:: Life At Mike's...

:: Let's Make A List :: Tell us what to READ!

Hello!  How are you?  I am fine thanks... actually, I am really good.  Having a lovely break and getting ready for a really great 2011.  I just know it.

You might know that I just read 'The Slap'.  You might not know that, and that is okay too.  Read it I did, and a few people had a bit to say about it both here and on Facebook too.

During that chattiness, another book was mentioned 'The Book Thief'.  Have you read it?  I have not.  But I want to read it.  'The Book Thief' was not mentioned in comparison, really, but rather as an alternative book to read if one found 'The Slap' a bit tough.

I did find 'The Slap' tough, but I also quite enjoyed it.  I kind of endured it as well.  It was a bit of a wincy marathon really, but I wanted to finish it so I could decide if I liked it or not.  I kind of liked it.  More so I admired the fact that it was written.  It left me wondering who Christos Tsiolkas was and what he was like and who his friends were and what kind of car he drove and what he liked for dinner and how he came to write characters like that.  It made me curious about the writer. I guess because I am a writer of sorts too.

I liked thinking about the way it was written, where it was written, who inspired the characters, how long it took, who edited it... that kind of thing.  I did not feel angered by the characters, as some people did, but I did not much like any of them either.  I thought it was pretty great that Tsiolkas incited lots of discussion about what people are really like, self indulgence, fragility, relationships, decadence and the like.  (If you are going to read this for the first time, let it be known there is LOTS of sex betwixt the pages!)

All that Slappy stuff said and done (and read) I found a copy of 'Eat Pray Love' at the house I am staying at, and am finding it quite interesting reading after 'The Slap'. I seem to be the last person in the universe to have a crack at Elizabeth Gilbert's bestseller.   It's sort of about what people are like, self indulgence, fragility, relationships, decadence and the like, but in a totally different way (so far).  There are far less penises in this book, that is for sure.  I am not sure if I like it yet.... I am only 58 pages in.  (If you are going to read this for the first time, let it be know there is LOTS of pasta betwixt the pages!)

I am such a doofus.  I never read these books when they are first released.  I get a bit put off by the hype and publicity.  That's silly, really, considering I rely on that machine to sell the books I write.  I am going to try harder to read fresh books next year.  I am.

Anyhoo.  I was wondering.  What books do you recommend?  It could be chick-lit, or a literary masterpiece, or a crime novel, or a blockbuster no-brainer.  Tell us what to read?  Would you?  Leave your suggestions and any reasons in the comments, if you would like to!

Have you read 'Eat Pray Love', 'The Slap' or 'The Book Thief'?  Should I read 'The Book Thief'?

xx Pip

:: Five Photos. Five Facts.

1. I love looking for the pencil marks on the pages of the books they read on Playschool.  I like to see the words they leave out of the story, and the little arrows indicating where they should place emphasis.
2. I think whales are the best creature ever, followed closely by tortoises.
3. I am very good at finishing projects, but I feel sad when they are finished.
4. I hate driving on the freeway.  I will always take the long way over the freeway.
5. I used to work in a video store... in a caravan park.  I was about 14 at the time.  I thought I was so cool.

Do you want to play too?!  Five photos. Five facts.

xx Pip

:: YAY-cation!

Ah.  My brain is starting to work again. Phew. I forgot what that was like...  Never under-estimate the power of a mini-break, I say.

xx Pip

:: Our Christmas Eve...

Hope yours was fun too.  Sorry I am posting this in a completely illogical order.  I am often completely illogical. Oh well.

xx Pip

:: Best and Ripple Free...

Aw hello!

It's Christmas Day! We are drinking tea in front of the heater. Cam has gone for a surf. Max is messing about with his new iPod. Ari is playing on the PSP. I am talking to you. And drinking tea. I told you that already, though. Max and Cam have had a big fry-up of bacon and eggs and tomatoes. Ari and I are waiting for our stomachs to get hungry. We are not early eaters. We are mid morning eaters.

It is cloudy and calm. We are waiting for the sun to come out, so we can maybe go for a swim. I can hear a wattle-bird outside. We are having turkey for lunch. There has been not one single teary outburst or tantrum so far. I think that is quite great as it is nearly 9am. I think that is a world record for our family. Is your family like that? Maybe your family is totally perfect and tantrum-free. Wow. That is amazing.

