sanehelen

Simple Living Pledge

2012-01-06T08:14:00.001+02:00

Pop on over to Sonya's blog Kanelstrand and join up for the three week Simple Living Challenge.

From 1 February 2012, for three weeks, I pledge to:

Identify the important things and attempt to eliminate everything else
Free time to do what inspires me and be with the people I love
Declutter my mind and my life
Live frugally
Slow down and be present in the moment.
Have a healthy body and home
Be green and sustainable

Motivation

2012-01-04T11:12:00.000+02:00

Happy New Year!
If you need a bit of a spur to motivate you (like I do right now) then take a look here at EcoCatLady's "Deal with it Day".

Christmas decor

2011-12-13T08:22:00.000+02:00

I want to try to achieve this on a similar ceiling light that we have at home.

Wish me luck. (image from here)

Australia rules

2011-12-06T14:37:00.001+02:00

My Package Project partner, Madi, is from Australia. She's such a cool cookie who makes the most adorable goodies for kiddies. {Like this babygro and ruffled bloomer set available on Etsy}:

Madi also has a lovely Facebook page and a blog so you can follow her wherever you choose.

As so often happens, a synchronicity is taking place where a whole lot of my newly discovered influences are turning out to be Australian. What I'm loving is that their seasons are at the same time of year as ours which means I get to read blogs which say Ok summer, I am almost ready at Lost Cabin Vintage (a blog I learned about from Madi) and read Adore Home Magazine with their summery table setting ideas.

And then with more inspiration, along comes a post from the folks at the i heart market championing the posters for the Finders Keepers market held in Brisbane!

Today at CNA I saw some beautiful Japanese-style sticky notes made in... Australia!

1940's beautiful woman and inventor

2011-11-28T07:55:00.001+02:00

Actress Hedy Lamarr invented the precursor to cellphone and wireless technology.

A new book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Rhodes sets out to rewrite America's memory of Lamarr. Hedy's Folly: The Life and Breakthrough Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, The Most Beautiful Woman in the World, chronicles her life and the inventive side that is not often mentioned.

Ever heard of a 'mudroom' - me either - read this

2011-11-24T11:32:00.001+02:00

With a blog name guaranteed to interest me i heart organizing has a reader post that is 100% inspiration to me. Wow!

Secrecy Bill

2011-11-23T16:21:00.001+02:00

I usually avoid politics but the post at View from the Sixth Floor and the Nando's ad speak volumes.

Don't miss this...

2011-11-13T08:58:00.001+02:00

Ez at Creature Comforts blog has created this (free) magazine filled with gift ideas. It's also got a few really lovely (free) downloads for anyone to use at Christmastime. Yesterday I spent a happy few hours browsing through the magazine (excellent layout, by the way) and today I'm going to be taking a closer look at some of the suppliers showcased in the magazine. Here http://www.creaturecomfortsblog.com/gifted-magazine you can enjoy some relaxed and easy Christmas shopping and inspiration. No crowds, no queues, no noise, no problems!

Yay Durban! c/o Mr Price

2011-11-09T16:25:00.000+02:00

Two of Mr Price's favourites today are Durban-based. Yay!
http://www.inthefashionloop.com/girls/10-things-we-love-now/

Cable spaghetti

2011-11-08T15:36:00.001+02:00

I'm sure I've mentioned in previous posts that clutter is not exactly on my "happy place" list. Well yesterday we bought a new laptop and because it's all fresh and new (like the day after a big celebration when all the streamers still have to be swept up), we have a cable spaghetti situation that looks like this:

I remember a Douglas Adams essay on the subject of computer cables and connectors and I have to say that I am wholly in agreement with him. He was of the opinion that there should be greater compatibility between cables and connectors so that we didn't have to keep track of so many of them with each new device.

I feel however that I should claim full responsibility for the hairdryer and its cable. Leaving it lying around is my weakness and it is only on the floor because there is no room on the dressing table (which has been temporarily reassigned as a second desk).

Christmas joy

2011-11-06T22:37:00.000+02:00

Do we really remember what it was like to get excited about Christmas? Not just the presents we asked for from Father Christmas but the tree that was so tall that one of the grown-ups had to put the star and/or angel on top, the setting of the table for extra guests, with crackers and achingly embarrassing paper hats, the huge meal out of all proportion to any other meal served all year, Christmas pudding, Christmas mince pies and Christmas cake all somehow to be consumed on the day, watching TV with the flashing lights of the tree reflecting in the screen. I really try to enjoy the season right from when the shops start the oversell on Christmas decorations. Even with the crazy preparations and the pressure to include everyone and spend time with everyone, it all helps to remind me to show a few people that they are not alone, that someone out there cares about them and values their happiness too.

jollymerry

hollyberry

jollyberry

merryholly

happyjolly

jollyjelly

jellybelly

bellymerry

hollyheppy

jollyMolly

marryJerry

merryHarry

hoppyBarry

heppyJarry

boppyheppy

berryjorry

jorryjolly

moppyjelly

Mollymerry

Jerryjolly

bellyhoppy

jorryhoppy

hollymoppy

Barrymerry

Jarryhappy

happyboppy

boppyjolly

jollymerry

merrymerry

merryChris

ammerryasa

Chrismerryas

Merrychrysanthemum

"The Computer's First Christmas Card" Edwin Morgan, 1968

Hope to see you there...

2011-10-27T17:13:00.000+02:00

I've been looking forward to this for weeks!

Poor Toby bear

2011-10-26T21:59:00.002+02:00

It's less than two months to Christmas (altogether now: aaaaarggh!) and nearly a month since my last post and this picture image illustrates just how I've been feeling.

Nevertheless, I keep reminding myself of the self-help catchphrases that my father taught me. Firstly CYB - Count Your Blessings - and secondly PMA - Positive Mental Attitude.

My other self-help technique is to keep myself busy (a.k.a. distracted).

It seems that some sort of synchronicity occurred resulting in poor Toby lying face-downward staring at the carpet as though all the cares of the world were weighing him down. When I found him there I knew just exactly how he was feeling and I cuddled him until he felt a little better.

Friday Favourites

2011-09-30T09:03:00.000+02:00

First an old favourite (old as in I have been following since I started blogging). Tania Kindersley is a woman with the most exquisite turn of phrase. Her blog is a daily delight and now I find that she has a second more "instant" blog, here, with one-liners and magnificent pics like this one:

Secondly, I have found (at last) a maker of ragdolls I can truly love. Her name is Angelica Pelati and she makes a range of speciality cakes and custom homemade plushies. She'll be at the i heart market on Saturday and I'm hoping to get my paws on one of these:

News just in - i heart market's new location

2011-09-28T14:21:00.003+02:00

Ladies & gentlemen (trumpet, drumroll etc): the i heart market has a new home at the Moses Mabhida Stadium north podium (oops, nearly wrote North Pole!). I'll see you there on 1 October 2011 between 9am and 2pm.

