Day 3: Satellite 1

Satellite in Paris is one of my most favourite earring shops ever. It sells gorgeous costume jewellery - ranging from large and bold to delicate and dainty pieces. Although I love the former, my purchases have always veered towards the latter.

They have a number of stores but the one I like best is in rue des Francs Bourgeois in the Marais district, which Rob and I stumbled across while visiting in 2002. It's just near the Place des Voges - a beautiful place to sit and contemplate life... and the latest purchase(s).

I've been fortunate to visit Paris a number of times since our discovery and have made a pilgrimage to the Marais store each time - sometimes dragging various travel companions with me including Mum, Deb Brennan - my dear friend and fellow earring obsessive - and my patient family. As can be seen from the the snap of Angus below, it doesn't necessarily impress everyone to the same degree! 

Angus the underwhelmed earring shopper, Christmas 2013

I've bought gifts here for my sisters and Mum, and many friends including my gorgeous neighbour Katie Mann, and my precious colleagues and friends Andy Durbach (to mark her Professorship) and  Lisa Hill - another earring sista.

I'll be displaying my Satellite range over the weeks.  I've chosen for today an oval pair with amethyst and a light blue stone. I think it was the colour combination I was drawn to. I've worn these a frequently including in the professional headshot taken a few years back by Di McDonald, photographer extraordinaire and backbone of UNSW's Australian Human Rights Centre.

These earrings express the gratitude I feel for all the travel opportunities I've had throughout my career to date. Exploring many amazing places has been a gift, but the main benefit has been catching up with so many incredible people, including rendevous with exisiting precious friends and meeting new friends along the way. My international colleagues who have shared with me their passion for protecting human rights, especially those of women, have been inspirational to me. Because of these connections, I'm now experiencing a deluge of love, support and good wishes coming my way from across the globe, and it's incredibly sustaining. Thank you!

Day 3 - Australia Day - or Invasion Day for many - started at dawn with the boys making an early start for their trip to Armidale. I felt well so Ree and I made our way out to the Cinema to see Jackie - which we enjoyed - then grappled with the hopeless staff at the Apple store to rescue my phone, before a restful afternoon. I'm still catching myself in the mirror with my 'new look' and feel pretty good about it.



Today, I've been buoyed by my darling sister-in-Law Geeta becoming an Australian citizen, and the brilliant news of my cousin - superstar Katie Kelly - being awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her gold medal winning Paralympic triathalon performance, just a day after she launched her Sports Access Foundation to improve access to sport for disabled children.

Go grrrls!