the dollhouse

Swinging and Winning

We had such a great time last night.

I felt so appropriate/beautiful/glamourous/fabulous in my new dress. I was extra pleased that I found hair clips with flowers that *exactly* matched flowers on my dress. Beau also looked so handsome in his pants-upsters and button-sleeved shirt.

We got to the Spiegletent about 5 min after it was supposed have started and there was a line! I think they were still setting up. It was neat meeting and chatting with our swing classmates in the line. There was much exclaiming over outfits and worry over whether we would remember the moves for the Shim-sham.

When we got in, the band soon started and a couple went onto the dance floor. They were *really* good. Like, so good that everyone from class was afraid to get onto the dance floor! When the song finished everyone *applauded*! There a few more advanced couples and then our teachers started dragging people up.

The crowd we were sitting with were still too intimidated to dance. I was keen, but I was also happy to be all dressed up, hanging out with people. Beau and I decided we'd do a circuit of the tent and see who else was there and what they were up to. We also had a drink. The atmosphere was fabulous.

Then, the band finished their set and the DJ put on "Tuxedo Junction". We rushed onto the floor to do our Shim-sham. Lots of fun and my earlier practice while waiting for the bus had definitely helped ;). The demonstration dances then took place. They were amazing. There were three. The first was one girl dancing on her own. She was incredible. Then a couple started dancing and a man cut in! It was a comedy dance routine with the men each stealing the girl and at the end they all danced together and even flipped her right around! The third demo dance had 4 identically dressed flapper girls doing the Charleston. They were adorable. It definitely makes me want to do more swing! I want to be as good as they all were.

We danced for the next hour. We stopped for water a couple of times, it is hot work. In the end, my feet were getting very sore (these shoes are still quite new and I had a blister from last weekend) and Beau was the one convincing me to do "just one more". That is one of the highlights for me, having Beau be the one to convince *me* to dance.

We tripped home on the natural high that good music, good dancing and good company brings.

Point of Fashion: changeable
Current Obsession: busy, busy, busy

Ignoring the Signs

Someone or something wants me to make soup. In particular, pumpkin soup.

I have had several clear signs. 1) Anna blogged about making Thai Pumpkin soup 2) Dan blogged about making Pumpkin soup using leftovers from a roast chicken meal 3) My friend's MiL dreamed about my goddaughter and me making soup! 4) I saw Butternut pumpkins/squash on sale at Tesco yesterday.

I've been meaning to for a while and I've even bought a hand blender stick thing-y to make it easier. It's finding the time and the vegetable. I also need to email my MiL and ask her for her recipe as it is easy and yum (I've helped in the prep for it before). I know it's based on the Alison Holst Dollars and Sense recipe.

However, I haven't made it yet. I didn't even buy the pumpkin. Pumpkin is not a popular vegetable here (except, apparently, at Halloween!) and the only type I've seen is butternut "punkins". I'm used to the grey-ish green skinned ones we have in NZ and I was kinda hoping they'd have familiar ingredients here. I've never cooked with butternuts!

So, last night, ignoring the signs I decided to use up the last of my quinoa and stock stores in a recipe for a Quinoa Salmon Salad.

I was punished. I added the stock to the quinoa and looked at facebook for a second!!! It burned to the bottom. In an effort to salvage what I had, I also burned my hand. GaH!

I am sorry. I repent. I shall make time for pumpkin soup this weekend.

We shall be having a rice and quinoa salmon salad instead!

Now, that I've been appropriately chastised, have a look at one of my lunches.

This week, due to weekend in London and lack of time to shop, my lunches have all been pretty much the same. However, that same has been awesome, because I went and bought delicious foods from the English Market on my way home. Eg: garlic stuffed olives, olive tapenade, mozzarella, fresh organic basil, sugar snaps and grapes.

Seriously, Garlic Stuffed Olives are made of win!

I also bought small apples yesterday. I thought they would fit into my lunch box, but they are too big! Thus, this morning I tried out a tip I learned from lunchinabox. I cut up my apple, put it into a little container with some lemon juice, a bit of lime cordial (to sweeten) and some water. Then I put the lid on and shook it all about. I then packed some of the pieces, ate the rest and drank the leftover liquid... tart! I thought maybe it would be a bit too dilute, but it totally worked and when I took my apple pieces out at lunch-time, they looked like I'd just cut them! All nice and white. It almost took longer to type out the instructions than to carry them out. Totally worth it :) Linky to the apple containing lunch :)

Hanging at the Boy Flat

Went over to mytholder's house after work today to meet Neid and do my dress fitting. I love my dress it has a circle shirt and will look fabulous on the dance floor. *Yes*! It's so nice having something made just for you. There will be pictures. Do not doubt!

