At what point is something deliciously spontaneous or just downright… daft?!

As a dork who’s aware of ”stranger danger” yet preaches (and firmly believes!) ”life is short. Break some RULES! Be d-a-r-i-n-g!”, it can be wildly difficult to distinguish between the two.

Last Tuesday, a friendly-seeming gentleman asked me if I’d like to grab a beverage with him some time. Was he charming? Yes! Were his manners impeccable? You BET! But as the words ”so, I’m actually new to this area of Sydney. Whereabouts do you usually hang out? Would you like to go out for a drink?” tumbled from his mouth, my mind started hissing ”you don’t know him! This is only the second time that you’ve ever spoken to him! What is this madness?! Abort the conversation. Abort, abort, ABORT!”

”Um,”’ I lamely mumbled, frantically searching my brain for a non-offensive excuse, ”I actually work weekends. Yeeeah. Oh, I’ve got to go now. BYE!”

What I’m Wearing:

x Wanted’s ‘Prague’ combat boots
x ’CORRINE’ silver handmade nameplate necklace
x Nasty Gal’s ‘Clever Minx’ coat (purchased on sale for $34. Ooh la la!)
x Backless black dress (guess what?! This actually used to belong to blogging/styling virtuoso, Hayley Hughes. I received it from her at a clothing swap party last year!)

”He was kind of CUTE!” The woman next to me exclaimed, nodded approvingly. I smiled, giggled and anxiously slinked away, frantically babbling to my best friend the next day (Caroline, I love you!):

”But he was NICE! I’m always saying that you should try new things, right? And be bold? WHAT IF HE WAS TRYING TO DO THAT?! What if he thought ”okay, I’m going to take a risk and ask this girl out”, and I just ruined that? Oh my goodness, I feel like a jerk. WHAT IF HE NEVER ASKS ANYONE OUT EVER AGAIN?! Maybe I should have gone. Why didn’t I go?! Jeez. How can you identify the axe-wielding maniacs from the people who are genuinely trying to do something positive these days? @#&^!” (Phew. I’m sure there’s a queue of people just piling up to be buddies with me now… NOT!)

♥

As the stupendous Seal warbles in Crazy,”we’re never gonna survive… unless we get a little… CRAZY! No, we’re never gonna survive… unless we are a little… cccrazy!”, but what’s the difference between ‘good’ crazy and, as my beloved Christopher says, ”not just your average ”on the path to Crazy Town” kind of crazy, but ”I’m not just on the path to Crazy Town, I’m driving the freaking BUS!” ” crazy? Would YOU have sipped vodkas with him?

xoxo

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If you’re clicking here for the first time, WELCOME! Every Friday (well, today it’s Monday. Oops!) we celebrate the fact that - ding, ding! - it’s Friday, and our favourite things (making new friends? Mops?! Okay, it’s probably not the latter…) from the week that was. Here’s what I’m currently loving!

x Splendid Spring - Sure, it’s cheesier than a Margherita pizza and probably one of the most overused expressions e-v-e-r, but guess what?! In Australia, spring has sprung, and who wouldn’t be ecstatic at the thought of enjoying all-day barbecues, splish-splashing around at the beach and frolicking about in ridiculous dresses in the months ahead? (Vampires?! Possibly. But not this sunshine lover!)

Can you feel it in the air?! Spring’s h-h-here! 

Shells, marbles and vases galore. Welcome to my home!

x Frantically Furnishing The Apartment - With the realisation that a work experience student/intern is set to arrive at Casa De Frock & Roll in the next couple of days (OH! MY! GOODNESS!), I’ve been manically attempting to clean it up. My apartment building is EXTREMELY old, and currently in the process of being renovated (read: it looks delapidated right now), so I’ve been snapping up Eiffel Tower prints and purchasing candles left, right and centre in a last-minute attempt to make it visitor-friendly. (The photograph above is of the living/dining area. What do you think? Cripes inviting people over to your home can be nervewracking!)

x Appreciating Life - My great uncle passed away and I visited a retirement village this week. Both were mindblowingly depressing occurrences, but if there’s anything positive that can be derived from either of them, it’s to treasure life and live it full throttle while you can. We spend nonsensical amounts of time over-analyzing the craziest of things (what, you think I don’t do it too? Oh, but I do!), when really, we should just be leaping out there and taking chances!

