About

When I walked into work at the beginning of January this year after six weeks away, many things had changed. So much so that in an hour and ten minutes I was out the door and into a new life – one that I could design to suit myself.

(I couldn’t have been happier by the way. Finally someone gave me a gentle nudge over the cliff – with a parachute.)

Having written a book that had been published by Penguin the previous year – The Renovator’s Survival Guide, I thought at first that I now had time to write that book about work-life balance I’d been toying with. I’d even begun a short blog about it.

However as the weeks went on, and my first post-work project took shape – a community garden around the corner – I realised that what I wanted to write about was much more than work.

Of course that was January. Now it’s July. Not a word has been written until now – on the screen at least. I’ve written many blog posts in my head as I’ve been exploring the novelty of the designed life. But despite having some very nice people knock up a blog design, I’ve done nothing. Except live of course.

(Did I mention I started the Sydney Small Business Centre? That’s been a blast so far as well as keeping me a little busy. Oh and we have just launched the Doggie Rescue Felt-off…because I love dogs and felt and what better charity to support than Monika’s Doggie rescue! And despite what some people say, being involved in a community garden is like taking part in a social experiment so more on people’s reactions to gifts, leaders and anarchy later.)

Part of the problem is that there’s so much to say you don’t start because the job is too big. And of course I’ve had a book published. I keep thinking it will be really embarrassing if I don’t make an effort with the writing. Which takes time to do well.

However, tonight I just thought: “What the hell, I’ll just kinda begin in the middle and go from there and write it how it comes. (For a while at least.)” So there you have it. My ever-evolving blog as an urban lipstick hippie.

Oh! I almost forgot. The lipstick bit.

So, first of all, what is an urban hippie?? Well if a hippie is someone who, according to the Macquarie Dictionary “rejects conventional social values in favour of new standards of awareness…or union with nature” then an urban one is, according to the Urban Dictionary, “a modern day hippie, someone who incorporates both urban and hippie lifestyles.”

I AM getting to the lipstick bit. Hang on.

So if this is the case then an urban lipstick hippie is someone who embraces hippie values in the city – without donning a pair of sandals or wearing orange, green and flowers. Someone who, for example will want to wear a Marlies Dekkers’ bra as much as they’ll like to potter around in the no-dig, permaculture., verge garden. More on both of those later!