365/365: A year's worth of happy moments

Wow. A whole year! It's been an interesting and enjoyable process, documenting the small good things on a (mostly) daily basis. Occassionally I read back through the happy moments, my mood invariably lifting as I scroll through all the good stuff laid out here - one moment after another, a cavalcade of reminders of why life doesn't always suck (just some of the time).

It's nice to have a ruthlessly edited record of my year that only presents the good things and omits the bad, like an Australian History schoolbook from the 50's.

What stands out about this exercise? Well, it's amazing how many of these posts are cycling related. I really think cycling has contributed to my mental wellbeing greatly over the last few years; not so much for the fitness benefits as much as the experience of being outdoors in all weather; travelling at a gentle pace; having strangers fuss over my beautiful bike; and most of all, engaging with the environment as you travel through it.

I can't recommend it enough. Choosing a bike over a car has literally been life changing for me.

Overwhelmingly, being near my family once again has provided me with so many happy moments since I've come home; we spend a lot of time laughing together. I feel so lucky to have my two wonderful brothers and their beautiful partners in my life. I feel lucky to have two lovely parents who I adore and whose visits brighten my day. I feel lucky to have wonderful friends who include me in their lives, let me play with their kids, and listen to me whinge about my love life. I feel lucky to have a beautiful, bright flat to live in, surrounded by all my favourite things.

(I'm beginning to feel like Hugh Laurie in this scene from Blackadder III).

I feel lucky blessed. I am so fortunate, and this blog has made me more aware of that.

Thanks for joining me!

364/365

Working from home in my pyjama's. I really should get dressed...

363/365

A new client: one I really like on a personal and a professional level.

362/365

Buying a new dress, by accident, on my way home from the Department of Immigration.

Dealing with Immigration in Oz? Only about a BILLION times better than in the UK. No exaggeration, I was in and out in 15 minutes, I only had to fill in a few basic details, and the lady was super nice and helpful.

361/365

Being told my bike bell was "awesome" by a MAMIL (middle-aged man in lycra) this morning.

Ding dong!

360/365

Sharing a secret giggle with middle bro as we were ushered around the super plush Eden display suite.

We may go back next weekend for another free coffee, perhaps in disguise this time. As rich people who could afford a riverside apartment in Richmond rather than a couple of bedraggled local bums.

359/365

Saying goodbye to the gorgeous little Lauren after an afternoon of playing mermaids and reading Charlie and Lola. She launched herself at me for a monster squeeze.

358/365

Melbourne International Animation Festival time! Y'all know what that means: mind-bendingly trippy sh*t on at ACMI.

357/365

One  of many Amazon binges. Feast your ears on this bundle of goodness:

 Fink  Okkerville River  Friendly Fires  Panda Bear Noah and the Whale Biblio Lisa Mitchell PJ Harvey Wild Beasts Radiohead  Fink The Temper Trap

356/365

Receiving a text with an x on the end of it, from someone I actually want to kiss. Simple pleasures.

355/365

Unscheduled day off. Got to have lunch with a mate and give him the low-down on my dating stories/disasters.

354/365

Meeting a lovely new client who I'm already looking forward to working with. And she introduced me to the loveliest little coffee shop/milk bar/café in North Melbourne town (they supply blankets instead of those horribly wasteful outdoor gas heaters).

353/365

Brunch date!

352/365

Spending a very pleasant day cycling with a friend, coming across the Winter Solstice festival at Fed Square on the way back.

351/365

Receiving the Best News Ever. To be revealed at a later date.

350/365

The colours of the Yarra at night: midnight blue and champagne gold.

349/365

FOX MULDER'S BEARD! Sorry, it called for ALL CAPS.

Scared the crap out of myself watching "The X Files: I Want To Believe" by myself in the flat late at night.

348/365

My friend's sweet little 3 year old searching my flat, then coming to me, putting his hands on my knees and asking earnestly: Where do you keep all your toys? Aw.

347/365

Watching my mum wobble away on my bike, my Dad and I yelling instructions after her (she hasn't ridden for many years).