Dear you,

I hope your day is lovely and relaxed and full of good times.

I hope that any annoying moments wash over you without causing a ripple.

Don't let them ripple you. That is my motto.

Have the BEST day, won't you?

Because that is what this day is for.

Being Best and ripple-free.

Merry Christmas, you!

your pal,

Pip

xx

:: Sunny Sunsets and Lavender Skies....

It must be Summer in Victoria when you get lovely big skies like this.  Yesterday we put on wetsuits and went swimming in the not very Summery sea.  It was lovely except for the fact that I was wearing a small man's wetsuit (heads up to Brett).  Hmm.  Small men do not have bosoms, usually.  I am not sure where mine went whilst I was wearing the wetsuit, but it is possible they were pushed up into my brain as I could not stop giggling.  I could stop breathing, though.  My ribs where folded into some fancy origami-esque arrangement and I could only take small gasps. Regardless of the brain-boobs and the lack of breathing it was really fun.  And very relieving when I took the wet suit off, too.  Even though that took 3/4 of an hour, a tub of vaseline and a shoe horn.  Phew.  Yet fun.  Except the shoe horn bit.*

I am reading 'The Slap'.  I don't usually read contemporary fiction, but I thought I would see what all the fuss is about, and the author is a Melbourne fella, and I think it is nice to support the success of other locals, right?  (This book has been sold all over the world and is currently being made into a TV Series by the ABC.  Go Christos!)

Anyhoo, have you read 'The Slap'?  I am up to the 'Connie' chapter.  There is a lot of swearing and sex and drugs... sans the rock n roll.  (They did put a bit of Broken Social Scene on early in the book, but Hector took it off again. Jeez, Hector!)  I am quite enjoying this book, but I think it must be so hard for a man to write a woman's character and make it ring true.  I don't think I could write a male character very well.  I don't know what boys are really like, I guess, I mean the things they really think...  Let alone MEN.  The men in 'The Slap' (so far)  are not very nice, they are deceptive and selfish.  But it's quite fascinating to read about villains, I think, and these men are kind of suburban villains.  I will let you know what I think when I get to the end.    Have you read it?

Ohmigosh.  It's Christmas tomorrow. Ari will not let us talk about it.  He says he will get too excited and he will not be able to sleep.  He says he has a bit of a cough and he needs his sleep.  He's so sensible, isn't he?

We have been eating home-made pizza via this book.  And drinking very cold white wine.  And watching 'My Family and Other Animals' and other good things.  And tonight the Spicks and Specks Christmas special is on again. So we will watch that.  Are you watching and eating and drinking?

xx Pip

*joke

:: Summer!

Eep!  It is nearly Christmas!!! Is it Summer where you are?!  Maybe it is.  Maybe it isn't.  Hot or cold, I hope you are making time to do some fun stuff!  We are making pizzas and playing Yahtzee and watching DVDs and swimming and going for walks and generally having a lovely time.  What are you doing?

xx Pip

:: Ta-Dah! More Trees!

:: Ta-Dah! Trees!

I put a call out on Twitter and Facebook for photos of peoples' Christmas trees!  Here they are!  Ta-dah!

xx Pip

:: This Is My Life :: Poppy and Zali

Zali and Poppy's mum emailed me to tell me about the video that her girls had made this year. She thought that I might like it. Well. Do you know what? I really love the video the girls made. It's a totally funny stop-motion claymation piece about the nice people they live with. You can watch it below (scroll down a bit!) : and you can see more  behind the scenes 'Making of My Funny Family' photos here.

I thought it would be a really good idea to interview Zali and Poppy. And I thought it would be great to get them to take some photos of the things they make. Here is what they sent me. And here is what they told me.

The girls took these photos on Sunday. These are the kinds of things they are making. I really love these photos. They are cute and intricate and colourful. (I think the dolls at this house live pretty crafty lives too.)

Watch the film they made...

Photos above are by Hailey Bartholomew (Zali and Poppy's Mum!)

What I asked Poppy and Zali...

