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A Hairy Dating Situation

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So, I went on a date last night. First time in a while! I had a feeling it was going to be an awkward one when I rocked up at the bar he’d picked, only to find that there were no craft beers on tap. Now, I get that this sounds really snobby on my part. But you have to understand that he’d billed himself on the dating app as a lover of craft beer. Disappointing!

The next weird thing was his making a pointed remark about my hairy legs, which evidently weren’t his cup of tea. I’d probably be able to disregard this if it wasn’t for the fact that the guy himself was sporting a remarkably furry neck. If either one of us ought to be engaging in hair removal, it’s clearly him.

I wasn’t about to suggest that he look into laser hair removal; in Melbourne, though, this is not that uncommon for men, and I think I would have been within my rights to suggest it after what he said about me. Personally, I’ve tried it all, from waxing treatments to electrolysis, and it can be fun from time to time. I don’t have anything against it. I just think that if a guy is going to expect me to get into all that, he should be up for it himself.

Well, maybe he noticed my expression, because he hurriedly went on to mention that he’d looked into getting some kind of high-tech anti aging treatment. Melbourne being the fashion-forward place that it is, there are various treatments that he could have been referring to, and I won’t deny that I’ve considered some of them myself. The guy confided this, though, like it was something really remarkable on account of his being a man.

Maybe I’ll call him and ask him out for an oxygen facial or something – see how he fares when it comes to actually going through with cosmetic treatment of this nature. Then he can buy me a pint of craft IPA.

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Getting in Touch With Our Inner Children

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Every time I take my kids to one of their birthday parties, I have the same thought.

And that thought is…why is this stuff not available for adults? It’s great that you can find all kids party venue places in Melbourne and they’re plentiful enough that you don’t have to travel an hour or more to get there. That’s decent. Not quite like when I was younger. That’s great, and all the stuff that comes with them is great. The equipment is fun, it’s safe, I like how there’s a cafe (that part is mean for the adults, I suppose) and they even do parties with catering and everything.

But…remind me why it’s just a ‘child’ thing? At what age does the part of your brain hat loves sliding down a slide just close itself off? I’m approaching forty, and I’ve been down slides recently. It was great fun. Which morose, dour person made the decree that climbing frames, imaginary wooden pirate ships and ball pits were just for kids? Ball pits are great fun. You can sit in them however you like, so it’s great for people with back problems. You can play catch with the balls. It’s great fun, and yet as soon as an adult gets in a ballpit it’s battle stations. Don’t get it.

Of course, kids party venues and indoor play centres should be for kids, absolutely. I just think that we ALSO need ones for adults that offer basically the same stuff. If we can tear down some of the ageist stigma, I reckon they’d go down a treat in a supressed and bored population. And even loads of people who didn’t KNOW they wanted to slide down slides and climb on climbing frames- because they’re been conditioned to believe that they’re supposed grow out of stuff. Well…I want to upend that.

We’ll see if that ever happens. Maybe some of the indoor play centres in the Campbelltown area are hiring a safety inspector. So I could…’try it all out’ in the name of making it safer for everyone.

-Mark

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Hassle-Free Holidaying

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I am dreaming of a seaside holiday right about now. Now that we’ve closed the deal on the sale of the brewery, I think I’ve more than earned the right to chill out by the ocean for a few days! The problem is that there are always new tasks demanding my attention, and I just can’t seem to put aside more than a couple of days in a row for relaxing. I know it’s probably not that healthy, but what can you do?

You jump online and salivate over beach side holiday apartments in Lorne, that’s what. The cool thing about Lorne is that it’s so close to Melbourne – in other words, no airport pressure or insane packing operations. Seriously, holidays can sometimes be more hassle than they’re worth, with the stress of travelling totally unravelling the desired effect. Don’t get me wrong; I love exploring further afield. But for a recharge and restock with minimal planning, the Great Ocean Road is my old faithful holiday destination in Victoria.

I can feel it now – that salty Antarctic air, and the expanse of turquoise as far as the eye can see. Not to mention the sauna, the day spa and the rooftop cocktails. But I can’t be doing this kind of daydreaming right now. I’m supposed to be organising a function venue for the big event that my managing director wants to hold to mark the handover of the business. She says it has to be in one of the best conference centres in Victoria. Other than that, she’s leaving it all up to me, including the size of the budget.

Hang on… maybe there’s a venue in Lorne that could host the event! That way, at least I’d be able to dream about taking a holiday while I’m working. It’s not the same as going on a holiday, but it might be the next best thing.

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Window repairs before the wedding

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There is often the question that comes up around the time of any major event, particularly one as lavish and potentially time-and-money-consuming as a wedding. These question tend to revolve around re-allocating those funds, and how best to navigate the rest of your life while you are still trying to prepare for and go to you wedding. This can be tricky to answer, and at the end of the day, it has to come down to you and your partner’s personal preferences and choices.

