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Portia
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Hey Hey All,
In the week before a holiday I am seriously busy trying get everything ship shape. We did manage to have a life, eat out, wear a bunch of fragrances but I’m only 70% concentrating on living. The rest of my head is organising and planning, making lists and ticking things off.
Scent Diary: 16.10 – 22.10.2017
Monday 16:
Monday morning and my bladder woke me a couple of hours early. He He he he. I’m now wide awake so doing FaceBook, Australian Perfume Junkies and some other computer updates/comments/posts. It’s so calm at this time of morning I feel like more work gets done due to lack of distraction.
A couple of cheeky spritzes of the new DIOR PrivéeJasmine de Anglais from a decant. It’s a very pretty white floral, clean and uncomplicated. Reminds me of something else that I can’t put my finger on exactly, maybe an Annick Goutal?
Jin and I had our first Real Estate guys in to look over the apartment. They were very interested in the place but think we will not see as much for it as we hoped in the current market. Still, the money is not to be sneezed at. Apparently the market in our area is stabilising and maybe even dropping a little. That’s cool. Seeing another guy tomorrow, let’s wait for his appraisal.
Lunch at our favourite cafe. We shared a Burger with the Lot and some Chicken Salt & Vinegar Hot Chips. Delicious. Half each was exactly enough, we even left some chips on our plates.
Had a ONE HOUR LONG bubble bath in Radox Bath Salts and Bath and Body Works Rainkissed Leaves, like standing in a sprint rain shower in the garden.
Night Guerlain Champs Elysees EdP. Fruity violets, mimosa and dewy lilac fluffed up with powder. Perfect for writing my Trivia Q&A.
Bed The Different Company Oriental Lounge
Tuesday 17:
Scott came over for office day today. There was hardly anything to do so we chatted, had lunch with Jin and pottered around. It was a really no sweat, fun day.
Jin’s knee has turned to shit. Poor little bastard has done some ligament damage at work. He’s not a happy camper but we are keeping it iced and resting him as much as possible.
Super lavish bubble bath in La Chasse aux Papillons L`Artisan Parfumeur. Madonna Truth or Dare lotion and I can’t bloody remember what fragrance I wore. Sorry.
Diptyque 34 for Bed
Wednesday 18:
TRIVIA Q&A
Jin’s Korean Chicken Curry left overs for lunch. YUM! On toast! Added peas, so AUSSIE! SHHHH Don’t tell him.
Heeley Cuir Pleine Fleur, dry, velvety soft leather. So fricken luxurious.
Dinner with Jin who ordered enough for four people. Dooley’s Catholic Club in Lidcombe where Jin worked for a couple of years. Everyone was so happy to see him and there were shouts from the kitchen. Food was delicious. We ate most of it too. YUMMM
Jin was given a porcelain pendant from Neela Vermeire. It hung in his wardrobe until he got a new car. Now his car smells of Neela Vermeire Creations Bombay Bling. It’s very freaking cool. See him peeking in the rear view mirror, so cute.
Thursday 19:
Woke up to a Perfume delivery. We recently found a site selling 1 litre demijohns of Tom Ford. I created a split among the Aussie Fragrance Network crew, 900ml sold in under 24 hours. Woo Hoo!
BUT the Window Fix guy had left a card. GRRRR! Sure I’d been sleeping but a couple of good knocks on the door or buzzing the buzzer would have had me ready for action. Now I have to pay for him to come again. So bloody annoying.
It’s a Niki de Saint Phalle kinda day. Sometimes only a chypre will do.
I am so sad today. Keep having fits of tears. Why is the world going to hell? How can the Church and Politicians say they are for us, the people, then not cure poverty or end war? How are there kids growing up illiterate in 2017? Why is Health Care so ridiculously expensive? How did business get to rule us so effectively? Why do I have to ask 26 million people if Jin and I can be married?
If I feel like this, one of lifes lucky ones. How bad must it feel for the less lucky?
Helpless is how I feel, helpless to create change in a world that seems to have gone bad.
For my bath I used Boucheron Trouble, Madonna Truth or Dare lotion and I’m spritzing myself with Le Galion Sang Blue. As close to an eighties menswear fragrance as is possible in 2017, yet curiously modern. Got a lovely compliment from one of the barmen as he hugged me goodbye, “You smell so good”
Bedtime tonight? Bal a Versialles from my 15ml vintage parfum bottle. SO GOOD!
Friday 20:
Woke up this morning to the long awaited sound of rain. We have been bone dry all through winter and spring, this is a much needed drenching. I love the sound of medium level driving rain that sounds like it can keep the level up for hours, especially as I wake up in my own time, curled up warm and safe in bed under my duvet. Wonderful way to wake.
