A Bit Of A Circus...

Well the bathroom is almost complete and I have lots of photos to show you but I can't find the photo cable to upload the images! Life's a bit like that at the moment - it's a bit of a circus here. Things are not where they should be. Books have gone missing as have shoes and vital paperwork but by next week things should be returning to a more manageable kind of domestic chaos. In the meantime I thought I'd up date you one what else I've been up to...

Marvelling at what the human body can do. You know how they say we only ever use about 10% of our brains? Well, after seeing the awe-inspiring Nederlands Dans Theater and Circus Olympia recently I'm convinced I'm only using .0001% of my physical capabilities!

Reading two great books about Australia in the 1930. The first one 'The Lost Mother: A Story of Art & Love' by Anne Summers is a memoir centred around a portrait her mother sat for as a child. The book explores the life of the artist who painted the work, Constance Stokes and the collector who held onto it for many years, a mysterious Russian emigre, Lydia Mortill.

If fiction is more your style and you're looking for some quirky local colour you might like 'A Few Right Thinking Men' by Sulari Gentill, the first in a planned series of mystery novels set in Sydney during the 1930s and starring gentlemen artist and amateur sleuth Rowland Sinclair. Very snappy dialogue and a colourful cast of characters. Sulari has a pretty nifty website over here.

Listening to Debussy. Many years ago I bought a CD called 'Debussy for Daydreaming'. I usually play music to the kids as they go to sleep and this CD is the current favourite.

Coverting this gorgeous glass Babushka drinking jug and glass.

Waiting patiently for the bathroom to be finished and the midnight treks to the outside portable bathroom to be over!

What have you been up to?

Seven Things...

Not me but I wish it was! Image by magic74 via Flickr.

Tracey at Quiet Paws has kindly tagged me with the Versatile Blogger Award - thanks so much Tracey! As part of the deal I'm to share seven things about myself and I'd like to tag Estelle, Katie and Rachele if they'd care to play along too.

Here goes...

1. I used to be a flamenco dance addict. Before I had children I used to train three times a week and did several masterclasses with international teachers. Words cannot express how much I miss it.

2. I've never been to the snow.

3. When I was little I really, really wanted to be a witch - pointy hat, black dress, cat and broom - the whole shebang.

4. I only eat eggs when they are mixed together (fritatta, scrambled, in cakes) never when they are separate (fried, poached, boiled).

5. I tend to make up words when I'm in full flight. I find that if I deliver them with enough gusto most people don't seem to mind.

6. I trained to be an archaeologist.

7. I'm always on the look out for signs and omens. I hadn't seen my flamenco teacher for 7 years and this week I ran into her twice (see No.1!)

So there you go, seven random facts about what makes me me. Hope you all had a lovely Easter...

Haunting melody...

Over the past few weeks I've been learning a wonderfully sinuous neo-classical dance to this beautiful piece of music by Lisa Gerrard. I just can't seem to get it out of my head...

Taking the Leap...

Originally uploaded to Flickr on July 1, 2009by Kat Gloor

Last week I went back to dance classes and my soul is singing (or should that be my soles?!). Last night we did 'grand jetes' across the floor to Pink's 'I'm Not Here For Your Entertainment' and as I flew through the air I noticed that I was smiling - not for any audience or mirror - but with the sheer pleasure that comes from launching yourself into space.

Dance has always been a big part of my life. There have only been a few times when I haven't danced. These have been key transitional periods in my life - secondary school to university, university to full-time work, motherhood. The first two breaks were for no more than one or two years but its now been six years since I last took a dance class. SIX YEARS! Why have I been denying myself this feeling for so long?

I've long been aware of the connection between dance and my own wellbeing. I just feel better when I'm dancing. As a person who lives most of their life in their head, dancing gives me a chance to re-align my 'thinking brain' and my 'body brain' - to walk on water without thinking 'Wow, I'm walking on water' and falling in. Obviously a six year break is going to leave things seriously out-of-whack so it's going to take more than a few weeks to get things back in balance but I plan on enjoying every minute of it.

Perhaps you should take the leap too?