Catherine’s Blog

22/52 Catherine through the liquid glass.

Originally uploaded by LPM

Wake, car, train, tram, work, phone roulette, work, tram, train, car, swim, skype, sleep.
Wake, car, train, tram, work, phone roulette, work, tram, train, car, skype, sleep.
Wake, skype, car, train, tram, work, phone roulette, work, tram, train, car, skype, sleep.
Wake, car, train, tram, work, phone roulette, work, tram, train, car, skype, sleep.
Skype, car, train, tram, work, phone roulette, work, tram, train, car, skype, gin, sleep.
That was my week. Not very exciting. It is a long weekend, I have done a little house hunting today, and bought important laundry and organisational items. Tomorrow quilts and Monday, not sure.

14/52 Awesome

Originally uploaded by LPM

Welcome to 2010. Happy New Year Readers.
I had a lovely night, caught up with people I have not seen in years.
So, this year, grabbing it by the balls so to speak. Hopefully a new house for me and Tudor, even just a rental until I can get a loan but still staying true to it just being the two of us. A desperately needed new car this month and a job.
A bit of intense social stuff. Trying to decide whether it is worth chasing up some friends. I am disappointed in the the fact I have not heard form some friends but I am wondering if the circumstances of my return are making people uncomfortable.
I am going to have a look around and maybe join the Melbourne Goth Forum. Also the photography meet up group. Also to a stitching groups. maybe a poke at some steampunk stuff?
Also maybe attempting the 365 project. Not sure if the is just too much. Is anyone interested is seeing my face or bits of me everyday? I have to get my camera repaired because of the dropping and cracking the base plate.
A new change, I am much more comfortable talking about my marriage and the ramifications of it in my life now. I truly wish it was different, I am not sure at what point though but I am now looking forward. Rickard is coming, he is a breath of fresh air and makes me smile. He is the reason that Awesome is the catch phrase at the moment. He is awesome himself and what ever the outcome of his trip I have no doubt that he has helped me get back on my feet.
I am loving being back in Australia and even though it is stressy without a job, missing friends and starting a new life, I am 100% sure coming back was the right thing to do. I am happier and more grounded.
So, here is to an awesome 2010 for me and all those people near as well as dear to me.

13/52 Christmas Dinner

Originally uploaded by LPM

Merry Christmas, I think most of the world is in Christmas now.

I have had a lovely couple of days. Yesterday was my family all together at my brothers. Today, Joyce, Arnie and I had lunch in a restaurant with a buffet style meal. I think Arnie ate 2 dozen oysters and I don’t need to eat for a year.
It has been lovely. Tomorrow off to catch up with Jack and Tracey.

12/52 Socks and Toes

Originally uploaded by LPM

We are back. The website has been down as we moved servers.
If you see anything wrong let me know.

Since getting back from Sydney I have been looking for work, sewing and Christmas shopping.

Michael and Nat have gone to a wedding and left me and the boys to fend for ourselves.
Tomorrow we will be looking at a craft market in Williams town to see if our wares will sell there. Lots of fun.
I spent some time purchasing wine in preparation for a skype date. Rikard and I have the same type of red wine. A bit funny but something we can share.

8/52 The Hills are Alive

Originally uploaded by LPM

This week has been fruitful but a little mad with procrastination.
The very hot weather has rung me out like a wet rag, I have really struggled with the heat. It hit 37C yesterday and at one point I was in the arm chair with Ewan piling plastic food on me and I really could not move. The night before it had not dropped below 29C, not good for sleeping. At midday it was 39C and I was lying on the bed dozing, generally being a little pathetic. I roused myself enough to head out to find caffeine and sewing supplies.

When I got outside the sky was red brown, dust storm. It last a good half and hour, not as impressive as the ones before the Ash Wednesday fires but still gritty and blowing.

The temperature mercifully began to drop.
Later in the evening it began to rain and I got Natalie to be the shutter clicker for this weeks picture. The weather forecast indicates there is going to be some respite from the heat for a few days. The concept of a cool change is something I really have only encountered in Australia, the drop of 10C in an hour is something to behold and be grateful for. Enough to dance in the rain.
The rest of me week has been quite slow with highlights. Wednesday I spent with Joyce, we went fabric shopping and spent a really good day just finding fabric and chatting. I get the impression she may have missed me. I know she did and it is these days I have missed so getting back into them was lovely.
I then went to a photography group and had a lovely night. I am reserving judgement for the moment and will go back to see how I feel.
I have also started making aprons, children’s aprons with a clever cross back strap design, to sell on etsy as well as craft markets. Today I cut out and overlocked about twenty of them. It was a good day. We are looking at trying to get in some markets before Christmas.
I have been looking for work. There is not much out there and I am looking at some school photographer work as well. I am not sure how I will go but we will see.
I am not going to get concerned until January as this is when uni’s and schools will be recruiting. I think mentally and emotionally I have been in need of this sort of break and making the aprons should bring in some money too.
I am aiming for more social type things this week and tomorrow I start with catching up with Dave and Andrew.
From Monday to Thursday I will be in Ballarat, cat and house sitting whilst Joyce and Arnie are in Queenscliff.

