Early mornings

This last week I've been waking up just before dawn, even when I should be sleeping. There is a silence that isn't silence - the hum of cars really is just background noise and gains frequency as the clock ticks on. Eventually the birds wake up, and while it is still dark I try so hard not to think a million thoughts but today (especially) I have failed.

A song is playing over and over in my head and I can hear it just like it's real. It's a beautiful song but I wish it would go away. 

And between now and writing these words the sky has moved from dark grey to a hint of light and blue, so I'm safe to get out of bed and play some music to block out the soundtrack playing over and over in my mind. Or maybe I should just say fuck it. Maybe I should embrace the song and the thoughts and the happiness and the sadness, because as coincidence would have it I stumbled across some fine words by Maya Angelou. They kinda make for good dialogue to go with the soundtrack and my thoughts but also remind me that there is a beauty to words and storytelling about everyday life. That these words about life, that we can all understand, are just important as words about war and events hard to imagine. I'm struggling to explain what I mean and I wasn't going to copy the words here, because god knows that this blog reads enough (at times) like a 14 year old diary - but they are too beautiful not to share in part and maybe you need some words to warm your heart today too.  

"You see, love liberates. It doesn’t bind. Love says I love you, I love you if you’re in China, I love you if you’re across town, I love you if you’re in Harlem. I love you. I would like to be near you, I’d like to have your arms around me, I’d like to hear your voice in my ear. But that’s not possible now. So, I love you. Go.” Maya Angelou

www.goodreads.com/quotes/549888-love-she-liberated-me-to-life-she-continued-to-do

BrodDogs

Serendipity in Belcompton. The brod, the beagle and on ordering, they are playing one of my favourite Stooges songs. Now I Wanna Be Your Dog. See? Amazing.

Spotted and hearted at the NGA

The best dressed dame at Omar Musa's book launch at the National Gallery of Australia.The hat was purple plaid which match perfectly with the knitted jumper. Just lovely.

Timing is everything

This arrived in the mail today. Quite exceptional timing. It's nice to know that this would remind someone of me - even if it is my mum....

Monkey business

Spotted and hearted in Belcompton.

Monday night sounds

On a million playlists - just not on this one.

Play it loud. Les Savy Fav - Let's Get Out Of Here.

Sunday...

Bright blue sky, morning coffee, crazy hair, pots of tea, hello kitty, red beads, drawing houses, hot pink hearts, giggles, old school music, winter chill, olives, cocktails, daffodils, the perfect roast chicken, saying goodbye, hugs, chatting to a friend far away, photos, happy tired, hot water bottle, the breeders, quiet.

Penny University - open til late

Over summer, I spent a lot of time at Penny University. Coffee, cake, iced coffee, breakfast, cake, cooling cordials, cocktails, snacks and the odd lunch. Never for dinner. Turns out dinner is just lovely - easy menu, good selection of wine and much less hectic than during daylight hours. 

And excellent for people watching. The table by the front window made me feel like I was in an episode of Girls. Espresso martinis, cute girls with buzz cuts and bandanas, denim shirts with cut of sleeves and a great 80's vibe. French kissing in between courses to a soundtrack of Vanilla Ice.

The table behind (two couples) were talking about A based staff, free trade and other agreements, so quite the contrast. But as they left one of the girls danced by the front door - like you would in your lounge room (but with the thought that someone was watching). Then more happy groups of friends opened the big wooden door and came in for dinner and laughter and niceness. In the mix were couples grabbing a quick coffee and some respite from the cold. A soft quiet buzz on a Friday night.

Belcompton - the Paris of the Australian Capital Territory

I expect there will be at least 207 more locks here by Monday. Guaranteed.

I'm not sure why we are locking out hate but I am sure we nearly hit a lady on the head with our tiny padlock keys as we tossed them over our shoulders. Yelling out '1...2...3...love rules! Oh.......sorry' just shows how badass we really are. And given the eruption of giggles. Very.

Fed and watered

Two ladies have restored my faith in humanity today. A giant coffee, a bag of nuts, home made risotto, some nori rolls, malteasers, sesame snacks, a bottle of wine and some damn fine company.

Today

Today I was surprised by how I was not overwhelmed by some pretty big things, but then taken aback at how hurt I was by the smaller things. That really took me by surprise. Then a far away friend just let me be - over the phone talking like we always do (albeit less often now) for hours. And when we stopped talking I realised that while she felt near, the near friends just seemed so very far away. And now I am back to being surprised - this time though at just how overwhelmed I am. So full circle I guess for now, but tomorrow will be better. 

Palette

Sunny Sunday

It was a sunny on the outside and the inside kind of day today. A sleep in followed by peanut butter toast. Second breakfast in the sun with the biggest coffee ever and an ultimate hipster for company. It's kind of relaxing - people watching in downtown Braddon where all the other hipsters live. Then browsing for art supplies and daydreaming big. 

Different people watching in New Acton followed by coffee with gals. Dinner of laksa in Dickson, tsing tao beer and prawn crackers shared with some dear old friends (and a cutie babe) for company. Driving home with a bright new moon following me and with enough memories to last me through the week.

Sunday just past midnight sounds

And then there was none. Vale Tommy.

Strangers

The first interaction I had today was with a stranger who made me blush and smile. It was while I was thinking about how great that is - you know, when people who don't even know you can say the perfect thing and make your day... that I spied this stranger who melted my heart. 

She was sitting outside - suitcase beside her, wearing her finest, with a feather in her hat. Talking on her mobile phone I heard her say that she had just arrived and was wearing her 'red outfit'. Just beautiful. I then remembered several months ago seeing an equally well dressed elderly gentleman at the mall down the road. He was doing his grocery shopping wearing trousers, shirt, jacket and a hat. I think these two would be the perfect match.  

I wanted to tell her that I thought she looked beautiful and that she was the most stylish woman in town. I wanted to return the favour of a stranger and make her smile. I also wanted to set her up with the grocery shopping, hat wearing man. But she kept talking on her phone and I got my coffee and that was the end of that.

Of course I met this guy...

Gnocchi!

It's been a long time since I have made this recipe...maybe when I lived in Sydney?! I don't know why I stopped making gnocchi...and I don't know why I thought to make it again. But anyways, here how it goes.

Boil the crap out of around 500 grams potatoes. Push through a sieve or ricer.

While still hot, add 1.5 cups of self raising flour. Add generous pinch salt, and an egg.

Mix in a box until it starts to form a dough. Instead of kneading on a board I pick a big enough bowl so I can do the kneading in it. 

Knead for about 2 minutes and then quarter the dough. Put some flour onto a board and roll each into thin sausages and then cut gnocchi at about 2 centimetres. Make a fancy shape with the back of your folk and then pop in boiling water for about 3 minutes.

Z is for

Zonkee

These might be zones just without the stripes. What's a zonkee? It's a cross between a zebra and a donkey.