Goals Update: Broken New Year's Resolutions. Stuff I am into.

So you know how I wrote a set of goals for the new year a month or so ago. Some work related, some travel related, some fitness related. I wanted to update you on them.

The "only travel locally" goal: broken.

I've been thinking about Israel and Jordan for ages now. It is high time I went, and travel is life for me. I have not yet found out about changes to my work (see below) but I have booked it, and soon (mid-late March). I am going with G Adventures. I needed a trip to look forward to. It's on like Donkey Kong, people. IVF after that.

Details of trip here.

Regarding the fitness things, they are going great guns. I have commissioned one of my coaches at crossfit to do some 1:1 sessions to help me to achieve my fitness goals. I can now do 2 double unders in a row.

Regarding the box jump, I have got my hands onto a Swamp Box, my mate Emma was giving hers away for free. This is essentially a large high density foam box the size of the wooden one, so I can jump without fear of my shins.

Regarding the career things.... I have been a bit quiet on this blog because there has been a bit of pushing and wheeling. I went for an interview last week (see my outfit on instagram - it was on point). I find out tomorrow or Tuesday whether I got it. I am nervous. When I get nervous I get heartburn or stomach upset. I have it now :(

There were a few other interviewees. The interview itself was very short, and we were led in and out of the interview room so we didn't come face to face with other interviewees. Is that a thing? All very cloak and dagger.

Another job in a different department has come up in the same place, which I have also gone for. I hope to get both, so I can consolidate close to home. It's good not to have to drive around.

Research wise, I am finishing what I started, but also being invited onto other projects as a co-Investigator. This will hopefully yield papers but without as much grunt.

Last Friday, I made a trip into the city. It was a couple of weeks after the horror of the people killed by a murderous driver. I was bracing myself for it to be really sad and sombre. Instead, I ran into a street party of sorts.... buskers making money for the victim's families. It was a real party atmosphere. The blokes looked like metal heads but were playing flamenco tunes while head-banging. People were smiling and dancing. I became overwhelmingly proud of my city.

 

I went into the Mothership (David Jones). I looked at the cosmetics. I found some things I liked, which I will share here:

Niche Perfumes, like this one (Akkad, by Lubin). I like to smell a bit spicy, expensive and different to others. All mainstream perfumes smell roughly the same to me. I have run out of Black Afghan by Nasomatto and am now on the hunt for a new signature scent.

My good mate SSG has got me rather hooked on cosmetics. I am after a nice go to eye palette, as, like her, I am not terribly fond of L'Oreal le palette nude. I also would like to have some peachy/pinky shades.

I already have cult products Nars Orgasm blush, Nars Laguna Bronzer, and Chanel Fantasme eyeshadow/sparkles. I cannot go past Lancome Virtuose mascara - no other mascara is nearly as good on my eyes.

I need to put a lid on the spending..... maybe that needs to be another goal.

I am starting to get into home cooking again, having got into a bit of a rut - SSG, being the oracle of good things, has put me onto Recipe Tin Eats, which has some super easy, super tasty food.

Do you have a go to fragrance, mascara, or tasty dish? Share here.

 

My first love.

I would like to tell you about my first love.

I was 9.

His name was John Farnham. Or Johnny Farnbottom as my dad used to rib me with.

When I was 9 I got my first very crappy walkman, and a cassette tape of Whispering Jack. I played it endlessly.

I remember when Johnny had a guest appearance on Home and Away. He probably had an album to flog. The storyline went that Sally got chickenpox and was unable to go to his concert. Of course he came to her, and sang her a version of "Help" by the beatles. I taped it (Beta cassette, thank you very much) and watched it repeatedly.

I remember I learned that his favourite sandwich was a ham sandwich. I wrote a letter to him, asking him round to our house for ham sandwiches. I don't think he got it.

He was a bit of a spunk, ol' Johnny. The mullet was de rigeur, and emulated by folks like Jason Donovan. But nobody could compare to my Johnny Farnbottom.

I think I lost interest in Johnny after the Age of Reason album. Not before I drove my parents crazy.
Yet, on reflection, my musical tastes as a 10 year old also were inclined towards men with killer mullets. Behold:

Years passed, Mullets went out of fashion, and my musical tastes evolved.
I still like 'em hirsute. And monstrously talented.

But I never forgot my first love.

Myself and a girlfriend are flying up to Sydney tomorrow to see John Farnham (and Lionel Richie but I am there to see my Johnny Farnbottom).

