Is this thing on?

2011-07-07T20:54:00.001+10:00

Still here, still alive.

Insert platitudes about normal transmission resuming here.

Runupdate: I has a sad.

2011-05-01T19:17:00.003+10:00

It's now one week out from the Mothers' Day Classic. I should be on the tail end of my training, preparing to run the race next week.

Instead, I still have a nasty cough and have found that trying to sustain a pretty brisk walk will put me out of breath (and send me coughing and spluttering) pretty fast.

So... I'm pulling out of the Mothers' Day Classic. I'm totally gutted, as I was really looking forward to giving it another go this year.

I'm going to take a decent break from any hard training and try to get myself better. I'll be back... watch the runupdate space.

Runupdate: Good and Bad

2011-04-26T19:56:00.002+10:00

A week ago, I was elated. I received my race number for the MDC in the mail and it terrified me into training hard again... and the funniest thing was that I was making leaps and bounds in my distance. Let it be said that fear is a great motivator!

Then I got a cough. While the doctor has assured me my chest is clear (and the tearing feeling it occasionally gives me in my throat marries up to this so, so well), it still means that I can't breathe as easily as I'd like to. I stopped training to try and give myself a chance to rest... but the cough is still hanging around a week later. I'm on the verge of cashing in the antibiotic script just in case that may help.

It's getting awfully close to race time, and I may have to call it. It's a crushing feeling.

I'm going to risk going for a jog tomorrow. No way would I be able to complete a boxing class, but maybe some exercise will help?

In which I become the invisible woman

2011-03-22T23:00:00.000+11:00

There's an election in NSW soon. Elections are always a touchy subject for me. Not because I detest smear campaign and scare campaign ads, but because I suddenly become invisible.

I'm not married. I don't have children. Therefore, it would appear that I don't count to the politicians.

During an election campaign, everything suddenly becomes about "helping the families". Now I don't begrudge for a second those with families out there - I totally agree that families should be on the priority list for governments, but it would be nice if singles and those without children were also acknowledged. We also pay our taxes, we contribute to society as well... so it would be nice if the major parties thought to include us.

Now with that said, I have to admit that I've been a bit puzzled by this current campaign. I've not been bombarded with policies that ignore me. In fact, I haven't really been bombarded with any policies at all. The major parties seem to have been strangely silent on what I would consider to be vitally important policy areas. I've heard of some of the bigger promises, but neither party seems to be rushing to be giving any great detail. It's all "OMGZ TEH LIBZ, THEY ARE COMING!" from the ALP and "Well, they suck. Vote for us" from the Liberals.

What does that leave me with? Self research. Something that while totally necessary is incredibly painful to do.

Trying to compare political party policies is a bit like trying to buy a new car (funnily enough, something else that is happening to me at the moment as well!) With cars, every maker seems to have their own ideas about what specifications to provide in the brochure or on the website. This makes it impossible to properly compare and cross reference two vehicles - you often can't find information that pertains to the same thing for both. Same with the major parties. There's no handy-dandy table on their websites. Each policy area needs to be clicked on separately, and each party addresses things in different ways with different stats and details.

It's almost like they're trying to make it hard... just to make sure that us voters don't get too confused with the actual issues and focus more on the smear and scare campaigns. Clever pollies.

Come Saturday, I can only hope that I've done enough research to make the right decision for my vote. Then I plan to watch the results by candlelight, with knitting and wine, which is useful for toasting successes and also helping to cope if results don't quite go the way I want them to.

Anyone else having an election party?

Runupdate: Or not.

2011-03-17T18:31:00.002+11:00

It's been a bad couple of weeks. I picked up a sinus infection last week that laid me up pretty quickly (movement just hurt) and needed some antibiotics, only to recover enough for the weekend and proceed to pick up a cold!

I've now been at home for 1.5 days and am slowly starting to feel alive again. It could have been the massive soup intake today though. I maintain that there is nothing like a spicy udon noodle soup or a big bowl of tom yum to chase a virus away. Must be all that chilli!

I'm starting to feel a little worried about my prep for the Mother's Day Classic now that I've missed two weeks of training. Here's hoping I get better and stay that way soon.

Just got real - Runupdate.

2011-02-07T21:11:00.003+11:00

Registrations for the Mothers Day Classic are now open! Yours truly has signed up and so far (all 20 minutes of bliss) has served as a swift kick in the derriere. I'm running as part of the geekgirlrunner team, so hopefully I can keep up.

Another way of looking at my registering: sh*t just got real. My first event is now locked and loaded. I ran this one injured last year, so I need to make sure that I'm prepped and ready this time around.

Fitting then that today is an update on my training.

My Christmas kilos have proven to be a little stubborn... through no-one's fault but my own. I've been very lenient with myself (diet and training), so I'm still where I was four weeks ago. I'm a little fitter thanks to boxing starting up again, but my running training has been sporadic. Sydney has been in the throes of a heat wave, so training has proven difficult.

Take Saturday, for example. The hottest day of the recent heatwave - it topped 42 degrees in the city - and innerwestlive and I decided that it would be a great idea to do the bay run in the morning. We can be stubborn like that. Needless to say, the run quickly turned into a walk. I haven't experienced heat that brutal in a while and my body just wasn't ready to run in it.

Where to now? Time to start an actual program - interval training ahoy! I'm off to do some research and set myself up so I'll be ready for 8km in May. I'm also tracking my food using Calorie King again, so hopefully that helps me rein in my diet.

Skinsdate:

I'm still trying to run in my Skins as much as possible. Again, it's proven difficult in the last week due to the heat, but I am really seeing a difference in recovery when I use them. At the moment it's a small benefit, being that I'm working my way back into training, but I definitely have a shorter recovery time after I've worn them. So far I'm really liking them!

What Revolution?

2011-02-02T21:30:00.001+11:00

Warnng: Angry rant ahead.

As a little girl, I was never allowed to play soccer, a game I loved, because "it's not a game meant for girls". This, along with the attitude that it was the woman's place to keep house were my introductions to gender stereotypes.

Fast forward to now, where everyone hails equality. Except that's not the case at all.

I was extremely surprised to read a post on Mia Freedman's website recently entitled "What is your idea of foreplay?" It wasn't the subject matter or the fact that it was a sponsored post that surprised me, but the content. On a website written by women for women, I'd become used to seeing well-written articles (ok, so not always applicable to me and my stage in life) that also had a women's point of view and often a feminist stance to boot.

Here I present the bit that got me particularly shouty for your amusement:

Because of the differences between men and women, our needs when it comes to foreplay are different too. And whilst we women have perfectly reasonable expectations of what constitutes foreplay, men can be WAY out of synch….

What Men Consider Foreplay:

His partner removing her clothes (whether to get into bed, hop into the shower, or put cream on a painful rash)
A nude woman on TV
A sex scene on TV
Nothing on TV
Getting into bed
Lying in bed
Waking up in bed
Giving his partner that ‘special look’
Pinching his partner’s bum
Saying ‘Hey hon, wanna do the wild thing?’
Breathing.

What Women Consider Foreplay:

Receiving flowers
Receiving chocolates
Receiving a full body massage
Her partner doing the dishes
Her partner doing the laundry
Her partner doing whatever she wants
Being told that she is gorgeous
Being told that she is sexy
Being told that the kids are asleep and that her partner will get them up in the morning
Watching a film of Simon Baker (okay, so maybe that one is just me).

Back it up there. I'm sorry Mamamia (and the sponsor of this post), but I was not aware that receiving flowers was foreplay for women. Ditto for chocolates or having someone do the dishes. Colour me embarrassed, all those times my flatmates washed up after dinner and I didn't hold up my end of the bargain afterwards. Where are my Brady Bunch manners?

I'm sick of seeing cliches like this. The insinuation men are always ready for sex and that women don't really enjoy it and have to somehow be bribed into it is outdated and simply untrue on both sides. To continue to reinforce this myth leaves men under pressure to live up to this so-called expectation, and continues to shame women who enjoy sex and intimacy... when really there's nothing for anyone to be ashamed of.

(Of course the frequent application of flowers, chocolates, doing the dishes etc may help your quest, boys and girls. But a friendly tip: all of these things come with one of those little asterisk-thingys that often appear on mobile phone ads with the following message: "does not imply you will get some". Believe it or not, the sexual organs of plants do not a person ready for sexytimes make.)

In what can almost be called uncanny timing, I came across a piece in the Punch regarding (NSFW I'd say) Filament magazine. This isn't a magazine that I've seen before, but a quick flick through the online preview shows that it seems similar to the layout of something like Ralph or FHM - but aimed at women and featuring men. Given the list of international stockists and the fact that older issues are sold out on their website, I'd like to hazard a guess and say that the magazine seems to be doing quite well... which is at odds to the opinion that women aren't in to that sort of stuff and just want to snuggle with a box of chocolates.

I'd like to think that in this day and age both women and men had the freedom to express and live out their sexuality as they see fit, without having a set of expectations thrust upon them. Whatever turns you on, as the saying goes. It'd be nice to not be reminded of what we all should be according to an outdated idea.

(And now that Angry McRantypants has had her say, normal transmission will resume. General update soon.)

New Year, time to shed the old skin and wear a new pair...

2011-01-11T19:39:00.006+11:00

Once again I find myself in the post-Christmas rush. Funnily enough, I always find January a busy time of year. Several birthdays, Sydney Festival, various renewals and registrations due. The biggest difference between January and the holiday period is that some sense of routine and normality begins to return.

Enter the dreaded post-Christmas fitness stocktake. This year it wasn't a pleasant experience - I've put on a few kilos over December thanks to illness (tonsillitis) and being lazy over the holidays - too much good food and drink! I've also been slack in my training, so my fitness level has fallen. It's time to knuckle down again though - if I want to be running the Mothers' Day Classic, the Bay Run and the city2surf this year I need to get my training hat on and start getting my discipline back.

Just before Christmas, SKINS Australia were kind enough to send me a pair of their A400 3/4 tights to try out. It was really a great Christmas present to receive, and I unpacked them in the office as soon as they arrived.

My first reaction was one of disbelief (as anyone who follows me on Twitter would know). These tights were tiny! TINY! Holding them up to myself, I wondered out loud (several times) if they were going to fit over my butt, because they looked like something my thirteen year old cousin would wear. Having read all the sizing charts and finding that I sit smack bang in between sizes, I went for the smaller size. Despite my disbelief (and colleagues' laughter), I discovered later that evening that they did, in fact, fit over my butt. Score Skins 1, me 0.

So far I've only done one run in the Skins, so I'm not making any final calls yet. I can tell you that Christmas certainly affected the fit and comfort - the weight gain has actually pushed me over into the next size, so these are now extremely snug instead of just snug. the biggest thing for me is getting used to the seams and the tight fit. I normally buy my tights a size larger than usual for comfort, so going to compression tights was a big shock to the system. I'm also a fan of as few seams as possible, so the seamed construction of the Skins was a change. (Interestingly, I didn't have many seam impressions as I expected on my legs when I peeled them off, so it shows that the compression is actually happening.)

