attachment

Half way through a haircut (when hairdresser walked off for a while).

When I was a kid, I once kept my freshly cut hair in a plastic bag and kept it for years.

I'm not sure why but I felt an attachment to those strands knowing my hair will grow back in no time.

There's always a 'sadness' associated with your hair being chopped off.

Then eventually there's 'hope'. 

The assurance that one day soon things will be back to 'normal' as you know it.

  

Sometimes I just don't let go of things as I should.

Because it means I am going to change...

And I don't know if it's a change I need.

when in lyon....

I kinda miss France.

Being lost in Paris.

Writing postcards at random bistros.

Strolling on cobble stoned path with a croissant and eclair on each hands.

So it was good to find a piece of France at your local area one night.

mistaken

Each order comes in two's which we didn't know. 

So we ordered 3 of each of salmon and scallops...

resulting in 12 pieces on top of other orders.

Sometimes you just gotta read the finer prints.

Otherwise, just eat up!

smell the lavender

My messy lavender growing in all directions this spring :) Like my hair.

Sometimes in the morning I'd rub my hands over the leaves so that the smell stays on me, if only for that short while.

They say that the sense is smell is strongest tied to memories.

Today I went to the airport and the smell of it brought back a flood of happy and sad memories.

Perhaps more sad memories because I am always saying goodbye to people I love.

yellow + fuschia

i do enjoy taking close-ups of flowers as that allows me to capture the intricate details (obviously not in this photo though as it's blurry!) of the design and make-up of the plant.

No matter how terrible my photography skills are, you just can't stuff up taking photos of something as beautiful as flowers and trees. They seem just too 'perfect' to get any bad shots of!

I believe the same goes with babies and cute puppies.

But as with self portraits, I am often not as comfortable in front of the camera as behind it. I'm learning to be less uneasy in front of it.

entitled

My middle-class upbringing in NZ/Australia made me feel "entitled" to a lot of things in life.

I received a good education, and I grew up with more barbies and lollies than I needed.

So naturally, I expect things to work out in a certain way.

And if they don't, I complain. 

"What do you mean the hot water is not working today?!"

"I'm never going to take the public transport ever again after this..."

I guess we'll never see/hear kids in Africa or other 3rd world countries saying things like that.

Coffee at Waverton one fine afternoon with Mum.

reflection

I can't change the way someone sees me.

But I can change the way I see someone else.

And I can change the way I see myself.

small details

Do you pay attention to small things in life? Like you notice things about people that others aren't even aware of. Or are you one of those people who can't recall what colour top someone you've been talking to the whole afternoon was wearing? (that's me!)

I think while I am normally not alert about many small details in life, I am usually sensitive to how people are feeling around me. Maybe it's a skill that the younger child in the family tends to pick up?

4 months early

Christmas shopping is now available at the shopping mall...

Oh wait, isn't it September still?

Seriously, who plans their Christmas deco 4 months in advance?

I guess it just gives the shop a bit of festive air and perhaps has the ability to add a bit of bounce to the customers' steps. 

Arghh, now I can't wait until Christmas.

Actually no. I want to fully enjoy and live 2011 before it ends.

spring

Finally made it to David Jone's spring flower displays today :)

Extravagant and exquisite flower displays surrounded us as we made our way through the ground floor. Many tourists and locals alike whipped out their cameras as they couldn't resist those vibrant colours all around inside the department store.

These purple 'balls' (I'm sure they have a name) caught my eyes. They are the simplest out of all the flower-competitions but they're my favourite. I love the green + purple combination.

Oh and I couldn't resist trying out those fascinator while I was at it :P

reflection

I love the 'fogginess' of this shot of the city skyline.

I spent the arvo sitting at a park bench reflecting. 

I like to reflect and I like people who like to reflect too.

You know, reflect about things like decisions made...choices...what I could've done....and should've...what I wish I'd done...whether I'd listened to my heart...whether I regret things...whether it's too late...whether I could turn thing around.

