.
Portia
.
Hey there APJ Crew,
We are SWELTERING here in Sydney. Parramatta has been hitting 40C+ regularly this week. Walking the dogs has become a fiery furnace. LOADS of fragrance though, I’m easily able to grab them cause I’m not leaving the house if possible. Still managed a few catch ups too.
.
Portia
.
Hello Fellow Fumies,
At APJ we have a Saturday Question. Everyone gets to chime in with an answer, chat with other responders and it’s a fun event each week. Taking sides never means taking offence and everyone keeps it respectful and light, even though we can sometimes trawl the depths.
The idea is you’ll see it on the weekend or chime in through the week. Hopefully you will come back regularly and see if anyone has responded to your comment and you can reply to them. The aim is to generate real conversation and connection even though we are scattered around the globe.
.
Portia
.
Hey there APJ Crew,
This week felt quiet until I look at everything that went on. Heaps of fragrances, some friends, shopping, eating, swimming and Trivia. A little bit of Jin time and some quiet down times.
.
Sandra
.
Hey there dear APJ readers! If you are in the US, how was your Thanksgiving?
The winner of last week’s giveaway is crikey. Congratulations! Please contact Portia (portia _ turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) so that I can get in touch with you.
.
Portia
.
Hello Fellow Fumies,
At APJ we have a Saturday Question. Everyone gets to chime in with an answer, chat with other responders and it’s a fun event each week. Taking sides never means taking offence and everyone keeps it respectful and light, even though we can sometimes trawl the depths.
The idea is you’ll see it on the weekend or chime in through the week. Hopefully you will come back regularly and see if anyone has responded to your comment and you can reply to them. The aim is to generate real conversation and connection even though we are scattered around the globe.
.
Portia
.
Hey there APJ Crew,
This week has been about friends, food and fragrance. I seem to have been spritzing and then eating. Perfect combination of my two favourite things really.
.
Portia
.
Hey there APJ Crew,
It’s Mardi Gras Parade week here in Sydney. Though I’ve kept a pretty low profile Sydney has been bursting at the seams with International Visitors here to enjoy the last week of our Mardi Gras Season. The weather has been perfect for everything and I’m hearing reports of a super year. Saturday nights parade was my Big Event this year, hosting the Sideshow Glam Stands. An excellent week, now I’m bushed!
.
Portia
.
Hey there APJ,
This week was supposed to be about organising and catching up on life, business and the blog but somewhere along the line it all got turned to fragrance & fun. I do try to focus but some weeks my head is on another planet. Oh well, I smelled freaking fabulous!
.
Portia
.
Hello Australian Perfume Junkies,
Leading up to Christmas week here. Getting as ready as we can and trying unsuccessfully to fit hangouts with everyone in. It has been fun wrapping everyones presents and seeing them during the daytime, when normally they’re all working.
WOW! 10am and 28C. I woke up in a sweat even though the fan is on. Muggy too. Still I want to feel pretty today so a triple spritz of SJP Lovely. Never fails to bring a smile to my face and in summer is perfectly bracing. I feel chilled through.
Wendy came over today so Jin could help her organise her new computer. We had lunch and chattered, then they watched TV while I ran some errands. It was a lovely day.
Then visited Kath’s Mum who was not in a good way at all. Hugs and tears all round.
Jin and I then went and got Baklava from Sydney’s best and most famous Lebanese sweet shop, Abla’s. Baklava is the universal cure all.
SO HOT, it’s like my skin is burning in hot water. I’m bringing the fan in here. It’s so hot that I don’t even want fragrance on me.
Scott and I worked through the 42C heat and it nearly broke us. Bloody hell. 1pm drives to the bank, post office and around about left us sweating and panting.
It is so hot I made a cool Radox Bath Salts Bath. Instantly my whole body started to feel like it could function again and thought became possible. Getting out afterwards into the superheated air was like walking through warm treacle.
I wore CHANEL Boy tonight to work. It got a couple of random compliments but honestly I couldn’t smell it after the first hour or so. It seemed like more than our fair share of crazies were out last night. Had a rather unsavoury contretemps at the RSL with a slightly unhinged person. It all ended with his eviction and was a little unsettling but no harm done to anyone.
Bedtime; So hot and sticky (31C at 1am) I’m sweating just sitting at the computer. We do have the AC on dry mode which has cooled the living room and Jin, the dogs & I will sleep there. Dogs on their beds, Jin & I on the couch. Neela Vermeire Pichola. It’s plush, creamy white floral over green and resinous base is a perfect heat beater.
WOW! Got a fabulous nights sleep. The whole four of us slept till 9am and then Jin had to go for a medical appointment and I fed & walked the dogs. Got their nails clipped at the local vet at the same time. It was bloody hot out thee and we arrived home panting, me sweating as well.