The tights were comfortable to run in - I didn't feel any uncomfortable rubbing from the seams and they didn't ride up on my legs. The waistband was also high enough to prevent rolling. I found them a little too tight, but I'm blaming that on my own weight change, so watch this space. Overall I was happy with the way they performed, my legs still had some pain from adjusting back to my routine, but it wasn't close to what I experienced without the tights.

I'm really looking forward to wearing these on more runs. I'm hoping they help alleviate some of the issues I get when I ramp up my training on hills!

Skins also meet the approval of the shouty males in souped up cars. I know this because I received the most intelligible shout yet from a passing car while out on my run.

Please note: SKINS Australia sent me this pair of tights for trial and review free of charge. I am not being paid to write reviews.

The mau5 is back in the hau5

2010-12-15T20:35:00.004+11:00

It's no secret that I am a big fan of Deadmau5. The Canadian purveyor of bleepy goodness has been on high rotation in my musical bag of tricks for a long time - in fact, his previous release For Lack of a Better Name is my go-to running soundtrack and "I need some stomping good amp up" music - more than a year after it was originally released.

With that in mind, it's probably fair to say that I had incredibly high standards set when I purchased a copy of his latest release 4x4=12. It was a bit of a fluke actually - I hadn't heard anything about the new release, but happened to spy it on a rack in a record store while wandering past, as luck would have it only the day after release.

Unable to wait I threw this on in the car on the way home, expecting to be utterly blown away in the manner of For Lack of a Better Name. I was initially disappointed, but persisted the next morning with a re-listen to the album (again in the car) on the way to work.

4x4=12 doesn't carry the same initial punch and grab of For Lack of a Better Name - it has a totally different mood and the tracks carry off in a totally new direction and style. This is not actually a bad thing, as it's a very solid release and once I'd given it a couple of listens it started to grow on me a lot. It just took me a little bit of time to accept that it was not a second For Lack of a Better Name.

mau5 is known for taking his listeners on a musical journey, and in that respect this album definitely does it's job while managing to be a little less progressive than the last. Some of the track layout isn't as smooth as it could be, but it's the price you pay for getting a wider variety in the music. It's a lot easier to glean the mau5's influences on this album, picking elements from various electronica legends through the ages. The most notable of this is Cthulhu Sleeps (one of my favourite tracks on the album) which is ten whole minutes of whumm-whumm awesomesauce, a la Timo Maas and Azzido da Bass circa 2000.

My picks on the album are Sofi Needs a Ladder, Cthulhu Sleeps, Raise Your Weapon (the first single) and A City in Florida. While there aren't any tracks I feel that I have to skip, One Trick Pony is easily my least favourite - interesting since it also features Sofi who appears on the earlier Sofi Needs a Ladder.

Overall after a few listens this album has come into it's own right for me and I'm enjoying it on high rotation. I'm yet to test it out for it's run-ability but as it's a mixed album it should fare very well. Another solid performance from the mau5 - not at epic as the last one but still a lot of fun.

And for a little bonus - here's Deadmau5's personal highlights of his Aussie tour in November/December last year. The opening animation sequence is what introduced him onstage, and see if you can spot me in the middle of the crush when he kicks the inflatable roo off the stage. It was absolutely crazy in there.

Today, I Ran

2010-11-29T20:17:00.003+11:00

You know when you're in trouble when you track a run with RunKeeper and you immediately get a personal milestone email saying you beat last week's distance... and it's your first run of the week.

It was actually the first run I'd posted in a little over a month, but unlike the last time I tried to get back into the swing of training, this run felt good. I decided to run after cruising my way through a fairly easy boxing class - we only had four people today, and I was paired with the only other girl. We're not a good match (I'm twice her size), so I was taking it fairly easy. I didn't feel like I'd had a proper workout at the end.

And so, onto the run. 4.28 km, 0:30:30. In my run intervals I was holding sub-7 minute average pace. Overall my pace was 7:08 - which is pretty respectable for a first run in a while. Despite that, I can't help but feel a little disappointed with it, because I know what I'm capable of. If anything, it's good motivation to keep myself in regular training again.

On another note, it's only a few weeks until Christmas. Eek.

Yes, me. Camping.

2010-10-10T20:18:00.003+11:00

It would appear that I have a reputation as a high maintenance girl. A high maintenance girl who likes the good things in life.

While that's not a false statement in the least - I do like the good things in life. Amongst those things is spending time with good friends, having a good time. It was at the suggestion of one such friend that I decided to brave camping again.

The last time I went camping I was eleven-ish, with a scout group. I ended up in hospital because the camp leaders thought I had measles, when in fact I was just being devoured alive by mosquitoes. It seems that I'm a walking cocktail for the blighters, missing only a fetching paper umbrella if I'm not carrying my parasol, but I digress. As you can see, this past experience left me a little apprehensive about camping and other outdoorsy activities.

if anyone is now hoping for more camping horror stories and amusing anecdotes about how I'm never going to do that again, I'm sorry to disappoint you. I loved it. I still have amusing stories though.

On the Saturday of the long weekend I woke up at an ungodly hour (I believe it's called stupid o'clock), packed the car up and started to drive down to Wee Jasper.

I was lucky enough to drive through Yass, and thus see the famous Maccas sign. From Yass you then take the one (!!) road that winds it's way down to Wee Jasper village. I would love to post pictures of the drive as there were some beautiful sights, however as I was only one in the car I felt staying on the road was a higher priority. Arriving in one piece and all that.

Arriving at Wee Jasper meant one thing: a break from technology. There is no phone reception there, which means no checking the phone, no 3G, no Twitter, no internet, no SMS. Nothing. Bliss.

After setting up camp (and helping a friend put up her Taj Mahal of a tent, I swear it would have fit in at the Quidditch World Cup), a couple of the girls and I headed into the village to check out the general store and make some calls on the public phone (just to let people know we'd arrived safely etc). While up there, I spotted some flowers and took a few shots.

We also spotted a marquee on a nearby property. It looked like a wedding being set up.

That done, a night of relaxing around the campfire was in order. Wee Jasper is one of the few places where you can still have a campfire, so burn baby, burn.

I had also brought along some glow sticks (for safety, I promise you!) Give a kid a couple of glowsticks on string, and you'll keep them amused for hours!

And so to bed. I was looking forward to enjoying a good night's sleep. Maybe. I was thinking that I might have to deal with the odd wombat wombling past, or perhaps a koala or something. I didn't expect Daft Punk.

Yes, Daft Punk. That marquee I mentioned earlier? Not a wedding. Someone was holding a rave/dance party thing on their property... and the music was echoing into the valley where we were camped. Nature, isn't it fab? The music continued through the night until 9am the next morning. Well done kiddies, you went hard! It was actually quite funny - I'd wake up through the night, not because of the music but because I was in unusual surroundings, and each time I'd think either "Oh, that's a great track" or "I HATE THIS SONG MAKEITSTOP!" before falling asleep again.

Sunday saw us at the Wee Jasper markets, were I ate my bodyweight in (well, half a dozen) dutch donuts.

These things were amazing - like a piece of deep fried raisin toast. I might have to try and crack the recipe for them! Another thing of note at the markets were some alpacas!

They were babies, just seven months old. Their coats were so unbelievably soft. I was devastated to hear that their soft fluffy coats were to be discarded after they were shorn - but they were so dirty and full of grassy bits that it's just not feasible to try and spin them up.

Back at camp, I amazed myself at remembering how to cast a fishing line. We were camped right near a river (no pics, I was too busy skipping stones), so some of the kids got a chance to try and catch some trout.

And then...

Into the darkness! Carey's Cave was only a few kilometres from our campsite. I was quite surprised by the tour - the tour guide was extremely knowledgable (and very talkative), but there were also elements to the tour that you just don't get at other cave sites. Like the bit where the guide demonstrates how the cave would look by candlelight...

Candle smoke is actually quite bad for the cave (as is the mere presence of humans) so most other cave sites just won't allow it. It was amazing to see how the cave would have looked to those who first explored it. The cave is a set of large chambers, so it's easy to navigate and has some really beautiful features. We were also lucky enough to see it after some recent rain - so there was water around!

The cave tired us all out, but of course next on the agenda was the NRL Grand Final. I have to say, watching this at our (unpowered) camp site was an experience. We had a McGyvered solution: Satellite dish -> TV running off a Land Rover Defender. It was most amusing and it attracted quite a crowd. Good times, and an amazing piece of work by one of the guys!

It was quite a shame to come back to reality on Monday.

Things I learnt from this trip...

* I don't need that much food
* I don't need that many clothes
* I need a bigger tent
* I was serious about the food

Anyone up for a camping trip?

Baaaa! Murder in the Dark/February/Time at the Sydney Fringe Festival

2010-09-17T22:05:00.009+10:00

It's been too long in between theatre visits for me, so on Friday night I braved the cold and visited the New Theatre for a Sydney Fringe triple bill...

Murder in the Dark
The world's fascination with whodunnits and crime shows is indicative of one thing: A killer's mind is a fascinating and terrible thing. It's a point of view so different to the norm, so twisted out of the usual day to day grind that it makes people want to know why and how it happens.

This stage adaptation of Margaret Atwood's Murder in the Dark is a view into one such mind. Through a series of small snippets we are drawn into the life of a killer, never quite sure of what is going to happen next.

While occasionally this production feels a little disjointed, over the course of the piece it becomes apparent how it all fits in together. The cast (Richard Drysdale, Samantha Neaves and Scott Clare) do an amazing job, moving seamlessly through the harshly cut scenes. Awkward silences, the addition of well chosen music and crafty use of lighting only adds to the eerie atmosphere, helping to make sure the audience isn't feeling at ease. Overall a very solid piece.

February
February is the shortest piece of the triple bill, but as a child of Sydney suburbia it's one that spoke volumes to me. Two girls, both trapped in the suburb of their childhood but for very different reasons, are reliving the past and recounting the events that have brought them to where they are today.

The emotion in this piece was absolutely incredible - I was actually blinking back tears at times. Madeleine Jones (Clare) and Felicity Keep (Frankie) really manage to capture the spirit of their characters and they work so well together - there's one particular scene where they are both fighting for your attention and I can tell you, it's not easy to choose either.

This particular piece could easily have been sustained for longer, as there's so much more that could be explored and brought out. As it is, I was left wanting to know more, yet at the same time I had so much to think about from the complexity and twists in the plot. One thing I was definitely left with was how some things just don't change, even though the times apparently have.

Time
After dealing with the heavy issues of Murder in the Dark and February, Time is a little bit of comic relief of the black variety. A successful single woman, an uninvited guest and a few surprise discoveries all add up to an entertaining show.

The story is a well worn idea that has been done many, many times (fans of Terry Pratchett and Monty Python will recognise it for what it is pretty quickly), but the cast and the script really it carry it through and give it a breath of life. Shannon Rae Kappes (Samantha) and Christopher Sellers (the Guest) have an incredible rapport on stage, bringing a sense of the normal to something that is anything but.

I found this production a little predictable (I'm blaming that on my love for all things Pratchett) but that's no bad thing, especially with this piece's place in the repertory. It also doesn't hold back with making the audience question their very existence - there's something about the way Samantha learns how to live for the moment that really gives you a jolt.

