Ye of little faith...

So the last month has found my heart racing, my nights sleepless, all over relentless thoughts about a very large package. But not that kind of package. A package that involves excitement, enjoyment, and hours of undressing. Once again, not that kind of package. 

15kg of clothes, shoes, hats, headbands, scarves, and even the obligatory Polaroid camera has for the last three months been floating somewhere around the Atlantic since it's departure in a sellotaped laundry bag from Melbourne in January. And since I accidentally lost (threw out) it's tracking receipt I have been haunted by images of extremely well- dressed Pirates in hand-made floral headbands and sparkly hot-pants. If they resemble Jack Sparrow I could have maybe forgiven them for their assumed thievery, but unfortunately I think Johnny Depp is rather an unfair benchmark for the modern day sea-men (jeez the innuendos are just coming in this post...) (Oh touché. Again!) 

I need to apologize to Australian Post who I wake up most mornings cursing, and the lady on the phone at the Liverpool Post Office who I relentlessly wailed too. I have not been so happy since I found out I didn't fail my degree, and that Wispa bars were being remade. 

After all - 'one thing lost, another found' - Maybe this is karma's way of totaling out the entire make-up bag I drunkenly lost on the tube last week. (To wake up and discover this catastrophe when I had to go in for the first time to a production company I desperately wanted to impress. Ladies a tip : buying whatever products your local Sainsbury's stocks at 7.30am in the morning before running onto the tube does not impress). Some might say that was just me being hopelessly (and drunkenly) idiotic, but I'd like to think it was meant to happen in order for me to get my clothes. 
As after all how could I get by without these :

oh and these:

oh and let's not forget this sparkly dress and bag that were oh so nearly goners...

 

Obviously the weather will have to perk up before these little numbers can get cracked out. I would like to say we can expect that soon, but seen as we're into April and we've been battling snowstorms today I'm just going to hold back on any predictions on that front.

Wardrobe, come to mama. 

Emily x

'BITCH IM FROM THE SW12' : A load of air from the Big Smoke

So as per life has taken over, and my blog has suffered terribly as a result. Sorry blog. But it's the Easter weekend, I have a few days to myself (albeit to nurse hangovers) so what better way to make myself feel better then to write about my life?

So I moved down to London mid-January amidst the snow. And here I am end of March still amidst the snow. As yes, England has not warmed up, and this elusive spring is still looking very elusive. I don't need to hear about how "it was 25 degrees this time last year", all I am very aware of (whilst I place layer over layer to leave the house) is how it most certainly is not right now. The only part of my body which is cheering this freezing weather is my lungs. I have cut back ridiculous amounts on cigarettes as when weighing up whether to turn into a block of ice for a hit of smoke, I choose not.

Since moving to London I've moved house, moved jobs, and lost numerous valuable items. I've fallen asleep on tubes, fallen down tube stairs, made some amazing new friends and caught up with amazing old friends. I've learnt to never trust my navigation skills (ending up in Guildford instead of Picadilly Circus can do that to you), but to always walk with purpose: even if your getting on the tube going north when you should be going south. (It just makes you feel more clued up). (Even though your obviously not). I've had a huge shock at the price of things here in regards to my meager wage, and whilst trying to live the high-life have been surviving off free Nutella sandwiches at work. Everyday. For about 6 weeks. I've been drunk in more bars then I can remember names, yet still haven't scratched the surface of London's nightlife.

All in all I LOVE IT. I love it! I can't express the natural high I still get when I get out at Piccadilly station each morning to be surrounded by grand buildings, theaters, statue's and London's iconic red buses. Maybe its because I was away for so long, but I cant help but feel proudly British for our wonderful, vibrant, buzzing capital. I love the accents, the cheek, the banter and I have wholeheartedly fallen for this city and been swallowed up by it. My itchy feet are itching a lot less now I'm living in the Big Smoke.

