, my eyes wide. I feel sick. I fear the fear of the Americans. Please, PLEASE do the right thing tomorrow. We're all depending on you.

yours in hope,

ness

ten reasons why I'm supporting Obama (and you should too)

1. A vote for McCain is a vote for Sarah Palin. At 70, McCain is highly unlikely to last out his 4 years in the White House. Do you want a gun wielding, pro-life, ignorant, psychotic, inappropriate winker at the helm of United States? She's a fucking disgrace to the female race. 

2. Financially, we're currently looking at a bleak prosperity. We need someone who will inspire us to be the best we can possibly be. Obama inspires hope, he inspires change. His gift for oratory is enough to put a spring in our steps, a morsel of belief in our being. We're inspired to change.

3. You can't 100% guarantee that anyone will be a good leader, but Obama really grasps the significance of this particular period in time, and I believe that he understands that ideology is not policy and policy is not ideology. 

4. Obama is a strong advocate of our natural environment and is passionate about investing in our planet, not just for 'right now' but long-term. He wants to put policies in place that support alternative fuels and renewable energy, including a plan to increase America's energy efficiency and create 5 million new "green" jobs.

5. He wants to responsibly end the war in Iraq. Unlike Hilary, whose plan was to just yank the troops out, Obama understands that it's an eventual progress that must be monitored carefully. He's been critical of "Operation: Kill Innocent Iraqis" from the beginning, but still, he recognises that the US needs to clean up the mess they've made before they leave.

6. Unlike the Republican ticket, Obama supports a woman's right to chose what happens to her body and is an advocate for equal pay for equal work. He wants to expand the childcare tax credit and is passionate about implementing paid maternity leave for parents.

7. If you are an American citizen earning less than 250,000, your taxes will decrease. A fairer wage for a fairer world. 

8. The world supports Obama. In September of this year, the BBC polled 22,000 people across 22 countries which revealed that the Democratic candidate is preferred by a four to one margin. In 17 of the 22 countries polled, the majority think that if Obama is elected, relations between the US and the rest of the world will improve. If not, the belief in America as a strong, democratic nation will continue to deteriorate.

9. McCain voted with Bush 95% of the time. We cannot afford to have a Bush clone, or even someone who is influenced by his policies, in power. 

10. Obama gives me hope; McCain/Palin scare the shit out of me. If I had the ability to vote tomorrow, i would chose the candidate who will move the US and the world forward and begin to correct the mistakes that have been made over the last eight years.

I'm terrified, I'm shaking in my skin. But I have faith that the US will make the right decision. I don't want to imagine the alternative. So here's a message from me to my fellow American bloggers: Don't. Screw. It. Up. 

i do love a good violin-playing goat

no, i haven't fallen off the edge of the earth. i'm still here, albeit a little fragile around the edges. I spent most of yesterday nursing a horrendous hangover fueled by copious amounts of wine Friday night. bad, bad ness. Not only can i actually feel that some of my brain cells have fizzled away, but when pain is self-inflicted, it really does make garnering sympathy difficult. No flat lemonade/chicken soup for ness...

But even with the pounding head, I made some time yesterday to check out the Monet + The Impressionists exhibition at the NSW Art Gallery. With the weather listless, it was a perfect art-browsing Saturday afternoon. The exhibition features 29 of the original works by Monet and his fellow impressionists (Renoir, Degas, Pissarro, Manet etc). Oh. My. God. it is so, so beautiful. I was deliriously excited to see Degas on the bill; he is one of my favourite painters, he seems to capture so perfectly what dance means to me. 

For my 20th birthday, my beautiful then-housemates bought me this Degas print, framed in gilded gold and all swathed in brown wrapping paper:

alas, it is so massive that i can't drag it around with me while i play the renting game; 'tis currently sitting in my grandmother's shed in adelaide. one day when i can afford to put down a depoist on a little one-bedroom art-deco apartment in Darlinghurst, Degas and I will be reunited. I also have a framed copy of La Marlee by the amazing Marc Chagall in storage somewhere:

Isn't it ethereal? i love the deep colours and the juxtaposition of all the different images. I think it depicts that perfect, 'just-for-a-second'  moment in time, when the world is just so.  Wouldn't you love to hurtle through space in a red dress with a violin-playing goat?

What else to report? Well, i attended the 21st birthday bash for Samsung on Wednesday night, who always put on brilliant events. V.cute waiters (always important), these to-die-for cocktails that were garnished with caramelized apples and we all walked away with a flashy little slimline digital camera in our goody bags. I'm of the belief that it should be the birthday boy/girl on the present-receiving end but heck, i'm not complaining! I have to get a memory card for it but expect more photography on here in the future. I'm desperate to start a flickr account too. (If i can decipher all the buttons, that is. whatever happened to just having an 'on' and a 'click' button?)

