And I'm not saying that I have demands, just elaborate plans in far-off lands...

So a life update for y'all. This luggage situation is a joke. If I could count the amount of airports I have struggled by myself with 2 suitcases through over the past 6months, well it would at least be 5.  Right now the only thing tying me down is my hair bobble.

But what I mean to say with that is that I have moved once more. And I am currently writing this basking in Melbourne 35 degree heat. I know I wished for summer whilst I was in New Zealand but this is dare I say it, a bit too hot! Fried egg on pavement kind of weather. My rash decision to move to Melbourne was urged by some bad news that left me wanting to be around good friends and the calling of two short film projects. And the life I have at the moment means I can make the decision and be on the plane two days later. A freedom like this is something I treasure, and certainly something I will miss in future years. 

But I'm back in Oz, and I never have felt so happy to be somewhere - Melbourne in the summer has to be one of the best places in the world. If you have never been to Melbourne before, well your missing out. I'm currently debating a shotgun Aussie wedding, so much is my love for the city! (I'm not really...don't panic mum!) 

I will be in Melbourne for Christmas, and will be here until at least the end of January. And then February...who knows? I certainly don't. And right now I don't care. I'm enjoying life, and I will figure that one out in due course. Maybe in a blindfolded pin the tail on a map of the world kinda way. 

Attached are pictures of some of the last few days Melbourne shenanigans. 

Emily x

A long 'winded' post from Wellington...

Hello!

And here I am, packed up once more and moved with my two (yes now two) large suitcases of accumulative junk. Except for its not junk, its dearly loved clothing items, so dearly loved that I would rather break my back each time I move rather then part with any of them. My mass amount of clothes also meant that an internal flight would not take me so I ended up on the overnight bus from Auckland down to Wellington.

And this overnight bus happened to be after an overnight plane the night before from Melbourne back to Auckland. And this overnight plane happened to be after an all-nighter in Melbourne. And the all-nighter in Melbourne happened to be after a week of drinking with friends there. So all in all a rather tired and disheveled shell of my former self disembarked off the bus in Wellington. But in true style within 2 days I had found myself a place to live and a job. The flat is with two lovely girls, and stumbling distance from the citys bars and clubs, so all in all perfect! And the job, well... the jobs not permanent. At least thats what I keep reminding myself. Its an office job with the government, and as each day goes by I want to shoot yet another politician for changing some effin law that gives me more paperwork. But moneys money, and having it means I can still chase the real reason I came to Wellington...THE HOBBIT.

Now this ones a hard one to crack. And so far the shells not breaking. Every hairy man I see on the street I get a tiny bit excited thinking it could be Peter Jackson. And every short man I see I have to refrain from asking if they played a dwarf (and believe me there's no shortage of small men in this city!) So after an afternoon spent trying to flyer CV's to buildings in Peter Jackson's post-production empire and being told I was 'one in a thousand' by the woman behind the till in the gift shop I found myself on the bus home rather dejected with life. When the thought occurred to me...I can't get a job behind the camera, what about infront of it?

So I sent off a few emails and pictures to agents, stating I'd never done any acting before but was interested to get into it, and lo and behold one got back to me. She said she thought I could get work and advised 'when in Rome'...aka learn the Kiwi accent. Hate to say it but never going to happen. The Kiwi accent is a weird hybrid of Australian, Irish, English with 'bru' and 'ay' thrown in there a lot. I can barely distinguish it from any other accent, let alone speak it. A week down the track she emails me and has got me an audition. The casting director had seen my picture and wanted to audition me for the role of 'queen' in a Universal pictures remake of Jack and the Beanstalk. Directed by Bryan Singer (x-men, usual suspects) *gasp gasp breathe*.

That's all well and good but my acting career finished when I was about 14 at my local Arts Centre when the bald wig I had on to play a 'witch' in Roald Dahl's the witches flew off into the crowd. And I have never auditioned before, let alone learnt a script for an audition. Needless to say I'm 100% sure I have NOT scored the role...if not for the fact that I was so nervous I could not even smile for the camera without my top-lip quivering, the fact that the actress before and after me were both dressed like Princess Fiona from Shrek and there I was there on my lunch break in my office clothes. But it was an experience, and certainly rather flattering to even get considered. Now back to the day job....

Wellington is a beautiful city, so much character to it, and set around the harbor when its a lovely day you have gorgeous views. Notice I say 'when'. For Wellington is horrifically windy... and I mean horrifically...I'm actually debating buying an anti-aging face cream as this wind is getting beyond a joke. Saturday night for Halloween I decided to be a bat and strap two umbrellas to my back. What was going through my mind I do not know. I practically flew from bar to bar (and not in a good way).

But all in all a move made right I believe. I'm happy here, and really enjoying meeting new people and scratching the surface of what Wellingtons all about. I don't know why I once was ever scared to move somewhere on my own as it really is the most rewarding experience, and a way to grow as a person. Wellington, you've won my heart.

Emily x

Do you know where the wild things go?

Sparkly tights, high heels, and an opshop special. Chzeck out the Lookbook link here : http://lookbook.nu/look/4074098-Do-you-know-where-the-wild-things-go

Pictures taken in Melbourne by Robyn Stone on a Canon 600D with a 20mm fixed lens.

