PART 16: VALERIE

March 2020, Melbourne

I took last weekend off to pack up everything for my new house. We're moving a few suburbs away from the CBD, which I'm not super stoked about just because of the fact that now I'm saving money by walking only 30 minutes to work, and then either catching a lift with another dancer or paying like a $10 Uber. Moving further out will mean more commute time to and from work, getting to sleep later. And then just generally paying more money to get home safe.

We're all moved in and settled now which is good. There’s a basketball court which I've been visiting every day, and practising shooting. I never really got into basketball. My whole family was though, but I played netball throughout middle and high school. But I love just shooting hoops. I also tried out handstands and turns out I'm kind of good considering I've never ever tried. Guess it’s all that upper body strength that I've got from dancing. So, I've been practising that, and it's been good to see some progress.

Right now, we're practising social distancing in Melbourne. So, I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to go into work this weekend because of the virus. I do need money because moving cost a lot. But I feel I wouldn't feel safe being around so many dancers and also being around so many older people who are at risk, which are our customers. I know a few girls who are working though, so I don't know. I'll see how I feel when it comes to it. Luckily, at my club, you can just rock up. You don't have to put a roster in for the week. So yeah, I'll see how we go when it comes to Thursday.

Um, yeah, I guess I'm also really lucky to know that I have a really good support system. That'll help me when I need it. As well as some really great regulars who have offered, you know, to send me money to treat myself to some groceries or sent me massage vouchers, money for lush, that kind of stuff to treat me. So yeah, I should be fine.

I'm also still doing semi regular design work. Some of my clients back in Brisbane, I've got my art stuff, which I can push a bit more. And then, yeah, during this branding work for TØS, which has been a lot of fun working with Ruby. Yeah, I worked in two office design jobs, but they were like, ages ago. And then for the last few years, I've just been freelancing with work. And it's been good, but yeah, working with Ruby, it's really fun. I didn't think I really enjoyed it. But maybe I was just in some environments that didn't really suit me. But I think maybe after I move into this house, I'll look for some, like, design work where I can go and you know, bounce ideas of other creatives. Probably with more experience than me and yeah, just build up my confidence to be able to approach other clients or work with other clients.

So yeah, I feel like I've kind of slacked off in my design work. But yeah, there's always time. I'll make up for it. So, yeah, it's been like, six years since I graduated college. And I feel like I've just been taking it like super cruisy since I started dancing four years ago. So, I had two years of like, solid work, which was really fun. I got to travel with that work to America, which is amazing. But yeah, I can definitely up my game in that part of my life. So yeah, all moved in, chillin, just organising all my shit. And then yeah, we can get on with real life next week.