Tidbinbilla

I had forgotten how lovely bushwalking is. Now I've been reminded, I'll have to remember to keep on doing it.

Worst name change ever - former Julip Lounge

Speaking of goodbyes

I received a goodbye gift for staying right here...care of my friend leaving for Manila. The heart one sits next to my bed at night and makes me smile.

Goodbye hugs

There have been lots of goodbye hugs the last few months. London (had a few practice ones on that one), and London again, and then Boston too. The other week was goodbye to Manila, and today to Edinburgh.

Goodbye hugs are good and bad. I like them because they are robust, strong, and heartfelt hugs - hugs with big feelings. They are bad for obvious reasons.

Lyttelton and Christchurch

We went to Lyttelton and Christchurch and we loved it. We thought it was beautiful and it was a fun holiday for two good friends.

Full of dogs, pretty buildings and fun. We had Mexican and the worlds biggest Corona in a place that is no longer there. The photos of a broken town and city make me sad, so I had a look at those holiday snaps and here are my favourites.

Year of the rabbit

It took a whole 3 days before he wandered outside while we were eating lunch with rabbit delicately placed in mouth...

The cycle of life

They come and fix my garden up - it usually takes a full day. It looks amazing. They leave. Life gets in the way of gardening. Garden becomes overgrown. They come and fix my garden up.

Beetroot salad

One trip to farmers market

One bunch of fresh beetroot roasted in the oven

Some toasted walnuts

Some soft goats or sheep milk cheese

Dressed with mustard, olive oil and lemon juice

Pinnacle of success

My life is complete. Had direct contact with we are scientists:

scientistbros We Are Scientists

Sidney is about to get ~50% less cool. “@SirBarnalot: Rats! Remember these bats? bit.ly/ev0ky

One thing we agree on

You are the best dog ever.

You must miss him so much. I think he misses you too.

Happy Valentines Day?

So I'm not even sure how I ended up in this Etsy shop. But I did. And then I thought, shall I buy this for myself for valentines day? It has my mums favourite flowers and my dog obsession all there on the one plate.

And then I felt irrationally sad*. Because it has all those things, but the 'you are not alone' bit kind of got me. Because that bit I don't have.

I know, I know, I'm not alone, and I'd have a massive stack of wonderful people in my life, and that makes me very lucky. But at the same time, lets face it... I am alone, and that bit wasn't part of anyones plan. And sometimes it still makes me a bit sad. Just a little bit, okay? So I don't think I will buy this plate now because I've kind of ruined it for myself, but I hope someone buys it for someone they love.

*I also felt a bit stupid - who buys themselves sympathy valentines gifts anyways?

Made by white

Look at this brooch - need I say more? You can buy their stuff here.

Underrated

Russian roulette

Do you know what they said? They said one in ten chillies was mouth blowing hot, so eating these was a little like playing russian roulette.

Guess I shouldn't play with guns then - because the first one...BiNgO!

52 Books in 52 weeks - # 3 Breakfast at Tiffany's

If I'd only read the back of the book - or at the very least wikipedia, I would have saved myself a whole lot of grief. Why? This is what wikipedia says.

Breakfast at Tiffany's is a novella by Truman Capote published, along with three of his short stories, in book form by Random House in 1958

Coincidentally it isn't dissimilar to what the back of the book says. What is the crucial piece of information? Can you guess? Let me tell you what happened and see if you can work it out.

Reading story. Enjoying story. Story hits a sad part. Story gets marginally happier. Story moves to a completely unrelated plot line. This ends suddenly and then another unrelated plot line occurs. I am so distracted trying to work out how these 'chapters' fit into the story that I lose track of the whole thing. By the time the final chapter comes - I'm up to a third unrelated story line and I begin to get cranky.

Finish book and think the first half was excellent but the ending let it down, because quite frankly the last bit didn't make sense. Casually turn to the back of the book and skim the blurb about the book and author. Turn book the right way around and whack myself in the head with it.

Crate men - Laneway

Remember when I wrote about crate men? Last weekend I got to see crate men up close in Melbourne at Laneway festival - just swinging in the trees.

Gift a stranger

Have you seen this site? www.giftastranger.net/

1. Click 'send gift'
2. Get a random address somewhere in the world
3. Print this address and send your gift

My gift is going to:

1345 Arthur St S,

Woolwich,
ON N0B 2N0,
Canada

Crowd surfing

Spotted at Laneway festival

52 Books in 52 weeks - # 2 Sizzling Sixteen

From one extreme to another.

A Fine Balance - a sensitive, beautiful novel...to, how should I put it? A piece of crap that you can read in one sitting (which is pretty much why it was read next. I'm not dumbs. It is February and I'm only up to book two).

Don't get me wrong - I love Janet Evanovich. Trashy trashy reads. Formula writing about Stephanie Plum the bounty hunter. Will she fall for steady, reliable Morelli, or succumb to the dangerous Ranger's charms? Or will Janet write another 27 books where both relationships remain unresolved, but there is still enough spark for the reader to read the next book (just in case Stephanie finally flipping decides which man she will settle with).

Actually when you think about it, Stephanie is a little skinny, pony tailed tramp.

I'm sorry - next time I'll read something a little more high brow.

PS - the book I read was written in normal size print. Promise.

The produce pavilion