346/365

Baking pumpkin and ginger tea-bread for friends. I haven't been doing enough baking lately.

345/365

Reading Barry Humphries "My Life as Me", in which he waxes lyrical about the first flat he ever lived in by himself – describing it as "serene and aloof" – and smiling in recognition.

344/365

Melbourne: the kind of town where you can leave your bike lights on your bike (and your panniers full of books) and they will still be there when you get back.

343/365

Melbourne: the kind of town where you can accidentally forget to take your $70 from the cash drawer of the self checkout machine, and someone will hand it in. 

342/365

Appropriating lemons from neighbourhood trees.

341/365

Patting all the beautiful dogs left outside Coles while their owners shop inside.

340/365

"Sim sala bim!" I have no idea which exotic childhood story this is from, but doesn't it sound cool? I imagine it's in the same category as "Open Sesame!" and "Bippity Boppity Boo".

339/365

Tucking into a delicious lunch of Tasmanian Heritage camembert smeared on  Yarra Valley crackers with feta-stuffed olives from the market yesterday, finishing with a delicious juicy pear. Serious yumness.

338/365

Introducing one Ms Broadfoot to the guilty pleasures of an iconic South Melbourne Market Dim Sim.

337/365

F*ck yeah, Jewish men.

336/365

Happy Thursday! Here's your present:

335/365

Shoe Heaven is an entire section devoted to size 11 women's shoes.

334/365

I have the best commute ever: 15 blissful minutes on a cycle track by the river, no traffic, no lights. I never want to leave Richmond.

333/365

Date-a-thon starts tomorrow... anticipation!

332/365

Squashed between my bro's on the couch, giggling hysterically as they try to teach me to play Stick Skater (I suck, until I magically make it all the way through level 3 by the skin of my teeth).

331/365

Making my way through a medium-sized bucket of popcorn while watching Pirates 4. Mmm trashy.

330/365

Participating in this hash tag fest this morning. I totally get Twitter now! It's for random global silliness, y'all.

329/365

Melbourne in Autumn! I was cycling along the Yarra, on a wide gravel path with towering trees decked in yellow either side of me, and I was stunned at how gorgeous it is. I remember why you were my favourite season now, Autumn.

328/365

Discovering what the heck a Dogman is. No, it's not rude, and it doesn't involve a dog costume.

327/365

Going for a morning constitutional down to the river, along to the Church Street bridge and back around the park, stopping to pat various friendly dogs along the way.

I think this may have to become part of my daily routine.

326/365

The wonderful world of ebay. Isn't it always a surprise, what sells and for how much? (or how little, in some cases. Oh, well).

325/365

The discovery of ABC Dig Music.

I hereby pledge to listen to more radio henceforth, and cease listening to the same old favourites on my nano!

324/365

The gorgeous and charismatic Barbra Streisand in What's Up Doc?

323/365

Feeling a little less alone when I read something like this.

322/365

Making an ice-skating date. Indoor ice-skating! That will be a novelty.

321/365

A trip to the dentist where he told me he didn't need to do anything at all in the way of cleaning - my teeth are doing great since I came back from the UK (what is with that?).

Kids, let it be known that you can eat all the sweets you want as long as you look after your teeth. And don't move to London.

320/365

Attempting the first roast chicken in my flat. Result: success, judging by the lip-smacking of middle bro and Anny.

319/365

318/365

Lisa McCune thinks my bike is beautiful.

317/365

Getting sidetracked on Hosier Lane.

For more, visit Melbournedreaming.

316/365

It's finally here! The World Beard & Moustache Championships!

The weirdness! The waxing! The crazy dudeness!

315/365

"If you have a spaceship and are looking for a hilarious astronaut, with an irregular heartbeat and 30 million dollars, I am prepared to leave as soon as tomorrow."

God I love Tracy Jordan.

314/365

Pocket-full of gig tickets.

313/365

"The holidays without drinkin' is rough. Turns out football is boring, my wife's sister ain't as cute as I though she was and I can NOT play the guitar"

- the insanely good Tracy Jordan on 30 Rock. 