x Other Little Things - Atmosphere’s Puppets (hip-hop so good, it should be a crime); so-awful-they’re-hilarious jokes (my favourite kind! An older gentleman, after I became tangled in his dog’s lead the other day: ”Oh, come on now, Pugsley. I’ve told you to pick up pretty girls for me before, but not like this!” Ugh! Ugh, ugh, UGH!); seeeriously contemplating spending New Year’s Eve in Krakow, only to discover that it takes 38 HOURS to fly there (honestly now, 38 hours?! That’s nuts!); this pretty dress (and it’s only 27 clams!); conversations about everything and nothing (again, my favourite kind!); homemade muesli; donning belts in every colour of the rainbow; and traipsing across the sand!

Suggestion For The Week Ahead

x Contemplate the above. When was the last time you did something for the first time?

♥

xoxo

P.S. UNCOOL CONFESSION ALERT! Can I let you in on a little secret? The reason that this is being delivered on a Monday - and not its usual day of Friday -is because I’ve been overcome with a sincere bout of… BLOGGER STAGE FRIGHT! (See?! I told you it was uncool!) Although I wholeheartedly advocate sharing your work (and I do!), a downside can be that occasionally, you maaay just start picturing the people you know reading your thoughts… and be tempted to freak out. Let’s not! 

”Spill a little bit of blood on the streets for love.”

Is one of my all-time favourite quotes (thanks, Atmosphere!), and it’s a fairly excellent line to remember while writing/painting/singing/talking/engaging in ANYTHING, isn’t it? Spill a little bit of blood/wear your heart on your sleeve in the pursuit of adventure and experiencing life. What’s a good story without a terrifying chapter or two?!

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”So, um, what happened with the ‘live blogging’?” A gentleman asked me earlier in the week with a smirk, having read this piece:

”On a scale of 1-10, how much of a pretentious clown would I look like if I was to LIVE BLOG from a fashion show?! (Yes, live blog! As in sitting there with my laptop, typing away, while the models strut back and forth!) I estimate about a 10, but I guess I’ll know for certain soon, because that’s exactly what I’ve been invited to do this afternoon! (Cross your fingers that I don’t make too much of a ninny of myself!)”

And that’s when the groaning started. GROAN! Yes, I was supposed to attend Revlon’s ‘Top Speed’ fashion show last Saturday (and live blog from the event!), but, you know, sometimes things happen. Last Saturday, that thing was a bus, which was conveniently inconveniently late (if I didn’t live an $87 fare away from the city, I would’ve just jumped in a taxi), before being stuck in traffic for almost thirty minutes. Lame!

When I finally arrived at the show’s destination, hoping that I wouldn’t have missed a thing (even though I was running supremely behind, I was still only fifteen minutes late to the event itself) the security guard outside said ”oh yeah, sure. The show’s almost over, but go right in.”  My jaw dropped. ”The show’s almost OVER?!” I squeaked. ”Yeah!” He replied. ”There’s probably only two minutes left of it, but go through to the back of the hall.” I plunged through the doors and quickly scrambled towards the entrance, but alas, the show had started. Here’s what I managed to see!

Terrific turquoise and luscious lavender. The theme of the show was colour blocking, and this was one marvellous maxi-dess!

An awful quality photograph (one of these days I’ll upgrade to a proper camera!), but GORGEOUS clothes.

Blurry bloggers! There was a front row section reserved especially for them (uh, us). Pretty nifty and forward thinking on the company’s behalf, huh? It’s interesting to see how different types of ”media” are being embraced these days. (Can you spot Joelyne from The Sydney Girl and Anita from Love Vulcanella? I can! Nice girls.)

The final roll-out of garments. Look at those rainbow hues! Sublime, sublime, sublime.

Transport woes aside, HEY! Sydney-siders! Did you know that there’ll be Revlon ‘Top Speed’ Glam Vans buzzing about town this week, dishing out free, full-sized nail polishes and giving manicures? Get on down!

