nishatalitha

For dinner tonight:

barbequed prawns marinaded in a thai coriander and lime dressing
barbequed ham, pineapple, mushroom, capsicum and avocado kebabs
refriend kumra and corn mush
green salad

It was excellent, especially the prawns and avocado.

It has been a very hot day today. Fortunately, there was a bit of a breeze, so we opened all the deck doors and the ranch slider and most of the windows and made the lounge door stay open as to create a bit of a crossbreeze, which has been lovely. The windchimes occasionally sound, but not enough to be annoying.

The cats quite enjoy coming into my room, jumping out the window, going round and doing it all again. Or jumping in the window occasionally, in Tobias' case.

There is a bus that goes between Karori and Queensgate via J'ville every day until around 2.00pm or so - a shopping bus. I think there is a fairly early bus stop, otherwise it's around the entrance to Otari Wilton bush, and then it's a relatively easy walk up Warwick St and home. Not so good for going to visit clockworkflight and darth_sappho, but excellent for overnight. Wish it ran later, but it's pretty good. Certainly faster than going into town and catching another bus home again. Cheaper, too, and it's a Go!Wellington bus, so takes snapper cards.

Have stitched a fair amount on Spring over the weekend; I'm just starting the second sweep of her dress. Making sure I get the flowers right is probably the trickiest thing at the moment, especially as one of the colours is a bead and that's just annoying. It's coming out much whiter on the blue fabric than I expected, but maybe that will change as I stitch more.

Annabelle the new computer is proving to be a great distraction - more specifically Heroes of Might and Magic V, which I'm sorta addicted to, only I've started dying more easily so the addiction will probably wane over the next week or so, unless I manage to succeed. Still, I completed the first set of missions and have just started the second.

bl9_knt and purple_sparkler are supposed to be coming up for dinner tomorrow night, but they haven't confirmed, so I'm not sure. If either of you are reading this, take note: none of us will be home until at least 6.30pm - dinner will probably be aimed for 7.30pm or so. Contact us, damnit and confirm. You should have all my numbers by now.

Have managed the gym once this week. Failed on Monday, took Tuesday off, went on Wednesday, failed today and really need to go tomorrow. My mother claims it takes 28 days to make a habit, and this is one I need to recreate.

Am going to lunch with the ladies from my old work tomorrow, which should be fun. I try and do this about once a month or so and and it's worked out to be about that.

Right now I think I'll go make a cup of hot chocolate and get ready for bed; maybe even do some crossstitch. Autumn has been sadly neglected of late and her skin is growing far more slowly than I'd really like.

Well, the wedding present is finished, barring two french knots and assuming that all the names are correct. The corners are all relatively tidy and I'm quite pleased how it turned out. I will be carting it around with me to show off for the next couple of weeks and hopefully get photos and then I shall wander on up to Walrus Gallery and ask about framing and lacing. I think I will try lacing this one myself. Although it might have to wait until May, so I can take it up north with me for Dad's 50th to show off, but that might be cutting timing a bit fine.

So, as I planned, I am back to the nice uncomplicated counted crossstitch, Mirabila's Maidens of the Seasons (Autumn and Winter) only to find that during my break from it, or in the period since I last had to buy the main framing colour, that they've changed the dye run slightly. I don't want to have to undo everything I've done so far, but I might have to. I'll certainly have to undo the entire section that the new colour is directly next to. The more I work on this, the more I am convinced that when I bought the linen, I was given the area I asked for, but not in the proportions I wanted. I feel like I have nearly a foot extra at the ends and that it's tight at the top and the bottom. Still very pleased with the blue of the background.

Dirty Creature had a bye tonight for the last game of the season, but I came along anyway, wanting a run around and ended up playing for Hammerhands (Dirty Hands) against Happy Creature. I had fun. I played in my Kathmandu work shirt and was actually cooler in it than I am in my cotton creature t-shirt. Maybe I should investigate this sports fabric thing. I also purchased my first disc, one of the Ultimate Creature ones, which makes me happy.

Then I came home, had dinner, and watched Dancing With the Stars, where the true entertainment is hanging out with my flatmates and laughing, not the show itself. We all have a weakness for dancing shows. But the costumes!

No class this week, so I get to start at 8.30am and have hour long lunch breaks. This is so strange that I have no idea what to do with them. Maybe I'll go to the library tomorrow - I was reading an interesting article on Bette Davis at the gym this morning and her biography or autobiography could be quite interesting, and I keep meaning to try Liz Williams Snake Agent series - a few people have generally recommended it to me.

Does anyone in Wellington have any suggestions where to get massage oil from other than the Body Shop? They're out of bergamot and I don't like the other scents they have.

Have sat the first exam - Introduction to Legal Systems - and my brain is resenting the idea of getting back into studying straight away. Still, I've had the afternoon and part of the evening off and will start looking at stupid bloody Trust Accounts and conveyancing statement stuff soon.