What better heat beater than Frederic Malle Geranium Pour Monsieur?
It was so cooling I respritzed again after lunch while opening this years Christmas Cards. There has been a drought this year and I did only about 10. If one of these is from you then you are a freaking HERO!! Seriously. I love getting them.
Visited Kath’s Mum in hospital in the afternoon and she seemed sunnier, if no better. Having just been for a walk there was a healthy flush and twinkle in her eye. She already had visitors so we didn’t stay overly long.
Jin cooked Korean Chicken Curry and we had it with Brown Rice. He is a wonderful cook and I love it when we eat together. Today we also watched this cute TV show about otters that didn’t like water and how they got retrained to love it.
Tonight Alice has grabbed tickets to the closing night of an original Australian theatre production. Called the Bodybag it’s a spoof on the Bodyguard. Can’t wait to see it. The producer and star is a mate of mine Trevor Ashley, well know around the Drag Scene as Cleopatra Coupe.
Tonight I’m wearing Teone Reinthall’s Antarctica from a decant. It is outrageous in this heat and has nothing to do with the cold icy turn the name suggests to me. It’s very furry and I’m enjoying it immensely.
Bloody Hell The Bodybag was hilarious. We laughed so hard. Excellent show. Here we are before & after
Blessed relief. Woke up today to a sensible 24C and some cloud cover. It’s still like walking through a pool, humidity wise, but at least the air isn’t burning my lungs like a sauna. The dogs were 100% more lively on our walk this morning.
Wearing Hermès Eau des Merveilles again. Such a splendid summer staple.
Went and saw Kath’s Mum, with Kath. The doctor was trying to get a canal out and all of a sudden it was rivers of blood. GAK! Poor Mum. I did ask if they would PLEASE get the nurses to do all the needles, canals and blood relateds from now on. They are SO MUCH BETTER at doing it all.
Then Kath & I went shopping for a while. It was nice to just aimlessly hang out, she’s good company.
Jin and I FaceTimed today while he was working. Isn’t he the cutest thing EVER! It’s weird that we both look so serious, and it was an accidental capture, but I thought you should see him in his work clobber.
Salt-Anne sent me a beautiful pic of a similar Niki de Saint Phalle bottle so I sent her a pic of mine. So beautiful.
Tonight I went to dinner at the Kings Park Tavern. A farewell for one of the teams that have played since before I started there. It was a lovely evening, food was excellent and we had a wonderful time. Bittersweet because I probably won’t be back without my Thursday booking. Very sad. We had so much fun I forgot to take a photo. GRRR!
For bed I popped on some Mona di Orio Oiro, a powdery white floral with soft creamy ylang & amber holding it steady. It smells luxurious and very elegant.
Up early to feed and walk the dogs. It’s freaky outside, cloudy, not very hot but so humid that I feel wet. Big day out today with friends so I’m going to jump a train and get it started ASAP. Wearing Diptyque 34.
First friend I organised to meet today is Phil. He has a brand new new office and I had an Office Warming gift for him. Then we asked across town to see “Rembrandt and the Dutch golden age: masterpieces from the Rijksmuseumat” at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. It’s a special exhibition and I have been looking forward to it. The exhibition is a really good size, not too much so you leave with brain overload and a very nice selection of the genre. We found our guide lacked the ability to engage us, which was a shame. She knew ALL the facts and rattled them off impeccably but I felt no personal attachment to the works, and gained only a little knowledge under her onslaught. Then we went down to the Members Lounge and lunched. It was really nice.
Met Evie in Macquarie St and we had sidewalk drinks and chatter. She is such good company and wet had OODLES of catching up to do. Then we headed off to the NSW State Library to see “The Sydney Morning Herald’s photography exhibition Photos1440: the best published and unpublished images by Sydney Morning Herald photographers from 2015 to the present.” It was spectacular. Some interesting, moving, shocking and heartwarming photos. All beautifully shot and gave us so much to chat about as we wandered. We also managed to squeeze in a fun Aussie Pop Culture exhibition too. All for FREE!
Jumped a train to Kath’s, we had to go do some Bunnings shopping. It’s our major hardware chain and has everything, for the Non Australian readers. Just some planters and soil for a repotting job. Before we got there though I finagled Kath into visiting one of my favourite warehouse reduction places, Victoria’s Basement. A homewares heaven. It’s IMPOSSIBLE to go there and come out empty handed. It was super fun. I even managed to have a bunch of bowls jump off their precarious perch. We saved three but one hit the floor and became shards.
Met Jin outside Kath’s apartment because he works around the corner. We had to do some last minute shopping and grab some of the food necessary. Dinner was at our second favourite Sushi Train and then Jin treated me to a shared dessert (triple chocolate mousse cheesecake: To Die For and of probably) and extra chocolate at Guylian. It was so fabulous and decadent.