Vintage fan club membership cards

2011-09-23T11:22:00.000+02:00

How sweet is this? I found it on Hurricane Vanessa's blog here. There are quite a few including The Beatles Buddies and the Barbie Club.
But...

I always thought the Lone Ranger said "Hi-Ho Silver".
We live and learn.

The Magic Faraway Tree

2011-09-20T22:01:00.000+02:00

I was talking about The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton and could not remember the name of the fairy. So I googled her and here she is...

Illustration by Dorothy M Wheeler from the first edition.

Shopping and writer's block

2011-09-19T16:32:00.000+02:00

Today, right in front of me and blocking my way, is writer's block. My mind is very very busy and stringing together a coherent sentence is proving to be an impossible task. So instead of the usual text-supported by image, it is my pleasure to present (as the circus-master says) some images supported by text.

Last Wednesday, while out looking for new Globe chairs (the centre chair in the photo below)...

I popped into Caboodle at 106 Bulwer Road and got a chance to catch up with Denise from Freshly Found. She has so many charming crochet items and I fell in love with this excellent crochet bracelet which hopped into my bag and came home with me.

Talking with Denise got me all fired up about the i heart market on Saturday where I bought this ceramic trinket box with the little heart and miniature roses.

To my surprise and delight, the inside of the lid has a repeat of the pattern that is embossed on the outside of the box.

The market was wonderful. We were treated to music and singing while we shopped (what could be better) and the whole school was buzzing with activity.

Mid-month I Heart Market

2011-09-14T10:21:00.001+02:00

This Saturday, the 17th, there's a bonus i ❤ market. It's at Chelsea Drive School upper campus on Northway in Durban North. The school is holding an arts festival so there will be music and singing and dancing (would that there were "music and moonlight and love and romance" but since it's raining today, just sunlight will be welcomed).

Creativity in bucketfuls

2011-09-12T11:50:00.001+02:00

These birdie characters are handmade by Abigail Brown in London. Her website describes her as "creature textile designer extraordinaire" and her bird sculptures are so lifelike and characterful that I have to agree. They are made with a fabric body, a wire frame, wire legs and feet and their feathers are coloured scraps of fabric. I found out about her through a lovely article in the September 2011 issue of BBC Homes & Antiques magazine (the magazine itself receives a rave review here on the Cuptake Couture website). These little fellows (particularly the robin) are at the top of my Christmas wishlist.

And to start off your weekend

2011-09-09T14:13:00.001+02:00

A drunken elk in a tree

From BBC News today at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14842999, a drunken elk was discovered in a tree by a homeowner in Southern Sweden. Drunken elk are not an uncommon sight in Sweden during autumn, when there are plenty of apples about. Mr Johansson said the elk appeared to be sick, drunk, or "half-stupid", the Associated Press reported

How could I have missed this?

2011-09-09T10:46:00.001+02:00

Funny bunny made from locally-manufactured shingles

Thanks to Coelho Culture, today I've been introduced to another awesome (do I use that word too often - answers on a postcard...) made in Durban website called I Love Bokkie. Not only does Wendy stock lovely lovely creative goodies, she also posts inspiring images like these sculptures by Florentijn Hofman.

Monkey made from 10000 flipflops

I'm so excited...It's time for The Package Project 2011

2011-09-08T20:22:00.003+02:00

Nadia from Cupcake Couture is calling for participants in this year's project which basically creates links between bloggers in realtime and via snail mail by swapping packages that are put together with thought, love and care. As an experiment in social networking, last year's project was a huge success and was featured on the Frankie blog, PSFK, Google Blogs of Note and Trend Central to name a few. This year the lovely Nadia is aiming to go international, so I'm alerting friends, family and blog followers worldwide!! I've sent her my email (deadline 15 October - check out her website for comprehensive details) and I'm already dreaming up possibilities to go in my package...

Cuptakes - awesome and cute!

2011-09-07T13:22:00.000+02:00

It is possible to be girly and also love tech stuff. Last night I found Cuptakes and I'm hooked!

Lauren, of Restored 316 Designs, has created a fabulous iPhone, iPad and Mac application that offers a selection of exclusive wallpapers called, “Cuptakes”. She says: “My goal was to offer something I wanted myself, and that is, true original girly girl wallpaper designs for my Desktop and that complements my iPhone and iPad. The Mac has been such a joy since I switched, and I just wanted to complement something that’s already awesome!”.

There are matching designs for your iPhone and iPad home screen and lock screen and now also your Mac Desktop (all screen sizes and the app auto-detects your screen-size). The whole app is really easy to use and the designs are too cute. My favourite for today is the screenshot on the right.

One of the reasons that I like the app such a lot is that it has quite a few "text" designs and I like words. For example, these cushions that I had made for my wedding (right), and this wallpaper from "Cuptakes" (left).

There are also calendar pages that co-ordinate with the home screens and lock screens and a selection of Christmas themed "Cuptakes" including my favourite that says: "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas"

It has arrived... at last!

2011-09-06T16:25:00.000+02:00

Electronics kit from Adafruit Industries

Limor Fried (check out this month's American WIRED magazine here) is my personal female empowerment hero. She's GORGEOUS & GEEKY and today excitement reigns in our home because the electronics kits from Adafruit Industries have arrived. My husband ordered them on the 29th of August and we've been counting sleeps (well almost) until they arrived. Stay tuned for progress updates...

W.I.P. - Work In Progress

2011-07-20T09:46:00.000+02:00

This one is practically a "guess what it is" not so much because it's a bad photo (I console myself) but because it's a photo of a door painted black. It's my new kitchen blackboard.

I have so many many "projects" begun and ideas streaming through my head that I'm now wantonly starting new projects before completing old ones. I still have the bedroom door panels to paint but that requires copious stirring of the paint and a fair amount of surface preparation (so dull). So instead I'm doing an easier and more enjoyable quickie in the shape of creating a blackboard on my cleaning cupboard. Today is the day for coat number two. Keep your fingers crossed that I don't get completely covered in paint this time around because I have a lunch date to keep with my husband.

In other news, I've just found out that my oldest friend (from nursery school days) is finally on Facebook. Hooray for the internet for keeping me up to date with the people in my world.

My new sweet addiction

2011-07-18T17:32:00.000+02:00

I haven't eaten these for years and years but today I bought a bag for the jar on my husband's desk.

They are really sweet, really chewy, really fruity and really yummy. Five stars for Beacon sweets for keeping up the tradition.

Another Awesome Tea Party

2011-07-15T11:05:00.000+02:00

Lovely, lovely, Pippa at The Thrift Collection is having a tea party on the 27th August. And she says: "If you've got any unwanted clothes, accessories, shoes, bags and general awesome stuff you'd like to get rid of, bring it to the tea party and we'll buy it off you then and there!"

So you get to get rid of your unwanted goodies and use the cash to buy some awesome stylish vintage clothes. And she's got cool clothes for girls and guys. Way to go, Pippa!