Going to the boys' (mytholder, Homebody and Fotalad) flat is great. I've totally become friends with all of them. We've bonded over meals shared, wines sampled, games played and general craic (I *think* that is an appropriate use). I really value all three of them.

I had another reason, apart from my dress and general visiting to go visit the boys. I went to pick up an RPG book so that Beau and I can do char creation! Yes!! We have been invited into a game with delichan and mytholder. A Game of Thrones game. I've been really missing gaming and Beau *really*, *really* has. We shall be playing on Mondays :)

Fotalad also mentioned that he'd be keen to do some gaming with us. He hasn't done any for a while as he has been studying part-time on top of his full-time job. He's keen for one-offs, a campaign or even board games. It's looking like it'll be Tuesdays at our house :) He'll round up some others too.

While at their house, I spent a bunch of funtime chatting/catching up with delichan and then getting sucked into watching the Germany-Turkey semifinal (for the Euro Cup, Soccer). It was seriously exciting!! The end was, anyway. It meant that I was too late to get home and bake for Jules tomorrow. Which would be sad, but turns out that biscuits arrived in the post from Voltron's girlfriend in Poland.

Ah world, you are being kind.

Point of Fashion: casual enough that I was worried I would be told off, instead I was invited to continue in my role as long as I would like!
Current Obsession: The Canadian is coming!

Later than Expected

Yeah... I didn't blog today at work. I *could* have, but instead I was hypnotised by Spider Solitaire. I did make time to read blogs, comment and reply to comments, so not completely evil.

Oh! Just reminded that I can watch latest Dom vid now that I am at home. Yays!

I suspect the game hypnosis was partly due to tiredness. Yup, I meant to, but didn't manage to get early to bed last night. Reasons?

1) Beau was away, I can sleep fine without him there, but it takes me a night for the changeover between Beau there and not there, which means this whole week may be a write-off on the good sleeping stakes. Last night, Beau working. Tonight, Beau here. Tomorrow, Beau working. Thursday, Beau's back, we have a guest *and* we are going dancing.

2) Deadwood. When Beau is away, I am working my way through season 1 Deadwood. I *like* it.

3) Life of Pi. Beau borrowed it from Mytholder and then told me I had to read it. I devoured it. It was good. I shouldn't have stayed up to finish it last night. It was just so good! It also meant I had no book on the bus. Very sad.

Beau is also tired, he started work yesterday at 9am and finished today at 5pm. Yes, that shift was longer than 24 hours. Yes, tomorrow he starts another such shift.

Being tired makes us both grumpy-butts. Which is why I must do my best and turn of the computer... soon.

Point of Fashion: PJs people!
Current Obsession: My Belovedu... and spider solitaire.

Zombette

I so sleepy. 6.20am does not *seem* unreasonable early for a flight. Until you take into account that you must be at airport at least an hour before (5.20am).

Then, that the airport is almost an hour away (4.20am).

You want to be a *leetle* early for the train you must catch for the airport (4.00am).

You must make your way to the train station (3.40am).

You must get up, shower, wash hair, get dressed for work, do final pack/tidy (3.00am).

I *so* sleepy!!! I also didn't put head to pillow until 12.00am.

Thank *goodness* work is relatively undemanding. I do feel for Beau though, he thought he didn't have to be at work until 5pm and that he could have a sleep today. Imagine his surprise at being called and told he was working the day shift today and tomorrow as *well* as doing the night shift. Just as he was about to get ready for bed.

London *was* fun though. It was good to see Sproke, Ants and others in London. We went to the Tate Modern on Friday and I managed to take a few photos of art before being told it wasn't allowed.... and I managed to take one more after that too ;) We went through the gates of the British Museum, but rumbly tummies and train timetables meant that we didn't actually go *in*. Next time!

We also had a super time staying with Friend's family (as opposed to Family friends) and dancing at the wedding. I *love* my Docs. They are super-comfy, even when they give me blisters on my toes. I must wear them more and break them in.

Now, to find some *braaaaiins*.

Point of Fashion: I <3 WGTN.
Current Obsession: bed

Variation on a theme

This week has been (cooking wise) about working on recipes and with ingredients I have used before.

I made my second attempt at biscotti (click pic for more details) which turned out well, even though I had one less egg than the recipe called for!

I also experimented further with quinoa, making a quinoa chicken salad.

On the weekend, my flatmate and I hosted a sushi party. We had leftover sushi so I got japanese-y with our packed lunches!

Now, I must run as I get to leave work early today!

