it was a john lennon, kind of night..

My thursday night started at the gun shop cafe, in west end. Twas my first ever staff christmas party. http://thegunshopcafe.com/ The whole night had a john lennon feel to it. We talked politics and feminism, peace and love.

THE SCENE: Imagine a deceiving little cafe shop front. With a hidden away outside area out the back. We were seated on an elevated long table and it had a homey atmosphere. The table was thick wood, dishes were all served on mismatching coloured plates.

THE FOOD: Oysters, bread soaked in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Scallops and creamy, sticky risotto with gingerbread ice cream to finish it off.

I had smart women, quick wits and delicious food all around me...

I had a quiet moment of reflection after a bumble bee haphazardly landed on an abandoned and forgotten entree plate.. The bumble bee lazily wandered around and I adored him. Once noticed by everyone else. The topic of conversation went to bees and interesting facts, about bees were swapped..

"When a queen bee has lived her odd 6 years of life little larvae are given extra nutrition and care producing 10 or so contenders for the revered position.. The strongest "princess" bee instinctually murders her competition to arise the victor and future sovereign.."

Many apple ciders in jam jars later. Weary cheeks from smiling and laughing.. We travelled home.. The taxi home had us singing the chorus to war is over "AAAANNND  soOOOO this is Xmas.... What have YOUUUUU done...? " 

We flew amongst the many lights reflected up at us as we drove alongside the Brisbane river through kangaroo point and then magically across the Story Bridge.. Life is grand, dear readers.

Happy Christmas (War is Over) by John Lennon

And so this is christmas.. What have you done?
Another year over 

And a new one just begun 

And so this is Christmas 

I hope you have fun 

The near and the dear one 

The old and the young 

A very merry Christmas 

And a happy New Year 

Let's hope it's a good one 

Without any fear 

And so this is Christmas 

For weak and for strong 

For rich and the poor ones 

The road is so long. 

And so happy Christmas 

For black and for white 

For yellow and red ones 

Let's stop all the fight 

A very merry Christmas 

And a happy New Year 

Let's hope it's a good one 

Without any fear 

And so this is Christmas 

And what have we done 

Another year over 

And a new one just begun 

And so this is Christmas 

I hope you have fun 

The near and the dear one 

The old and the young 

A very merry Christmas 

And a happy New Year 

Let's hope it's a good one 

Without any fear 

War is over over 

If you want it 

War is over 

Now... 

Kisses for now, dear readers xxx

Pressure makes diamonds..

Rita Hayworth and Orson Welles. 

"In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love; they had five hundred years of democracy and peace and what did they produce? The cuckoo clock." - Orson Welles 

self reliance, independence and summer..

IT IS SUMMER! So I now have 3 months off, from university studies. I will be working/blogging/painting/creating/reading. I will be able to focus on me. Somewhere in there peeps I will also be outdoors on adventures, moving to Brisbane and living off coffee. 

Kisses for now, dear readers... 

funny and scary kids halloween costumes..

Miss Piggy and Kermit

Jigsaw from Saw????

 Johnny Cash

Dr Zoidberg from Futurama

Mythbusters

Oompa Loompa

Leggo, Indiana Jones

Walter, Breaking Bad

My fav - the Grinch

Tin Tin

Hobbit

Russell from Up

If you know of any other cute ones, I will add them to this post! Just send them to me. teacosyrippa@gmail.com

Kisses for now, dear readers.. 

my dream job.. and the "H" word...

Ok, here is a snapshot into how my life has changed since getting my dream job and using the H word. The "H" word or happy, is a scary word for me, dear readers. I am such a cynic (because of bad breakups, bad luck and bad jobs) and using the H word for me is rare.. When people ask about my life, I tend to stick with "ok" and "everything's good" or I emit lame non-committal sounds .  

I steer clear of saying the jinxed word "happy". 

I dare to say, that the universe has renewed my faith in it, and in myself. I feel as though I can tentatively say.. I am happy. Ok now for some of some snapshots over the last couple days.. 

 I get off the train at Central Station in the middle of Brisbane. Walk past Soupa, where the girls are super sweet. I get a Vanilla Marshmallow Cappuccino and always a little surprise to start my day off :) 

Part of our organisation giving accurate industrial advice, involves training. I have been involved in some amazing training. Such as being down at the Anti-Discrimination Commission of Queensland for a course on the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act 1991. 

Me at work, at my desk. 

This was my table setting for attending the annual Industrial Relations Society of Queensland's high tea put on by  IRIQ - Industrial Relations Consulting Firm.

Amongst the leading industrial relations elite was Deputy President Ingrid Asbury of the Fair Work Commission. Beautifully spoken woman, all class and inspirational. Advice that Commissioner Asbury gave young women starting out in industrial relations that resonated with me.. "Don't be afraid to make mistakes, I have made many in my career, and I have learnt from them. Don't be afraid to go outside your comfort zone and ask questions. Let whatever direction your career pushes you in, let the direction take you". 

