I would like to be a kitten...

Especially in this cold!

http://www.meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com

Clementine Henrion

How pretty!
Clementine Henrion makes the 'Eternal Helium'.
Sewed and stuffed, to stay forever.

That is only one mark on her very impressive resume of skills!
Go on... scroll on over... LOOK!

http://www.clementinehenrion.com

Clever Girl

Look at what this clever girl has done!
Using old things to create very lovely new ones...






I particularly like the tea cup lamp... bet you're not surprised at all!

Head on over to www.recreate.za.net

In honour of World Aids Day

Have a look at this video http://adsoftheworld.com/media/tv/aides_a_life
from TWBA/Paris, France.

Be safe!

At times like these

I am 5cm deep in my knitting, and and forraging forward enthusiastically. Mostly it's just something to keep my fingers busy while I brainstorm ideas for my course projects and christmas presents. (Don't worry, I won't have time to do scarves for everyone)

Am missing my family a lot at the moment, but it's times/days like these that remind me of the wonders of modern communication technology. I am simultaneously chatting over email, bbm, skype and sms. Throw in some facebook and twitter on the side and we've covered my entire conversation network over the last few days. Scary huh!? And
my lovely other wonders why I never stop talking when he's around!? (Apart from the fact that he speaks perfect english and doesn't stumble along inserting German words mid sentence).

I think tonight, while I have my customary glass of wine, all alone after trudging through the very thick and relentless snow(while the other suns it up in thailand, lucky bugger), I will sit down to write a few letters. There's something about physical mail, not the kind in my inbox, that absolutely thrills me. Maybe I'll send one your way, who knows!? Better keep checking your postbox :)

Starry, starry sky

As heaven opens it's doors for another one of the good ones, and loved ones mourn her departure, I can't help smiling as I think of the angel that will be there now. Peaceful, after such a hard struggle. Watching over her little girl.

Another star in the sky to guide you along my dear, dear friend.

Love you so

Purler

1 lovely craft shop, a rather long effort at finding the right blogs / instructional videos (dammit, why did I not pay more attention when I was younger?), 1 undoing of my 1st row and 5 relatively successful rows later, I can confess that while I may not be the BEST knitter, I am having fun so will persevere.

I am trying to knit a Snood:


I doubt it will look exactly like that, but as long as it keeps me warm and cosy, I am not too fussed.

I started out at this amazing store:


It has an amazing selection of wools, yarn and embroidery bits and bobs in fantastic colours... I just opted for a simple, starter-outer black. Not very exciting, but I thought I'd see how well it went before I splashed out.
They also have beads... I'll definitely be back! :)

Have got 140 'stitches' across and will just keep going until I reach a length that works, or the end of the ball. Which ever comes first.

The benefit of knitting is that I don't feel like I'm completely abandoning my course projects while I watch my favourite shows. Win win win!

Back to the needles I go...

The Things You Never Had Time For

This snow filled Saturday, I have decided... It's Time.

No more wishing for days when I can do all the-things-I-have-always-wanted-to-do-but-never-had-time-for. The time is now.

First up... knitting a glorious Snood. I am sick of dreaming abt these wonderful things that I will never buy because I can Make It Myself or can't afford.

So off I head into Marienplatz to find some wool, and some knitting needles. I have the "How To" website ready and I'm pretty sure after a glass of wine and some girly shows I will be able to accomplish my task.

Wish me luck!

Looking back to look forward...

Reminicing. It's one of my all time favourite things to do.
Sitting with friends or family, thinking about "that time when" and "waaay back in the day". Some happy times, some sad ones, some nearly-pee'd-in-my-pants times.

However, in keeping with my extremely contradictory personality, I am trying to apply a motto to my life. Along the tune of "don't look back". tricky stuff... Especially when I do just that everytime I have a cup of tea. (Which is often), and it's extremely difficult to look back at only the positive things... How do you cut out the moments you regret, the moments you cried.

I guess it's all part of character development. Maybe the key is to merely glance back quickly, to remind our selves of the things we want to avoid in the future, instead of dwelling there tea pots long at a time.

Anyhow, in keeping with my need to look back, I have discovered an amazing little book.
It's called "Let's Bring It Back" by Lesley M.M. Blume.



Even the cover makes you feel reminiscent. It's a collection of wonderful things from "time gone by"... I think it's lovely. Don't you?

Exploratory Adventures

I decided that today I would hop on my bicycle, figure out the tickets, hop on the S-Bahn and head to Marien Platz (city centre). So I packed some lunch, and off I went...

Living in Germany Lesson 3: Whilst looking lovely on, and being very practical for when wearing boots, skinny jeans may not be the best bicycle riding attire. Especially the Very Skinny Kind. It's as though every time you bend your knee to push a peddle they creep further and further down your backside. And since I had a waist belt on there was no way I was putting one around the top of my pants to keep them up. I sincerely thought that was what my bushmans bum was for!

