Beyond My Control

Clicks and Bricks

Online shopping. Retailers suffering. High Australian dollar. Controversy.

Frankly, I just like to shop.

I buy in stores, I buy online. I buy local products, I buy foreign products. I buy from local online stores, I buy from international bricks and mortar stores. I buy.

Clothes and shoes in particular. As I may have mentioned before I basically sleep in my closet. I get bored easily and like to buy new things. I am getting better at clearing out the old things. If I won the lottery I would spend my life travelling the world first class, staying in fabulous hotels and buying clothes and shoes. Oh, and set up a huge charitable foundation. Of course. Goes without saying. Right?

When I go overseas, which I do two or three times a year for work and/or a break, I go shopping. Always. I just came back from Paris and London with a number of successful work outcomes and a bag full of basics for next winter. And a pair of gold designer shoes.

I also frequent international online stores.

My rules for my international shopping trips, both real and virtual, are the same:

1.    I don't buy Australian designers or products overseas, ever. Although increasingly I can, and at prices that are comparable.

2.    I don't buy anything overseas that I can buy here at even close to the same price. So the chain stores that exist here I usually don't even look at. (I am probably one of the few people actively annoyed by the arrival of stores like Zara and the forthcoming arrival of Topshop and Uniqlo in Australia. I like picking up cheaper stuff from those stores overseas and have them be unique at home; now everyone will have access. (But, really, the arrival of Uniqlo will be a boon for buying basics, believe me.))

3.    If I can buy an international product in Australia for a comparable price, I will do so, but if I can't, I'll buy online.

The last point is relevant to why so many people buy online, I think. The items I buy online are items that either (a) I cannot get here at all; or (b) I cannot get here at an even remotely the same price.

Take those gold shoes. Bought in Paris, in the designer store, at full price. I can in fact buy them here if I look hard. For almost $300 more than I paid in Europe. I could also have bought them online, and likely would have had I not managed to sneak 2 days in Paris, for the European price plus non-prohibitive shipping.

When it comes to Australian products, I also buy in store and online from Australian stores. And over the last couple of days I've had the perfect example of these things coming together in a way that made me laugh. Largely at my own laziness, but also at the way things sometimes work out.

Last evening I was killing time in the office waiting for an email before I had to leave for a seminar. There was no point in starting something new, so I was surfing the web and visited the site of one of my favourite local retailers, Alice Euphemia. They have both a regular store and an online one.

I wasn't intending to buy anything, but then I saw a dress that I loved, by an Australian designer, and I ordered it, just like that. Took all of two minutes. If I had been in the store itself I probably would never have noticed the dress in the way I did online.

I got the confirming emails and then, about 10 minutes after I placed the order, my phone rang. It was the store. Hugely apologetic, she advised that the site hadn't been updated during the day, and they were sold out of the size I'd ordered. However, she'd ordered lower numbers in that size because the sizing ran big and most people fitted into a lower size. She'd call the designer to see if they had any in the size I'd ordered, but in the meantime would I like them to send across the smaller one to try and check?

Here's where the worlds collided, because, really, I was just being lazy, as the actual store is only a block and a half from my office. So, I said I'd just come down and try it on. If it fits, great, if not, they'll re-credit my card in the store on the spot.

And so I went down today. They not only had the lower size waiting for me, they'd called the designer and had the larger size on its way if necessary. I tried on the dress, the lower size fitted perfectly, they wrapped it up and I left the store, bag in hand. Complete with online purchase bonus bottle of nail polish.

If I'd actually spotted the dress in the store and the smaller size was the only one on the rack, I'd never have tried it on the same way I'd never have ordered it online.

When I got back to the office the 'your order has shipped' email was in my inbox.

Best of both worlds.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to trawl the internet for shoes, because the gold ones just don't go with the new dress...

 

 

 

 

Never Doubt Stephanie

(or Jonathan's).

In recent times (ok, since I've had a car) I've become the type of person who zips all over town on a weekend morning picking up ingredients from a variety of different places.

I am very fortunate that O'Heas Bakery and Deli, the source of fabulous bread and host to a giant cheese cabinet and a large variety of pasta (and that's before you even get to the cakes, which, again fortunately, aren't my thing) is 3 minutes walk from my house. I always have fresh crusty bread and bitey cheese on hand.

And then I flit around, sometimes to the Victoria Market, but frequently to LaMannas for fruit and veg and flowers, and Meditteranean Wholesalers for so many things. To Victoria Street for the Asian supermarket and spices and herbs, and kitchenware. Other places for fish and meat and beans and more cheese.

I really quite enjoy spending a Saturday morning gathering up provisions from a variety of places.

This morning, my eyes more on furniture at Angelluci - I'm looking for a lamp and a rug and a table for the entry hall - I took the opportunity to drop into Jonathan's and pick up some sausages and a lamb noisette (with basil and garlic), i.e. lamb roast for one (with left overs).