Point of Fashion: Hot!
Current Obsession: Will you miss me tomorrow?

Sentences in the 3rd person

2 hour swing dancing classes make Giffy a tired and hungry panda.

Giffy likes having home baking in the house.

Writing in this fashion confuses Giffy.

Giffy's hair continues to be stylish even after a wash.

Giffy has been assured that it is miserable out and she is not looking forward to waiting at the bus for her ride home.

Giffy hopes that her family and friends are being looked after. She frequently sends them loving thoughts and hopes that they receive them.

In Giffy's bag there are envelopes and little gifts to go inside them.

When Giffy looks out the window and sees the trees being whipped about by wind and rain, she is happy to be indoors.

Giffy wonders if her new black linen pants really need to be washed seperately. She feels she should probably iron them too.

Sometimes, when Giffy sees her Beau, she is struck by how much she loves him.

Giffy can't decide which shoes to bring to London.

This morning, Giffy was with it enough to begin preparations for dinner.

Giffy finds that making others happy often makes her happy too.

Giffy keeps thinking about a shirt at Penny's that she didn't buy. She wonders if it will still be there in 2 weeks when she will have opportunity to go and see it again. She hopes it will be on sale.

Giffy loves snail mail. She especially loves unexpected snail mail, such as the webcam that arrived on her desk on Monday.

Tonight is Giffy and Beau's last swing class. Giffy is looking forward to it, because she likes swing dancing. She also doesn't want it to come as that means the end of the classes.

Giffy feels like she should blog about the upcoming trip to London as she will not have another opportunity, but she doesn't feel like it.

Do you have any questions for Giffy? You know that she likes comments!

Giffy's Point of Fashion: Green Tiki Badge - she gives thanks to Jenni
Giffy's Current Obsession: Living Life

Summer Festival

It is supposedly summer (I say supposedly because the coldish wind and grey skies make me think not) and the Cork Midsummer Festival has begun.

Beau and I have already been booked into one event with GNZ and DrA. We'll be seeing comedian Tommy Teirnan "Live at the Marquee".

We've also been doing extra swing lessons for the Doubletime in the Spiegletent. A swing event that will be on next Thursday. My friend Neid is making me a dress for this. It'll be 50s-ish. We bought the fabric today. Is a lovely silk, mainly black but with flowers in purple and orange. It drapes gorgeously and I'm hoping to have a circle skirt so that it really flares out when I spin!

Next weekend, we shall have our first visitor aka Evie's friend J. Beau and I are planning to tourist with her on the Sat and finally visit Blarney and then on the Sunday attend the Taste of Cork (possibly going to Cobh in the evening to hear the bells of St Colman's). Voltron's girlfriend will also be visiting that weekend, so we shall have a very full house!

Beau and I have also been told and are keen to go and see The Hairy Ape. An 8 scene theatrical show put on in 8 different rooms! The company putting it on, Corcadorca, are pretty well known hereabouts and Cillian Murphy is an ex-member. That's on for two weeks, so we haven't picked a night yet.

I also really want to go to Sensazione, a fun-fair/circus where all the rides are patron powered. I haven't told Beau yet...

There is a huge variety of different events and activities in this festival. I'm really looking forward to attending some and I'm really happy to be here in Cork. If midsummer is grey, windy and rainy, at least there are many activities indoors!

Point of Fashion: ironed
Current Obsession: Festival Fun

Unrelated, but Jenni tried Soapnuts after my earlier post and she's done a review post too!

New Look

My Dad, (who reads this blog btw, Hi Dad!) once told me "Men get hair cuts to look the same. Women get hair cuts to look different". I'm not 100% convinced on this, but I will say that I get excited about *new* hair cuts. I'm not talking about trims, which *are* about looking the same. I'm talking about going in to a hair dresser and saying, cut it off!

My beloved Beau, recently had a major hair cut. By recently, I mean 5 months ago, but it was *huge*. He went from long curly locks that went half way down his back to, short back and sides (slightly longer on top). It was a big change to his look and elicited much comment. Since then he's had 3 (or 4?) hair cuts, but they're all about keeping it the same now.

In Jan, I went from shoulder length hair to a playful "crop". It was fun and comment-worthy. I felt lighter having all that hair off and ready to leave the country and travel, without needing a second towel for my hair (a motivating factor for both Beau and I). I hated how it looked while it was growing out though. It looked fabulous when I had glitter streaks through it, but they came out and I found it a bit.. bleurgh (still fun when teased to maximum volume, not so suitable for work).

