February 19, 2015

Stranger #15

Take One Interview Coming out, parties, travel

Hosting a dinner party
Don’t take it too seriously – and don’t be competitive. Some people will just not be beat when it comes to culinary triumphs.
Don’t be stingy with volume of food. Leftovers are great.
Do a really good dessert – it’s the final impression.
Set the table, have candles – ambience is half the success.
Don’t make people wait too long or they’ll be half hammered with a diminishing appetite before first course arrives.

Travelling
Use those plastic bags to keep knickers and socks all in the one place, and for dirty washing. If, when you’re packing, your instinct says you might not wear this dress/trousers/jumper much but it could be handy, don’t take it.

Go with a friend – a good friend – who loves organising itineraries.

When your child tells you they are gay
Be observant and know he/she is gay before they finally get around to telling you.
Don’t say triumphantly, ‘I thought so!! Ever since you used to dress up in my clothes when you were five.’
Arrange your face very quickly so it looks nice and normal – because that’s what they are.
Just listen.

Dealing with ageism
I’ll let you know when I’m old.

Would like advice on
How best to keep abreast of new technology. I so don’t want to turn into an old girl that shakes her head in bewilderment at the next whizzbang Apple whitegood

Best advice received
Don’t be afraid. ‘Faint heart never won the fat turkey.’

Life experience:
63 years

Location
Sydney, Australia

January 30, 2015

Stranger #13

Take One Interview art, music, travel

Combining textiles with sound
Start by going way back. The connection has a long history and was (and still is) a central part of everyday culture to many people. Delve into this and your experience moving forward will be so much richer. learn more here

Getting crafty
get stuck in. make mistakes. keep playing. go for a walk. work with and learn from other people. share and pass it on.

Visiting York
Hire a bike and cycle along the river Ouse. Get a copy of One and Other (or check on online) and see what’s happening.
The strange smell drifting across the city is cocoa.
Do go to Betty’s – it is worth it.
Grab a pint of local beer – Yorkshire Terrier, Yorkshire Sparkle and anything by Roosters and Rudgate.
Avoid Saturday nights and the Ghost tours!

Would like advice on
How to plan your life

Best advice received
Don’t plan your life.

Life experience
47 years

Location
York, England

January 25, 2015

Stranger #12

Take One Interview grief, instagram, paris, study, travel

Living in Paris
Paris is like a jealous mistress, she will woe you with all her beauty, pleasure & delights but be warned she can be difficult to live with, like all big cities, only the determined, resourceful and strong will be able to call her home.

Dealing with grief
Take all the time you need.

Studying as mature aged student
Just do it! Your life experience and maturity will place you ahead of the pack, you have survived the real world and mastered the art of bullshit. All you need to do to be a successful student is be able to bullshit your way through every assignment until you cross the finish line.

Using instagram
Just remember selfies and food p*rn are boring! Photograph the details in your world that you find fascinating, you never know you might just show someone something new and different.

Would like advice on
Learning a language in a hurry!

Best advice received
The most successful and secure person in the world is the most adaptable one.

Life experience
41 years

Location
Sydney, Australia

January 14, 2015

Stranger #6

Take One Interview love, sport, travel

Running a marathon
Don’t over estimate how much food you need for training, I did and put on half a stone. Also keep a slow pace, you have a long way to go so don’t be temped to go fast just because you’re feeling good at the start. Do one long run a week but don’t forget to do speed sessions too!

Dealing with a break up
Don’t look back, use this time to discover yourself. You broke up for a reason so be strong and move on. Be excited for what the future holds.

Work year in Australia
Enjoy. Every. Second. Meet new people and travel around, soak it all up because the year will fly.

Would like advice on
Dealing with a bullying boss.
Managing work,kids and study.

Best advice received
If it looks like shit, and it smells like shit, then it’s shit so just walk around it.

Life Experience
36 years

Location
Dublin, Ireland

January 12, 2015

Stranger #4

Take One Interview dating, travel, trust

Using Tinder for the first time
‘Real World’ dating rules don’t apply. Don’t play games. Make the
first move. Be nice. Don’t take offence. And most of all have fun.

Moving country
Save up enough money to spend your first few months in the country
either working in a fun, casual job or travelling around your new
home. This way you will establish a network of friends early on which
will make the transition to a new culture / country so much easier.

Travelling the world solo
Have a rough itinerary of what you’d like to see but be open to
changing your plans at the drop of a hat, the suggestion of a fellow
traveller, or a wrong turn taken in the road…that’s where the adventure starts.

Snooping on your partners phone
Don’t, just don’t. If you find something bad the relationship is
over. If you don’t find something bad the relationship is over anyway
because the trust is gone.

Would like advice on
How do you “breakup” with your flatmate.

Best advice received
You don’t have to tap dance in crap to realise it for what it is.

Life experience
32 years

Location
Sydney, Australia

January 11, 2015

Stranger #2

Take One Interview animals, publishing, travel

Starting your own Zine
If you’re stuck on how to proceed, imagine the kind of zine that you’d love to discover. Then make it.

Visiting Japan for the first time
Japan is a very specific kind of place, so I’d suggest to the first time visitor to think up their dream holiday discovery, however strange it might be. Japan will probably have something that resembles it. Also: buy lots of socks. They will bring you joy for years afterwards.

On naming a rabbit
Whatever name you give any pet will inevitably change, so don’t worry about it too much.

Best advice received
I call it the 5% rule, it’s a healing strategy that is especially useful for fatigue and depression and it is: rather than trying to find something that makes you feel 100% better, look for things that make you feel 5% better, or 10% better, and do as many as you can manage. Not only does it work as a strategy to feel better, it promotes a philosophy of patience and progressive change.

Would like advice on
Staying calm

Life experience
35 years

Location
Sydney, Australia