I really enjoyed the entire repertory - each of the pieces has their own mark and left you thinking about something different, yet they fit in very well together. I also found that the themes of the Sydney Fringe were very well represented. Spot the black sheep...

Murder in the Dark/February/Time is on at the New Theatre as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival. $24/$20 concession.

Melbourne, part two.

2010-09-06T21:30:00.004+10:00

I promised more about Melbourne. Perhaps the most important thing I discovered when I was there was this: I am hopeless at taking pictures and documenting a trip. Why? As soon as the camera comes out I'm constantly stopping to take pictures and I'm not shy about trying to get a different angle of the world. This of course means it takes me about half an hour to get one hundred metres down the road.

As such, on a trip with limited time and a long list of things I want to do, photos tend to take a backseat. It's my own fault I was perpetually in a rush during my stay... but luckily I plan to go back soon. Next time the trip will be more leisurely. I hope.

On Saturday night I caught up with some friends. The original plan was to eat and drink at Borsch, Vodka and Tears in Windsor, but the place was far too busy for us to get a table. We ended up at TGI Fridays. I actually found this tremendously exciting as we don't have one in Sydney. To celebrate, I ordered something I had not had in years. A Long Island Iced Tea.

It was as delicious and potent as I remembered. It also had the side effect I seem to have erased from my memories of previous experiences... and that's the side effect of it making me think that a Pina Colada is a BRILLIANT idea, because I want the tiny plastic cocktail-toothpick pirate sword that holds the garnish together.

I'm told that there is a picture of me brandishing said pirate sword cocktail stick, but I haven't seen it yet.

After feasting on deep-fried macaroni cheese and burgers, we wandered back down Chapel St and managed to get a table at Borsch Vodka and Tears, where we proceeded to drink our way through as many different Polish vodkas as possible. I personally had Żubrówka (one of my favourites) on the rocks, Wódka Żołądkowa Gorzka straight up (delicious!) and an Apple Pie - Spiced vodka, apple juice and cinnamon.

Much more civilised, don't you think?

I will definitely be revisiting BV&T on my next trip to Melbourne.

Another thing that absolutely knocked my socks off in Melbourne was the Tim Burton exhibition at ACMI. If you get the chance, go! There are no cameras allowed in there so I don't have any exciting photos... but the view into Burton's head is weird, wonderful and at times a little disturbing. There's drawings, sculpture, video and movie props and it was far bigger than I thought it was going to be. When I walked out I was reeling from the sheer volume of amazing that was in there!

A shoutout also to Mr Johan Vonshag who sent me to the best coffee in Melbourne. You rock, sir.

I am a bad blogger

2010-09-03T21:19:00.002+10:00

But then, you all already knew that.

I think it stems from having so many ideas and so many things I want to say. I sit down to post... and stuff comes out. Just a jumble of words that really, really don't reflect the fact that I am actually capable of stringing a sentence together. There's no coherent idea or structure that comes through.

While this is probably caused by my not actually sitting myself down and writing enough (thereby causing a ~~metric shit-tonne~~ bucketload of ideas trying to fight their way out every time I do), I'm choosing to blame the internet. Purely because the internet must be to blame. MUST. It's certainly to blame for the fact that every time I have an idea I start wondering if I could fit it into a 140-character space, therefore it is at fault for my inability to write longer pieces. It's also to blame for several pairs of shoes, countless books, lots of clothes and various other things that I don't quite need but that's not for here.

So, where was I?

Ah yes. Melbourne! I took the time to visit the place recently after a hiatus of several years. Joss Whedon was coming to town and a fellow geeky friend ~~stood over me telling me I should go until I bought a ticket~~ gently reminded me that it would be a great idea. He was right! Joss was funny, interesting and inspiring. It was an opportunity I am glad I didn't pass up.

I was (recites alphabet in head while counting) ten rows back and mere metres away from one of the audience question mics, so I managed to snap this pic (as usual, all pics in this post are enabled for clicky-embiggen):

I know he looks demonic, but I think that adds to the Buffy-esque charm.

Other than a wonderful evening with Joss, I also spent some time enjoying a plush hotel room (where's the fun if you don't splash out a little every now and then?), shopping (but of course! pictures to come at a later date), catching up with some friends and wandering through Fitzroy Gardens.

Fitzroy Gardens is probably one of my favourite places in Melbourne. I love walking through the gardens from the East, feeling like you're so far away from everything... only to emerge in the CBD. The times I've spent in the gardens it's usually been quite quiet as well, which only helps the illusion.

(Notice the balloon stuck in the tree?)

More Melbourne to come...

I have new shoes

2010-08-17T20:10:00.001+10:00

But no time to take pictures yet.

Such is life. I have a week off work next week (and a trip to Melbourne on the cards), so stay tuned.

iPod Lotto, the second.

2010-08-10T20:34:00.005+10:00

Here we go again - a short iPod Lotto played on the way home last night.

Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Aerials.Spans.Earth - Mr Kessler (Links to a free, legal MP3. This track was a triplej unearthed winner back in 2000.)
Metric - Satellite Mind
The White Stripes - My Doorbell
Tom Tom Club - Wordy Rappinghood
Lily Allen - Friend of Mine
Simian Mobile Disco - It's the Beat
Itch-e & Scratch-e - Imperial Rockets
The Beatles - Ballad of John and Yoko
Dutch ft Crystal Waters - My Time
Urthboy - Hellsong
Basement Jaxx - Where's Your Head At?

Would you work for free?

2010-07-26T19:52:00.007+10:00

...Or why it's important to read Ts and Cs.

I'm sure that most, if not all, people would agree that volunteering for a worthy or charitable cause is rewarding and a jolly good thing to do.

But what about essentially volunteering your time and writing for a large corporation... who will be using said work to promote their brand (and sell more product)? What about even paying for the privilege of doing this?

No, not so great.

A person I follow on Twitter shared a link posted by the Sportsgirl Twitter account today. It's a competition to win a trip around the world (and a new wardrobe) and blog as a roving global blogger for the Sportsgirl brand.

It sounded like a lot of fun and I considered entering - so I decided to read the terms and conditions to see what they said about the blogging side of things. I wanted to know what would be expected of the winner in terms of posts and content.

What I found was not what I expected.

7. The Prize. The winning eligible entry will win 2 STA Travel Round the World airfares as part of the competition entry. The prize is for 2 people only. The prize value includes airfare costs and applicable airline taxes only. The prize does NOT include accommodation or additional costs as stated below.
8. Spending money, meals, travel insurance, passports, visas, transport to and from departure point and all other ancillary costs, as well as obtaining any of these, are the responsibility of the winner.

The prize, as per the Ts and Cs, is two plane tickets. That's it. If I were to win this competition, I'd have to organise and pay for my own accommodation in the four cities allowed on the flights. I'd have to organise all of my own transfers, my own meals and spending money. I'm essentially left with the bulk of the cost of the trip... and a deadline in which to find the money and do it in, as understandably there is a deadline on the travel time allowed.

So, the winner gets to pay for most of the trip AND spend time writing a blog for Sportsgirl while they're on it! Interestingly, neither the blog or the new wardrobe are mentioned in the terms and conditions. There's no mention of what kind of writing exposure the winner can hope to receive.

Personally, all this has turned me off entering as I am not interested in paying for the privilege of helping a company expand and promote their brand - using my image and words. I'm glad I clicked through and read the Terms and Conditions. I wish any entrants good luck and hope that they also read the Ts and Cs before entering - just so that they know what's expected of them should they win.

Today's irony: I've just given the brand a free plug by posting this. Huzzah!

Today's most awesome moment: realising that my tweet response to Sportsgirl is the first tweet on their live tweet app on the competition homepage! (Ok, that's a little petty... but hopefully it makes entrants read the Ts and Cs before they decide if they want to enter this competition.)

Feel free to comment - am I too cynical and have I got this wrong? Is it just an amazing chance or are Sportsgirl trying to get some serious marketing mileage for not that much money?

Pumpkin Soup

2010-07-25T17:55:00.005+10:00

An experiment.

I love pumpkin soup but wanted to try making it with tofu rather than cream - to get that added creaminess without adding dairy and also because I'm a sucker for experimentation with food.

I wasn't sure what I was going to end up with, but the result was delicious. Time to scribble down the recipe I used so I can recreate this later!

Easy Pumpkin Soup
Makes about 2.5L of delicious goodness

1/2 butternut pumpkin, diced
2 carrots, sliced
2 russet potatoes, diced
300g silken tofu, diced
1/2 medium onion, finely diced
1 1/2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 reduced salt vegetable stock cube - or other stock of your choice. See note.
olive oil

Sweat the onions and garlic with a little olive oil in pot with at least 3.5L capacity. Once the onions have softened, add approximately 1.5-2L water (see note), the rest of the vegetables and the stock cube. Stir well, bring to the boil and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Once all vegetables are cooked, add the tofu. Return to the boil and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Allow to cool, then blend the soup using a blender or food processor until smooth.

Eat when you need something delicious.

Notes:

I use a single stock cube that is meant to make 500mL of stock to 1.5L water in this recipe.

Gauge the amount of water depending on how thick you like your soup. Remember you can always add more water if the end result is too thick.

Ice cream of the amazing kind.

2010-07-19T19:46:00.003+10:00

My friend Kris shared an amazing post on google reader.

The world's easiest ice cream recipe. No small claim!

I just have to say that I am sitting here eating a bowl of this ice cream and loving it. Delicious, easy and healthy. Sorry I can't say more, I have to go continue eating this stuff. Lucky there's a container full in the freezer.

Crustgate

2010-07-15T20:07:00.003+10:00

I was going to write a very long post about Crustgate, but Warlach pretty much read my mind and posted what I was thinking. You can read Warlach's post here.

I was among the first responders to Crust's original tweet, a fact that got me quoted on mUmbrella - something I was quite surprised to see! (By the way, does that make me some sort of celebrity who is going to get free champagne and designer clothes? No? Ok then.)

I wasn't particularly offended by the tweet, but I was disappointed. The video had absolutely no link to their product. It was poorly made (were some of those so-called female drivers even women? You couldn't see) and there was no witty, thought provoking message. I honestly thought that as a brand, Crust was better than that.

In advertising - and these days that means any forum in which you are participating in using your company's name - you need to think your message through. It's obvious that in this instance it wasn't. It went from a promotional tweet to something totally inappropriate for the company's image.

Crust is to be commended on their swift handling and apology - it's the one part of this storm in a teacup that they handled really well. I'm still waiting on the call they promised that the PR company would give me though.

iPod Lotto: The First

2010-07-07T20:59:00.006+10:00

I often get comments on the interesting mishmash of music I have on my iPod. To be perfectly honest, I listen to a wide variety of music and I like to have a variety available to me. This can lead to interesting (and sometimes downright weird) results when I play iPod Lotto.

What is iPod Lotto? It's my term for shuffle - I feel it describes the results I get more accurately.

I had monster drive home tonight - 1.5 hours thanks to traffic chaos. What's a girl to do? Crank up the music and indulge in a little iPod lotto. I hit the Gaga Jackpot tonight with three Gaga tracks in the mix and found what I got was great for keeping me (relatively) happy on the way home.