Living in Germany Lesson 4: Check route before heading out? I couldn't remember where the station was. I had a map, and plenty of street signs but somehow still managed to get a bit confused.
So, mustering up all my memories of German lessons I stopped a lady and asked for some help. Of all the people I could have asked, I picked the one formerly from Cape Town... Hooray! She pointed me in the right direction (naturally the direction I was going to go in next! ;) )and off I went again.

It's really beautiful in Marian Platz! Except for my memory failure when it came to finding THE ice cream shop. (I don't usually believe in jetlag, but in this instance, I'm SURE it was to blame... I must have been half asleep last time we headed that way).

I browsed around and then decided to walk further out. It was as though I has stumbled into some sort of giants lair! The buildings, while very old and beautiful, are HUGE! I felt smaller than a full stop in size 6 font. And that's pretty small!

Vertical challenges aside I meandered forth to discover the University. If every kid in Munich, in the whole of Germany even, does not go to Uni just to be around all THAT, then I just don't know. It's stunning stunning stunning! (Pics will follow shortly).

After a glorious day out, a lovely lunch in the park, near abduction by bank promoters and a chocolate and tirimisu icecream, I decided to head home.

Living in Germany Lesson 4: Before waiting on a platform for half an hour, furiously searching your maps and cursing the Right Train for taking so long, make sure you are on the Right Platform. This is handy if you ever want to get home.

Tea Time!!!

To be a grad or not to be...

So, I finished my degree. Hooray!
But now comes the question of whether or not to attend graduation.
For starters, I am moving countries.. But the gown! And cap!

Fast forward 5 minutes and ‎​Over it already.
Was probably swept away but the official pages boosting my ego with
proof of a degree :)

Is it wrong to just want the certificate?
Sign of the times? Study through correspondance and get so caught up in the convenience the technology offers that we forget the importance of the 'college experience'?

Is that important at all?

You'd think having finished the degree would mean you are finished with all the questioning...
But it seems it's only just begun...

End of degree, beginning of life?

Here goes nothing...

Hong Kong in 10 hours

In my scurry to get my ticket to Sydney booked, making it a REAL adventure, instead of a mere plan, I failed to notice the 12 hour stop over in Hong Kong...

After a quick bout of communications I discovered my friend, who lives in Hong Kong, has a girlfriend who not only speaks the language, but is so much fun. SCORE! She showed me around the wondrous space... (it's large!) while I shivered in my feeble jeans and slip slops! (Russian ICE bar -sans vodka- included).

Crystal Jade, in the IFC2 building is a definite must try. Super quick service and such lovely food... Only problem is that you can't book and it's quite popular, so you have to get there early to get a number and wait to be called.

What seemed a daunting 'waiting around' period of time turned into such a whirlwind adventure that by the time I boarded my next plane I was delightfully exhausted and ready for an 8 hour sleep. (Didn't happen, was over tired and beyond ready to see my parents.)

And now... here I am... SYDNEY!

R

x

**The picture on the left is a beautiful temple, filled with incense burners which cover the ceiling.

Replaced

Ever watched Ugly Betty? Ever been completely freaked out by how Betty seems to get into such annoying predicaments that you can SEE coming and she can't?

How people just take advantage of her 'good'ness?

I do.

But at the same time, I am completely in awe of this characters gusto, bravado and resilience.

I'm about to embark on a journey abroad, traveling alone, but staying with my parents (which in itself should test me...)

The aim is a bit of soul searching, some Dora the Explorer-ing and a return full of new ideas and inspiration.

But a month away from my 'normalities' could be interesting, so I'm looking to Betty for some guts to stick it out... maybe it's not as big a deal as I think it will be...

Maybe it is.

The episode of Ugly Betty (it's true, I would die for her job) I just watched was called "Plus None." In it, Betty finds the people around her moving on, while she is left feeling bewildered (but pulls through in true fairy tale manner). Maybe that's what I'm most afraid of. Maybe it's what we're all most afraid of.

That we'll go off some where and no one will notice, or, SHOCK, HORROR, GASP... no one will care.

A month 'out of context,' so to speak.... Here it goes, here it comes, here it IS. (possible quote from the O Mag, kudos)

Here's to adventures, individualism and exiting encounters. (FULL of fear)

x

2010... and so much more

Here's a quick toast to lasting inspiration; gratifying goodness; feelings of influence; lengthy success; passionate love; deep faith, hope, joy; fulfilling pathways and life.... full, juicy, fresh, fun, sacred life.

Mostly, here's to new beginnings, fresh adventures and endless possibilities!

x