Merci

From here

To everyone who has left me a comment, sent best wishes or said a private prayer, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. My mum has had her radiotherapy, chemo and surgery and there is no sign left of the cancer. We feel very blessed.

One Big D and M

So kids, what’s new with you?

As evidenced by my lack of posts the last couple of months, I’ve been a bit sidetracked lately.

I have been weighing up for a long time about whether to write anything about this, but the sun feels like its peeking through the clouds now and I’ve been told that sharing is what makes things better with me – so I am exorcising (and for those who know my mantra – “fitness is shitness”, this is a big thing)
… Oh the puns, I do crack myself up.

Anyhoo, a few months ago I fell into a bit of a hole that, at the time, felt bottomless.

So, this is a cute black dog peeking around the corner, but mine was sucky

I’ve truly never felt that way before and I must say it scared the bejesus out of me. On top of that I had work issues and relationship issues and blah, blah, blah

Then right in the middle of all this came the kicker…

My mum was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer.

Now, my mum Margaret (Margie to her sisters, Mutti to me) is a trooper.

Mum skiing on the Murray in the 70s

She has handled all her treatments with absolute aplomb and a strength that has made me both beam with pride and bawl my eyes out at the same time.

She spent five weeks doing radiotherapy and chemo at the same time. She was given a jaunty bum bag to carry her chemo drugs with her at all times, which is supposed to make it less stressful on the body.

I laughed my arse off when I saw this picture of Madonna child shopping in Malawi as I never thought I’d see the day when my mother and the Queen of Pop were getting around in the same gear (I wouldn’t blink an eyelid if it was my father and the King of Pop; Michael Jackson – Dad’s love of surgical masks, sequinned gloves and military gloves is legendary)... BTW - that was a joke Brenton, we all know that all you share with MJ is a love of The Beatles as evidenced by this mighty Sgt Pepperesque mo.

Awww, young love. I think they're in their early 20's here

Mum got burns from the radiotherapy that sent her back into hospital, unable to walk, but as soon as they were under control, she was as bright and sunny as before again. It is an absolutely effed up situation, not being able to do anything for her, but it has made the family such a tight unit. I have never felt as close to my mum as I do now and I have so much respect for her.

Mum and me and my little bro Rowan

Mum (in the tea cosy - excellent sartorial choice there Marg) and me digging for pipis, I think its at Goolwa

Next week she goes into surgery to have the tumour removed and will have to have a colostomy bag for a few months, which she is already making jokes about.

I am shit-scared, but because of her attitude, I can’t feel anything but positive about the future.

Here’s to rainbows because they are beauty borne from turbulence.

(that sounded a bit happy clappy didn't it?)

Hee hee

Have a Ball

Image via Ffffound

This weekend I am going to take a deep breath and forget about "normal" life. I'm off to Melbourne to celebrate the beautiful Kimberlee's birthday. Whatever you are up to this weekend, I hope you can take some time for a bit of fun.

My Day in Bling

Oh Daily Candy, thank you again for bringing the big wide world to my little computer.

I would especially like to thank you for the deals emails which put me on to Leviticus Jewellery.

They have helped me plan a really fun day...

I would start the day with a morning sail in an elegant balloon

I would blitz the boutiques

I would keep my morals about me by not coveting my neighbour's ass (this is a ten commandments necklace; that was in there, right? I'm sure i remember that from Sunday School)

But to temper my goodness, I would still like to get up to just enough mischief.

I would win a race. (I'd like to pretend it was a running race, but it would more likely be an eating competition).

And I would tell someone I loved them in American Sign Language

Is it Beer O'Clock yet?

I take my lemonade in almost the same way. Except mine is Gin with tonic and a dash of lime.

Cute print from franticmeerkat $US13 on etsy

Red Carpet Green Eyed Monster

Hermione is so grown up now! I love how Emma Watson has become such a stylish young thing. I am putting this Temperley London dress she wore to the BAFTAs on my wish list along with the vintage beauty worn by Thandie Newton. Black is back!

All I want is a room somewhere...

Pic from here

For a grey room, this seems so warm. Love the old black and white family pic at the back. Can just see myself curling up here with a cup of tea and a good book.

Having a crepe day?

This pancake cake should cure it.
How good would this have been for Shrove Tuesday yesterday?
From here, first seen on Snippet & Ink

Sigh

Me love.
If I owned this jumper, I would die happy.
Found via notcouture

Chemicool

If they'd had this Diane von Furstenbeg Lab Coat when I was at school, I surely would not have wagged so many Biology classes.

PS. I think I want to marry this one

Je suis une artiste

According to Typealyzer, I am an artist. (no jokes please about about my medium of choice being bovine excrement)

Pic minus painting acoutrement; Oscar de la Renta pre-fall 2008 from here

The gentle and compassionate type. They are especially attuned their inner values and what other people need. They are not friends of many words and tend to take the worries of the world on their shoulders. They tend to follow the path of least resistance and have to look out not to be taken advantage of. They often prefer working quietly, behind the scene as a part of a team. They tend to value their friends and family above what they do for a living.