Morning spritz Histoires de Parfums Ambre 114. Simple crunchy amber, thick and luscious.
Chained myself to the computer and did Trivia Q&A and Blog Posts,. Drank LOADS of tea & coffee. Organised some giveaway stuff and generally made some headway with the list of to dos.
Had a spectacular order from Surrender To Chance arrive. Some fabulously interesting stuff to be reviewing and wearing. Woo Hoo! Now I have about 4 fragrances spritzed on different points of my body. Interestingly Ramon Monegals Cotton Musk seems to be the dominant player, who knew a white musk could be so insistent?
It’s late, the computer is going fuzzy as I try to read and blog. G’Night all. Radox Bath, then bed.
Saturday 21:
Bloody Hell! I thought after my bath, “I’ll just watch one episode of the Good Wife to wind down.” It’s now late and I’m spritzing Phaedon Tabac Rouge from a decant to sleep. Night.
Woke up to the Jehovah’s Witnesses buzzing my apartment block. Our intercom doesn’t let me hear what people are saying so I let them in, thinking it was a delivery. I told them that the JWs stole my sister and she won’t talk to me. Rang me the night before her wedding to tell me she was getting married but didn’t want me to attend. For the first time that I’ve told them this story they seemed genuinely moved, they apologised. It was a very nice moment but I still sent them on their way, nicely though.
Here are the boys at their favourite hour, feeding time.
In the saddle again early to get the blog organised.
We leave on Monday for a Ghan and Indian Pacific trip. Our six year anniversary present to ourselves. Neither Jin nor I are perfect. We are slobbish, sometimes grumpy, manipulative, unhearing or aggressive for no reason and we are full of human frailty. I’m really happy we’ve been able to navigate six years, there’s no promise of a happy ever after but I’ll gladly take a comfortable right now.
Covered in a bunch of fragrances and reviewing. I love this, so fun.
Kath and Scott joined Jin and I for dinner tonight. We had Chinese takeaway, so obviously I was thrilled. Loads of laughs and chattering away on topics from politics and religion through to fragrance, work, lives and families. It was such a fun night I completely forgot to take pics, sorry. Kath gave me this one of our food.
Back at the computer now blogging. FULL and fragrant. Good day.
Sunday 22:
Today I got a postcard from Val the Cookie Queen. What a freaking great surprise. Busses = kisses in Austrian
Chinese Reheats. Is there any better consumable anywhere? Throw it all into a saucepan together with some oil and water and mix it up. DE LIC IOUS!
Spritzed lavishly with Guerlain Champs Elysees tonight. I smell freaking gorgeous.
Worked tonight. Varun gave me a beautiful necklace for my birthday so I wore it this week. Isn’t it fabulous?
How was your week? Please share some things that went on: family, food, fun or fragrance. We love to read about your weeks too.
Portia xx
Australian Perfume Junkies 
Hi Portia, hope Jins knee is ok..I agree Chinese takeaway is the best.Today we had a lovely family day with Johnnys Aunty and cousins.
Also I have been wearing Madonna Truth or Dare this week… Wednesday I was on Studio 10 as the makeup model for Domenica’s segment on summer makeup lol lol…its on you tube.
Tuesday my brother Frank finally out of hospital after three weeks with painful knee surgery to remove fungus. He has been approved for a drug trial for leukemia, so hopefully will help him.
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Madonna Truth or Dare is something I always associate with you Anna-Maria. It’s bloody good stuff.
Portia xx
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Niki de Saint Phalle will be worn here as our autumn is still on hold in the mid Atlantic US. You remind me to see if I have any Oriental Lounge left. That is one overlooked sexy scent. Roeeerrr in a whisper. Bon voyage for your trip. Let’s hope it’s a pre-honeymoon many years in.
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Hey Kate,
YAY for Niki de Saint Phalle, what a legendary fragrance.
Thanks. Fingers crossed.
Portia xx
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Hi dear Portia, so nice to read about your week. I am with you when it comes to the nonesense in the world. Why can’t we all just get along and take care of each other? Hope Jin’s knee gets better soon. Have a wonderful trip and I look forward to reading all about it. Happy Anniversary. Love, Sandra xoxo
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Hey Sandra,
I’ll tell Jin you are hoping.
Thank You.
