Ways a Kitty can Melt Your Heart

1. Napping while supervising your domestic duties

2. Napping on the coffee table

3. Continuing to nap on the coffee table

4. Napping in a plastic bag
(while using your handbag as a pillow)

5. Getting caught out napping with your delicates!

Review: Roman Holiday

I recently made the decision to watch all of my ‘new’ DVDs (i.e. the ones I’ve bought over the years and never bothered to even unwrap). The first of these DVDs was Roman Holiday (1953, William Wyler) starring Audrey Hepburn. According to online reports this film is a romantic comedy. However, I didn’t really understand this in the sense of today’s ‘romcoms.’ To me this film was a romantic journey that let a young woman understand her true role in society.

Filmed on location in Rome

Plot (spoiler alert!):
A young European princess (from an unnamed country) named Ann (Hepburn) is taking a whirlwind publicity tour of Europe. One night while she is in Rome she has a tantrum and runs away into the city. She wants to experience ‘real’ life. After acting very drunk she meets an American journalist named Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck). Joe decides to take advantage of Ann so he can produce an exclusive article about it and earn $5000 (in conjunction with his photographer friend, Irving Radovich who was played by Eddie Albert) by showing her the city. Joe lets Ann do everything she’s always wanted to do while on a holiday (she gets her hair cut fashionably short, she smokes her first cigarette, she dines at a street side cafe, and she visits historic places and eats gelato). After 52 hours Ann goes home and ‘reorders’ her assistants – she has learned she is a capable young woman who does not need someone else to dress her. During a press conference the next morning, Ann faces Joe and Irving. Both men indicate they will keep her secret (Irving even hands over the photos he took of their trip as a ‘memento’) and Ann speaks in code to Joe (indicating what might have been if he wasn’t, you know, in line for the throne and he a mere commoner).

The world’s silliest Vespa driver.
No. Really. Her driving was ridiculous.

Roman Holiday introduced Audrey Hepburn to American audiences via this first major role. Hepburn won a variety of awards for her role: Academy Award for Best Actress, BAFTA Award for Best British Actress, Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actress – Drama, and the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress.

My copy of the DVD comes with some background documentaries. Apparently the film was shot in black and white to give it a more universal appeal. Who knew? What we do know is that the film was awarded an Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Black and White. And the film works in black and white. You can feel the transitory nature of Ann’s holiday and the scratchy nature of the film. The various tones of costumes come across well in black and white as there is no need for any level of ‘gaiety’ in the colourings. We can see the transformation of Ann via her actions, we don’t need blatant costumed reminders.

Scene at the Mouth of Truth features an impromptu practical joke.

As I said at the beginning, I don’t know if I would class this as a romantic comedy today. It certainly has its romantic parts and comedic parts but not how I expect them to appear. This film is heart warming and certainly makes me reconsider how I view the experiences of royalty today (especially when you consider Charles and Diana were making their kerfuffle at the time this was released).

Mission 101

This is something I’ve been meaning to start for a while now. As I have much more free time (to focus on me – me me me) I thought sooner rather than later was the best time to start working on this list. I will endeavour to update my list as I go. I will pop this list onto its own ‘page’ for future reference. I will also edit this into categories (rather than the jumble it is currently).

The Challenge:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of work on your part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past – frequently simple challenges such as New Year’s resolutions or a ‘Bucket List’. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips, study semesters, or outdoor activities.

My Start Date: 31/1/2010
My End Date: 28/10/2012

Key:
Unstarted
Started
Completed

The List:

1. No chocolate for one calendar month (I’m lookin’ at you, March).
2. Get a permanent, fulltime job in a field I enjoy.
3. Write a budget. Stick to it for three months. (0/3) Check budget to actual weekly. (0/12)
4. Keep a gratitude journal for 365 days.
   Started 01/01/2010
5. Watch the Medici documentaries I have taped on Foxtel since 02/2009.
   1. Part One
   2. Part Two
   3. Part Three
   4. Part Four
6. No purchases for one calendar month (obviously excluding groceries and bus tickets).
7. Instigate Peter Walsh’s clever hanger trick. Review after three months.
   1. Implemented in January 2010. To be reviewed in April 2010.
      