Have spoken to my brother and the future sister-in-law and there has been a decision made on the type of sampler, and the specific one if possible. She would like this one, my brother also likes it and of the two they liked best, I like this one the best, so if I can get the pattern, I shall do this. Unfortunately, it's only available as a kitset and I would really rather not have to buy the kitset if possible; for one thing it has to come all the way from the UK! I have emailed them to ask if I could purchase it as a .pdf pattern only so I can choose my own colours and fabrics as I'd rather not have the shipping time to wait and the leftover threads (I would use the leftover fabric). Also, I want to work on linen or evenweave, not aida.

I totally plan to change the colours; her bridesmaids' dresses are going to be in this limey green, apparently, so the bridesmaids on the sampler would be in that colour, and I shall get her to send me a fabric sample so I can match it. Or get her to give me the DMC number, but the former would be easier. I'm also thinking about a pale pink background or some other pale but interesting colour other than beige.

My other project is going well; I am nearly half way through the black, but it will, of course, be put aside for the new one. The nice thing about the new one is that it should be pretty easy to do and get framed in the timeframe available to me.

Various links for people to follow or not as they choose. I didn't note it down, but Legacy chapter two is up and some of chapter three. I look forward to getting my copy.

And thanks to kikibug13, A Singing Tesla Coil.

My copy of the first six discs of Saiyuki arrived on Friday so I have been distracted with watching that and hemming lots of blue linen so it doesn't fray. I got 221 #4 very fine braid today (sort of a coppery colour) so I can do the tiny bits between the brown of the framing lines and make sure I get my spacing right. I'll do all four frames before starting in on the pictures, I think.

Have also bought a couple of books - the second Firebirds anthology (and I'd really like the first one), which tamarillowi pointed out to me, and Kitchen Princess #1, which is a manga about a girl who likes cooking things to make people smile. And it includes recipes!

Had a rather relaxed afternoon. After church, tamarillowi and I went to Te Papa, purely upon impulse, and went through the Poisoners exhibition, which was lots of fun. And there was shopping: giant nails for hanging the mirror back up (not available individually, alas), Firebirds Rising anthology, shoe polish for my red shoes, tea (ginger kissed and loose-leaf English Breakfast so I can make chai), the krenik thread and I even managed to avoid buying anything at Borders.

Oh, and art. At Trade Aid, I found this lovely piece of artwork, which currently hangs between Garden Verses and the window. It's handwork even (and doesn't that feel odd, to buy stitching, rather than make it), a neat spiral pattern in beige calico stitched upon dark green cotton cord with a few stem stitches on top. But it's the stitching I'm impressed with; it's beautifully done and the handstitching is scarcely visble. I think even thesane would be impressed. It fits in nicely with our growing collection of art on the walls. Actual art, not just posters. And there was a beaded squid keyring, too. I tend to have more keyrings than keys.

Later, when we got home, we sat in the sun and chatted while eating lunch and drinking tea, talking about the That's Life magazines and designing our dream home, white flagstone checkerboard herb garden border and all.

Also as a result of what we were talking about, I now want to do a short Escher-esque metamorphosis blackwork picture. It'll take a lot of designing, which is something I'm not necessarily very good at, but would look absolutely lovely. Still want to do a blackwork chessboard one day, but the hard part of that will be finding somewhere that will make it up into a usable chessboard.

Having reached my first goal for weight loss, I purchased an Alphonse Elric figure (from Fullmetal Alchemist that being the series I'm most into at the moment. I have two of the three, Edward and Alphonse. Alphonse has two spare hands and a cat. Ed has a five spare hands, three spare arms, a removable jacket, a dagger and a curved piece which attach to one of the arms and a spear. I can't help but feel that's somewhat unfair.

I have been insanely busy at work since I got back. The person whom I mostly work for is being seconded up to Auckland for six months. Next week. So he was aiming to make his budget yesterday and today. We've almost done it and since he's in for some of Monday and next Friday, I think we will make it. It does mean that I will have to break in a new author (we are getting a replacement) and makes me more inclined to go for a position in the new Mechanical/Electrical Patent team when that becomes an option. They are looking for the geek people at the moment - ones who don't speak to their shoes, by preference. We're also looking for support staff, so if you are a good typist, both with accuracy and speed, and think you might like working in intellectual property f, drop me and email and send me your CV and I'll pass it onto our practice manager.

There were green things at morning tea in honour of it being St Pat's day tomorrow. I'm more looking forward to daylight saving changing over on Saturday night. Not so much the fact that it will be dark so early but that it will be much lighter at six am, when I am getting up. Currently the view from my window now, at nine pm, is much the same as the view from my window at six am, except there are fewer house lights at six am, unsurprisingly.

maudlinrose came up to my work drinks this evening, which was nice, and then we wandered down to Borders again. I went there after work yesterday. It's going to be a draw card for a while, I think. I'm enjoying checking out the range. Completely unimpressed with the SF/Fantasy section - although they'll have a hard time breaking into the market unless their prices are very good, what with Dymocks and Arty Bees already being around. Like the manga section, which will be hard to resist - I'm already making a mental list of what I want to collect. It's just manga series are so long and they're about the same price as a regular book. And once I start collecting a series and have the entire series readily available for purchase, I have a really hard time restricting myself to a book a fortnight or so, especially if I haven't read them first.

