Thank you for all your comments about the doily tree grumpiness. Makes me feel a bit less of a baddie!

Speaking of trees, I had the honour of attending a friend's wedding yetserday. 

The Wairarapa, as always, was about 5 degrees hotter than Wellington, and by the time I got to the wedding bus, i was more than a little uncomfortable. It was somewhat a relief to find the other girls waving at their underarms and flapping their dresses around in order to get something like respite. We all made noises about the poor boys, in their shirts, black pants and black shoes.

The wedding was absolutely wonderful. Protected by the shade of the trees at the Pounui Homestead (on Western Lake road, and the most fantastic venue EVER), the bride looked stunning. The groom looked perfectly comfortable with no tie and no waistcoat - a look i'm totally advocating. It's hot. And you don't have to worry about putting your bridesmaids in, say pink, and then convincing the boys to wear same for their waistcoats or ties. It's win-win.

Anyway, one can't complain about sitting in the sunshine, your champagne glass being routinely topped up, eating gorgeous vege food (the newlyweds are vegetarian, so the whole reception was too) enjoying watching some rather scrumptious boys, and having a good old dance. 

I could quite happily live in the place I stayed, too. On going up to my room I found bookshelves positively groaning under the weight of - glorious, glorious art history books. I didn't want to leave. The host, Sylvia, was an absolute darling, and picked me up and dropped me off from the train station due to the fact that Greytown has no buses on the weekends. 

Not so happy about being back in the real world. 

I had a lovely evening at the gardens, with Twinset, and Charlies' Lemon Quencher, and good company. 

Then I saw this:

And I thought hmm, that's interesting. I've seen the same sort of thing on the net. Then I saw the signs that said 'artist'. Then I got a little grumpy. 

Should an artist be paid (which i assume she is for the project), for something that is essentially this or this

or this or this?

There's a blurb about it here. I wouldn't have an issue if she said, oh i'm referencing so and so, or inspired by the work of others, or simply - i'm carrying on something others have started. Or even developed the idea further, adjusting it, exploring it. 

Am i being a massive art snob here who is determined that people should be recognised for their great ideas? Tell me to get over it if i am. I don't particularly enjoy being grumpy.

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.

oops, i lost track of time. 

The past three have consisted of three things: moving, cleaning and driving between the hutt and wellington. Joy of joys. My body is so tired, i think i'll treat it to a bath a bit later. 

But now,  a few blogs that I enjoy. Because, mainly, they have pretty pictures. I'm a bit too slack to update my blogroll, see....

First, Meet Me At Mikes. Please? once upon a time, i lived in Melbourne, and i went to this shop. It was at the end of a long luxurious day wandering (and buying) at the Bridge Street shops. They had cool stuff. But i'd spent all my money. I think that since i was there in 2006, they've evolved into something a bit different, and now there is a second shop, in my fave part of town, Fitzroy. 

The Craft: blog is always full of cool stuff too. Every once in awhile i'll consider buying the mag when i'm in Magnetix, but it's a bit pricey here and to be honest, i'm not so keen on the layout of the thing. But the blog is full of great, random crazy ideas that makes one appreciate just how many awesome crafty creative people are out there. Also makes one feel a tad inadequate and wonder, 'would i have ever thought of that??'

And for some glam: this chick finds some beautiful things. I love looking for and finding beautiful images (one of the wondrous discoveries of first year design) but it's not something i think to do very often. 

During the madness I did find the time to have coffee with a friend and spot some more graffiti. One has to stay sane, ya'know. The current obsession is with paste-ups. Just that much more depth than a spraycan.

oooh - lookie what I found. A knit chart generator!

http://www.microrevolt.org/knitPro/index.php

I am doing some serious procrastination. Packing? What packing? Ahem. So I bring you my mood board ( just turned into my desktop) 

And pics from my wander round town in the glorious sunshine. If they ever upload.

packing, cleaning and stuff

oh right, so, tried posting the other day and blogger wouldn't have a bar of it. How rude.

I did say:
The flat needs packing up and cleaning, the garden needs clearing and weeding.
the garden is now weeded but no place to put said weeds now they are out. discovered that not much of my stuff can be packed as it is all furniture. hmm, how did that happen?

Motivation, motivation, where are you? All I want to do is curl up on the sofa and think about life, the universe and everything. Time is of the essence.
Still lacking in motivation. Spent much time lying on the very comfortable swing couch on my parents' deck thinking how lonely life is when there is no work and therefore no co-workers. Time is still of the essence. Normally i am impatient for everything to happen yesterday, now i wish i had more time before i leave for the other hemisphere. In fact, now wish had job. oh dear.

Am also trying to decide if this year needs resolutions. Looking at last year's, i think i achieved maybe 4 of the many. oooh. how about this:

Embrace all opportunities.

I think that's enough.

in my hunt for new blogs, i found this site. Brilliance. I can't wait to wander London streets and shoot graffiti. Hopefully without getting mugged.ooh look! it's me! in Warwick! amazing what you find when posting from your parents' computer.