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Portia
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Hey there APJ Crew,
Had a load of fun frags on my body this week. Purposely trying to wear a few things that get little skin time. Also a bunch of favourites.
The calm after the Mardi Gras storm. I do like it when the world gets quiet. It means I have more time to be a lazy slob. Got that job done excellently.
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Portia
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Heya APJ Crew,
Whirlwind week. Perfume and peeps, art and travel to Adelaide with Jin, Eve and Lola. There’s been loads of great food and adventuring. Life has been very good to us, now I need a bloody rest.
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Portia
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Hello Australian Perfume Junkies,
SO MUCH PERFUME this week. It seems I have spritzed every two hours.
Also loads of fun and excitement in the rest of my life. BIG week.
MONDAY morning! It started out sunny and warm while walking the dogs but just as we came home soft persistent rain appeared. It’s misty and warm rain, very nice.
Lunch with Jin at a Vietnamese place up the road.
Working tonight, filling in for one of my girls because tonight is Sydney’s gala Night of Nights; the DIVAs. Drag Industry Variety Awards. Every queen and her hairdo will be out to see who won and who lost. It used to be my favourite night of the year, something changed and now I don’t think I’ve been for a decade.
Annick Goutal Musc Nomade bubble bath, Keihl’s Original Musk lotion and Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur fragrance. It’s a musky moment here at Chez Turbo.
Great fun tonight at Stonewall filling in. It was nice to catch up with all the girls and have hellos. I didn’t stay to party but came home, had dinner, watched a movie and cleaned the kitchen.
Now I’m sitting down to finish and send the Trivia Q&A. Just spritzed Parfumerie General Suede Osmanthe. I sit swathed in beauty.
Busy boy, busy life.
I was up at sparrows fart to clean the apartment. Just the regular weekly vacuuming, bathroom (Jin cleans his own bathroom), kitchen and bin emptying. I had it all done by 9am, sat down and had a cuppa then got the dogs fed and out walking.
Wearing Goldfield & Banks Wood Infusion and loving myself sick.
Scotty is here. We got so much done today. Emails, Post Office, Bank, APJ Mailouts, Lunch and general chatter.
Bathed in Bath & Body Works Rainkissed Leaves, wearing Aedes de Venustas Palissandre d’Or. So pretty, a woodsy fragrance but the woods are tempered by a zing of pink pepper and the earthy smoothness of modern patchouli. Aides de Venustas are clever, they do fragrances that are interesting and extremely wearable, this is no exception. Not a big scent but quietly confident.
Up early, well early for me. Dogs fed and walked, had a cuppa and off for a perfume adventure with my mate Tim. A couple of chest spritzes of Guerlain Meteorites from a decant to keep me fragrant till the real sniffing starts.
So first stop was the Annual CosMax SALE. It was quite fabulous. We were like kids in a candy store. I bought Guerlain Angelique Noire and Oriental Brulant, 2 x Burberry wet packs and a 30ml each JPG Classique and Le Male. There was SO MUCH great stuff I could have spent $2000 but only spent $360! YAY!
Then we went to the Estee Lauder Staff Shop where we bumped into Willa Zheng, ex APJ writer and all round good time girl. I bought 2 x Clinique Aromatics Elixir Shower Gels and Scott’s Xmas present, sorry can’t tell you in case he reads it.
Then home for a nap on the couch, then off to work tonight again.
I’m home now but tomorrow is a very early start. Good night.
3am bedtime. Original Lolita Lempicka EdP. Sweet liquorice cotton candy. Perfect to float off to la la land.
Woke up in a sweet violet liquorice fog, beautiful scent. Straight in the bath, even before feeding and walking the dogs, because I have a daytime Christmas party gig today.
What to wear for a daytime Christmas Party? Mugler Womanity! What else?
Came home and got undressed, had a little lie down. Got back up, fixed my makeup and went out to do tonights gig. This time I was wearing CHANEL Boy. It fit in perfectly over the Womanity and I got three lovely compliments on how good I smelled. YAY!
Now I’m home and completely stuffed.
A sneaky spritz of Tom Ford Ombre de Hyacinth before bed. NIGHT!
Neela Vermeire Creations Pichola for a warm morning, full sunshine and not very humid. Perfect dog walking morning. The grevillias are blooming.
Jin and I were approved to buy a new townhouse nearby. This is a big deal. Having sold the Tasmanian properties we now have an excellent deposit for it. With it being so close it means there will be no travel to fix problems. It’s already tenanted with a family that loves it and doesn’t expect us to do a thousand improvements. Borrowing this kind of money makes me very jumpy and nervous and I relied on my Pichola to act as a calming agent, it did.
Parfum d’Empire Equistrius for a shot of gorgeous after lunch.
I can say honestly that my afternoon/evening was spent sleeping and watching TV. Nothing got done, no Trivia work, no house work, almost no blog work. It was blissful. I ate junk food, drank coffee, juice, water and was generally a slob. Currently re-watching The Crown on Netflix. Wonderful time, by myself with the dogs.
Arrivals Guerlain Lui & Insolence parfum
For the afternoon/evening I was wearing vintage Miss Dior parfum. Took Kath out for her birthday to our fave steak joint, Alice came too. It was bloody delicious. Afterwards we had ice-cream in cones YUMMMMM.
Bed Guerlain Floral Romantique from a decant.
Annick Goutal Songes inspired by a SOTD post this week. Great choice for this warm humid weather.
Jin and I grabbed charcoal chickens for Kath’s Birthday Lunch. It was a very nice morning hanging with the family.
O M G !! Walked into the house after work tonight and Jin had been cooking stuff. It stank. On top of that he had candles of all different scents burning to muffle it. My head exploded in a headache immediately. It was like being in a scent nightmare. I grabbed the dogs and fed and walked them as soon as I could to get some fresh air. Came back and it is much better, not perfect but bearable. PHEW!
It’s YOUR turn. What’s happening in your world?
Did you do anything Fun or Fragrant, with Friends and Family or maybe even had some less than Fabulous news you want to share? Now’s the time, in the comments below.
We love to read what’s happening to YOU.
Portia xx
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Portia
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Hello Australian Perfume Junkies,
It’s heating up here in Sydney. Summer has arrived and this year it’s showing us a very humid face. Not horrible but it will take a couple of weeks to get used to.
Jin has been around the house sick so the upside of that is we get to hang together. Obviously the downside is that everyone turns into a 5 year old when they’re sick.
Woke up on my own time at 9.30am, fed and walked the dogs then made myself a big glass of 50/50 pomegranate juice & water. Excellent start to the day. Dabbed some modern Gres Cabochard parfum on this morning so leather has ben my jam for today.
Jin is home today and working tonight. It was a very pleasant surprise to have him around the house while I did the laundry and Trivia invoicing. We went on a quick grocery shopping trip and he cooked up a load of meals for the week. Brown rice, fried Tofu, steamed Bean Sprouts. Not really my thing but he is currently combating his fatty liver and we are trying to save a few dollars extra so we can travel lavishly in 2018.
It was a calm, lazy, productive day; beautifully warm and humid. The dogs spent most of the day on their beds indoors. They love it when Jin’s watching TV or one of us is cooking. They just lay there and sleep, occasionally looking up to make sure we are still around.