On the way home, this little tiger caught my eyes. I wish I had gotten a better shot at eye level!

weekend morning

Big hearty breakfast is the way to start a weekend.

The banana milkshake is now back too :) Oh, how I've missed you so.

Breakfast is fast becoming my favourite meal of the day...

I'm sitting on some colourful fabric here.

I know, I haven't posted here for a while. I thought I could make up for it by posting 2 day. :)

artichoke

Artichoke is one of those veges which my kitchen is not acquainted with.

I don't really know what I'd do with an artichoke really.

But that doesn't stop me from appreciating all its beauty and exotic-ness.

And taking photos at the supermarket looking like a tourist.

stack

Delicious stack from Mad Spud at Surry Hills for lunch today with KC. 

So delish!

Reminds me of my Melbourne days for sure...

Apologies for the absence lately.

I have still been taking photos but just didn't manage to upload them...

but yeah, I'm back!

snap and go

When I woke up this morning, I knew I was running late.

But I still managed to take this shot in between pulling up my jeans and putting my phone into my bag.

Maybe I shouldn't stare into the photo...it's bad for the eyes! *look away*

portrait

It'll be interesting taking a self portrait once each month and see how I change over the course of a year!

So, this is what I look like this month.

My hairs actually quite long but I had just pulled over the skivvy over my head.

burst of flavours...

Had a great catch up with EW at Bentley's today...before she leaves for HK :(

I found a silicon bead in one of my dishes, so this dish was given as an apology from the manager.

White chocolate sphere encasing a burst of orange puree/juice inside, while sprinkled with beetroot powder.

I put the whole thing into my mouth.

One bite.

whoa whoa whoa.

SO good.

I could eat 5 more of this!

early in the morning...

A new day brings so much hope and promises.

an awkward situation here...

scenario:

2 newlyweds.

enjoying their meal and conversation.

in comes an intruder.

one very hungry magpie indeed.

twice the size.

who is going to win, the lorikeets or magpie?

and who is going to go home hungry?

the answer surprised me.

lunch

On my much deserved lunch break.

(Chicken, sundried tomato, carrots, salad leaves, mayo...and butter!)

why go to japan....

when you get cherry blossoms right at your doorstep?

ok, maybe not quite doorstep but close enough ;)

i just stood and admired in awe. 

this is just. so. pretty.

just had to squeeze in another photo today. 

this couple...they're noisy and loud.

might be having a fight from the look of it.

doctor's order

Was hard to select the photo to post today because so many were taken.

But I've decided to post something simple.

And remind you to eat your 5+ a day!

centre of attention

I saw this stunning centrepiece at dinner tonight before the prayer meeting.

Gorgeous.

It looks so happy and cheerful. 

Like a bit of sunshine on your face on a chilly day.

there's no place like home

After a pretty full-on day filled with errands

i clicked my heels 3 times...

"There's no place like home"

and magically i found myself in my room.

p.s. this 'poster' function on my camera made me look like i have burnt skin.

p.p.s. the shoes is clean (i.e. new)

p.p.p.s. i do realise that the socks + shoes do not go together.

p.p.p.p.s. although do you think i could ever start a polka dot + heels trend?

caffeine

Guess what?

The writer of this post can now make a:

latte

cappuccino.

flat white.

flattering much?

Took a barista course today. 

Not that I want to work at Starbucks.

But it's a good skill to have.

p.s. i didnt make the above latte. my instructor did. i can do the love heart tho! almost.

acquaintance

After church, I bumped into this little guy whilst waiting for my coffee order.

He looked like he was having the winter blues initially.

But as I talked to him he began to slowly wag his tail.

And as I bent down to play with him, his tail was on full swing.

korean

After an afternoon of The Mentalist, we needed to feed our body.

It always disappoints me when a restaurant you used to like is now nowhere near as good as it used to be. You can't call that a mushroom salad when mushrooms aren't the star.

cracking pork

lazy.

hungry.

dinner.

girls catch-up.

rain.

cab.