So, time for another change. Beau and I saw Speed Racer at the movies and I *wanted* Trixie's bob. My hair is inclined to sleek straightness, so it would be a low maintenance style. However, Trixie's bob had a fringe.

I had a fringe in 4th form (age 14) and it wasn't so great. It was so not great that my cousin, who *always* teases me, did not say a word about it in order to spare my feelings. I next had a fringe in my 1st year of Uni (age 18), when I didn't want to pay for hair cuts, so did hairmodelling for hairdressing schools/competitions. I was given a very straight fringe the bottom half of which was carefully bleached and dyed red. There was some other odd stuff going on at the back too (she had a big tuft she styled to stick straight up). I think we were in the "creative day" section. It was a fun cut, but I grew it out and clipped it to the side pretty quickly.

So, I haven't had a fringe in almost 10 years. I wasn't sure if I could pull it off. Would it suit my face? I look fine in wigs with fringes. There are many photos of a young Giffy with fringe and pigtails and frankly, adorable. However, 25 years on and adorable might be wearing thin. I tried holding my hand over my forehead to give me an idea of what I'd look like with a fringe. I looked like me with my hand over my forehead. I tried brushing my too long hair forward over my face to see what that looked like... um Emo/Yaoi. I did the thing where you look in the mirror and hold up a bit of your hair so that it looks like a fringe, a really *crap* fringe. I decided to get over it and book an appointment with the hairdresser.

My hairdresser was a lovely Italian fellow (too old to be a "boy", to young/hairdressery to be a "man"). I didn't have any pictures, he'd not seen the movie and his english was not great. He didn't think I had enough hair. He said he could do the fringe, but there wasn't enough hair on the sides. Too much layering from my previous hair cuts. Yipes! I didn't want a fringe with my *regular* hair. I asked him if he had a pen. I drew a picture. He said it wouldn't be perfect, but he thought he could manage something.

The scissors came out. The hair fell down. I looked in the mirror and was uncertain. I liked the sides, although I wished *once again* that I didn't have such stick-y out-y ears (that was my other concern with the hair style). I could see that the style would be better in 6 weeks when the old layers would have grown out further and I could get it re-cut. I didn't know about the fringe. My hair framed my face in a new way. This is a pretty severe/harsh hair cut. Straight lines. Sharp corners. Could I pull it off?

Now, not much hair was actually "cut", only as much as it would have been if I'd just got a trim. It was a big change in hair style though. People have noticed. Surprisingly (to me) a large number of men have commented and (happily) commented favourably. I decided I *definitely* liked it when my Beau saw me and kept saying how "cute" I looked. I think he likes the anime aspect of it.

Several people have said it seems a particularly "asian" looking cut. This is a comment I often get, no matter how I do my hair. I think when I have a change in look it makes people look more closely at me and reminds them that I look *quite* asian. I was pleased with my Lalli who said that it looked french and 20s though, 'cause I want it to look like that.

Any who, I like it. I like having an new crisp cut. It makes me feel stylish and put together. Having newly shaped eyebrows definitely helps too! I feel like I could go out in old jeans and a t-shirt and look fashionable as opposed to slobbish.

Tell me about your worst/best/most daring hair (for me is probably getting a "number 2" in my last year of Uni). How did it make you *feel*?

Point of Fashion: Fashionable
Current Obsession: How long til I need to get the fringe maintained?

PS the hairdresser told me I mustn't watch any movies and change my mind before the next cut!

Wrecked and happy

My week has been full on. I have not gotten into bed before 11.30 yet. Last night I didn't get home until after midnight.

It has been good. There has been much socialising. There has been much dancing. There has been a moderate amount of drinking. In fact, the night we were at a bar (burlesque/swing social) I only drank juice!

Last night, after Homebody's lovely dinner (Bruschetta starter, Waldorf Risotto main, Chocolate Refrigerator cake with whipped cream dessert), Fotalad, Neid, Homebody and I played 2 board/card games (leading to the late night, so worth it).

1st game was one I *know* my bristolian BiL would love and would probably go down a treat with a large number of the Anderclan (a bunch of us enjoy slightly competitive word games, eg scrabble, boggle). It was simply called Anagrams. Involved turning over tiles and when you saw a word, you called it out

eg letters s, i, t, k are turned over (one by one by the players taking turns)

Player 1: Skit! (gets the word)
Player 2: Kits! Ha-ha! (steals word off other person)

Player 1 attempts to say that "tisk" is a word. The computer says no.

Letter e is turned over next.