This afternoon, instead of working, I watched MiB II & III. Last week I’d caught a rerun of the original and it was so fun I wanted to enjoy the others. Excellent binge.
IUNX Splash Forte, Olivia Giacobetti’s under the radar incense masterpiece. Why the hell is it not the most talked about incense of all time?
TRIVIA Q&A. Guerlain’s Mitsouko EdT. Woo Hoo. I smell amazing.
It’s 5am and I woke up to go to the toilet. While I was there Jin came home from work, so now I’m wide awake. Better finish my Trivia Q&A. A sneaky spritz of Dawn Spencer Hurwitz Ma Folie de Noel. Spicy citrus and milk.
Back to bed till 9.50am. OOOPSIE! I was supposed to have the dogs fed and walked before Scott arrived at 10. Oh well, he arrived and we walked them together. Then we office worked, went to the Post Office and Bank, did some decanting and had lunch.
Then dyed my beard, jumped into a L’Artisan La Chasse aux Papillons bubble bath and spritzed with Serge Lutens Datura Noir.
Went to have a nap and just as I was drifting off the bloody phone rang. Now I’m wide awake. GRRR! Smell amazing though.
It’s bloody hot here, sticky for getting into drag. I keep sweating. A good deal less glam in the warmer months.
Work was busy, we had a great time. Someone even commented how much they loved my Datura Noir! YAY!
Watching Netflix The Punisher. Pretty good
Before bed, Gres Cabochard parfum. Yeah, I’m worth it. He He he. smells fabulous.
Up early (for me). Fed & walked the dogs, organised my backpack, jumped a bus and off on a big day out with friends. Fragrance? Vintage Miss Dior parfum. Yes, I smell like a million $$$.
Jumped a bus and a train to town and walked across the domain to the NSW Art Gallery where Lisa and I did the 11am gallery highlights tour. After, we went to the Mapplethorpe exhibition and did the midday tour. Both our guides were erudite and added so many extra titbits, some of then salacious scandal and others more to do with technique or timeframe. Two wonderful hours appreciating and learning. We then needed refreshment so swanned down to the Members Lounge where Lisa treated me to lunch.
We wandered back to the heart of Sydney for coffee and dessert in the David Jones Food Hall and then wandered the halls looking for fragrance and beauty. We swished over to Myer and Mecca (where I made my only purchase, the Diptyque Christmas Travel Set). Throughout the 4 hours of meandering we smelled maybe 50 or 60 scents and I think I ended up with 15 of them upon my person. It was a splendid effort and we both had a great time.
Then we coffeed and juiced, finding out that Same Sex Marriage had gone through the Senate with a YES vote and Monday it will go through the House Of Representatives. Fingers crossed. I admit we had a little cry. One of our days visual highlights was noticing that the Westfield Christmas Trees were GUM TREES! So good.
Then dinner with my frag friend Tim. He’s excellent company and we nattered away a couple of Burger filled hours. Laughing, sniffing and having fun.
Back home on a train and bus and walked the dogs. I’m BUSHED!
Jin had cooked a huge lot of roast pork and crackling. Seriously enormous. So much that I took some to BFF Kath’s Mum & Dad and another lot to Wendy, my trivia mate. You have NO IDEA how well he does it. The crackling is crunchy and mainly incredibly easy to chew, he buys and makes extra. There are a few super crunchy bits too which are my favourite. I feel like Rockbiter from The Never-Ending Story. The pork is moist, melt in your mouth delicious tenderness. For someone who grew up never knowing the joys of roast pork Jin has taken to it like a duck to water.
I’d like to take a moment to apologise for my lack of photos today. We were having WAY too much fun to spoil the moments with photos. So while it’s true that I’ve let you all down a bit, it was imperative that I live in the moment today and just float along.
Divine EdT
HOT here in Sydney, sweating.
Ran around all morning doing errands, had lunch at home with sick Jin who has tonsillitis AGAIN!
A card from Tara of A Bottled Rose arrived. HAPPY DANCE! I love postcards.
Bathed in Bath & Body Works Rainkissed Leaves, Jacomo Silences PdT to cool me down.
For work I put OODLES of Thierry Mugler Womanity on. It was a perfect heat beater and a few of the players at trivia mentioned how good it smells. YAY!
Vintage CHANEL Pour Monsieur for bed. HEAVEN!
The humidity, even as early as our morning dog walk, is equatorial monsoon levels. Yet still I manage to be sweating buckets as I sit and type this. The CHANEL is still humming around softly but I need some coolant. Niki de Saint Phalle EdT to the rescue. It’s cooling, dry bones, arctic wash is exactly the refresher I need.
Jin has added a hacking phlegm filled cough to his tonsillitis. Poor little fucker. He’s on the couch with food and juice, out for the count.
Today is my only proper day off this week and next. I’m going to spend it getting myself ready for the week, catching up on eMail backlog that I’ve been ignoring since Tuesday and getting the blog and Trivia Q&A started for next week. Trivia first.
So Jin and I booked Anna-Maria, Scott and my Paris adventure Korean Air Tickets today. Also found five choices for Air BnB places to stay, now they get to choose which one they like best. It’s getting VERY fricken real right now. YAY! We are off to Paris in APRIL!
7.30pm and I’m feeling sweaty and unglamorous. The day has been wasted looking for Paris shit and I’ve hardly done a thing for REAL work. GRRR! Going to have a quick, cool bath and come back to the desk refreshed.
Nope, had dinner, walked dogs. It’s now 11pm and I’m about to start Trivia Q&A. What a wasted day.
It was nice to hang with sick old Jin though and watch some TV with him. We did go to Bunnings and get a replacement shower cord and come home and fix it, so not a whole day wasted.
Went to bed scentless, didn’t put any on after my bath. Needed a rest.
At around 1am I finally got to work and did half my Trivia Q&A.
Slept late. 10.30am I slumped up to feed the dogs and walk them. Jin was uncomfortably unwell so I slept on the couch under the ceiling fan. I keep forgetting to bring the pedestal fan up from the garage to put in the spare room. It needs some air movement to be comfortable in summer.
Diptyque 34 this morning. So smooth and comfortable. A slightly green white floral with lovely resinous underlay. Perfect warm weather fare.
After a HOT bath I headecstraight for the Hermès Monsieur Li. It’s oily citrus both balm and coolant.
Tonights gig was an eighties inspired Christmas Party for Seasonal Concepts. A design crew just outside the heart of Sydney in Redfern. I’ve known Ken the proprietor for decades and he regularly gets me in to be the Door Bitch because when I say Invitation Only everyone gets the point quickly. I went as Crystal Meth-Carrington and had a ball. I wore Yves Saint Laurent Opium Poesie de Chine, a summer version of the 1980s classic.
My BFF Kath picked me up from the gig and I went and had coffee with her and chatted for an hour before jumping in my car and zooming home to poor sick baby Jin.
It was late so I had a little bread roll with the last of the pork & crackling and some salad. Delicious!
Then I came to the computer to do blog stuff and now I’m ready for bed. I’m going to spritz some more Opium Poesie de Chine and then hit the hay. NIGHT!!