Here's what my iPod felt like playing tonight, in order:

Chicken Payback - The Bees
Hand that Feeds - Nine Inch Nails
Nine in the Afternoon - Panic! At the Disco
Root Down - The Beastie Boys
Unsent Letter - Machine Gun Fellatio
Ride On Time - Black Box
The Others - TV Rock vs Dukes of Windsor
Soup Kitchen - Eva Trout
Let It Be - The Beatles
Take Me Away - Lash
Teeth - Lady Gaga
Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen
Holy Groove - Yolanda Be Cool
Walking Away (Tocadisco remix) - The Egg
Hustler - Simian Mobile Disco
Intergalactic - The Beastie Boys
Reptiles - Them Crooked Vultures
Sly PI - Fatt Dex
Happy Up Here - Röyksopp
Get Down - Groove Armada
Selfless, Cold and Composed - Ben Folds Five
I Want I Want - Digitalism
Speechless - Lady Gaga
Again Again - Lady Gaga
Pure Massacre - silverchair
Semi Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
Toxic - Mark Ronson feat. Tiggers

Action-packed

2010-06-24T20:11:00.003+10:00

Wow... what a week so far!

I've been sick and stuck at home, so World Cup replays and watching drama unfold have been the order of the ~~day~~ week.

The Socceroos got knocked out of the World Cup - however they left with their heads held high, having defeated Serbia in their last game. Well done boys.

France was also knocked out, much to my Francophile chagrin.

We have a new Prime Minister! It started last night as a whisper on Twitter, ended up with an announcement of a ballot this morning and then... bam! Julia Gillard, Australia's first female PM. History was made today as she was sworn in by the country's first female Governer-General.

I have to say, I teared up at Rudd's exit speech, was wowed by Julia's first address and nearly dissolved again when she was sworn in.

A truly momentous day.

As a side note... (it adds to the action-packed theme but is hardly on par with any of the above), this blog has been renamed and had a bit of a redesign. Welcome to <ikepela_is_redambition> aka - what this blog is now called!

Trouble brewing

2010-06-19T19:17:00.003+10:00

I always know that I'm going through a tricky patch in life when the activities and things I love don't feel like fun anymore and inspiration is lacking. It's at times like these I feel like I'm stuck in a rut - but it's a comfortable rut, and one that I don't want to leave.

There's nothing wrong with having times where things just don't go to plan - it happens to everyone and it's part of life. The problem arises when it seems like to much effort to get out of the rut and get things going again.

I've been in a such a rut for a while now in my creative outlets. I've shunned all the creative projects I've taken on this year, preferring instead to sit in front of the computer or television for long stretches of time. Brain-numbing? Yes. Productive and happiness-inducing? Not so much.

The important thing for me is to realise that I'm in such a rut (which can be hard - it's so easy to make excuses about it) and then making a conscious effort to change the thought patterns and behaviours that keep me there. So help me, I'm going to get working on some creative outlet activity every day. You're looking at the first effort.

On a totally unrelated note: GO SOCCEROOs! I can't wait to see the match tonight! I was planning to go into the FIFA FanFest in Darling Harbour with a few friends to watch the game, but my head cold has turned into a chesty cough and a nasty headache, so I'm being sensible and staying home, out of the cold. Not as much fun, but eminently warmer.

WWKIP Day - Sydney NSW

2010-06-10T20:53:00.003+10:00

ATTENTION KNITTERS!

World Wide Knit In Public day is drawing near: this Saturday, in fact!

Are you going to an event? I'll be at the Sydney one, organised by the fabulous PomPom.

DETAILS!

Abraham Mott Hall, Argyle Place, Millers Point. 1.30-5.00pm.

There are lots of prizes (including an awesome basket from Mosman Needlecraft), competitions and fun to be had, so please come along! There is no food available at the venue, but beverages will be available for gold coin donations.

See here for the full details.

See you there!

Going Gaga

2010-05-01T07:40:00.003+10:00

This was too good not to share...

Soldiers in Afghanistan. Doing Gaga.

Autumn Catch Up

2010-04-03T16:44:00.004+11:00

I'm finding it hard to admit to myself that we are already well into Autumn. The weather here has been so warm and inviting, and seeing everyone walking around in summer clothing means that the reality of the season doesn't really set in.

Sure, I've been getting up in the dark - luckily that will stop when daylight savings stops - and there's been an undeniable chill in the air every morning. it's just easy to fool yourself when the rest of the day is glorious and you're still getting sunburnt if you spend too long in the sun!

With autumn comes change. It seems that when the seasons change I go mad, wanting to shop til I drop and refresh my wardrobe. I also get castonitis as all the new, delicious knitting patterns come out. More about that later.

It's been a tumultuous time for me. (when isn't it really?) The start of the year was paved with good intentions, but sadly not everything has turned out the way I planned. I guess after so long of having the quiet life, having activities, things to go to and commitments has really gotten to me. Throw in some unexpected events, and here we are.

I'm behind on a lot of things I planned for this year: My photography project, my knitting (but the socks are ahead of schedule!), my sewing... need I go on? Regardless, I'm happy with things the way they are, so it's not a huge issue.

I'm house-sitting for a friend this weekend. i had such grand plans for this time, but again I'm not achieving what i wanted. Work ended up really crazy at the end of March, so after a few nights of midnight finishes I was too exhausted to do much yesterday. I had a long nap and then stared at code for a while. Yes, HTML code. Crazy? Maybe. That project is nearly done, something I am very happy about. The skills I have learnt on it will mean that I can do a revamp on this blog too.

So much to do, where do I find the time to do it all?

Another thing to add to the list

2010-01-05T19:00:00.004+11:00

Those of you who have seen the odd post with photos would assume that I own a digital camera.

That would be inaccurate. I actually own two digital cameras - one was won in an AFL tipping competition last year, and it is in it's box, totally unused.

The digital camera I have unpacked tends to sit around, not really being used unless I decide to pull it out for a special occasion or take a bunch of knitting pictures. When I purchased it, I specifically selected it for it's myriad features, the great optical zoom and the ability to control pretty much everything on it manually, even though it's technically a point and shoot.

I see so many amazing and interesting things nearly every day. I take photos of so few of these things because I only have a phone camera. Granted, some of the time I wouldn't be able to get a real camera out, that's what my phone camera is for, but sometimes I would like to take a "proper" picture.

I don't hold any grand aspirations. I don't wish to become a master photographer... but I can't expect to develop any skills without some work on my part. I also want to expand my use of Photoshop - and again I can't expect my skills to develop on their own. While it's not totally necessary to be taking photos myself in order to play around in Photoshop, it's certainly a lot harder to come by a range of images to play with.

With all of that in mind, I found myself signing up for the OTF 2010 Photo Project. (OTF is a forum I frequent). Seeing as one of my goals is to take photos and use flickr this year, I found this challenge to be ideal. One photo a week, with a theme decided upon randomly each week. hardly taxing, but enough to make me keep thinking about taking pictures, and enough fodder for some Photoshop play.

Week one (this week) was floating. I came up with this:

But before I got there I also took these:

(The oil burner photo was as a result of me trying to get an oil floating on water picture, but I used the wrong essential oil and the lighting was terrible for that kind of shot. It didn't work so I took some pics of the burner itself instead).

Not a bad start... but I have to keep it up!

Introspective

2009-12-29T18:35:00.003+11:00

I'm not psychic by any means, so I'm not going to try and guess what 2010 holds for me. I'm also not one to make resolutions. They are simply another set of pressures to add to my already hectic life. I will, however be setting myself a few goals for the coming year. These goals should all be attainable if I keep my mind on it.

So, I present to you my list of goals for 2010.

Find my personal style

Shopping is a little tricky for myself at the moment. There's a part of me that wants to be achingly hip (and another part of my brain that yells "MUTTON!" every time that I pick up something in said hip stores). There's a part of me that wants to dress with class and old-world glamour. There's a part of me that wants to wear shorts and a singlet (thankfully this part of me is mostly quashed and is only allowed out at home).

None of this is really an issue... but for the net result that buying clothes is a total PITA and I chicken out of buying things that really appeal to me because I'm scared that I won't end up wearing them.

So 2010 - time to build a style and build a wardrobe around it. This will have a secondary knock-on effect of me getting to know myself more.

Be creative

2009 was a year where I realised a lot of my creative outlets were pushed aside. I'm going to make an effort to actually be creative. I have a few mini goals within this one:

Knit one lacy item
Knit one total garment - jumper, vest or similar
Knit one sock per month (six pairs for the year)
Relearn at least one song on guitar
Use some of the canvasses I have lying around and paint a small picture
Sew a garment
Start taking photos and using my flickr account again

None of the things on the list is really huge, nor is the number of things I've set for myself too big. I don't want to overwhelm myself with pressure to get it done, so I've kept it small. If I exceed the list - great. But I want to be sure I can reach these goals.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle

This might sound drastic, but it's really just keeping myself on track and not letting myself get lazy, along with keeping an eye on my food. I've done it before, I know it's attainable and I just need to keep at it. Nothing but a progress goal here!

Work on me

This is a pretty simple one. Taking time for me, doing things I enjoy and not feeling guilty. Finding myself a new place to live. Doing things that will make me happy. Learning to say no when I have to and not feeling guilty. The problem is not so much doing things I love or taking time out. The big problem I've had is feeling guilty when I do. Time to get rid of that.

It's not a huge list, but I think I have a lot to keep me busy next year.

Happy New Year to all... what are your plans for 2010?

Retrospective

2009-12-28T22:55:00.003+11:00

It's certainly the fashion to post about the year in review at the moment, what with it nearly being over and the world poised to leap into the new decade.

I could certainly go into many details about the year past that would keep this blog post going until the world ends because the Mayan calendar runs out or something, but many of those things are intensely private and not items that I wish to put out there.

Suffice to say that this year was not the best for me. It's been a long, hard journey and has certainly had some very low and rocky moments. (Oh no. I'm starting to sound like a bad 80s power ballad. I promise this bit won't last long.) Things are getting better and I'm starting to make some very necessary changes to my life and to myself. To my support network, thank you for everything. For just being there, for the random messages, for the tea, sympathy, coffee, knitting, DVDs, laughs, and above all your company. Thank you.

I've learned a lot about myself and changed a lot in the past 12 months. Whether any of the lessons are useful remains to be seen. My taste and style have changed too, and I'm picking up things that I had set aside for so long. Hello video games, music, art and generally creative pursuits again. It's been a slow uptake as I learn to let myself have this time for these activities again.

I seesawed a little in terms of my fitness regime and weight. At the moment I am happy with where I am. I am back into running. I am doing two boxing classes a week. I've acquired the Wii Fit Plus software and balance board for core strength and rainy day exercises. I'm well placed to kick start the new year and keep working on my fitness.

Knitting-wise I reached an important milestone this year. I finished my first cardigan. A whole garment - done. Admittedly it took a lot longer than it really should have, as there were long periods this year where I wasn't really knitting much. But it is done, and I am so happy to have completed it. The style is no longer what I would consider in a cardigan. It's loose with little shaping, but even if I only choose to wear it around the house, it's mine and I made it myself. It's also warm and a little luxurious - a merino, mohair and cashmere blend with a mohair trim. I particularly love the buttons.