My music-love of the moment is FisherKing, a four piece Indie outfit from Sydney. When I'm at work late, I crank up triplej on my blue Tivoli radio; it keeps me company. I discovered this jewel of a band Thursday night while suffering from writers block and in desperate need of inspiration. Their debut single Smelling Roses did it for me; hopefully it gets your creativity racing too.

And lastly, for those trashy TV junkies (okay, me), I hope you've all been keeping up with the goss -- Whitney from The Hills is getting her own show, 'The City". Trailer is below. I just can't wait to spend an hour watching the fashionista stumble through the NY fashion world, with her breathy little-girl voice and incessant need to ask the most ridiculously obvious questions. the Australian boy is smokin' though...  Ah, i see another drinking game on the horizon...

Am off to my Sunday job now to sell $300 Missoni towels to wealthy North Shore-ites. No posts tonight, I'm afraid, as i have a dance class at the Sydney Dance Company + dinner with the girls, plus my long-standing Skype date with my friend Luce (was her birthday yesterday, please check out her blog about her adventures as a primary school teacher in South Korea. Her stories are GOLD).

happy sunday!

ness x

just a quickie

So. I'm sitting cross-legged on my couch in my apartment, watching Will&Grace while i smother rice crackers in hummus.  I had one of those infuriatingly irritating I-Just-Want-Tear-My-Hair-Out-And-Yell-At-Everyone-On-The-Phone day. Seriously, people (read: magazine readers) are annoying. And the trains were late going to work and coming home today. And i got screamed at by a woman at Martin Place because i didn't give up my seat for her pregnant daughter (i was supposed to notice a three-week fetus?) And i spilt water all over my mac keyboard and had to spend half an hour arguing with the IT boys trying to negotiate a new one AND...

nah, rant over. I'm off to stand on my head at yoga to try and squash all this negativeness out of me. Tomorrow night i'm going to help Samsung celebrate it's 21st birthday but i promise you all a late-night post cheerfully mocking all of Sydney's appliance A-list...

ness x

ps. Karl Lagerfeld + the Fug Girls = hilarity

the castle in the forest

Most of the time, i love living in Kings Cross. the noise, the stereotypes, the contradictions, the grit and the grime and the bright lights; it all feels a part of me, knitted deep in my being. Like i was always meant to end up here, living a faux sort of bohemian life. That being said, sometimes this place breaks my heart. It is slowly corrupting me, forcing me to realise that not all in the world is good and fair.

Last night, around 2am, when the moon was high in the sky and the hemisphere teetered in that impossible time between yesterday, today and tomorrow, i was awaken by two people having noisy, awkward, drunken sex. They were squatting down in the alleyway that my apartment windows look out onto; her blonde head was jammed into the cold concrete, his was balding and bobbing up and down. 

The streets were bare, the corners and alleyways sunk in darkness -- a rarity for the early hours of Sunday morning in the cross. A hazy film had drifted over the city as if, without the intense activity of the imbibers, it too had fallen into an uneasy depression. Like usual, my windows were flung open -- it is not uncommon for me to overhear going-ons in the alleyway; when sex is being traded for drugs or the drunk partygoers are trashing a car, i often make the practised call to KX police station, staying awake until the gentle roar of the marked car rolls into vision, and i can unclench my pillow from my sweaty hands.

Back to last night. After they'd pulled their clothes back on, the man and woman slumped against the dirty brick of my building, sticking their feet into the gutter where beer bottles and the stump of cigarettes lay rotting. They talked... no, she talked, wailed, sobbed, swore and shouted. He listened, only sporadically would a drunken slur of 'baby, it's all right. baby, give me a hug. baby..." come out of his mouth.

When you overhear someone else's life story, their sins and hopes and regrets, their time in prison and the 7 years they were abused as a child, you get trapped in a strange mix of emotions. I feel sad, of course, but the sadness you feel when watching a film, or listening to a heart-wrenching song. It draws emotions, but a sort-of detached emotion -- knowing you can't help or fix or totally understand the situation. 

And i feel a little violated too; like i've been forced to read a stranger's private diary. That sinking-stomach feeling when you've been told a secret you know you can never tell. Being witness to such absurdities blackens my heart a little more each time; it honestly all frightens me and makes my little world of books and writing seem altogether rich and terribly safe.

I grew up knowing i was 'lucky'; living here reiterates it that much more. Please don't take for granted what you have; if you are loved and have somewhere to sleep at night, isn't that enough, at least for right now?

ness x