7/52 tired

Originally uploaded by LPM

This week has been a bit of a strain. A low after the highs, bound to happen.

7/52 Back in Black

Originally uploaded by LPM

Well, I am in Australia and have been so since Tuesday. I have been gathering myself for want of a better way of explaining it.
I arrived on Tuesday to Fergus with a sign and my parents with a banner on a pirate flag! There may have been tears and excitement. We gathered my luggage and headed out to Melton, my new residence. I am living with my brother and his family. I have neat little room with a comfortable bed, it was good to be able to unpack my case.
There was roast chicken, fresh rolls and plenty of salad. It was good! Then Joyce produced a wonderful Lemon Meringue Pie! It was the best pie and welcome present! I distributed gifts and Joyce and Arnie headed home.
I settled into the room and slept.
Wednesday was the beginning of getting stuff in order. Vic Roads and the Bank, changing names and reinstating my licence. It was a little bit of a fail but it was a start. Also sorting money out from other places as well.
Thursday, similar sort of day, phone which is a fail in general but will be sorted soon enough. I lost the afternoon to a nap and the rest of time writing a job application. I was on baby sitting duty while Michael and Nat went shopping but the boys were in bed, so not too much work.
Today was Ikea followed by the rest of the family going out and leaving me to have some down time.
Nat and I have spent most nights on the couch with beer/cider/gin and chips/dips/biscuits. Very pleasant!
This week end is up to Ballarat with Mum and Dad and having a look at my stuff in the chook shed and cuddle my cat!!
The photo this astounding tree house in the back yard, not my bedroom.

5/52 Konnichiwa

Originally uploaded by LPM

Not dead, just busy. Last few days and no time on trains to blog.

4/53 Across the nighting gale floor.

Originally uploaded by LPM

I am on a local bus in Kyoto, I was just so tired last night that blogging was a little beyond me.
Yesterday I had breakfast in the hotel and was introduced to the astounding concept that is the Japanese take on a Western style breakfast. I was not tempted by the spaghetti in tomato sauce nor the steamed broccoli but I did go for the ham and the ‘fried potatoes’ otherwise known as chips. I also went for cornflakes, I knew it was going to be a while before I ate.
I headed out to find the parade route, stopping at a temple on the way. The temple was lovely, made of dark woods and monks wandering around. One of the temples was covered in a huge metal clad building and scaffolding, part of the restoration project of the three hundred year old building. Wandering around in your socks was interesting but the plastic bags given to you carry your shoes did produce a irritating rustling sound as everyone moved around the complex.
Then it was a long walk through central Kyoto, stopping to look at McDonald’s on the way. I think they don’t do Big Macs which is very surprising. I did not sample their food, choosing to move on quickly. I found the parade route, bought a program from the very nice and enterprising seller, who was approaching all the westerners in English. The program was expensive but does list all the costumes and the eras that they come from, very helpful.
I figured a corner on the parade route was a good idea and the placement of the older Japanese men with their cameras confirmed this choice. It appears that photography is a popular pass time for the older man in Japan. I only spotted a few younger women with DSLRs on the parade route. Plenty of men of all nationalities though.
I sat an waited, chatting to a Dutch couple and also entertaining the Japanese men with lens changes and preparing memory cards. (Which I am glad I did). Watching the police slowly and steadily change the traffic flow and in short time frame block the parade route and allow pedestrian crossing was a site to behold, it appeared the whistles were standard for directing traffic and the drivers seemed patient. The parade approached our position and that point the two nights of accommodation at 9000 yen a night was well worth it. There was armour, peasant clothing, men on horse back, kimonos of all sort of types including the 12 layer one. There was a cast of thousands. It was brilliant. I sat on the same bollard for three to four hours, taking lots of photos using the telephoto lens, I had a ball. I chose to shot in raw and filled the the 8gb card quite quickly. I moved onto the 2gb card and then had to move onto the next 8gb card. When the end of the parade came past I headed off to chase it and see where it ended up at the shrine. There I got to see them remove some sort of portable shrine from its wheels and carry it in. It was an epic time and I am really pleased I did. The realisation that if I had not been travelling on my own then it might have proved difficult to take photos and then follow the parade was a little sad.
I then wandered to see if I could fit in another shrine but they closed earlier than I thought. I ended up in a garden chatting to some lovely Canadians, you tend to crave English conversation after a while. I then meandered through the closing craft market and headed into Gion, the older district. Where the Geisha hang out apparently. Having read the Lonely Planet Guide I had not held much hope in seeing any. I noticed lots of tourist milling about and over heard some conversations. They were hunting geisha. My lord, come 6 o’clock there are flashes going off all over the place. I saw mainly Maiko, apprentice Geisha, with the decoration in their hair and elegantly walking in heavy kimonos trying to avoid the photographers. It was a very surreal experience. I was not expecting to see any let alone photograph them. They move so quick you need to use a flash as they whisk past. They duck the person in front of them and generally want to get out of the way. I suspect the start of their working day is running this gauntlet. I am not sure how to feel about taking their photos, I was as bad as the rest of the tourists, it must be invasive but it is their job to look like that so I don’t know. I would love to know their thoughts on the whole situation.
I rode the bus the long way with one of the Canadains who I had met up again whist stalking geisha. We took the long way by accident but frankly my legs were tired and I needed the rest.
I managed to find food, again Chinese but I was starving and sweet and sour pork sounded brilliant.
I then braved the local JR (Japan Rail) lines with lots of other commuters and found my hotel. I am getting a little sick of the back pack, it just does not seem to be sitting right and very awkwardly weighted even though the boots are in the bottom. I am tempted to repack the blasted thing again to try and make it a bit less of a pain to carry.
I stayed in a Japanese style room, I was so tired that I did a rubbish photo, check mail and went to sleep. Unfortunately sleeping on the floor on a futon is not that brilliant for me. I woke a couple of times in the night stiff. I don’t think the buck wheat pillows are helping that much either but certainly the combination was a little crazy.