312/365

The camp private school boy who I overheard telling his mates "I love that bike", who then came up to me to tell me "I really love your bike! It's so.. indie!"

Yes we are, camp private school boy in a uniform that makes you look like a vintage sweet. Yes we are.

311/365

My mum in her fuzzy super-soft jumper. It's like hugging a big, skinny teddy bear.

310/365

An afternoon spent chatting and drinking tea in front of the 2-bar heater in my cosy little flat, grandma style.

309/365

Spending hours absorbed in the beautifully shot My Cool Caravan book.

I never realised how much I need a beautiful vintage van to go travelling about the countryside in! Must be the gypsy in me.

308/365

Opening to the door to a terrifyingly forceful knock and discovering a giant on my doorstep offering me Amazon parcels.

307/365

Short film night in a very East-Larndarn-innit venue - joy!

306/365

Singing along to this in my flat:



Best one-man-Karaoke song ever?

305/365

Magic scarf! Wrap this baby around your neck and no matter how inappropriate your outfit, instant warmth.

304/365

303/365

Zumba!! Yup, the latin dance craze that's sweeping the nation, etc. etc.

Just like aerobics, but sexed up and with way better music.

302/365

Catching up with the Bakers. I knew them when they were only two, and now they are 5, and doing a great job of it. Special love to little Lauren, who seems to have adopted me as an unofficial auntie.

301/365

Laundry day!

There are some chores I actually get some joy from, and hanging out washing in the sunshine is one of them.

300/365

Eking out the last chapter of a book that you are enjoying.

299/365

Mooching around Melbourne town with the lovely Miss Nicholls, taking in Thai soup, rude postcards, rooftop bars, Metropolis, and coffee hunting.

298/365

Waking up in a warm, comfy bed, the world outside obscured by a quiet blanket of white mist.

297/365

Pub quiz in Balaclava with the loveliest of lovely friends visiting from London.

A lager menu? Beer battered chips? Pub Quiz? Surrounded by dark wood? For a minute I could have sworn I was back in Islington and not the Jewish precinct of St. Kilda.

296/365

Little Chloe presenting me with a picture of a butterfly as thanks for rowing her down the river. What a gorgeous kid. She didn't even seem to mind that I couldn't go straight and had to get Anny to take over for the landing.

295/365

Sitting around the campfire with my bros and Sils and a bunch of family friends I hadn't seen in a million years, laughing hysterically at the dancing skills of the amazing Brutzo.

294/365

293/365

The moment of cycling out into the rain from the safety of the undercover carpark, big warm splats soaking immediately through my leggings.

292/365

TNT delivery of a morning!

291/365

Going for a browse in Aussie Disposals for last minute camping gear. Raincoat: check. Fleecy top: check. Head torch: check. Trowel for digging toilet holes: check.

What have I gotten myself into here??

290/365

Easter nest themed cup-cakes, so lovingly prepared by Miss Agapanthus.

289/365

Bogan neighbours swearing sporadically at the telly. I wonder if some coffee and walnut cookies would calm him down?

288/365

A successful brainstorming (sorry, mindmapping - more PC, apparently) session for a bakery identity. Whisks, piped icing, dusted icing sugar, doilies, chocolate swirls etc... heavenly!

287/365

A recently aquired colleague who reacted to the news of my imminent departure by exclaiming "That sucks!"

286/365

The silhouette of bats gliding silently across the darkening sky. Eerie.

285/365

Sweet. We really need a less sweet, more cynical version for designers though.

284/365

Finding a perfect table for two by the side of the road.

283/365

Getting a squeeze and a big kiss through the van door from little Marty.

282/365

Having all of my family make themselves at home in my little flat.

281/365

Cycling along the Yarra Path from the city to home, the river high, silent and dark beside me.

280/365

It's a total WIN in my book.

279/365

My littlest SIL telling me she was too "cozy" to leave my flat to get takeaway. This coming from the most cozy candles-and-blankets-loving Swede ever.

278/365

Buying a Melbourne-themed gift for a London-bound friend. Fly home soon N n' N :)

277/365

The workman who put down his blower and said "Now THAT'S the way to get to work" when I cycled in on the Princess.