Player 3: Kites! (steals kits and adds the e!)
Player 2: Skite! (steals word back)

Other 3 players ask me if it is a made-up kiwi word and must look it up on dictionary.com before they believe that it is a real word. Continue to tease me and suggest I read dictionaries for rest of game. Irish! ;P

2nd game was a mad penguin card game. It was called Penguin Ultimatum and involved laying adjacent cards to gain points depending on what was on the cards. Sort of. It was fun 'cause, y'know, penguins. Also, I won! Haha!

I enjoy winning. However, I still enjoy and want to play games when I lose. That means I'm not completely evil, right?

Tonight Voltron is making me dinner once more. I contemplate going out with Homebody et al tonight to watch soccer (European cup is on and huge) after dinner, but Neid is looking like she wants to rest at home, and I don't really care about soccer, I just like hanging out with people and the boys will be incredibly soccer focused. So, I don't think I will.

I have some vague plans for the weekend, including visits to parks and Germans coming over for Sushi on Saturday night.

Right now, I am bed focused. Sleep please, mmkay?

Point of Fashion: More sensible than yesterday, should still have brought jacket.
Current Obsession: Missing my belovedu.

KEEN-wah

In my TV and internet food research I've been coming across Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah). It's the new cool magical complex carbohydrate. It's apparently a "pseudo-grain". It's super wonderful because it has a large amount of protein and all the amino acids one could want (or something). Also, a friend of mine told me it was really tasty, esp in salad.

Any hoo, apparently you can cook it and use it like rice, but it's quicker (and better for you). You do need to rinse it thoroughly (for like 2 min) or soak it (for a couple of hours) as it has a natural coating that is bitter tasting. I found some at a local organic shop and after looking online decided to make Quinoa Pilaf:

Click on the picture above for the recipe.

It was yummy! Beau made a sausage meatball stir-fry to go with it. I think I'd be happy to eat the pilaf on its own, esp if I had more veg (eg brocolli /pak choi /celery /capsicum /frozen mixed veg) to put in with it. I do love sausage meatballs though!

Here is my most effortful lunch of the week:

Click on the picture for more details. The main feature is the dumplings/gyoza. Yum! They're the last of the Japanese curry ones I made a froze a while back.

It's a fuzzy photo again, but I've since fixed that (turned the close focus function back on). See my other lunch and food pics on my flickr photostream.

Tonight, Homebody is making me dinner (I'd say us, but Beau is working overnight, so misses out again). Beau was over at his (and Mytholder's) place yesterday and Homebody was in the process of preparing the dessert. Beau is *quite* devastated to miss out on a friend prepared meal again. I'm going to see if I can't take at least some of the dessert home with me, for him, of course!

Point of Fashion: Should've worn a jacket
Current Obsession: Miracle fruit

Unexpected reward

As previously mentioned, I don't have much to do in my job. I'm the receptionist for a very quiet reception. My main job is answering the switchboard and putting calls though. An hour may pass without anyone calling. That doesn't happen that often (normally at least 1 call in 30min). This is why I have so much time to blog right now.

I have twice sent emails out to all in the building offering to do any word processing that they might need. I can't really offer to do anything else. I can't even really photocopy as I have to stay at the desk just in case someone does call (or arrive at reception) and the photocopier/printer is at the other end of the building. They don't really need much help with that. I've done a bit of mail merging, tidied up excel spreadsheets, typed up notes, made power point slides. Each task has only taken me about 30min (the power point slides took the longest and only because I had to search the internet for official company logos and had to keep stopping to check layout etc was as desired).

Last week one of the advisors was down and looking flustered and said she might have something I could do, but that it wasn't really work. I leaped on it! She is quite heavily involved in her church and will soon be going to Uganda for 6 weeks to help with a mission there (I think they're building a school or something). She is fund-raising for her trip as well as helping out with other things for the church, but she has heaps of real work to get done before she leaves. Thus I ended up making a new letterhead for the Church council to use, writing and mail merging a letter from the council asking for sponsorship for a Family Fun Day (I also made up a spreadsheet of the proposed sponsors, printed the labels and stuffed the envelopes), designing a poster for the Family Fun Day and making and cutting up flyers (yay for guillotines) for the same day. I've also volunteered to do some baking.

This was brought to me bit by bit and done over several days. I am pleased to help. I don't belong to a church, but I believe in supporting efforts to build an inclusive community. I worry that we are becoming more and more seperated from the people around us eg, not knowing our neighbours. Plus, good is good is good, whatever religion.

Today after my morning tea (I get a break at 11 and at 4, someone else mans the desk then) I came back to my desk and found an envelope with my name on it. I was very surprised and pleased. I mean, a card! I didn't feel like was doing her a big favour, I felt that she was doing me a favour by giving me something productive to do. I opened the card and there were gift vouchers inside!