I was going to get an early start this morning and was awake at 7pm but got distract by Skype and CEB. I got to Kyoto on a normal commuter train because I just missed the express train. This was mildly interesting but I think I missed most of the crazy rush hour although I did have to endure a soppy couple.
On my way out of the station I was singled out as an English speaker by some primary school aged children. The wanted my time and asked some questions. It was very cute and I am annoyed I did not have badges to give them. I had to give them business cards instead,
I managed to get the bus to the Golden Pavilion but not miss the hordes of high school kids. The Pavilion is indeed gold and very shiny. It was just beautiful. I finally found some postcards and have to begin to start writing them.
I caught a bus to the Nijo Castle. There is not that much left of the cast per say but there is an impressive Shogun palace complete with a Nightingale Floor. It sings, well sort of. The floors boards are set so any movement makes them squeak, not creak like stairs but sing sort of. This apparently means that no one can sneak upon the Shogun. How cool is that, I was almost beside myself as the floor actually works, it was quite musical with the be socked tourists wandering over it. It was beautiful. I could have died then happy for an odd moment. Sometimes it is the little things. To find something I have only read about in books is real and still around is great. Hence it is the subject of today’s self portrait. The palace was a sight as well, the rooms with their sliding panels all with astounding paintings was a sight to behold. So different from European stately homes but still with the grandeur that only money can buy.
The other palace sadly was not open.
I wandered around the gardens and was happily distracted by the wonderful landscape that the landscape gardens had worked for thousands of years to achieve. I looked for the important kitchens that were mentioned a lot but could not find them.
I was a little sight seeing out by this stage and really did not want to attempt the imperial palace in such a short space of time. So I headed on the bus over to Gion again, this time in the light take photos of the streets before dark. I also went into a shrine area that is still being used both as a craft, tourist tat sellers and shrine. People were being wishes and hanging them as well as donating money, rattling the bells and praying or wishing. Not really sure on that point.
I wandered through the restaurants in Gion but I really had no idea what food they served and given the ones who did have photographs it was very posh. I found a slightly less posh place on the main road and eat an odd concoction of fried chicken and egg on top of rice. I am a little concerned for my lack of fresh veg at this point.
Then, after a beer I figured I shall take the plunge and become a geisha pap. I have two that were worth the slightly dirty feeling of flash photography on a celebrity.

I am now back in the hotel, in a western style room, very big compared to other places I have stayed in.
Time to sleep soon.

3/52 29 Boxes

Originally uploaded by LPM

Okay, I am in a hotel tonight spending my last night in London.
I am quite sad, I am going to miss London and the reasons for going have really well and truly broken my heart. I do wish things had turned out differently.
The last week has been stressful but there has the silver lining of supportive friends and lots of hugs.
My life fitted into 29 boxes. It is quite odd to think that. I have my back pack packed, almost the same weight as when I left London.
Thank you to all my friends here in London. I am going to miss you. To my friends and family in Australia, two weeks people.