276/365

Having a chat with my mum in the car on the way to a baby shower that neither of us really wanted to go to, for our own reasons. Turns out it was fine :) the lovely flowers helped. Thanks Caz!

275/365

A visit from my lil sil (sister-in-law). Tim-tams were consumed.

274/365

Tucking into a giant South Melbourne Market dimmy. Scrumbo.

273/365

Waking up to a great big reminder that I'm in Australia now - a giant inflatable beer glass floating gently across the sky.

272/365

Realising it only takes 20 minutes to cycle to my new job from my new flat. Nice!

271/365

Opening my bedroom blinds in the morning to reveal several hot air balloons floating serenely by, the early morning light rendering the city in shades of pastel.

270/365

A client's surprise at finding out that it was my first day on the job after our meeting!

269/365

My neighbour across the way entertaining pops and I with his hilariously off-key vocal stylings.

268/365

Being visited by Hurricane Littlebros. They made endless suggestions for rearranging my furniture, convinced me to keep the armchair I was about to return to Ikea (it was already disassembled!), fixed the curtain rail and generally caused mayhem and merriment.

267/365

Taking delivery of my new ex-showroom couch and ex-demo vacuum cleaner (both at half the original price). Love a bargain, I do.

266/365

Finding my external hard drive after thinking I had lost it in the move. All my photos from all my travels, not to mention my folio and all my current work are on it. I was not letting myself think about it too much, but I nearly cried when I discovered it carefully tucked away in the "safe place" I had forgotten about!

265/365

Putting together Ikea furniture. I'm obviously some sort of masochistic freak.

264/365

My lovely friend Karls, who suggested that an hour and a half long commute (which my youngest brother had been doing up until recently) could be translated into a novel a week.

Bless her for her Pollyanna spirit!

263/365

Taking my mum out for vietnamese round the corner from my new place. Sometimes she surprises me with her willingness to try new things!

262/365

Returning to the restaurant where I had ordered a 3/4 flat white (it's a Melbourne thing) in the afternoon to pay the guy who had let me take it anyway that morning when I had no cash.

Re-demp-shu-un...

261/365

Walking in to my new flat, and realising it wasn't quite as crap as I'd remembered it (from the 5 minute inspection). It's actually lovely and bright, a decent size for one person, with loads of wardrobe space.

260/365

Going to an Underground Cinema event with no idea what the movie was, but lots of people in futuristic costumes.

12 Monkeys! I forgot how brilliant it was.

259/365

Watching old episodes of Peep Show when I should be packing.

258/365

My application for a little flat in Richmond being accepted! Yay!

257/365

Getting a call from a prospective employer and telling them that unfortunately, I've already got another job. Trying to keep the note of smugness out of my voice.

256/365

Rounding corners on my bike in the sunshine - there is no better feeling in the world!

255/365

Anny's delicious Swedish chocolate cake. Might have some leftovers right about now.

254/365

Hi-jacking my brother for some house inspections – he offered to come to the first, then I ran out of time to drop him back home (all part of my devious plan...)

253/365

Sending off the artwork files I've been working on to various mags for printing. I do like that feeling. Now it's your responsibility, print-jockeys!

252/365

Job offer! Job offer! THIS IS NOT A TEST

251/365

Revisiting early Mighty Boosh episodes. God I love those boys.

250/365

249/365

Making a solid decision about how to manage the craziness that's happening in my life right now. It all comes down to a job offer (or a job rejection, as it may turn out to be...)

248/365

Marvelling at the gorgeous voice of Martha Wainwright singing Edith Piaf songs in the beautiful surrounds of the Melbourne Recital Centre.

247/365

A well-made sandwich.

(for the record: bacon, mushroom, cheese, tomato and lettuce on pita bread).

246/365

Soaping between your toes.

(Why does that sound so wrong?)

245/365

Chemist jellybeans.

244/365

Finally, some interviews with normal, lovely people I can relate to.

243/365

My friend innocently asking where all the fools were (you're one month out, sweetie!)