8. Get married.
   1. Working on it!
      
9. Visit 20 new art galleries.
10. Read all of the published novels written by Jane Austen (reread those already read).
    1. Sense and Sensibility
    2. Pride and Prejudice
    3. Mansfield Park
    4. Emma
    5. Northanger Abbey
    6. Persuasion
11. Visit Melbourne.
12. Visit Western Plains Zoo.
13. Buy a new mattress for the double bed.
14. Buy a dining table that is big enough for a family.
15. Make a will. Get MrMan to make one too.
16. Invest in a new filing system for recipes. Use it!
17. Make more home cooked meals.
18. Host a dinner party which I’ve cooked from scratch.
19. Sort through everything in the garage. Be ruthless!
20. Sell MrMan’s motorbike.
21. Pay Mum and Dad back.
22. Buy a new car (and give Dad back his one!)
23. Invest in a digital SLR camera.
24. Mail a secret to PostSecret.
25. Make a scrapbook of our 21^st birthday.
26. Make a scrapbook of our wedding celebrations.
27. Publish a blog post each weekday for three months.
28. Update photos on external hard drive once a month.
29. Visit Bee when she is a doctor.
30. Add a new cat to the family.
    1. Told MrMan he is getting one as his wedding gift.
       
31. Purchase an external CD drive for my laptop.
32. Finish reading all the books from my degree.
33. Track how much water I drink for one calendar month. Aim for two litres a day. Aim to continue the habit
34. Tame the garden. Maintain it!
35. Get my own copy of my citizenship certificate.
36. Sort out all our linen. Toss/donate what isn’t needed.
37. Get a pair of prescription sunnies.
38. Set $1000 aside for emergencies.
39. Get my own health insurance.
40. Read Home at Grasmere by Dorothy Wordsworth.
41. Start planning a family.
42. Consider and master Marelisa Fábrega’s 75 Skills Every Woman Should Master
43. Create a database to maintain all of the pictures I have saved on my laptop (not including my own photos).
44. Do the Harbour Bridge climb (and face my fears!)
45. Make a hollow book.
46. Learn the alphabet in sign language (and hopefully a few basic words).
47. Hardcore clean the car inside and out once a calendar month.
48. Get a facial.
49. Get a massage.
50. Purchase the perfect little black dress.
51. Rediscover my Christianity (not sure how to do this yet)
52. Complete 31 Days to Fix Your Finances.
53. Get a passport.
54. Buy a piece of original art that I love at least once a year.
55. Go to Questacon (just because I can).
56. Get my degree papers framed (and MrMan’s trade papers too).
57. Get my broken jewellery fixed.
58. Buy a new bookshelf (preferably as needed) to stop double stacking our books.
59. Create a personal first aid kit.
60. Create an emergency kit (in case of emergencies…)
61. Take part in Earth Hour.
62. Stash $10 cash for each completed item on this list (to be spent frivolously on completion.) ($0/$1010)
63. Make a note of all of my unwatched DVDs. Watch them all.
    1. Roman Holiday (30/1/2010)
       
    2. Sabrina
    3. Bloodline
    4. Paris When it Sizzles
    5. Gone with the Wind
    6. Degrassi High collection
    7. Romeo + Juliet
    8. Bride and Prejudice
    9. The Jetsons collection
    10. Black Books collection
    11. Forsyte Saga collection
    12. Tales from Earthsea
64. Go wine tasting in the Hunter Valley.
65. Get home and contents insurance.
66. Sign up with the NGA again.
67. Sort out my superannuation – compile it into one account (or whatever…)
68. Read Anne Frank’s Diary. Actually finish it for once.
69. Read Jane Eyre. Actually finish it for once.
70. Sort my stuff in Mum and Dad’s shed. Be ruthless!
71. Complete a cross stitch sampler to hang in our home.
72. Purchase a housewifey apron from Etsy.
73. Get a professional blog layout.
74. Visit all local cafes. Document.
75. Take Mum and Dad out for dinner. Pay with own money.
76. Complete my Audrey Hepburn DVD collection.
    1. My Fair Lady
    2. Funny Face
    3. War and Peace
77. Complete NaNoWriMo.
78. Visit Granny and Gaffer in Tasmania.
79. Visit MumC in Armidale.
80. Get a new pair of glasses.
81. Stop the car on Horse Park and take photos of the horses that I like.
82. Get a professional portrait drawn of the MrMan and I.
83. Get a professional photo taken of Patch.
84. Get my photo taken with Santa (because I can).
85. Wake up (and get up) at 8am for a calendar month.
86. Purchase and complete a jigsaw puzzle to frame and display in our home.
87. Pick up my Honours thesis and medical records from ANU.
88. Invest in a sewing machine.
89. Endeavour to understand the American schooling system!
90. Invest in a Polaroid camera.
91. Suck it up and find out my blood type.
92. Celebrate Pancake Day at the Pancake Parlour.
93. Take MrMan to Koko Black (as a surprise – shhhh!)
94. Get an armchair for the dressing room.
95. Complete the Spyro game MrMan got me for Xmas 2009.
96. Set up a cleaning schedule (and stick to it) for keeping the house.
97. Go to Bateman’s Bay.
98. Purchase, frame and hang a copy of the Singin’ in the Rain and Breakfast at Tiffany’s film posters.
99. Visit the Great Barrier Reef.
100. Join a book club (physical or online – either one is good!)
101. Attend a concert/play/show in Canberra before it leaves.