Have you ever been run over by anything? A shopping trolley, a bike, a car....?

Poppy: My dog once ran me over!!

Zali: No but I do get nervous when my mum makes me lay on a road (for a photo) and a car might come.

(* Editor :: They do check for cars. Do not worry. No one gets squished!)

What IS un-schooling?

Poppy: It is not having to go to school and not having to do school at home! 

Zali: It is not home schooling. You don't have to do work that you're not interested in. You can follow your interests and then you will learn quicker.

What is it like being un-schooled?

Poppy: I like to wear whatever I want every day. You get to spend time with your family more and it is fun

Zali: It is like not having to wake up early in the morning, not having to sit in class room all day, I have experienced that!! It's lots more fun then school.

What are your favourite things to do?

Poppy: Make things! - Dogs out of egg cartons, pizza, animations, make stuff out of boxes. Bollywood dance class, swimming, playing with my best friend Jess.

Zali: I like making dolls clothes, sitting with my dog Earnest, designing fashions, drawing, making things, reading, writing my blog or reading other blogs, swimming and capoira (Brazilian dance/martial arts) and playing with my friends!

Earnest

I really liked the flowers in the video! What are your favourite kinds of flower? Has anyone ever given you flowers?

Poppy: Poppies!!! And roses and gerberas and lilies. Yes, my dad gave me flowers when I was sick and my mum has given me flowers before too.

Zali: I like tulips, violets and daisies. My dad has given me flowers for my birthday and when sick.

Have you ever seen knickers fall from the sky like they did in your film? (I haven't! But I think it would be funny!)

Poppy: I have seen a baby's Nappy!!!

Zali: Nope - but I have seen them on the ground!!! Ahhaahhhh!

Do you have any pets? (Imaginary pets are allowed, too.)

Poppy: I have a 3 fish and a dog!

Zali; I have a dog names Earnest who is a great Dane and is very big. He is very friendly and adorable. His ears do not know what they are doing! Also 3 fish and one of them is responsible for 5 deaths of other fish!! He is not even a fighting fish just a gold fish.

(*Editor :: Wow. That is some tough fish. Yikes!)

What sort of things do you like to make?

Poppy: I make dolls aprons and hammocks for dolls and you cut up boxes to make houses and decorate them.

Zali: Bunk beds, doll houses, doll clothing and pictures. Lots of things for my dolls. Stop motion videos and I take lots of photos of my dog! I also make little books.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

Poppy: Italy, France, Spain and Canada and Fiji and England!! I love England!

Zali: I would go to Italy and Egypt, Fiji and New Zealand - I have been to NZ a few times. Also I would like to travel around Australia!

Do you think that you will keep making videos like this one?

Poppy: Definitely!

Zali: Yes we are making a sequel to my funny family called "My Funny Dog" I am directing this one!!

Was it fun to make? Or was it really hard?

Poppy: Fun!

Zali: It was both fun and hard. Making the clay people is lots of work but I do like doing it. It takes ages too!

Describe each other in three words (three words each... so six in total!)

Poppy on Zali: She is kind, creative and smart!

Zali on Poppy: Poppy is funny, dramatic and she likes to hug!

Name three people you would like to meet!

Poppy: Lauren Child and Florence (from Florence and the Machine) and Regina Spektor
Zali: I would like to meet Isobelle Carmody (a writer), the Irwin family and I also want to meet Lauren Child because I like her illustrations and stories.

Thank you so much Poppy, Zali and Hailey too! It was so great taking a peek in to your life and seeing all the great things you are doing and what you think about things! Yay for you!! And yay for dad Andrew too!

The End

:: Cross Your Heart?

I saw these on See Me Everywhere and I knew you would want to see them.  How cute!  Stitch your own necklace!  Too clever.  They are made by Vector Cloud of NYC.  You can buy these here, if you would like to!

xx Pip

:: That Girl : Christmas Episode

Hello!

I know that you are busy. I know that. But I know that you might also be looking for little cheery things to kind of break up your Christmassy-getting-ready-ness. So I have posted one of my favourite eps of That Girl with Marlo Thomas. (You can watch the rest over on YouTube if you want to know what happens!) And maybe you can sit down with a cup of tea and a biscuit and have a bit of quiet time...?