See you there - and if you're not a Durbanite, let your Durbanite friends know!

Owl imprint from BBC news

2011-07-12T10:21:00.000+02:00

From BBC News, this almost perfect imprint of an owl that bumped into a glass window. It is presumed that the owl survived the impact because it could not be found in the area outside the window.

The silhouette was left by the bird's powder down - a substance protecting growing feathers

Copyright Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew

2011-07-11T21:47:00.003+02:00

In the shop at Kew, they had carnivorous plants for sale. I would have loved to buy some but of course there are customs restrictions on bringing plants into South Africa. What I really enjoyed was this sign on the shelf in front of them. So much more delightful to read than the cliched "lovely to look at, delightful to hold, should I be broken, consider me sold".

Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew: sign in front of carnivorous plants in the shop

Where WAS sanehelen?

2011-07-10T18:09:00.000+02:00

Mystery house name

On 31 May I posted a question with this photo. The answer was that I was on holiday in the UK, staying near Kew Gardens. This sign was just on the gateway of a house that we passed on the way to the post office.

Our trip took us to London (the flat in Kew Gardens), Suffolk (postcard-perfect, rural England), Whitby (also postcard-perfect, a seaside town), York (where everything is within walking distance, and old and new are side-by-side) and back to London. There were many times that I had to pinch myself to check I wasn't dreaming.

Scrumptious pie in Kew

Near the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew was the most wonderful café that served tea and scones and delicious lunches as well (just look at the photo of the pie I had for lunch one day). The area around Kew Gardens is so beautiful and restful. The streets are tree-lined and there are loads of restaurants and interesting shops. The Kew Bookshop took up a lot of our time. There are so many bookshops in the UK and as a book-lover and newby-writer, spending time in bookshops is a favourite pastime of mine.

Narrow side-street in York

In York I spent some time just wandering around the streets of the city. It is one of the few walled cities and the city centre is a meandering maze of streets which cross over two rivers.

Learned something good today

2011-07-07T18:20:00.000+02:00

The i heart market is on this Saturday, 9th July, just at a different venue (see right). I feel like it has been arranged just for me because I wasn't home on the 2nd of July and thought I was going to miss this month's market. Yippee!

Make do and mend

2011-07-06T12:15:00.000+02:00

Ever since I was given my first cross stitch kit, I've loved sitting quietly and stitching. I bought this kit at Hampton Court Palace where the Royal School of Needlework (who did the lace for Catherine Middleton's wedding dress) is located.

I'm itching to get started on the kit but first I had to do a little bit of housework. Because I love stitching, I don't mind patching things that need to be given a little extra lease on life. My stitching is very mediocre but I do enjoy it. I have to be very careful darning socks though because I tend to make a lump in the sock that is worse than having the hole!

An old friend once told me that she enjoyed making bead necklaces because she found it relaxing. So on the strength of that I bought my own beading kit but found that it wasn't so relaxing for me. Doing cross stitch or mending does hit the right spot for relaxation for me so I guess it's different strokes for different folks.

These are my stitching housework bits and bobs. I had to patch two bags (left, and below left) and while I was away I had to add some extra velcro onto my bag (right) to keep it closed more easily.

Back at home (and so glad to be here).

2011-07-04T09:33:00.000+02:00

Well, we are back at home and I am so relieved to be here. There really is (as Dorothy said) "no place like home". We had a truly wonderful holiday but to be back in my own bedroom and my own kitchen with familiar possessions and kitchen utensils is like a holiday in itself. The sense of comfort from what is familiar is impossible to achieve anywhere else but at home.

Guess again

2011-06-06T20:46:00.000+02:00

Thanks for guessing, Jess, but it's not the Western Cape (good guess that it might be a wine farm) it was just a house name that I came across and liked. Here's another photo - this time a major tourist attraction in the same city. Clue: Northern Hemisphere!

Where is sanehelen?

2011-05-31T13:21:00.001+02:00

I'm on holiday at the moment. I'm afraid there are no prizes for guessing where I am but I'll accept all attempts at guessing most graciously.

Today has been delightfully event-filled

2011-04-29T23:49:00.000+02:00

Lunchtime today was at Vida e Caffé, Gateway and opposite was the iStore with the queue for the new iPad (iPad 2) going out the door and down the passage.

When I visited my parents this afternoon there was great news in the Mercury. Madame Zingara's circus (and the fabulous food) is coming back to Durban. Check out www.madamezingara.com and take some friendly advice: don't hesitate before making your booking, tickets sell like hotcakes!

And then this evening my husband brought home the cutest "Royal Couple Cookies" - so named by his colleague who bought a "couple" for everyone on their team.

Four little friends with cheery faces

2011-04-29T09:09:00.000+02:00

These little guys cheer me up while I'm at my desk. They're actually marker pens (the "heads" are the lids and the bases are the marker pens). My husband found them when he was tidying and they are just so charming as they wobble on their little bases and keep smiling.

Counting my blessings

2011-04-27T22:33:00.001+02:00

I was groaning to my best friend about the tedium of the washing and then reminded my little egotistical self that I should be grateful for so many things both related to the fact that I can do the washing and live the life that I am living.

I am grateful for (in no particular order, other than the order in which they occur to me):

tea
writing
being able to grumble and groan to my best friend without her telling me to take a reality-check
internet access (and related technology, laptop, phone, etc)
my very very dear friends
the love of my life
my family (and his)
science and medicine
music
home
clean sheets
fresh air
drinkable tap water
having a love of books and reading
nail polish
having "an education"
The Body Shop
spellcheck and autocorrect (most of the time)
fruit

Actually, when I get right down to it there are a limitless number of things for which I am grateful. While looking for a suitable image for this post, I came across a "Blessings Jar" which (as the name suggests) is a jar with ten small heart-shaped pieces of card. You write your blessings on the cards and when you're feeling blue (Phil Collins' "Groovy Kind of Love" pops into my head just there) you re-read your blessings. I sincerely hope that I'll be able to do the same with this post though that was not my intention when I started it.

2011-04-27T22:14:00.000+02:00

I've made what I would call a "fox poss" (a faux pas - my French accent is not quite, but very nearly, that bad). If you've seen my blog header in the last few days you will most definitely have noticed that I had a HUGE version of the new photo I was planning to use as my header. Keep checking guys and dolls. Hopefully I'll get it right with some help from my friends.

Sometimes the simplest things cheer me up

2011-03-30T16:23:00.000+02:00

Today I got home feeling tired and decided to make a cup of tea after I had unloaded my groceries. Washing my hands at the sink, I saw my bottle of bubbles which made me smile (I don't have kids of my own but the bubbles are for my inner child). I decided to use my ridiculously huge "Friends"-style tea cup (to get the most enjoyment possible out of one teabag) and our kettle boils in the loveliest way, so by the time the tea was made and the groceries were away, I was feeling much chirpier.

