Travel Tuesday: Antiques in Tasmania

Antique shopping in Tasmania

If you are a lover of vintage clothing or secondhand suitcases, old school cameras and antique furniture, a trip to Tasmania for a stop of op-shopping should be on your list of things to do. Tasmania is home to many treasures stashed away in many a trove. Established and colonised by our European and British counter parts, Tasmania or Van Diemens Land as it was originally named, was settled by convicts and military guards sent to develop agriculture and other industries. They brought with them trinkets of the mother land, provincial furniture, knick-knacks and tea time. Trinkets of the past haunt the corners of antique stores and gift shops, ghosts of generations long ago sit still in decades-old portraits and photographs. While there are many places to visit, there are a few standout hideaways rich in culture and a novelty to see.

If you happen to be in Launceston, a trip to the Youngtown City Mission is a must see. Here you will find old cameras and tea cups, leather travel trunks that fold out into miniature wardrobes, doctors bags and suitcases, all in wonderful condition for their age. There are piles of old photographs, paintings and portraits sitting behind photo frames and beside newly built furniture. If gaming is your thing this op-shop also occasionally carries old Nintendo consoles and cartridges, game boys and Segas. If your planning on driving around Tassie, head to Devonport to visit Reliquaire, a gift shop and antique store. While the facade is made up of new accessories and imports, novelty fortune telling puppets and toys, if you venture further inside you will find a spectacular library of vintage books. Stroll through aisles of old toys and dolls, signposts and clothes. Everything from furs and Kate to glo-mesh and scarves, this is a little gem tucked away in Devonport. On your way, stop in at Sheffield, the town of murals, and visit The Emporium. It is essentially a giant warehouse and hoarders delight where you will find terribly old cameras, lenses, binoculars and telescopes, generally in working condition. You will come across Metallica records and record players, old leather goods and a few empty bullet casings, this place has it all with its country charm and claustrophobic interior, but do not shy away from it, for you may just find that perfect item that wins your heart and takes pride of place on the mantel.

If you plan to head south drip into Bizarre Bazaar on Elizabeth Street in Hobart, a wonderful store dedicated to sourcing vintage clothing such as leather jackets, tweed coats, cowboy boots and paisley shirts, the occasional scarf and belt ensemble can also be tucked away in the corner. If your looking for something a little more refined and higher on the dollar scale, walk up to Hello Gorgeous Vintage on Barack Street. While the owners hand pick each item dated between the forties and nineties, the service does leave a little to be desired, however if you want vintage in excellent condition this is the place to go. Just a short forty five minute drive from Hobart is New Norfolk, a lovely country town home to many, many antique stores, my favourites are the Antique Emporium and New Norfolk Antiques. The Antique Emporium is massive and holds everything from furniture and old vehicles to clothing and toys, tea cups, jewellery and books, truly a wonderful resource for the avid antiquer. New Norfolk Antiques is a beautiful establishment filled to the brim with excellent condition genuine antiques brought from France and Italy, including furs and provincial furniture. It is here you will find preservation jars, stamps, rugs, boots and more, a truly beautiful visit.

In Tasmania you will find that behind every Cotton On, Myer and Sportsgirl is a little alley or street leading to an I dependant business filled to the brim with remnants of the past, ghost of generations long gone remain in the old undeveloped films found in vintage cameras and trinkets of times long ago will enchant you and make you wistful for the good old days of black and white television, wind up cars and the prohibition. Tasmania is a wonderful resource for old things and mixed media artist supplies, do not let the modern exterior fool you, for within you will find that time has been preserved into trinkets and treasures.

A Little Announcement…

Just a little announcement: the blog will be taking a short break for a couple weeks while I catch up on life! What with uni, working, writing and life’s general hurdles! While I shall be taking a break, there will still be a few new posts and articles here and there, just not the usual Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday updates! However, it should be back up to speed by the end of May!
Check back soon!
And thanks for following!

