Have you ever had a song or piece of music on loop in your head that has made you laugh even the face of grim life events? Brazil ( the soundtrack from Terry Gilliam's film of the same name) is the one that mercilessly pops into my head when things are going badly. It is very distracting and makes me behave inappropriately. Sort of funny when I think on it now but when you are in serious trouble its just not right. When I consider this absurdity it is probably the perfect thing to balance the situation and keep things in perspective. Life can still be a surreal comedy even in its dark moments.

I just adore this time of year and it would seem after a late start winter is well and truly here. I know its cold and rainy, and everyone seems to have the latest bug but there is much beauty and bliss to be found in the foggy mornings, steel grey skies and elegance of Melbourne stripped bare. I love any excuse to rug up, and curling up on the couch wrapped in a fur throw rug with a good book is a fabulous way to spend a cold dark evening. These shorter days and long dark nights allow me to get settled at the perfumery desk and create new notes and accords to add to my odor reference library, work on formulas and sort and file the chaos of the previous months.