I hope you are having a nice time getting ready for Christmas. I hope you are not freaking out too much. A little bit of freaking out is totally normal, though. Honest. Nothing worse than those who smile beatifically and talk about how they did their shopping in January and are, in fact, spending these pre-Christmas weeks reading books and swanning about the garden and staring into the distance. Those are the people who will hit you on the head in the post-Christmas sales to beat you to a packet of fitted sheets and some chocolate coated peanuts. Beware those people.

For the rest of us, those who mildly freak out (and, let's face it, might actually have a meltdown here or there), I give you...... THAT GIRL!

xx Pip

:: Be Kind Rewind....

Hello!  Let's rewind to Sixties Sweden, shall we?

These lovely pieces are by Mari Simmulson.  Originally from Estonia,ceramicist Simmulson got itchy feet and flew the coop.  She soon settled into a stylish Swedish nest, becoming a citizen in 1952. The Svenski sensibility obviously agreed with her, because she made some really beautiful work there, especially during the late 50s and into the 60s.

We know that many good things come from Sweden.  I like Swedish Fish, nice meatballs and Lykke Li.   Perhaps you have your Swedish favourites too?  Maybe you could add Mari to that list?  What do you think?

Do you have any pieces like these?

xx Pip

:: Actually The Best Video I Have Ever Seen....

No stop motion. No computer super-imposed images. Rather: tapping into some ancient movie making techniques, clever sequencing of illustrations, carousels of spinning mirrors and turntables to keep it all moving and animated. You can see how David made this amazing video below. Completely fantastic.

xx Pip

:: My Perfect Life

image via 


I need more tea.
My hair needs a bit of a wash.
I have only organised half my Christmas presents
I need to clean the fridge
And make a pot of soup, perhaps
I have to buy some wool to finish Ari's blanket with
There are things where they are not meant to be
But they are nice things
My yard needs a good tidy
There are people fighting in our laneway.
Near our laneway garden.
There are only two more days left of school
The beds are not made
I finally got paid
We are listening to 3RRR
I have not eaten any breakfast because I can't think what I want
I want to write a proper blog post about a fella I met yesterday, but I am too hungry
My angel chimes are all waxy in the dish
I  have yellow nail polish on my toes
There are newspapers all over the table
We do not have chickens
Nor vintage wallpaper
But I really like both of those things
We do  have a dog and a magpie and a bitey cat
And we have walls, at least
I have sore eyes and sore feet, but I don't really mind
After dinner the other night I am craving Japanese all the time
I went to Izakaya with Cam yesterday and we had fun
I want some espadrille flats
And they should have stripes on them
I only drink half a mug of tea
And I am really bad at answering my phone
I am all out of school lunch ideas
But I am coming up with lots of other good ideas
And looking forward to the holidays
I love the new Frankie because a lot of nice people I know are hidden inside
I am watching a very uncouth show called 'Bad Girls' and I love it.
What's happening there?
How is your perfect life going?

xx Pip

:: See Sarah Supermarket...

Look at this!

Supermarket Sarah has just put up her new wall shop.  Look how good it is.  Wowee. This is a pretty amazing example of how great an online shop can be.  Unfortunately I do not have the techy know-how to make a shop like this.  I will stick with Big Cartel for now whilst honouring Sarah's store as the benchmark.  

You should head to Sarah's and check out what she has done. It is a lovely, clever place to pop in to.   Most of the images are clickable and they take you to the item page where you can buy the thing, if it is not already sold.  And the wall itself looks good enough to eat.  It's almost enough to look at it... although I really like that Annie Road t-shirt... and that flag is quite lovely (it's folded in to a triangle there).  Supermarket Sarah has a blog here.  Her shop is here.   Do you like the whole new vintage-meets-design-meets-craft aesthetic?  Then you will like Sarah.  And you will like me. Because that is my whole thang. It's what I am all about. Yep.

You will soon find Supermarket Sarah in Selfridges too.  And the things there will NOT be clickable. But they will be cute.

See Sarah visit the Selfridges Prop Department!

Look at the Bike Wall Sarah blogged about!