The Revlon Glam Vans will be located at:  

• Customs House Forecourt, Alfred Street - Friday 16 September, 4:00- 8:00pm  
• Bondi Pavilion Forecourt - Sunday 18 September, 12:00- 4:00pm  
• Cockle Bay Wharf - Friday 23 September, 5:00- 9:00pm  
• Cockle Bay Wharf - Friday 30 September, 5:00- 9:00pm

♥

xoxo

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If you’re clicking here for the first time, WELCOME! Every Friday we celebrate the fact that - ding, ding! - it’s Friday, and our favourite things (a fresh bouquet of flowers? Mouse traps?! Okay, it’s probably not the latter…) from the week that was. Here’s what I’m currently loving!

x My 24th Birthday - I TURNED 24 YESTERDAY! Pretty scary, huh?! For a girl who still feels 18 99.9% of the time, a teensy bit! (Well, until I spluttered that out loud and a guy in his sixties snorted at me ”oh, yeah. It must be sooo difficult to be in your twenties” *insert sarcastic eye roll here*, that is. Then I just kind of felt like a jerk!)

Thai food was gobbled, an excellent day was had and I’m beginning to think that there really is some truth to the whole ”the older you get, the better you feel” theory. (Even though I still feel 18, I know that I definitely wouldn’t want to be 18 again, you know? You know!)

(Do I look any older?!)

x The Possibility Of Having An Intern - Did somebody say ”www.nervewracking.com”?! I have been, although to be honest, my immediate thoughts were actually ”but who would want to bang keys and bop along to The Village People all day with me?!” Kirstie, a lovely-sounding lass who’s currently studying journalism at a university in Sydney, has asked if she can come and do work experience with me in the next couple of weeks, and although I’m sort of panicking over the logistics of it, I’m thinking that it could be one INTERESTING opportunity! (What do you think? Should we do it? Considering that I was pestering Sam Winter to do the same thing a couple of years ago and she was totally wonderful about it, I’m leaning towards ”yes!”)

x Self-Expression & Honesty - Goodness, where should I start? I’m not sure, but can I just say that I’m always extremely, extremely impressed when somebody puts themselves out there and reveals how they feel? Seriously, it’s one of my favourite things in the WORLD! (As strange as it may sound, nothing impresses me more.)

x Other Little Things - Insanely sweet blogging feedback (I met a woman today who very kindly told me that she and her daughter - shock! - loved Frock & Roll. I was so surprised and caught off guard that all I could do was thank her and run away. I’m sorry, Tamie!); receiving an e-mail from the delightful Vanessa of Nessbow (have you seen her blog? It’s a treat!) which completely made my day; A Perfect Circle’s 3 Libras; Shakira’s Ojos Asi (namely because it’s superb music to practice belly dancing to, but also for the cuter-than-cute lyrics: ”tearing down windows and doors, but I could not find eyes like yours”? Be-au-tiful! In non-musical news… WHY am I becoming such a sucker for romance in my old age? Jeez!); successful cooking experiments (I somehow managed to bake a carrot and feta lasagne on Sunday night without setting fire to the apartment. WOO!); Mona Vale Library’s free wifi iniative (terrific!); really, really adorable boys who buy you birthday chocolates (thank-you!); and small, slow-spreading smiles… because sometimes, they’re the ones which reveal precisely how delighted you actually are!

Suggestions For The Week Ahead

x Oh, gossip, gossip, gossip. Aren’t we all occasionally the subject of it? (For the record, we are!) Just remember next time someone says something slightly shitty, though, that regardless of how irritating the situation is, you’ve endured FAR more than a few pesky words. This is nothing! Shrug, throw your hands up and opt to laugh over the silliness of it all. The quicker you realise how ridiculous it all is, the better you’ll feel!

x Use the ”good stuff”. Don’t wait for a special occasion to use your most beautiful things! Wear your most resplendent frock (or suit) to breakfast. Drag out the fancy-schmancy birthday present alcohol and swill it on an ordinary evening. Life ITSELF is a pretty darn good occasion, so celebrate it as often as you can!

♥

Happy, happy Friday! How was your week? I hope it’s been an exceptional one!

xoxo

P.S. Did you know that Frock & Roll’s on Facebook? It is! Why not drop on by and say hello? I’d love to see you there!

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The fabulous Misfits Vintage recently posted a fab-u-lous piece entitled ‘Life’s Too Short To…’, a super inspiring concoction of activities she believes should be avoided in the pursuit of savouring life. (A handful of them? Stuffing mushrooms. Not wearing a chiffon frock for no reason at all. Staying in a job filled with ”a culture of bullying, abuse, bitchiness, harassment, two-facedness and general arseholery.” BRILLIANT!)

