Seaside Holiday

We're packing the car and heading off to Venus Bay. This photo was taken in the sixties when our family would spend Christmas holidays down Apollo Bay. My Dad built a house down there and a few other families had houses in the same street...I don't know everyone one in this photo...I was still a baby...but there's a handful of sisters and my Godfather and ice-cream and the glare of the sun. Here's to beach holidays in March.

What a month. From the mundane (no Internet at home for the last 4wks thanks to Optus) to the tragedy of February 7th.

Emma and I were in Launceston, Tasmania for the weekend on The Hottest Day ever. Temperatures only reached 33degrees so we were oblivious to the destruction going on back home. It wasn't until 6pm on Saturday evening when we were enjoying a Bogues on a hotel balcony in Deloraine that we found out how bad things were. I called my sister to discover Victoria was on fire.

We used to live in a little town called Broadford on five acres of land. 70ks from Melbourne and only 12ks from the fires that burned around Kilmore East, Heathcote Junction and other parts of the world up there.

We contacted our neighbours - all are fine but everyone knows someone who was caught up in what is now referred to as Black Saturday.

We flew back Sunday morning and passed over some of King Lake, plumes of smoke and patches of black - it just seemed so surreal. So days have passed with hundreds of accounts of miraculous escapes and heart-breaking stories of death and destruction as everyone comes to terms with just how massive, fast and powerful this fire was. A woman I work with (but don't very well) spent the night sitting in her damn as the fires raged, another woman's aunt & uncle and gradmother lost all their homes and every single possession, a former colleague literally ran from his house with his wife and daughter and escaped with their lives. I met a man who gave his caravan to a family in need. This inspired us to clean out our house and not surprisingly, we managed to gather together a lot of basic stuff; kitchen utensils, pots and pans, clock radio - good stuff that works and can be re-used.

I hope it rains soon. I really hope it does.

On the craft front: I made a softie for the fantastic Toy Society who have set up an appeal. Hundreds of crafty bloggers are doing an amazing job, lending their names and voices to getting the word out: Handmade Help, Meet Me At Mikes, Kaotic Kraft Kuties to name just a few.

So what else did February hold?

Dinner at Stillwater in Launceston. Brilliant.

Poor Boy at the MTC starring Guy Pearce. Mixed feelings but over-all, really enjoyed it...especially the songs.

The Victorian Blythe meet in Seddon organised by the funny, smart, talented We Play With Dolls people.

Kaki King at the Corner Hotel - wow.

Saw
The Changling
Milk
Bride Wars

Ghost Patrol and Cat Rabbit's fantastic new exhibtion at Gorker Gallery, While You Sleep.


And a lovley dinner with good friends at Kamel in Albert Park.

Nothing to complain about there. x

A peek at the kitchen shelf...for no good reason.

Do you like my little Unazakin? Emma found her in Tokyo. I'd been searching for one and almost gave up hope but Em stumbled across her in a department store called LOFT. Apart from looking cute she has the remarkable ability to answer any question you please and with a shake of her head - up/down, left/right - she let's you know her answer.

I find this particularly useful during arguments when I ask her "Am I right?" or "Is Emma wrong?".

Clearly this Unazakin has a brilliant mind.

My friend in the craftroom

Toby chilling.

Another sweet book from Japan.

Bunny/bear/fox and red coat = cute in any language.

Minor detail...

I love bookshops and whenever I travel I usually make a bee-line for whichever bookshop happens to be the best. I was spoilt for choice in Tokyo and was lucky enough to stay in a hotel that was virtually next door to one.
Okay, I don't actually speak or read Japanese but no matter - the books, on just about every subject from interior design to craft, are brilliant. No surprise to find loads of fantastic children's books. I spent ages just pouring over beautifully illustrated hardbacks that were very reasonably priced. I couldn't go past this one, especially when I saw that lovely shop with all the sewing notions. Way cute.

You've Got Mail

I've got a thing for lovley mail-boxes. This isn't a great photo but up close, there's two lovely blue birds on it. Everyone loves getter mail, don't they? I've decided to write more letters this year - I've got lots of friends oversease and always feel like I'm bashing out emails that aren't really considered...this year I want to take a bit more time choosing cards and paper and set aside some time to really communicate.

I tripped over The Shutter Sisters project via Meet Me At Mikes and I'm joining in!

My word is: WONDER.

Who Doesn't Love a Secret Garden?

I bet it's lovely and cool in here...

Ginza

Last November Em and I were lucky enough to be in Tokyo...when we came across a group of uber crafters creating the lovliest of things...wee birds, old-fashioned looking bears - beautifully crafted tinies. Here's a quick look.

A Walk Around the Neighbourhood...

I've watched too much West Wing...

I suppose it's too late to go work with Obama?

Rosettes...what are they good for?

Absolutely nothing? Well...I'm not too sure but they were fun to make.

I stuck a brooch back on each one. I think they'd look sweet on a coat? Itching to make some more. There's something cheery about them.

Crate Man

He's been around for awhile now but CrateMan has just started to pop-up here and there on my train line. I love GrateMan! He makes a short trip home interesting.

Toby and Pearl Go To The Movies

On Sunday night Em and I saw Hotel for Dogs at the Moonlight Cinema in the Botanical Gardens. Seeing a movie, watching the flying foxes glide over the city, feeling the green breeze and snuggling down in the bean-beds makes is a great night NOW add dogs. Yes, it was a dog friendly screening and they came in droves: tiny to massive and every breed in between, it was doggy central. The film was so/so but just being in such a large canine crowd was hilarious. We took Toby and met up with friends who have Pearl, an 8 week old chocolate Lab. Both dogs were incredibly well behaved. Toby wedged himself between Em and I and just took in the night, snacking on the odd bit of popcorn! I think the best moment was near the end of the movie when one of the lines was "We love dogs..." just at that second, the entire doggy audience started barking and howling - seriously...it was uncanny and one of the funniest things I've ever witnessed. On the way home Toby was passed out on the back-seat. A big night for a little dog.

Cafe confessions.

I've been reluctant to let go of that holiday feeling. I got used to waking up, planning the day around Bunnings, painting old bits of furniture, seeing a movie, catching up with friends, walking the dog and generally having a great time. But working full time kind of makes it difficult so Em and I have started having a coffee on the way to work - every morning.

It's a great new regime - Em reads the paper, I read a book and watch the world go by and then at 8am, we start the walk that leads to the station, that travels to town that leads to work but that's fine cos there's always tomorrow.

New Year's Eve

Em & I went to see Billy Elliot. We've been lucky to see quite a few musicals in 2008 and I gotta say, this is the best of them. Hope everyone had a great night, too.