The dogs seemed especially pleased to see me this morning, we wandered a few blocks in the early humid heat and headed home. By the time we got there sick Jin was up and rumbling around the apartment coughing like a person with a very bad chest cold. Poor little man. I’m feeding him the Korean team and he has a backlog of heat in the microwave Congee (a thick rice soupy thing he loves and is full of goodness)
Rita, one of my mates (a stellar fundraiser, helper, organiser) is getting Christmas Hampers together for the less fortunate. She’s doing a drive to get food and small gifts together so people with less will have a little more. I raided my collection of hotel soaps, shampoos, conditioners and body lotions (perfect size for homeless), grabbed all my unwanted gifts and went shopping for some food. With $110 I was able to get a selection of Tinned vegetables, Twinings 10 pack teas, Biscuits, Chocolates, Sanitary pads and Tampons, Crisps and Nuts. I know that the crew will be mainly buying super healthy stuff but this is a Christmas Hamper, there needs to be some slightly luxurious fun stuff.
Bath in L’Artisan La Chasse aux Papillons and wearing Hermès Rouge again. Cool, sharp rose, creamy ylang and the insistent green snap of myrtle create something very different to anything else in my collection. Perfect to cut through the humidity.
It’s YOUR turn. What’s happening in your world?
Did you do anything Fun or Fragrant, with Friends and Family or maybe even had some less than Fabulous news you want to share? Now’s the time, in the comments below.
We love to read what’s happening to YOU.
Portia xx
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Portia
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Hi there APJ,
This week has been blissfully fragrant and as close to low key as I’ve had in a long time.
A few meals with mates but mostly it’s been Perfume, TV, Computer and Home. Loved it.
Want a BWF that doesn’t punch people in the face but still manages to remain hefty and a little breathy? Rouge Hermès is the answer. I wore it today and loved every minute.
Went and grabbed the dogs from the trainer. OMG they were so happy to see me. Jinx was sad that Jin wasn’t there but kind of happy I was.
Went to the bank again to re-organise the new card and where it sits on my internet banking. Aurio was there to help, what a handsome, helpful man he is. So sweet. Don’t you want to squish him into a big old bearhug?
Saying farewell to a glamorous friend? Guerlain Shalimar. It was a perfect fit.
Took Gaye’s ashes to Neilson Park. What a wonderful send off. Six friends in a water taxi, some finger sandwiches, wine and champagne. We remembered Gaye, chatted about her wending through our lives , scattered her ashes and threw flowers to mark her passing. As we let her go the sunset went golden and all of us sang “For She’s A Jolly Good Fellow”. What a perfect way to go.
Obviously after such an evening it was impossible to concentrate on my Trivia Q&A so I went to bed.
7am up to do my trivia Q&A Tom Ford Patchouli Absolu today. Soft and plush patchouli. It keeps coming and going all day. I’m now at the nine hour mark and still smell fabulous. A powdery patchouli, MMMMMMM.
Powered through postage, banking, sampling, and the rest with Scott today. He put some vintage Bal a Versailles parfum on while here and the smell was fabulous, seriously gorgeous.
My sunburn is still tender so I didn’t get myself into drag for work tonight. Guerlain Lys Soleia. PERFECT!
Got home, fed and walked the dogs through a cool spring evening. Got home, watched a few eps of The Good Wife, chatted to Jin who is working nights. Spritzed Andrea Mack Sharp, that weird yet cozy, warm, woody, boiling sand scent.
Day doing computer work.
Ex Nihilo Fleur Narcotique from a decant. I don’t really love this but for some reason I keep grabbing it and spritzing. It’s a thin white floral with a bunch of other stuff going on, slightly space age. Hints of freaky that I can’t stop huffing.
Filled in for one of the Queens at a gig tonight. Wore lashings of La Via del Profumo Mecca Balsam. Super spicy, resinous incense. It wafted up to me all evening at work and now I’ve triple spritzed to watch The Good Wife.
Woke up like surfacing from the bottom of the sea. Just as I was about to open my eyes the phone rang. It was a very nice way to wake. Wearing Armani Prive Cuir Amethyst, cool and clever fruity leather. I like it a lot.
Another computer day.
Watched the last episode of The Good Wife.
Hopefully this will be my last night not in drag. My burn has browned off but the skin is peeling a bit and it’s still quite tender.
Bath and Body Works Rainkissed Leaves in my bubble bath, Madonna Truth or Dare Naked lotion and L’Eau d’Issey Pour Homme Intense, inspired by a memory Kate Apted’s post gave me. Smells fantastic.
At around 11pm went to bed with Jin, 2am and I’m up, wide awake. Came and did a very small amount of computer stuff and had a cup of tea. Gave myself some Diptyque 34 spritzes and now back to bed.
Day of visitors.
TinaG and Jean-Luc dropped in for lunch. We had a great time chatting and laughing, getting shallowly into politics and having a rumble about graffiti. Sandwiches and cups of Mandy Aftel’s tea, followed by fresh mango, strawberries, blueberries and yoghurt. YUMMY!
We opened a whole bunch of fragrant mail, so my next couple of weeks are sorted for posts. Can’t wait to get you all up to speed with this haul.
Then Phil dropped in for afternoon tea. Loads of news and excitement punctuated with belly laughs. Good day!
Jin had a bunch of king prawns in the fridge. I don’t like to eat them but begged him if I could cook for him. He was VERY skeptical but acquiesced. I made him Garlic Chilli Prawns with toast points, avocado, mayo and lettuce salad. So impressed with my work that I forgot to take a photo but Jin was really excited. It was a culinary triumph.
He’s up early tomorrow so we had a little snuggle before sleepy time.
Cacharel Liberté was tonights spritz while trying to get ahead with my Trivia Q&A.
Woke up gradually and got out of bed two minutes before the alarm went off. I love that.
Breakfast was delicious. Yesterday I cut up some fruit for lunch with TinaG & Jean-Luc and there were leftovers in the fridge. Mango, Strawberry and Blueberry with Yoghurt on Cereal and Milk. Bloody delicious. You can see my current favourite mug, a birthday gift from my BFF earlier in the year.
Paris was wondering why I am eating breakfast and not patting him. This is his come hither look that I usually find irresistible. He was pointedly upset that I refused his cuddly advances and walked over to make himself clear.
Arriving in the mail today. The BRAND NEW Goldfield & Banks Wood Infusion to review and do a giveaway for. YAY! OMG! I am swooning at this stuff. SO GOOD!
Quickest sluice bath ever, just a L’Artisan La Chasse aux Papillons soap up and a spray really. Then dressed up a bit nice and heavily spritzed Tom Ford Ombre de Hyacinth. I love its fresh spring zing, so green and fecund, smells like the Tarot Empress card should.
Indian dinner tonight for Alice’s birthday. The food was unbelievable. I had Goat Curry and Aloo Mutter Paneer with Garlic Naan. YUM!
Vintage Miss Dior Parfum. to go have a solo pedi. LOVED being there alone and enjoying the peace and quiet. Perfect way to wake up.
Then went and met Thierry from City Perfume. We tried Creed Viking (MUCH better than expected. A Patchouli, vetiver, resins bomb), the new Shakespeare line (particularly like Romeo & Juliette) and the new YSL frags Sleek Suede and Magnificent Gold (<My fave of the line).