A true friend is the one who knows everything about you and still loves you

2011-03-28T14:41:00.000+02:00

What's the name of that song? Something about Mr Postman and "a letter for me"

2011-03-23T21:51:00.000+02:00

I'm sitting at my desk and constantly hitting "refresh" on my Inbox, waiting for confirmation of a booking that I have been planning for a few weeks but only got things lined up to make the booking today. It's like the "a watched pot never boils" experience, a watched Inbox never says Inbox (1). Here's hoping tomorrow will bring the answer I am hoping for.

All linked-up today (makes me think of "joined-up" writing)

2011-03-22T16:09:00.000+02:00

I'm just happy being me.

Soon the April I ♡ Market will be upon us (hooray). I am really looking forward to it since I was unable to get to the March market. I'm sad that lisa&joe won't be there but look forward to seeing them back at the market as soon as they are able.

Today's special mention goes to Nadia of Cupcake Couture who has done a BRILLIANT post about blogging and the blogging community that we are a part of.

Wakey Wakey

2011-03-18T06:29:00.000+02:00

Every cloud has a golden lining....

Well, that's the way it looks this morning out of my window.

Happy Friday everybody and enjoy the long weekend.

Strategic packing for a holiday

2011-03-08T09:00:00.001+02:00

I'm the biggest geek/nerd I know and proud to admit it. I enjoy getting things around me organised and running smoothly. I am a bookkeeper and I love its underlying simplicity. My absolutely favorite thing is getting a complicated reconciliation to balance.

I'm currently planning a holiday and one of my favourite parts of the planning is deciding what to pack. So today I want to point my readers in the direction of a site that has been a favourite of mine since about 2001. The site is: OneBag.com. My favourite quote from the site is "remember that there are two kinds of luggage: carry-on and lost." Doug Dyment, the creator of the site has designed a one page downloadable .pdf file with his entire suggested packing list for a trip of any length. I've used his packing list many many times and passed it on to friends who've appreciated it as much as I do.

This luggage would need a porter to carry it all

Here is the most desirable method to take everything I could possibly need. Even the kitchen sink might fit in there somewhere. I usually strictly reduce the amount of make-up and beauty products that I carry when going on a long trip but if I had this many cases, I could take everything my heart desires.

The slightly worrying part is that I am often disappointed when I find that I've packed clothes that I didn't wear and "necessities" that I didn't end up needing.

Wardrobe trunk

This wardrobe-trunk (right) is an item I would love to have although it belongs more to the bygone days of sea travel (as do the tower of suitcases in the image above). Mostly I'd like one just to keep as a collectable item of beauty and style.

For this trip I am aiming for the type of neatness shown below. Any suggestions from fellow lovers of travel would be most welcome.

Keeping things neat and tidy

Welcome back!

2011-03-04T11:01:00.000+02:00

Welcome back dear readers. I have been away from my desk for quite a while and I thought this lovely growing welcome mat was appropriate to say "Hi!" Especially since the smell of new-mown grass smells so springy and fresh and that is how I feel after my vacation. I don't always go to places where no technology is available but sometimes being unable to use cellphone, laptop and internet is the only way to get a complete rest.

And now that I'm back at my desk, the real world takes over again. Currently I am involved with updating some insurance details and the forms are astoundingly tedious and just a little confusing, to say the least. I don't feel there is much that mere mortals can do but go with the flow and try to co-operate with the red tape. Rather like ripping off a plaster (try to get the pain over with as quickly as possible).

The view from up here

2011-02-14T10:52:00.000+02:00

I've been struggling with anxiety out of all proportion to my situation for the last couple of months and when I wake up on a Sunday and have a view like this one, I take a moment to just be glad I'm alive, with family, and with time to relax and enjoy the day. Those tiny white specks on the sea are yachts. My camera is just a leetle one and doesn't really do justice to the stark contrast between the white sails and the dark blue sea.

Luckily for me, my husband is the photographer in the family and when we go on holiday we come back with a couple of family photos by me and a stack of stunning photographs of scenery, buildings, animals and insects by my husband. One mistake we made on our last holiday overseas was not to take a photo of the two of us together. I'm not going to make that mistake again...

Won't you be my Valentine?

2011-02-14T10:38:00.001+02:00

I've always thought that Valentine's Day is commercialised even more than Christmas. Those folks over at Hallmark must be laughing all the way to the bank. Yesterday, I saw single red roses selling for R15.99. It seems that there's this huge pressure on just this one day for people to declare their love (which is measured by how much money was spent). My husband and I meet for lunch every week and those 52 lunches are worth much more to me than an hour in February spent shopping for jewelry, perfume, flowers or a card.

PLEASE NOTE: This image is not real.
It has been created using computer graphics software.
No cherubs were harmed in the making of this photo.

Some light at the end of the proverbial tunnel

2011-02-08T15:50:00.000+02:00

My friend has been to see a specialist and it appears that what she has is treatable with medication.

Water flooding over dam wall. Image from here

I feel such a huge flood of relief (see left) washing over me when I think that she will be alright. I've been worrying about her diagnosis for how it will affect her life, but now I can say that I've been worried for myself because to lose such a good friend who is understanding and non-judgmental would be heart-breaking for me. My life would have a great empty hole without her in it.

Still holding on and holding out, but in the meantime...

2011-02-07T21:41:00.077+02:00

While my heart remains stuck in my throat waiting for the results of my friend's blood tests, I'm thinking of some lines from Macbeth which often pop into my head: "To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day" William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act 5, scene 5. These lines manage to describe exactly how I feel when waiting for the results of something important. It's as though time is s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g out.

Meanwhile (in other news) I visited I ❤ Market on Saturday, and must say that it was super-cool. I got some great gifts for family and friends and got this "Blogging Tea & Cupcakes" badge (left) for myself from Cupcake Couture who also presented me with one of her ribbon rosettes in exchange for the buttons for her Button Hunt. The crocheted headband bought from Freshly Found (right) will be a gift for my niece when we eventually get our trip to the UK planned. I chose the butterfly because my husband photographs insects (macro photography) and so the gift represents both him and me.

Funny how life turns around and smacks you in the face

2011-02-05T11:18:00.001+02:00

From left to right: Red Blood Cell, Platelet, White Blood Cell
Image taken from Wikipedia

My best friend has just been telephoned and told that she has a high platelet count. It's Saturday morning and she has to wait until Monday to go for more specialized tests. She is like a sister to me, we have known each other for more than ten years, sharing the many ups and downs of each others lives. Today we were planning to go shopping together and instead she has been given this frightening news. Life is strange. I'm constantly stunned when it seems that bad things happen to good people. I have no way of easing her fears and I can do very little to help her but hope for the best and encourage her to not think the worst. And I know even when I say this to her that this is hollow advice because I know that I would think the worst if I were in the same position.

