Thursday night at Savers in Brunswick

 
I love the way they sell Barbie dolls at Savers. Well, I don’t love it so much as I am fascinated by it. The plastic bags are so sad but make me smile at the same time. And it’s as if their acrobatic poses are their way of trying to get noticed, to attract a buyer to take them home.

They look like they’re training for the circus. Or one of Sam Taylor-Wood’s self-portraits in her Suspended series.

 
Went to an auction today, within walking distance of my place. We fell in love with the house, although neither of us intended to buy it. We were just having a stickybeak, as they say here.

About a month ago we went to an inspection a few doors down, but the house just seemed to be missing something. This place, however, had loads of character, including an attic with a window and a bed — which would be my magic napping room, of course — funny built-in cupboards, working fireplaces, a great courtyard and a tall-person-friendly bathtub. Very cute, lots of natural light and would be vastly improved by cosmetic changes, which I could easily do myself. And I love, love, love the neighbourhood.

It was passed in at auction, meaning the only person who bid did not bid high enough to meet the reserve price. So now it’s up for negotiation with the buyer.

I am so far away from owning property. Yet I keep thinking about my magic napping room. Le sigh.

Sydney Opera House + Harbour Bridge

 
I am starting a new club.

I’m calling it GYST, which stands for Get Your Shit Together. Get stuff done while you socialise, listen to music, drink tea and eat snacks.

I used to attend Stitch’n'Bitch meetings but soon grew bored of the knitting-only environment. And I never actually got anything done at those meetings because I was too busy oohing and ahhing at other people’s superhuman knitting efforts.

There have been a few general crafternoon attempts here and there as well, but nothing regular, mostly because it’s too hard to organise everyone. So I’m proposing a regular timeslot, and whoever wants to show up can just, well, show up. No waiting for people to synchronise their schedules — it’ll just be a regular, informal gig. And you don’t have to be crafty to attend.

 

another view

 
So what will we do? Finish the unfinished. Bring your clothes that need mending (sound familiar, Kate C?), the band T-shirt that’s 5 sizes too big, the thank-you notes your rellies have been expecting, the cross-stitch that’s only missing one corner, or the stuff you need to photograph and list on eBay. Maybe you can’t make time to do your handwashing (you know who you are). Bring it to my place (or the nominated dwelling) and enjoy the company and support of other slackers.

Kylie came over on Sunday night for this very reason. I won’t divulge what she brought with her, but the amount of work needed to complete the two-years-abandoned project was about 10 minutes. Seriously. It was pretty embarrassing, but I have my own share of projects that have been relegated to the too-hard or don’t-care-anymore baskets. I’ve got a jumper that needs a neck, a fake tree in need of releafing/repotting and a new moth hole in my favourite cardie. There is always plenty to do. I don’t want to move house again and have to box up the same unfinished stuff.

I’m thinking Sunday evenings from about 5pm onward. Interested? Want to offer your living room? Contact me.

“Stones Against the Sky”, or “Poo on Sticks”, as it’s more commonly known

 
The whole Sydney trip seemed too easy, really. Check-in was the fastest I’d ever experienced (yay, VirginBlue!), our hotel happened to be above the train station, we were within walking distance to everything, and we just happened upon some of the stuff we’d wanted to see anyway (the famous Poo on Sticks was spotted on the journey to Bills Cafe).

 

something we hadn’t planned to see: a syringe vending machine

 
We visited the Gallery of NSW and saw the finalists for the Archibald Prize. My favourite part was voting for the people’s choice award at the end. I felt like my little vote counted for something. (If the portrait of Garry McDonald wins, you read it here first.)

We also viewed the Photographic Portrait Prize, which inspired me to enter something next year, and an awesome exhibit of painted self-portraits from the Renaissance through to today. So amazing, and I swear I thought some of the people were going to jump out of their paintings and grab me. I was fascinated by the poses and the clothing they chose to represent themselves in. It was neat to see Van Gogh, for example, painted in the style of Van Gogh. And I quite liked his felt hat.

The exhibit’s not travelling to Victoria, so if you’re in Sydney, don’t miss it.

 

NO meat: room service on Sparky’s birthday

 
Must run to the other room because Media Watch and Andrew Denton are on. More pics later.

only in Kings Cross, where everyone’s in on the joke

 
I had an absolutely wonderful time in Sydney. Thanks to the short week, though, I haven’t had time to tell you about it.

Please accept these photographs as a peace offering until I can get the rest of them up.

 

Kings Cross funny #2

 
Two things:

* Bills Cafe in Darlinghurst (no apostrophe, which drives me nuts) produced the best breakfast I’ve ever eaten. Which is why I can say it was worth $30. I ate these with warm maple syrup and a big bowl of fresh fruit on the side. You should make them, too.

* Check out Richard Hawley’s latest album, Coles Corner, because it’s amazingly beautiful and I haven’t been able to stop playing it. Who knew old-school crooners were alive in Sheffield, England?

crazy knick-knack house, Tullamarine

 
Thank you to everyone who commented or e-mailed after the last post. Such wonderful suggestions and kind offers — I love the internet!

I’m going to Sydney for the long weekend, thanks to a benevolent impulse of Sparky’s.

The last time I was in Sydney was 8 1/2 years ago, for Michael Hutchence’s funeral*. Nope, not joking.

I went to Sydney three times that year, one of which was my 20th birthday. I’m sure it’s changed a lot in that time, so if anyone has suggestions of fun things to do/see, please send them my way. Markets, art galleries, and other fun destinations would be useful.

The only places on my must-visit list start with the letter B: Bodhi (the vegan yum cha restaurant), Bondi beach and the Bonds superstore at the Sydney airport. I ♥ Bonds. We’re getting our own superstore in Melbs at the casino, so this will be like research, right?

* INXS tickets went on sale in Melbs yesterday, funnily enough. I am driven by curiosity to go, even if it’s on my own.