To remind myself of the cooking time I consulted Stephanie, as any wise person would do. Her Cook's Companion is really an essential in any kitchen.

Nevertheless, I was a little sceptical. Lamb loin, 500gm, 10 minutes at 220 degrees, plus 15 minutes rest, to produce a nice pink roast? That seems very short. Short enough that I could do it after work on a weeknight.

I had faith, however, and went with it.

My faith was rewarded.

Fabulous, simple, non-time-consuming roast. Pink, but cooked, cripsy on the outside, and so, so tender.

Served with fresh peas, and mushrooms tossed in a pan with a little olive oil and garlic and thyme and the pan juices from the lamb.

Simple, easy, yum.

 

 

 

 

The Switch Gets Flipped

I'm not sure if it works the same way for everyone else, but for me I'll think about doing something for ages but nothing will actually make it happen. Or have a particular mindset about something, and it doesn't even occur to me to change it.

And then, suddenly, with no obvious trigger, it will change.

My willpower to eat better and actually lose weight instead of just knowing I should will just exist and it's not even hard. Where before it was impossible.

I'll, without any active consideration, suddenly have no trouble getting up at 6am every morning and going into work. Where before I spent months hitting 'sleep' for another hour or hour and a half no matter how much easier work would be if I got in early.

A switch in my brain just gets flipped. Don't know how, or why, and usually it's long overdue, but it just happens and I'm so much in a new mindset that I don't even contemplate why I was in the previous one.

This week's switch flipping is in relation to my wardrobe.

It's vast. As you would have seen around here before.

I like to shop, I like to buy clothes, and previously I have liked to accumulate. The first two aren't going to change - I don't want them to - but on the accumulation point something seems to have fundamentally altered.

I had figured out some time ago that I keep buying new clothes both because I enjoy it, but also, fundamentally, because I get bored easily. Hang on, I feel like I wear that dress every other day, I need something different. Let's buy that and that. Move on to the next thing. Get bored again. All of that and the high Aussie $ equals 60 dresses very quickly.

Every couple of years I'll do a closet clean-out and send a bunch of things to the op shop and a bunch to the bin, but I'll also keep many things that I virtually never wear. Because they're good quality. And it's always handy to have another option. Etc etc.

Since I lost some of that weight, basically everything in my wardrobe fits, or is too big (though this isn't about getting rid of things that are too big just because they're too big; I very much need a larger sized wardrobe for when that 'eating well' switch flips back off). That's meant looking at large tracts of my wardrobe that have been off limits for the last two (or three) years. Which has been great; ooh, I can wear that jacket/skirt/dress/jeans/jeans/jeans again!

It has also been a revelation of other sorts though. The oh, turns out I really never wore that dress not because it didn't fit me, but because I don't really like it. There are a few things that are three or four years old and still have tags on them. Bought when I was bored, or delusional, or denying for a moment the fundamentals I know about what styles suit me.

The accumulation factor at work.

Sometime over the weekend, what with the weight loss and the next overseas shopping opportunity work trip looming, my mind started turning to a big closet clean-out.

And then moved on from the usual case of op shop plus bin, and to hang on, I could fund part of the upcoming Parisian shopping expedition by actually selling some of these unworn or barely worn garments.

Suddenly the desire to hold on to things faded even further. What about those shoes that rubbed my feet so I never wore them again. Or the ones that really aren't the right size no matter how much I want them to be? I could sell them and make some room to buy more than are the right size.

The mental pile of clothes and shoes to clear out started to get much bigger and much more ruthless.

I still have some great pieces that I don't wear but that I intend to keep and archive. And I definitely wear (or will, given that it now all fits) probably 2/3 of the wardrobe so I'm hardly going to be narrowing things down substantially. I also have a number of things that will be going to the op shop and a number to the bin. 

But a whole lot of others are going into an Ebay auction over the next few weeks, and off to new homes where they'll actually be appreciated.

And any cash that I make? That's getting spent on shoes. Obviously.

Then it will be time for another brain switch to flip. Wonder if the 'I'm going to relearn French before I go to France' switch could manage to flip from 'staring at the pile of French books sitting gathering dust on the ottoman' to 'actually relearning French' before I go away?

 

 

 

 

 

Customer Service

My iPhone died.  A couple of weeks ago, right at the end of the Sydney Week*, suddenly the battery turned to complete crap.

Yesterday I finally got around to going into the Optus store and explaining the problem.  I was really just testing the waters, to see what kind of a hassle was going to be involved, and I hadn't taken my proof of purchase or my old phone to switch my SIM card into with me.  Which turned out to be a good thing.  Because the guy in the store yesterday was all "Apple doesn't let us touch anything and we have to send it away for three weeks or you can take it out to an Apple store yourself conveniently located only at Chadstone and Doncaster**".