Balmy and Breezy

2011-02-03T11:59:00.000+02:00

Yesterday

Today

The weather peeps have promised rain all week but the garden is still dry. Then again it's I ❤ Market on Saturday so I'd rather it remained balmy and breezy for that! It can rain on Sunday.

Bright, bright sunshiny day

2011-02-01T10:47:00.000+02:00

Lyrics again today. This line courtesy of Johnny Nash's "I can see clearly now" released in 1972. It seems that my mind is full of snippets of songs and I'm reminded of them so often in conversation.

But to return to today being a bright sunshiny day, It's searingly hot out there (thank goodness for aircon) but I can hear children's voices at the nearby junior school and it sounds as though they're all running around (must be break time) and enjoying themselves. I wish I could have saved some of that energy from when I was small so that I'd have some in reserve when I need it now.

Childhood memories and hopes and dreams

2011-01-31T08:48:00.000+02:00

One of my favorite pass times when I was a tot was to look at all the buttons my mother kept in her button tin. It was a brown shoe polish tin - very utilitarian and totally delightful because you couldn't see what was stored inside. I distinctly remember thinking that I'd have to have a tin full of buttons when I was a grown-up.

My mom still has her button tin and it still holds its fascination for me, but I have been fortunate to have inherited my mother-in-law's collection of buttons. I'm currently sorting through them to select which ones to pass on to Cupcake Couture's Button Hunt. I wonder whether they will be of any use to her?

There are a few buttons that I will not be able to part with though. These delicate pink ones on the left are being saved incase I'm lucky enough to have a baby. My husband said that if I'm saving pink buttons we will most likely end up having boys!

Today's view:

It's VERY bright and sunny at the moment so the sea is mostly just reflecting the sun. Perhaps if I were to take this pic later today the sea would show as bluer than blue but it's good to feel the sun in the sky - it makes me feel energized and reminds me of the fact that some of the best things in life are indeed free (uh, oh, my apologies for the cliché).

White horses

2011-01-27T20:41:00.016+02:00

Could not drag me away from you....

Apologies for the mis-quote. I always seem to remember only tiny bits of song lyrics. This one is from Gino Vanelli's "Wild Horses" but I was thinking of the white horses on the sea because it has been a very windy day. Regrettably you can't see the white horses in my little photo.

A few of my favourite things

2011-01-27T14:16:00.000+02:00

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens and some new stuff that brings a smile to my face.

The view {update}

2011-01-26T16:43:00.002+02:00

Our weather is currently as changeable as the weather in the UK. These are pics of my view from yesterday and the day before that.

Change in the home

2011-01-21T16:56:00.008+02:00

I like to follow blogs about de-cluttering (see my post here) and the latest that I've fallen in love with is called Small Notebook - For a simple home. Reading Rachel's post "Are you making Your To Do List Too Hard" was just as though she had seen right into my mind and then, like Mary Poppins, had whisked everything into shape.

It was wonderfully appropriate because I'm looking forward to doing some tidying and reorganizing this weekend (pictures on Monday if all goes well). We've bought some beautiful second-hand furniture and I've been thinking all week about what should go where and whether my ideas will work when the time comes.

If Mondays are known for the blues, what colour are Fridays?

2011-01-21T08:49:00.006+02:00

Having heard of synesthesia (check out the Wikipedia definition here), I guess some people do assign a colour to Fridays. I imagine it should be silver - all sparkly with anticipation of the weekend ahead and the opportunities to do what we enjoy and with a hint of the possibility of a party.

That's so long as you don't work in retail, where weekends have become just another two days to sell sell sell. I'm in two minds about this. I have friends in retail and sympathize that weekends for them don't exist. My longtime friend would like shopping on a Sunday to be banned! However, I love being able to shop on the weekends. If I shop during the week I am on my own but if I shop on the weekends I usually have company.

Here's to this weekend. Hope you all have a blast.

Early start

2011-01-19T16:17:00.006+02:00

I am quite an early riser so this is the sunrise at 5.26am (according to my camera). I'm not really fully awake till at least 6.30 but I know a good sunrise when I see one. I have to confess that other members of my family who are not early risers do not enjoy being woken up to enjoy the sunrise, so here it is for you, dear reader, to enjoy at any time of day.

My camera isn't an SLR so luckily I can take pictures like this without having to look directly into the sun and so my retinas remain intact.

Relaxation and nature

2011-01-18T13:33:00.006+02:00

I am beginning to see that nature has it's way of working things out for itself. Take for example the way my cat can be utterly relaxed...

and out of the window the view of the sea and the sky is totally exquisite without any fancy camera work or filters or photoshop.

Good news for "older" moms

2011-01-17T10:06:00.007+02:00

I've been aware for a long while now that the closer I get to thirty-five, the greater the chance that I may have a baby with Down's syndrome. My last birthday was my 35th so the following piece of news is a positive one for me.

From the New Scientist "Blood test accu rately predicts Down's syndrome".

And in other news... here's today's picture of my sea view. The weather looks a bit ominous and I'm fairly sure that there will be rain this evening.

Should have, could have, and skilled procrastination

2011-01-11T09:15:00.006+02:00

This is my guitar that I should be practising right now. Meanwhile I am hooked on my daily fix of blog reading and posting.

Today's post is inspired by Hayley over at everything inbetween who started her year with a clean-up. I'm planning to do some serious de-cluttering in January. My favourite de-cluttering site is The Clutter Clearing Consultancy which is run by Clare Baker. I love her approach because she understands that some people have a fundamental problem overcoming clutter because, like me, they are procrastinators.

These are a pair of "before and after" pics from Clare's website.

And if those don't inspire you then take a look at 365 Less Things and the section titled "Week 1 of 2011 Mini Mission". It's an excellent and manageable way to start to tackle the accumulation of "stuff" that we tend to generate. I really have to agree with those people that say that a cluttered life creates environmental stress that we take out into the world with us. But to counter that I ask myself: If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, what is an empty desk a sign of?

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day.

2011-01-10T17:43:00.007+02:00

As I am writing the rain is pelting down in fat diagonal stripes. The two photos of my view were both taken today, the first at about 2pm this afternoon and the second just now at 5.30pm.

I love rain and the splashy sound of cars driving by in the street below give me a sense of refreshing cleanness. I think today I've started to feel as though the New Year has properly begun.

Deep Blue Sea

2011-01-07T14:32:00.000+02:00

Today is a beautiful, sunny Friday. Thank you, Durban, for such fabulous weather.

Winter Wonderland

2011-01-06T14:01:00.000+02:00

I've been admiring Tania Kindersley's photos of her bit of Scotland in winter (her blog Backwards in High Heels is a daily treat) and because I have been trying to convince my husband to visit England in winter, I came across some photos of Kew Gardens in the snow.
This one is my absolute favourite though. It's by BearTomCat (BTC) / John. He's an amateur photographer who seems to mostly do macro photography but this icy statue is just perfect. It's called Hercules in Ice.