242/365

The first wearing of the brand new bag and successful utilisation of Metcard pocket.

Think of the valuable peak-hour seconds I'll save not having to ferret around in my knapsack.

241/365

Picking out a brand new bag (a late birthday pressie from my parents) with rather nifty Metcard pocket on the front.

240/365

A lovely sunny day spent under the patchy shade of a tree with friends and family gathered round. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

239/365

The salty irony of sitting in front of Biggest Loser, devouring a pack of chips.

238/365

Having coffee and a catch up with an old school mate who's morphed into a super-hip, super-successful photographer/real estate guru! Go Stu.

237/365

Stealing cheese from the pile reserved for my Dad's sandwich. Ooo it makes him mad! But it's worth it :)

236/365

The lovely retired dude at Hawksburn station who dropped what he was doing to help me find my way to an interview.

235/365

Arranging a last minute cycle meet next weekend for my b'day.

234/365

Going for a long cycle to Jells Park to dispell the dark clouds.

It worked... temporarily.

233/365

Handing over my security pass at the end of a hard week's temping.

232/365

Catching up on some juicy goss with friends over from London and Kiwi-land.

231/365

Being woken up with a freshly made coffee brought to me in bed.

I need a butler, man. Or an obliging boyfriend. Or a coffee making robot. Any of the above, I'm not fussy.

230/365

Seeing 127 Hours with two rock climbers.

229/365

Watching the second part of a really interesting and informative series about The Future of Food, and being able to drop the terms "aquaponics" and "vertical farming" into conversation.

228/365

A beautiful layered image appearing in front of me on my morning commute, lit by the hazy white early morning sunshine; a row of windows on a train rushing past, sunshine filtering through gum leaves, the reflection of a woman's face in profile.

227/365

My Dad watching Twilight intently on the couch, and telling me that "It's a good love story".

How cute is my pops?

226/365

Catching up with mates who are in town over brunch.

French toast with caramelised peaches and ricotta.

Convincing my mate's English boyfriend (can I call him my mate yet? Yes, I think I can) to come and see 127 Hours.

Listening to Michael Leunig talk in his lovely gentle way about life and art; finding joy in the mundane, and how sentiment is meaningful if only we can get over our embarrassment and face the truth of it.

Learning an aboriginal word for "spirituality" - Dadirri - which translates as "deep listening". That really resonated with me. 

Seeing Kate Holden - a writer whose story and writing I have long admired - in the flesh, talking about the process of writing.

Sharing a beer and wedges with sour cream for dinner.

A very good day.

225/365

Sharing a laugh with my (possible future colleague) at a second-round interview. What a change it would make to work with all blokes...

224/365

Witnessing Natalie Portman's outstanding performance and beautiful dance sequences in Black Swan.

223/365

Returning to the NGV cloak room, where I'd forgotten to pick up my platters the day before, and having a very pleasant conversation with the staff, who'd carefully wrapped them and marked them with a "fragile" label.

I could use one of those, sometimes.

222/365

Finding a bargain set of floral platters at the op-shop after I came out of my first interview, and stashing them in the NGV cloakroom before my second.

221/365

An interview so informal, we sat on the floor while one of the Director's breast-fed her baby.

220/365

Finally getting to witness the glorious train-wreck that is The Room. The early morning hours were conducive to hysterics brought on by incomprehensible acting and extreme audience participation.

219/365

Waking up on my brothers couch after a terrible night , and realising that the storms (internal and external) had abated sometime in the early hours.

218/365

Dashing down Chapel Street through the warm rain, passing restaurants where the power had gone out and the owners were setting out candles for the patrons to eat by.

217/365

The sound of a magpie warbling.

216/365

Frozen yoghurt, how I've missed you.

215/365

It's February! My birthday month! Woo! I've already helpfully ammended my parents calendar so they can't possibly forget.

214/354

It's icy-pole weather!

213/365

Taking a leaf out of middle bro's Big Book of Deviant Acts...don't tell my Dad.

212/265

Chop and change. I am now topped by a red, straight-cut bob à la Leeloo.

