Dear Sydney,
We need to talk. I know, you've received a lot of these letters from people saying the same thing and I swore a while ago that they were idiots. I swore I would never write a letter like this to you but lately Sydney, I feel like we're in a lot of trouble. I feel like we've been in a relationship for the last ten years and right now all you're doing is taking without giving.
You know we've been here before. You know that we've broken up a few times. Back in 2008 I accidentally moved to you. How does a person accidentally move? Well basically in 2006 the idea was put into my head and then two years later, after someone I know was murdered and a couple of people I knew moved to Sydney I thought, sure, why not. I'll move to Sydney and I did. I spent four months in King's Cross and it was great but it was missing one thing. It was missing my friends and I had a horrible employer with a toxic culture so I left you. I said I'd be back though.
18 months later back in December 2009 I decided I wanted to give you another chance as my friends had moved to Sydney and I was glad we were back together Sydney. I was stoked. We were together longer this time around but I wasn't getting where I wanted with work and the money was average, and once again, I missed my friends. By August 2010 they'd left and Sydney isn't the easiest place to make new friends in.
I spent four months back in Auckland, yes you'll have noticed there's a pattern. It's like you're the abusive boyfriend that's so captivating that I'm so drawn to and so attracted to and Auckland is the faithful husband (and funnily I actually did marry Auckland on January 20th 2006 at Cafe Cima on High Street in Auckland City, I lost our marriage license though) but I wasn't feeling it, so a few months later I went back to Sydney.
This time I did things differently.
I went back with a job lined up and another friend had also moved to Sydney but we fell out so once again I was on the outer. Long story short, that job wasn't for me and then I had a bad run so once again, I went back to Auckland.
Auckland was okay to me. I had a job I loved in Auckland but the department started announcing redundancies so I knew it was time to get back to you and I started applying for jobs. In the end I got a job offer but it fell through so I had to stay in Auckland. Luckily I'd been with my employer for nearly three years so when I asked for a transfer to Sydney the answer was yes and so I moved back. That was Christmas Eve 2013 and I felt like I'd come home. I was relieved to be back living in you Sydney.
But over the last few years you've shown yourself to be cold and heartless. You may know to party on New Year's Eve and you may have awesome beaches and a harbour, but when it comes to character and soul Sydney, sadly, you have none. At first I thought it was just one of my friends (yes one of the few friends I've made here) but it's not. It's YOU Sydney. You're the problem. You're the one who is cold. You're the one who doesn't care about people. You're the one who chews them up and spits them out. You're the one who abuses everyone who lives in you.
And well Sydney, I hate saying this because I still love you but part of me really wants to break up with you and get back together with Auckland. Auckland's not perfect, not by a long shot and there are still a lot of things I love about you Sydney but you just have no heart. You're not happy. I've spoken to a few Aucklanders over the last couple of weeks and I've been amazed at the warmth and friendliness they've shown. They actually smile. They actually laugh. They're human. You're not.
I get that you're international and you want to be the best, but it is actually possible to be the best and to have a heart, but you don't seem to understand that Sydney.
Then there's the guys. I dated a lot of guys in Auckland and I mean A LOT, and I never struck what I've struck here. Now I may be pickier but Auckland guys don't expect you to drop everything and they actually make an effort. They actually care. They're not arrogant and don't get me wrong Sydney, arrogance can be appealing in a lot of ways. It's one of the reasons I love you but lately it's starting to become more like abuse.
You haven't given me any good memories that don't involve my friends from Auckland and you haven't shown me any warmth.
I don't want to break up with you Sydney. I do still love you and I know you have a lot to offer but unless you make some changes then I'm going to have to break up with you because this isn't good for me. I need a city that's always there for me, that I can trust and Auckland has always shown himself to be trustworthy. Even though I often break up with Auckland he's always willing to take me back and right now he and I are talking about getting back together. We're just working out whether or not we want to give eachother another chance.
So Sydney, what I'm saying I guess is this, you need to make some changes and be kinder and more human or we're going to have to break up.
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Music Review: P!nk - Qudos Bank Arena - 11th August 2018
This year there have been so many international superstars coming to Australia to play for their adoring fans. One such superstar is P!nk whose career started 18 years ago in the year 2000 when she released her debut album, Can't Take Me Home. Since then she has gone on to release six more albums, including her latest album including Beautiful Trauma which has already spawned four singles including What About Us and Revenge (featuring Eminem).
Now as you can imagine, after an 18 year career a lot of fans are going to want to go to the show and that means it's going to be hard, if not impossible to get tickets. For a few months I had tried and tried to get tickets but was unable to. Then one night I checked and snapped up a C Reserve ticket which was located in the front row of the third elevation at Qudos Bank Arena. I often buy tickets in the third elevation and being a few rows further forward makes such a huge difference to the experience that you have at the show.
There were questions over whether or not she would be able to perform given she'd had to postpone four shows during the week due to a stomach bug. Luckily she was better in time for Saturday night's show, which is the only show I had been able to get seating for.
I arrived at Qudos Bank Arena and the opening act was Australian band, The Rubens who have been around since 2011 and had hits on the Aria Charts.
Normally I'm not a fan of support acts and endure them, but The Rubens definitely impressed. They had charisma, stage presence and their music was actually good. Their vocals and energy was brilliant. It was a great way to get warmed up for the main event.
