Tis the season to be jolly - 20th Dec 2012

Carols, Christmas trees and excitement

The carols are playing, Pitt Street Mall is full of shoppers and I am busting with excitement. My Christmas begins tonight. I'm on the airport run to pick up James, Nathan & Erin as they fly in for the Gibbons Family Christmas extravaganza. All 10 of us in one beach house for a week. I love airports and I especially love the airport run to pick up three early Christmas presents. It's the season to be jolly. Merry Christmas everyone.

I stole a fluffy puppy - 19th Dec 2012

So fully...so adorable

My name is Patrice Gibbons and I am a puppy addict. I think about stealing them in the park, I wonder if I can stuff the tiny fluffy ones into my hand bag and I go weak at the knees and speak in overly excited tones at the sheer sight of them. Basically, I behave around puppies the way most women respond around babies. Today I reached a new level. I stopped a woman on the street and asked her if I could I take a picture of her puppy. I know, I have no shame. But it was beyond adorable. Like any good addict in the midst of addiction, I am not ready to be helped. I'm not ready to give the puppies up. They make me so happy. As I said, my name is Patrice Gibbons and I am a puppy addict.

Cheap therapy - 18th Dec 2012

"Talking to your best friend is sometimes all the therapy you need." How true this is.  Tonight I spent over an hour on the phone to one of favourite girlfriends. I hung up feeling delighted, empowered and invigorated. There is something truly special about the three women I count as my closest friends. I feel lucky to have them in my life. So why don't I make more of an effort to call them regularly? I plan to call, then life gets busy and bullshit gets in the way. But tonight's power-hour of giggles and gossip reminded me that friends are often to best form of therapy. One call and the world is a better place, even if there was nothing wrong with it before.  

A delicious early XMas gift - 17th Dec 2012

The surprise package

I love surprises. The suspense of not knowing what is inside a cardboard box or a beautifully wrapped present kills me, but I love the excitement none the less. Today I arrived home to find the big box above on our door step. It only took a few seconds for me to realise it was our Christmas present from my brother and his girlfriend. God I love surprises.
Like any good journo, I started investigating. Turns out is was either a satellite or a pizza oven. The suspense (and hunger pains) got the better of me. Happy Early Christmas. We are now the proud owners of a rocking pizza oven that just got it's first workout. Yummo. Thanks Nathan and Erin. Brilliant idea!

The oven in action

Simply the best medicine - 16th Dec 2012

The solutions to many of life's problems don't rest in a bottle, a tablet or in expensive potions. Today I discovered that sometimes, it's as simple as a good laugh and a long sleep. I've indulged in both and the world is already a better place. So simple and effective (not to mention cheap).

Serious convenience for lazy people - 15th Dec 2012

It's no secret I love anything that makes my life a little easier, especially when it's related to chores or personal admin. You know, the stuff you need to do that takes up precious hours of your week, but delivers little fun or enjoyment. Well today, I discovered a brilliant invention for lazy people - the drive-thru dry cleaners. You just cruise on up, listen to music in your car while you wait (there were quite a few other lazy people in front of me), then someone arrives at your window, takes your dirty clothes and your done! Apparently they also text you when your clothes are clean and ready. Seriously...this is brillint. How did I not know about this before? I know it's lazy, I know I'm slightly pathetic, but I'm also bloody excited. I am in love with the drive-through dry cleaners.

Loving and letting go - 14th Dec 2012

Oxford Street at Christmas

Love Actually…oh how it makes me think of London. I stumbled across this little gem of a movie on TV tonight. I had no intention of watching it. I really did plan on getting up in the first ad break to do something else. But scenes of wintery London at Christmas hooked me in. I was there from start to finish, reminiscing about the lights on Oxford St, mulled wine and the fact Christmas finally makes senses, from a visual perspective, once you’ve experienced it in the winter months.  Suddenly the snow on the ground in the Christmas cards fits. So do the roast dinners and the festive but wintery decorations. London does Christmas perfectly.

A year ago this trip down memory lane would have thrown me into a fit of misery, lamenting the loss of the glory days and cooking up desperate plans to get back to London, stat. But something has changed. While I miss it, my desire to move back has gone. It seems that after three-and-a-half years, I have finally made my peace with leaving London. Huge moment.

I don’t know how big a part creating The Perspective Project has played in this progression, but I know it’s one of the things that has helped me let go and move on.  Almost one year since it started, I am grateful for the positive impact this little project has had on my life.