I'm living South of the river in the most beautiful house in Balham. Resigning myself to the fact that I would probably be searching for a place to live for weeks, view numerous pokey rat infested flats, and end up living with a strange old Latvian man in a damp room, luckily my experience could not have been more different. I put up an ad, had a response, went to view the house and BANG love at first sight. With the house and housemate. Trying not to be too rash (I'm always far too rash) I thought I can't get the first house I viewed, but left the property with myself and Lisa (my housemate) gushing "I shouldn't say this but I really want to live with you". So after working out ze old finances I did. No rats or strange old foreign men in sight, my new house comprises of myself and three other lovely creatives. Working in PR, Fashion and Film we all just clicked. We also all like dancing. A lot.

 Job-wise I moved from my original role at SpliceTV to Rushes Post-Production house. Whilst getting on thoroughly well with everyone at both Splice and Rushes, I have had to come to the conclusion that Post just isn't for me. I much prefer being part of the initial creation and organization of a project, rather then the tweaking of the end result. Being a hater of someone that sits and moans about a situation rather then changing it, I have decided to shortly leave the world of Post and go freelance. I've met some lovely people in Production down here so it should all work out. Hell I've been living off Nutella sandwiches for the last month, so living like this for a bit longer can't hurt too much.

And that's that. The shortest summary I could make of my last two months down here. I don't intend to leave it two months till the next post, and I don't intend to write quite so much in the next post. More pictures, less writing. On some frivolous fanciable subject hopefully. (Or as my mother would describe : "the internet thing you do with bad grammar where you post pictures like no-body ever had the idea to turn a pair of jeans into shorts before?").

Happy Easter everyone!

Emily x

Unpacking and packing : the big smoke

So I'm home. On English ground. Or snow to be precise.

Not quite have I managed to get over my jet-lag nor sort out niggly bank stuff then I'm off. Not that I'm complaining of course...I'm absolutely over the moon to have a job in this current climate - let alone in London, and let alone in the area which I want to work in. I was getting ready to settle into months of sending cv's, signing onto the dole and re-runs of Coronation Street...yet a week on and no sooner then my suitcase has touched the cupboard then it's out again.

The Big Smoke calls and a job at Splice TV in Shoreditch. A great company, and one that I'm very excited to be a part of! (And no friends I can't introduce you to Jamie Oliver sorry!)

I'm staying with my '2nd parents' (my lovely godmother and husband) until I find myself a place. It's like the childhood I never had- home baked bread every morning, home made jam, home-made cakes for my lunch (which they insist on making)...and a cat. Lucky me!

It was always going to be tough to acclimatise, lets face it; basking in 30 degree heat for months to come home to minus temperatures would prove shocking to anyone. But I've been dealing with it the best I can - hot-boxing myself in my room with two fan heaters diagonally pointing. It's quite ingenious and if I close my eyes I can almost pretend I'm back on St Kilda beach. Although there is the constant threat of my mother coming in, walking into a wall of heat and screaming about the electricity bill. (Which has happened several times).

I'm so excited about the upcoming times in London Town, and being reunited with friends whom I have dearly missed down there.

London is calling... And I can't wait!

Emily x
 

Goodbye...

So once more I've packed my bags and am headed off. But this time back home! To carpeted floors, proper towels, central heating and good mayonnaise. I've sun baked my arse off for the last few weeks so my fellow Brits can gaze in envy at the errrm few tanned body parts that may be on show in the current freezing weather back home. And that would be hands and face. But wait, hands will be covered with gloves. So basically just my face. May as well have just bought a good bronzer then and saved myself hours of sweating it out. Hmmm bollocks didn't really think this 'tan in January' plan through. And now I have I'm on the bus to the airport and its a little too late!

My plan was to be home for a few months, then head off to Canada to work for the year. But alas when I tried to apply for the visa a few days ago I realized that I have been out the country for more than 18months in the last three years - something which is not kosher with Canadian visa requirements. In fact I've been out the country for just over 21 months without returning so that's now put a halt in future work abroad plans. Basically England I'm yours (for two years at least...or until the lure if sunnier climates kick back in). But I wouldn't have changed this length of time out of the UK for the world...