As unsatisfactory as that advice was, it wasn't unexpected.

And when I got back to the office the phone died completely, offering me only a white screen of death.

So today - after I had dealt with the fact our server crashed this morning leaving me with no internet access or email from anywhere and forced to put my staff to reorganising filing cabinets and shredding stuff because our business is so dependent on both those things - I dutifully went down to the store with my SIM card already switched into my old phone and my proof of purchase in hand.

I got a different guy in the store, who was all "hmmm, let's see if I can get it started, have you done a restore? you have? sometimes it needs a full restore, look I'll book it in now, but I'll see what I can do with a software restore today because often that's all it needs and you could get it back this afternoon, otherwise it's off to Apple for two weeks."

At 5.15pm he called me to say he'd done the full restore, been testing it, including the battery, all afternoon and I could come and pick it up. 

Which I did, plugged it into my computer and loaded the back-up and now, so far, it is fine.  I haven't completely uncrossed my fingers because I want to see how the battery goes over the next few days, but so far, way to go Optus dude.  

On an unrelated note, I'm going to have to start mentioning more things I want on this blog just to see what happens.  Having mentioned a couple of weeks back that I wanted a meat mallet, Betty and Rach added one to my birthday present bag of goodies, so I am now mallet compliant.  Thanks!  And now I would like...

* Re the travel thing.  So far this year I have flown somewhere at least once every month.  I have just noticed it is now September and so far I have no flights booked.  I have some booked for November, and I know there's a strong likelihood of travel in October, but I'm starting to wonder where I should be going in September.  Any suggestions?  Of course, this time last month I didn't have any trips planned and I wound up going to Sydney three times in a week, so one doesn't want to worry to much about spoiling my record just yet.

** Speaking of which, what is up with that Apple? Store in the city, please?

Errand Day

Do you sometimes have those days when you go shopping for inane stuff and are then kind of amazed at the odd assortment of things you come home with? 

I went out this morning to buy one thing - an Ikea gift voucher - and keep an eye out for two others - a spoon rest and slippers.  I planned to be back by lunch time.  As it turned out I got back at 5pm and had acquired the following odd list of things (in order of purchase):

- underwear
- spoon rest
- Ikea voucher
- teriyaki sauce
- hoisin sauce
- red miso
- miso with benito for miso soup
- dried fried shallots
- black beans
- stockings
- Living Etc
- Engagement card
- tin of tomato soup
- hot salami

Also an unplanned afternoon meet up with friends.

Things strongly considered but not actually purchased:

- moose shaped pasta
- a dress on sale at Saba but unavailable in my size
- sheets, also on sale but really not needed

Things I was keeping an eye out for but did not purchase because all viewed examples were either "granny" or "bogan": slippers.

Retail Therapy

As you will know by now, a trip is not a trip for me without shopping, and I must therefore finish off the Hawaii coverage with the loot:

Skirt, couple of cardigans, jeans, hoodie, couple of t-shirts, a bunch of underwear, some accessories, one pair of non-sneaker shoes (two pairs of sneakers), shorts, and the centre pieces, these two dresses:

The blue one is wool and I intend to wear it with long sleeves underneath and a belt for winter.

All in all, I'm pretty happy with the lot.

Hawaii – Days 8 & 9

These were a couple of fairly simple days.  Get up when wake up – not that late as it turns out, as with home, ain’t so good at sleeping in any more – meander around generally.  Jump on the bus and head out to the mall to do some shopping.

The bus is just the regular local bus service, and really easy to use.  But the driver on the second trip was a tour guide of the best kind.  Funny, but not trying too hard.  First, he gave everyone transfers – effectively your next ride free – that lasted until the end of the day instead of the two hours they were meant too.  Then, he gave a running commentary along the lines of on your left is a great free museum, on your right is a 24 hour diner that does Karaoke, on your left is an all you can eat seafood restaurant, on your right is the new Trump tower being built which is massive and sold out pretty much right away despite huge prices. Oh, and he sang the Gilligan’s Island theme as he pointed out the marina where the opening credits were shot.

I did some good shopping – I’ll probably post a photo of the loot when all is unpacked – I think I only bought one that that wasn’t on sale, and I don’t think I overdid it.  Having done the closest clean-out before leaving was a good thing, I was focused.  Though I still can’t find a pair of black pants I like to save my life.

Yesterday afternoon I also wandered around the zoo for an hour or so.  It’s about three minutes walk from my hotel.  Obviously I have an affinity with zoos for some reason, staying close to one here, and living 5 minutes from one at home.

Other than that, some wandering and soaking up the lovely weather.  I did actually put feet on the Waikiki sand momentarily.  Here’s a view of Diamond Head from the other end of the beach.  That’s my hotel on the left.