After their set finished, a DJ from the USA, Kidcupup performed. He was awful. At one point he was so bad I actually had to walk out and when I walked back in had to put my earphones in. He was so bad he actually hurt my ears. Not only were his mixes awful, he had an annoying personality and his stage presence was zero.
Fortunately his set didn't last long and there was a brief break before P!nk came out onto the stage. She came out swinging from a chandelier and opened with Get the Party Stated from her 2001 album Missundaztood. She then dove into the title track of her new album and tour, Beautiful Trauma.
The stage design was absolutely brilliant. It was filled with pink and there were plenty of dancers. Unlike other shows I've been to recently, P!nk's show was a performance, a real spectacle and high energy.
She later sung fan favourites, Just Like a Pill and Who Knew which really showcased her voice. It's one thing to hear P!nk on the radio but it's another to hear her in real life.
During the show she covered 90s anthems, Smells like Teen Spirit (Nirvana) and Just a Girl (No Doubt) before launching into hits Just Give Me a Reason and Try from her album The Truth About Love. During the former, her co singer, Nate Ruse appeared by television to sing his parts as he has done in other P!nk tours.
Aside from the great singing, the show itself was brilliant. The next part of the show opened with a fun video titled, Revengeland which was designed to take the audience on a journey about all the angst you go through when a relationship ends. There were blow up characters on the stage while P!nk sung.
Then during the song, Just Like Fire there were actual pyrotechnics in the chorus and even though I was in the front row of the third elevation, I could actually feel the fire where I was sitting. It was such a cool effect.
Like most celebrities, P!nk did make the show political prior to singing What About Us. I could have done without it but I won't hold it against her. She also sung a reflective song from her new album, Barbies, which is about how she wishes she could go back to playing with her Barbies before she had responsibilities.
During a P!nk show her dancers, band and back up singers are basically her family and at one minute she introduced them all on stage and then brought her daughter Willow up on stage. I didn't get a picture because the moment was so brief but it was pretty cool.
In all of P!nk's shows she swings from a bungee cord over the audience and thanks everyone for being at the show, so I'd been looking forward to this. The crowd went absolutely wild during the encore of So What and it was extremely awesome just to see what she's capable of.
There was a brief pause when she went off stage and then she returned for an accoustic rendition of Glitter in the Air from her fifth studio album, Funhouse.
Having been a fan of P!nk for 18 years it was awesome to see her live and I would have to give her a 5/5.
I'll be posting a review after her friend, Katy Perry performs on Tuesday as well.
Now as you can imagine, after an 18 year career a lot of fans are going to want to go to the show and that means it's going to be hard, if not impossible to get tickets. For a few months I had tried and tried to get tickets but was unable to. Then one night I checked and snapped up a C Reserve ticket which was located in the front row of the third elevation at Qudos Bank Arena. I often buy tickets in the third elevation and being a few rows further forward makes such a huge difference to the experience that you have at the show.
There were questions over whether or not she would be able to perform given she'd had to postpone four shows during the week due to a stomach bug. Luckily she was better in time for Saturday night's show, which is the only show I had been able to get seating for.
I arrived at Qudos Bank Arena and the opening act was Australian band, The Rubens who have been around since 2011 and had hits on the Aria Charts.
Normally I'm not a fan of support acts and endure them, but The Rubens definitely impressed. They had charisma, stage presence and their music was actually good. Their vocals and energy was brilliant. It was a great way to get warmed up for the main event.
After their set finished, a DJ from the USA, Kidcupup performed. He was awful. At one point he was so bad I actually had to walk out and when I walked back in had to put my earphones in. He was so bad he actually hurt my ears. Not only were his mixes awful, he had an annoying personality and his stage presence was zero.
Fortunately his set didn't last long and there was a brief break before P!nk came out onto the stage. She came out swinging from a chandelier and opened with Get the Party Stated from her 2001 album Missundaztood. She then dove into the title track of her new album and tour, Beautiful Trauma.
The stage design was absolutely brilliant. It was filled with pink and there were plenty of dancers. Unlike other shows I've been to recently, P!nk's show was a performance, a real spectacle and high energy.
She later sung fan favourites, Just Like a Pill and Who Knew which really showcased her voice. It's one thing to hear P!nk on the radio but it's another to hear her in real life.
During the show she covered 90s anthems, Smells like Teen Spirit (Nirvana) and Just a Girl (No Doubt) before launching into hits Just Give Me a Reason and Try from her album The Truth About Love. During the former, her co singer, Nate Ruse appeared by television to sing his parts as he has done in other P!nk tours.
Aside from the great singing, the show itself was brilliant. The next part of the show opened with a fun video titled, Revengeland which was designed to take the audience on a journey about all the angst you go through when a relationship ends. There were blow up characters on the stage while P!nk sung.
Then during the song, Just Like Fire there were actual pyrotechnics in the chorus and even though I was in the front row of the third elevation, I could actually feel the fire where I was sitting. It was such a cool effect.
Like most celebrities, P!nk did make the show political prior to singing What About Us. I could have done without it but I won't hold it against her. She also sung a reflective song from her new album, Barbies, which is about how she wishes she could go back to playing with her Barbies before she had responsibilities.
During a P!nk show her dancers, band and back up singers are basically her family and at one minute she introduced them all on stage and then brought her daughter Willow up on stage. I didn't get a picture because the moment was so brief but it was pretty cool.