It compellled me to buy a turkey. Wait! No it didn’t. It compelled me to create my own wee ‘life’s too short to…” list, and here it is! Life’s too short to…

Doubt Ourselves

Ugh, but we do, don’t we? We worry that we’re not as intelligent/hilarious/beautiful/popular/accomplished as other people. We fret that there’s something wrong with us if we feel envious/angry/anxious/depressed. (Excuse me, but where did this ridiculous thought process originate?!)

Allow me to share a line from one of my favourite books: ”we’re all cut from the same cloth. We all experience these feelings and struggle to maintain civiity in a sometimes savage world.” Remember that, and relish how normal and perfectly together you already ARE!

Dream About Exploring The World

It should be seen!

It’s big, it’s beautiful, and it’s absolutely worth living off cans of baked beans and packets of two-minute noodles for six months to do so. (Which is precisely why my kitchen cupboards are currently filled with them!)

Waste Your Time On People Who Aren’t Worth The Energy

Psst! Can I let you in on a little not-so-secret (and actually, one of the best lessons that I’ve ever learned)? People are EXCELLENT at flinging words about (”I love you!”; ”I’d love to!”), but you’ll only ever really be able to gage how someone feels through their actions. That old adage ”actions speak louder than words”? It’s 110% true. 

An example? Don’t waste your time tearing your hair out in a frustrated attempt to understand whether a lady/gentlemen/octopus (it’s possible, right?!) is genuinely interested in you. If they are, they’ll demonstrate it in their behaviour (attempting to make plans with you); not their words (”yeah… we should catch up… sometime!”)!

Avoid Throwing Caution To The Wind

Cripes, sometimes I feel like we’re all so… SCARED! It’s as though we’ve been raised to fear making ”mistakes”, so we’ve become so cautious in everything that we do to avoid ”stuffing up”. What nonsense!

Life is a gift that we only have for so long before it’s permanently snatched away. Make ”mistakes” (I say ”mistakes” because honestly, what the heck are mistakes, anyway?! They’re lessons!). Twirl somebody around in the street. Whisper something to someone that you’re terrified to say. (If it’s not well received, you can always utter ”sorry” afterwards!) Launch a business. (And if all turns to doom and gloom - which I’m sure it won’t! - start from scratch somewhere else.) Take risks, be bold and have FUN! Life’s an adventure too precious not to be filled with extraordinary tales!

♥

What’s on your ”life’s too short to…” list?

xoxo

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(All images thanks to We Heart It.)

Oh, I jest! (Honestly, really and truly now, you didn’t ACTUALLY expect to spot me leaping about the place in tin foil, did you?! Ha! You joker, you!)

No, no, nooo, today I thought I’d catapult myself into unchartered clothing territory (as is the purpose of our style challenges!) and hurl on a hue that I never, ever wear…

RED!

And are you red-dy (oh, I slay myself with my lameness!) for a strange sartorial confession? I’ve always resisted shades of crimson. It’s just so… bold! There’s something so attention-wielding about donning such a bright colour that has me constantly scrambling for more neutral tones. (Sure, I’m by no means a shy girl, but I’m very, very definitely not a ”look at me, look at me!” kind of gal, either!) 

(Am I the only fool who loves out-of-focus photographs?! Probably. But I DO!)

I’m still not convinced that I suit being a lady in red (ugh, does anyone else loathe that song?!), but I DID receive one of the cutest of compliments while wearing it:

”Your dress really suits you,” an Indian boy told me. ”Like a rose which just on gloom…”

(I think he meant ”in bloom”, but hey, who could have the heart to correct him after a poetic attempt like that?!)

♥

What’s YOUR least favourite colour to drape yourself in? Would you ever slink into it in the pursuit of moseying outside your comfort zone? (And have you ever known someone to wear head-to-toe tin foil?! Because if so, I’ve got to hear about this!)

xoxo

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Thank frock indeed!

Here’s what I’m loving this week:

x Catching Up With Family - AWWW! My Auntie Ngaire and her adorable little daughter Ruby have been holidaying in Sydney from New Zealand this week, and do you know how lovely it’s been to catch up with them? EXTREMELY! (What is it about spending time with family that always feels extra-special? I don’t know, but it does!) We spent Tuesday playing tourist and visited Palm Beach (where television show Home & Away is filmed) and gobbled a delectable lunch at The Boathouse (no, really, I have visuals!), and it’s been great. I can’t wait to see them again tonight for a wine or two three!