Here is today's view from my window. The horizon in almost invisible so I'm guessing that out there it's still bad weather. It always makes me stop and think when I realise that at the same time that we are having such warm and humid weather, another part of the globe has snow and ice. Somehow for me, it puts my life into perspective, that I am just a small link in a giant chain that is human life on earth.

On a clear day you can see forever

2011-01-05T17:23:00.000+02:00

My title today is the title of a 1965 play by Alan Jay Lerner and later a 1970 film starring Barbara Streisand. It's a phrase that has always lodged in my mind because I love places where you can stand and look from left to right and see the horizon in all directions. I'm lucky enough to live in Durban and in a house with a sea view (so covetable) which shows the far off horizon to the East. I'm thinking of starting a series of the same view because our weather has been so very changeable recently and the series may prove interesting. I've been inspired by Tania Kindersley of Backwards in High Heels. Thank you Tania.

The Package Project rides again

2011-01-05T11:35:00.000+02:00

I was thoroughly disappointed when I found that I had joined the blogosphere too late to participate in last year's Package Project, a spectacular, amazing, awesome, super cool (sub zero) initiative by Cupcake Couture.

Explanation directly from The Package Project website: The Package Project is an exchange aimed to connect bloggers around the world and to grow the blogging community even further. It is all about swopping pretty packages and handmade delights. The packaging only makes the exchange more fun so get creative...strings, manila tags and ribbons galore. Each package must be a joy to receive and each time you do receive one...pop out your camera and snap away. This way we all get to share in a bit of your excitement.

Organisation 101

2011-01-04T10:08:00.000+02:00

Take a look at Hayley's post on everything inbetween. She's started the year with a big tidy-up (something I usually only get to in October after squirreling everything away during winter) and her ideas are really super cool.

Image from http://www.highhopesstamps.com

Hello 2011

2010-12-31T21:34:00.000+02:00

Happy New Year to everyone out there in the blogosphere! My sincerest best wishes for a prosperous and joyfilled 2011

There are 4 sleeps until Christmas

2010-12-21T09:43:00.000+02:00

I totally ADORE the fact that all over the world even we so-called "grown-ups" know exactly what 4 sleeps to Christmas means. There are also: 86 hours, 5180 minutes, 310600 seconds to Christmas, which translates to 3 days, 14 hours, 15 minutes and 20 seconds!

So get your shopping finished!

Christmas mince pie day

2010-12-20T17:30:00.000+02:00

Every year my mom and I make Christmas mince pies together. To be honest, my mom makes the pastry and buys the fruit mince (Safari Fruit mince or Woolworths Christmas fruit mince) and I only do the assembly-line, but we do it together and it's a nice tradition for both of us.

The assembly-line during production

We usually make about six dozen which sounds like a large number but they disappear very quickly. I took home about two dozen from last week's production and we've nearly finished them. I think the production line may go into action again this year.

Fridays and Christmases seem to come around faster every time

2010-12-17T17:17:00.000+02:00

For those of you who are on holiday, will be going on holiday or wish you were on holiday, here's my quote of the week (photo by my husband):

"You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars,
you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should."

Percy Pig comes to SA at last

2010-12-15T14:41:00.000+02:00

I've read about these sweets in British Vogue. The staff at Vogue like them so much that they have a stash available on photo shoots. Apparently at one stage, Marks & Spencer withdrew them from their product line and there was such a huge response from fans of the sweet that Marks & Spencer had to re-introduce them. As a result I've been dying to get my hands on a packet to taste them for myself.

And now we can get them here in SA at Woolworths (seen them at McKeurtan Avenue, Durban North and Gateway, Umhlanga). You'll probably notice that the packet I've scanned is empty. That's because the sweets are really fruity and super yummy.

Dynamic photo from Mooi

2010-12-14T13:44:00.000+02:00

http://mooi-mooiboutique.blogspot.com/

Wow! I've just seen this pic on Mooi's blog and it just makes me feel so uplifted and inspired. The girl in the blue dress has such natural grace and elegance and looks so relaxed and happy.

The book I've coveted for a while now is mine at last

2010-12-10T12:31:00.000+02:00

My husband (who understands my monthly splurge on British Vogue) bought me "The Faces of Fashion Vogue Model" that I've longed for since I first saw it mentioned (I think in Vogue magazine itself).

I've only started to read it but what I've seen so far has been really good. It's not just the models who are currently at the peak of their profession, but rather a who's who of fashion models since the concept of using live models to, ahem, "model" clothes was started. These women were initially known as "mannequins" which seems to me to dehumanize them, but looking at the photos (excellent reproduction by the way) of the early models/mannequins with their haughty, sneering looks for the camera, I can see that they were giving expression to an ideal of high fashion and perhaps in that sense the word mannequin is apt.

There isn't a portfolio of pics for each model, sometimes there's only one photo and the accompanying page of text. However, the text is masterfully written and gives real insight into the model as a working woman and an individual with her own interpretation of what the work means.

Saturday's i heart market

2010-12-08T21:59:00.001+02:00

Wow! The market was packed with people and stallholders and it was super awesome to be there. I am completely in love with the fact that almost everything is handmade and all so very original. Kudos to Anna and Saki for the concept of the market and for keeping it fresh.

So, I was supposed to be looking for gifts to go into my homemade Christmas crackers, but I ended up buying so much more. I bought:

This bib by Black Sheep for my friend's baby girl.

One of these paper heart chains from Hey Cherry

These beautiful words and phrases magnets from little mud hut designs

This Glad Tidings wood heart from Deidré Curren of Greenhouse Design
to decorate the centre of my Christmas wreath

And these, from iKhaya, are for my Christmas crackers

Wedding floral options

2010-12-07T22:52:00.000+02:00

Denise at Freshly Found is sending off some of her beautiful origami flowers for someone's wedding - lucky girl that's having such a stylish wedding. When my florist let me down I went out and bought some fabric roses and made my own bouquet which turned out to be a perfect because they stayed "fresh" and I still have them as a beautiful reminder of the day.

Stephen Fry 2,000,000 followers on Twitter

2010-12-01T00:17:00.000+02:00

Take a look at The New Adventures of Stephen Fry and his open letter to his two millionth follower discussing Twitter.

Christmas and presents

2010-11-29T11:52:00.000+02:00

The Christmas presents for the family and friends in South Africa are all done so no more braving the shops for me! Yippee!

Now the slightly more difficult task of choosing presents on the internet for my family overseas must begin.

Tea Party!

2010-11-24T23:04:00.000+02:00

Hey, I think I'll wear my mad hatter's hat (just because I can) seeing as it's a tea party.