One such example is one involving home windows, and the need for them to be replaced or repaired. This might not seem like the most pressing issue, but I assure you it can be. Your home, the epicentre of all of your planning as well as your living, is the most important possession you have. Keeping it secure safe and comfortable should be a high priority, no matter what else is going on in your life. You should find out all you can from Melbourne’s window repair specialists so that you’re not out of your depth when it comes to specifics.

Many of us are ignorant when it comes to specialist home renovations like window replacements, and so don’t have a strong idea as to the details of the commitment, as well as any time or money constraints. That’s where talking to a professional can really give you and your partner the edge. you can both find out more relevant information about window repair,s as well as get a better idea from your local expert, about the important things to keep in mind when making potentially wedding-altering decisions.

Either way though be sure that your home gets the best windows it can, as fast as it can, to ensure that your home not only looks good for the wedding, but lasts a long time, safely and securely. Call up a Melbourne based aluminium window specialist for more information, to get a quote, or to book an appointment.

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Boxing Day Test Blues

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Cricket: I’ve never understood it. Which is to say, I’ve never understood the massive appeal it seems to have for so many people in this country. It’s just so slow. From what I’m told, though, that’s part of the attraction when it comes to the Boxing Day Test – this feature of the sport enables the viewer to spread their attention across making sure the snags don’t burn, popping down to the shops to grab more limes for the drinks, and doing absolutely nothing, alongside keeping one eye on the match.

I suppose that, when it comes down to it, I do understand this after all; it’s more that I don’t relate to it. Last year, I asked the cousins why they don’t play a game of cricket in the backyard instead. One of them said that he’d be into it, except that he likes to play a bit harder than the traditional backyard cricket standard and it might end up being a problem for our neighbours’ windows. I told him I’d buy cricket nets as a shared Christmas present next year, provided that it got them all moving instead of crashing out in from the telly. This idea got some laughs.

Well, it’s next year now, and I haven’t got that cricket netting yet… maybe there’s still time. But are they actually going to use it? It seems unlikely, all things considered. Wait… I know! Instead of giving my family cricket nets, I’ll buy some for a local junior cricket team. Actually, I think the school that my niece goes to is in the process of setting up an indoor sports area; perhaps they could do with an indoor cricket net. Or maybe some more general boundary netting.

I’m not sure that I’m the person to make this purchase, now that I think about it. I’m all for kids playing sports, but don’t really have any idea about what’s required. Maybe I’ll just make a donation to the school’s sports department and leave it at that.

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My All-White Kitchen

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Ever since we purchased our new home, I’d always dreamed of ripping the kitchen out and starting fresh. We’d moved from the country and I wanted to make sure my kitchen was a far cry from the very rudimentary home we’d come from. I really wanted a slick city look. When it came to finding the perfect kitchen designs around Melbourne, there was a huge range of places I could go to for inspiration to imagine my dream kitchen.

I was so excited to get started, and it probably helped a lot that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I wanted a certain style. I wanted white, white everything, walls, floor and cupboards. I didn’t even want chrome taps or fittings, I had the image in my head and I knew from the day I first saw the kitchen, hours before we first bought our house, just how incredible the heart of our home would look if I got it just right.

I got the green light when our budget loosened up a little to allow for some renovations to take place. I spent days checking out different kitchen designers. Melbourne is a diamond mine if you’re after an artistic perspective!

Although I felt confident in saying exactly what I wanted, I didn’t know a single thing about the industry. I was so pleased when I found a place that was all about kitchen designs, Melbourne based and even better, they were incredibly transparent with the way they interacted with us.

I found a bunch of samples on line and had archived my most coveted kitchen designs.

The company was on our side from beginning to end, there was never a time when I felt overwhelmed or unheard. To the kitchen designers, the Melbourne look was easy to achieve. The team we used were absolutely brilliant and my new kitchen is everything I wanted it to be.

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My Knee Is Needling Me

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My knee has been driving me up the wall this week. I just tried to book an appointment with my physio for Friday, and was told that she wouldn’t be around that day. She’s off to do some training in dry needling in Christchurch, apparently. The receptionist said she’d be back next week, ready and able to administer treatment using her freshly minted skillset, if I was interested. I gave a reply of vague assent and made the booking for next week; I trust my physio to decide if this treatment is going to be of any benefit to me.

In actual fact, I didn’t have the foggiest idea as to what dry needling entails, aside from an image in my mind of a skin needling scenario administered in a fashion that’s slightly more sporty than spiritual. I decided that some research was in order if I’m to avoid unwittingly entering into something a bit heavier duty than I was picturing.

Well, it seems I wasn’t all that far off the mark. From what I understand from a cursory internet search, dry needling uses equipment that’s very similar to what’s used in other needling treatments. So, yes, it does involve sticking needles into the body. It’s a bit more conventionally Western in its aims though – it’s used primarily by manual therapists to treat acute and chronic orthopedic and musculoskeletal conditions.