Don’t forget the 10% Discount Code for APJ crew (AFG17) and FREE AUSTRALIAN EXPRESS SHIPPING if you spend over $150
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The Zegna pair are interesting too; quite niche or even indie smelling. Boundary pushers. One smells like drinking a G&T in a wood panelled club room during India’s sweaty summer. So annoyed I can’t remember which one. Weird but yummy.
Came home and had a nap, then I couldn’t even work up the chutzpah to get into drag. BAD PORTIA!!! Luckily the Austral BC crew didn’t mind. Anna-Maria and I chatted about our next international adventure! YAY!
So what’s happening in your world? Did you do anything Fragrant, Fun, Friends, Family or even had some less than Fabulous news you want to share? Now’s the time, in the comments below.
We love to read what’s happening to YOU.
Portia xx
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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.
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
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
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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Portia
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Hi there Fragrant Friends,
Considering how much ground I’ve covered this week and how much has been accomplished it’s all felt quite peaceful. Hectic but measured. There has been time in each day for a little nap, food and friends have been abundant and work life has sandwiched in nicely between everything else.
Don’t worry, I know how blessed my life is. I’m so grateful.
Monday Morning. Weather is overcast but quite warm for midwinter and I am feeling super lazy. Sadly there’s a shitload of things on the list that need doing and I am going to do my best to get as many done as possible by 3pm so I can have a nap. Now that is real motivation.
Spritzed myself in Queen by Queen Latifah. I am a patchouli/citrus goddess right now. It was wafting around me like crazy on our dog walk.
Ordered Bingo Books and Dabbers for our newest night starring our newest regular hostess Maxi Shield. How fabulous is the poster?
Did my invoicing for the month. Really, owning businesses is NOT for lazy people like me. HA! I had a really happy moment today thinking about how wonderful the Drag Queens we have working at Turbo are. Every week they entertain the crowds and it’s extremely rare that I get a complaint about any of our regular queens. They work hard and are grateful to be employed. In a Drag job-market shrinking daily in Sydney due to club closures and venue direction changes Turbo keeps 8 Drag Queens in weekly work. I’m really proud of that and hope we can give many more regular gigs.
Talked to my Aunty Tracey on the phone and nattered away 20 minutes happily.
The second house in Tasmania has been untenanted for two weeks but today I got a call from the Real Estate to say they have a wonderful new tenant collecting the keys on Thursday. WOO HOO! I was secretly worrying about having a house untenanted during winter, the worst time for rentals. PHEW!
Got Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday into the blog.
Got my Trivia Jackpot and Games questions written.
3.12pm NAP TIME
Jin called and asked if I wanted to go to Korean BarBQ because we missed out on Friday night. HELL YES! So I went and met him and we talked and laughed and ate SO MUCH FOOD! My tummy hurts. It was wonderful. Here is Jin, he’s wearing a top I bought him for his birthday a couple of months ago. I can tell when I’m in the good books with Jin because he wears my gifts.
Laydee also rang with a new Trivia gig today. It’s been Go-Go-Go.
Now I’m about to finish writing the weeks Trivia Q&A.
It’s nearly midnight and I can still smell my morning spritzes of Queen. AMAZING!
It’s 1.35am and I’m Q&A finished and sent. Had hoped to do one more APJ post but my hearts not in it so I’m going to make a cuppa, go read a bit and then sleep.
Today is busy. Scott is coming to do office work and the general running around that entails. I will need to do beard dying and get ready to become a glamorous Drag Queen for work tonight. Then after al the fun and madness of my day pack a small bag because I’m flying down to Melbourne tomorrow to see Margeaux’s new home that he’s just bought and spend the day hanging with him.
I’m wearing Carner Barcelona Rima XI because it smells warm and fuzzy and doesn’t distract me too much from the job at hand.
Instead of giving you a blow by blow account of my day here’s a music clip of two of Australia’s greatest rock musicians Jimmy Barnes and Marcia Hines. They’re singing one of my favourite songs since childhood. These guys are mates of mine and to hear them singing together on this track brings chills, goosebumps and tears. So many memories of people, places, times. Music is a lot like fragrance, our memories are buried deep until released by scent or sound. Happy tears and sad.
I hope it brings you as much peace as it does me. If you can, turn the volume right up.
Scott and I got so much done today. Paid bills, Post Office (letters, parcels, collecting and sending,, bills and redirections), organised Receipts for the bookkeeper and a few other bibs and bobs. I also gave him the last piece of his birthday present to arrive. Russian Carnation EdC, as Scott as I can find. he was stoked.
My bathing routine included B&BW Warm Vanilla Sugar bubble bath, Kiehl’s Original Musk lotion and Kenzo Amour
Something else I wanted to talk to you about. My mate Jye Bryant creates musicals. He has recently had one return from a hit season in New York City and it will be playing at the New Theatre in Newtown September 15-18 as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival. You can book at the New Theatre Site. Full $30 or Concession $25
BY JYE BRYANT
Steven has a secret that might tear his family apart. Meanwhile, his wife, mother, father and lover are fighting for his attention and coming to terms with their hidden feelings of betrayal, anguish, frustration and fear.
Laugh, squirm, and cry as this new Australian musical takes you on a rollercoaster ride with a modern dysfunctional family.
Got up at sparrows fart and drove into town, parked at Kath’s apartment and cabbed it to the airport. Jumped a plane and flew down to Melbourne to see my mate Margeaux (who used to write for APJ) ‘s new apartment. His first real estate buy and it is gorgeous. 15-20 minutes on a tram from Federation Square and also quite near a train station in Prahran.
I took him one of Jocelyn Fullerton’s Cult of Scent candles as a housewarming present. The apartment is all in charcoal and white so the very lavish pop of red makes an excellent point of reference. YAY! So we had a burger lunch and then Margeaux had to go back to work.
I trotted off the the National Gallery of Victoria and spent two perfect hours wandering the art with myself, the art and my thoughts for company. It was incredibly refreshing and energising. I also love how fastidiously clean the bathrooms were.
Such a diverse array. An excellent Asian collection but sadly no Korean for Jin.
Currently they are showing historical garment illustrations and magazines, very interesting.
Jin has decided his favourite impressionist is Camille Pissarro and they had a few of his works so I snapped and sent them to him.
Russian Tzar lamp, one of a pair I think by Baccarat.
Degas sculpture of dancer checking her feet.
The Alice chair, some kind of resin shaped.
Black heart, I have made it my own by adding myself to the shot.
Poor old Jesus, eternally hanging around churches, galleries and museums.
Then I trotted quickly up to Masons, the new menswear store on Flinders Lane, just up the hill and tried Philippe Starck Peau d`Ailleurs which is supposed to be earth, woods and musk but I found it quite green and wet. It had extraordinary lasting power and I could easily smell it on my hand next day. There is not much love among perfumistas for the range but I found it interesting and though subtle quite entrancing. I REALLY want to ry it again now. It’s the middle one.
Then, as I was about to grab the train to get back to the airport one of my fave handsome young gentleman frag addicts called and said he was available for catch ups! YAY! We weren’t sure he’d make it. So, over a 15 minute wine for him and coffee for me Liam Sardea and I caught up, grabbed a big hug and off I went into the sunset.