Review: Connect Cafe and Bar

This week’s Food Fight Friday (on Saturday) is a little late – whoops. The MrMan and I enjoyed lunch today at a new Gungahlin cafe: Connect Cafe and Bar. Located on the Big W side of the Gungahlin Marketplace, this cafe boasts breakfast (until 11am), lunch (11-2.30pm) and dinner (from 6pm). My expectations were far lower than what we experienced – a pleasant surprise for Gungahlin cafes!

Lemon Lime & Bitters || MASSIVE iced coffee

We were seated in a small alcove downstairs.
Decor featured ‘nests’ around the lights and a rainbow of T2 teas…

…and a spotty wall – teehee

MrMan had the Big Brekky
Apparently it was “really good” (I didn’t try any)

I had the Pan Seared Fish with Beer Battered Chips
I was expecting something battered out of a box
This meal FAR exceeded my expectations – succulent fish and crispy chips

The signage above our table was very appropriate
There was certainly a range of clientele
(Not that I saw a ‘family’…)

Of course the MrMan read || I looked pretty and people watched

I definitely recommend Connect Cafe and Bar to Gungahlin locals. Its close proximity to Woolworths and Big W makes it very accessible. Connect is certainly a step up from the Coffee Club if you are looking for a nice coffee/meal out while getting your groceries! My only issue with Connect was that we didn’t get the customary bottle of water with our menus – we had to ask for it towards the end of our meal. But the serving staff were very attentive (even calling my MrMan ‘Sir’!) and willing to give us all the time we needed to choose and enjoy our meals.

Collagista – a collage-zine for you and I

An art school friend has started a bi-monthly collage zine called Collagista – a publication which “hopes to keep it’s finger firmly on the pulse of contemporary collage art across the globe.”¹ It features the following collage-related content: works, exhibition reviews and info, essays and exhibition and competition opportunities. From around the world. (Yes, the world exists outside of Canberra.)

Artist: Collagista creator, Johnny
Title: Postcard 03
Text: Postcard for the Cut and Paste postcard competition

Members of the international public are invited to email .jpeg images of their works (with explanatory texts), essays and so on to the creator (Johnny) at collagista@hotmail.com

The zine is available primarily in PDF format but hard copies can also be found in select Canberra galleries and libraries. Each printed edition is assigned an ISSN (international serial number), allowing the zine to be collected and catalogued around the world.

To view the bi-monthly Collagista zine, simply go to their blog and download the PDF!

And now, a little Q&A with the man behind Collagista:

Where did the idea come from?
he idea built up over time. I had been following the work of a number of collage artists for some years, mostly on Deviantart, as well as people I knew in Canberra, such as Franki Sparke (who does incredible collages, and who initially gave me the idea to use collage myself), and had been finding it difficult to keep up to date with the work and projects of so many diverse artists spread across such a vast area (the world is quite big!).
One of the artists whose work I followed, Edvard Derkert, a Swedish artist, put on a show called ‘Cut & Paste’ in Gallery KG52, in Stockholm. I was quite excited about the show for two reasons. Firstly, the work was of great quality, and secondly, the foyer of the gallery was set aside to display postcard collages, which anyone could send in. I told everyone I knew who I thought would be interested, and as I was telling everyone I realised that there are so many artists around the world working with collage who never know about each other. It takes a great deal of energy and time to research upcoming shows and exhibition/competition opportunities, and it is difficult to stay on top of contemporary collage work.
The more I thought about it, the more obvious it seemed that the collage community needed some kind of forum to share information about artist projects, their work, upcoming competitions and exhibitions etc… and a magazine seemed to be a fairly simple method of disseminating the information.

Do you work alone?
I work alone only in that I physically put the magazine together myself, on my dining room table. I think really that the magazine is more of a collaborative affair though, as, I couldn’t keep up to date with all the exhibitions etc which are going on around the world – especially as so many are in countries which do not speak English – without the help of other collage artists.

How did you get all of the international contacts?
Many of the contacts have come from people telling other people about the project. I started by simply sending the first issue out to everyone in my hotmail contact list (assuming, rightly, that friends and family would get on board) and to all the collage artists I was already in contact with. Naturally, all of these people knew others who were interested or who worked with collage, and the magazine was forwarded to them and so on and so forth.
I also continue to search the net to find people who might be interested. Recently I sent an email to the Institue of Contemporary Art in Moscow, asking if any of their students worked with collage and were interested. I had about a dozen responses from students and also found the magazine had been advertised on a number of Russian artists blogs, which in turn added to the contact list.

Where exactly do you distribute hard copies?
Hard copies are distributed in Canberra, in very small numbers, mostly in or around the art school. With the upcoming third issue I hope to be able to take small numbers to local galleries and art stores as well.

Keep an eye out for Collagista!