The ladies from The Thrift Collection (who are selling some 60's/70's clothes made by my mother-in-law so I feel a special affinity) are having a Tea Party on Sat 11 December from 10am to 12noon in Churchill Road, Windermere, Durban. See image above for details or contact the lovely ladies:

(E): thethriftcollection@gmail.com

(T): www.twitter.com/thethriftco

(B): http://thethriftcollection.blogspot.com

Their stall at the i heart market is just so perfect (these ladies have a real flair for vintage) and their prices are better than reasonable. So let them know if you'll be at the tea party and I'll see you there.

My favourite Christmas tree

2010-11-22T13:53:00.000+02:00

Our Flamboyant tree has started to flower. I think the red flowers against the green foliage is perfect timing for Christmas, so for me they are Christmas trees. They are not indigenous to South Africa, originally coming from Madagascar, but are now popular all over the world. You can find out their latin name and more on the eThekwini online site at this link: http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/plants_index

Henchperson! Job advert.

2010-11-22T08:38:00.000+02:00

Would you reply to a job advert for a henchperson? It brings to mind the type of assistant (named Igor) of a mad scientist. I would LOVE to answer this ad if only they were in South Africa!

http://www.adafruit.com/jobs/job/26/henchperson-at-evil-mad-science-llc/

Evil Mad Science LLC in Sunnyvale, CA

Evil Mad Scientist seeks henchpersons.

Evil Mad Science LLC is a tiny company looking to expand. We need careful, detail-oriented people with an affinity for strange little robots and things that go blink in the night.

What do we do? We assemble kits, pack and ship, manage our web sites, talk to customers, perform various administrative tasks, design future products and refine current ones. And, we’re looking for several people that can each help us with (at least some part of) that rather large collection of stuff.

Can you do some of that? Located near (and/or willing to commute to) Sunnyvale California?

We’re open to hiring part time or full time, temporary or long-term. Experienced or intern. You should be willing to let us know what you like to do, what you’re good at, and let us train you on the rest. If you’ve got specialized skills (coding/designing/engineering/administrating/other), we may well be able to use them. Let us know.

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To go placidly

2010-11-20T15:28:00.000+02:00

Posting the Holstee Manifesto reminded me of the poster that was on the back of by bedroom door while I was growing up. It's called the Desiderata (latin for 'desired things'), and was written by Max Ehrmann in 1927.

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Earth as Art

2010-11-17T18:23:00.000+02:00

Byrd Glacier, Antarctica

Sometimes I like being reminded that life in all its forms is utterly awesome. The image and text are from Wired Science

Truly a river of ice, Antarctica's relatively fast-moving Byrd Glacier courses through the Trans-Antarctic Mountains at a rate of 0.8 kilometers [0.5 miles] per year. More than 180 kilometers [112 miles] long, the glacier flows down from the polar plateau (left) to the Ross Ice Shelf (right). Long, sweeping flow lines are crossed in places by much shorter lines, which are deep cracks in the ice called crevasses. The conspicuous red patches indicate areas of exposed rock.

Image taken by Landsat 7 on Jan. 11, 2000

The Art of Getting Things Done

2010-11-17T11:23:00.000+02:00

Getting things done is definitely an art - it involves intuition, creativity, timing and tenacity.

Have you heard of the "round tuit". It's a circular piece of paper/card/wood with text on it explaining that it is a "round tuit" and now that this one is yours, you can finally do all those tasks that you said you would do when you got a "round tuit".... a.k.a. "around to it". Unbelievably corny, I know.

So this post is about getting things done because even though I have a round tuit, I always get frustrated when I don't get everything done. I have read the book by David Allen called "Getting Things Done" and it is an excellent motivational tool, well written and simple to follow and implement his ideas. Without intending to give away the whole book, one of the most simple and effective ideas put forward is that you should write everything down so that it doesn't stay in your mind and cause you stress - then all you need do is consult your written notes to find out what the things are that need to be done each day.

Well, I certainly write things down but this is mostly because if I haven't written them down it is very likely that I will forget them. I have a whiteboard in our study, a small whiteboard on the fridge, plus the pinboard pictured below. The pinboard is also a bit of a mood board because it also has images and newspaper articles that inspire me or that give info about things that I want to do, whether they are for now or for the long term. Then every now and then I have to "edit" the pinboard to see which dreams I still want to fulfill, which ones have passed their deadline and which ones no longer hold my interest.

This is the current, super-large version.

Both of the boards that are shown here were made from recycled materials so I'm quite proud of myself for doing that and not having to spend a cent at the shops. The newer, larger one was made from corrugated cardboard from a box that my husband had kept when he bought speakers. He helped me by cutting the layers of cardboard to the same size in his workshop (I have to admit to being a girl who doesn't know a radial arm saw from a jig saw so I can't tell you how he did it). Then we covered the cardboard using some left over fabric from when the lounge furniture was reupholstered.

This was the older, smaller version.

The smaller one was made with layers of quite thin corrugated cardboard and covered with the leg section of old pairs of black pantyhose. I initially though that the pantyhose would develop ladders in them when I used the pins to hold notices in place but they withstood the small piercings.

I use these boards to post notes about things that I have to get done, and depending on how good the resolution on my pics are, you might be able to pick out the Christmas note from my niece in the UK.

Update about the doggie

2010-11-13T21:14:00.000+02:00

Do you realise, I'm becoming famous?

Thanks to everyone who read about and commented on the little paper doggie. I've dug a little deeper and now have more details to divulge.

My great aunt, who lived in Pietermaritzburg all her life, befriended a sailor who was recuperating at Oribi hospital after the war. His name was "Lofty" Ham. He would visit my aunt and on one visit brought this paper doggie as a gift for her. It may have been made by another sailor, we are not sure. The cigarette boxes that were used are Players Navycut 10's. The sailor on the box has been used to make the nose of our little dog. The doggie was passed on to my aunt and from her to my dad.

He's a little bit old now and is showing some signs of wear and tear. One little foot pad no longer has any of the original image left on the paper, another little leg is not as strong as the other three, and when you pick him up he is very light and delicate. Nevertheless it is clear that he is a terrier and we all know that terriers are known for their tenacity and strength so I'm certain he'll be with us for a long, long time.

Word Power

2010-11-12T23:04:00.000+02:00

The words Peace, Love, Hope, Joy and Happiness as well as repetition of the image of a heart seem to me to be appearing everywhere I go and I'm wondering what that says about our culture and society today. It reinforces in my mind the idea that there is a power in words and images that we all recognise at some level.

My recent blog post about the Holstee manifesto and my fascination with the concept of word clouds has reminded me how much I enjoy words and language and I am wondering if I will ever get to put form to the many ideas that arc across the neurons in my brain.

In the beautiful words of John Keats...

"When I have fears that I may cease to be

Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain,

Before high pilèd books, in charact'ry,

Hold like rich garners the full-ripen'd grain;

When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face,

Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,

And think that I may never live to trace

Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance;

And when I feel, fair creature of an hour!

That I shall never look upon thee more,

Never have relish in the faery power

Of unreflecting love! - then on the shore

Of the wide world I stand alone, and think

Till Love and Fame to nothingness do sink.