Throwback Thursday: How my Fiancé did not propose… But not for lack of trying!

Something was different. I couldn’t put my finger on it exactly, but something was definitely up. He had been restless most of the day, while we laid back upon the open roof double decker bus, taking in the sights of the French capital, he hadn’t been entirely himself.

Now battling gale-force winds atop France’s most iconic structure, I could see how every street and road eventually lead to the city centre. An army of vehicles swarmed around the Arc De Triomphe while the bright lights of the Champs Élysées glowed in the darkening day.

But where was he? It had been his idea to ride the ancient elevator the the top most point and force me to face my incredible fear of heights. I backed up against the wall and grasped the railing, for fear that at any moment now, the Eiffel Tower would collapse.

“Come over here!”
Here he is, this devil in disguise, he takes my hand and laughs at the incredulous fear contorting my attempt at a smile.
We walk around the top, taking in the three hundred and sixty degree panorama of Paris.
He gave me a quick cuddle, looking at me funny, and then a lady battling a phobia similar to my own interrupted.

“Would you take my photo?!” She asks, “I’m terrified of heights and I have no idea why I’m up here! Can you take my photo!?”
She explains that when in Paris, one must overcome ones fear to experience the terror that is the Tower.
We take her photo, exchange a few more syllables, then I turn to my chap and beg to go back inside.
Again, he gives me a funny look, and suggests we try the restaurant on the first level, I agree.

The place is pretty, over priced and only minimally chic; the view, I suppose, makes up for it. For a few moments we are alone at a little corner table, glasses of wine in hand. The couple one table over notices the ring on my chaps hand, greets him in broken English and gestures to his own.
For approximately fifteen minutes, my love and this bloke use hand gestures, universally recognised motorcycle brands and basic English to discuss the meaning behind the rings. Shortly after, this old bloke notices our glasses are nearly empty, mine white and my loves red. This old guy is drinking red, and motions to the situation, then promptly pours the remnants of his wine into the glass, and ends the conversation with a thumbs up and a smile.

The restaurant is now full, our food is delicious but once again, my companion is uneasy. He looks about the room, at me, at the food, at me again, and ruffles about in his bag as I chat away about what we’ve seen so far.

While the meal progressed without event, I knew something was up, but without a word about it we decided to make our way back down to the ground, via hundreds of stairs many metres above the ground.
Terrified as I was, he laughed at me and held my hand until we made it back to the bottom, where I got a cuddled and congratulations.

And that, my friends, is how my fiancé DID NOT propose to me atop the Eiffel Tower!

Travel Tuesday: Saying Farewell to Australia Part 3

Similarly, Melis felt the same when she moved to Tasmania, Australia
to study. “While I was at university I realised that I hadn’t spent
much time travelling, so I decided to take a break and explore other
countries.” She describes where she lives as a very nice bunch of
people living in a cute town called Hobart, “I was born in Landau An
Der Isar in Bavaria, Germany. To me, Hobart is actually a tiny town
but has lovely atmosphere and beautiful places”. While leaving home
and starting over again is considered hard, Melis insists that it’s
actually very easy to do, you just have to be open-minded and
positive. “I’ve had lots of different jobs here, jobs I wouldn’t do at
home. I got to know a different culture and language, which are very
interesting.” She characterises Australian government as a bit chaotic
and unorganised compared to her own in Germany, and that everything
seems more Americanised, the food, clothing, attitudes and interests,
almost offering an explanation as to why our young country has so many
children heading overseas. She also comments on Australia’s schooling
system, “I don’t like the idea of having so many private schools. Is
it necessary to buy your own education, what happens if you don’t have
the money, do you get the same quality?” Melis says travelling or
living in a foreign country was good for her, “you [have] more
experiences than back home, you grow up quicker because you have to
take responsibility for yourself.”