I ate, I drank, and I finished up where I started, with a final Bloody Mary (ordered with no olive) at the original bar…

…and a final sunset from the hotel balcony (room one floor up and one back from the original room).

Bye bye Hawaii.

Productive

Despite the stupid heat around here recently, I feel quite productive.

For example, yesterday I bought bathers.  Two pairs in fact. 

It was not nearly as painful as you (I) might think.  Sure, I was driven by the need for a pair of bathers that actually fits for my upcoming holiday, but I'm also the person that in my entire adult life has owned only 4 pairs of bathers.  And one of those were my high school speedos.  And I am currently at, shall we say, the peak of my weight.

But I went in with the attitude that I'm reasonably good at knowing what I want in this regard; top must, must have an underwire, and I was looking for a pair of board shorts in addition to regular bottoms.  And, further, I've watched enough Trinny and Susannah and Tim Gunn to pick up a few tips.  So I went to an actual swim suit store aimed at actual women but not grannies - Seafolly - as opposed to the string bikini surf shops, and tried on several tops and bottoms in cuts I wouldn't normally go for but which were recommended as flattering.

I spent a small fortune, but I came away with two pairs that feel comfortable and as flattering as I can get.  Wish the poolside was only a week away instead of 5.

Continuing with the "productive theme", I am, at present, baking a cake.  Two in fact.  For an anniversary at work.  If they work, photos and recipes will follow.

In addition to baking the cake, I have also tonight made some lamb and mint meat balls, served in pita with salad.

I am particularly pleased with these last two because I didn't get home from work until 7.45pm, but I overcame my initial inclination to retire directly to the couch with ice cream instead of baking or cooking or both. 

I think this sudden productivity comes from having spent the last week and a half in a combination of travelling and lying around groaning in the heat.  Until this evening I hadn't eaten a meal at home in well over a week, so now I'm making up for it by a cooking frenzy.

Now, mmmm, I smell cake.

Oh, and yes, my kitchen is now a complete mess.

Tonight was cooking night, TOMORROW will be dishes night.  Maybe.  Can't be productive all at once.

Lazy Dressing

I wore a new dress to work today. 

For the second time this week.

In fact since Christmas I have bought three new dresses.  Total cost less than $200, got to love those sales.

This sudden attack of dress-ing-up has come about through a combination of:

(a)    being too lazy to iron all the shirts in my closet and therefore eliminating quite a few of the usual work clothes options;

(b)    having put on so much weight over the Christmas period that more than a few items don't currently fit me and therefore eliminating quite a few of the usual work clothes options; and

(c)    wanting something different for the summer wardrobe.

Sadly (c) comes a distant third in considerations, however I've been getting so many compliments in the office for doing something a little different that it's quickly rising.  Also, the three dresses I've bought will work just as well when I've lost the Christmas weight (some down, more to go), and once that happens I'll be able to pull out the cute green shirtdress I bought last year in New York but which currently remains unworn because it doesn't fit me AND requires ironing.

Anyway, the new dresses have managed to make me feel sartorially refreshed, and have pleased the girls in the office no end.  Because of the amount of traveling I do the standard phrase out of their mouths when I wear something new is "oh, that's cute, let me guess, you bought it overseas".  That the answer three times in a row has now been "actually, I bought it yesterday" has them quite pleased.  Especially as the words "for $30" have often been on the end. 

Actually, we've all been doing pretty well in the sales this year.  In my office there are seven women aged between 21 and 64, and we've all managed to score some cute new summer fashions at wholly reasonable prices.  The almost-recession is good for something.

Though I did notice today a substantial amount of autumnal clothing hitting the stores.  I wonder how quickly they'll be on sale.

Also, that $15 woven belt I bought from Just Jeans two years ago has suddenly become the best purchase I ever made.

Just doing my bit for the economy

When it comes to the major sales – Boxing Day, End of Fin Year – I don’t have any patience for the crowds or the madness when it comes to clothes or shoes or anything that I have to try on or have a sales person assist me with.  But where that’s not required, namely manchester etc, I can sometimes be persuaded.

Last year I took the opportunity to buy some desperately needed new pillows.  This year, having slept in on Boxing Day, and then lazed around watching the cricket for a while, I decided to take advantage of having a car for a few days, and having access to a free parking spot in town. 

There were two things I wanted to look at/buy.  First, I’m on the lookout for a sideboard and while I didn’t expect to find anything I liked, thought it was worthwhile to just take a look at Domayne during sale time, just in case.  Second, I wanted new towels.  Not that there’s anything wrong with the towels I have now, I was just tired of the colours and wanted something brighter.  And you can never have too many towels.

I was in and out in an hour and a half, went to two places, and came home sans sideboard, but with the following much-discounted haul:



- the towels I went for
- new cushions
- new sheets
- new cotton blanket

I’m quite pleased with myself, really.   And trust Wayne Swan is too.