Not many other knitting projects surfaced this year. In general I neglected it. That's something to fix.

I'm sure there is so much more to write about, but at this very moment it's escaping me. Not to worry - rather than focussing too much on the past I need to look to the future. Which is what my next post will be about.

The clothes maketh the woman... or do they?

2009-10-29T19:52:00.002+11:00

Today I attended a networking and mentoring lunch for women in the ICT industry. It was run in a joint effort by FITT and GGD.

I had an absolute ball. I had the chance to meet other women who work in the ICT industry - women who I may not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet. I was able to speak with women who had worked in ICT for a long time and had a lot of advice to offer, and others who were looking for advice. It was a great experience.

There was one topic that came up that did bring about some interesting conversation, and that got me thinking. I was asked if I was treated differently depending on what I wore. I had to respond in the negative - I've been treated the same at work whether I wear jeans, a suit or my boxing gear (if I'm working late after boxing)... but I have now been thinking about clothes all afternoon, and not in my usual "I want to buy this and this and this" way.

Disclaimer: I'm a girly girl when it comes to these sort of things. I like clothes. I like shoes. I like handbags. I like makeup and nail polish and... you get the idea.

When I get dressed in the morning, I wear what I feel like wearing. While there are times that I do dress to impress if I have an important meeting or function, I also try to tailor my outfit to the event and my personal style. If I don't feel comfortable in an outfit, I won't wear it. (With the exception of tight exercise clothes. While I hate hate hate them with a passion, they make boxing class much easier. So apologies to anyone who ever has to endure a boxing class with me.) My number one priority when dressing myself is me.

When it comes to dressing for the workplace... it's a tough gig. What's appropriate at some times or in some workplaces isn't appropriate in others. In the course of my career, I've had times when I've been told I dress too casually, too funky and too corporate - and sometimes it's been said by managers, sometimes by colleagues. I've taken it in my stride and moved on each time, changing my style where it's needed.

Should someone be judged and treated differently according to how they dress at work? First impressions do last, and there are definitely times where it's better to overdress than underdress (a job interview or meeting with an important client springs to mind)... but at the same time I don't respect anyone any less because they happen to be wearing jeans instead of a suit. I think someone's overall presentation and manner are far more important than the clothes on their back. (As someone who has had to attend important meetings in casual clothes thanks to last minute notice... I hope that other people think this too!)

I'd also like to say that I don't think it matters specifically what a woman wears for work, but I know I'd be wrong. I wish I didn't have to be. It's a fine line that we walk. Some items of clothing just seem to mark you as different amongst others. Is it fair? Not at all. While I haven't experienced direct issues as a result of the clothes I wear to work, I know that there are those who judge me and other women by the type of clothes we wear.

Personally, I'll keep dressing to please myself. As long as I feel I'm dressed appropriately and I feel good about it, I'm happy.

Who Am I?

2009-09-27T20:24:00.002+10:00

It's a question that I've been asking myself a lot recently.

With a lot of changes in my life recently, I've felt a bit lost and confused. It showed me how much my life had become defined by things that were not me. Other people, material objects, where I lived, yarn, work. All things that made up the picture of me.

Then things changed. I do a different job now, I have different people in my life, I live in a different place. Those three changes happened pretty close together, so I feel like I'm flailing a bit. I'm not too sure what is ME any more, and what is me defining myself through something external.

I always have such trouble answering questions about myself - about things I like or questions about me and my personality. I don't know if anyone else has this issue, but I find it a little unsettling that I don't appear to know myself that well.

Time to spend some time contemplating my navel, maybe?

Echoes

2009-08-30T19:33:00.002+10:00

It certainly has been quiet around here. (Sorry about that.)

Inspiration to write has been lacking. Inspiration in my crafts has been lacking. In short, I think I hibernated a bit this winter.

It's odd, really. Winter should be when i am crafting most - it's cold outside and generally conducive to staying home and all that, but rarely does it happen.

So once again spring is starting to come about, and I haven't finished even a little of what I wanted to achieve before winter (or the end of winter, if I'm not being picky.)

The cardigan I started in April? Still going. I have a sleeve to go, then I have to sew it up and edge it. Still no photos. It's just stocking stitch, so imagine a pile of stocking stitch pieces in this yarn and colour.

The Woodland Shawl I started... um... a long time ago hasn't really grown at all. It is next on the list of WIPs to complete.

Socks I was working on have been frogged and a new pair started. They haven't progressed that much either.

I did recently finish some spinning. VintageGrrl dyed some fibre and I got a hold of some Cool Breeze... and here is the resulting yarn:

(As always, you can clicky to biggy)

I am now spinning up some Southern Cross Fibre Polwarth in the colourway Hay Sunrise:

In keeping with the hibernation theme: the pink merino I've been spinning on my spindle hasn't gone anywhere.

mememememememe

2009-06-16T19:34:00.003+10:00

I've been... *gasp* tagged!

Thanks to Miss Fee for the tag.

Ok - here we go:

What is your current obsession?
Being healthy. At the moment I am spending way too much much time thinking about what I eat and how much I am exercising.

What are you wearing today?
Earlier: Work clothes - shirt, skirt and kitten heels (I left the stilettos at home today!)
Now: Trackies, cotton top, hoodie and thick knit socks.

What's for dinner?
Chickpea and lentil patties with tomato relish, steamed mixed veggies and some mash

What did you eat for your last meal?
Burek! (Polish-style spinach and cheese pie)

What's the last thing you bought?
Coffee. Monday mornings can be tough.

What are you listening to right now?
Talkin Bout Your Generation on TV

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
A warm beach. It's cold and wet here.

Which language do you want to learn?
Francais, s'il vous plait!

What do you love most about where you currently live?
The house has an awesome bathroom.

What is your favorite colour?
Purple. And pink. And blue.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
Currently it's my black pencil skirt

What were you doing ten years ago?
Probably studying!

Describe your personal style?
Part classy, part kooky, part just plain strange.

If you had $300 now, what would you spend it on?
I'd put it toward the new laptop I need.

What was your favorite TV show or book as a child?
Skippy was my favourite TV show.

What are your favorite films?
Amelie, Office Space, St Trinian's, Zoolander

What inspires you?
Things I see and hear day to day.

Who's work/designs are you inspired by?
Cross-media here: the Chemical Brothers, Rembrandt and Norah Gaughan

Your favourite books?
Terry Pratchett. Enough said.

Do you collect anything?
Wool, makeup, music, DVDs, books.

What makes you follow a blog
The person, and if it's a stranger, the writing.

What was the most enjoyable thing you did today?
Had a lovely cup of tea while relaxing after getting through a particularly hellish task at work.

Whats one thing you dream of doing?
Having all the time in the world to paint and craft.

What's your favourite music of the moment?
Bonkers (Dizzee Rascal). It's so annoying but it just earworms me every time.

The rules:1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention, add one more question of your own. 2. Tag eight other people.

I don't have a whole eight other people to tag... so: M-H, Tia, Lara, Jen and Donna... tag - you're it! :o)

Catch up and things made of awesome

2009-06-14T15:08:00.002+10:00

For anyone who doesn't yet know, all my health-related and exercise blogging will now be done over at Operation Awesomeness - a blog I am writing along with knitness!

Things have been busy around here (what else is new??) so once again I am in a whirlwind. Yesterday was WWKIP (World Wide Knit In Public) Day, so after the guild meeting I was down at Darling Harbour with the crew causing fear and panic amongst the Muggles.

The day was fantastic - we had a total of 80 knitters turn up (I think the Bayside Lounge was a bit surprised about that) and I got to meet a few new people and catch up with others who I haven't seen in a while.

A very big thank you to Sally for being our wonderful organiser!

I'm off to go warm up as it is absolutely freezing today.

Weigh-in and update June 6

2009-06-06T19:32:00.003+10:00

My first weigh-in went well. I have lost weight (quite a bit more than I thought I would, but at a guess it's just water weight), and I'm feeling a lot better.

I'm using a combination of techniques and ideas to help myself change my eating habits and lifestyle, some the same as last time and some new.

I'm waiting on a copy of French Women Don't Get Fat to arrive as I've been wanting to read this book since it was released, and as it's to do with living a healthy lifestyle and controlling one's weight and wellbeing I figure now is a good time to read it.

Onward to week 2!

As guilt free as it gets

2009-06-03T20:29:00.003+10:00

Tonight I ate Hungry Jacks for dinner... pretty much guilt free! I did feel a pang for the large amount of fat and sodium in the food.

I spent today working in the warehouse inventorying some (ok, a lot of) stuff that has to be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. It was heavy work. There was lifting and carrying. There was walking. There was moving gigantic pallets. (By the way, using a pallet jack can be pretty cool.) There was digging through boxes of ICT equipment that time forgot.

The upshot of around 8 hours of heavy physical work? It's pretty much exercise for me as a usual day is much less physical activity, and as such it increases my kilojoule allowance. Given that I had my usual breakfast, snacks and lunch I was way short. So I could easily eat that fatty meal from HJ's and still be in my proper allowance.

The best bit? I get to do another 4 hours in the warehouse tomorrow. Yay for another workout! I think I'll eat healthy though.

Hopefully this weekend I will get to do a knitting update post with some pictures. It's been a while since I've posted anything about knitting, and I miss making those posts.

New beginning

2009-06-01T21:21:00.006+10:00

Early last year, I changed my lifestyle.

I quit smoking. I ate properly. I exercised regularly. I took care of myself.

I felt great and got wonderful results in not very long.

For the past 9 months or so, that has fallen by the wayside. I've fallen back into old habits. I started smoking again. I started eating badly again. I stopped exercising.

While I am nowhere near as unfit as I was when I started this the first time (and tonight's walk/run proved that), I am still very near the weight I was that prompted me to start it all in the first place. I should know, I weighed myself on my sickeningly-accurate scale tonight.

So, starting tomorrow I start taking care of myself again. The smoking is already taken care of - I pushed that aside a good month ago.

The goals and rules:

There will be 30 minutes of activity a day. On workout days this means proper exercise (couch to 5k program runs twice a week, bike ride or yoga once a week, boxing once a week), on rest days it means a 30 minute walk to help stretch the muscles.

Every piece of food I eat will be tracked in a food diary and I will be sticking to a calorie-counted plan.

Weigh-ins are on Saturdays. I'll post about my loss/gain for the week, but I prefer to keep the actual numbers quiet. I have a goal weight to reach, but I'm not sure if it's do-able. If not, I'd be happy to be a few kilos above it.

My motiviation? Well, first up I want to feel and look as good as I did mid last year. Secondly, I just bought 3 skirts that are all a smidgen too tight. I want them to fit me, and soon.

Here goes nothing...

Music rant

2009-05-18T22:00:00.002+10:00

Why are two out of the three tracks that I really, really want to purchase not on the iTunes store?

It is most unhelpful to hear music on the radio, only to find out that it's not released yet.

Fleece Artist!

2009-05-04T21:17:00.003+10:00

The lovely Sally ran a competition on her blog - any comments made during the month of March would go into the draw to win a prize.