Zelinda explains that her views on life have changed very little. “Now
that I am older, I am of the opinion that opportunity can be created
almost anywhere.” This observation is undoubtedly true and poses a new
question, can opportunity be created in Australia? Melis shared a
similar viewpoint with Zelinda and sums up the answer perfectly. “As
far as I know, everything has two sides and I think it depends on
certain stages of life. People change and so do I, maybe I prefer
living here for now, but it could be different tomorrow.”

Monday Musing: Should we stress and Progress, or chill and be still?

Generation Y seemingly have the world at their fingertips, highly educated and raised in a time of wealth, international travel a right of passage into adulthood and parents who foot the bills for longer. However, Generation Y also suffer from ridiculously high expectations held not only by society, but by themselves.

Gone are the days where becoming a tradesman, secretary, teacher or nurse was enough. Now Australia has a booming digital and creative industry hosting positions and careers boasting exorbitant wealth, fame and incredibly generous perks. It would appear to the untrained eye that Generation Y literally have hundreds of jobs to pick and choose from, the creative industry offers career opportunities in gaming, social media, app development, online marketing, social media marketing, social media, digital publications, online fashion entrepreneurship, blogging, editorial, photography, design, painting, illustration… The list is undeniably endless… But how does one carry the expectation that you will achieve your dream job, performing the talent you have so professionally honed, while being paid a wondrous sum of money and taking international holidays?

It’s a fresh manifestation of the age old keeping-up-with-the-Joneses, with stakes even higher due to its competitive nature in the digital age. While it’s true, we do have these creative careers waiting just out of our reach, but what it takes to now get there is a helluva lot harder than it used to be.

We finish college after working ourselves into the ground to achieve an ATAR score high enough for direct entry into our respective degrees, which then take up to 6 years to finish, if you study full time and pass every unit first go. However, during your study you should also intern to gain experience, pursue personal projects and work on building your CV so that you have the competitive edge over other (future) applicants.

The problem is that these expectations don’t just stop at the fear of failing your parents or yourself, they extend into our personal and social lives as we begin to compare our CV and experiences to our friends experiences, our degree to theirs, our intelligence versus that intelligence and so on. Furthermore, we are running ourselves into the ground spending our spare time doing work experience, or volunteering or chasing potential employers that can offer a foot inside the door of whatever it is you are studying.
As some of us try to work part time jobs to fund these educational journeys, we also begin to get competitive in our job, wanting the most hours or the best shifts, wanting a better position or more say – even if we are rationally aware that these jobs are simply a stepping stone to keep our head above water until our metaphorical ship comes in.

The question is, is this really the way? Statistics show that students and young people are now facing higher levels of stress and mental fatigue than before, is the fame and fortune in the promised lands worth missing out on a true youth-hood of friendship, flings and self discovery? Before we know it we might be fifty and wondering why we never caught that flight, went to that party or made those friends. It’s an interesting thought, should we be constantly progressing, or should we take the time to stop, and just be stationary?

DIY Friday: the Roaring Twenties

With the release of Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby on the horizon, I can feel a big comeback for twenties glamour and style. Here is a quick how-to guide in getting the twenties look.

HAIR

Part your hair deeply to the side and section off your hair. Curl it into ringlets with a wand or GHD straightener.

Once whole head is curled and cooled down, comb out all the curls into voluminous waves. Give it a light misting of hair spray and pin the bottom most curls underneath your hair at the hair line to create a looping look for volume, and if you have long hair, to give your hair a bobbed look.

Add your head piece in a secure with bobby pins.

MAKE-UP

You will need a porcelain like base for this look – choose the palest foundation that complements your skin tone. Then dust with translucent powder for a matte finish.

Contour cheek bones using a light pink to rose hue rouge, making sure to give colour to tops of cheek bones heading into the hair line.

Next, give your eye lids a swipe of neutral shadow – I used MAC Era Satin and applied using a mini blush brush.

Using a kohl liner, smudge a fine line into the lower lashes for definition. I used a black Rimmel kohl pencil.

