A Scooter Dare

It was started by Aunty Lush. It seems she’s always starting something!

She posted an image of a woman on a red scooter from a great little mag for women in business called ‘Oak Magazine‘*.

*They didn’t pay us, we actually like them!

I’ll let the girls take it from here…

So here is your challenge dear Roses. Tell your loved one you are getting a scooter and record their reaction below…

Travels without Aunts!

Dear Roses,

Recently I (Aunty Verve) travelled to the USA. It was quite strange not having the sisters with me.  There was no twirling or Tiddling Tales, but it was fantastic! It confirmed that I need to keep getting out there, sisters or no!

Visiting New York and New Orleans was exciting.  Something I wanted to do forever. The Aunties came along in spirit, even set some challenges.

1. Drink Manhattans in Manhattan! (a very pleasurable challenge)
2. Walk as many numbered streets and avenues as you can! (at 127,000 steps, with Aunty Suze the energiser bunny, we had that covered)
3. Throw your hat like Mary Tyler Moore! (getting its own post – later)
4. Pick up some very specific cosmetic supplies!

Challenge #4 ended with a full facial and make-up session, in Saks on 5th Avenue!  Cost more than a dime I can tell ya! My skin felt fabulous, and I was looking a treat at the Broadway show that night. Funny enough the show we saw was ‘Beautiful’!!

You know … you never really travel without The Aunties!!

We are considering another trip together of course! What is a favourite trip of yours, one you would love to repeat? With or without Aunts?

Verve x

High Brow Situation

Dear Roses,

Do you love eyebrows? I do! Aunty Beads here! I very much have a thing for eyebrows. Always have! Eyebrows frame the eyes, accentuate expression, and often give away my thoughts before I realise I’m having them.

I’m loving the current sculptured look. But I’ll talk eyebrows forever, however: arched, tapered, coloured, whatever! And the procedure list has certainly expanded over the years; threading, henna, feather, tattoo, feather-tattoo! Even good old basic tint and wax! It has all exploded into the era of walk-in ‘brow bars’! These places of convenience help delay trips to the beautician.

Like me, my BFF Marita was an eyebrow fanatic. Together we had workshopped the whole ‘brow sitch’. I accepted henna and she went feather tattoo! Total commitment to brow!

The henna option appealed to me, nothing too permanent! Keen to try I booked an appointment a fancy salon. My logic was to go high-end for my first time. The person on reception was a woman with a serious set of ‘don’t mess with me’ brows.

I wasn’t going to, but her brows didn’t know that!

As I sat waiting for my anointed one, I wondered what her brows would say. I nervously started shoving complimentary chocolates into my mouth.

I started giving my technician strict instructions regarding my eyebrows as she coaxed me into the treatment room. The experience was so seriously relaxing, I nearly fell asleep! Marita would be waiting for an update as soon as I left the salon.

I’ve got to say my brows were sculptured and impressive. Taking shameless selfies for reporting purposes I preened in the car, minus a tidy sum from my wallet!

Second time at henna eyebrows I decided it required a fraction of the price. The walk-in brow bar at the shopping centre. No frills, but plenty of thrills as I walked out with a very scary set of brows.

Current procedure for me is the tint and thread! It helps to not have to hide for a few days! What’s your brow go to?

Love Aunty Brows Posh Scary Beads

The Best Time to Yoga is Now.

Hello, this is Lara. Is that Colleen?

Yes it is.

What are you doing right now?

Just getting ready to go to yoga.

How are you feeling?

Fine?

Colleen, you need to get yourself to the hospital. 
Your liver enzymes levels are off the chart.

Can go to yoga first?

It is serious. Go now. 

 

I hadn’t been feeling great for a while. Months maybe? Feeling blerg after a greasy meal. Energy levels low. But who doesn’t feel that way occasionally? I eventually made time for a quick visit to my doctor, she gave me a plethora of blood tests. 

Two weeks later I got that call. Ten minutes later I was in hospital. A couple of months after that a diagnosis. Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH).

Straight into research mode I discovered Autoimmune Disease stats are rising. Medical scientists are unsure of what causes it but some triggers might be a family history of autoimmune disease, a lifetime of toxins (in our food, clothing, cleaning products, beauty creams etc), or possibly a major event (such as surgery). 

