ON GETTING OLDER and WISER

They say wisdom comes with age, it is a product of multitude years of experiences good or bad, moments awkward and pleasurable, happy or sad - all make us wiser and more attuned to life's ups and downs. But somehow, I feel wisdom has passed me by, unfortunately getting older hasn't. I still find myself in awkward situations so insanely déjà vu-ish that I end up kicking myself mentally all the while blabbering to salvage the moment.

On a work-related appraisal recently, as I sat across form my two line managers, who on any ordinary day would be fairly jovial and friendly -both looked somber, even slightly menacing. That itself  should have been warning enough for any person to know what was coming their way and prepare themselves likewise, but no, not me. I suffered from no such wonderful insights. I ended up opening my mouth and digging a hole so deep for myself that there was no coming up for air after that  - I sat there like an idiot, mentally kicking myself  and thinking 'oops I did it again' - Brittany style. Come on elusive wisdom, where are you, surely I am old enough to whip you out in situations like these  - right?

OLD is the "new" NEW for 2014

When it comes to design, it's almost as if time has slowed down, stopped and gone around a bend back to the old days, when life was simpler, sunsets were a thing of wonder and sweet contemplation after a hard days work, quality meant bespoke handmade furniture, lovingly crafted and polished for days on end from wood sourced far and wide, pieces that became heirlooms, handed down from generation to generation - age, knocks and marks only enhancing its beauty and timelessness. Yes, there are plenty of new designs in the market, young designers are forever coming up with their idea of design that incorporates the gadgets and gizmos of technology. Innovation is still rampant but people are turning to older, retro designs and paying more to have those grace their personal spaces. And it's not just furniture, older styles of clothes, vintage cars have all seen a revival and continue to grow at an increasing rate more so than new. Perhaps old never was really old, it lived on in people's minds, subconscious memories of happier childhood days spent in nana's home. I certainly am one of those who remember the smooth curved arms of the settees in my grandmothers house, the warm dark patina of the cabriole side tables and the delicate crotchet place mats. Modern furniture compared to those old pieces is sterile, without soul. It can fill your empty homes but old is what fills your heart with joy and memories - even if they are not your memories you do wonder, where the furniture has been before. Designers are forever sourcing 'old' to grace new places whether city pads or eclectic offices. Old was never this new before.

ON CHASING MY DREAMS

In my opinion, dreams are best relegated to.... staying dreams.

 Every time my dream or wish has come true (and to be honest those times have been few and very far between), every time the thing I have coveted and worked towards has actually transpired - I have felt surprisingly flat, fizzed out, even low. I have realized the chase is what makes my dreams exciting - its the thrill of something just out of reach that gives my dreams its rosy glow - not the dream itself and this very realization has subconsciously made me a bit of an expert at ducking and dunking and just falling short of getting my wish - its almost as if I have mastered the skillful art of Tom-and -Jerry-style-maneuvers to keep chasing and chasing with no end in sight. I seriously subconsciously sabotage my own success. Sounds silly doesn't it - but that's the only reason I can think of that explains all the times I have fallen short of just being that person or just short of getting my hearts desire.

I don't need my dreams to come true, I just want them there to make my life exciting...