August Check In - September Goals

Level Four Lockdown: Day Twenty-Nine
Curfew. 8 p.m.
Mood: Middling. Trying to get some work done now the cat has gone down for a sleep.

So, another month has gone and it's time to get myself back on track and have a look at my goals.

I like these bite sized goals - they work well and you can mix things up a bit.

I'm amazed that I've kept this up for the year. I'm absolutely gobsmacked that I've managed tow write a post every day this year, even if I do write rubbish, it's a challenge and good practice.

So, how did I do in August - knowing I went in light:

Write three chapters of the novel.

This got done.

No chips.

I did okay with this. I had chips four times over the month - which is not bad. Twice with fish and chips - a birthday treat, Twice because I lapsed. But I'm okay with this.

Read four books

Read two. Would like to try better next month.

Try and have a good birthday.

I had a lovely birthday, thank you very much.

The exercise will be maintained too.

I've been exercising most days. I do two personal training sessions a week, a couple of walks, and I've integrated a stretch class, a foam roller class and a pilates class in my week. I feel good about this.

And for my September Goals:

Walk 100 kilometres over the month.

The weather is getting better and hopefully the Stage Four Lockdown will mean I can go on longer walks (Not just for the hour within a five kilometre radius of my home). I need to be out more. This should help.

Read fifty pages a day

I want to do this. I love reading and I'm watching too much crap television. 50 pages a day means I should get through 4-5 books this month.

Write three chapters of the novel

This one works well too. I have a looming deadline - 2000 polished words for the Faber Academy Anthology so I want this to happen.

Clean out the spare room

Another job that really needs to be done sooner rather than later. I've been picking at it, but it would be good to do a good job on it, put some stuff on Ebay and the like.

Take a black and white photo a day

Another good reason to get out of the house - and I enjoy playing photographer.

And get the mason's books done

I have a hard date on these - 9 September. The sooner I get these out the way the better.


That will do.

Today's song:

Live Journal

Level Four Lockdown: Day Twenty-Eight
Curfew. 8 p.m.
Mood: Got that Sunday in Lockdown kind of feeling

We're four weeks into this lockdown and it is starting to get the better for me made worse by some decent weather over the weekend. At least there is only two weeks left of this stage four lockdown. The transmission numbers are going down (from 700 a day a month ago to around 100 a day - in four weeks). But I'm over it.

Anyway, today's questions have been provided, as always, but Bev at Sunday Stealing. (Good questions this week)

1. Who is the hottest celebrity you can think of?

At present, it's a mix of Andrew Scott, Tom Ellis and Clive Owen. Always a sucker for an Englishman.

2. Do you ever get so nervous that you can't even think?

Not really - I tend to overthink things, then get nervous, not the othe way around.

3. Do you sing when there is no music?

All the time. Especially in the shower.

4.Who was the best political leader in history and why?

Controversial choice, but I have a soft spot for Julia Gillard, Australias first and only female Prime Minister. An amazing woman. Stood up the the patriarchy and establishment and she got things done.

John F Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln are favourites from the Americas. I like Tony Blair in his early years too. Nelson Mandela also has a place in my heart.

5 If you could dance with anyone in the world right now, who would it be and what song would you dance to?

I would like to dance with a special friend ot My Funny Valentine as long as they could put up with me crying on their shoulder.

6 Finish this sentence your own way. There are two types of people in the world...

Those who know there are more things to learn, and those who wear tinfoil hats.

7 What have you saved since elementary school?

Nothing. I think there are some old school photos hanging around somewhere, but that is about it.

8 Have you ever won an award?

I've won a couple of short story competitions. That is about it.

9. Do you feel more connected to the sun or the moon?

I've very lunar. My moods can be predicted by the moon phase. Love the moon.

10 Do flaws make people interesting to you?

Absolutely. Interesting people have flaws.

11 Who is your favorite historical figure?

William Shakespeare. I'm just a Shakespeare boffin. I'd love to be around that sort of creative genius.

12. White bread or wheat bread?

I'm in the anything other than white bread camp. White bread is only for barbeques, fairy bread and bread and butter pudding (if you don't have croissants or challah for the latter)




I like a good seedy bread, or sourdough. The more fibre the better.


13. Do you usually do things fast or right?

I try to do things right. My do it a number of times when you can do it right the first time. I'm not a fan of rework.

14. Are you or have you ever been in a band?

Only the school concert band when I was at school.

15. Here are 4 statements about me. Only one of them is true. Which one is it?

• In a former life I wanted to be a chartered accountant
• I own twenty red lipsticks
• I love the colour pink
• I think I'm English, but I'm not. 

The last fact is true. I feel I'm British on the inside.  (I have never wanted to be an accountant, I own 18 red lipsticks and I hate pink)

16. Would you wear a thong bathing suit in public?

Absolutely not. Too old for that crap.

17. Have you thought about death today?

Ah, yes, but as that is a main theme of my novel it's hard not to think about death - no my death, more death as a theme.