Line the top lashes with liquid liner and finish with a winged tip.

Top eyes off by defining lashes with a black lengthening mascara.

LIPS

Line lips in red pencil, paying particular attention to the cuspids bow of your lips – you want it to resemble a doll like perfectly full pout.

Fill with a matte red lipstick -I used a Sportsgirl one in Bombshell, then used MAC Diva A92 and blended it into the centre for a deeper colour.

Voila! Your ready for a legendary Gatsby party!

Throwback Thursday: The Cock Fights

“No women!”
He jabbed his finger in my direction while speaking to the man beside me. Behind him I could hear the jeering of excited men, hungry for blood and death.
My companion persisted.
“I want her to see just one fight then she’ll leave.”
I catch a glimpse of a child’s face peering around at me from behind his father’s legs, eyes wide and curious. He isn’t looking at me really, more at my skin, my whiteness. When I turn to look at him he skitters away; they don’t get tourists out here.
“One fight and she goes?” the man bargains.
My companion reassures him with a smile. “Wonderful!”
The arena is haphazardly made from chicken wire and iron poles propping up a corrugated roof. Shelter from the forty degree sun but open enough so that the rain still washes remnants away.
I’m guided to a seat offering the best view of the fight, he tells me his cousin has money on it.
I hear screeching and inhale a cloud of dirt kicked in my direction by the scuffle, I strain to see the damage.
The creature is bloodied and weak, warbling as its intestines slowly fall from the gash in its belly while the victor stands triumphant.
Although as victor, he doesn’t look good either. Blood pools in his eye and I spot a small incision under his left shoulder. My gaze falls to the razors taped to its ankles, three inches in length, sharp as a carving knife, the silver now turning bronze with dried blood.
Disbelieving, I watch as half the men cheer, their fists pumping in the air clutching a hundred pesos prize money.
The other half hang their heads, losers.
A man strolls into the ring and grabs the victor, now tripping over its own feet. In a motion so swift and nauseatingly graceful he breaks the roosters neck, I lurch towards it with shock.
Archaic, cruel and illegal are words unlinked to animals here in Ma-Ao.
Since arriving in the Philippines I had wondered why we ate chicken for dinner so often.
Now I know.
Damn cock fights!

Travel Tuesday: Saying Farewell to Australia part 2

Zelinda moved to Japan after a two day transit stop on holiday there
exposed her to the peaceful, respectful, polite, positive and friendly
country that is Japan. “My husband and I moved to Japan as a life
choice, we saw a better life here in Japan, than in Australia.” She
describes the experience as her heart finally feeling at home, and
after nine years of living and working there maintains the hardest
part of moving from Australia was simply missing family, she describes
the move as the next journey within her life rather than a brand new
start. “I think we have a chance of a peaceful, safe and positive
life, a chance at a lifestyle that is so comfortable, a work
environment that is so relaxing and fun. In terms of work and
lifestyle this would be hard to come by in Australia”. Zelinda
explains that Japan has excellent public systems, education and
knowledge are still respected and incredibly important. Family is
considered the pinnacle of society and the medical system or childcare
costs are based on your earnings, rather than a standard amount. The
system is structured to make things easier on families and keep the
essentials, such As medical and education affordable across the
board”. There is no real poverty in Japan, says Zelinda, “of course it
still exists but its very rare to see a homeless person. She says that
tax is much lower in Japan, about 6% per $40,000 whereas it sits
around 30% in Australia. Furthermore Japan is a relatively honest
country and Zelinda explains that being an honest person is revered
here, and taking pride in living honestly. “When we lived in Tokyo we
had gone into McDonalds for lunch and I had left my handbag there. We
went back after an hour, and found it still in the place it had been
sitting.” She goes on to say that they leave their house and car doors
unlocked, keys in the ignition, kids in their area all play together
outside under the watchful eye of the entire community.

The amount of Australians departing home shores suggests there is
something amiss here, less opportunities, less fulfilling lives, but
while we leave new citizens are arriving.