Finished the crossstitch for Kura while I was sick. I need to hem the edges and work out how I'm going to sign it. I'm currently thinking about a slightly elaborate K and the date in one corner, then out of framed view, in a far corner, my actual name and the date. If I do that at the very edge, then it's clearly not for public view. My standard signature for stuff I'm keeping is my first name in very plain backstitch and the year in a dark colour, but not for stuff I'm giving away. I didn't sign my work for ages. My dragon will be signed normally, but in white.

I'm clearly babbling. I wonder why.

Chocolate. I feel like chocolate sometimes. I don't usually want block chocolate, but cakes, brownies and biscuits I find hard to resist, especially when I walk past Ma Higgens and smell freshly baked food.

C. is home now with new blue boots. I will go look.

Since I left Wellington yesterday morning, without hassle since the cloud was more in Wilton than Kilbirnie, I have read on of the three books I brought up with me, purchased another, wandered through what there is of downtown Tauranga, done a few rows of crossstitch, thrown a frisbee on the beach and seen the comet with my own eyes from my parents backyard! And that was just yesterday.

Today I slept in, despite the heat, went for a walk and then for a swim. The swim was absolutely delightful - still, clear and just the right temperature. Very relaxing. Have done very little since then.

maudlinrose, could you check my Tamora Pierce to see if I have Cold Fire, Bk. 3 in the Circle Opens series. Am also getting recipes and ideas off Mum to play with, some of which I might use, some I won't. They like our pesto, though.

Had a very good Kapcon - played a lot of increasingly silly games and enjoyed myself thoroughly. The LARP went well, which was a relief and have only heard generally positive comments and the occasional constructive criticism for future LARPs. Have a idea for another one, but I think it'd be better as a May one and not til next year.

I hear that it was an absolutely horrible game of Ultimate last night. I'm very sorry and I hope that no one leaves over it.

The latest sga_flashfic challenge has hit me with an idea and I think it's time to go find a pad of refill or something and start playing with it.

I have been incredibly tired this week - Wednesday night I was even asleep before 11pm, and I'm considering going to bed very shortly even now, except for the fact that I doubt my brain would shut up.

Lace & Steel ended dramatically with three PCs unconscious and one having a bubble-bath. Surprisingly, Isthian is not the one bathing. Earthdawn is also much fun, although another PC and I accidentally blew up something we weren't supposed to blow up, and now the other PC is mad at us. We feel rather guilty.

Work today and yesterday has been rather busy and interesting. My trainer, the team secretary has been away, and so I've been doing what I can of her work, and organising files and stuff. I think I've managed, although everyone's critical lists were weird today, including mine, only of course, I didn't realise this. Oh well, I'm sure those files were done no harm by being looked at again.

Another author and I are judging the bake off on Monday. I'm looking forward to my turn to bake, actually. Judging - meh - I get to try everything anyway. But I want to bake, and I have ideas for what to do if I get through my round.

Confusion IV tomorrow. The Kapcon VI cast list also premieres then, and I'll be interested to see who gets picked first. I really need to start doing my research, as I've only done the very basics.

Been working on my sister's wedding sampler a bit lately. I only have the last of the crossstitch, the beadwork and the cutwork to go, but the next month and a half is going to be very busy, and I want to have it done by then, and I'm supposed to only do the cutwork in good natural light, so that massively cuts into my time for embroidery. Still, I'm looking forward to getting it done, and then I think I'll go back to my dragon and do some nice normal complicated crossstitch again.

Been reading a lot of crappy fic lately. I want to read some good long happily-ending romance fic that has angst in it which I haven't read before - and seriously, people, that last qualification is the hardest one to fufill.

I came to uni today to go to student job search and print out copies of my CV and stuff like that when I ran into (not literally) the HGHS head girl of my 7th form year. She was sitting near the pharmacy waiting for Angus, her boyfriend, who was at a meeting. So I stopped and we chatted for a while. A girl who was going ot move in with them (also from my year of HGHS) has moved back to Hamilton to be with her long-term boyfriend, so they haven't moved yet, so their old address is still the same.

We'll be doing the WWI paper next semester together, it appears. She's got enough points to graduate, but wants to bring up her grade average so she can do honours next year. It was a brief catch up, but good to see her. Someone remind me to invite her to my 21st when the time comes.

( Read more... )

I brought a new crossstitch recently. It's of a dragon, and it's the first really decent dragon that I've seen and liked in crossstitch. It'll be a while before I can start it though, so hopefully I'll get to start it before the end of the year. I need to get some more threads so that I can do the leaves on the crossstitch that I'm stitching for mum. I finished the lettering, so NO MORE METALLICS!!! I hate working with metalllics. Worth it, with how they look, but they're awful to use.