Once home I grabbed ALL the leftover Chinese, one of Jin’s pre-made rice packs, some frozen peas, a can of creamed corn and stir fried the whole lot to boiling hot. Then I sat in front of the TV and watched rubbish while I ate the yummiest reheats ever. HAPPY DAY!
Tina is home from hospital and has been staying at her parents, I went out and collected her to come back to Sydney. We had a very fun cuppa and catch up with her parents, who I bloody adore. They are so lovely.
For the day I decided on vintage Patou 1000 EdT. Excellent accompaniment to the cool sunshine of Sydney winter.
Roger & Gallet Cedrat bubble bath, Kiehl’s Original Musk lotion and Neela Vermeire Creations Nichola. You can read my review of the wear if you like.
Imagine the laziest day ever. Perfume it with DIOR Privé Sakura and you’ll understand how laid back it was.
Jin and I had lunch in the food court, then came home and hung out around the house.
For dinner we met Alice and had Peking Duck! A whole duck between three of us and San Choy Bow, then Beef & Black Bean with Cashews and Egg Fried Rice. It was heavenly! I could eat Chinese every second meal and still be excited.
Woke up and walked the dogs in frosty sunshine, my breath was making clouds.
Jin and I met Alice & Sam at DFO (a discount mall) where we bought new Uggs, some Ralph Lauren polos and a jumper, a new pillow for me because mine has been embarrassing for years and it was time and a few other bits & pieces. It was fun and silly, trying on clothes and laughing.
Jin was completely gorgeous smelling in Serge Lutens Muscs Koublai Khan, seriously drop dead gorgeous and I wafted Pozzo di Borgo: 23 Janvier 1984, which is a lovely figgy scent.
We came home and had delicious Jin made Korean Chicken Curry with Naan bread and watched The Princess Diaries with Anne Hathaway. How had I never seen it before? Loved it.
Tonight Margaritas and Tacos with Kath, Alice and Jin. We sat outside around a pub turned Taco den, at a park table and bench seats in one on the pavement. There were 5 or 6 such tables around the venue and every seat was jam packed with young mixed urban crews from all colours and wage ranges. The chill night air was comfortable and we chattered, laughed and ate a few very happy hours away. The Margaritas were quite good, we had two each, and everyone was softly merry by the end.
Just quietly, I love my life and my friends. Yes I know how lucky I am, we are.
I woke up at 1am and went to my perfume room, sat down and had the urge to read perfume blogs. This rarely happens lately as life gets busier. I got to the latest What Men Should Smell Like about Guerlain Sous le Vent and immediately dived for my bottle to live the magic. Ahhhhh, what a fragrance…… Going back to bed now to savour it. Guerlain Sous le Vent is wonderful.
Breakfasted on the verandah with these two sexy boys.
Peanut Butter Toast and a Coffee. One of lifes easiest joyful moments. YUM!
Jin was getting a bit Jealous Julie because he’s not in the Scent Diary enough. So here he is doing his very best blog smile for you all. isn’t he a fricken cutie? Love him to infinity but today he was scratching my very last nerve. We had a late evening fight to clear the air that ended in happy kisses and fervent Fuck You’s from both of us.
Today’s bathe was lovely bubbles from L`Artisan Parfumeur La Chasse aux Papillons in the pump pack which was a gift from my mate Tim, followed by a light Madonna Truth or Dare Naked lotion and I forgot to put fragrance on. I did remain softly fragrant throughout the night though and can even still smell soft vanilla sweetness at 10pm.
Now it’s your turn. Please share something fun, fragrant, friendly or foolish that you got up to this week?
We love to read your stories.
Portia xx
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Portia
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Hey there Perfume Junkies,
Here’s a shot of my outfit for the Sydney Stingers on Saturday last week, taken by Daniel Kirkwood at the event. Yes, I am a fur & sequin galion under full sail.
This morning, in the middle of winter, saw the return of spring in Parramatta. The sun is shining, bulbs are pushing through the soil, there’s a hint of greenery on the breeze and it was lovely to be out and about on a mornings ramble with the dogs.
I decided to let the faux spring choose my fragrance and what better reminder of spring than Penhaligon’s Ostara. Sadly this gorgeously green narcissus and bouquet of other fresh flowers scent was not a big hit for them but it is so lovely and has made me smile this morning.
After last weeks creative extravaganza I’m way behind on all things blog and trivia so this morning is dedicated to answering comments, this afternoon and evening will be new posts and my Q&A. Woo Hoo! I think I’m ready for it.
So instead of working all day I went and spent a big happy chunk of it hanging out with TinaG who is back at her parents house recuperating after her hospital stint. We went and lunched at a wonderful Thai restaurant in Windsor. Pressies from Tara at A Bottled rose, beanie crocheted by Vanessa of Bonkers About Perfume. She LOVED them
Then we went on an adventure ride to The Fruit Bowl, a cafe that specialises in home made pies of the sweet and savoury styles. I had Scones, Jam & Cream with a cuppa and Tina had Chamomile tea. We saw them making their pies, bought Apple pies and Honey. MMMMMMM
Home by 5pm. Started working at the computer on Trivia. Having a coffee break now and a spritz of Grandiflora Madagascan Jasmine. BEAUTIFUL!!
Jin came home and wanted to watch Despicable Me 2. What could I do but succumb to his sweetness.
MORE TRIVIA!
Catch up. Catching up. Blog, Trivia, Postage, eMail and FaceBook. Not caught up but definitely making inroads.
Today has been so glorious but I’ve been house bound, BUMMER.
Wore Etat Libre d’Orange Fat Electrician and it’s zingy metallic vetiver was an excellent choice.
Jin had the Telstra man come in. We are changing to Optus and he needed to do some fixing. We are now without internet in the house so I’m tethering the phone to my computer. It’s surprisingly effective.
Bath time today was in B&BW bubbles, Kiehl’s Original Musk lotion and atwork I wore Diptyque 34 Boulevard Saint Germain EdT. Very nice. A smooth, spicy, fresh fruit & greens, balmy scent that ends a resinous dry wood. It smells like old rooms, recently aired but the wooden furniture and polish and a very slight hint of cold damp linger and blend with fresh sheets.
For bed? I wanted something odd so chose Sarah Jessica Parker Covet. A perfect Frankenstein’s monster of a smell that leads me deeper and deeper till I sleep. Never enough one thing or the other it seems to find harmonious balance in it’s utter lack. Plastic geranium, waxy white flowers, cool amber with thoroughly unnatural musks. Excellent night scent, I could imagine it being the choice for ghouls and vampires.
WOW! An amazing day with my mate David who currently lives in UAE working as a butler/EA. He’s in Sydney visiting the family and friends and we had had today in the book forever. I had COMPLETELY forgotten but he reminded me last night so I sent through three ideas for the day. He chose one and we added a second and it was a terrific catch up.
I got a bus & train to town and we met at the NSW Art Gallery at 10.45am. I knew we could do an 11am free tour of the main gallery BUT when I arrived it was with fabulously happy surprise I noticed their current exhibition had the name O’Keeffe. Could it be? I asked myself. Fortuitously the answer was yes. Georgia O’Keeffe in an exhibition with two Australian women artists of the same era; O’Keeffe, Preston, Cossington Smith – making modernism.