My 9 year old self is thrilled. My 35 year old self is pretty excited too. There was no money for concerts growing up...there is now. Though my Johnny looks a bit more like this nowadays

Perhaps he regrets doing away with the mullet.

Everyone says "I thought John Farnham had retired". He has, about 5 times. I think Glenn Wheatley gives him a nudge when they are a bit short of coin.

But I am glad he is back. He is still my Johnny Farnbottom, my first love.

Postscript. Things I luff.

Call the last post my scheduled whinge.

The comments were good, from a few different angles.

Naomi, I would love to read your thoughts on the issue, your treatise. Perhaps a blog series?

In Cuba, there don't seem to be the same issues. Women walk around like they are Miranda Kerr. They are gosh darn attractive. Women of all shapes and sizes, many of them with luscious curves and big breasts.

I think a large part of that is the lack of advertising there.

A lot of it is confidence.
Confidence is powerfully sexy.
Confidence can't be bought.

I have met people of both genders who I thought were super-attractive. Very few of them, on reflection, were good looking in the cookie cutter sense. What they did have in common was that they were confident and funny. Not cocky. Comfortable in their own skin.

My fella told me that, when we first met, what first attracted him was that I seemed self-assured, and that I was nicely turned-out, wearing a nice dress. Blokes dig dresses.Good blokes dig confidence.

So in recent months, I've been making a real effort to put the glad rags on, accessorise, do my hair, pop some makeup on. Walk tall. It makes a difference to me.


Anywho I have found a few things I really luff. I thought I might share them.

1. St Tropez Spray tan.

I used to use Dove Summer glow to get a bit of colour in my legs. It stank and I had to shower a few hours after I put it on.
This St Tropez Stuff is the Shizz. It sprays on, blends evenly with little rubbing in and is streak free. The colour comes out natural, very similar to my sun-exposed areas. It has a pleasant smell. I luff.

2. Coconuts and other nuts, in my breakfast smoothie.

I have been adding dessicated coconut and almonds to my breakfast smoothie of a morning, a little handful of each. I whizz them up in the thermie as fine as I can get them.
My skin looks better than it has in a while.

Coconuts contain Lauric Acid, a medium chain fatty acid. It has the following very useful properties

• may increase HDL (good cholesterol)
• in-vitro: a good treatment of acne (no studies done, but seems to work pour moi)
• possibly appetite suppressant, and in larger quantities, ketogenic (mild ketosis causes appetite suppression too)

Don't you already feel better?

3. My breakfast smoothie...

3/4 banana (I peel and cut up bananas, and freeze them, which makes lovely smoothies)
small handful of each of almond and coconut
4 strawberries or you can use blueberries or mango. All delish
1 and 1/2 tbs plain yoghurt
1/2 tsp honey
water - about 80 mls.

Whizz your almond and coconut to a fine powder. As fine as you can get it.
Add all other ingredients and whizz. Pour into a very lucky glass. Enjoy. I look forward to this every morning.

4. Dogs. Particularly those that turn their head to side in a charming manner, like this.

I met a dog outside a cafe. It did this little head turny thing. I offered my hand for a sniff. The dog allowed me to pat her. When I walked away she licked my hand, as if to say "I did not say you could stop patting me yet".

The dog was a bitzer - the owner said collie cross lab, probably with a bit of kelpie in there. She had the most beautiful eyes.

I luff dogs.

5. The fact that I am getting muscles in my arms. 

Thankyou to my Trainer, Jacqui.

6. My group training

I do training in a group. My trainer, Jacqui, knows her stuff. I don't say that lightly. She is tough but encouraging. She trains all the yummy mummies and some daddies in the area, in her little gym at the back of her house. Some of the mummies bring their kids along and they play with toys or on the trampoline. One little six year old daughter of one of the mummies sprayed our faces with water as it was a hot day. J should have her on the payroll. A married couple come along of a Saturday Morning, bringing both children. We all keep an eye out for them. It takes a community to raise a child. It is great to see that everyone is included. I enjoy having the kids around.

7. Trying new wine varieties that I haven't heard of.

Albarino, anyone?
Arneis? Mataro? Gavi? Fiano? Torrontes?


If I see something on a wine list that I've never tried before, I usually go for that. I ask the waiter what style it is, what it is similar to. And I drink. Mostly I enjoy them.

8. Pickled onions. Always and forever.


What qualities do you find sexy? Same sex? Opposite sex?
What things do you luff at the moment?