The Colour H: 06.2011

30.6.11

orange, pink & blue

On Monday, for my first lunch break at the new building in town, I went for a walk and came across this mural in progress. It's by artist Penny Bovell, and it's off Murray St Mall, sort of at the William Street end.

I always wonder how they come up with the names for paints. I think "fish in a dish" could be one of the weirdest I've ever heard. In my mind it conjures a disgusting, slimy grey, but the top of the tin would suggest its really a nice, deep blue!

27.6.11

pink & blue

I popped into a large name bookstore in a shopping centre over the weekend. It was closing down, and there wasn't much left on the shelf, and everything was 60% off. I found these two cute Michi Girl books for $25 (for both, not each). I'm not sure what I think about all the bookshops closing down. I like bookshops, and I love books, but I guess when I think about it I don't buy a lot of new books. All my fiction books come from the library or loans from friends. I have loads and loads of old books from op shops.

I like giving books as presents, and getting them, picture books, nice books, pretty books. But a lot of the time the books in bookshops are damaged, or they don't have what you want. When you buy them online you can always find what you want, check out different prices, and its so exciting when they arrive, all shiny and new and not spoiled.

So, hmm, not sure either way. Sometimes businesses just become obsolete, and we can't get all sad about it. But sometimes it's a shame that there is one less thing the next generation won't get to experience. Hunting through the shelves, looking at the spines and covers, hearing that little crackle when the pages come apart for the first time, smelling the paper and inks, feeling the weight in your hand...

26.6.11

red

I think I am going to need a Red Shoes from Target Intervention when we move to the city. I think I need to pass delegated authority to one of my co-workers, and maybe wear a bracelet on my ankle like the sort that tells Lindsay Lohan's parole officer when she's been drinking. I bought these yesterday, to add to the already signigificant collection.

black & orange

After the packing was done, drinks were in order at the Brown Fox. I don't eat a lot of meat, so the menu here is not really my thing, but the staff are quite nice which always counts for points in my opinions of bars and restaurants. Is the pressed tin and chandeliers look getting a bit dated? I'm not sure. I kind of like it, but its together with the flocked black wallpaper its a little bit renovation-on-a-budget TV show for me. If I had a house that could pull off a chandelier I would definitely get one. I do like them. And I really like those light bulbs in a little metal cage. I'll have some of them.

red, orange, blue & green

Offices can be colourful places too! I love stationery. There was a lot of leftover random stuff around last week, and we were allowed to take home stuff that's not coming to the new building. I was in heaven. Rummaging, salvaging, collecting. The rest is going to schools and charities.

white & black

Well our old office is all packed up, and we are off to the city next week! It was a very chaotic last few days with stuff piling up everywhere, packing to be done, as well as regular work. Since I was describing how I was coping with the heights in this post, I had one last visit to the new building, which went well. It was my best visit yet. I am still nervous about it, but not stressed. I think that is a good place to be.

The other kind of huge thing that is happening next week, is that I am going part time. That means more time to take photos of buildings, instead of sitting in them. I deliberately chose next week to start this new phase, so I'd have something to look forward to as well as dread. And boy, am I looking forward to it.

Full time work has brought me loads of great things - experiences, friendships, and a steady income. But I feel like a chicken in a coop, when I've always been more free range. Next week means the start of a new phase I guess, re-introducing the aspects of being free range that I enjoyed, without quitting altogether. So I am very pleased.

22.6.11

misadventures with gingerbread

Well... I think its clear which elements of gingerbread house decoration were undertaken by me, and which were undertaken by amateurs, I mean, children. I also accept no responsibility for the significant structural issues the house has, which I believe originated in the assembly phase before I arrived to supervise works. Although working with a compromised structure and limited materials we persevered, only to have things take a Dali-esque turn for the worst when everything we stuck on slid off down the sides. Clearly, this house does not meet the standard necessary for accreditation under the National Gingerbread House Assembly and Decoration Scheme, although the associated elements (people, dogs, ghosts, dinosaurs) do merit some recognition for their amusement value.

grey & brown

Hello. Here's an update on the move to the new building/fear of heights scenario. When I last posted about it (here) it was just after I'd seen inside for the first time, and had just found out what I was "in for" so to speak, having looked at the building from the outside for ages. I've now been able to go there four times, with different results each time.

I've been really lucky to be able to go there before the official move. Its definitely helped a lot. If I had gone there for the first time with everyone else, basically with 100 people around me trying to find where their desks are, excitedly pointing out everything they can see out the windows, desperately trying to locate their morning coffee etc., not to mention packing boxes everywhere, equipment being installed and other random first day chaos - I think my brain may have had a minor meltdown and I would have gone running out the door after about 10 minutes. You would have found me crying in the sushi bar downstairs before I'd switched my computer on.

Instead, I've been able to spend a little time there over the last two weeks with only a handful of people around, to take my time looking about and finding things, and to leave when I've had enough. I won't say its been easy, in fact its been nerve wracking. I've come home exhausted each time, because the amount of concentration it takes to stay calm is huge. If you are an anxious person, you know what I mean. Don't think about heights don't think about heights don't think about heights, you're thinking about heights stop it, stop thinking about heights stop thinking about heights stop thinking about heights. About 20 minutes of that and I really need a lie down, but instead I have to go back to work. Added to a few sleepless nights here and there, its tiring!

But! Having said that, I am still feeling really positive about it. Seeing it as a challenge I can do, and a challenge that has so far gone to plan. The third time I went there I was very close to being quite ok with it all, which was a good sign. I have not run screaming out of there, I have not had any nightmares about it, and I am not obsessively worrying about it. I am still picturing a time (although I am not sure when it will be) when I can sit there calmly, for more than half an hour, without gripping the edge of the desk, and when I look back and wonder what all the fuss was about. Hopefully its soon!

20.6.11

judith

Continuing the bridal theme from this post yesterday but in a totally different style, here is Judith looking fantastic in her shiromaku, or Japanese wedding dress (because everyone has one of those in their dress up box, right?!). I love how the tree has really become part of the portrait in these photos, if you know what I mean. And I have to congratulate Judith on her fine tree standing/climbing skills, must be those acrobatic classes!