I was shocked when I discovered that I had won the local prize! I never win anything!

I received my prize and I have fallen head over heels in love - I have some Fleece Artist BFL socks yarn in the delicious Ireland colourway.

Also included in the package was a pom pom maker (check out the URL of Sally's blog to see why!) and some yummy chocolates that didn't last long, as well as a lovely card. It really brightened my day.

It's perfect. Thank you, Sally! I need to put some pics up!

Can you believe it?

2009-04-26T19:54:00.001+10:00

Me, the girl who swore she'd never knit a jumper is now up to the armhole shaping on the back of my first cardi.

It's almost magical how this item is taking shape.

Hiatus

2009-03-27T01:08:00.002+11:00

I haven't posted in nearly a month. I'm really no good at this blogging thing.

Don't get too excited... I am only here to advise that blogging will now be put on a hiatus. Some things are happening in my life that I need to take care of - and for now, blogging seems like it's not important enough to be up there. I have finished items, I have formatting to do on here and I have WIPs that I want to share but at the moment I'm not really in a position to be spending time taking pictures and writing posts.

I must sound mysterious and exciting, but really what's going on is the opposite. Well - it'll still be mysterious for most who read this blog, but I can assure you all it's not exciting.

Hopefully within a month I'll be better placed to start posting again. See you soon.

Don't mention the Guild...

2009-03-09T20:55:00.003+11:00

So I attended the NSW Knitters' Guild AGM this weekend. Oh boy.

I received a very warm welcome from the incoming Vice-President - I was amazed at how enthusiastic she was about the fact that I was there, and she really made the point that she was glad to see a young person... and how the Guild really wants to attract more young people to join.

That attitude seemed at odds with a lot of things that later transpired.

I got to witness first hand some of the resistance shown by members of the Guild toward changing things to make them more accessible - namely making information available on the web and leveraging the knowledge and skills of existing members who want to help with activities.

Questions were seen as personal attacks. There was no mention made of how members could get involved and help. It seems a sad thing that the Guild has members who can (and want to) help with things like enhancing digital photographs or properly storing and archiving the collection of knitted work, but these people are turned away or dismissed because those in charge want to do it their way.

The incoming Secretary was inaugurated but later resigned the same day - something which I was quite upset about as I know that she had some wonderful ideas for the future of the Guild.

I really wonder how the Guild will go about attracting and keeping new members if they are so resistant to embracing the things that will enable them to do so.

I'm considering trying to get in as Secretary... I am just waiting to try and find out some more about the duties required and I want to see if I can gauge the time I'd have to put in. If all else fails, I'm going for committee next year. there needs to be a serious shift in attitude.

Rain, rain, go away...

2009-02-15T20:36:00.002+11:00

Not really, as we do need it. I am trying to use my psychic powers to send it to Victoria though. They could use it given that the bushfires are still burning.

Today was weather of the type that makes me want to cast on some cosy 8 ply socks for wearing around the house. My good old green socks have been keeping my feet warm tonight.

Instead of knitting, I did a tiny little bit of spinning and a whole lot of cooking. I now have a lot of little mini Mixed Bean Burgers in the freezer, ready to be defrosted whenever needed. I also brought out my small (1.5L) slow cooker and made a pasta sauce out of the tomatoes I picked up at the farmer's market last weekend.

It was my first time using a slow cooker, and I was very impressed with the results, as was the other half. The pasta sauce had a much richer flavour than my stovetop ones usually have - but whether that's because of the longer cooking time or the fresh tomatoes I am yet to find out. I do know that the first chance I have I will break out the large slow cooker and make up a big batch of pasta sauce using tinned tomatoes, and then freeze it in portions.

I'm trying to move toward using as few processed and pre-packaged foods as possible, so I need to get organised and start making more foods that I can freeze and keep on hand for later. It's funny how by not buying many convenience foods our grocery bill has dropped enormously. I expected it to stay the same (or possibly increase) because of all of the fresh ingredients I'd have to buy but that's not the case.

I'm now off to pack some lunches to top off this foodie day.

Just when I thought I had enough to do.. and loving thoughts

2009-02-07T20:50:00.006+11:00

First off, lots of crossed fingers and toes for all of you who are currently being threatened by the current bush fire fronts out there. I am sending good vibes for the safety of you, your families and your homes!

There's two new things happening with me at the moment - Vintage Grrl and I have have gotten onto the Bento Bandwagon. We are both quite taken with the idea of packing Bento lunches for ourselves and people in our lives. I'm hoping that it helps to improve both mine and the other half's diet as well as saving us some money. I shall have to report back after I start packing these things!

Secondly, as if I didn't have enough artsy-crafty stuff to do.. I've taken to dyeing roving! Here's "Tutti Frutti" - some Polwarth.

I was pretty happy with the way it turned out.

Detox for free

2009-01-18T21:09:00.002+11:00

I've been a bad, bad blogger.

Things have been busy lately - craft has been put aside and I am throwing myself into making my lifestyle healthier. (Let's just ignore this weekend... please?)

I've changed my eating habits (again, ignore this weekend. blip), started exercising again and now my body has gone into detox. My face has erupted and my tummy hates me - don't get me started on the fatigued sick feeling either.

I'm hanging on for dear life, knowing that I'll have to go through another week or so of this feeling and then I'll start to feel much better.

Just in time for Big Day Out. If someone knows where I can get a nice, healthy vegan lunch and dinner there, please let me know. I don't have to worry about alcohol because I'm the designated driver.

More dye!

2009-01-03T21:37:00.002+11:00

I dyed this:

It will be a Woodland Shawl... my first lace. (See the previous post for link). I am pretty happy with it. I think it turned out well for food colouring!

I have also dyed this:

More pics once it's reskeined...

2009

2009-01-01T21:00:00.004+11:00

I welcomed in the new year with many friends, much alcohol, Buzz and SingStar.

It was great.

Today I am feeling a little sorry for myself. I have been inspired by Vintage Grrl to start a Woodland Shawl, and I need to dye up some yarn to do it.

I'm thinking a gentle variegation. I don't want it to be too colourful, as it will overpower the laciness of the shawl. Blues, maybe?

Boxing Day

2008-12-26T19:41:00.003+11:00

Instead of doing a clean out on the house, I went shopping at Spotlight (no crowds, woo!) and Bunnings today.

20% off everything at Spotlight... and I picked up lots and lots of stuff. Including a rolling pin, I realised on Christmas Eve while baking shortbread that I didn't have a rolling pin! Madness!

I have some more yarny goodness, some kitchen things, party decorations, more beading things and fabric!

Now I just have to clean the fabbo sewing machine Knittingand gave me so I can start stitching things up.

Today I made this:

It's swingy, which I like.

I've also tried making wine glass markers... not too sure on those yet. The memory wire is giving me issues... and the 24 gauge wire I have is no good... too malleable.

I also finished a spinning project! No pics yet, this one was a quickie.

Drama and new things

2008-12-25T19:38:00.003+11:00

Christmas is nearly over (and what a dramatic one it turned out to be. Not in a good way, either.)

Here's Down the Garden Path, a neck warmer I made for my mother.

Here's something I tried doing this afternoon. Beaded stitch markers... This beading thing is pretty cool!

I'm off to rest. There's going to be a big day of house cleaning and re-organising tomorrow.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T13:33:00.002+11:00

Yep... it's that time of the year where we eat too much, drink too much and spoil others rotten.

Merry Christmas everyone.

I'm traumatised (or, a comedy of errors)

2008-12-20T07:42:00.004+11:00

This morning in the blissful summer light I have this:

(you can click to embiggen all photos)

Close up it looks like this:

~50g of white Polwarth spun into around 67m of yarny goodness... all by myself.

This morning I feel good about the yarn I have made, even though I have this:

Tangled, snarled and ruined single.

Let's just say the plying was less of a dream and more of a nightmare. About a war. It went something like this... (I am seriously not making this up. You think I could make stuff like this up?)

Once upon a time a beginning spinner spun up a heap of Polwarth onto her spindle. Once she had as much spun onto there as she could handle, she decided that it was time to ply. Andean plying had been so much easier in her short length experiments than Navajo, so she decided to take the easy way out. (Mistake #1)

The beginning spinner started winding the single around her hand to create the yarn bracelet used in andean plying. Shortly after starting, the single snapped. The beginning spinner decided this was ok (after swearing a bit), because toward the end of her project she was spinning a bit too fine for the weight of the spindle. She carefully removed the little yarn bracelet and set it aside, starting a new one.

After winding and winding and winding some more the beginning spinner realised that this yarn bracelet idea was not going so well. Her hand had come to resemble the good old "deformed rabbit" that so often makes an appearance during shadow pupptery, and her middle finger was starting to turn an attractive shade of purpley-red. Concerned for the welfare of her hand, the beginning spinner carefully, then desperately tried to remove the yarn bracelet. After some struggling the bracelet came free and the hand started to return to it's normal colouring.

After careful consideration the beginning spinner decided not to return to winding a yarn bracelet. She recalled hearing a method of winding the single into a centre-pull ball and plying from both the inside and the outside. She set off to find her ball winder.

And hunted.

And swore.

And hunted some more... eventually locating the ball winder hiding at the back of the Expedit, buried under balls of acrylic and some handspun lengths. (It was at this point that the beginning spinner should have realised that the handspun lengths were plotting against her.)

The beginning spinner then set up her ball winder on the table with one hand (the other was holding the single and spindle) and set off to wind. Wind she did, with the single flying off the spindle and happily settling (tangle free!) onto the ball winder. Once at the end the beginning spinner let out a sigh of relief, thinking that things might now start going smoothly. (Mistake #2)

Once all the single was wound up and ready, the beginning spinner removed the new-formed yarn cake from the ball winder. As she did so the end caught in the notches came free and lost itself in the middle of the ball. It was at this point that most sane spinners would either start navajo plying from the one free end or would re-spin the ball. Not this beginning spinner. She tried to find the missing end. (Mistake #3)

The ball of yarn coughed up what is commonly known as a yarn barf - a blob of yarn from the centre of the ball - caused by the beginning spinner poking around trying to find the end. Luckily the end was located in this yarn barf and the beginning spinner decided to start plying.

Given that the tricksy single was now all over the place, it wasn't long before the beginning spinner wound (ha!) up with single wound upon itself, it's neighbouring strand and all combinations in between. Plying came to a standstill as the single would not come free. The beginning spinner began to untangle.

The beginning spinner learnt the first frustration with trying to untangle single - as soon as it's not taut it winds itself up. In an attempt to keep the single taut during the untangling process the beginning spinner would hook it around handy body parts... her head, her fingers, her toes, her elbow and occasionally a combination of all of these. The thought crossed the beginning spinner's mind more than once of how apt the scene would be for a LOLme with a caption of something along the lines of "ur doin it rong" or "hoomin learns playing wif yarn not as easy liek cat makes it seem".

The beginning spinner bravely fought the tangle, getting some more single free and plying it up, then untangling again until disaster struck...

One strand of single broke.

Swearing and sighing the beginning spinner knotted the singles on the spindle, then continued untangling until enough single was released and the tangle seemed solved. (ha!) Taking a deep breath, she started plying again, knotting the new lengths of single to the old one.