“I was born in Leeds, England and moved to Darwin when my mother was
offered a job that was important to her here, she thought it would
benefit our future.” Cisem explained that she moved here four years
ago and that while it was hard to begin with, she got used to it as
time progressed.
“I live in a rural environment forty minutes from Darwin city. The
houses are far apart, each house has at least five acres of land. The
quiet atmosphere from being far away from the city, the friendly
neighbours and the wildlife makes where I live what it is.”
Cisem lists things like the lower age of beginning work in Australia,
14 and 9 months versus UK’s 16 years, and the younger driving age as
highpoints of Australia and agrees it has provided her with more
opportunities than she would have been afforded in England. “There are
more opportunities to better yourself and make a substantial future
here, the weather is awesome! People here are friendlier, the beaches
are beautiful and there is so much to do here.” Cisem further explains
that Australia has a stronger focus on education and that teachers
care about their students results, and she is happy to live in a
country whose government hasn’t sent them into deep recession. She
says that while she would visit England on holiday, she would never
move back because she has a life here she didn’t see possible in
England. “The working conditions here are so good, it is easy to find
a job and usually the pay is really good. There are no worse parts of
living in Australia.”

Monday Musing: XoXo… Gossip Girl

Television shows are fast becoming cult metaphors and points of reference for my generation. When Gossip Girl blasted onto our screens in 2007 it suddenly became okay to say ‘oh-em-gee!’ in public, own a hideous amount of bejewelled head bands and refer to each other as the first letter of our names. Not only this, but the Met Steps hierarchy that Queen B ruled over became a template for every teenage girl trying to fit in at Highschool.
The illusive Gossip Girl kept us all on the edge of our seats as we dreaded the content of her next blog blast, I’m sure I actually checked my own phone once, during a particularly heated episode. All of a sudden, while our brains were being eaten up by Gossip Girl’s ability to make any upper-east sider commit social suicide with her vicious texts and emails, cyber bullying came up to bite us on the ass.

Girls started creating Facebook or MySpace pages dedicated to ridiculing and humiliating other girls, bitchy rumours were sent via text to every phone in the school and scandalous images ended up posted all over Tumblr’s and Piczo sites. The nightly news began picking up stories about real, living teenage girls who had committed suicide, or attempted to, due to the amount of bullying done at school by anonymous Gossip Girl copycats. These events led in turn to some famous court cases involving cyber bullying done through chat rooms, online-hosted email systems and text messaging. This led to the revolutionary age of digital-degrading, whereby anyone with access to a connected SIM card or Dial Up Internet connection could turn your world upside down.

I never saw it before, but hindsight has offered me a clearer perspective on the power of mass media and emotional investment in cult media phenomenons. Not only did Gossip Girl create a culture of well-dressed head-band wearing prefect stylings, abbreviated names and acronyms as slang, it perpetuated a culture whereby High school was incomplete without the drama of boys, bitching and backstabbing. Most long time fans grew up with B, S and Lonely Boy, watching their transitions from Highschool heiress to elitist queens, and while every generation denies the media has any control over them – it appears our generation proved ourselves wrong, destroying each others young lives in a bid to achieve the glamourised scandal we saw on screen.

It’s begs the question, in a time of super-power charged digital progression, where will the likes of Pretty Little Liars and the Walking Dead lead us? Will someone start terrorising Highschool students and call themselves ‘A’, while a psychotic group of doomsday enthusiasts prepare for war against the undeniable future zombie apocalypse?

It’s intriguing to think that silly little television shows can influence our minds so much, yet not surprising in the least. After all, I spent an hour after the season three finale of PLL googling who Red Coat was… Because I couldn’t sleep knowing ‘A’ was out there.

Style Sunday

Asos red coat, leather jacket from Jubilee Market at Covent Garden, Baroque skirt from Valleygirl, black shirt from Primark, Asos Hat, Princess Highway Hat