I ticked all those boxes. Autoimmune Disease occurs when an over enthusiastic immune system attacks heathy organs and tissues. There are many autoimmune diseases like Graves Disease, Arthritis, Celiac Disease, MS and Diabetes. In my case of AIH my immune system was attacking my liver. 

So I became a reluctant patient in the healthcare system. A weeks hospital stay with MRIs, a liver biopsy and ultrasounds, countless blood tests, endless questions about my ‘drinking and drug’ history (not as racey as you would think) and new medications (each with their own set of side-effects). Then the avalanche of appointments with naturopathy, gastroenterology and the Liver Unit at Austin Hospital. 

Being ill is a full time job. 

One thing though stayed constant through the yellowing skin, the weight fluctuations, various medicos, appointments and the meds. My yoga practise.

I began my practice a decade ago, after a lifetime of bike-riding, swimming and basketball. At the beginning my body wasn’t going to become flexible without many hours ‘on the mat’. 

I was about as flexible as a twig. I knew then I was in for the long haul. 

Slowly over the years things have changed. My body changed. My mindset changed. I stopped looking at the people on mats around me and started to concentrate on my own practice. I loved setting myself small challenges such as getting up into a hand-stand and moving past the fear of falling out of a head-stand. 

Yoga holds me in good stead for this lifetime journey with AIH. On the mat (either in class or at home), I have 10 years of practise to call upon. I know when to push myself and when to ‘go the props’. 

I’m very thankful for my Iyengar yoga practise, it has helped me accept my diagnosis of AIH. And AIH has given me the imperative to practice yoga every day. 

 

Sláinte, Aunty Darling.

 

Whats for lunch?

It’s always a treat when my phone announces time for lunch.

The Paris Cat or the Gin Palace in 5 mins? I’ve only been to each venue once, at night, with friends. Could never refuse a gin or a jazz!

It’s only Monday, but I dream of going there at least once at lunchtime! In the 80s that would mean you didn’t get back to work for the day, so civilised.

The second best lunch? Meeting an Aunty of course!

Sisters, Sisters

There were never such devoted sisters… and our Queen Mary of course!

A few years ago The Aunties put on an affair to remember. Tiddling Tales was a gathering of aunties and stories and fabulousness. It is so seared into our memories we didn’t need to relive it.

However some video shoot by the techie Geoff Hassall that day has surfaced, don’t ya know! The wonderful Aunty Trac had no idea what she was in for!

We were all sisters that day, thank you all for joining us. We will begin to release the video, thanks Geoff, and the beautiful images of you all in the coming months, years, decades.

And in honour this fabulous song, we provide you with a few different versions, along our own…

The original and still the best Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen…

Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye impersonate the girls…

The Aunties are getting ready to ride the net again. Will you please join us?

On Being Gracious

On Being Gracious. Full stop. Permanent marker. No returns.

The latest Aunties adventure began as it usually does… six weeks after the previous, eight months since the last, or tomorrow? There remains no plan or routine, just whenever we begin to feel desperately apart. It can strike, or not strike, at any time.

It possibly begins with a snarky text ‘when am I going to see you?’; a snotty email ‘why wasn’t I invited to that’; a hurried call ‘where are you going to be in five minutes?’; or a nagging dragging feeling in the heart.

Once all sisters agree talk turns to where shall we go. It can involved venue, dates, times or passions. Or all of that. Shall we revisit Dark Mofo? More wineries? No cash baby, wanna come to mine? Swirling like wind-tunnels a decision is made. Wherever it is it will be perfect.

How are we getting there… Some by car, some by train, some the night before, some want to fly in then out, some need to train then car. And then some change their mind. And some change it back. I’m told to be gracious. There is a full stop after the text.

A FULL STOP.

Then sleeping arrangements. This is a parallel discussion. There may or may not be sharing, how do you want to play it? I need a single. I need a double for one. I need a queen for two. No one needs the king.

The talking never stops, because when it does we know it means trouble.

All Aunties arrive before Aunty Lush. Fear in their eyes. The talking stops. Then starts again. What should we be doing when she arrives? What will she expect? Should we do the expected, or the unexpected?

Aunty Lush arrives before we have decided, and she hustles out the door to walk into the sunshine ’til evening. A pub will be involved!

We totally love each other. We really really really do! And we push each other and we hassle each other and we make each other laugh until we cry. And we put full stops after sentences to make a point!

Sisters! You got one? Want mine?