Valentine's Day can be weird, especially for the unattached. I innocently asked a woman I know fairly well if she was doing anything special, and she burst into tears, having recently broken up with her partner. And I loved this story, about a prank in a Beijing cinema, which meant that couples were unable to sit next to each other, as all the odd numbered seats had been booked by unattached singles.
Either we hope to get a nice surprise, if we have a partner, or we are unwilling to participate in the hype which says we should buy presents for no good reason, or both. And, unless you have a policy, its unlikely you will both do the same, and then both will feel bad. Is it worse to buy a present and get nothing back, or give nothing (because of the hype, of course) and feel guilty because you got something? I have been in both positions, and I think the latter is worse. And having a policy just seems wrong and unspontaneous - but perhaps that's the definition of marriage?
a door opening...pastels and collage
I have signed the contract for my new job, so I am now able to say its a Counselling position with Mercy Community Services in Goodna, working with children and families. So, its very similar to my current job, but four days a week instead of two, which is just about perfect. I wont be starting until March, so will have two more weeks to get ready. Starting the new job coincides with starting back at uni, although I'm 'just' teaching this year not studying as well. So glad that's over.
This is the movie we saw on Valentine's Day: a classic, if dated. Audrey Hepburn is amazing. I laughed out loud when a man sitting next to me - not my partner (he was on the other side, it wasn't Beijing) said 'that was a very ordinary film'. I think he meant 'extraordinary'...it could definitely not be described as ordinary.
However, it was over 50 years old, and thankfully single women have more options these days than hoping to marry a rich man who will buy her diamonds. Interesting that both the female and male leading characters are sort of prostituting themselves, although the man (George Peppard) is supported by a patroness (Patricia Neal), which sounds slightly more acceptable.
bird brooch by my friend Kareen
Another extraordinary film is 12 years a slave. Harrowing, true and very moving" everyone should see it, but only when feeling emotionally strong enough to deal with the vicarious trauma.
Cycling today felt like moving through warm
treacle. The temperature is supposed to be about 38 degrees, so I am
really appreciating the air conditioning, and feeling thankful that we
finally succumbed this Spring. At least the solar panels are generating
more power as fast as we consume it (we still get negative bills). 35 degrees used to be really hot, but that
seems to have been replaced by the top thirties, even 40 on some days,
in some parts of Australia.
more later.
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