Badges of Honour

Today is the last day of the Sydney Monorail winding its way around Darling Harbour and the city. From what I have been hearing in the media, it won't be missed a lot,  but it reminded me that I had a piece of history related to the monorail.

Here it is

a badge from the original protest against the monorail. I have managed to keep it all these years in a box where I keep old coins and badges. 

As I was looking for it I came across a couple more vintage badges from the late 1970's,  from the time when Gough Whitlam had been sacked as Prime Minister and Malcolm Fraser installed.  One even managed to combine 2 political protest movements, the sacking of Gough and the exporting of uranium as shown below..

I think that is meant to be the opposite of a good day!

My favourite, and don't you love the caricature?

It got me to thinking as I am wont to do, we don't seem to do or wear badges like we used to. I had quite a collection over the years, some hilarious, some philosophical and some downright silly. However they were a good way to convey what you were thinking, a bit like wearing your heart on your sleeve, you wore your badge on your lapel. Here are a couple of other oldies but goodies.

Mothers Day circa 1989 or 1990, Mothers got free rides at Luna Park on Mothers Day, and I sure got my mother's day worth!

Need I say more??

I have been known to wear this one to work on occasions!

A good message for all of us

Remember the "flat cat" craze of the mid 1990's, I loved them, this one especially appealed to me.

A funny story about one of my most favourite badges. I bought this particular  one in Leichhardt around 1980 on a Saturday morning after a big Friday night, it read "I used to feel young". 

I kept it and wore it occasionally and then on my first trip to Paris I had it on my backpack. At this point the badge was 22 years old, so it really DID mean what it said.   

Well,  while visiting Napoleon's tomb, it fell off my bag and down into the crypt where he was buried  and then bounced along the marble floor. If any of you know it you know it's all very quiet and solemn so the noise of the badge running along the floor made so much noise, that I got spooked and picked up my bag and slunk out, hoping not to get arrested!

Here is a pic of the inside, I was up the top and it fell down from there.

However,  I  do think of that badge from time to time, and if anyone ever found it down there near Napoleon's tomb and wonder how it got there, and how apt it was,  saying;

"I used to feel young" indeed you did Emperor!

What about you, did you ever "get into" badges, or do you think they should make a comeback??

Jet Setting, part 1

My sister is going to Amsterdam on Saturday for work and going Emirates Business Class and it got me to thinking about packing for an overseas trip. I have been to Amsterdam about 4 times and I love the city, it is really lovely and the people very friendly and welcoming and they speak absolutely perfect English which certainly lessens the angst of travelling.

I cannot confirm or deny if I have had any "special" cafe treats while there, but I think I might have inhaled some passive smoke (if you get my drift!)  I actually have a funny story about a space cake but you'll have to come back for that one!

I like to think that over the years I have got packing for a trip down to a fine art. I can do a 3 week trip to the US with just carry on luggage! One year for work I did 7 international trips and earned my stripes for packing!


So I thought I would share with you some of my packing essentials.

Do you remember the old American Express traveller cheques TV ad?  Mr Wong said never leave home without it? Well I never leave home with my....

 

My Qantas Club Card! If you fly enough you can get complimentary membership, and I have in the past, however I still pay for my own membership it makes international flying a great deal more pleasant. Lounge access and champers before flying, showers and refreshments during stopovers and extra luggage, dedicated check in and seat preferences. After all I am worth it! :-)

 A good travel wallet, to keep all your documents, itineraries, hotel and airline cards etc (always have your tickets and bookings in a printed copy as well as e copy)

 A small travelling umbrella so you are ready for whatever the weather throws at you. I love this one as it has the kangaroos on it and it does draw people to ask you if you are from Australia, a good conversation starter.

Shoe and lingerie bags,  (a BIG thank you to Ms Karen "Pats" Brown for these gorgeous gifts) I have a collection of them, not all quite as swish as these.

 Something comfortable to  relax/sleep in . I have a collection of these Morrissey Qantas PJ's from my days of international business class jet setting, but tracky dacks and a warm T shirt will do, as I find that planes can get quite cold during a long flight. Also your clothes won't get crushed and you will look a lot fresher when you get off.

 A good eye mask, ear plugs and lip balm. The eye masks you get in economy are crap, so I have a collection of classy comfortable business class ones, but if you don't have them, go out and invest in some. Ear plugs at a minimum, noise cancelling headphones are great if you have them,  or if you are in the pointy end you'll get them anyway.  As we all know air planes are a very drying  environment so I always use a liberal amount of moisturisers, lip creams and eye drops to reduce the red dry eyes.

  Do not get on an international flight without this! I have used it for years. It does a number of things, keeps you nose moist so you don't dry out,  it also has eucalyptus added so it has a natural protective effect on all those bugs on the plane, and I am pleased to say have never had an "plane cold" since using it.

Compression stockings, I am not sure if they help much with Deep Vein Thrombosis  (but hey they can't do any harm) but they do stop your feet from swelling so much so that you can wear your shoes at the other end!

A Pashmina for a number of reasons. Extra warmth and you can wrap it around yourself as you exit the aircraft and look a million dollars. Have you noticed all the superstar jet setters always have one on them when photographed in airports?














A power-board and electrical plugs for your destination. Given that we have so many electrical  appliances these days this makes it easy, plenty of slots to keep everything charged and you only need 1 adapter!

Happy Packing Travellers, I'll do another post in the next few days on packing for your trip!

Losing a little bit of myself

Fear not, I am not losing my mind (I hope)! BUT as you know I have been doing the 12 week body transformation program,  and this week is week 4, called a milestone week and we have to weigh and measure  ourselves and update our stats.

Well, I am very pleased as non alcoholic punch to say that the since I got on the program I am a little bit less of the person I used to be!

4.7kg lighter, and in total 32.5 cm smaller!

Done by the gym so no bias there!

I can honestly say that it has been a lot more interesting and fun than I thought it would be. After a lifetime spent trying to keep my weight and health under control I think it has finally clicked in my brain!  I am enjoying the recipes very much, as initially I was concerned that I would find the food bland (as in "diet" food) however it is all fresh and seasonal and it is a real treat to add some some new recipes to my repertoire. Even the Signifant Other has no complaints on the quantity and quality of the food, and I suspect a few kilos might have gotten lost from his side of the bed too!

I have been mixing up my activity, curves gym, cycling, walking and my cross trainer, initially I wanted to learn to run but think that is an ambition I will follow up at a later date.

Anyway I wanted to share some good new for this Friday before the June long weekend so that's it for me!

This is my inspiration picture I keep on my fridge to keep me motivated,  when I reach my goals I am going to get a dress made just like this Grace Kelly classic!

Stay tuned!