Thursday, February 28, 2013

Next Adventures

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Not sure how true this is (hello Norwegian blog readers! Care to illuminate?) but what a nice idea!

What's the relevance here? Tomorrow I have four more hours of classes before I'm off on holidays (yet again, I know!) and this time I'm heading North. Far North.

I'm lucky enough to be aurora hunting in Iceland for five nights, and Norway for six.

I also get to see this lady in Paris before flying to Reykjavik the following day.



I feel like I'm so disorganised for this trip, but the truth is, the whole thing has been brewing in my mind for a long time. Since, in fact, 2005, where upon visiting Palais de la Découverte in Paris I learnt that the sun's magnetic activity follows an 11-year sunspot cycle, and that the solar wind would be strongest .... right around now. And that there will be a new moon on March 11th, on the day I head to Northern Norway. I promised myself back then as an idealistic 19 year old that I would somehow, someway manage to be in Europe at the end of 2012/beginning of 2013 and I would make a trip to the Arctic Circle possible.

And here we are.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

The Performance



I know I haven't been the most diligent in filling you in on what's been happening in my life lately (although I do have plans to recommence Wednesday Wrap-ups).

Tonight I take to the stage again for the first time since university (although I guess I did cameo in my school musical, Little Shop of Horrors last year!)

I used to perform plays in French whilst studying physics and language (great combo, huh?) and now that I'm over here in France I find myself performing a play in English!

To suit the chilly, dark days we've been having (it snowed today! Tiny flurries, but it counts!) the director picked a ghost story: The Red Room, by H G Wells. My character is an intrepid young woman (sound familiar?) who is dedicated to spending the night in an allegedly haunted room in an old castle.

I won't spoil the ending for you (you can find the text here) but I am really looking forward to the next two nights! It's only 30 minutes long, but I'm on stage the whole time. Phew!

Time to get ready!

Thursday, February 21, 2013

What's in my (bordel of a) bag

Can you believe I haven't shared what's lurking in my handbag since.... November 2009? (I'm guessing yes, you probably can believe that)

On with the show!

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My red Mary Poppins bag that I like to drape over my elbow or sling bandolier-style when riding a bike.


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We can do this!

Clockwise from top left:

  • Under 30s train travel card and tickets to & fro Paris
  • A whole bunch of cards - library, iTunes, Sephora
  • Red hand-knitted mittens (thanks Grandma!)
  • Headphones (I now have some neat panda ones too) for podcast listening
  • Various paper work, piles of postcards and stamps I'm yet to write an send, a black diary
  • No fewer than eight lip products and a compact mirror
  • Guide to vego restaurants in Paris (yay!) and another black diary
  • Hand cream, pocket tissues and a bottle of water
  • Pocket umbrella (somewhat broken)
  • Receipts, museum passes, coatcheck tickets
  • Whiteboard markers, black pen, pack of coloured liners
  • Phone in convenient wallet (also storing most important cards and cash)
  • Monster coin purse
  • School keys
  • Script (my play is being put on this weekend! Starting to feel nervous...)
  • Yet another black notebook (this one contains all my cultural notes and places to visit while travelling)
  • Paris map
  • Corkscrew (you wouldn't think this to be a handbag essential, but seriously, it is)
  • Various business cards and a perfume sample (Parisienne - YSL, mmm)

Goodness Gracious Sequinned One.

I'd like to think that taking these photos prompted a clear out... it never lasts.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Daily Outfit: Keep your Hat on

Looking through these (old) pictures makes me yearn for warmer days. Spring is on its way, friends!


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Friday, February 15, 2013

Daily Outfit: Worried?

I do have a tendency to look a little... startled in my outfit shots, don't I? Perhaps it was just too early and I was unhappy about being awake (the usual).


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Thursday, February 14, 2013

Wednesday Wrap-up

The clock has just ticked over to midnight as I'm writing this but I'm hoping you'll accept it anyway.

Long time, no Wrap-up, dudes! How've I been keeping myself busy? Have I been keeping myself busy? Hella yes.


Last weekend I spent in Nantes.




I turned into a bear, hung out with my pal Jules (Verne), drew a warhog, broke a bar cupboard, ate a tajine and bought many secondhand books and some perfume (excited to share with you!)


The weekend before I found myself in Paris.



Yes, we are sisters!


With my sister and brother-in-law, we dined at the brasserie where I used to work, wandered through the Latin Quarter, visited the Shoah Memorial, saw the Lido, brunched, museumed and crêped.


The weekend before that, I travelled eight hours along the coast to St. Raphaël (near Cannes).




I picknicked on the train, drank giant beers in the only bar in town, cooked a huge Australia Day feast, saw the sunset at the beach (brr!) and explored Roman ruins.


Oh Sequin Cat, with all this gallivanting you must have pretty quiet weeks, yes?
What a nice thought. But no. I told my mother that this was a quiet week, as I only had work, play rehearsal, book club, orchestra rehearsal, more play rehearsal, a dinner with teachers, brass band rehearsal and another play rehearsal. Um. Quiet indeed. But compared to life lately it is positively a whisper. Hence the lack of blogging action of late! I'm also chin-deep in trip planning (March holidays!) and pontificating about future direction, and where the second half of 2013 will take me.


See you next week (I hope). What have you been up to? Spill the beans!

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Daily Outfit: Warm temperatures.

Days that I'm wearing jeans = days that I'm really, really tired, and the weather's above 10˚.


Daily Outfit: Spots, stripes (and lace)

Not too cold here, I imagine...


Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Daily Outfit: Blazing

It's been a long time since I wore this jacket (mostly cos it's dry clean only. Sigh.)






This soirée I saw classical music.. for free! Love this city.

Daily Outfit: She's back

But not with new snaps! My camera has been rather temperamental lately; I fear it's on its last legs (can cameras have legs??)

At least this photo shows the spotty thing I have going on nicely (and the monochrome bedspread!)


Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Tick... tock... tick....

Goodness me! Thought I'd better stop in and say g'day/bonjour lest you all worry something had happened to me after almost a month's absence since my 4th anniversary post.

I'm fine. So much better than fine, in fact. January is a hard one in the Northern Hemisphere, with grey days encouraging the desire to hibernate. Despite my bear coat, I've been resisting this urge and going out all the freakin' time. And going away. And seeing friends. And involving myself in many artistic endeavours.


To summarise, I'm full of the inspiration again, and hoping to share some of the good times I've been experiencing lately with you. Will you join me on my journeys in 2013?