In all of P!nk's shows she swings from a bungee cord over the audience and thanks everyone for being at the show, so I'd been looking forward to this. The crowd went absolutely wild during the encore of So What and it was extremely awesome just to see what she's capable of.
There was a brief pause when she went off stage and then she returned for an accoustic rendition of Glitter in the Air from her fifth studio album, Funhouse.
Having been a fan of P!nk for 18 years it was awesome to see her live and I would have to give her a 5/5.
I'll be posting a review after her friend, Katy Perry performs on Tuesday as well.
Sunday, August 5, 2018
What people don't tell you about Botox - why you can't just stop with one area
If you've been reading my blog then you would no doubt have read that I've recently joined decided to have cosmetic injections and joined the Botox Club. You may have also previously read that this is basically a 90 degree turn, I'd say 180 but I was never opposed to the idea of Botox in the first place. It was sort of something that I was open to but doubted I would ever get, or something I would do later rather than this young.
Then one day I was taking a selfie and I noticed that my forehead had started to develop lines. I'm not the type of person to sit back and do nothing if I don't like something so instantly Botox came to mind and I started researching it. As you know, I ended up having the treatment.
Of course though, when you have Botox you can't just have one area done so I ended up having the sides of my eyes done (I don't like the term that's most commonly used) and was also able to have what was a very, very minor frown line done as well.
I tracked the results over two weeks and looked to watch the lines disappear. It's pretty awesome to watch the difference become more and more noticeable.
I was scheduled to have a two week check up yesterday but a couple of days after my first session decided to change my appointment and have some more injections in my bunny lines and while I was there I also had my forehead and either side of my eyes topped up. I got the bunny lines done because a lot of people don't have them done and so their face looks unbalanced because one part of it has no lines and the other parts do have lines.
It's really cool to think that one minute you can have several lines on the face and then after a few minutes of injections they'll be gone within a couple of weeks and last for up to six months, depending on your body's physiology. Some people will need to get reinjected every three months, while others will be okay getting reinjected every six months. It also depends on what you want for your appearance.
There are of course a couple of things that people don't tell you before Botox and that is that after you treat one or two areas you'll start to notice lines and imperfections in others, so you need to be aware of that before you start because once you notice them you'll want to fix them. For example, I originally only wanted to get my forehead done, and so far I've had my forehead, sides of eyes and bunny lines done. For those unaware of what they are, I've attached a picture of bunny lines below.
Source: https://www.mamamia.com.au/botox-bunny-lines/
Next up I'll be getting the lines above my lip done. These are known as smoker's lines and here is a picture below.
Source: https://www.cosmosclinic.com.au/face/lips/smokers-wrinkles/
Please note that the above picture is only shown for illustration purposes. The smokers lines in the above picture were not treated with Botox. They were treated with dermal fillers, which some people prefer.
You can however treat these lines with Botox however a smaller dosage will be used due to being a sensitive area.
Basically, the rule with Botox is this: if the line is caused by movement then it can be treated with Botox. If however it is a static line and a result of lost moisture and collagen then it needs to be treated with dermal fillers or another way. Botox will not work on static lines.
And this brings me back to the point I was orginally making. Once you treat one area you will want to treat other areas so you've got to be willing to do that otherwise your face will look unbalanced. Imagine having no lines in your upper face but then a stack of lines in the bottom of your face. It would be a telltale sign that you had, had cosmetic procedures.
The key to good cosmetic enhancements is to keep it looking natural.
That sort of brings me to my next point as well. different treatments are used for different areas. If, after having Botox you find yourself getting irritated with the static lines on your face then you will decide that you want to have fillers done. Fillers are about double the price of Botox however they do last double, sometimes triple the length of time, so you've got to be willing to commit to ongoing treatments.
Now, some of you might be reading this thinking, "you started and you were just going to get your forehead done and now you're getting other things done, where will you stop?", well to answer that question, the answer is, Botox and Fillers are my limit. I have absolutely no desire to have lip enhancements. I like having thin lips. I have literally no desire to have a nose job. I like my nose and it has this cool scar from when I was two years old and went through a glass window. I wouldn't have breast implants done because I'm a runner and I've always actually preferred being smaller. It makes life easier. I wouldn't have liposuction done because it would be cheating (I was going to have laser lipo done a few years back but cancelled the appointment because it would've been cheating) and I wouldn't have a butt lift because that's just ridiculous.
Botox and cheek/eye trough (bags under the eyes) are where I would get my fillers done, so that, and Botox is where I draw the line, and dying my hair (I'll be starting that again in a few weeks but that's also because I stopped for a couple of years to give my hair a break from the bleach and so that the next time I did it I would achieve a better result).
If you do decide to get cosmetic enhancements then the best thing to do is keep it natural. Focus on being the best version of yourself and turning back the clock rather than trying to look fake, besides, cosmetic enhancements can only do so much and there are some things you can't change. Even if you had a butt lift, or liposuction, you still can't change your body shape. Some things can be changed, but others can't. You've gotta know the difference and know your limits.
And my limit is Botox and fillers for the eye troughs and cheeks as well as bleaching my hair.
Then one day I was taking a selfie and I noticed that my forehead had started to develop lines. I'm not the type of person to sit back and do nothing if I don't like something so instantly Botox came to mind and I started researching it. As you know, I ended up having the treatment.