Stunned. I thanked her in person and she thanked me back. I feel kind of bad accepting it as I've already been rewarded with my good helping feelings. Not too bad though. I mostly just feel happy.

Point of Fashion: changeable
Current Obsession: miracle berries

Swinging Kiwis

Work was killing my soul this morning. Just. so. dull. However, I just had lunch outside in the sunshine (slight breeze to prevent overheating) with a bunch of workmates (women) and it was "grand". Actually got to hear a bunch of Irish accents which is a treat.

We spend a lot of time with non-Irish in Ireland. Our flatmate is Polish, we also hang out a fair amount with Dr A and GNZ, who are both Kiwi. We actually went to dinner at their house last night and there were 2 Ozzies and 2 other Kiwis. Our swing dancing teacher is Scottish! Next week we will have a Canadian visiting. I do not think I will be coming back to NZ with an Irish accent at all! Very disappointing.

I will be coming back though with some mad swing skillz. Beau and I are having a blast at classes. We only have 2 more before our course is finished and there will be a break over summer. Desolé. However, we *are* doing extra classes tonight and next Tuesday in "Shim-sham". We're going to be dancing it (with others, including some coming down from Dublin) at a swing night they are having in the Spiegletent as part of the Cork midsummer festival.

I am just so happy to be doing Swing as an activity *with Beau*. It's unlikely that we will sign up for the next course in August as I think (hope?) we'll travelling too much, hopefully our teacher will let us attend when we are in town. Swing has been a great way to meet people (although I only meet the males and Beau only meets females do to the whole partner dance thing;). It's also gives us fun events to attend (burlesque night tomorrow after class). The classes also mean that if I do want to go to an event without Beau ('cause he's working, say) I have people there I know and recognise and can hit up for a dance. I'm extra pleased that we've got buddies (eg Jenni and her Lee, but also mendletm and C-L) learning it in Wellington at the same time. I can't wait to go to a social at home!

I want to learn Latin too :)

Point of Fashion: weather is changeable
Current Obsession: Quinoa

Weekend Picnic

The weather looked was fine on Saturday, so Beau and I picnic'd in Fitzgerald Park with a couple of friends. I've been worried that with my incredibly sedentary job that I would put on weight/run to fat, so I've been trying to eat well at work. My packed lunches are good for this, the chocolate biscuits provided for morning and afternoon tea, not so good. I also haven't been eating very well on the weekends. Beau and I are dancing at least once a week (1hr class and 20 min walk there and away) and walking to-from bus stop, supermarket etc, but I want us (ok, me) to do more. Thus, a picnic seemed a good idea!

I baked scones to share and packed a lunch while Beau slept in a bit longer, recovering from doing a weeks worth of work in two long shifts. Then we started off.

Fitzgerald Park is on the other side of town from us. If we walked non-stop at a brisk pace it'd probably take us over 30min to get there. It is flat though and not too strenuous. On our way there we stopped at Mytholder's to say Hi and pick up Homebody. Homebody was determined that we *must* play Frisbee while out on the picnic. We didn't have one, so he missioned off to get one (and his lunch) while we stayed and had a chat and cup of tea with Mytholder and Delichan.

We meandered to the park and staked out a good place near the children's playground and the mirrored tree. We munched and were joined by GNZ (another Kiwi who came to Ireland with his Dr girlfriend). Then we attempted to play frisbee.

The pack Homebody had bought contained 2 for the price of 1euro. They weren't very good quality, but neither was our throwing and catching! However, we improved and at the end were actually able to have the majority of our throws, caught!! Amazing.

At one stage we were also joined with a 3yrold who took our smaller frisbee and left his (superior) soccerball. We kicked that for a bit, but it didn't take long for his Dad to find him, and us and swap them back. That kid played with us for over 15min with no parent in sight though. A bit odd. There were lots of people around though, so it's possible that they were sitting in the shade and watching.

It was a really fun time! Hopefully more of the same this weekend.

Point of Fashion: Evie's pants are not too tight!!!
Current Obsession: OMG I could have left work 2 min ago!

Crushes

To me, crushes are one of the silly joys of life. Seeing your crush, hearing their voice, glimpsing a smile, even hearing news and information about them (perhaps from a dubious source), is enough to send a thrill zapping through you.

I have identified two main types of crushes, Romantic Crushes and Friend Crushes.

Romantic crushes are when you "like-like" someone. It may or may not be someone you know in real life. It could be a fictional character (eg the white biker mouse from Biker Mice From Mars. I make no apologies!!!) or a real life person (mmm, ski instructors).

