As worn by monks - not quite a dress for day 6

Traditionally a #frock was a loose fitting, long sleeved garment, tied in the waist worn by monks.

This was my #frocktober outfit for day 6.

A green blouse and full length black skirt, tied in the middle with a thin tan belt.

The outfit is from Penney's (aka Primark) in Dublin. On my second day in Dublin I went for a wander around the city and shops. I thought I was fine. I walked across the Liffey, visited the GPO, wandered near Trinity and sheltered between rain showers in the doorways of stores on Grafton Street. I found Penny's on a main shopping strip. I found the blouse, of course drawn to the colour, as soon as I walked into the store. I saw the skirt, long enough to cover my legs but cool in the heat (with a free belt) and went to the changing rooms. Once in there I sat down on the wee bench in the changing room to remove my shoes, I gently leant my head against the wall and lightly closed my eyes. I drifted off to sleep for a moment. I wasn't fine. I took the skirt, the wee tan belt and the blouse to the counter and tried to get out of this massive store as quickly as possible. It proved a difficult task and I got panicked at the thought of being in a strange place, overwhelmed.

My baby brother took these pictures of my outfit on Saturday.

We went to Te Papa together and we took this picture in one of the exhibition spaces. We visited #ngatoi together too. Nga Toi is the dedicated art gallery space in Te Papa. I love going to galleries with my brother as he has become so confident in expressing how he feels about the works. I find that the galleries at Te Papa are always filled with compelling, beautiful and important New Zealand works. The collection at the moment is particularly delightful. To see more about the gallery, click here. It turns out that as well as being able to talk about art, my brother is quite a good photographer.

 



This is Bill Culbert's Drop and Daylight Flotsam. The work was exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 2013. Yesterday when I was visiting the work for the second time I saw so many people drawn to the work, they spent a long time in the space and discussed the work with the people they were with. It is an amazing thing to hear someone see an art work for the first time and gasp or point or say "hey, look at this." I am glad that this work represented New Zealand to the world.

 

This may just be one of my favourite photos of all time.