Ngaire and Ruby. Aren’t they both absolutely STUNNING?! 

The insane view from the apartment they’re staying in. UGH! Can you believe it?! I almost died when I spied it! (How is it even possible for properties this beautiful to exist?!)

x Divine Fish & Chips From The Boathouse, Palm Beach - Oh, boy. Photographs don’t even begin to do these babies justice! They were sublime. 

x Feeling Impatient - Okay, so I don’t actually know whether this is a grand thing or not, but JEEZ I’ve been feeling impatient lately! It’s namely just towards excuses and personal procrastinating, but all of a sudden I feel as though I have zero time for ”yeah, I would like to do that, but…”’s or ”wouldn’t it be fun if…”? I mean, why even wonder anymore?! Why not just do?! And with that…

x Applying To Volunteer At The Warringah Place Retirement Village, Collaroy - I’ve been itching to do this for years. Today, the moment had well and truly come to pick up the phone and apply! (Here’s hoping that it’s accepted!)

x Other Little Things - City & Colour (how neat are they?! Sometimes is marvellous); being played Madonna’s Waiting (oh. my. GOODNESS! It was in jest, but still! H-i-l-a-r-i-o-u-s!); gobbling pistachio gelato; ”so, how’s the apartment?” ”Oh, wait until you SEE IT! You won’t know what to do with yourself! You won’t know what to do with your LIFE!” (a dramatic speaker, moi? Yes!); exciting freelance commissions (this morning I discovered that I’m going to be penning a piece for Dogs Life magazine in September!); expertly-crafted chai lattes; ‘‘do you know that when you look at me… it is a salvation?” (oh, Air, I’m still loving you!); Corey Taylor, Corey Taylor, Corey Taylor (he’s an author, singer, and - little-known fact - my absolute hero); interesting phobias (I met a woman yesterday who was petrified of tomato sauce. How fantastic!); and DARES! 

Suggestions For The Weekend Ahead

x Next time you’re feeling tremble-y about wading through a particular situation (whether it’s an exam, job interview or break-up), remember: MILLIONS of other people have been in similar positions and survived, so don’t fret! To quote the magical Molly, ”others might have been scared, or tense, or nervous, just like you, but they got through the tough spots, and so will you.”

x Buy a bundle of $2 lottery tickets and distribute them to people you love with your fingers crossed.

♥

xoxo

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Goodness, how are YOU?! It feels as though it’s been forever! (What’s that? Did somebody murmur ‘Library & Roll’?!)

I know it’s been whisper-quiet around here lately (it’s an admission that’s unlikely to grace the pages of Original Excuses Monthly, but I’ve been an extremely busy wee bee!), but alas, I’ll spare you the snooze-worthy details. (E-mails! Meetings!  24 HOUR COPYWRITING DEADLINES!) It’s the weekend, so it’s time to celebrate the wonderful things!

x That Deliciously Golden Moment When You’ve Got Nothing Left To Lose - (You know when you’re in an uncomfortable situation - physically, socially or emotionally - but commit to taking a deep breath, speaking the truth and acting fearlessly anyway? Uh huh!) Because when you’re bold, brave and honest, you’re brilliant. ALWAYS!

x Fossicking Through Rock Pools - Sometimes I’ll find myself gawking out the window thinking, ‘’wow, wouldn’t it be terrific to trawl through those rock pools which are practically at the end of the street? It would!  *insert dramatic, wistful sigh here* Oh, well. One day, when I have a moment, I will. BETTER CHECK TWITTER/FACEBOOK!’’ (Did you hear that? That’s the sound of me walloping myself over my own stupidity. WHACK!)

WELL. On Wednesday afternoon, I decided that enough was enough. I grabbed my camera, gave myself a verbal slap of reality (”you see, the thing about those rock pools that are practically at the end of the street, Corrine, is… THAT THEY’RE PRACTICALLY AT THE END OF THE STREET! Did you hear me? THE! END! OF! THE! STREET! That you’re on! What, you don’t have time to wander down a street? WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU?!’’), and bolted out the door to explore!