18. What is your favorite breakfast?

Eggs which somebody else has made me. If I can get it, a decent Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon is always the best .

I'm also looking forward to Cafe Delish's French Toast when we are out of lockdown and the cafes are open for sit down trade once again.

19. Are you the life of the party?

No. You can normally find me in the kitchen talking to the cat at parties.

20. If you hit an animal with your car would you get out to try and make sure it was okay?

Absolutely. Possibly with the exeption of snakes. Hate snakes. You apply the brakes as you run over snakes to make sure you break their backs. Hate snakes.

21. When do you get your most peaceful and satisfying sleep?

When there is somebody else in the bed - and I sleep better in winter.

22. What thought gets you out of bed in the morning?

Must feed the cat before he stomps me to death. I will give it to him that he normally waits until 7.30 to stop on me. He's a good boy.

23. What are you a member of?

The Freemasons (Le Droit Humain). The Invisible Middle Aged Women's club.  The Australian Society of Technical Communicators. That's about it.

24. Name one place you refuse to ever go.

Kuta Beach in Bali. I love going to Bali - I was hoping to be in Bali in November, but as we're not allowed to leave the country at the moment, that's not happening. Bali is great - but Kuta is normally full of the worst types of Australian tourist - boorish, loud, drunk. I'll keep going to Ubud and Seminyak if and when I get back there.

25. When (and if) people (or animals) go to heaven, do they become angels?

I don't think so. I think there are only a certain number of angels - but souls do live on.

Today's Song:

So tell me what you want

Level Four Lockdown: Day Twenty-Seven
Curfew. 8 p.m.
Mood: Too many desires, not enough freedom

So tell me what you want, what you really, really want... sang the Spice Girls some twenty something years ago.

I'm having a procrastination day today. I'm about to tackle a sex scene. I hate writing sex scenes. Leave this one out? No. This is a necessary one, which has to be written again. In an effort to get into my protagonist's head I've just showered and plastered my body with moisturiser - as she would do before her lover arrives. My hair is wet - I should blow dry it, as she would do - but I can't be bothered. I'm wearing pyjama bottoms and a light jumper. The cat is asleep on the bed. It's nearly sunset so the light is no longer in my eyes. Lucifer is on the telly - series one. I'd like to think that my protagonist, Faith,  and I would do for the same type of men. Rangy, brown-eyed Welshmen are high on my list - especially those with  the devil in their eye and a voice that would sound beautiful reciting Shakespeare or Dylan Thomas.

I will put on my Doc Martens soon - my main character wears Docs. That will put me in a Faith frame of mind. I just need a silk kimono with a dragon on the back and I'll be set.

Still, I hate writing sex scenes.

So I ask myself, what do I want, what do I really really want instead. I'm going to do my best Veruca Salt now and stamp my foot.

• I really really want to go and have a good feed of China Red / HuTong Dumpling Bar chilli wantons, with friends, preferably before going off to see a play. 
• I really, really want some human contact. 
• I really, really want to wash my car - but from what I can see, the car wash is not in operation at the moment - seen as an non-essential business. 
• I really, really want somebody to write this sex scene for me. 
• I really, really want to share a meal with somebody - quite desperate for this one. 
• I really, really want to get take out for dinner tonight - but I don't think I'm hungry enough to do that. 
• I really, really want to go for a swim. The pool has been closed since March - and today's sunshine warranted a swim. 
• I really, really want French Toast from Cafe Delish on Bambra Road - made from challah, washed  down with a mug of decaf almond latte made by Izzy.
• I really, really want to go to Adelaide for my mother's 80th birthday next month - very doubtful this will be able to happen (well not without a lot of paperwork and a 2 week hotel quarantine stay. 
• I really, really want to book a trip - to somewhere - anywhere. Oh to go to Ubud, Sydney, Buley Rock Holes / Twin Falls Gorge in the NT, Toledo Spain, Doi Suthep in Thailand.... oh shut up, Pandora.
• I really, really want to have my legs waxed. Nobody sees them, but it will make me feel better. 
• I really, really want the Mason's books to do themselves. I may finish these off while I'm procrastinating.)
• I really want to go see Blarney, Barney, the Units and the little cats. I miss them.

That will do. That's enough. I should be grateful I got an hour's walk around Studley Park this afternoon. It was wonderful. 

When it comes down to it, the infection numbers are coming down, the lockdown and masks are working and there is 16 days left of Stage Four Lockdown - fingers crossed. We seem to be getting on top of this blasted virus, thank goodness.

Still, it leaves one toey, grumpy and wanting a bit of normality.

Maybe it's time to order that pizza, pour myself a Negroni and get on with it. 

Crosses arms, stamps foot, sticks out bottom lip and gets on with it.

Today's Song:

Red Lipsticks

Level Four Lockdown: Day Twenty-Six
Curfew. 8 p.m.
Mood: Wanting the weekend


I did this with nail polish the other month. Now is the time to take stock of the lipsticks in my collection.