Sonner rather than later she was greeted with a new tangle. She repeated the LOLscene untangling/desnarling only to break the single again. Tying another knot, she plyed some more...

And found the process repeating itself. Rather than re-iterating the same part of the story, I will tell you that the beginning spinner had to detangle/desnarl and deal with broken single several times. The lovely skein of yarn shown above has several knots through it from rescuing broken single. Sometimes a piece of single had to be cut out... causing the beginning spinner some sadness at losing what would be extra length.

Many hours after beginning the plying, the beginning spinner finally detangled the last part of yarn, plied it and sighed. Then she drank vodka to steady her nerves.

I'm already dreading the next lot of plying I have to do. Please send vodka. And plying lessons.

Not already...

2008-12-15T20:13:00.002+11:00

So Christmas is next week.

NEXT. WEEK.

I am not ready. Once again, Christmas has snuck up on me and I haven't done anything yet. Well, that's a lie. I have done some partial Christmas shopping.... but still.

Excuse me while I run away and try to figure things out.

What will you be...? You haven't told me yet.

2008-12-08T22:29:00.003+11:00

You're Polwarth, you're deliciously soft and a joy to spin... and there isn't a huge amount of you.

Please whisper what you want to be when you are finished!

Lookit what I did!

2008-12-07T10:18:00.002+11:00

Yep. That's knittable yarn, that is.

Time to start spinning proper amounts now.

I also made this candy cane a while ago.. the blue merino needs to be re-carded. It's a bit too sticky.

I'm with the DJ

2008-12-03T21:22:00.001+11:00

The other half is playing the Big Day Out next year.

I'll be in the Boiler Room going off. Hah.

Pictures of the yarn

2008-12-03T19:43:00.002+11:00

This is what I was so crazily excited about earlier today

The yellow yarn on the bottom is commercial 8 ply yarn.

It's been a bad day. Tomorrow is looking no better so far.

Squee!

2008-12-03T08:00:00.002+11:00

So I did a little spinning before bed last night (on the drop spindle, I'm not good enough to use a wheel yet... and she needs to be taken apart, cleaned and polished.)

It's clicking. I spun a yarn that's closer to a worsted weight rather than a big chunky yarn. There's still thick and thin spots but it's getting there. I'm so ridiculously excited that I managed to spin something that wasn't huge and chunky. (Hence the morning post.) I'm also parking and drafting with ease, even if i still seem to get a bit of a fibrey mess left rather than nice neat roving.

I'll post a pic some time tonight after I get to take one.

Spin Spin Sugar

2008-12-02T20:45:00.001+11:00

Isn't she beautiful?

She still doesn't have a name.

She's an Ashford Elizabeth 2.. currently set up for Scotch tension.

Recent finished projects

2008-12-01T21:09:00.003+11:00

I have gotten some knitting done recently and I've finished the chequerboard scarf!

I finished the other half's socks

and have made more progress on the socks of dooooooom.

I may have also bought a spinning wheel on Sunday. Oops. She has no name yet. Frontrunners are Penelope and Aurora.

Yarny Goodness

2008-11-29T22:11:00.004+11:00

I've been a busy bee for the past couple of days...

Vintagegrrl has been an enabler and encouraged me to try hand dyeing... and spinning. I have started both and here are the results so far:

Hand dyed yarn - Cleckheaton Country 8 ply, dyed with Queen Rose Pink and Blue food colouring. The pink is really deep and looks almost red. Next time I think I'd tone down the pink to make it pinkier.

Now... *Drumroll* time for the handspun! I have an Ashford drop spindle (and maybe an Ashford spinning wheel as of tomorrow), and I have a few little pieces of handspun to show off.

First handspun... a short piece because I learnt on this one, then finished it off so I could put a notch in the spindle and beeswax it. It's a plain white Polwarth fibre.

My third piece of handspun. (The second piece went into a top secret project... more on that later!)

My first blue handspun - this one is a merino. The colour is absolutely stunning... a royal blue bordering on purple.

I am loving spinning. It's like I did this in a past life... it just seems like second nature to me.

Movember - last chance!

2008-11-29T17:09:00.002+11:00

Movember ends tomorrow... donate while you can! I am sure you know someone out there who is a Mo Bro or a Mo Sister.

Movember raises money for prostate cancer research and also supports beyondblue - a charity dedicated to fighting depression.

Prostate cancer is as common in men as breast cancer is in women. Depression claims many lives each year, but destroys thousands more - it's just that others may not see it. Both causes are close to my heart.

If you have the means please give a little to help.

Catch up

2008-11-13T12:55:00.002+11:00

What have I been doing?

A whole bunch of not-very-much, it seems.

Work has been crazy, and I am now getting to the end of a two week holiday where I achieved very little. It's been one of those periods where you just zonk out and do a whole lot of nothing.

I need to find some energy quickly.

It's been a while

2008-10-11T17:36:00.002+11:00

Life has been nuts.

Here's some yarn.

(aren't those blues stunning??)

Sock it to me

2008-08-12T20:29:00.001+10:00

Making more socks... this time for the other half.

They're being knit in Bendigo Woollen Mills Allegro. It's fun to knit with.

Mojo

2008-08-09T22:19:00.001+10:00

I've found my mojo again! (Maybe it was the Olympics starting... hmmm.)

I have cast on some man-socks for the other half and gotten back to work on the Starry Night Wrap. Things are looking good. No photos at the moment as I forgot to bring my camera (oops).

As if I needed another reason.

2008-08-07T20:03:00.004+10:00

I am never, ever joining Fitness First.

Link to original article

Fitness First wins legal stoush over 'sick' woman's contract
Fitness First ... a runaway success, except with people trying to leave.
Bellinda Kontominas
August 7, 2008 - 4:07PM
From the Sydney Morning Herald website.

Gym giant Fitness First has taken a former member, who could not work out due to medical problems, to court - all for the sake of $200.

The Supreme Court today ruled that Suh Yoke Chong, who suffers from lupus, thyroid problems and sleep apnoea should not be refunded a $200 cancellation fee after she was unable to continue her membership due to blurred vision and headaches.

Ms Chong, 54, who signed a contract with Fitness First on April 9, 2007, after she had put on weight due to steroid medication she was taking, took her case to the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal.

She told the tribunal that, during her conversation with the Fitness First consultant, he gave her the terms and conditions and told her to "sign here, here and here".

"The reason I told him [about my medical condition] is that I hope that he will be honest with me, that whether my condition can do the gym and he told me that, 'Oh, you find the right place, this is the best place to lose weight.' "

Ms Chong signed the contract without reading the terms and conditions, which state that a cancellation fee of $200 applies if membership is terminated within the first two months and after a 15-day cooling-off period.

The tribunal ruled in September last year that Ms Chong be reimbursed that money.

It found that "a valid contract required the parties have [a] ... meeting of the minds, in that they each fully know and understand the terms and conditions of the agreement."

However, Associate Justice Joanne Harrison today found that the tribunal member erred in the law on that point and that Ms Chong was bound by the conditions of the contract. She made no order as to costs.

Comment is being sought from Fitness First.

Ms Chong said she told Fitness First about her condition before signing her contract but the gym only encouraged her to join.

After a month, as her dizziness worsened and her vision blurred, she reported the problem to staff. She said they were not interested.

"I told them but they said you should go for a massage to relax your body," she said.

"My intention when I joined the gym is to improve my health but it made me more stressed."

Ms Chong was shocked last July when she received a summons to the Supreme Court, with her as defendant, the gym as plaintiff.

She entered no defence, advised by legal aid that costs could be awarded against against her if she did so.

"I don't want to remember anything more about Fitness First. It's very, very stressful for the whole year," she said.

Since joining Fitness First in April last year, a membership that lasted about five weeks, Ms Chong has spent 15 months in and out of court and tribunal rooms.

She said she would pursue the case no further and had thought it was over after her tribunal hearing in September.

- with Erik Jensen

*********

Is it just me, or is that crazy talk?

Back

2008-08-04T21:37:00.003+10:00

After spending a weekend in the wilderness (well, in Brisbane with nothing but an iPhone for internet access), I am back.

The Picasso and his Collection exhibition was fantastic. Renoirs and Cezannes... this girl was very happy.

Disaster

2008-07-28T20:43:00.002+10:00

So I am going away for the weekend - on a plane.

It has now been decreed that due to the tight schedule we are on (nothing to do with me!) that we must travel with carry on luggage only... so that we don't have to waste time waiting for any checked baggage at our destination.

This means two things:

1. NO KNITTING OR CROCHET can be packed. Ouch. Australian airport security decrees that they are tools and are not allowed in carry on luggage because they are too sharp.

2. I have to pack for a weekend away (in the middle of winter) in a 22L bag. That is small. Tiny, even.

What am I meant to do? I mean, seriously?

Something finished, something new

2008-07-27T18:15:00.003+10:00

Please bear with me, I have decided to use Flickr for photos now, so this post might look a bit funny.

I finished the lovely chunky yarn project... I give you the Entwine scarf:

Yarn: Basics Entwine (from Spotlight) 4 and a bit balls.
Pattern: None. It's a garter stitch scarf.
Needles: Tulip 7.0mm bamboo straights.

I also started the Starry Night wrap:

Sadly, I am not feeling that inspired at the moment. I have not knit a single stitch all weekend. Hopefully the new yarn i have coming will help that.

Therapy

2008-07-22T20:42:00.003+10:00

The big chunky knit is such therapy. It's already more than half done... it's practically knitting itself.

I won't say much about the new shade card I received from ~~the most evil-minded enablers in the world~~ my favourite yarn mill. New merino yarn in gorgeous fun colours... it'll make awesome winter socks. that is all I'll say. No more details until I buy all the stock for myself... mwahahahaha.

Feeling so productive

2008-07-22T14:22:00.005+10:00

It's amazing what some time off work does.

I finished the very green socks. They are as yet unblocked so they still look a little misshapen.

Yarn: Shepherd Colour 4 Me 8 ply. It's deliciously soft.
Pattern: Silver's Sock Class. This tutorial is for DPNs, but I used the magic loop method.
Knit Picks 3.25mm, 80cm circular needle.

I have finished one of the striped socks... but it's too big (wide) for me. It does fit the other half (kind of) but he did not look overjoyed when I suggested I complete the pair for him. If I can't find anyone to fit it then it might be remain an orphan. It might make a good Christmas stocking.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go cast on something using this new yarn. It's going to be garter stitch and chunky, for a break from the sock work.

(Isn't it pretty? I thought so too.)

Oops

2008-07-21T12:46:00.003+10:00

I ended up with one extra dock to USB cable after a trip to the Apple store today. Apparently I'm too stupid to read the box of the USB power adapter, because it comes with a cable. I didn't need a separate one. Oh well, one for the laptop bag.

I also purchased a pink case for my iPhone - not sure if it will stay in use as I'm not a fan of cases, but I can see it coming in useful when travelling.