Hmmm, kinda fits. Spooky.

Via Presurfer

Flash Trash

If I had a backyard or a driveway I would definitely be purchasing one of these. It is definitely now going to be my stock standard housewarming gift.
As it is, I might just get one of these and set up a hidden camera. Can you image....? Every woman's romantic dream...

These vinyl stickers are all from Wheeliedesigns and are only $35(!)ea for a 240Lt bin. Also, for a little extra, you can upload your own pictures and they will make up your custom design.

What would you get made?

Lustbucket

I have a friend who has a bit of a Chad habit, having dated three of them in a row.
Abner, this one is for you

Let them eat Cake

You know how the best vegies to eat are the strong coloured ones, like carrots, spinach, pumpkin and beetroot.
Surely this has to be good for you too.

Mmmm, Cake!

From The Omnomicom via Food Gawker

Perty Pictures

I am in love with these paintings. The artist, Benedetta Borrometi, is originally from Rome, but is now based in Tokyo.

Her paintings exude a childlike exuberence that seems to spring from the clash of the two cultures.

I am so drawn to the sense of whimsy in her execution (mainly cos I love the word whimsy - its pure euphony) .Her use of non-traditional elements in her mixture of media, such as wall ornaments and vintage kimono fabric as below, just adds to their unique outlook.

Glittery goodness.

Tuesday Tunesday - Hottest 100 2008

I meant to post this before the Hottest 100 was played on Australia Day, but I think its a vindication of my excellent taste that the 10 tunes for which I voted all fell within its top fifty.

Although I voted in no particular order, here is how they fell...

At number 43, was Ghosts by Laura Marling, which was a previous Tuesday Tunesday post

I so loved Soko's I'll Kill her and again was seduced by I will never love you more which came in at number 41

I channelled my inner emo at number 36, Death Cab for Cutie - I will possess your heart


So, I totally have a crush on all the boys in the Kooks - had to include them. They came in at number 33 with Always Where I need to be


I must admit, it was the filmclip that first made me love Vampire Weekend's A Punk, but its a really good song as well, hitting number 32 on the top 100.


I had to choose between the two Dizzee Rascal songs that I rock out to when I am driving, so I kept Flex as my car bopping little secret and voted for Dance with Me (obviously the girl in the filmclip has never heard Coco Chanel's infamous "Take one thing off before you leave the house")


Like Miss Kimberlalee, Ladyhawke's My Delirium causes me to bust some moves too. Must do so for the rest of Oz as well as it came in at number 11.


Jimmy Recard by Drapht reminds me of my workmate as she always gets us to turn it up loud when it comes on the radio. I'm sure she voted to get it to number 10.


Being a parochial South Aussie, I've always liked the Hilltop Hoods, but I'm only just getting into the whole Australian Hip Hop scene. As with the afore mentioned Drapht song, I tend to like songs with a sense of humour or something to which I can relate. I think almost anyone who has been to a music festival would love this song (they need to get a film clip together though). I actually thought The Festival Song by Pez would be number 2, but it ended up coming in at number 7.

And, at number 1, as very much expected, Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire. I wasn't going to vote for it because I thought it would get to number one without my help, but its such a damn good song, no matter how many times you hear it. Glad they are finally getting some of the recognition they deserve.

So, did you vote?

The Boys are back in Town

Yay, my fave show is back on.
I think its almost a community service to watch Bondi Rescue.
Its ALL about saving lives.
I know I now dream about mouth to mouth resuscitation.

Life's just a Merry-Go-Round

Hey Kids
Life's been a bit more like a circus lately and looks like its set to continue that way for a while. I haven't been to visit any of my faves in a while, but hope to do so soon, so big pictures please peoples til I catch up. My posting will probably continue to be a bit haphazard for a while, but we'll get there.
Thanks for your patience.

Pics from here and here respectively

Co-inky-dink

Look what I just found on Etsy. Still punk, but crafty, this piece is actually called Fuzzy Bollocks (stifle giggle now).

Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sea People

For like, Punk Mermaids... Alexis Bittar Pyramid Lucite cuff $US122.50 from Net a Porter

Find a Penny, Pick it up, All Day Long You'll have Good Luck

Question

Is it still fortuitous when said penny falls from your own pocket?

Please excuse this picture as lovingly stolen from Flickr and then graffitied by me, as I have only had coffee and a piece of lemon slice today and the sugar and caffeine are playing havoc with my brain. This is a Botta's Pocket Gopher - I was hoping the picture would organically infer that one should keep such a creature in one's pocket and therefore not lose their change as I did today, but it doesn't appear to have worked well at all. It looks like he's just won the Rat Olympics.

Citius, Altius, Fortius.

Never go it alone in a pine forest

Another reason why I hate pine trees...
Day of Reckoning Tee on sale at Threadless for only $5. Watch your backs people. They are everywhere, especially at this time of year.

Dear Father Christmas

Not being greedy - just want one thing this year.

I'll have this little gem in Kensington thanks. No need to wrap it, just tie the keys with a big red bow and I'll be happy.

Yours,

Pip