Of course though, when you have Botox you can't just have one area done so I ended up having the sides of my eyes done (I don't like the term that's most commonly used) and was also able to have what was a very, very minor frown line done as well.
I tracked the results over two weeks and looked to watch the lines disappear. It's pretty awesome to watch the difference become more and more noticeable.
I was scheduled to have a two week check up yesterday but a couple of days after my first session decided to change my appointment and have some more injections in my bunny lines and while I was there I also had my forehead and either side of my eyes topped up. I got the bunny lines done because a lot of people don't have them done and so their face looks unbalanced because one part of it has no lines and the other parts do have lines.
It's really cool to think that one minute you can have several lines on the face and then after a few minutes of injections they'll be gone within a couple of weeks and last for up to six months, depending on your body's physiology. Some people will need to get reinjected every three months, while others will be okay getting reinjected every six months. It also depends on what you want for your appearance.
There are of course a couple of things that people don't tell you before Botox and that is that after you treat one or two areas you'll start to notice lines and imperfections in others, so you need to be aware of that before you start because once you notice them you'll want to fix them. For example, I originally only wanted to get my forehead done, and so far I've had my forehead, sides of eyes and bunny lines done. For those unaware of what they are, I've attached a picture of bunny lines below.
Next up I'll be getting the lines above my lip done. These are known as smoker's lines and here is a picture below.
Please note that the above picture is only shown for illustration purposes. The smokers lines in the above picture were not treated with Botox. They were treated with dermal fillers, which some people prefer.
You can however treat these lines with Botox however a smaller dosage will be used due to being a sensitive area.
Basically, the rule with Botox is this: if the line is caused by movement then it can be treated with Botox. If however it is a static line and a result of lost moisture and collagen then it needs to be treated with dermal fillers or another way. Botox will not work on static lines.
And this brings me back to the point I was orginally making. Once you treat one area you will want to treat other areas so you've got to be willing to do that otherwise your face will look unbalanced. Imagine having no lines in your upper face but then a stack of lines in the bottom of your face. It would be a telltale sign that you had, had cosmetic procedures.
The key to good cosmetic enhancements is to keep it looking natural.
That sort of brings me to my next point as well. different treatments are used for different areas. If, after having Botox you find yourself getting irritated with the static lines on your face then you will decide that you want to have fillers done. Fillers are about double the price of Botox however they do last double, sometimes triple the length of time, so you've got to be willing to commit to ongoing treatments.
Now, some of you might be reading this thinking, "you started and you were just going to get your forehead done and now you're getting other things done, where will you stop?", well to answer that question, the answer is, Botox and Fillers are my limit. I have absolutely no desire to have lip enhancements. I like having thin lips. I have literally no desire to have a nose job. I like my nose and it has this cool scar from when I was two years old and went through a glass window. I wouldn't have breast implants done because I'm a runner and I've always actually preferred being smaller. It makes life easier. I wouldn't have liposuction done because it would be cheating (I was going to have laser lipo done a few years back but cancelled the appointment because it would've been cheating) and I wouldn't have a butt lift because that's just ridiculous.
Botox and cheek/eye trough (bags under the eyes) are where I would get my fillers done, so that, and Botox is where I draw the line, and dying my hair (I'll be starting that again in a few weeks but that's also because I stopped for a couple of years to give my hair a break from the bleach and so that the next time I did it I would achieve a better result).
If you do decide to get cosmetic enhancements then the best thing to do is keep it natural. Focus on being the best version of yourself and turning back the clock rather than trying to look fake, besides, cosmetic enhancements can only do so much and there are some things you can't change. Even if you had a butt lift, or liposuction, you still can't change your body shape. Some things can be changed, but others can't. You've gotta know the difference and know your limits.
And my limit is Botox and fillers for the eye troughs and cheeks as well as bleaching my hair.
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Review: Celine Dion, Qudos Bank Arena 27th July 2018
I normally arrive at shows early, normally a few minutes before the support act takes to the stage but last night I didn't due to travel delays. The support act was Veronic DiCaire who has been performing for just over 20 years. She has been a good friend of Celine Dion's for at least ten of those years and has previously toured with her. I did catch the last two songs and I have to say I wasn't at all impressed with her. She just did covers and was way too cliched. It wasn't a good performance at all.
After her performance there was a short gap before Celine Dion took to the stage and opened with The Power of Love and then 90s hit, That's The Way It Is. After belting at the song she took the time to apologise to the audience for taking ten years to come back downunder and thanked the audience for going to the show. She sounded genuinely grateful that around 20,000 people had attended and grateful for the support over the last three decades.
It was only natural that her next song would be the celebratory, I'm Alive which she delivered with huge enthusiasm and genuine passion.
Of course, Because You Loved Me was in the set list and Dion encouraged the audience to help her sing the last line. She is a total perfectionist and really wanted to get the crowd enthusiastic so paused to rev the crowd up.
At one point in the show she said that she loves to talk as much as she loves to sing and that she's very grateful that she's able to do so everyday.
One cheesy moment though was when she launched into Aussie crooner, John Farnham's Your The Voice, which even though I don't like the song, Dion did a brilliant job of singing. She did the song justice and showed exactly how you sing that song.