(not quite so carrot-hued).

211/365

Ed Harcourt's voice. The melodramatic, broken beauty of The Beautiful Lie is really chiming with me right now.

210/365

Discovering $6 in the pocket of an old handbag. Score!

209/365

Being accosted with an ear-splitting version of "I am, you are, we are Australian", as sung by a group of drunken high school girls draped in Australian flags on Swanston Street in the early evening.

208/365

A fresh coat of nail polish. 10 little pops of colour at your fingertips.

207/365

Wandering around Mag Nation in Greville Street, decompressing after a particularly intense interview, and stumbling on a treasure trove of toweringly gorgeous mags:

Wooden Toy Quarterly (Melbs)
Treadlie (Melbs)
Frankie (Melbs)
Peppermint (Brisvegas)
Uppercase (Canada)
Extra Curricular (NZ)

206/365

Enjoying a pancake breakfast at my friend's house, and having their neighbour pop his comically serious little face over the fence to offer us his cherry tomatoes (extending them silently and beseechingly until one of us noticed him). Funny little dude.

205/365

Meeting a friend's three sisters for the first time - I'm fascinated by siblings, how similar and divergent they can be.

204/365

Tim-Tams straight from the fridge.

203/365

Crying on my mum's shoulder. I can tell you from experience, it's about a million times better than crying into the receiver.

Not related to previous post, if you're wondering.

202/365

Looking around at the other diners in the café, wondering if they could tell I was on a date (I've been watching a bit of classic Seinfeld lately).

201/365

Partaking of the delights of a well-equipped office kitchen - fruit, Special K, muesli, Salada's, Milo and a vast selection of tea/coffee for all staff. After having to fight for a goddamn fridge at my last job (at a major financial organisation), I'm impressed.

200/365

Working from home, in my pj's, earning twice as much as I would be on an agency job. Giddyup!

199/365

Eating blood orange ice-cream on the banks of the Yarra.

198/365

Running back through the maze at Ikea to fetch the lovely wooden fruit tray I noticed right at the front...

197/365

Submitting my first timesheet for a long time :)

196/365

New/old/recently discovered music from - where else? - JB Hifi, my most favourite Melbourne-based CD browsing shop in the world EVER! My love for JB knows no bounds. LOVE the fact that they have separate sections for "popular" and "alternative" (guess where I spend most of my time?) and IN SPITE OF their multiple-stickers-that-can-never-be-removed policy.

195/365

How beautiful are the flowers on this plant that we inherited from my grandmother? Perfection.

194/365

Coming across the Rock Chicks exhibition on my way to the NGV, and being reminded of a bunch of cool Oz songstresses from my past (Spiderbait, Magic Dirt, Deborah Conway, Clouds, Divinyls...)

193/365

Playing frisbee with the fam at Jell's Park, in honour of my Dad's [nearly 60th] birthday.

192/365

The satisfying thump of a book being delivered straight onto the porch. I love the internets.

191/365

Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow!

One of the shortest sentences that contains all of the letters of the alphabet. Much more impressive than the old "quick brown fox" line, eh??

190/365

Dreamt that me and Hugh Laurie were trying on clown outfits in my dream last night... still making me giggle!

189/365

Feeding my old boss leftover Christmas cake. The circle of life.... the wheel of fortune.... etc. etc.

188/365

Doing my first piece of design in a long time - luckily it's pretty much like riding a bike. Now that I think about it, with both pursuits, you have the odd day when the tires are flat, and no matter how hard you pedal, you don't get anywhere... but basically, the potential of forward movement remains.

187/365

Poking around the empty hall of the former council chambers in a sleepy country town with my parents, laughing at the pictures of serious old men through the ages.

186/365

Walking through the rainforest at Apollo Bay, marveling at the furry, bent over fern trunks that look like alpacas.

185/365

Being dunked by my brother in the surf, and retaliating with seaweed just like we did when we were teenagers.

184/365

Relearning how to play Oh, Hell with my bro and sister-in-law, only she calls it "Ploomp" in her very cute Swedish way.