The odd one out.

*Bliss.
My coffee just arrived.
It's a "Sunday Latte" which means it double your regular size.
Excellent!
It's 5pm.
It's a Saturday afternoon.
And without my best friend nearby to call for backup at the last minute
I find myself at one of my local cafes enjoying the best company i could find at such short notice.. Me!
I was literally driving passed this cafe no more than 10 minutes ago.
Instead of going home to a cold bedroom that is in dire need of tidying i did a U-turn & am now sitting in warm, comfortable surrounds escaping the rainy day that has descended on my home town.
My earphones are plugged in & i am whisked to a million miles away.
I'm listening to... well, i wont tell you.
But it is something courageous that soothes the soul.
Aka something that wont interrupt my train of thought.
For some reason my creative writing juices are flowing today so i have decided to take full advantage of this.
To use & abuse!
As i look around at the tables nearby, i note small groups of people.
IPads are being turned this way & that as a group of women peruse some photos.
'Ooh, look at this photo!'
The kids near me are hardly making a noise as they are being entertained by their parents IPhones.
Yes, i am very grateful for this!
*I am interrupted by a text from a good friend who i haven't seen in a couple of weeks.
Stoked to be hearing from them i catch myself smiling from ear to ear.
And then it dawns on me that, to an observer, i just became 'That weird girl who's sitting alone smiling to herself.'
You know what? I don't care.
Smile!*
On the next table down from me is a guy surrounded by 3 women who all seem to be vying for his attention.
I wonder if he's just lucky or if they are desperado's...?!
Taking out my earphones i realise that he's asking them the quiz questions from today's newspaper.
Ooh, i know the answer!
Although i am very tempted to throw something at him to get his attention, tell him the answer & then melt back into my own little world, i restrain myself.
The married couple sitting next to me seem to be quaffing some red wine.
Or at least attempting to look like they are.
I am somewhat jealous of their choice in drink but i figure I would just look like a sad drunkard if i had my own bottle of red... coffee is a safe choice!
Maybe next time I'm here I'll ask them to spike my coffee.. add a little Baileys to it!
There's a mother & daughter sitting close by.
The mum is drawing a picture of some sort~ i wish i could see it.
And then we have me.
The odd one out.
The only person in the cafe who is here alone.
Writing a rough draft of this blog entry into my little notebook.
Yes, it's old school to actually put literal pen to literal paper, i know, but old school is apparently 'cool' these days & well.. i don't want to be left out of the cool club now do i?
Latte is finished so i guess it's time to venture out into the cold.
See you soon loves.
xoxThe middle aged couple next to me are quaffing some red wine.

SYDNEY Vs 2x MELBOURNIAN WOMEN

What can 2 young, single women get up to with 5 nights in Sydney?
A lot. You would think.

Here are some short stories:

*After arriving in Sydney & turning on my phone, i noticed a friend had suggested cocktails.

I was off to a good start & i hadn't even collected my bags yet!

We went to Shady Pines Saloon~ it was cool.

Recommended is the Buffalo Trace bourbon, straight & shot, it will not disappoint. I promise. 

Follow it up with some Mexican & you've

had a brilliant night!*

~Upon leaving the Saloon, your friend informs you of a big celebratory night they recently had here & how they woke up with a mysterious permanent marker in their pocket the following morning. Random. But then a couple days later, you are reflecting on this conversation & realise that on this particular celebratory night, your friend sent you this picture:

'Get back in line' ...i can't help but wonder if this in fact was my friends handy work~

*I had very inconspicuously hidden a spare set of keys for my Smash friend, who was yet to arrive, under a sign post in the middle of the road outside our apartment. It was genius. Who would look in the shrubs for keys? Here is the link to our place, its fantastic: http://www.stayz.com.au/17128 ~this is our actual apartment. Totally gorgeous & i want to show it off to you!*

*If you check out that link, you'll notice there are windows in the bathroom.. all I've got to say is, it's a little bit awkward when you shower with the windows wide open to let out the steam & while you are conditioning your hair, you look out across the way & you spot a family sitting down to dinner. You think 'hmm, if i can see them this easily... there's probably a 100% chance they can see me & I don't want to put them off their dinner.' Windows closed.*

*We hit up a 3 day convention while we were in town which was very pleasant. On day 1, we got told we were 'Striking' & that we 'Stood out from the crowd because we looked different to everyone else.' As for the style in general, it wasn't exactly out of this world but to be honest, i would have to say people do know how to put an outfit together & look suave. Whether its a red leather tie or a pair of baby blue pants teamed with navy jacket,

it was nicely put together.*

*Then there were drinks at the Novotel. Being surrounded by the beautiful people & not knowing many there, definitely makes one feel insanely shy! Yes. That would be me I'm referring to. (As in, the shy one.. not the beautiful one) So instead of being all up in someone's grill, i chilled in the background sipping frangelico & lime while observing.*

*The Food: Mexican, Italian, Japanese. Win.

There is an amazing Japanese restaurant down the road from our place. In true Japanese style when you walk in, you are greeted with 'Irashimase!' (Welcome) & if you have ever been to Japan, you would know that when you walk into a shop, you are always greeted with that.