My iPhone really is good. The interface is very user friendly, the screen is very responsive and I love some of the things it does. I'm not a heavy Smartphone user and I wanted something a bit more than a phone, so the iPhone was perfect for my needs. It's pretty, too. I like pretty. (hah)

Right. Now I will go back to trying to stay away from the internet.

Note to self

2008-07-19T22:52:00.005+10:00

Next time you want to learn a new knitting skill, do not make the first attempt in black yarn.

I decided to teach myself how to do a short row heel. I started some striped socks to do this - working the ribbing in black, with the idea that the heel and toe would also be black. Oh, what a folly that was.

After much time, frustration, tinking and frogging, I have done my first short row heel. There are a few gaps in it, but at this stage I don't care. I am just happy to have it done. The socks in question are being made from some cheapo acrylic yarn while I try to learn how to manage DPNs. It's slowly getting easier than trying to insert an angry sea urchin into a net bag, but only just.

In other news, I am more than halfway through the other pair of socks I am working on. These ones are a lovely wool, but I don't know if I still love the colour.

They are green. Very green.

It's time to go...

2008-07-15T19:26:00.003+10:00

Big Brother.

I can't believe it. Network ten has provided two sensible decisions this year: the return of Good News Week, and the axing of Big Brother.

One can only hope it's replaced with quality programming.

First Socks

2008-07-13T19:56:00.006+10:00

Part of the reason this blog needs a name change?

I've taken up needlecrafts again (well, knitting mostly and crochet as a runner up), and want to be able to post things I've done and things I'm working on. Hopefully that sort of peer pressure will help me complete things!

Without further ado - here are the first socks I have ever made:

Yarn: I have no idea. Some yarn that came to me from my late grandmother's stash. I know it's an 8 ply, and I think it's a wool/acrylic blend.
Pattern: Part Arachne Sock Calculator, part Kim Goddard's beginner sock pattern, part my own imagination.

I used the magic loop method, Knit Picks 3.25mm/80 cm circular needle. I'm still building the DPN patience and skills.

Next project? Already started... more socks, amongst other things.

(Oh yeah... I managed to procure an iPhone on launch day. After finally getting it working on the weekend, I promise I'll post about it soon. I am loving having a 3G phone. I had no idea what I was missing.)

It's been a... while.

2008-07-13T19:42:00.002+10:00

It's certainly been a long time since I posted anything here.

I'm still alive, still going on. Life has been... hectic.

Note to self: must try to blog a leetle more regularly.

I am thinking of changing the blog name though. It's been grating on me for a while, and while I don't want the address to change I want to add content that's not necessarily related to the title. And no, I don't want more than one blog. I find it hard enough to update this one, let alone doing two.

So. watch this space.

A Letter to the RSPCA

2008-03-02T12:43:00.001+11:00

In response to this article:

I am writing to convey my disappointment in the RSPCA's choose wisely campaign for eggs after reading an article in the Sun Herald today. The condition of the birds in Pace Farm's Buchanan facility is appalling and it concerns me that the RSPCA endorses this facility and the practice of de-beaking.

I certainly expected better from the RSPCA. I am now even doubting how humane the free range eggs are if these barn layers are in such poor condition.

I urge the RSPCA to reconsider their endorsement of Pace Farm's facilities and practices.

Is it possible?

2008-02-06T21:02:00.000+11:00

It is possible!

"So You Think You Can Dance?" has sucked me in - well and truly.

Oh dear.

Squeeeeeee!

2008-01-27T11:05:00.000+11:00

I just saw an ad for Good News Week... yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is BACK.

Channel 10 (unfortunately, I would love to see it on the ABC again), Monday Feb 11.

It also appears that they've started making it because of the Writers Guild of America strike. I guess I can only hope they keep it on.

bleh

2007-12-25T21:46:00.000+11:00

What a day. Relatives everywhere.

Merry Christmas all.

*mixes therapeutic Baileys and milk - 90% Baileys, 10% milk*

Daft Punk

2007-12-21T22:36:00.000+11:00

Way to go Modular.

silly wristbanding rule you've created. Well, there are some very, very cranky punters, myself included.

Finally - the NSW State Government does something sensible.

2007-12-07T09:30:00.000+11:00

Finally. A move to reduce the number of pokies in NSW. Though they are fun to play sometimes, they really sap the life out of venues.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/its-a-win-on-the-pokies/2007/12/06/1196812922121.html

Pigment and Lipgloss and Bronzer oh my!

2007-10-30T21:13:00.000+11:00

Oops. Went on a bit of a cosmetics haul this weekend.

MAC Silver Fog pigment is amazing. A light wash gives a lovely silvery cast. Put on a bit more and it looks like molten silver on your eyelids. It's brilliant, and it's going to make for an awesome robot-themed Daft Punk face.

Also stocked up at Kit - a new Kit lip gloss, Too Faced Pink Leopard Bronzer (because it's just sooo CUTE!) and Havaianas Blush nail polish. The nail polish is stunning. It matches the light pink Havaianas exactly (not that I own a pair) and is a lovely opaque pink. My toes are very happy in it.

Now I must exercise some self control and NOT visit the new Inglot store near my work.

Cosmetics

2007-10-21T20:54:00.000+10:00

One notably absent topic from my blog thus far has been that of cosmetics.

The real reason is that at the moment I'm pretty boring in the makeup department, and I'm pretty sure no-one wants to read about the skin problems I'm trying to resolve before I start wearing mucho makeup again.

On the subject of makeup, however, I am very much looking forward to the MAC "Originals" collection. If anything, I want a chance to check out Parrot, an eyeshadow held in high esteem by many makeup mavens.

Boo!

2007-10-21T20:49:00.000+10:00

So, I'm a bit slow.

I had noticed that Myf Warhurst has been notably absent from triplej this week, and the intros to the show had been redone to exclude her name. Silly me, I thought she'd gone on holidays or something and the other two hosts were trying to be funny.

Today I checked the triplej website and found a "Goodbye Myf" guestbook. Ack!

Turns out she's taken a job on MMM in Melbourne. Awesomeness. No more Myf in the mornings for me.

I am not a happy camper.

Schmeh

2007-10-18T20:29:00.000+10:00

Horrible day.

T-panel replaced by car dealership after they accidentally damaged it last week while fixing my ipod connection. What was meant to take 15 minutes took an hour and a half, making me hideously late for work.

However: now my iPod connection isn't working properly again. Yep - car has to go back. Again. It will be the fourth iPod connection related visit to the service department.

The day didn't improve from there, basically it just made me behind in everything.

The one high point was the news that I would soon be receiving a new technology toy to play with. Soon as in, tomorrow. Huzzah! Gadgets always cheer me up.

One last thought: I think people who tailgate L-platers who are driving at their legal speed limit (80km/h) on the motorway should have their license revoked immediately. To the one I saw doing this very act this evening: L-platers are learning, I'm sure they don't need your ugly SUV up their bum, intimidating them just because you're a weedy loser. Go and grow a brain.

Big Day Out - first announcement

2007-10-05T21:30:00.001+10:00

BDO first announcement went out on Tuesday.

Looking forward to Rage Against the Machine, Bjork, LCD Soundsystem and Midnight Juggernauts.

It's going to be a good summer for festivals.

Weekend is here!

2007-10-05T21:28:00.000+10:00

Glad to be at the weekend... it's been a long week (albeit a short work week.)

Currently have Pendulum stuck in my head.

Muscles - Guns Babes Lemonade

2007-10-02T20:15:00.000+10:00

Ice Cream can certainly save my day.

Love the album.

nom nom nom

2007-09-24T20:01:00.000+10:00

Cup cake baking experiment was a success.

yum!

Found!

2007-09-19T21:27:00.000+10:00

The name of a track has been bugging me for ages. I had no idea what it was called or who it was by. As it was more of an electronic mishmash, I couldn't search lyrics, either.

Found it today! Grip Like a Vice - The Go! Team.

What else am I listening to?

Konichiwa Bitches - Robyn

Various Daft Punk offerings (gosh, I wonder why?)

We are the Night - Chemical Brothers (it's a great album)

Other fantastic news - Rage Against the Machine are touring in January. Rumour has it they'll play BDO in addition to the shows already announced.

I am one happy camper.

MAC holiday

2007-09-19T21:26:00.001+10:00

I might actually splash out on MAC's holiday collection this year. there's some really pretty stuff.

NIN - MOAR!

2007-09-17T20:49:00.000+10:00

Ok, so this footage is from Munich. I couldn't find decent footage of this track from Sydney.

This is what Only looked like on Saturday night.

Compilation? I think not.

2007-09-16T21:02:00.001+10:00

Why, oh why has iTunes decided that a few of my albums (by a single artist) are actually compilations?

I don't understand...

Nine Inch Nails - wow!

2007-09-16T13:02:00.000+10:00

So I went to see NIN last night.

It was much better than the last show (same tour, same venue) that I went to. The production this time was FANTASTIC!

There was a portion of the set where there was what appeared to be a giant LED screen behind them... then after that it turned out to be a translucent curtain - and it was now in front of them. Video would play over and cover the band, then you could see them when there was no video.

I really, really want to know what it was. I found some info that on a 2005 tour they used an opera gauze curtain and projected video onto it from Front of House... but it didn't look like this was a projection. The way the screen looked and acted led me to believe it was LED driven, but I've never seen a translucent LED curtain before.

I must find out.

Bits and Pieces

2007-09-13T21:11:00.000+10:00

Vista: I am not enjoying it so far. Seeing how much memory and system resources Aero takes up was staggering though. I've turned it off. Some things I just do not understand: Why have they changed where things are located.. when they've been there for many, many versions? Why have they hidden options that should be easy to access? Why are there 3 ways to turn off the computer in the same menu space?

Once I get my brain working again, I'll post full updates.

On the music front - Do yourself a favour and listen to Who's afraid of Detroit - Claude VonStroke. Is good. Beautiful, even. The rest of his album seems ok, I will withhold full judgement until I get hold of a copy.

Bella Vista?

2007-09-12T21:51:00.000+10:00

So.

In the next day or so, I will be given a Vista workstation. I get to try and break it. No, I can't pour soft drink onto the processor while it's running. My chances of scoring a new monitor (without breaking the old one first) from IT would plummet if I did that.

I get to try all sorts of weird and wonderful tasks on it, and report back on how it assists (or impedes) my work. And if I can make it crash all the time. Like, by booting up the computer or something. That works in Windows, right?

Wish me luck. I may need it.

Underworld - Oblivion with Bells

2007-09-11T20:47:00.000+10:00

I know I mentioned that I wished that the new Underworld album was being featured on my favourite radio station. I'd heard one track and wanted to hear more.

No, it's still not featured. The very idea.

However, word on the street is that the new album is very, very pretty. (Yes, that's verbatim. It's pretty.) I can't wait to hear it. Hopefully soon.

Blog has name. All is well with the world.

2007-09-10T22:08:00.000+10:00

Well, here we are. The blog has a name. All is good.

So, officially, I'd like to welcome you to Cosmetics, Cacophony (ie, music) & Computers. Just because I love all those things.

Ack!

2007-09-10T20:17:00.000+10:00

The feature album on my favourite radio station (triplej) is the new Kanye West album. ergh.

Please someone save me. Why can't they use the new Underworld album instead?