Friend crushes are when you like someone and really want them to like you, in a friendly way ;) This tends to occur with real life ppl more than fictional people, but I have known people to crush on fictional friends too.

Sometimes one type of crush can turn into the other type. Sometimes crushes can turn into something more (lovers or BFF!).

I personally do not have romantic crushes on people I know. It's not a conscious thing but it is safer that way. Especially when one is not single (Hi Beau!). I will gush and blush and crush all about a stranger (or fictional char), but if I actually get to know them, the crush dies for me (although the occasional flutter may still occur). This is because *my* crushes go on a pedestal and if I examine them too closely, flaws appear and the pedestal crumbles.

Friend crushes are also heaps of fun, when you meet someone new that you just click with right away and they're so cool and you *really* want them to like you too! You can even Friend crush on couples! I definitely have! However, be warned, as a lover may become jealous of a romantic crush, so too can your long-standing friends become jealous of a new friends crush.

So in summary, crushes are giddy (and sometimes obessive) fun. Just make sure you don't forget about your true loves, be they romantic, friendly or familial.

Now, I want to know your feelings on crushes. If you think they're just a girl thing, I want to know that too (although I choose to disagree).

Point of Fashion: Clean and easy
Current Obsession: *you*

Fooday

No big dinner plans for tonight. Homebody had invited Beau and I to dine with him (and the others) at Mytholder's but Beau is working in Mallow tonight and it has been postponed to next week.

We ate well in London dining twice at vegetarian restaurants. I've talked to Beau and we will try to have at least one vegetarian meal together a week and we'll aim for one fish-based meal too. Beau and I are not experienced with cooking seafood. I'm not sure what we *are* experienced in cooking... will think on it.

Last Thursday Beau cooked us baked trout. It was very straight forward and delicious.

Ingredients
Fillet of fish (It was one large fillet of trout. Enough for 3, but our flatmate had already made his own dinner)
lemon (sliced)
sundried tomatoes (maybe 6?)
1T olive oil
1/2 a zuchinni (sliced)

1) Get two large pieces of tin foil. Each piece bigger than your fish.
2) Place fish skin down on one piece of tin foil (on baking tray).
3) Preheat oven to about 180degC.
4) Chop up sundried tomatoes, mix with olive oil and spread over fish.
5) Lay out your slices of zuchinni on top of that.
6) Lay out your slices of lemon on top of that.
7) Cover with 2nd piece of tin foil and fold edges of foil over so that you have an enclosed pouch.
8) Bake for 30 min.
9) Serve and eat (the fish seperated easily from the skin which remained on the foil)

Here is a picture of the fish and the accompanying pasta I made to go with it. It was eaten shortly after. We were full and happy. The trout took up the flavours of the lemon and sundried tomatoes very well. We will try this recipe/method of cooking again with other types of fish. Omnomnomnom!

We finished off all the fish between us, but it was really too much! There was enough pasta left over to be our dinner the next day. Very handy as we travelled to London later that evening.

I've had an attack of the blurry photo the last few mornings, but I've uploaded them to my flickr photostream anyway (they look alright smaller). I did manage a photo of my lunchbox all closed this morning though.

It's not a very interesting looking lunch I'm afraid (there is ratattouie hidden in that lettuce), but it does show how tightly packed my lunchbox is. This is a very important part of my bento making as it prevents things from rattling around and getting yucky/messy. The lettuce worked really well at keeping the ratattouie (wet/tomatoey) seperate from the sandwiches (relatively dry). I ate the ratattouie first and then added the lettuce to my sandwiches (they did already have lettuce in them). Less waste and more veges for me!

I must work on chewing my food more! It will aid digestion and gives me more enjoyment overall. I tend to bolt it down a bit. Esp now as I have an ulcer on the inside of my lower lip. Ow.

Point of Fashion: new shoes
Current Obsession: What is Voltron making me for dinner tonight?

Wicked!!

So, back at work after long weekend in London. I had a great time! It seems a fab place to holiday, but I don't think I'd want to live there permanently. Too big for me. I'm a small city girl ;)

Saturday
Hung out with Jj as the boys were out playing with Tanks and Guns. We bought tickets (and pizza) in Leicester Square at one of the many "official 1/2 price tickets" stands. Then toodled/tubed off to watch the matinee performance of Wicked.

It was soooo good. Elphaba lost her voice a bit in the second act, but she was still super fabulous. The sets were gorgeous! The costumes were covetable and the music, which I had never heard before (I've been avoiding it on youtube), was catchy and fun. I think I need the soundtrack. As it is, I shall just have to appease myself with the programme. Also great: the dances and aerial work.