Astounding use of iPod apps

2010-11-11T15:14:00.000+02:00

I got this link from a tweet from Big Concerts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAllFWSl998
I'm a complete Apple geek and I just love it when I see them being used by other people. See what the drummer is using as a surface for his iPod?

Holstee Manifesto

2010-11-11T10:27:00.000+02:00

With thanks to Ask Ashe I've just read the Holstee Manifesto - check them out at www.Holstee.com they are inspiring and awesome. Here is the manifesto to entice you to look for more inspiring information.

Interconnectedness of all things

2010-11-08T00:26:00.000+02:00

Origami-type folded paper terrier (circa 1945)

Rear view of paper folded terrier

The i heart market this weekend put so many ideas into my head and re-inforced so many concepts that were "seeding" in my mind. It reminded me of the Herman Mellville quote: "We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibres connect us with our fellow men; and among these fibres as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes and they come back as effects"

The doggie in the pictures on the right belongs to my father. It was made by a sailor who was in hospital in Pietermaritzburg around the end of World War II. I was inspired to take these photos because I bought an origami paper weave bracelet from Denise at Freshly Found that reminded me of the folding technique on the dog.

I browsed to my heart's content and saw so many of my own ideas represented in various forms and bought some beautiful, original Christmas presents. I am so deeply moved by the large number of people who are making original products, often by hand. And others who are recycling in the most interesting and creative ways. The market feels like a haven of natural charm and simplicity. One of the stall-holders said a quick goodbye to the item I bought. It seemed that what had been created was like a child that was now being sent out into the world.

I wanted time to write down all of the things that had inspired me but alas, the weekend is truly over and I will have to find time to do it during the week.

Shoppinnnngggggg

2010-11-05T11:51:00.000+02:00

Design/Concept: Dominic Strauss
Email: dom@d3online.co.za

This weekend (starting today) I'm planning a little Christmas browsing. Today I'll be visiting the Green with Envy Christmas Fair at 281 Vause Road, Durban and tomorrow the i heart market which promises to be even more exciting than last month.

Christmas is here

2010-11-05T10:28:00.000+02:00

Christmas season is here again - there's no way to deny that there are now only 50 sleeps left until Christmas. So have you started your shopping (or at least gift ideas) list?

I have this plan for an advent calendar with a little gift for each of the 25 days leading up to Christmas but yesterday I was reminded that I'd better get started because there's not many days left between now and the first of December!

I really do try to get organised about Christmas but my favourite part is trawling the shops to find gifts that suit each person. It's always lovely to see what the shops have come up with as their gift ideas. Sometimes I get lucky and I find something perfect for someone specific a lot earlier in the year which spreads the expenses load.

I also (with some difficulty) try my best to be "green" at Christmas. Last year I revamped old decorations rather than buying new ones. I also used no bought wrapping paper but made my own from blank newsprint I had collected or I re-used old paper. This year I am planning to try stitching together images from magazines that I've collected to make sheets of paper that are big enough to wrap the gifts. I've also got a plan in my mind to make my own little table gifts instead of buying Christmas crackers because even the posh ones in the shops don't have very exciting treasures. My most coveted tree decorations are glass angels and baubles but I find that so many of these are "Made in China" that I don't want to buy them. It's not that I have anything against China specifically but the sweatshop stories that I've heard are often from China. More on that subject another time. I recommend the book "No Logo" by Naomi Klein.

Surfing Dbn SA

2010-11-05T09:07:00.001+02:00

There's a guy who's a client of my husband's employer who stores his surfboard with said employer for use in Durban but lives in JHB! Co-operation and efficiency.

Oh what a wonderful holiday

2010-11-04T23:20:00.000+02:00

Despite hailstones the size of marbles...

The necessity for a complete getaway took us to Cathedral Peak Hotel for a week. Just looking at their WeatherWebcam showing the tea garden and the mountains in the background proves it's a very restful place to get away from city life and daily worries.

On Monday night (1st November) there was a brief thunderstorm which developed into a hailstorm. We have a friend with a fantastic photo of a bolt of lightning and I was hoping we would get a chance to catch some similar images but the storm was over too quickly. Not that I mind about the rain stopping. My husband tends to get gloomy when he can't take photos.

I got the chance to catch up on some reading (biographies and the latest British Vogue) while my husband added almost 1000 photographs to his portfolio.

I know the break did me a lot of good. I feel as though some of the cobwebs in my brain have been cleared away. Now to set out my goals for the next few weeks and months...

Sigh...

2010-10-26T22:44:00.001+02:00

Thanks to ikhaya I have found notonthehighstreet.com and having family in the UK and with the necessity of sending Christmas presents, this site is a treasure trove. I'm so excited about the hours of online shopping I am going to do. Just looking at their home page makes me sigh and go weak at the knees with excitement. Everything I see is a sample book of the kind of things I am in love with right now. My other favourite place to shop for presents for my family in the UK is Etsy.com

There was a time in my life when Christmas was a difficult time of year but some time ago I met someone who enjoyed the Christmas season with such vivacity that my attitude was changed. Now again, I experience joy in the time spent with family, the giving of gifts and the spirit of rejoicing that is synonymous with Christmas.

Guess what it is...

2010-10-23T20:42:00.000+02:00

This does...

...this!

This strange looking little item is my eco stapler from the Natural History Museum in London (also seen them at the Science Museum). It's eco friendly because it uses no staples but just cuts, folds and tucks in a tiny section of the sheets of paper. Goodbye dangerous bits of metal in the carpet.

Sadly, it can only staple a maximum of three pages but it's unbelievably useful for receipts, printed reservations, emails (on the rare occasions that I print any) and stuff like that. Another nifty plus is that when the pages go into the recycling bin (or the shredder - avoid identity theft!) there's no need to remove the pesky staple.

Woolworths being awesome

2010-10-20T23:29:00.000+02:00

My thanks to Ask Ashe for showing what Woolies is doing for schools and the environment. Go to http://askashe.wordpress.com/2010/10/18/woolies-encourages-green-fingers/ or link directly to the Woolworths site at: http://www.woolworthslivingwall.co.za/

Just select an empty bottle, choose a seedling (pick a Basil, Spinach, Strawberry or Tomato plant), give them your name and email address to register and they will donate a real plant to a South African school with a permaculture food garden. You can see your virtual plant on the wall with your name on the bottle. And you can plant as many seedlings as you like! Woolworths is definitely leading the pack in developing an environmentally friendly company policy.

Good design

2010-10-20T18:01:00.000+02:00

These Simply Lavender products were given to me by a friend and just LOOK at the barcode of the bottle on the left. I totally adore that kind of quirkiness in design - so subtle and so imaginative - perfect. They are made by a Durban-based company called the Good Stuff Co and they can be bought at Pick n Pay stores. You can tweet them at: www.twitter.com/goodstuffco or go to www.goodstuffandco.com