It comes but once a year

October

Dearest, darling, birthday month, you come but once a year.
This year you are a whirl of unpredictable weather, changeable work circumstances, a frenzy of lines and planning and travel and moving and oh, exhaustion.
I expect. I anticipate. I prognosticate*. But knowing what I have scribbled into my diary? gives me the benefit of foresight.

I enjoyed my fanciful wishlist collage last year** and so? here is the collage du jour, collage 2009:



This beautiful copy of The Bell Jar, Protea charm & Protea ring by Meadowlark, Cupcakes (!), Peonies, the permission for Craig and I to live in the UK for as long as we like, beautiful underwear, a Kodak Duaflex vintage camera, St Paul's Cathedral back in my life, a traditional peony tattoo, a black retro-style scooter, Chloe Sevigny for Open Ceremony Wedges, Meadowlark*** pyramid stud bangles, a Marc by Marc Jacobs bag in a berry berry hue.

Not pictured: A French Bulldog, a Nissan Figaro (!), photography prints to sell (and people to purchase them), the ability to whistle, a trip to Paris, gladiator sandals, and the Oxford English Dictionary.


p.s. this year I have manymany hours of work followed by manymany hours of rehearsal on my birthday. And more work the day after. And rehearsal half the weekend. It makes me tired just thinking about it.


* Sidebar! Because a word is obscure does not mean that it shouldnot be used. If you understand the meaning and proper usage then I think I should be aloowed to use it. It bugs me ever so much when people tilt their heads**** when I make use of my extensive vocabulary.

** Following on from last years list? Sir C gave me a PoGo, only to find that the paper is not stocked in NZ, my zelda fitzgerald heirloom ring, and an ice cream cake (he is a lovely lovely man), mes parents assembled my charm bracelet (all London, all the time), and in the year since I have also acquired (my obsessions rarely wane) a large Moleskine diary, a traditional rose 1/4 sleeve tattoo (or near enough), MAC makeup, and a large fuchsia flower pin.

*** Meadowlark meadowlark meadowlark. I just adore their work.

**** Examples from the last few days: Behoove. Misanthropy. Prognosticate. Ire.

Craig almost fell over

Late Sunday night

Me: I think I want to start running.
Craig: What? you mean like you want to get a treadmill?
Me: No. I think outside in the big wide world.
Craig: ... uh ok?
Me: I think I might like it! I really like the jogging on Wii Fit* and yea. I think I might like jogging outside too.
Craig: ... maybe. Are you serious?
Me: Yea! but I think I need to start with a sports bra. And some running shoes.
Craig: Baby, any time you want to go shopping for sports shoes, I am there!

So yes. Maybe? I might start running. It depends how expensive the gear is. If there's one thing I hate, it's spending money on an activity I'm not sure that I will enjoy.
But you know, maybe a new years resolution or something.

* Don't mock. I've lost 13kg doing Wii Fit this year.

Uss Missouri, Hawaii
August 2008


Poor Soviet Union.


On April 11, 1945 the USS Missouri was hit by a Japanese Zero.


The damage is still visible.


Their mess is called the Truman Line. Because President Truman once ate there.
I found that disappointingly obvious.


A plaque noting the spot over which Japan formally surrendered, thereby ending WWII.
Of course the ship was in Tokyo Bay then.


Now, watched over by eagles.

Chez Mes Cousins

My darling cousins have absconded for a week and left Craig and I alone in their darling little house.

They get the benefit of a house protected and a bunny rabbit fed while Craig and I get to prepare for the time when we are living by ourselves again. Just, you know, making sure we still like each other without the buffer of Other People*.

Yesterday afternoon, while Craig was outside chopping firewood (more because he could than because he really needed to) I sat in the lounge ostensibly learning my lines when I noticed that the late afternoon sun was edging in to golden hour.
And it is such a shame to let lovely light go to waste.












(the fruits of Craig's labour)


* We do.

Week Thirty-Nine

Sunday
Mini Melting Moments on a sunny Sunday afternoon.


Monday
My talltall shoes broke. I am still upset and I will take them to a cobbler next week. They were very cheap but super comfortable and most importantly? beloved.


Tuesday
The work of Yayoi Kusama on the front page of the Dominion Post.


Wednesday
More clothes I loved but did not buy.


Thursday
I was dashing about the city when I spotted this little Rocket Man sticker. Well played, Wellington graffiti.


Friday
A busybusy day plus after-work-drinks with colleagues, minus dinner, equals one terrible photo of the railway station bathroom, taken at 11.18pm. Oy.
But still, it was worth it.


Saturday
A surprisingly home-y day. We drove around the city purchasing a cabinet and drawers then moved into my cousins house for a week of house sitting. They have a wood-fire so after a dinner of Mexican food we came home specifically so we could curl up in front of the fire. It was lovely.


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