It's my friend's 30th birthday today, and I'm missing it. But I get to see her in 30 days.
I made a Spotify playlist especially for her, without realising Australia doesn't have Spotify so she can't hear it!
So Katie, this post is for you. 30 songs over 30 days defining our friendship.
Cannot wait to see you!
Song 30:
Our friendship began with this common denominator.
Song 29:
The most recent artist introduction, over a year ago!
Song 28:
The only part of one of your favourite movies that I like...
Song 27:
Happiness, in a song.
Song 26:
Could listen to this all day, thanks to you!
Song 25:
Homesick song. Ignore the fact that I don't live in Broome...
A collection of emails sent, thoughts written, and stories told whilst abroad.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
The kindness of strangers
Just when you think you run out of material to blog about...
So, what do you do when your tyre explodes on a country road with no streetlights at midnight in 4 degree weather with no phone reception? No, this is not a made up story...
So, what do you do when your tyre explodes on a country road with no streetlights at midnight in 4 degree weather with no phone reception? No, this is not a made up story...
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Downsides to locuming
There are so many benefits of locuming that it's not a wonder the UK is crammed full of Aussies hopping around the country from hospital to hospital, earning their living and saving for their next holiday, year after year.
I've been reflecting on some of the benefits of locuming, and here are a few thoughts:
I've been reflecting on some of the benefits of locuming, and here are a few thoughts:
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Fashion spotlight #3
This guy was spotted on my drive to work in central Canterbury.
His body language suggests he didn't want to be spotted, in a onesie, on a main road in peak hour.
His outfit suggests otherwise.
His body language suggests he didn't want to be spotted, in a onesie, on a main road in peak hour.
His outfit suggests otherwise.
Monday, February 20, 2012
The winter of my life
| Margate, Kent 4/2/2012 |
Sometimes you have to endure the cold, dark, harsh winters in your life
With the faint but sure knowledge that sure as time rolls on
There is a promise, a hope, a new season.
A blossoming spring.
This is not a metaphor for anything. I'm over winter.
I liked the new experience of snow and everything it brought, but winter has turned me in a carb guzzling, doona-dwelling, DVD watching blob.
A friend wondered if I had SAD (seasonal affective disorder). I don't think there's anything wrong with seeing minus 5 on the weather app and thinking, "hmmm.... nup. I'm staying right here. Shopping can wait another day."
Being outside for any period of time was an exercise in keeping out the wind, keeping in the heat, and getting to some form of air conditioning as soon as possible. Once at home, there was never a reason to venture back out. iPhones left in cars stayed there overnight. Urgent letters to be mailed, rubbish to be taken out... none of these were important enough to justify sub zero exposure.
When shopping, I found myself buying long life milk, and stocking up on pantry imperishables (that's such a mature adult word. Makes me think of bomb shelters and food drives...).
A friend wondered if I had SAD (seasonal affective disorder). I don't think there's anything wrong with seeing minus 5 on the weather app and thinking, "hmmm.... nup. I'm staying right here. Shopping can wait another day."
Being outside for any period of time was an exercise in keeping out the wind, keeping in the heat, and getting to some form of air conditioning as soon as possible. Once at home, there was never a reason to venture back out. iPhones left in cars stayed there overnight. Urgent letters to be mailed, rubbish to be taken out... none of these were important enough to justify sub zero exposure.
When shopping, I found myself buying long life milk, and stocking up on pantry imperishables (that's such a mature adult word. Makes me think of bomb shelters and food drives...).
Anyway, I'm ready for Spring.
Until it comes, I'll read poems about winter.
Winter-Time by Robert Louis Stevenson
Late lies the wintry sun a-bed,
A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;
Blinks but an hour or two; and then,
A blood-red orange, sets again.
Before the stars have left the skies,
At morning in the dark I rise;
And shivering in my nakedness,
By the cold candle, bathe and dress.
Close by the jolly fire I sit
To warm my frozen bones a bit;
Or with a reindeer-sled, explore
The colder countries round the door.
When to go out, my nurse doth wrap
Me in my comforter and cap;
The cold wind burns my face, and blows
Its frosty pepper up my nose.
Black are my steps on silver sod;
Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;
And tree and house, and hill and lake,
Are frosted like a wedding cake.