Back to Melbourne this weekend and I CANNOT WAIT!! (the capitals barely express my excitement) Parklife festival is my first stop and the glitter hairspray is already in the suitcase. And I plan to use it in its entirety. Damn were going hard!

To my beautiful Melbournites...three days and counting!!!

Emily x 

I said, her from the city, so her got to be witty...

 

I try with my fashion photography. And sometimes I try, get a gorgeous participant, and get it a little bit right. Or at least I like to think so. Here is a selection of some of my recent pappage!

Emily x

floppy hat you big dream you

 I love my floppy felt hat. The fact that half the time I cant see past it only further allows me to daydream that I am in the 70's. Until of course I smack into a very grumpy passerby and I am brought back into reality. Note to self though : Auckland's decidedly strong winds do not always make this the most practical item ...

Emily x

 

it was all red and green and blue and black and yellow and white and pink and gold

A whirlwind weekend back in Melbourne. Friday afternoon, Robyn Stone, winter sun, fizzy wine and a new 20mm fixed lens to try. Perfection. A week on, its raining in Auckland, i'm miles, no ... OCEANS away from my all my best friends and I want to step back into this afternoon so badly! 

Ive hooked up this on lookbook so y'all should take a browse. http://lookbook.nu/look/3966608-it-was-all-red-and-green-and-blue-and-black-and-yellow
 
Why cant every day be as good as this one?

(Photography by Robyn Stone : Canon 550D with a 20mm fixed lens)

Emily x

 

Sugar highs, Leaving lows...

Three weeks at The Golden Door Retreat in Queensland left me invigorated, healthier, more energetic, and positive. Whilst their my eyes were opened to natural ways and means to cure your body, holistic health, the benefits of vegetarianism, and alternative therapies. Whilst there I embraced the life change and tried several of the treatments on offer : flower reading, naturopathy, feldenkrais, hypnotism. I tried to cure my sugar addiction, found out about my intolerance to gluten, attempted to realign my posture, and sort out bad sleeping habits.

I left the Golden Door with a spring in my step clutching my two sugar-free muffins determined to make some changes to my lifestyle and diet. I arrived home to Melbourne to find a welcome home spread of pick and mix, chocolate, cheesecake and wine. Needless to say I couldn't get to sleep until 5am that night...my body was so high off the sugar it hadn't had over the last three weeks I just could not sleep! Not even a bottle of wine was enough to put me into a slumber.

 Old habits die hard and I spent my last day in Melbourne with the girls re-toxing my body with cider in the sun, then crying into an open suitcase as none of my things would fit. A fair chunk of outfits had to get left behind in various friends wardrobes, and when I toddled off to the airport there was little weight difference between myself and the 50kg of clothes I 'had' to take with me.

Australia has treated me better then I ever could have hoped, and its a country I will always hold dear to my heart. But as the fortune teller at the Golden Door said to me : Australia is just a pit stop for myself. So on to the next one : New Zealand awaits!

Emily x

"Good Neighbours become good friends"

Well my visa is almost out, and I've worked the 6 months I could at 'Neighbours' so sadly the time has come for me to say goodbye to Lou and the rest of the Ramsey Street residents! I have met some lovely people there, and I will miss rather a lot of them.

But all good things come to pass and it's time for me to move on to my next adventure. A health retreat! Many a 12 hour day at 'Neighbours' I dreamt of meditating and just having time to myself, so I decided to make this dream a reality. 'The Golden Door' in Queensland offers a work experience program, and I was lucky enough to be accepted on. In return for helping out 5 days a week for several hours with the guests I get free board, food and use of the facilities. A sneaky way to save the $3000 a week it is to stay here!

I'm currently embracing Tai Chi at sunrise, walks through the forest, meditation, yoga, delicious vegetarian food, swimming under the stars and the positive attitude that everybody seems to embody here. It also helps that Queensland is ten times sunnier and warmer then Melbourne! I'm here for the next three weeks but I'm quite tempted to extend my stay as I'm enjoying the stress-free, simple pace here. 

Now whats the bets I'll be running for the nearest MacDonalds in a few days? 

Emily x

nah nah my friends sweetcorn pattys are better than yours...Three Bags Full review.

Sunday morning/afternoon and brunch is on the menu at Three Bags Full in Abbotsford. We pull up and it looks popular...people lining the sidewalk for a seat. But we catch a glimpse of the food coming out and make the decision to wait on the street with the rest. And wait we do...

But finally we are seated, and after much deliberation myself and my sister decide to share the Beetroot cured salmon, with corn, pea and feta fritter, avocado, rocket and dill sour cream, and the Roasted pumpkin and sage fritters with grilled haloumi and a parsley, pinenut, Parmesan and pomegranate salad. We added eggs, as what is a breakfast without eggs?! and had a fresh juice of apple, pear and mint - (cannot recommend this enough!)

The food came out - literally a picture of perfection, an artists dream on a plate....yet unfortunately the taste did not quite live up to the delightful presentation. Both the corn, pea and feta fritter and the pumpkin and sage fritters needed a little extra zing, and were only helped out by their toppings, leaving me wishing I was eating my friends home cooked sweetcorn cakes instead. The long wait and huge crowds had just made my expectations rather too high, and unfortunately Three Bags Full did not quite deliver on the palate. 7/10.

Visit Three Bags Full at http://www.threebagsfullcafe.com.au  

                                                               Emily x