19 March 2010

Spending Hiatus - Week Seven

I can't believe it is week seven already, I really feel I have failed in this exercise in restraint and more importantly mindful consumption. Therefore, I am going to extend my hiatus to 12 weeks. I am determined that April is going to be the winning month. This doesn't mean that I am going to let things slide during the remaining 12 days of March.

Suffice to say that this week has been winner, but only because most of the week I was in bed with a fever, so even online shopping wasn't going to happen. And lets be thankful for that, because one can only imagine the damage that could be caused to a credit card by a delirious woman!!!

Today, I was tempted by John Olsen, in my opinion one of the greatest artists of the modern era, to do a little spending. I'm a huge fan of the Olsen style of painting, lots of squiggles, mad lines, dots on vast expanses of glorious colour. To me his paintings scream "life". I always feel charged and energised looking at one of his paintings.

I had a dental appointment today and my dentist happens to be around the corner from the gallery that specialises in Olsen exhibitions. There is one at the moment called "Culinaria, The Cuisine of the Sun" which showcases works capturing the time Olsen spent in Spain as a young man and discovered Spanish cuisine. I popped in for a quick visit as I had J with me who likes to run a lot (if you know what I mean). I just fell in love with the painting above "Duck a L'Orange" and if I had a spare $Aud380,00 lying around it would have been mine. But alas it will go to another more fortunate person, pun intended.



And then I spied the book above, and on the cover what did I see, yes it was "my" painting. The book is only $Aud30.00, but I thought to myself, I don't need it, especially when all I would be buying it for was the cover picture.
So although tempted, I thought, nah I'll just go home and look at the two Olsen etchings I already own (actually they were gifts from my sister to my boys for their first birthdays, so technically they own them, but I'll call them mine till they turn 18!!)

Now, if that isn't a good start to the remainder of my spending hiatus, I don't know what is.
Hope you have had a happy Friday.
Off to a school Movie Night in a short while, I'm on BBQ duty and I'm still a little under the weather, so not sure how long I'll hold out, but you just have to do it for the kids don't you.
Speaking of which, thank you to all my lovely readers for your thoughts and kind words while I was away in bed. It is so nice to know that people are interested in what I have to say here on my blog. Thank you also for your support in relation to yesterday's post. I wasn't sure about doing such a post as I pretend to be no parenting expert, but I am so glad I did.

Have a happy weekend and see you Monday.

6 comments:

  1. Love this post Engracia and congrats on holding off on the painting and the book (although I can see why you would be so tempted!). That particular painting is gorgeous!! Enjoy your movie night and hope you get some more rest over the weekend! ~ Tina xx

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  2. Well done for resisting temptation even though it's a really lovely piece :) Hope BBQ duties go ok tonight x

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  3. You're doing great!! I would fail dismally on a spending hiatus!!!

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  4. Yes that OIsen is a snip at $380,000. I see there are others which are much less like $65,000. A bit rich for me even though as you know I love Olsen to death too.

    I liked your chart idea, I may need that one very very soon.

    xoxo

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  5. Great idea, this hiatus. It really shows how caught up we are in consumption. I enjoy reading of your experiences.

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  6. it's hard isn't it!
    kudos for extending to 12 weeks though ;-)
    wow!
    xoxo
    jos

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