8 hour woodfired pig.

photographers.

slr cameras.

phones.

veal tongue.

fennel salad.

amazing pavlova.

one good night.

free fall

We opened the car's sunroof on the way to lunch.

This is what we saw.

When I was little, I loved sitting in the car when it was raining and just following a drop of water falling down vertically (slowly at start) and colliding into other drops...then suddenly races down as one huge combined droplet.

open sesame

Today I helped out at CBF where Dominic Steele was giving a talk.

It poured and poured outside as I stood by the door (giving people access into the building) and the sound of the rain kept me company as I waited (as well as my camera of course).

order

Finally got to do a little (long overdue) clean-up/re-arrangement in my room today.

Now I feel better sitting in this organised room listening to some classical music.

Maybe I should light up the candle too while I'm at it. Haha.

captivating? not!

In between sorting out bills/statements and coffee sipping, I managed to start reading this book.

I am considering whether to continue reading as I do not agree with all that the authors are getting at and the use of Scriptures which are out of context.

Oh and not to mention all the pop culture references too!

up

Another shot of the sky and clouds...

I'm forever fascinated by the sky I think.

Just hope this doesn't turn in Project Sky 365 - because I do do other things other than looking up into the sky. 

(Just finished watching a DVD - Sweet Home Alabama. Love that movie!)

late night chocolate

Sat night pigging out with JK at San Churro after some Korean for dinner.

Had an interesting and looong convo with JK tonight - my NZ high school friend. 

Sometimes I worry that I won't have anything to talk to my old friends about because we haven't seen each other for so long.

But then once you start talking, you realised you needn't worry about it.

Thank God for friendships.

got time for...Cookie Time?

15th July 2011

Yesterday, AK came over to give me these special cookies from...NZ!

You can't be a kiwi and not know about these cookies, aka Cookie Time.

It's almost like a staple!

High school memories...

...putting a Cookie Time into the microwave so that the chocolate chips melt...

...putting the cookie in the freezer so that it's rock hard. Nice.

...having Cookie Time for lunch. 

Hmmm. 

Yummy.

Unhealthy. 

But yummy.

I loved those cookies so much that all my e-mail accounts and online chat handles/aliases were all:

Cookie Time.

I wasn't trying to be cute or wanted to be called a 'cookie'. Ugh.

I just loved those cookies so much!

How sad.

That must've been my 'rebellious' teenage years.

But that was back in high school.

I'm not weird anymore!

:)

I think.

the sun has gone to bed

13th July 2011

Stayed up to update my resume. 

Thought it'd be fun to 'randomly' submit it somewhere before I sleep.

Got a call the next day (today) - technical phone interview right on the spot.

No question I sounded like a dork. No biggies though, just for fun ;)

14th July 2011

First thing I saw when I got home were the fluffy clouds + bright moon outside on the balcony.

I see the moon, the moon sees me. 

God bless the moon, God bless me!

A little backyard party

*12th July 2011*

I walked past an afternoon garden party...it was noisy and it was in action.

More guests arrived later on.

bubbly

My best friend in primary school is engaged and it's taken me a long time to write a card to her.

Feels like yesterday when we were braiding each other's hair and playing Barbie together.

"...XXX popped the question over dinner that he secretly organised with 2 of our close friends, my entire family and his parents -- they all attended). I never knew, there was so much to consider and how much time and effort is required."

Congrats my dear friend!

Project 365

I know that I haven't completed my 101 goals in 1001 days but AD inspired me to start Project 365 today...

I love the idea of taking a photo a day, even on the most uninteresting day, to capture my year and what I come across everyday in the ordinary life that I lead. And to improve my photography skills/creativity of course. It is not going to be easy I know. There will be days I won't even want to take out my camera and point it in any direction. But I shall try! :)

I probably won't be uploading the photos everyday but hopefully at least once a week...

Here's my very first photo taken in a park using my new Canon s95 (portable point and shoot FTW!)

It's not a great photo but to me it is: blushing. delicate. gentle. blooming. life on a cold winters day.

Might be my favourite colour too. 

If I could wear this flower, I would.