(Pardon the awful self-portrait - and slightly gag-inducing confession - but I had to capture the ”eek! Isn’t the world beautiful?! I’m so grateful to be alive!” moment. Hopping around those rock pools was one of the most glorious activities that I’ve completed in MONTHS!) 

x Packages From Tights Please - I have coloured leggings and stockings to experiment with. NERVES!

x Other Little Things - Air’s Playground Love (honestly, this song absolutely KILLS me with its beauty! It’s so dreamy and enchanting and sheesh, what about those LYRICS?! ”You’re the piece of gold… that flashes on my soul”? Argh! S-t-o-p!); actually, Air in general (have you listened to Surfing On A Rocket and Cherry Blossom Girl? What musical treats!); client referrals (whoa! Wow! WHEE!) and big business developments; being greeted with ”so… where’s your nightie?” (Ha! Thanks Jenni!); almond risotto and caper butter (um…YUM!); homemade pumpkin soup with cardamon; my magnificent friend Carmen and her magnificent company; good, looong gabs; crushed apple cider (hello, is that the New Favourite Drink Awards? Fantastic, because we have a wiiinner!); unexpected lunch dates; perusing jumpsuits (do I dare?); fear-inducing phone calls; incredibly sweet e-mails; my new hooded Slipknot jumper (it’s so deliciously fleecy and warm!); ludicrously adorable offers to be walked home; and secretly ordering my boyfriend pizza while he’s in the shower (teehee!). 

Suggestions For The Week Ahead

x Purchase an obscenely colourful or sparklywallet for your handbag. The brighter it is, the easier it’ll be to locate, and if regularly peering at a cheerful shade doesn’t put even the smallest of smiles on your dial, I’ll gobble my hat!

x Have an entertainment swap with a colleague or friend. Bundle a heap of your favourite books, DVD’s and magazines (heck, you could even exchange recipes!) into a hamper and ask the other person to do the same for you. Who knows what amazing finds you could discover?!

♥

How was YOUR week? I hope it’s been a phenomenal one! 

xoxo

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Last night five spectacularly lovely ladies (and myself!) braved the wild Sydney weather to mingle at Koi in Darlinghurst (because when Sarah Von of Yes & Yes announces that she’s coming to town and that she’d like to co-host a dinner party with you, there’s really only one answer to deliver: ‘’yes and YES!’’), and goodness gracious gyoza dumplings, what an EVENING it was!

Delicious food was gobbled, many, many topics were combed through (blogging! Travelling! Blogging while travelling!) and tips, tricks and stories galore were shared. F-u-n!

Can I take a moment to gush about how brilliant Sarah was?! Seriously, what. a. GIRL. She was hilarious, intelligent and astoundingly sweet (of course!), and charismatic enough to seamlessly continue conversations even after some truly stupid tongue-tied moments from moi:

Sarah: ”So tell me about your apartment, dude! What’s it like?!” (Yes, she really does speak this awesomely in ”real life”.)
Me: ”Um… yeah! It’s… uh… well… it’s apartment-like. Yep. Oh, hang on… are we not supposed to be eating these beans whole?!”

(Ooh, I was not on top of my communication game. You know those evenings where ”cool!” and ”good!” become ”cood!” and ”gool”?! Uh huh. Yikes!) Anyyyhoo. Let’s take a peek at some pictures!

Gorgeous girls! (And some fool with her eyes shut.) From left to right: the adorable Anna, myself, Sarah, Bec (who was sporting a particularly nifty raspberry-hued hat), photographer extraordinaire Cathy and Rachel, who dreams of opening a magnificent candy store. (And what’s not fantastic about that?!)

Fruit salad and ice-cream spring rolls. All together now: ”mmmmmmmmmmmm!”

Perched at Kings Cross station (and sporting some extremely questionable yellow nail polish) with Sarah. (And hey, what do you know… MY EYES ARE SHUT AGAIN! D’OH!)

♥

Isn’t the internet a weird, wonderful place?! It constantly flabbergasts me that every time we peruse or create a blog post, we’re actually connecting with other people. Other excellent, extraordinary people. Sharing our LIVES. Becoming invested in theirs. (One of the subjects discussed at the table was how strangely emotional we felt when an awful event, such as a relationship breakdown or an illness, occurred to a person whose blog we’d been reading, but you DO, don’t you?! Wacky or not, you DO care! You do share their sadness and immediately wish that you could wave it away with an enormous magic wand!) It’s a remarkable thing.

Thank-you so, so much to everyone who came along! (And I hope to meet ALL of you one day! But, um, hopefully with my eyes open.)

xoxo