It’s kind of cool that a therapist can disappear for a weekend and return with this technique in their toolbelt, ready to apply it to patients, as appears to be the case with dry needling training for clinicians. The receptionist mentioned that my physio was going to be doing a level 1 course, and that she was planning to complete level 2 early next year. I wonder if level 1 will give her the info she needs to dry needle my knee, seeing as (from what she’s told me) it seems to be a fairly complex situation down there in the leg-bending department.

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Surviving the Extension: Wallpaper at the end of the tunnel

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It’s been six months of us all sleeping in the same room together and while I’m almost ready to move into the roof, I’m amazed to say we survived.

Even though I have close to zero energy left for anything at the moment, I feel the spark of motivation flickering when I think about decorating the kids rooms. Especially when it comes to amazing and unique designer kids wallpaper. We’re letting them pick their own, which might not sound particularly cool yet, but trust me it is. There’s a company I found that take your images and ideas and hey presto! You get your own unique designer wallpaper. Melbourne never fails to inspire me creatively.

Jane is eleven and Mica is six. Though they look pretty much the same, they are certainly very different kids. When I was Jane’s age, I wanted nothing more than a little space away from my brother, who bulldozed everything in his path, and I can relate to her requests for something of her very own. Mica just wants dinosaurs.

What did they chose? Around eight weeks ago, we went on a holiday to northern Queensland, and Jane wanted a print out of the picture of all of us in a canoe on a white water rafting adventure. It’s a great shot, but really, do I give her the green light for having such a ridiculous image on her wall?

Flash forward to three weeks later, the extension complete and the rooms with their final touches looking fantastic. Mica’s dinosaur print paper was designed by my cousin Allard, who we commissioned to draw up a great design for the wallpaper. But Jane’s room is probably my favourite. I can’t help but smile every time I pass it by,  and when I see how much joy that image brings her as well, I’m so glad I gave her artistic license on her own decorations.  

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Leave the Sea-Salt, Get the Lavender!!

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I don’t care who knows any more: I LOVE Jack of All Trades. I love it! Luisa caught me in the supermarket yesterday reading TV Magazine (the only magazine that’s all about television, since 1876), and everything came out, even though I’ve been saying in book club for weeks that i think it’s silly trash. Well, it’s not. I’m invested in the characters now, I want to see them do well, and that makes me an empathetic person, so there. Of course, I also love it when they start bickering and stabbing each other in the back over failures, so…well…I’m only human.

And how could anyone NOT love the latest episode? They were tasked with looking for luxury accommodation in Lorne, which just happens to be MY specialty since getting a good deal for accommodation is like my personal superpower. Whether it’s flights, hotels, hostels, motels, motor-homes, caravans or camp-sites…I am the bargain sniffer.

Though that’s not to say that I compromise on quality. If I’m booking luxury accommodation, or some nice beach apartment, I’m not going to settle. So when the candidates are scrambling around Lorne, looking for pricey items to assemble a perfect hotel room, I was screeching at the TV without a hint of decorum, to my slight shame. Gave the neighbours a good fright, I tell you that much. But seriously, you’d think some of them had never been on holiday, the things they were buying. One team thought ugly vases and scented candles equalled ‘luxury’, while the other one was under the deluded impression that what people truly wanted in a beach apartment…was sea-salt spray. And they bought sixteen caskets of the stuff.

Trust me, friends. I’ve done beach apartment bookings. In Lorne, I know exactly what I want, and I would’ve nailed this task in an hour. Which happened last week, funnily enough…and the one before. Maybe I need to go on this show and win it with ease.

-Delilah

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The perfect place to turn 15

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Mum told Gray he could have his birthday anywhere he wanted this year, as long as he organised it himself. Gray is a fairly safe bet.  He’s quiet and not very outgoing. He’d much rather be with his mates out on a field before popping party poppers.

“You can start by researching kids birthday party venues. Melbourne places are busy this time of year so don’t put it off too long.”

Mum is super busy herself. She runs two businesses from home and flies in and out of the state a lot on business trips.  When it came to finding a great place to have a party in Melbourne, Mum would actually already know. She doesn’t leave a lot up to us, but when she drops a responsibility bomb on us, we’ve learned that she expects us to come back at her with a result.

Gray had to ring around and get quotes and work out everything he needed to do. Mum gave him a list, and on it was everything he’d need to find out to make sure they could walk in and walk out of the party without needing anything else.

I tried to talk to Mum about how much I thought it was a bit much, I reminded her about how Gray could hardly look anyone in the face without blushing.

Mum widened her eyes and gave me the shtick about doing the things we are frightened of the most.

‘We don’t go around problems. We go through them.”

Anyway, Gray sailed through his problem like nothing we expected. He bought mum back a print out of the quote he’d been given for a party for six of his friends at an ice-skating rink near one of Melbourne’s docks. Mum took one look at the quote, nodded and looked him right in the eye, folding the quote into her handbag.

‘Get started on your invitations,’ she said.

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