So we had a cuppa, did the 11am Gallery Tour, had another cuppa, did the 12pm O’Keeffe, Preston, Cossington Smith Tour and finished our gallery time with lunch in the Members Lounge.
We wandered across the Domain to Sydney City and had dessert at the David Jones Food Court Cafe. I wanted David to come through David Jones and try some fragrance. He’d been so nice to us in UAE when we were there and I figured EVERYONE needs a new scent. Sadly he wanted none of it. I did get him to spritz DIOR Leather Oud and CHANEL Bois des Iles. Maybe he’ll fall in love with them and ask me to grab them for him one day. As all good things must come to and end then it was time to go
Walked the dogs, Bank, Post Office and had an early lunch with Jin at our favourite local cafe. It’s been a beautiful morning, lazy & slow.
Afternoon much the same.
Serge Lutens Daim Blond for work. Got quite a few compliments. Surprising because I think of it as such a subtle beauty, well apparently it was wafting itself into peoples hearts.
My right knee is playing silly buggers. Not so long ago the patella decided it wanted to drift around, it seems to have decided it needs another vacation from its prescribed spot. A throbbing, uncomfortable feeling that lodges itself in my stomach. Did ALL the exercises my guy prescribed last time it happened.
We took the dogs to the Off-Leash Dog Park nearby today and I was freaking out but the dogs seemed to love it, Jin loved it too. I was a bundle of nerves.
Actually I’m a bit glum. No reason, just a little bit bleach.
We’d organised a Korean BarBQ get together for a bunch of our mates but completely forgot that I have a Christmas In July Fundraiser tonight. Sometimes I surprise myself at how vague I can be. OOOPSIE!
I wore loads of Reem Acra because I wrote about it on Perfume Posse this week and felt it needed an outing. Perfect hefty sheer radiant white floral extravaganza that nods to history but is completely in the now.
Christmas In July Fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital was a grand success. We raised a bunch of money and the participants had a ball. Already talk of doing it again.
Jin decided he wanted to try Archery a few months ago. He wanted it to be a big fun day out for the crew but no one was interested. So, because we love him dearly, his BFF Matt and I said we’d go. Anyway the day was perfect and it was really easy to understand the basics, we had fun BUT my fingers are fricken killing now. STILL, nearly 12 hours later they are red and feel like they have pins & needles.
The guys were much better shots than me but I did manage one bullseye.
Home for a Saturday afternoon nap. I grabbed Paris my dog and we cuddled for the nap, Jin slept in front of the TV and his dog on the dog bed in front of the TV. LOADS of snoring from all four of us.
Kath’s dads birthday party tonight. The whole family there. Jin and I grabbed Take Away Chinese. The Lee family did the cake. Kath made sure there were gifts and drinks etc. We had a ball. I think Dad has a photo on his phone that Jin took of us all (Second shot). There was so much fun and laughter, we all had great stories to tell and it was a terrific night. As the birthday cake was being lit Dad (the birthday boy) started saying women didn’t know how to light matches and all hell broke loose. It was apocalyptic, and hilarious, everyone having a go at him for sexism and we were all laughing so much that my tummy hurts.
When I got home my buddy Michael sends me this pic of us in the dressing room of the Fridge in Brixton, London. We were Go-Go dancers there on Saturday nights and as you can see, high as kitten. Great memories.
Lazy Sunday with Jin at work, me home with the dogs. Only left the house today to walk them till work time. Heavenly Sunday.
Finished this lovely little shower gel in the bath today. B&BW Pretty As A Peach. Bubbles over my head. It was glorious.
Slathered myself in Guerlain La Cologne du Perfumer today. It’s a beautiful cologne, wears very fragrantly for about an hour and then softens off to almost a functional white musk but stays just interesting enough to jump that hurdle. Funnily, I can’t smell it after 2 hours but I got a compliment tonight at the end of work as I kissed Anna-Maria goodbye. That was five hours later.
OK, so you’ve read my life. How was your week? Share a story that’s fun, family, food, friends or fragrance oriented. Anything you’d like to share, we’d love to read it.
Portia xx
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Portia
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Hey Hey Fumie Family,
Busy week and lots of great scents. It seems I’ve been playing catch up for a short while because living is completely taking over my plans for a lazy life. Thank goodness I have such a great team of mates to help buoy me.
It’s 2am on Monday morning and I have a sinus headache. Been boiling the jug and putting near boiling cloths over my face and breathing, a modicum of relief and the only thing that really works for me. I’ve turned the heater on in our bedroom and will pop a Panadol before jumping into bed. No SOTBed tonight, it would be wasted on my ouchy nose.
Bloody Hell. I forgot I have to take the car for Smash Repairs. It’s 7am.
Who that has a choice gets up at 7am? Bloody hell. I’ve been like a zombie. Only now fully caffeinated can I look at the world with bright sparkly eyes. So, the car is at the Smash Repairs, my insurance company (NRMA) which I’m usually quick to denigrate have been freaking awesome. They include in my cover a FREE Taxi to the FREE Hire Car and back when the job is done. I got lucky with my lady (Hey Barbara) at Hertz too. She was going to give me some HUGE monster car but I talked her down to a little KIA with only 700km on the clock. YAY!
TinaG has been in the hospital 18 days. I went in today with a mission to get her at least down to the restaurant, we went one step further and got her out into the cool sunshine. You’ll notice I gave her an Hermès bag to attach to her drip so she can feel glamorous and loved. The bag came filled with teas from around the world and some frags for her to sniff should the mood take her. On the way back to her room we had a sneaky Gelato.
My body is suffering overload today, it just wants to sleep. I had a Disco Nap when I got home and woke a little refreshed.
Here is the moon as i walked the dogs last night. It seemed much more eerie and atmospheric in real life.
Q&A, I sat down and got all the Jackpot, Games and organised the basic 20 questions for the whole week. Then my mind went blank and I was finding it really hard to concentrate so I downed tools and set the alarm for 5am, or so I thought……..
So, I actually set the alarm for 5pm! Woke up at 7am and jumped out of my skin. Went straight to the desk and started doing my Q&A. It was a MAD SCRAMBLE and I’m not sure it was a particularly good job but it was the absolute best I was capable of.
Scott and I in the office today. Wearing Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin to help me focus and loving it. We got loads done today and I’m really pleased.
Tonights ablutions included Olympic Orchids Amber Labdanum Bath Oil, Madonna Truth or Dare Naked lotion and DSH Perfumes Ma Folie de Noel. All the amber and all the trimmings. I feel like it’s Christmas in July!
Someone texted me at 7am. I leave my phone on in case of friend-mergency so when people do early stuff it wakes me. GAK! Got up and grabbed Paris. We went for a cuddle in the spare room. Greyhounds are so warm, best winter cuddle buddies.
At around 8am I was ready to start the day and grabbed my new bottle of Serge Lutens Five O’Clock au Gingembre. This bottle’s opening dies off very quickly leaving a soft fruity melange that lingers for a couple of hours. It’s around regular L’Artisan strength, someone pulled its teeth.
Had lunch at Sushi Train with my BFF Kath who is camera shy. Good catch up.
Then had a cuppa with fellow fumie Cassandra. It was really nice to see her after quite a while. We laughed and chattered half an hour away.