A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;
Blinks but an hour or two; and then,
A blood-red orange, sets again.
Before the stars have left the skies,
At morning in the dark I rise;
And shivering in my nakedness,
By the cold candle, bathe and dress.
Close by the jolly fire I sit
To warm my frozen bones a bit;
Or with a reindeer-sled, explore
The colder countries round the door.
When to go out, my nurse doth wrap
Me in my comforter and cap;
The cold wind burns my face, and blows
Its frosty pepper up my nose.
Black are my steps on silver sod;
Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;
And tree and house, and hill and lake,
Are frosted like a wedding cake.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Fashion spotlight #2
Spotted on a train to Brighton.
The person wearing these was most definitely over 65.
Glam at any age.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Those speechie phrases, interpreted
Found this list while clearing up today. Was shocked and horrified, and quickly put it out of sight, and then realised, the shock and horror came from actually having heard these phrases uttered, by other health professionals, and perhaps even by myself, on the rehab ward.
On bad days in inpatient brain injury rehab, dark humour might be the only laugh you get.
Friday, January 13, 2012
The daily commute aka why I love Kent
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. (Yep, ok!)
Psalm 113:3.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Christmas and New Year Adventure
Click here for a slideshow of the Christmas and New Year Adventure
Still working out how to do this so apologies if it doesn't work properly.
I spent 6 days in Finnish Lapland over Christmas and 4 in Austria for New Year.
Click on the link above and I think it'll take you to a slideshow of my flickr account. (Now to figure out exactly what a flickr account is...)
Friday, January 6, 2012
Fashion spotlight #1
Snapped through a shop window (hence the glare) in Antwerp, Belgium.
Glitter Uggs.
For those more... ahem... formal occasions.
Glitter Uggs.
For those more... ahem... formal occasions.
Monday, December 19, 2011
How to do winter, part 3
Last week I giggled at the aisles and aisles of "Winter car care" products for sale in my local supermarket.
De-icer, grit, insulating blankets, scrapers... none of these words exist in my vocabulary.
This morning I realised they now do. Thick frost encrusted my car from the door handles up.
And no de-icer or scraper in sight.
A quick trip back to the apartment to have a mini freakout and I emerged armed and ready with... a plastic kitchen spatula.
I'm sure I amused the daylights out of the passing residents watching me shave the ice off my windscreen, sortof like I was cleaning off a barbeque. All without gloves, mind you...
Made a classic rookie mistake by thinking a bit of windscreen wiper and windscreen wiper fluid action once I was in the car would help things along.
Frozen windscreen + frozen windscreen wipers + windscreen wiper fluid = new thick coating of gloopy soapy ice smeared all over the windscreen.
Start over.
De-icer, grit, insulating blankets, scrapers... none of these words exist in my vocabulary.
This morning I realised they now do. Thick frost encrusted my car from the door handles up.
And no de-icer or scraper in sight.
A quick trip back to the apartment to have a mini freakout and I emerged armed and ready with... a plastic kitchen spatula.
I'm sure I amused the daylights out of the passing residents watching me shave the ice off my windscreen, sortof like I was cleaning off a barbeque. All without gloves, mind you...
| After a full minute of scraping. |
| Quick! Get in the car and start driving before it just ices over again! |
Frozen windscreen + frozen windscreen wipers + windscreen wiper fluid = new thick coating of gloopy soapy ice smeared all over the windscreen.
Start over.
Friday, December 16, 2011
How to do winter, part 2
Winter fashion.
Where form meets function. Or some rubbish like that.
Some of my awesome winter purchases:
By far my favourite. Water resistant suede and wool blend snow boots. Complete with Paddington-bear toggle opening at the side, to avoid those awkward try-to-get-your-boots-off-at-someone's-front-door hopping-about-like-an-idiot moments. Verdict's out on whether these are actually properly waterproof, but they're so pretty it doesn't matter. Land's End.
Solution: Smart Touch gloves. These babies, by magic and science, allow the use of a touchscreen through the gloved fingertips (the silver bits). The shiny bits are actually rubber grip. These are only slightly more attractive than my photo suggests. Now, to find these in chocolate leather lined in cashmere...
