Website issues notwithstanding it's been a good week in the realm of the Purple Fairy. (Edit: We FINALLY got them sorted, so I edited last week’s post to make it look more as I had originally intended. Do not speak to me about error logs, sy-logs directories, mod security, default permissions, PHP uploads, FTP, or hosting. I’m at capacity.)
Floral freelancing is taking up two days a week, and the drive there gives me time to listen to audiobooks.
My Certificate IV in Floristry certificate arrived, making it all official - I'm a triple qualified Flower Fairy!
And, I started a brand-new job at the end of the week.
Let me start by telling you a bit about that.
I'm now a Play Therapist.
What's that? (That's what my Mum asked, and I'm sure there are many others wondering the same thing.)
Play therapy is a child-centred form of counselling that utilises the most natural form of communication for children - play. Traditional talk-based therapies are impossible for young children, and those who haven't yet developed the verbal communication skills required to engage successfully in that kind of therapy. Through engaging in play children can communicate their story, and make sense of their thoughts and feelings. Trained therapists build respectful and accepting relationships with children and support them to work through a range of social, emotional, behavioural and learning problems.
This is directly from a brochure that the company I work for produces...
"Play therapy helps children:
- Become more responsible for behaviours and actions
- Develop new and creative solutions to problems
- Develop respect and acceptance of self and others
- Learn to experience and express emotions
- Learn new social skills and relational skills with family
- Develop empathy and respect for self and others"
For some of the children I am taking over as their new therapist, and for others we are beginning this journey together. I'm looking forward to working with the children and families in my new role.
It was brought to my attention (through work actually) that next Tuesday is International Women's Day. In honour of that we were asked to choose from a list of ways to celebrate women throughout the world, and acknowledge that strength.
One of the suggestions was to share your favourite movie, television show or book that features a female main character. Immediately I thought of the irrepressible Phryne Fisher! Thank you, Kerry Greenwood for creating such a strong female lead. She's charismatic, generous, confident, independent and terribly intelligent. She's also a snazzy dresser. I think I would invite her to my Dinner Party.
I'm calling it Fantasy Festivities, which is like Fantasy Football, but without the football… or the competition… or the statistics. Actually, the only commonality is the make-believe part.
Anyway, as mentioned last week, Kitty Flanagan is on the guest list, followed by, in no particular order...
Phryne Fisher – fictional character from Kerry Greenwood’s books (look her up if you’re not familiar with her, and by “her” I mean either Phryne or Kerry. I can call her Kerry because I have exhausted the list of available titles on Borrow Box through CHRC Libraries.)
Boyd Crowder – fictional character from the televisions series Justified. While Raylan Givens is the far more physically attractive protagonist, and Boyd is consistently a villain in the narrative I can’t help but admire this garrulous character (“I’ve been accused of being a lot of things, inarticulate ain’t one of them.”) and the smooth, easy, cool-as-a-cucumber drawl with which he delivers the incredibly eloquent lines that display his flamboyant mastery of the English language. Incidentally, this show was what introduced me to Bluegrass Hip Hop, which I will mention again when we get around to talking about music.
Willie Nelson – the legend himself! That guitar of his (its name is actually Trigger) with the hole worn in the front from many, many years of use has some kind of magic about it. Imagine the singalong we could have! Seven Spanish Angels gives me goose bumps.
Lukas Nelson – a talented man in his own right. He sounds a lot like his Dad, but he has his own style. I heard this pair on a podcast and it kind of cemented why I like them so much.
Carl Barron – comedian. I love his observational humour. I’m sure he would gather quite a lot of material at my party.
Dolly Parton – not only a talented singer/songwriter, but a humanitarian, and inspiring to many.
Matthew McConaughey – I could listen to him speak for HOURS…
Sarah Millican – comedian. I am often amazed at the things she says, but she always has me in stitches.
Miriam Margolyes – actress. I am always amazed at the things she comes out with when on talk shows, and her stories are very entertaining.
Veronica Mars – fiction television character from the series of the same name. Possibly a different incarnation of Phryne Fisher, even down to the occupation.
Keanu Reeves – I’d like to claim that we’re related, because from what I’ve read he seems like a top-notch, down-to-earth kind of a bloke, regardless of his fortune. I was a fan in the Bill and Ted days, before he learned how to surf (I had the Point Break poster on my bedroom wall) or made bus travel cool and exciting. (If I’m honest it was because of the name, and to this day I use the comparison after I have spelled my name(s) aloud ad nauseum and people are still getting it wrong.) My Year 9 English teacher introduced me to that phrase, and every time he said it he would follow quickly with the English translation of the Latin, “to the point of vomiting”. Every. Single. Time. It was during that year that I discovered how much I actually love words and language. To be clear, language singular. I was atrocious at languages. I think the poor boy in my French exam ate the beach instead of swam there… Disappointing for someone bearing a French first name, I guess.
My great, great grandmother Phoebe Steele – she was born 100 years before me, and in the short 40 years she had to live her life she experienced a great many challenges, hardships and somewhat traumatic events, and there are so many things I’d like to ask her. I may be inspired to base a story (loosely) around her life if I ever get the time to write anything more than this blog.
My brother – this will negate the necessity of regaling him with recounts of the evening. I also happen to think he’s bloody good company.
I'll probably add to it over time, but I do want to say that I don't actually want to meet one of my favourite literary characters, Texas Ranger Captain Augustus McCrae, from Lonesome Dove. I think the way he is written gives the reader perhaps more insight into his intentions and feelings than he would express person to person. On the surface he's an enjoyable character to be around ("It's hard to have fun in a place like this, but I do my best.") and I wonder if some of the things I like about him may not necessarily be apparent without the narrative. Perhaps I have over thought that...
While I'm making Fantasy lists, here's the beginning of my special guest appearances list...
- Play School
- Dancing with the Stars
- It Takes Two (but only if I could pair up with Willie Nelson and sing Toby Keith's part of Beer for my Horses.)
- QI
- Spicks and Specks
- Bluey
- Mrs Brown's Boys
This week for 52Frames we tackled Rule of Thirds, which, for the non-visual artists (it’s not just a photography thing) is a compositional guideline. Imagine an image cut into 9 equal parts (by a hashtag symbol as it happens) and the important elements of the image, painting, drawing, whatever, are placed along the lines or at the points where they intersect. It creates more visual interest than simply centring the main object.
Again, I had trouble finding inspiration, but I managed an entry. This week I'm seeking reflections. Wish me luck!
It's been quite a party, ain't it
Purple Fairy
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