Ainslie Walker and I then met up with TinaG at the hospital and had an ice cream and cuppa together. Ainslie gave us the first sniff of her latest fragrance release for a crew at the Strand Arcade in Sydney. It’s all terribly exciting and a wonderful new adventure for her. Smells AH MAY ZING!
Left there in plenty of time to drop my hire car off so I could go get my car from the smash repairs but then TRAFFIC! Arrived at Hertz at 5.07pm and it was empty of people, gates shut and chained. GAK!! Thank goodness NRMA were able to extend my hire car for another day. No worries.
Tonight was a roller coaster. Jin cooked Dumpling Soup. O M G! So good. He also did this weird but delicious Sweet & Sour Chicken dish.
Then while walking the dogs, DRAMA!
Seems to have smoothed over now but it was like a flash flood.
More Serge Lutens Five O’Clock au Gingembre this morning. We got the rental car back, went and looked at UGG Boots (fail) and then lazed around the house till I had to start getting ready for work.
Bath time included B&BW Pretty As A Peach bubbles, Amouage Dia lotion and Amouage Dia Extrait. I forget how freaking enormous Dia is between wears and 5 sprays could be a little excessive. OOOPSIE!
For bed I’m spritzing Neela Vermeire Creations Mohur EdP. Night all.
Had to go to town today to visit my dentist. Dr Ryan Nevin is a superstar, best known as Dentist McDreamy, and I’ve known him since he arrived in Sydney in 1996. I love to see him and he’s really good at keeping teeth in my head. We have been fighting to save about 6 of them for years and have only lost two. My decades as a drug addict that took little to no care of his teeth, or any other part of myself, did nothing to hurt the teeth themselves but badly affected my gums. We wage war on gingivitis, one we are mostly winning. Today Ryan was mightily pleased, so was I.
My idea to go wander the halls of Gallery NSW were crushed underfoot by busy friends, one of whom had me in for next week. So I jumped on the train and went home.
Once home, Paris & I curled up and napped for two glorious hours.
Jacomo Silences PdT accompanied me through my day. I spritzed at 9am and it still lingered through to 10.30pm
Walking the dogs was a complete joy tonight in the very frosty air and the sky seemed to go on for eternity. We only walked about a kilometre but I came home warmed through and invigorated.
Then I cleaned the house, chatted to Neela Vermeire for an hour and blogged all night long.
For bed I doused myself in Carner Barcelona Rima XI. Sweet, dry, sugar coated amber biscuits. MMMMMMM
BRRRRRR! It’s chilly this morning.
Mates Alice & Sam went and did a huge workout nearby in Parramatta Park so I told them to come over afterwards for a Morning Tea of Scones, Passionfruit Butter (Courtesy of TinaG. YUMMY!), Apricot Jam and freshly Whipped Cream with as much tea as everyone could drink. It was a perfect wake up and later when Jin got out of bed he finished them off. How cute are Sam & Alice in the photo? I looked at it and smiled, their great gorgeous personalities shine through brilliantly.
You know it’s these tiny moments of fun that make life worthwhile. I wish you could all come have a morning tea at mine.
Bathtime I finished Hermès Eau de Mandarine Ambrée in the bubble bath. I really liked the way it smelled and am going to miss it.
SOTD turned out to be Black Perfecto by Guerlain. Review and giveaway to follow.
Dinner tonight at my favourite Chinese restaurant in Sydney, the Liu Rose in Concord. Kath, Sam and Alice came with me to celebrate Alice’s new job! Woo Hoo! We had pink bubbles, Peking Duck, San Choi Bow, Shredded Beef, Crispy Skinned Boneless Lemon Chicken and Egg Fried Rice. Loads of laughs and so much to talk about. Bloody hell, how does anyone keep up with all the excellent TV being made this season?
Spritzed loads more Black Perfecto by Guerlain before bed. I’m not entirely convinced but maybe I will be. At dinner Alice said she LOVED it.
Got up late and walked the dogs. Wearing Black Perfecto by Guerlain again. The opening is noxious but once it settles it’s not so awful. HA! Actually, it is rather nice through the heart and dry down. Nothing special or groundbreaking but it smells good.
Bath time today I used B&BW Warm Vanilla Sugar for my bubbles, Madonna Truth or Dare Naked lotion and Atelier Cologne Tobacco Nuit fragrance from a decant. Review coming next week. How did I miss this beauty, so good. I can see a FB in my future.
Work was super fun. First I bumped into our beautiful greyhounds’ trainer Charlie & his wife. They are super beautiful people and I love to flirt with Charlie who has no idea I’m doing it but laughs because I’m an idiot.
Then the crew were so much fun I wanted you to meet them all.
Last but not least, here am I saying time to put this show to bed for another week.
OK, you’ve read my week, time to tell us about yours please. Big, little, good or bad; share a story with us. We love to read about you.
Portia xx
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Portia
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Heya Fumies, Friends & Family,
This week was kind of unexpected. Stuff broke down at the Tasmania property so we had to go fix it. Sadly Jin was working so it was done without my personal tradie. He was missed.
A couple of things I forgot to put in last weeks Scent Diary from Sunday. Anna-Maria and Kim from the team Sluts United and me in full halo/God mode. Also Coffee Creme Brûlée with Cream and Ice-Cream. Hello heart failure, so worth it.
This morning I was up bright and early because my mate David asked me to speak to the seniors group from the RSL at their Church Hall. I was scared the whole thing was going to cave in around me. It was a lovely morning, the oldest in the group is 101 and they were all totally together and with it. Firstly I gave about a 15 minutes potted history of my life and family history which they loved and even laughed at my crap jokes, I even said bullshit and there were some hearty giggles. Then we did 12 Trivia Q&A and boy did they get into it. They were even giving me cheek! I was there around 40 minutes with them and enjoyed every moment. So sorry I didn’t take a picture of the group but I did get a shot outside.
I wore Divine EdP for the event and I smelled beautiful.
Then I was chained to the computer for the rest of the day with some quick breaks for four, dogs, washing some towels & mats and Jin was home so we had chats too. Really good day. When life is this calm & good, it’s great to be alive.
Late in the evening I took some time to pack my bag for Tasmania with Neela Vermeire Creations Bombay Bling, Guerlain Ambre Eternal, Hermès Muguet Porcelaine and Boucheron original parfum. A varied selection that should keep me interested over a three day stint.
Made some dinner and had a long hot soak in the tub.
Up and walking the dogs in the very cool morning darkness of 4.20am. They were quite surprised at my early awakening. Me too.
Jin drove me to the airport on his way to work and we were both a bit bleary on the drive in. Met up with Johnny, the best plumber in town, and we hopped a 7am plane to Launceston, Tasmania. How cool is it that Sydney Airport runway is right next to the water, could not have asked for a more perfect winter day. Johnny and I both had windows so the views were spectacular till we hit the Tasmanian clouds, which were still lovely in their own way.
Once there we hired a car and drove up to George Town, there to fix an ailing kitchen and bring the laundry from the garage into the house.
It was a busy scramble and our tenant Dale worked solidly beside Johnny and the boys got loads done. We had a few conferences through the day and had to do some surprise shopping but so far we have only blown out the shopping budget by 15-20%. Not bad considering there were some surprises.