Portia xx
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The last few weeks have been stressful, with illness, moving, and dogs having health issues causing big $$$ vet bills, so it’s been tough. I find tidying and organising helps me feel in control when everything seems out of control, so that’s what I’m doing. Thankfully the weather is sunny and bright which lifts the spirits.This week my goal is to start back at yoga and try to reduce my stress levels so I can sleep properly and reduce my anxiety meds.
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Hey TaraC,
So sorry to read you’re having a less than sparkling time.
Fingers crossed for improvement in all areas.
At least you’re doing it smelling fabulous.
Portia xx
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Love your scent diary posts – a quick glimpse into your week.
I hope Jin’s knee gets better, and you both get to enjoy your trip.
Why did DIOR need another jasmine perfume in their private collection? Wasn’t Grand Ball jasmine enough?
Every time when someone close to me complains about the state of affairs in modern World (not to confuse that with personal problems – there my reaction is completely different, no matter how small those are), I usually ask to name me better times. Not just a couple of decades of prosper or peace but a life-long span. As troublesome as our times are, I can’t think – globally – of the time when life was better (whatever we put into this definition) for a generation.
We cannot change/improve the World but we can be trying – daily – to make it a better (or at least not worse) place for people in our lives. And I think that out of all the people you are definitely the one who makes this World better. ❤ ❤ ❤
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Thanks Undina,
Always glad to have you drop in.
Yeah, but another lovely jasmine, mmmm. YUMMY!
Yeah, I suppose if ever we have had a good run as non-indigenous people in Australia for a generation. We could say the 1960s till now have been pretty amazing. Around the 50-60 year mark, nearly a generation.
It does seem though that we are destroying with full knowledge of what we do now. It’s documented in science how badly our treatment of the planet needs to stop and here in Australia the politicians are making exactly the opposite choices to those that would help. Have even banned the peaceful protest and added a $5000 charge and jail time for protesting. They are choosing fossil fuels over renewables, taking away our freedoms and our lands and generally not caring for the people who elected them. It’s terrifying.
That’s nothing compared to what we see daily happening overseas but still it scares me.
Portia xx
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Your new necklace is gorgeous! Hope Jin’s knee feels better soon, knee injuries are the worst 😦
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Hey Nemo,
Thank you.
Yeah, he’s getting better but it’s not comfy.
Portia xx
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Hey Portia,
Were you just getting an idea of the value of the apartment or thinking of moving?
Happy to hear the JWs had the grace to apologise for separating you from your sister at least.
Looking forward to following your trip!
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YAY! Hello Tara,
We are thinking of buying something new but not sure whether to sell or keep. It will all come down to number crunching but it’s pretty exciting stuff.
Portia xx
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I love the sound of rain, but, we are blessed with something of an overabundance here in Scotland. I forget sometimes that it’s something longed-for, rather than grumbled about. (Though I was walking with a friend the other evening through what we both described as “wet rain”, and we were discussing the very specific categories and sub categories of rain variants we recognise when we live with so much of it. Like the version you had on waking up–that sound where you know it’s going to be a steady, and long-lasting fall.
Wet rain is the very fine rain, that is almost too lazy to reach the ground. So fine you can almost breathe it in. There are barely visible drops of water but the air is full of it, and you end up soaked to the skin as it insinuates itself through your clothes.
Also: poor Jin! I hope he’s starting to feel a bit better on the bashed-up knee.
Injury has rather overtaken my last week. I damaged a tendon in my arm, and then made it worse and worse by continuing to train while hoping it would just go away. And, this week had to make the horrible decision to pull out of the really important competition I was training for (I’m a powerlifter.) It’s the sensible decision, but I’m feeling very sorrowful about it. Oh well. Better to miss this than wreck it and never lift again.
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Hey Crikey,
I LOVE wet rain. In the 90s I lived in London and that misty, fine drizzle was something we longed for. When it happened we’d go out and walk in it too. Beautiful.
Jin is recuperating well.
Yes, heal. There will be competitions aplenty.
Portia xx
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Wishing you and Jin a very happy anniversary and a lovely holiday!
I am so confused, angry and despairing of what’s going on everywhere in the world right now, but as long as there are still good people, I am hoping that love and common sense will prevail in the end.
In the meantime, eat more chips, wear perfume and kiss the furry members of the family.
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James just came in to my room and I said that I had been reading about the wonderful perfumes you extoll, I mentioned that despite having done an Aromatherapy course many years ago and many enquiries, I have never found the same fragrance as Gucci No 1 brown. I have searched for years. James just found it for me on the internet and has promised to purchase it for me for Christmas..I did not think of searching that way. It is my age I guess. I hope the trip on the Ghan was fun..lots of love to you both.
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