Olga’s Details

I tagged my friend Olga, but since she aint got no blog, I give her some space here.
Meet my friend:

1. clothing

I’m always in a place where I want to sit and reflect and then implement a plan for my own ‘style’. I feel that I have never established a definite style for myself and that upsets me because it is something that I really like. Perhaps I refused to put too much effort into because the fashion industry and models in general just irritate me. Also, I rarely feel up to going shopping and believe that having to look for clothes, (and try them on) when you don’t have the inspiration or strength for it, is just torture. Since I started working I’ve also changed what I look for, when I shop, in a big way. I have a wide variety of skirts & shirts (magic combination – feminine and very comfortable). When I was studying I wore a lot of big and colorful African skirts. I had to part with them because attorneys don’t wear stuff like that. I may have become a bit bland in what I wear and the way I dress during the week and the way I dress over weekends are really very different. I think I dress way too casual over weekends. Sometimes, I’ll be walking in the city streets, feeling very confident and chic and think “I wish so and so (in Hermanus or whatever) could see what I’m wearing today”. Shoes. I have big feet and sometimes feel tempted to ask for a size 9 knowing that the salesperson will just blank-stare me . If the shoe is still new (and fresh) I’ll probably have to squeeze my foot into the biggest size they’ve got. This is just with heeled shoes (which , believe it or not, I find very exciting. It makes you walk so differently. Not weird or wobbly but more upright and confident). I NEVER wear socks.

2. furniture

I haven’t been living out of boxes for the past decade but I haven’t exactly sprouted roots either. I recently bought a big (some say uncomfortable) white leather (or rather pleather ?) couch. I don’t know why but I love it. I never know exactly what I want to buy and love having an only a vague idea and then letting my nose/imagination lead me to little–treasure shops where you find the most wonderful things if you have patience and don’t mind getting dirty. I hate the monstrously expensive cori craft-type furniture that every second house-frau dreams about owning. Whenever I am really excited and inspired about something but keep myself open to a detour the most amazing things happen. I am, however, not in the market for furniture at the moment.

3. sweet

Anything chocolate. I try not to but tend to eat chocolate every day.

“Chocolate. Here today. Gone today.”

4. city

I’ve only ever known Johannesburg (where I grew up) and cape town where I live now. When I was little, JHB was to me what the dark and scary forest must have been to little red riding hood. I still can’t believe that people dare entering it at all. I remember driving through the streets once and seeing many buildings empty, all the windows broken and badly vandalized. Just two minutes outside the city the rich people live in their mansions and there are plush gardens and trees everywhere. The contrast is interesting but JHB never tickled my fancy or my imagination. Not like Cape Town, my mother city. I can feel so complete one day and completely alone the next. I suppose that’s what a city is meant to be. A platform to anywhere or anything you want. Love to see New York and live in Paris for a year.

5. drink

I’m much more of an eater than a drinker but I do love a beer with lunch, red wine and beer shandy (because it always makes me feel like I’m on holiday). Coffee only when I’m offered or ‘having coffee’ with someone. Never coke or any soft drink and 8 glasses of water a day, of course.

6. music

I not answering this one. It’s too much even for me to process.

7. Tv

I’ve always been at my happiest without a tv in the house. It drains me and fills me with junk at the same time. Lately, whenever I feel like watching something I’ll rent a series (really enjoyed Pushing Daisies, Six Feet Under, Ugly Betty and even though I don’t understand why, the O.C. there’s like a zillion discs to rent) and watch it on a laptop. I’ve noticed that I’m a little out of touch with the news and the latest funny advertisements. I can live with that.

8. film

I could never name all of them but movies that have touched me are Fried Green Tomatoes, Stranger than Fiction, Into the wild, Thelma and Louise, Bella, The Big Blue, 1900, Before sunrise (and Before sunset – the scene right at the end still makes my belly turn with delight), Amelie (magical), The never-ending story (I still dream of flying on Falkor’s back through the clouds), Closer, Alice by Woody Allan, Harold and Maude, Great Expectations (had a magical afternoon once during exams and fell in love with the dialogue and music), also love the Three Colors blue, red and white (these were about the only ‘art house’ movies the video store had when I was growing up), Dan in real life. Too much to remember. Hate horror movies and try not to like romantic comedies.

9. books

Unbearable lightness of being by Milan Kundera (It still feels like the first book I’ve ever read although I know it isn’t), A prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (I think about it almost everyday – proof that a fictional book can give you true guidance in life), Lady Chatterley’s Lover (just for the last paragraph. Beautiful.), any Kinky Friedman I can get my hands on (it’s my junk food), Griet skryf ‘n Sprokie by Maretha vd Vyfer, Houd-den-Bek by Andre P. Brink, Susters van Eva by Dalene Matthee, Wegkomkans by Maretha vd Vyfer, The World according to Garp by John Irving (brilliant ending), Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell, Manual for the Warrior of Light by Paulo Coelho (because my brother made me read it during a dark time and it made me smile). I can’t name them all.

10. workout

I won’t say I like it but I ALWAYS feel amazing when I do and I have all my angry imaginary conversations during so it clears my mind and I can feel my body is thankful that I moved around a bit. The first stride of a nice long run is always wonderful. I just like moving (climbing, dancing, stretching) and can remember a time once when I was fit and super healthy. I loved it. I’m not competitive at all and lately I enjoy sitting on my couch much more than I do running.

11. hair

Going for a hair cut is like going to the dentist for me. It’s always traumatic, though I keep it to myself. My palms get sweaty and my heart pounds as I try to explain, in vain, what I want him/her to do to my hair. Because I always wait ages before I gather enough courage to make an appointment I always get a lecture about how long and un-styled my hair is. I’ve learnt that I shouldn’t let my hair get too long as I tie it up and then it’s all downhill from there. My hair is happiest when it’s wild and free. Another big no-no if you’re an attorney is to have wild unrestrained hair and I sometimes think my hair rebels by looking just terrible some days. Fact – a good hair day is bloody marvelous. I need a hair cut.

12. pastries

Need to be as decadent as possible or it seems like such a waste.

13. coffee

I enjoy it but never crave it.