For dinner I had talked up the local burger joint. I was so excited to get back there and have one of the best burgers in my memory. Sadly the shop had been so quiet that they turned off the stoves 1.5 hours early and we had to make do with some very ordinary schnitzel sandwiches. BUMMER!
The cottage I rented us was super cute. 2 bedrooms and a beautifully comfortable living room. The bathroom was a bit weird though and not very private. We were fine and staggered our ablutions so it was all above board.
So it’s 9pm, I’ve been running on under 3 hours sleep all day and now I’m bushed.
BLOODY HELL! Early morning, straight to it. I ran Johnny to the house then came back to our cottage and showered. It was lovely to have a moment of peace amongst the madness. After the shower I doused myself in Neela Vermeire Creations Bombay Bling. So funny. Down here in Tasmania the air is so clean and clear that the fragrance was 100% huger. It was like I had done 20 sprays.
After the shower I went and bought some postcards and organised the mens lunches. In both shops I apologised to the shopkeepers for wearing so much perfume. Really it felt like I had 1980s amounts of scent on. Fortunately both women said they loved my fragrance and that I was wearing exactly the right amount (Sweet lies).
Johnny and our tenant Dale got so much done today and then we went to Bunnings in Launceston as a group with Katie (Dale’s wife) and their two kids. We had Bunnings Sausage Sandwiches, a total win. The men were like kids in a candy store and took hours to get their shit organised. Katie, the kids and I went through the garden section and then had coffees & cakes while one of the kids jumped around in the kids playground.
This is my new husband Craig, really Jin couldn’t complain if I brought home a tomboy, could he? I’m nice, I share my toys.
We came home at 6pm and Johnny cooked himself some bacon sandwiches. He was so freaking proud of himself and happy eating them. Then we had cream buns for dessert! Not my favourite bakeries ones but pretty good nonetheless.
Now it’s time for bed. Goodnight.
If you think yesterday was full then today was 150% more action packed. We had plumbing, electrician and helper doing the garage, kitchen, laundry and bathroom. We added extra things in all day long and still managed to finish 20 minutes early. It was a wonderful day, everyone working together and helping. Sure, I spent a bunch of money, basically a years rent but we expected to have big bills in the first year and these are them. Fingers crossed that we can leave the houses alone to rent peacefully for the next couple of years.
First we went to the Simpson house where the tenants are moving out Monday. They have left the house about 170% more beautiful than it was when we bought it. Even the gardens are pristine.
Johnny the plumber works fast, is clever and I trust him to go full steam ahead all day long. The extra it cost me to bring him was easily made up for in sheer hard work and the joy of having him around. Can’t praise hips work ethic enough. He knows all the tricks to shortcut expense yet end up with a perfect finished result. Calarco Plumbing if you need him.
We used Tasmanian Electrical Services for the sparky work because Jin was working. Greg came and he was a lovely man, full of fun and went to with gusto. Though he is a bit slower than Jin he did his best and got all our extras done in tidy and finished manner. I’d call him again.
The big surprise though was Dale, our tenant, who took three days off work and was the best supporter we could have asked for. Nothing was too hard, dirty or boring for him. He ran to the hardware to get extras, helped, joked, worked like a house elf and was excellent company.
I know, I’m raving but the three men got five days worth of jobs done in three, with a bit of time to spare.
Our cottage let us keep the room till 7pm for only a $50 extra charge and were very accommodating.
While Johnny took a last minute shower before we left I went and watched the sunset from the waterfront which is two streets away from the cottages. Heavenly. It was a serene moment and I probably shouldn’t have ruined the spell by clicking pics but I wanted to share the magic with you lot. No filters have been used to enhance these shots in any way. Not even cropped, this is how they came on the phone.
All in all a successful and productive adventure. Currently Johnny and I are at Launceston Airport ready to go home on the 8.40pm flight. I am bushed, and I hardly did anything except point, organise and pay. He must be shattered.
Can you believe it? We arrive at Sydney Airport and standing one taxi rank away from us is Andrew Denton. I told Johnny and he was so excited because he and Anna-Maria LOVE him. So I sent him off with my camera to take a selfie and tell Andrew how much his family love him. Watching it was beautiful, I think it made Johnny’s whole trip and Andrew Denton looked really pleased that someone had bothered to go thank him for all his hard work.
It was a really nice moment. Thank you Andrew Denton for treating Johnny with such affable respect.
My head is not right today. I’m not sure what’s going on but my focus is bad. I’m going to rest for the day because we have a crew coming tonight. See you later. I’m going for a big long soak in the bath. Bath and Body Works Pretty As A Peach bubbles, Madonna Truth or Dare Naked lotion and Guerlain Mitsouko EdT. I am a peach princess.
Tonight was HUGE. A whole crew of us got together for Pumpkin Soup dinner at ours then we all went to Parramatta Winterlight. There was Ice Skating, Rides, Food, Fun and general mayhem aplenty. I’m not going to give you a blow by blow account but we had a ball then trundled off to McDonalds for a midnight snack before bed. Yes, I know. we’re disgusting, but it was really fun. Here’s some pics.
Lazy morning.
Tim came out to Parramatta for lunch. We sniffed and laughed but I bloody forgot to take pics. SORRY!
No, I tell a lie. We did take a pic of my newest new arrival. Arielle Shoshana EdP. WOW! It is the fruitiest damn thing EVAH! People are saying it loses its strength after a short time but I can smell it HOURS later.
Dinner with Hyun, Steve and Alice. I’d never had Hot Pot before and though it’s not going to bump Korean BarBQ, Pizza or KFC on my faves list it was fun and delicious. We had fun chattering and eating, conversation jumped all over the place.
From there we trotted off to Messina Ice Cream and went CRAZY! It was bloody delicious.
Caught the bus home and while walking from it noticed the moon was giving full rings like a circular rainbow. The picture hardly captures the magic but does give an idea.
Phew. Home now and bushed.
BED!
Jacomo Silences PdT was my evening frag choice because Mals86 was talking about it in her Scent Diary on Muse In Wooden Shoes. Its sharp green fuzz is beautiful in the cool of a Sydney winter. Crystaline.
Beautiful morning. The dog walk was lovely. I do wish other people with dogs would pick up the poo though. I picked up three not my dog poos this morning just left in the walkways. Some people are assholes.
It’s pretty cool here in Sydney but not really cool enough for the heater so we are both rugged up. Jin finishes nights tomorrow so I’ll get some quality time with him hopefully.
I went to a local barber today. Problem is I’m getting so blind that my beard is going in all directions. So I thought I’d get an expert in to do the shape and I can maintain. He did an OK job but really it’s not perfect. Once I dyed it and did a little bit of reshaping it seems to be nearly OK. Not a biggie but all I asked for was a reshape.
Used the last of my LUSH Rose Jam bubble bath (I’m going to miss it), Kiehl’s Original Musk lotion and Keiko Mecheri Un Jour d’Ete fragrance.
OK Crew! It’s your turn. What’s your week been like? Did you spritz, meet, hang or go anywhere? What about your family & friends, see them, do stuff? Maybe you read a book that we all need to know about.
Please comment and share something of yourself, we love it.
Feel free to comment respectfully on someone elses comment too. This is all about sharing ourselves and communication. Yours may be the only positive interaction that someone has all day, take the plunge.
Portia xx
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