Dear Australia. I will miss your "how's it gairns" your dodgy tattoos, hot water coming out the cold tap, French onion dip, boardies  being a staple clothes item, the never ending goon sacks, and road signs featuring kangaroos. I will proudly use the word maccas, wear 'thongs' all through summer, BBQ any future meat and use sea salt instead of a hair brush.

This little list can only touch on the love I have for Australia, it's people and the hope, dreams, and fun I've had here. If it wasn't so far away I wouldn't be choking up right now, and if it wasn't so far away I would make plans to return. Australians are fiercely proud of their country and their culture, and oh boy do they have something to be proud of.

I'm now going to chase the dream in the big smoke (London), and I'm uber excited to relocate down there with all my friends!! As a young person London has to be one of the most exciting cities in the world to live and work in, and I can't wait to see what it has in store for me.

So for the final time on this side of the world I write this blog post. And I can only apologize for my hastily written ramblings...struggling with a large suitcase, 2 SLR's and a laptop whilst writing on my phone has never been a strong point.

Australia, g'night!

Emily x

I can't quite make my mind up, am I free or am I tied up?

This year has been a roller coaster of a ride. I've had some of the  best days of my life and I've also had some of the worst. 2012 came and left quicker than I would have wanted it too, but things only drag when your not enjoying it. So that sums up the year adequately; a lightning bolt of fun running straight through to December.

The world and it's possibilities excite me so much, and even more exciting is pushing those boundaries and finding out what you can do. To break from the mold of familiarity and to go out on your own and try and make some form if life for yourself is daunting, exhilarating, terrifying and exciting all in one. It can be extremely fulfilling at time to push the boundaries of your own possibilities and learn more about yourself each step of the way, and at times it can be extremely lonely, even when surrounded by people.

I've had moments of wanting to run home, and I've had moments of never wanting to return. The fantastic thing about the world now is how it is so accessible and it really is not hard to get places. People who use money and jobs as an excuse in my eyes are just scared, or don't really want to do it in the first place. Getting to the most remote corner of the world is no longer impossible. The only thing that blocks it is our own mind. You have to run jump and dive out there into the world and explore its possibilities and people, and through that you can get to know yourself. I'm slowly starting to.

I spend another Christmas and New Year away from home, and the people I love back there. I am however fortunate enough to be on the other side of the world with people who I love dearly here! My Christmas has been spent in Melbourne with my sister and friends roasting some prawns on the barbie. New Year will be brought in on the coast at Falls Festival in Lorne where I will be working for a week. I will raise a glass (or several) to all of you back home and hope you have a fantastic Christmas period!!

After a year and 6 months away from England Australia and New Zealand have treated me better than I could have ever wanted, and Australia in particular is very close to my heart. However I feel the time is right for this adventure to take me back home for a while before heading off to work in another corner of the world. So I plan to book my flight back for January.

To everyone I have met this last year thank you for enriching my life that little bit more, and I dearly hope I managed to do the same for you. And to everyone back in Blighty, SEE YOU IN THE NEW YEAR!!!!!

Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Emily x

A crafty morning...

 

Inspired by Lana Del Rays flower crowns of the moment, and further urged on by my lack of pennies I decided to forgo the $70 shop price tags and make my own. Thanks to a $2 shop flowers, some wire and a glue gun I spent a just over an hour making my own much cheaper version. I am actually uber impressed with how good it looks and urge everyone to make their own personalized version! Here is how I did it...

 

1) Cut off some wire and make it fit the shape of your head

2) Wind extra wire around it so flower stems can slot in easier

3) Cut the flowers off the stems and slot through the wire - fix in place with hot glue.

And voila! A crown of flowers!

Emily x

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