Keep on movin'

Everyone is on the move these days. Friends, family, strangers - everyone seems to be uprooting or moving and if they're not it's probably because they're stuck under a cloud of volcanic ash.

I use the term 'these days' pretty loosely, meaning more like 'this year' or 'at this time in my life'. Some are getting married, some are having babies, others are travelling, starting businesses, nine-to-fiving, job-hunting - and then there are the Floaters, those of us stuck wondering about the outcome of a still-verdictless life (watch the music-video above).

I think it's a Quarter-Life Crisis. Do the rest of the twenty-somethings feel the same?

At a wedding on the weekend, where I cut my teeth photographing somebody's Most Important Day, I had a chat to a very dear friend. She's been on the move as long as I can remember, studying abroad and now pushing forward in a career. I've taken cues from her - do what you love, have fun, etc, but the search for Something To Do has lead to more than I can handle.

Seeing the world opens your eyes to possibility and there are an overwhelming number of possibilities out there. What happens next? Which path to take? Get ahead in your career? Start a family before you're too old (not yet, thanks)? Travel more (yes, please)?

Last month I started a job I really like and has potential to keep me interested for a good while. Income - check.

Next week I'm moving out of home. Properly. That's one other step I need to keep going around the board - past Go and sadly not collecting $200 but shelling it out instead. My own roof over my head - check.

Direction and self-fulfillment and eternal happiness? That's on the way, right? I've already said finishing university was the easy part, it's just choosing a path to follow now that I'm having trouble with. What do you do when you want to do everything?

Fat Tuesday

Yesterday was one of those times I wish I was back in Europe, with money to burn and nothing to do but eat. Today is unfortunately too late, because being Wednesday and a Wednesday of the Ash variety, it's the start of Lent.

The particular Tuesday that was yesterday is know here as Shrove Tuesday, or for our very secular nation, Pancake Day. A day of feasting, of celebration, that is done more correctly (in my opinion) in Europe and South America. What would you prefer - crappy pancakes on the school barbeque, or the masquerade parades and fireworks of Venice? The point is to indulge before you spend the next 40 days obtaining absolution for your sins by way of confession and penance. It's no wonder the French call it Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday.

If Italy wasn't an option, I'd take Brazil. I've heard Rio has a few celebrations on the go, and if we throw in the 2016 Olympic hype it's probably not a bad little party. Mardi Gras was one of those word that gave me a lightbulb moment in France - the translation suddenly clicked, and then everything fell into place. Too bad I'm back home this time, but I've no doubt Venice will one day play host to me and a mask or two.

Not that I'm a particularly sinful person, but I did have a couple of indulgences myself yesterday. On Monday I received an offer of employment for the job I'd been crossing my fingers for, and was particularly excited about the whole occasion that I went out and bought a car. I sold my last one when I went away, and while it's nice driving Mum's brand new car every now and then, the freedom to get around on a whim in Adelaide, oh ye town of little public transport, is highly valued.

She still needs a name, but here's a picture:


Another debt to add to the list but a debt worth having in my opinion.

One more thing - while everyone in Europe is still scraping snow off their cars, we're preparing for another heatwave of at least 4 days above 37 degrees celcius. Unfortunately it's bushfire season, and Ash Wednesday also marks the anniversary of some devastating fires in South Australia and Victoria in 1983. It was one of Australia’s costliest natural disasters, with over 3,700 buildings destroyed or damaged. 2,545 individuals and families lost their homes which is probably a bit too much to give up for Lent. Not quiet so many fatalities and Haiti, but destructive nonetheless. If I prayed, it would be for some idiot not to throw their cigarette out the window and start another fire.

I'm not a very Christian person, so I don't partake in Lent, but I'm sure it's not a bad time to think about the things we do have, and the things we can do without (I just can't do without a car). I've got a job, and home, a beautiful boyfriend coming to visit tomorrow, and a weekend of perhaps un-Lent-like festivities at the Adelaide Fringe Festival.

Fat Tuesday may have been extended to Fat Week.

Pink and Perfect

This weekend featured a couple of a baby-related celebrations, thankfully none of them mine :)

There is one on the way, which called for pink macarons and High Tea;

And one already arrived:

Trying to get a start somewhere, I offered to photography my friend Nicole's daughter Lily Grace so I can start building a portfolio. I've been reading Anne Geddes autobiography, and while there are no pot-plant babies in the near future for me, it's interesting to see how other people have built their careers. I've also found a local wedding photographer who'll let me tag along on some jobs for experience.

The purpose of all this is for me to try as many different avenues and see what I enjoy. I've found a passion in this hobby, but I'm not sure yet where I want to take it. This afternoon I'm off to photograph somebody else's Valentines Day and it's a paid job for a change. Cheers to a few more on the horizon!

When I grow up...

We the Robots © Chris Harding

Next year I'm going to have 2 degrees. I don't even know if I want to use them... but I can do anything I want, right? I'm Generation Y! I'll have 14 careers before I'm thirty five!

Actually, I've already had more than 25 part-time jobs. Really. Is that wrong? I worked at McDonalds, at two supermarkets, a shoe store, a catering company, a juice bar, and a furniture store. I delivered the newspaper and looked after kids and helped my Dad and crossed names of the electoral roll. I've had 3 marketing jobs and now I'm almost qualified and I get to start my real career? Which will be... I have no idea.

The future is getting closer and I'm freaking out a little bit.