Bubble Bath with L`Artisan Parfumeur La Chasse aux Papillons.
SOTBed Issey Miyake A Scent in outrageous amounts. Just kept spritzing and respritzing till I was a fumigation machine.
Jin and I were up early and I had a quick spritz of Guerlain Mitsouko EdT.
Walked the dogs, visited Mum at the hospital, did some early morning shopping.
Came home and Jin has started cooking the pork for Christmas. He also does extra crackling and that is superb.
A lovely lunchtime nap. We have the AC on dry so instead of supercooling the air it takes the hot sting and the water out. It leaves our living room a haven and runs at less than half the cost. We have the dogs on their beds and we take the couch. We didn’t even bother to leave the TV on, just a cool quiet room to sleep in.
Found out today that the hotel that has finished Turbo Trivia after about 15 years will be bringing in a new crew after new year and moving it to a better area. I’m glum.
What better way to beat the glum than triple spritz some perfume? One of the newest DIOR Privee, Souffle de Soie from a decant. Review coming soon.
In the evening I went into town and Kath & I went on our annual prawn buying expedition to the Sydney Fish Markets. We catch public transport down on the 23rd night, grab some dinner and shop. The markets are open for 36 hours in the lead up to Christmas and usually they are jam packed. Tonight was not so busy and we even got harbourside seats for dinner and watched the sunset. It was unbelievably beautiful. I could have stopped there for another hour and just chattered away.
Tonight for bed I spritzed The Scent Of Departure DPS Bali. A fun coconut-centric tropical perfume filled to the brim with yellow and white flowers over a vanilla base.
Woke up and gave the house a vacuum, boy cleaned the bathroom, fed and walked the dogs. Gave myself some healthy spritzes of Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Teazzura. A cooling, dry, tart and lightly creamy sweet concoction that lasts about an hour, two if I’m lucky. In this heat I’m getting about 40 minutes before I’m left with a soft laundry musk and a sparkle.
TinaG dropped by on her way to family Christmas and we had Sue’s Christmas Cake and fresh cream with Fortnum & Mason Royal Blend tea and Wirra Wirra Mrs Wigly Sparkling Moscato. Jin was awake and we had a lovely festive time.
Did some blogging in the afternoon but it was pretty lethargic, it’s too hot for prose. Felt the need for some divine beauty this evening so Fort & Manlé’s Charlatan got a lovely wear in the heat.
Made tomorrows Potato Salad, cut the Pork & Crackling and then lay around the couch under the fan till walking the dogs tonight.
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
.
Portia
.
Hi there Fragrance Family,
I don’t know why but there are hardly any pics of this week. I did as much as ever but seem to have forgotten to take happy snaps. That makes this weeks post much more perfume centric.
I’ve also started watching The Good Wife on Netflix and have been reading Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy. Both have been really enjoyable.
Jumped out of bed, rushed the dogs around food and walking. Sprayed a load of Penhaligon’s Ostara and smelled fabulous.
Jumped in the car and headed for my lovely girlfriend Sue’s, grabbed Wendy on the way and we had the most marvellous morning tea. I had a jacket made for Sue in India and so she decided to put on a magnificent spread. It was absolutely divine and I ate like a starving person. SO YUMMY!
There were mini crustless sandwiches, buttered fruit cake, fairy cakes and sausage rolls. All hand made from scratch by Sue. We talked about her days as a caterer and career as a teacher. We even had a business idea Drag Queen High Tea Hens Parties! Imagine how fun that would be.
After that I grabbed Anna Maria and we drove up the Blue Mountains to a Perfume Sale, where I bought a few things. Don’t get excited, only the Mona di Orios (Oiro & Carnation from 2006) are destined for me, the rest are Christmas gifts.
While Anna-Maria and I were shopping I asked her if she’d ever been to the Hydro Majestic. OMG! She hadn’t so we decided to pop up there and have a look. Secretly I was gunning for us to have High Tea there. He He he. TWO lavish tea parties in one day. We had the Champagne High Tea and it was stellar. Anna-Maria is the best company and we laughed and chattered the afternoon away. It was excellent fun.
Got home and really wanted to fall into a diabetic coma but Jin had organised to go to Kath and Alice in the evening to fix their electrics, and Kath’s shower screen.
We were so tired after that that there was no energy for dinner, nothing decent open at 10pm and we saw the golden arches. McDonalds it was. Delicious but, you know, awful, but DELICIOUS!
DEAD
So, there was NO WAY I could then write this weeks Trivia Q&A because my mind was mush so up at 5am to start. Though I was still a bit groggy the work got done in time for Scott to arrive bearing coffees.