We found a nice Italian place called Love Supreme. And boy did we love it!

http://lovesupreme.com.au/

Get the YABASTA or ORECCHIETTE.*
~Although we didn't get it, apparently the Leone is also good~

*We ventured out into the glorious sunshine cruising around the city & Hyde Park. To our surprise, we got tan lines! We also hit up a pier right near the Opera House & Sydney Harbour Bridge. We soaked up the sunshine & were interrupted by an American guy asking us to take photos of himself holding up signs with mushy messages of love on them for his girlfriend! It was adorable! I wanted in on the cuteness so i jumped in a photo with him & made a love heart with my hands :) He then went on to tell us his name was Steadman & he was in a band who are playing a gig at Hisense Arena in Melbourne this weekend & he would get us free tickets.*

*Hitting up one of our favourite little spots- Gusto's at Fiveways- for breakfast/ brunch catch ups with a mate from Melbourne was lovely. It had been a long time between lattes.*

*How could i forget! The Lowenbrau. German Pub. German Beer. 2x Melbournian~European descendant women. Yes. It was as tasty as i rememebered. http://www.lowenbrau.com.au/

Sitting there minding our own business, a group of guys walked in. I took this poor quality, sneaky photo.. who needs pants? Seriously.*

*I think thats about it for now.

Thanks Sydney.

xox

THE DEVIL aka CANCER.

On a serious note.

Who hasn't been affected by someone who has had cancer?

I doubt any of you would be able to say 'Not I' to

the above question.

And if you can 100% honestly say that, you are one of the

luckiest people alive.

It almost feels like I've been around it my whole life.

Physically I haven't experienced it but personally I have.

A few too many times.

Actually you know what, I've been surrounded by death

my entire life.

Friends. Family. Loved ones.

~As I'm sure you can all relate to~

No one can escape it & no one can hide from it.

Recently i learned that someone who is very dear to me has just found out their mum has breast cancer.

I was choking back tears when i found out.

In that very moment, nothing else in my little

insignificant life mattered.

Nothing.

Not the stresses of work.

Not wondering if that cutie with the amazing smile actually

might like me.

Not a thing.

As I write the rough draft of this blog in my notebook (yes, I actually hand write it in a notebook first & edit it. Old school styles) I am currently sitting in a random cafe thinking & reminiscing about life & the people I've loved & lost.

Whether it's been because of cancer or another unforeseeable circumstance taking someone away too young.

MP3 player plugged into my ears drowning out the

world around me...

...Andrea Bocelli 'The Prayer' comes on.

Bloody hell.

The one song that makes me cry. Always.

*instant tears*

This is too much. I have to go.

Tell those who you love that you do.

To my darling girl friend.

Hang in there my love.

Infinity hugs, kisses & love.

You are not alone.

XOX

ps- I Love You.

Using a fake name when ordering coffee :)

Why?

Is it for the mystery, the excitement that we told a white lie to a total stranger & the fact that they will never know the truth,
will we get caught?

I know for a fact that I am not the only person who does this
when getting a coffee.
A few of my friends also have alias names.

Alias names are so James Bond, so Ethan Hunt & so hot right now!

I guess part of the reason I do it is because quite often people don't understand me.. I'm not talking a different language & I'm pretty sure I'm not talking jibberish..  
(no, sorry, I'm not going to tell you my real name, the majority of you will know me anyway)
What i will tell you is that my name has often been mistaken for Carol & even Nicole.

I took it upon myself to take away the awkwardness of having to correct people & spell out my name each time i order coffee.

It's just easier.

This got me thinking.

Why are we so scared about letting people know
who we really are?

Is it a subconscious protection for ourselves so we don't give people the opportunity to hurt us?

I, for example, am very guarded.

It takes a hell of a lot for me to let someone in.
A close friend put it best when she said about me:
"You are easy to get along with but hard to get to know."
Yeah. Can't really add anything to that.
She hit the nail on the head.

This quote is up there on my list of favourites:

"People who are guarded are afraid that you can see right through them. That's why they hide behind layers."

True.

Who really knows you?

Well, going out on a whim, I'd say there would only be a handful of people who really truly know you.

Inside & out.
Hold onto these people because those who mind, don't matter & those who matter don't mind.
Getting back to names..
..as per this picture recently sent to me by a friend, maybe I'll change my name to this:

...although, that might confuse people more.

'Copenhagen? Like the capital of Denmark?'

'Yes.'

XOX

ps- Speaking of Copenhagen, i hear it is amazing & i would love to go there!

Will you take me?

Please?

A Few Short Stories About Sydney.

*We supported our friend by doing the chicken dance @ the Lowenbrau' German pub at The Rocks. Yes we looked like twits, but who cares. We had a blast.

I reccomend the Mango Beer or just the original.

*While helping a friend make some snacks after he so nicely opened up his house to about 10 people who wanted to hang out, i burned my finger on his oven. We were making toast. Sounds lame yeah? Well, he burnt his toast in an actual toaster. *

*We hit up this little corner cafe at Fiveways called Gusto for some delicious eggs benedict & coffee to warm our souls.
*Shopping on Oxford St with the girls was only made complete when a darling girl in our lil' crew purchased bright orange suede shoes. AMAZING.
*Driving from Woolloomoolloo -> Manly ->Woolloomooloo -> Manly -> Woolloomooloo.. stopping at a 24hr cafe both ways. All in the one night.
*Wearing my hair in a bun all day and standing on the corner of George St & Curtin Pl, i undid it & was flicking my
hair around wildly.
-I confess, it did look like a birds nest-
But nothing could prepare me for what happened next. My friend turned to me & asked
'Is that a wig?'
Dead pan. Dead serious.
I didn't know if i should laugh or cry!
Thanx mate.
*Rocking out in the car at traffic lights with 3 friends to 'Give me everything tonight.' and screaming it at the top of our lungs, HILARIOUS!
The end.
XOX
ps- How could i forget!
The 1st night at our hostel they ran out of blankets. Sweet. I had to sleep under 2 towels & 1 big scarfe. I was actually rather toasty- not sure how, but i was! Crazy.