Cuba Street Carnival was friggin incredible. 

I'm not going to go crazy on it here, so jump over here instead to see how OutdoorKnit rocked the place. Oh yeah.

Yesterday i returned to the scene of the crime and then took a wander along the left bank alley. That place has got it going on, graffiti wise at the moment. I can't wait to get to London and spy me some Banksy! 

[this is where there should be some photos. but blogger doesn't want to upload them. boo]

There is now less than a week until i head off. If i had a dollar for every time i'm asked if i'm excited, i'd have enough for the flight home by now. Yep, i'm excited. But all the excitement is for things i'll be doing this week before i go, rather than the leaving itself. There are so many amazing people in Wellington (and the rest of NZ) that i will miss enormously. So it's lucky we've got the interwebs to keep us all connected, right?

I think i'm ready. I'm sewing a jacket and a high-waisted skirt, i have quite a bit of knitting to get done, and i have to decide if i take any of my sewing tools with me. Do i take my sewing scissors, for example. I have lots of people to see and farewell - not that i'm keen on the farewell bit. Might live in denial sometime longer and just say, see you later. Cos i will. See you all later...

I am a very bad blogger. I apologise. 

As time is now a bit precious, i've decided to list most of my fabric on dirty old trademe. Yuck. But had to be done, i suppose. My listings can be found here, should you be interested. More will be added later tonight.

Two and a half weeks to go and am starting to get the freak out happening. The fact one of my dearest friends has taken the afternoon of my arrival off so he can meet me at the airport means the excitement is now balanced with the freaking. 

And OutdoorKnit organisation has become a part-time job, with organising London taking up the rest of my time. Which reminds me... i was going to research snowboarding in Scotland...

How hilarious is this?

I almost wet myself laughing. Man i hope the food on my flights to London aren't so bad. And my in-flight entertainment better frigging work.

I'm running out of weeks to count down before i leave. I'm down to four and a smidge. I've been ticking things off my list. Today: apply for some jobs and attempt to open a UK bank account. 

I've been in denial of the list though. Instead, i've been procrastinating by inhaling all the Stephanie Plum books. Between me and my mum, we have every single one. 

Don't judge me. They're lurid and bright but they are such good books. I judged my mum when i first saw them lying around on the floor...until i randomly picked one up, read a few pages, and was hooked. 

Obviously now I want to be a bounty hunter. I'll take the Morelli and pass on the bad hair, thanks.

My mum and I used to regularly have conversations about who would play whom should they decide to make movies out of them. The female version of James Bond, i think they should do it. Or at least make a series for tv version. When i first started reading them, i couldn't for the life of me think who would play Lula. For some reason, the casting of Lula is more crucial than the casting of Stephanie. Now, i'm tossing up between Queen Latifah and the woman who plays Dr Bailey on Grey's Anatomy. Or even Missy Elliot. I think Bailey is the winner though. It would be a very different role to the one on Grey's, but she does that 'don't mess with me 'tude' so well.

and then there's the dilemma of Stephanie. She can't be too hot, or too perfect, and needs to be able to act a bit frazzled. Might have to think on that one a bit longer.

I think we came up with Colin Farrell for Morelli. 

hmmm. Time to go start on Seven Up, methinks.

i'm starting to get a bit impatient. London is getting ever closer, and yet six weeks still feels an eternity away.

The job hunt has begun. Well, the browsing has, at least. I finally know what i want to do with my life - arts administration, politics, or run my own craft business. And i'm not particularly keen on going into limbo with any of those things while i'm away.

However, if none of those work, i reckon i could be a barista.

Coffee used to scare me. Well, the concept of making it did. And i hated the thought of getting hooked on the stuff. Now a total coffee snob, i refuse to drink anything other than espresso with frothed milk aka the latte, and can't stand the taste of instant. bleugh.

Which provided a bit of a hurdle on the savings game. $4 a day for a coffee with london town on the horizon caused internal conflict. Coffee not only provides a tasty beverage, but precious 'me' time over the paper, or people watching, or writing. 

Then my mum bought a coffee machine (oh yeah, did i mention that i'm officially back in the parental abode? yusss). 

mmmmm. 

Savings galore and now i'm training myself in the art of making the perfect coffee. Still haven't quite got the hang of making the milk look all pretty, but i'm working on it. 

oh and i made macaroons to stave off the boredom. recipe? oh yeah alright:

from the Australian Women's Weekly Big Book of Beautiful Biscuits

2 eggs, separated

pinch salt

3/4 cup of sugar

3 cups coconut

and i added chocolate chips, and you could probably other nuts and other fun things too

beat egg whites and salt until soft peaks form. Beat in egg yolks one at a time. Gradually add sugar, beating well after each addition; beat until sugar is dissolved. Stir in coconut (and chocolate), mix well. Spoon level teaspoons of mix onto foil lined over trays. Bake in moderate oven (i used about 170) 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Leave to cool.

Easy peasy!

Right i better go find something productive to do. Rather looking forward to the inauguration of Mr Obama tomorrow, even if it does mean getting up at 5.30am to watch it. Oh if you haven't already - go see Frost/Nixon. Fantastic. I heart Sam Rockwell. The acting is quite simply spectacular.