After the show we met up with drowninghail and his fancy at Harrods. Jj and I both bought incredibly expensive ice-cream/gelato sundays that we could not finish. They were beautiful and I forgot to take photos of them! However, I did remember later and took one of Fancy and Drowninghail's. We wandered around a bit but did not explore the whole store. It is bigger than Buckingham Palace (or so Jj told me).

Went back to Jj & G's place and where Jj cooked me dinner. Omnomnom. We talked muchly. Ok, I probably definitely talked more, but still. The boys came home and there was more talking, some picture viewing and then bedtime.

Sunday
Jj and I got up and out of the house before the boys even stirred. We went and ate much at the Bricklane market. So much good food! We looked at sellables and a fun exhibition put on by design students, before wandering back to pick up the boys and head to Camden markets.

Camden is fun. I didn't buy or try any clothes on as I tried something at the Brick Lane market and it was too small and left me with a bad taste for clothes buying. Beau and I did go to the Original Doc Marten's store though and we both bought Docs. Not boots or even lace-ups though. Mine are black, t-bar fronts and mid-heeled. Beau's are brown loafers (is that the right word for slip-ons?). I have taken many photos of them. I love mine because they are Docs, but I can wear them to work with a skirt/shorts. They are not the prettiest little shoes ever, but I like how they make me feel a bit subversive ;)

We met up with Drowninghail and a bunch of his friends and had dinner. Jj, G, Beau and I then headed home, watched silly movies (St Trinian's!?) and ate fudge and chocolate. Full bellies!

Monday
Jj and G had to go to work, but we didn't! We went on an open-topped bus tour of London. Most fun. There were several different routes that they offered and you could hop on and off any of them. IMHO the real-life tour guides are about a million times more entertaining than listening to a recording. One route offered real guides. I love guides <3

The tour bus was great! We also had fish and chips at the Sherlock Holmes pub. Beau and I have developed into Sherlockians since readinging Volume 1 of the collected tales of Sherlock Holmes. It was pretty silly, but still fun looking at Sherlock Holmes' study.

We didn't get off the bus and have a closer look at many places as my feet were a bit sore from new shoes (d'oh!) and it was raining. Also, there were lots of places to look at and I didn't want to leave the tour guide. Also didn't take many photos once the rain started.

We spent the latter part of the afternoon at Madame Tussaud's. It was fun and we got a few good photos. There were heaps of people there though! I was disappointed as the posters etc showed a Pirates of the Carribean display, but there wasn't one! Also, all the pics Beau took of me with Johnny Depp were blurry. Lame.

We were both totally disinterested in the sports area! lol. We enjoyed the Chamber of Horrors, although the suspense and jumpiness made me wonder why I'd been to go in. It is a dark and smoky path that leads through wax figures and live actors that swipe and run and climb all around you. Just got goosebumps writing about it. Brrr. There were also creepy noises. bRrr!Beau and I wouldn't rush back there in a hurry, but we both thought it'd be interesting to go again in like 10 years and when they had changed it all around.

I really liked the display on the history of Madame Tussaud's (started prior to the French revolution, she even took death masks of people who were executed!) and how they make the figures now. They use Beyonce as their example.

We met Jj and G for dinner afterwards. Eat and 2 Veg. It was vegetarian restaurant and quite nice. Things were a bit bland though. They have quite a lot of fake meat there.

Tuesday
We had to catch a plane back to Ireland in the afternoon and planned to hit the British museum. However, drowninghail got back to us with the offer of a tour of Parliament/Westminster palace. We did not turn him down. A friend of Fancy's had organised the tour, but some people had pulled out so there were spaces for us. It was very cool. Lots of neat paintings and just altogether quite beautiful. The golden throne in the House of Lords is incredible! Once again we had a fab tour guide. We weren't allowed to take photos, except in the Westminster Hall, so I bought a pack of postcards. Not sure if I can bring myself to send them or not. Hmmm.

After the tour, we caught tube, train and plane to get home. In London it was grey and rainy. In Ireland it was fine and sunny. Nice to be back ;)

Thoughts:

I love guides (I think this goes along with my guide of instructors).
Wicked was fabulous, but it also broke my heart. It made me want more singing and dancing lessons. I would love to be in a show like that, but I will never be that good.
I feel fat after not fitting that dress. I am still on a BMI of 25-26. Overweight. Sadness.
I am really looking forward to going to London again, the week after next. We will mainly be there for a wedding, but will have at least 1 day free for sight-seeing. British Museum here we come (also want Taite modern and National Gallery among others)!