See Sarah at Sketchbook Magazine's live studio event!

xx Pip

:: Fast Couscous For Two Hungry People...

via

Pip's Simple Lunchy Couscous

100g instant couscous

1 large peeled and grated carrot

1 large tomato, diced

1 small cucumber, diced

1/2 a  handful of fresh herbs, chopped roughly : I used mint, basil and parsley

1/2 tsp of nice curry powder

juice of one lemon

lots of white pepper, black pepper and some sea salt too

(NB :: you can add other things too : some smoked paprika perhaps... or you could add some fresh chilli... or harissa... or maybe you want to throw in some sliced mushrooms... or red onion... or roasted garlic... blanched snow peas... tofu... nuts... leftover roast vegetables... go wild!)

***********

Let's go!

Prepare the couscous : boil the kettle.  Put your measured out instant couscous in a measuring jug (100g is about 1/2 cup)  Pop it in a bowl and add 1/2 cup (that is, the exact same quantity!) of boiling water and a tiny splash of olive oil or other nice oil*.  (Nut oil would be yummy).  Stir with a fork and cover with cling wrap.

Leave that alone while you chop and grate.  Chop and grate as detailed above, if you please.

Now check that your couscous is soft and ready.  Taste it.  Is it? Great.  If not cover it again and leave to sit a bit longer.  It doesn't take very long at all.

When your couscous is ready, uncover it and toss it in a big bowl with all the other ingredients (and any others you like!)

Serve at once.  You could add a dollop of  hummus or yoghurt if you want.

Tell me if you make this... and how you do it differently...

* Instant couscous is made with equal parts couscous and boiling water :: 2 cups of couscous? 2 cups of boiling water! :: 1 cup of couscous? 1 cup of boiling water!

***********

:: Illustration Fan Club :: Anke Weckmann

Oh look.  These prints are by Anke.  You can find them in her Etsy store here.  Anke lives in London and is doing all sorts of interesting things. I guess it is snowing in London... Perhaps that is why so many wonderful illustrators hail from that part of the world.  So many rainy, sloshy, blizzardy days. What better thing to do than stay inside in front of the radiator tucked up under a lap blanket and draw?  Nothing better I am sure, if you are good at drawing (as Anke is!)  And even better if you have tea and crumpets, I think.

If you read Anke's blog, you will know that she has contributed to a really lovely diary for next year.  I would be snapping that up, if I were you, because I am sure they will sell out any second.  I can hear the people jostling to get the last one as we speak.  

Ms Anke has also made all sorts of really great prints and notepads and even lavender sachets.  This is a girl after my own heart. I travel everywhere with a notepad and a lavender sachet. When I get excited about something I squeeze the sachet and take a big sniff of it.  Then I grab my notepad and my Delfonics (thanks Gemma) pen and I start writing notes down in very messy writing.  It's messy because I need glasses and I hold the notepad too close to my eyes.  If I hold it further away, PRESTO!  Neat writing.  So do not laugh at me if you see me with my close-then-far-away notepad and my lavender sachet, because I MEAN BUSINESS!  I am having IDEAS!  But back to Anke....

Anke has a website where you can view all the work she has done for magazines and the like. It is all there documented beautifully, so you can click around and see her lovely drawings and  prints.  You might remember that Ms Anke made a poster for Frankie last year?  I guess that is because Frankie is totally first with the illustration super-scoop.  (I think that is true, actually, although I am pretty quick with the scoop too.) Do you have that poster?  I do.  I wonder if Anke rhymes with Frankie.

Did you know that Anke-Linotte likes to drink Elderflower Cordial?  She does.  You can find a recipe here.  I am pleased the recipe recommends shaking the insects from the elderflowers before you use them.   I do not like floaties in my cordial.  Where do you get elderflowers though?  I do not know.  Probably Anke would know. Because she is clever like that.

I think we should ask Anke some questions, don't you?  If you have any good questions for Anke, write them in the comments and we can email her and see if she will answer them.  It's sort of like being in a fanclub, isn't it, except without the badges and stickers.  I will follow up with another post when Anke has time to answer!   

What would you like to ask Anke?  We can all ask her together.

xx Pip