Towards the end of the show she took time to talk about the death of her husband Rene Angeill after a battle with throat cancer in 2016. You wouldn't really expect it but she told a story about how Pink had written a song for her called Recovering to help her through. I can't speak for other audience members but having read interviews where Dion has spoken about her husband, I wanted her to make reference to his death in the concert so I was glad she opened up about that difficult time in her life. There are some singers who don't open up to the audience and just sing their songs without much crowd interaction. That was not at all the case with Dion and it made it personal, despite being in a crowd of 20,000 people.
After Recovering, she launched into All By Myself. You could really tell that a lot of preparation and planning went into the structure of the show and the song order.
It's always great when singers have an acoustic section and Dion performed a medley of At Seventeen / A New Day Has Come / Unison before having a short break where her dancers and back up singers took to the stage while she went backstage for the fourth costume change of the evening.
The show finished with Love Can Move Mountains/River Deep Mountain High.
As always though, no show is complete without an encore and Dion returned to the stage and didn't say a word. I'd known what was coming because I always look up setlists online prior to going to a show. The arena was pitch black with just the lights from people's phones and the introduction to My Heart Will Go On, which was the entire reason I had gone to the show in the first place. This was an amazing moment, and was just incredible. The encore was the best part of the concert. While she was singing it, you couldn't help but wonder if she was thinking of her husband while singing it. The stage was lit up with imagery related to the Titanic (actual ship, not the movie).
Again, she thanked the audience and left the stage but returned a couple of minutes later and spoke about how it had been so long since she'd been in Australia and that although going on tour is hard, it's even harder to end a show and that she didn't want to end the show right there. She talked about her children and the sacrifices they've made to allow her to tour. She also seemed to genuinely care about the audience and got teary in some parts of the speech. She was the only one on stage. All her back up singers, dances and the band had left the stage, and she then concluded the show with Can't Help Falling In Love.
You could really tell she didn't want the show to end.
All in all this was a brilliant show and the way she connected with the audience and delivered her encores and her powerful voice control and vocal ability is exactly why she has had a career spanning three decades. She is an amazing talent.
I give the show a 4/5. The only reason it doesn't get a 5/5 is because of one or two cheesy moments being John Farnham's Your The Voice and the medley of 90s tunes including Prince's Purple Rain.
After her performance there was a short gap before Celine Dion took to the stage and opened with The Power of Love and then 90s hit, That's The Way It Is. After belting at the song she took the time to apologise to the audience for taking ten years to come back downunder and thanked the audience for going to the show. She sounded genuinely grateful that around 20,000 people had attended and grateful for the support over the last three decades.
It was only natural that her next song would be the celebratory, I'm Alive which she delivered with huge enthusiasm and genuine passion.
Of course, Because You Loved Me was in the set list and Dion encouraged the audience to help her sing the last line. She is a total perfectionist and really wanted to get the crowd enthusiastic so paused to rev the crowd up.
At one point in the show she said that she loves to talk as much as she loves to sing and that she's very grateful that she's able to do so everyday.
One cheesy moment though was when she launched into Aussie crooner, John Farnham's Your The Voice, which even though I don't like the song, Dion did a brilliant job of singing. She did the song justice and showed exactly how you sing that song.
Towards the end of the show she took time to talk about the death of her husband Rene Angeill after a battle with throat cancer in 2016. You wouldn't really expect it but she told a story about how Pink had written a song for her called Recovering to help her through. I can't speak for other audience members but having read interviews where Dion has spoken about her husband, I wanted her to make reference to his death in the concert so I was glad she opened up about that difficult time in her life. There are some singers who don't open up to the audience and just sing their songs without much crowd interaction. That was not at all the case with Dion and it made it personal, despite being in a crowd of 20,000 people.
After Recovering, she launched into All By Myself. You could really tell that a lot of preparation and planning went into the structure of the show and the song order.
It's always great when singers have an acoustic section and Dion performed a medley of At Seventeen / A New Day Has Come / Unison before having a short break where her dancers and back up singers took to the stage while she went backstage for the fourth costume change of the evening.
The show finished with Love Can Move Mountains/River Deep Mountain High.
As always though, no show is complete without an encore and Dion returned to the stage and didn't say a word. I'd known what was coming because I always look up setlists online prior to going to a show. The arena was pitch black with just the lights from people's phones and the introduction to My Heart Will Go On, which was the entire reason I had gone to the show in the first place. This was an amazing moment, and was just incredible. The encore was the best part of the concert. While she was singing it, you couldn't help but wonder if she was thinking of her husband while singing it. The stage was lit up with imagery related to the Titanic (actual ship, not the movie).
Again, she thanked the audience and left the stage but returned a couple of minutes later and spoke about how it had been so long since she'd been in Australia and that although going on tour is hard, it's even harder to end a show and that she didn't want to end the show right there. She talked about her children and the sacrifices they've made to allow her to tour. She also seemed to genuinely care about the audience and got teary in some parts of the speech. She was the only one on stage. All her back up singers, dances and the band had left the stage, and she then concluded the show with Can't Help Falling In Love.
You could really tell she didn't want the show to end.
All in all this was a brilliant show and the way she connected with the audience and delivered her encores and her powerful voice control and vocal ability is exactly why she has had a career spanning three decades. She is an amazing talent.
I give the show a 4/5. The only reason it doesn't get a 5/5 is because of one or two cheesy moments being John Farnham's Your The Voice and the medley of 90s tunes including Prince's Purple Rain.
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Post Botox injection review
Today was the day that I went to the skincare clinic and got Botox. It was my first time after two years of considering and most of that time spent being really opposed to the idea of cosmetic procedures. I figured that I hadn't really aged and so I didn't need to do anything. I also thought it was fake and pretentious to go in for the procedure, despite so many people doing so.
So how did it go?
Well this morning, I arrived at the clinic and waited in the waiting room for about ten minutes before the specialist came and grabbed me. We then went into the treatment room and spent about 10 minutes talking about what I was in for. Basically those ten minutes were designed to make clients feel comfortable.
After that we analysed my skin and I was asked to tense up the muscles in my face by frowning and smiling. I was asked about what area I was focused on in particular. I said my forehead and around my eyes.
It was recommended that I also get my lower forehead done. That's the part between the eyes where to 11s form, also known as "the 11s". I said I wouldn't do that area today but will go back for it.
I was then given recommended dosages. It was 20 for my forehead, 10 for my left eye and 10 for my right eye. I had thought I'd only needed 27 units of Botox but I actually needed 40. If you don't have enough it won't work and if you have too much you'll look frozen so it was about getting the treatment dosage right.
A few before pictures were taken by the specialist.
The specialist then wiped my face with numbing liquid and asked how I was with needles, which I'm fine with. She then asked me to frown and then relax and when relaxed I was injected. That happened about five or six times. It was over fairly quickly. Probably within 10 minutes max. It may have even been quicker. It really was just a few mild pricks and you honestly don't notice it.
I was booked in for a follow up in a couple of weeks time, which will serve two purposes - the first is to check up on what's been done and the second is to have the second part of my forehead done. I will also be looking at getting under my eyes done and then in the future my chin/mouth area.
I was told I'd start seeing results in about 5 days but I feel like I'm seeing them already.
The thing with Botox is, if you're going to do it, you really do need to do your full face for best results otherwise there'll be a mismatch and you'll have some lines. If you're going to do it, then do it right.
Today's treatment cost $349 and it'll be about the same next time. I'm hoping that I get all areas done in the next visit but it may take a further one after that, and then in four months time I need to get treated again. That's bout the length of time it lasts.
My biggest advice to anyone who is thinking about Botox, do your research beforehand and consider what areas you want done. Also be prepared to need extra units when you get to the clinic. All treatment packages are tailored individually, so a dosage for someone else may not be suitable for you so make the most of that consultation and take their recommendations on board.
For the record though, I draw the line at Botox and possibly fillers. I'm not ruling out fillers for around my mouth and cheeks if that's what's deemed the best option. I'd rather Botox but it's all about what will give me the best results and most youthful appearance.
Again, if you're considering it then do your research beforehand and be sure it's what you really want, but if you are considering it, don't be afraid like so many people are. Some people use anti ageing cream, whereas others would rather go to a clinic once every four months. It all results in the same thing - a more youthful appearance so it's whatever works for you. I personally don't trust creams or think they'll work but I do trust Botox.
I'll post another blog in a few days with some pictures.
So how did it go?
Well this morning, I arrived at the clinic and waited in the waiting room for about ten minutes before the specialist came and grabbed me. We then went into the treatment room and spent about 10 minutes talking about what I was in for. Basically those ten minutes were designed to make clients feel comfortable.
After that we analysed my skin and I was asked to tense up the muscles in my face by frowning and smiling. I was asked about what area I was focused on in particular. I said my forehead and around my eyes.
It was recommended that I also get my lower forehead done. That's the part between the eyes where to 11s form, also known as "the 11s". I said I wouldn't do that area today but will go back for it.
I was then given recommended dosages. It was 20 for my forehead, 10 for my left eye and 10 for my right eye. I had thought I'd only needed 27 units of Botox but I actually needed 40. If you don't have enough it won't work and if you have too much you'll look frozen so it was about getting the treatment dosage right.
A few before pictures were taken by the specialist.
The specialist then wiped my face with numbing liquid and asked how I was with needles, which I'm fine with. She then asked me to frown and then relax and when relaxed I was injected. That happened about five or six times. It was over fairly quickly. Probably within 10 minutes max. It may have even been quicker. It really was just a few mild pricks and you honestly don't notice it.
I was booked in for a follow up in a couple of weeks time, which will serve two purposes - the first is to check up on what's been done and the second is to have the second part of my forehead done. I will also be looking at getting under my eyes done and then in the future my chin/mouth area.
I was told I'd start seeing results in about 5 days but I feel like I'm seeing them already.
The thing with Botox is, if you're going to do it, you really do need to do your full face for best results otherwise there'll be a mismatch and you'll have some lines. If you're going to do it, then do it right.
Today's treatment cost $349 and it'll be about the same next time. I'm hoping that I get all areas done in the next visit but it may take a further one after that, and then in four months time I need to get treated again. That's bout the length of time it lasts.
My biggest advice to anyone who is thinking about Botox, do your research beforehand and consider what areas you want done. Also be prepared to need extra units when you get to the clinic. All treatment packages are tailored individually, so a dosage for someone else may not be suitable for you so make the most of that consultation and take their recommendations on board.
For the record though, I draw the line at Botox and possibly fillers. I'm not ruling out fillers for around my mouth and cheeks if that's what's deemed the best option. I'd rather Botox but it's all about what will give me the best results and most youthful appearance.
Again, if you're considering it then do your research beforehand and be sure it's what you really want, but if you are considering it, don't be afraid like so many people are. Some people use anti ageing cream, whereas others would rather go to a clinic once every four months. It all results in the same thing - a more youthful appearance so it's whatever works for you. I personally don't trust creams or think they'll work but I do trust Botox.
I'll post another blog in a few days with some pictures.
Monday, July 16, 2018
Why I've decided to get Botox
I'm the first person to criticise people who get breast implants or lip fillers. I'm the first to mock people who have weight loss surgery and I'm the first to say that people overdo it with cosmetic surgery or procedures.
I have however decided to get Botox myself. It's not a decision I made quickly. A couple of years ago I thought, "yeah I'd get Botox". It was sort of a casual, "yeah I'd be open to it" thing but I have read so many horror stories about people who get addicted to it and I've seen pictures of people who looked better pre Botox than afterwards.
In the weekend though two things happened.
So why Botox and why now? Aside from the two factors I mentioned, it's preventative. You don't actually need to have a lot of lines to have Botox and because it's a relaxer, it means that any lines that do develop will be finer. Of course it does also mean that I'll need to have it 3-4 times a year and that's okay. It's a small price to pay to look youthful.
I got to thinking about why it's important though and why now. I'm not sure how many news stories you read of people who've had cosmetic procedures but you often read these stories about people who've just just lost a stack of weight and then they decided to have a procedure done so I got to thinking about the psychology behind it.
Well it's not actually just the psychology. You may not know, but people who lose weight often look older than people with fuller rounder faces, so when you lose weight and your facial features are distinguished there's an unwanted side effect of looking a couple of years older than while you were bigger.
Then there's the other side of the coin. You lose a lot of weight and suddenly you have a lot of pride in your appearance and want to look perfect. It's not enough that you've lost the weight. You need to look youthful. See when you lose weight you feel and look better generally but lines on your face can hold you back from where you want to be, and that could be another reason why people get Botox after losing weight. It's about completing the image.
Some people think that you should start getting Botox in your 20s as a preventative measure, others say wait until your 30s or 40s while others believe you should never have it. Personally, now that I've booked in to have it done this weekend, I would be of the group of people who says you should have it in your later 20s or early 30s. It's better to get it before the lines are really sunken in.
It's becoming more and more common for people in their 20s and 30s to get it before they do have a lot of wrinkles. The major thing before you get your first procedure is to know that it's a lifetime commitment. That means once you start you can't stop unless you want the wrinkles and lines to come back.
As for me, I'm having my first procedure done in the weekend. I'm getting my forehead done initially and then after that I'll be getting around my eyes done in another procedure. I like the idea of Botox because it's a quick 30 minute event and then you're done for six months. You don't have to constantly be using creams everyday (and I don't believe creams work in the first place). I like to think I've maintained my youth pretty well but ultimately ageing is unavoidable. You can however slow it down and keep your youthful appearance for longer.
I'll be posting another blog on Saturday after I've had the procedure.
In the meantime I'll leave you with five tips:
I have however decided to get Botox myself. It's not a decision I made quickly. A couple of years ago I thought, "yeah I'd get Botox". It was sort of a casual, "yeah I'd be open to it" thing but I have read so many horror stories about people who get addicted to it and I've seen pictures of people who looked better pre Botox than afterwards.
In the weekend though two things happened.
- I was having a convo with a friend and commented that they needed Botox. They turned it back on me saying the same thing and I was like, "yeah I'd have it".
- I then took a photo and noticed some lines on my forehead that I don't like.
So why Botox and why now? Aside from the two factors I mentioned, it's preventative. You don't actually need to have a lot of lines to have Botox and because it's a relaxer, it means that any lines that do develop will be finer. Of course it does also mean that I'll need to have it 3-4 times a year and that's okay. It's a small price to pay to look youthful.
I got to thinking about why it's important though and why now. I'm not sure how many news stories you read of people who've had cosmetic procedures but you often read these stories about people who've just just lost a stack of weight and then they decided to have a procedure done so I got to thinking about the psychology behind it.
Well it's not actually just the psychology. You may not know, but people who lose weight often look older than people with fuller rounder faces, so when you lose weight and your facial features are distinguished there's an unwanted side effect of looking a couple of years older than while you were bigger.
Then there's the other side of the coin. You lose a lot of weight and suddenly you have a lot of pride in your appearance and want to look perfect. It's not enough that you've lost the weight. You need to look youthful. See when you lose weight you feel and look better generally but lines on your face can hold you back from where you want to be, and that could be another reason why people get Botox after losing weight. It's about completing the image.
Some people think that you should start getting Botox in your 20s as a preventative measure, others say wait until your 30s or 40s while others believe you should never have it. Personally, now that I've booked in to have it done this weekend, I would be of the group of people who says you should have it in your later 20s or early 30s. It's better to get it before the lines are really sunken in.
It's becoming more and more common for people in their 20s and 30s to get it before they do have a lot of wrinkles. The major thing before you get your first procedure is to know that it's a lifetime commitment. That means once you start you can't stop unless you want the wrinkles and lines to come back.
As for me, I'm having my first procedure done in the weekend. I'm getting my forehead done initially and then after that I'll be getting around my eyes done in another procedure. I like the idea of Botox because it's a quick 30 minute event and then you're done for six months. You don't have to constantly be using creams everyday (and I don't believe creams work in the first place). I like to think I've maintained my youth pretty well but ultimately ageing is unavoidable. You can however slow it down and keep your youthful appearance for longer.
I'll be posting another blog on Saturday after I've had the procedure.
In the meantime I'll leave you with five tips:
- Only choose a reputable clinic. Although it's unlikely you'll have side effects, you're better to be safe.
- There is nothing wrong with getting Botox as a preventative measure.
- Be aware that once you start you will have to continue. It's much like bleaching your hair unless you make a conscious decision to grow out your natural colour (as I have done because I'm naturally blonde anyway and I prefer my natural shade).
- Take the advice of your medical professional when you book in for your appointment.
- Do your research before you get your first procedure.
Sunday, July 15, 2018
Why Meghan's dad is right that she's being stifled
If you regularly read my blog then you'd know that I'm not the biggest fan of Meghan Markle and that I was hoping the wedding to Prince Harry would be called off. That hope wasn't just because I don't want Prince Harry to be married to anyone, it was also because Meghan Markle seems like a strong person with ambitions and opinions. Like me, she studied International Relations and Theatre at university (specifically I studied Politics and Film, TV, Media Studies and post graduate in Communications - Journalism specialty) so I know her type.
Prior to meeting Prince Harry she had a successful acting career and was a millionaire in her own right. In order to be with Prince Harry she had to give up her old life by quitting acting and moving from America to Britain.
This weekend her father, Thomas Markle said that she was struggling and that it was in her eyes, that she was being forced to be someone she's not, and I have to agree with him.
She may have the world's best designers like Givenchy lining up to dress her but she's not being herself. I've commented on this before so I won't rehash that by posting before and after photographs.
The below photo does show that she's not happy though and that she's faking it, and even though she's an experienced actor, it's easy to read right through it.
Source: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a22147362/meghan-markle-wimbledon-2018-ralph-lauren-prince-harry/
It's clear that she's trying to act happy but that she's not.
If her father is right that she's not happy and that she's finding the restrictive Royal Family lifestyle hard then it's only a matter of time before she bails out and decides it's not worth it, just like Prince Harry's former girlfriends did.
In so many ways Meghan Markle is very lucky, being with Prince Harry for starters and never needing to worry about money again, but in others she is very unlucky.
Given she's a feminist with strong political views, it's clear that she is being stifled and no man is worth that. She may love Prince Harry and he loves her but for someone as strong as her she'll lose what he fell in love with, she's already starting to with how she's being controlled by the Queen and her management.
I just hope that if/when that day comes that Meghan's family and friends from her former life are there to pick up the pieces because otherwise she's going to end up very miserable just like Princess Diana.
It is also unfair that certain Royal Family members must behave in a certain way, wear certain things and that they're not allowed regular jobs like she had before. As Thomas Markle was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying, it's archaic and outdated.
It does seem though that he will be there to pick up the pieces if/when it does fall apart, but he's right that Meghan is losing herself, feeling the pressure and stifled. Not being able to express your political views is just incredibly wrong, especially when it's highly unlikely she will ever be Queen Consort. The rules should be more relaxed for Royal Family members who are outside the top 5 (Prince Harry is number 6 at present).
It makes no sense in 2018 that she must behave in a way that is more reminiscent of the 1950s and that she is basically now a Stepford wife who must just look good and not speak out of line.
Prior to meeting Prince Harry she had a successful acting career and was a millionaire in her own right. In order to be with Prince Harry she had to give up her old life by quitting acting and moving from America to Britain.
This weekend her father, Thomas Markle said that she was struggling and that it was in her eyes, that she was being forced to be someone she's not, and I have to agree with him.
She may have the world's best designers like Givenchy lining up to dress her but she's not being herself. I've commented on this before so I won't rehash that by posting before and after photographs.
The below photo does show that she's not happy though and that she's faking it, and even though she's an experienced actor, it's easy to read right through it.
It's clear that she's trying to act happy but that she's not.
If her father is right that she's not happy and that she's finding the restrictive Royal Family lifestyle hard then it's only a matter of time before she bails out and decides it's not worth it, just like Prince Harry's former girlfriends did.
In so many ways Meghan Markle is very lucky, being with Prince Harry for starters and never needing to worry about money again, but in others she is very unlucky.
Given she's a feminist with strong political views, it's clear that she is being stifled and no man is worth that. She may love Prince Harry and he loves her but for someone as strong as her she'll lose what he fell in love with, she's already starting to with how she's being controlled by the Queen and her management.
I just hope that if/when that day comes that Meghan's family and friends from her former life are there to pick up the pieces because otherwise she's going to end up very miserable just like Princess Diana.
It is also unfair that certain Royal Family members must behave in a certain way, wear certain things and that they're not allowed regular jobs like she had before. As Thomas Markle was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying, it's archaic and outdated.
It does seem though that he will be there to pick up the pieces if/when it does fall apart, but he's right that Meghan is losing herself, feeling the pressure and stifled. Not being able to express your political views is just incredibly wrong, especially when it's highly unlikely she will ever be Queen Consort. The rules should be more relaxed for Royal Family members who are outside the top 5 (Prince Harry is number 6 at present).
It makes no sense in 2018 that she must behave in a way that is more reminiscent of the 1950s and that she is basically now a Stepford wife who must just look good and not speak out of line.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)