My very first winter purchase was a down-filled jacket from Zara. Again, at first I laughed at the concept. But I wear this jacket nearly every day as a staple wardrobe item. It's light, incredibly warm, and has a silly hood:
Ah, let's just put up some more Cologne pics. So pretty!
Buttery soft chocolate cashmere lined leather gloves in action. Evidently all the gluwein and stollen has gone straight to my face hence looking like a bloated fatty boom sticks. Didn't have time to send this pic to Rowen for pre-publication weight-loss Photoshopping. Granted I am wearing about 5 layers underneath my jacket.
I do believe I am prepared for winter.
Where form meets function. Or some rubbish like that.
Some of my awesome winter purchases:
By far my favourite. Water resistant suede and wool blend snow boots. Complete with Paddington-bear toggle opening at the side, to avoid those awkward try-to-get-your-boots-off-at-someone's-front-door hopping-about-like-an-idiot moments. Verdict's out on whether these are actually properly waterproof, but they're so pretty it doesn't matter. Land's End.
Slightly less glamorous, but oh-so-practical, waterproof snow boots. Complete with fake fur tops to keep the wind out. They make me walk like a gangsta. Word. Debenhams.
Thermal socks. I actually have 2 pairs of these, as well as some heat-generating socks. Not sure how they work, but they definitely do keep my toes toasty warm. Marks and Spencers.
Ah, the dilemma of keeping one's hands warm and freeing one's fingers for tasks such as driving and nose picking. The solution: hoodie gloves. Too cute for words. Although with the hoodie in situ, my hands are fairly useless for anything except a right hook. Beware: some imitations leave one's thumb without a hood. Poor thumb! John Rocha by Debenhams.
Got a little carried away in the gloves department. Black thermals with fur cuff on the left. Chocolate leather lined with cashmere at the top (these gloves are so divine that I've developed a really embarrassing habit of making a weird motion with my hands that looks a little like I'm practising grabbing someone's boobs, just so that my fingers move about on the inside of the gloves to brush against the cashmere inside. I also have a bad habit of putting my hands to my face to feel and smell the buttery soft leather. Mmmmm). Beige suede on the right.
But the problem remains. How does one answer an iPhone in a timely fashion, without desperately ripping the gloves off with one's teeth while hunting around for the phone?
Solution: Smart Touch gloves. These babies, by magic and science, allow the use of a touchscreen through the gloved fingertips (the silver bits). The shiny bits are actually rubber grip. These are only slightly more attractive than my photo suggests. Now, to find these in chocolate leather lined in cashmere...
| Cologne Christmas markets. Hoodie gloves in action. Drinking gluwein. |
My very first winter purchase was a down-filled jacket from Zara. Again, at first I laughed at the concept. But I wear this jacket nearly every day as a staple wardrobe item. It's light, incredibly warm, and has a silly hood:
| Silly hood. Falls too far forward unless you do the jacket all the way up. |
| Cologne Christmas markets. Earmuff beanie in action. Again, drinking gluwein. |
Ah, let's just put up some more Cologne pics. So pretty!
Buttery soft chocolate cashmere lined leather gloves in action. Evidently all the gluwein and stollen has gone straight to my face hence looking like a bloated fatty boom sticks. Didn't have time to send this pic to Rowen for pre-publication weight-loss Photoshopping. Granted I am wearing about 5 layers underneath my jacket.
I do believe I am prepared for winter.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
How to do winter, part 1
TomTom sent me an email today, titled "stay safe on the roads this winter". I clicked on the link in anticipation, having been warned by work friends of the many dangers of driving in the snow.
I was looking forward to an informative video of how to winter-proof my car; what to do if I encounter black ice, and all other manner of helpful hints and tips.
I got this...
I was looking forward to an informative video of how to winter-proof my car; what to do if I encounter black ice, and all other manner of helpful hints and tips.
I got this...
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Puddings from Yorkshire
There are foods in every country and culture that may seem strange to a foreigner. I had just begun to get used to the idea of pudding meaning dessert, when I came across a Yorkshire pudding.
This strange creation is another example of how the English try to fit as many carbs into each meal as is humanly possible.
This strange creation is another example of how the English try to fit as many carbs into each meal as is humanly possible.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Sun roof?
My car comes with a sun roof. Given the English climate, I feel this modification is just a tad optimistic.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)