Chambord lime and Soda after work with colleagues at the Fox Hotel in South Brisbane. 

I live in the beautiful beachy Gold Coast and work in the trendy centre of Brisbane City. I have my dream job and I feel as though life is only getting better.. I will never again deviate from what I want in life, do not stick with a mediocre job, readers! I have stayed true to what I want and that has been rewarded. 

I know my dream job would be some kind of cowgirl driving the Kharma bus but this job is as close as I am going to get. 

Kisses for now, dear readers... 

Thursday's child has far to go..

A post about travelling. 

Be inspired dear reader, its time for a weekly inspirational dose of random pictures. This week I picked travel and included a memoir about my train ride from the Gold Coast to Brisbane...

Kayangan Lake, Philippines. 

I am writing to you on the train 730am Wednesday morning, from the Gold Coast to Brisbane on a wi-fi enabled carriage. I need to explain my chipper mood, I have my dream job, which makes my long years of imprisonment service at the institution called Griffith University seem worth it. I now see my sentence graduation date as a real thing. 

Fiji Islands.

I am a quitter. This is not a secret dear readers. The only thing that I quit that was a good thing, was pack a day smoking. But my other premature project abandonments, are embarrassing. For example...My study looks like I am really crafty! TRUTH IS IT IS A graveyard of unfinished business ideas... Ugh! going in there is beginning to really stress me out. Thus, my little seat and area on the train has become my blog office for the next 45 mins. 

Biking in Amsterdam.

I am such a people watcher, readers. And lamely enough, a shoe watcher. Shoes are the real workers of the human world. BAM! Pixar movie called "shoes"! Think about it, old leather shoes that have seen years of service, white socks in mary janes, that are prissy and girly, thongs the traditional Australian choice, with thick Aussie accents, Ballet shoes as control freaks. The villain could be some company (Crocs) that wants to make shoes obsolete, that promises humans comfort and only other shoes realise that they are hideous and evil.

I also love glancing at the different people on the train on their different journeys. People off to Brisbane to explore, to work. There is a man sleeping on his shoulder with his coffee canister being held lovingly on his lap with both hands intertwined. A beautiful girl reading one of Lauren Conrad's memoirs (she's engaged now isn't she the beetch). The bags are impressive also. Oroton, Collette Hayman, my Burberry, canvas bags of various proficiency.

Eiffel Tower, Paris.

Alright, enough about this train ride. People are beginning to wonder about my incredible interest in them. I hate that awkward moment when people look at you, when your looking at them. Looking up is the worst option! I tend to blink and move my head this is to confuse them into thinking that I was just blinking in their direction, not looking at them! Gosh! Yes readers this is a common situation for me.. Judge me! I asked for it by divulging this.. haha

Some of my favourite moments on the train has been listening or chiming into conversations people are engaged in. I heard one man say "the only course he likes is a racecourse". I have also seen a man wearing ladies diamond rings on all his fingers, laughing. Not even real laughing, just laughing dramatically for at least 30 mins. This concludes this post. Move on with your life.

Kisses for now, dear readers. 

♥ Maleficent - 2014 Disney movie ♥

Get cray cray..  So you all know Sleeping Beauty - 1959, Aurora, true love's kiss the spell shall break, those delightful fairies Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, swoon worthy Philip, the owl dancing in his clothes, the incredible song "once upon a dream" etc. etc.. Disney has decided to alter the fairy tale and bring us (the generation that grew up on Disney) 'Maleficent' - evil has a beginning.

For those who just lost it! Angelina Jolie (the gorgeous creature) will be playing the evil sorceress. Elle Fanning as Aurora. Filming began in June 2012 and is set to be released March 2014.  #cantevenhandleit 

This is the untold story of what made Maleficent's heart harden, turn her to darkness and curse the young princess. 

To me Angelina Jolie is stunning when she is hurt or crazed (Girl, Interrupted). She is the absolute perfect person to play the sultry, magnificent role of a fierce sorceress.  

I have always gravitated towards the villains in the Disney movies, I have always wanted them to find peace (albeit not at the death of our heroes). 

They usually have such power, such commanding strength and they are striving towards righting an injustice they have experienced. We are taught there is no such thing as evil. People need to be given a chance, that if your having a bad time and its your reality, you just need to explain it. For example, my tears of frustration when something as mundane as fixing a sentence is interrupted because my mac (dinosaur old) won't respond, turns into me hating my boyfriend about leaving a cup on the bench. That's why we all loved Wicked. That's why we love Once Upon A Time. 

IMDB LINK TO INFO

Don't deny it, we relate to villains.. We all know what it is like to feel misunderstood and murderous rage or vindictive plot planning at the smallest things. I will keep you updated with whatever I find about this movie. Kisses for now, dear readers.