We went through some boxes and did a big cull for sale. Sorry, there are only available to Australia. There’s a Sale Doc on Aussie Fragrance Network on FB if you are Aussie and something grabs your fancy. Most are used but almost all are back up bottles of fragrances that I’ll probably never use the original bottle up.
Wore some vintage Guerlain Shalimar Parfum to bed and asked myself again why I wear anything else.
I gave Jin a small amount of money for our Anniversary this year and his Christmas present to buy a shitty little run around car. He has been having a marvellous time looking up websites, meeting owners, test driving and genuinely enjoying the whole experience. Every couple of days he has been giving me updates about it and he is wholly invested in finding a bargain but workable car.
I have no recollection of Wednesday day at all. Seriously. I must have been sleepwalking. I know I took the dogs walking because I took a pic of Paris looking so happy as he sits on command.
I also indulged in a fruit salad, banana, apple, watermelon, cantaloup, pomegranate seeds and dates smothered in Greek yoghurt and honey. So freaking delicious and fulfilling.
We spent the early morning looking at complete wrecks for Jin’s car obsession. So no new car today. Bloody hell, the things people think are worthy.
My mate Aunty Sonni died. She left the house to friends. It’s in a VERY nice part of Sydney that I always used to tell my Mum I’d live in one day. We went to have a look at purchasing it but once we did the math it was going to make our very comfortable life a tight budget fit. Neither of us want to give up the luxury we currently enjoy so it’s a no. BUMMER!
I did have a fragrant arrival. Something I’ve been Jonesing for a while and it’s getting rare as hens teeth so I finally bit the bullet and bought it. It’s such a bummer because I remember when these babies were being run out and I could have got it for less than half the price I paid. Trust me to wait till now to fall in love. GRRRR! Tom Ford Ombre de Hyacinth.
My day was spent waving some CHANEL Antaeus Pour Homme vintage EdT, what a bloody gorgeous fragrance. Total immersion for the first 20 minutes and then a perfect scent story to dip into over the next few hours at will.
Jin came home with a car. He had been talking to this guy and wife around the corner from his work. The car was a good price so he and a couple of his car savvy mechanic workmates jumped in the van and went round to see it at dinner time. They went over the car with a fine toothed comb, test drove it and were given the complete history of servicing receipts in a folder. The car is immaculate, looks brand new and drives beautifully. A 2002 Daihatsu, baby blue for nearly half the amount Jin had to spend. So I bought his first year of insurance and he will be getting new number plates.
Look at that happy face. How could you not love this goofy, handsome, sweetheart?
Dentist day! Went to town for a teeth clean. I love my dentist, so handsome and careful.
Today was spent wandering in original Fendi. one of my great perfume loves. There have been a new rush of Fendi to the market but it doesn’t have the size or longevity of the original, I have a few of both and this one is the real deal. Blow the back of your head off, happily.
TinaG’s birthday today and I am in charge of the birthday present shopping from the four of us. WOO HOO! I walked around the whole ground floor of David Jones City Store and finally settled on CHANEL. No 19 Shower Gel and Body Lotion, a mascara and lip gloss. Beautifully boxed and presented by Laura.
It was a huge hit. TinaG was so excited. YAY!!
We had dinner at our favourite Chinese restaurant Liu Rose. It has the same decor from when I was a toddler and used to come with my parents because it was two doors down from my parents jewellery, watchmaking and gift store.
The birthday cake was Bomb Alaska. OMFG! I seriously couldn’t finish my piece. Amazing.
For bedtime I spritzed some Guerlain Mitsouko EdT. Perfect bedtime scent.
At the computer most of this morning surrounded in a cloud of Guerlain Champs Elysees EdT. It is so dewy, fresh and elegant. I don’t understand why more people aren’t raving about it.
Had the most fabulous LUSH Rose Jam bubble bath, moisturised with Madonna Truth or Dare Naked lotion and spritzed Bal a Versailles EdT like crazy. I’m a little bit fragrant, Good Night. XX
Early morning wake up spritz of Neela Vermeire Creations Pichola.
This morning I was up early to give the house a quick zjush because my mate Evie came over for brunch while daughter Lola had singing lessons nearby. We walked the dogs and grabbed coffees from the local parklands coffee shop, chatting with residents and dogs along the way. I love the village atmosphere of North Parramatta. Then we came home and had a yummy brunch of left over chicken ratatouille chopped small and mixed with mayonnaise, cheese and lettuce on fresh wholegrain bread. Delicious.
Now I’m back at the computer organising blog posts till I get ready for work tonight.
Bubble bath in LUSH Rose Jam and work fragrance courtesy of DIOR Mitzah.
How was your week? What went on? Anything, any little tit bit that you want to share, we love to read it. Jump into the comments below. I can be fragrance related or not, help us get to know you just a little please.
Portia xx
Australian Perfume Junkies 