In the last five months I reckon I've worn lipstick three times. Lip balm is another matter, that gets applied a couple of times a day. But lipstick, haven't used it since lockdown started in March.

Red lipstick is my calling card. Before the pandemic, I felt naked without a slash of red on my lips. Now these little tubes of red feel a bit redundant.

So I've collected all of the red lipstick about the house, and I'm going to get a bit nostalgic about it. I will wear it all again - I jut don't think I'll be buying any more for a while.

So let's see what we have.

NARS Fire Down Below x 2 (One is nearly dead the other new)

This is my signature red lippy. A deep, matte warm brown-red. Goes with my skin, wears well, it stays on, not too goopy. Love this lipstick.




Clinique Icon Pop

A deep, creamy brick red. Bought in a whim and it's now a well loved work lipstick. The one is worn halfway down now. I love the square tube - it makes it easy to find in the handbag. Stays on well, nicely moisturising.



Marc Jacobs Miss Scarlet

Super long wearing, really moisturing and bloody expensive, this always draws comments when I wear it. A great lipstick for the evening, but I wear it all day on any given day. Goes on a treat. It comes in a really nifty magnetic tube.  One of the more expensive colours in my collection, it's also a real favourite.




Marc Jacobs Dashing

A brighter red than Miss Scarlet - not really me, but looks good with a deeper lip pencil. It's more a summer lipstick. Still nice to wear.



Marc Jacobs Bad Behaviour

More a brown than a red. As with all Marc Jacobs lipsticks, it's a joy to wear - just again, more of a Winter colour.



Shiseido Real Ruby

This was bought on the way to Hong Kong - the first trip, not the second trip (and I will always be grateful I got to see Hong Kong before the troubles started.) Anyway, the nice lady at the airport duty free counter talked me into this. It's a bit softer than I normally wear. It's also a bit goopy to wear. Good for job interviews or going out for lunch with conservative friends who think red lipstick is for bad girls and hookers.




MAC Viva Glam

The red lipstick that started it all. I've been wearing this for 15 years. It's a limited release that has to be bought when it comes out every couple of years.. The perfect matte deep red. Compared to the Marc Jacobs and Nars, it goes on a bit drier. Still a great base colour.




MAC Russian Red

The MAC red lipstick you buy when you can't get Viva Glam. More a blue red than my normal brown red. I temper this down by mixing it with a nude or brown base. Another good one for summer.



MAC Ruby Woo

Another iconic MAC lipstick, which is more a pure red than my normal red-browns. I don't think it looks good on me - others beg to differ. Goes on a bit tacky and dry for my liking - always needs gloss on top.




MAC D is for Danger

Another whim purchase - more a deep magenta than a red - and I feel a bit strange wearing something on the pink scale. One of the make up consultants convinced me to get this when I was stuck without a lipstick before a night out. Looks good with the lip pencil that was bought with this - but this has to go on lined lips to look any good one me.



Arbonne Flora

This was a gift from a friend, bought to replace the lipstick which was stolen with my handbag back in February. Not that I needed any more lipstick. It turned out to be a pinker red than I normally use. Good for putting under other reds. Good for visiting old aunts who think slappers wear red lipstick.



Chi Chi Viva la Diva in Corporate Red

For cheap lipstick this is the bomb. Pretty much the same colour as NARS Fire Down Below. Goes on well. Lasts well. Half the price. Often worn to work. Stays on well. I'm on my third tube of it - the other two got worn down to the base. Great stuff.



Chi Chi Viva la Diva in Rule Breaker

More a deep brown red. Told it looks really good when I wear it. Should use it more often. It's quite vampy.




Clinique Sugared Maple

This is technically in my desk drawer at work. It reminds me of my mother. That soft pinky brown that you wear to funerals, afternoon teas with your aunt and other conservative afternoon event. Too boring to wear often.




MAC Spice It Up

This is a discontinued colour. I know I've given this to my mother for her birthday on a few occasions (as my mother normally wears supermarket lipstick and I'm trying to educate her that good lipstick is good for you). A good wear anywhere shade. Still love it.




NARS Autumn Leaves

An orangy red. Wears fine, but it feels strange to wear it. I'm not really an orange person.
Not sure why we bought this.




Shanghai Suzy Miss Tenille

One of the few nude/pinks I own and wear. It's strange, I feel naked when I wear nude lipstick, it's just not right




Napoleon Perdis Lauren

The perfect nude lipstick. Easily applied. Bought at Sydney airport purely for the name.




And boy, do I feel a bit strange looking at all the lipstick I own.

I've also realised I really like the vampy, trampy slutty reds. Long may that last. I remember my mother telling me that nice girls don't wear red lipstick. But who says I'm nice?

Will I cull them? Will I stop buying them, when I really don't need them?

Never.

Today's Song: