Author Archives: Learning the hard way

About Learning the hard way

Jane is of the belief that her life's purpose may well be to serve as a warning to others. She is unsure as to why she speaks in the third person...

Status update – from go to woe

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Learning the hard way

Welcome to the world and welcome to Facebook where your entire life from zygote to delivery has been assiduously documented. From the remarkable 4D scan (ok, about that…forgive me if I’m a tad cynical about the actual geometric possibilities of … Continue reading →

Posted in humor | Tagged children, facebook, family, instagram, Linkedin, Parent, Photograph, Social media, Social network, Stranger danger | 8 Comments

Ageing Beauty

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Learning the hard way

So there I was swathed in capes and towels contemplating the furrow of lurex threads adorning my part line and wondering when my regrowth touchups went from every three months to every five weeks, when a magazine cover caught my … Continue reading →

Posted in humor | Tagged ageing, Big Issue, Diane Kruger, fashion, green eyeshadow, hair, humor, Iris Apfel, north melbourne, skin care, spiral perm, style | 11 Comments

Not a brainiac.

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Learning the hard way

I took my second Lumosity research study assessment yesterday and despite almost daily training sessions it appears I am a moron… …seriously dense ….really quite the dunce. It’s chiefly the areas of problem solving and attention that seem to be … Continue reading →

Posted in humor | Tagged Freerice, humor, Lumosity, problem solving, psychological testing, vocabulary | 10 Comments

Game of shut up!

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Learning the hard way

They’re at it again. A thumping piano and a swelling chorus of voices punctuated by an intermittent baritone. For several months now there have been daily rehearsals. When the roller door at the back of their warehouse is open an … Continue reading →

Posted in humor | Tagged Game of Thrones, humor, opera, rehearsals, set construction, theater | 2 Comments

The knead to relax.

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Learning the hard way

My relationship with all forms of beauty therapy is fraught at best. In the interest of background research please now refer to last years blog post, ‘The Spa Treatment’, for further insight into the vagaries of salons… and Croatians. For … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, Travel | Tagged anniversary, australia, busker, Gold Coast, humor, husband, Manicure, massage, Nailpolish, spa, Yarra Valley | 7 Comments

Dude, where’s my service?

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Learning the hard way

Years ago in a fresher time I’d hear women complain about feeling invisible and figured it was because of their obvious facial hair or general air of disintegration. Darl, I thought, it’s time to embrace laser hair removal and lose … Continue reading →

Posted in humor | Tagged ageing, Apple, Apple Store, department stores, Genius Bar, humor, iPad, moisturiser, power suits, service | 9 Comments

The Dinner Party

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Learning the hard way

I’m not a great cook, but I love to eat and I know with absolute certainty that the tripe, smoked cod and lumpy, grey mashed potatoes I had the misfortune of growing up with are fit for no-one but the … Continue reading →

Posted in humor | Tagged cooking, dinner parties, entertaining, ex husband, humor, Julia Child, Rainbow trout, trout almondine | 8 Comments

What’s cooking?

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Learning the hard way

Second born is quietly going about the business of preparing for another stint of living in the USA (stand back!) There’s not a whole lot I’m required to do. Unlike the good old days when I was the boss of … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, humor | Tagged children, cooking, Hershey bar, humour, Milo, Steve Miller Band, travel, United States, vegemite | 9 Comments

Talk to the hands.

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Learning the hard way

I am a big fan of people who talk with their hands. Ok, just to clarify, I’m not referring to sign language or sock puppets, but rather people who accompany all conversation with extravagant hand gestures. I have a … Continue reading →

Posted in humor | Tagged Bob Fosse, dancing, Dave Brubeck, gay men, Gesture, Hip Hop, humor, Jazz, Jose James, sales | Leave a comment

Can we fix it? Probably not.

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Learning the hard way

*Bob the builder is back. He appears to have an apprentice now which you’d think would have sped up the process, but it hasn’t. We noticed a small patch of darkening plaster on the en suite ceiling a little over … Continue reading →

Posted in humor | Tagged Balcony, Bathroom, builders, Business, Ceiling, Fawlty Towers, humor, Landlord, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Wednesday | 2 Comments