AlyshaJane

Soon I will be going on a plane flight for the very first time. Yes, I have never been on a plane before. As the date grows closer, I’m getting a wee bit nervous…umm, make that more than a wee bit nervous! It’s an interstate flight so will only be about two hours long. But it’s still a plane flight!

I have this nasty suspicion that I am going to be like Mr. Monk in the episode when he went on a plane (Mr. Monk and the Airplane). I already share a lot of characteristics with Monk, and like him, I don’t like the idea of being in a confined space where other people may cough and sneeze and generally spread germs around willy nilly. And it is also a confined space that is unnaturally high in the air. Eeee!

*deep breaths* *deep breaths*

This video clip from Monk (trailer on the left) shows what I’m worried I’ll be like on the plane, especially the whole holding on to my beloved tightly and having to be pried off the seat thing. And the germ thing. That too.

Any of you seasoned travelers have some tips for a first time flyer?

• Spike, the bird who can cross-stitch.




• Ten Ways to Improve Your Quality of Life.




• Champagne Parachute. I so want one of those. They remind me of parachute fireworks.




• How to Fold a Paper Rose.




• Build A Mid-Century, Noguchi-ish, Spaceship Table.




• The Bento Boxes Pool. I’d love to try making these, if I ever come across the containers and other tools locally…and I must have some of the cute Hello Kitty items. How could you not?! Look at the cuteness, even more here.




• Gasp! This collection of Bento goodies is so fantastic, me want! And no, I feel absolutely no shame in wanting things made primarily for children! None whatsoever. ;)

I’ve only just come across Taste.com.au, but I can already see that it will be a much visited site. It has oodles of yummy recipes as well as articles to provide food for the mind.

Some delish recipes:
Baci ice-cream – Mmmm, Baci chocolates with ice-cream!
Champagne Risotto.
Cheese in a Box – with crusty bread, fresh asparagus and champagne? Food heaven!
Asparagus salad with pan-fried gnocchi.
Beef fillet with wild mushroom vinaigrette.
Bok choy with sticky Asian dressing.
Mushroom & bok choy risotto.
Chocolate crepe cake.

A few articles:
Food Matchmaking.
Got Bilk?
Food focused profile of Illawarra and Kangaroo Valley.
Iron Chef Downunder; an interview with Iron Chef French Hiroyuki Sakai.

It was going to be animated (and possibly printed), but I ran out of time; presenting my holiday card to all you wonderful people who have emailed me, read my weblog(s), left comments and given freely of your kindness and friendship over the past twelve months. I’m posting this here in case I run out of time to email it out.
Click the bunny to see my greeting!

Today has been one of those no good, very bad, horrible days (much sad news from family & friends). A day when what could go wrong, did go wrong. And to top that off, something from dinner has made me feel all blurky. But the weekend is promising to be a lot of fun so today must just be the year providing me with the last bad day of 2006. Roll on 2007!

Whenever I feel not so perky, I really feel like watching Doctor Who, well, more than usual. I’m going to head off and make a nice cup of tea, fluff my pillows and settle back to watch the good Doctor for a while. Fantastic!

Capt. Jack Harkness: [incredulously] Who has a sonic screwdriver?
The Doctor: I do!
Capt. Jack Harkness: Who looks at a screwdriver and thinks, ‘Ooo, this could be a little more sonic?’
The Doctor: What, you’ve never been bored? Never had a long night? Never had a lot of cabinets to put up?

I wrote that post last night, but ended up not publishing it. Maybe I should have, because it’s not even 9am and today isn’t going well either. My budgie Scully, who I’ve had for about twelve years, died during the night and then when I turned on my computer, it’s showing signs that it’s on the way out, too. If bad luck comes in threes, I should have only good luck left for the rest of 2006. I hope!

“No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars or sailed an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.”

“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.”

~ Helen Keller.

The latest episode of Sticks & String features an interview with the owner of my LYS. Jan is a lovely person, she’s helped me with more than a few knitting problems. I may not have learned how to knit if not for her help and advice. If you’re a knitter or other fibre crafter and find yourself in the upper Blue Mountains, call by and visit her shop!

Ouch! I woke up feeling out of sorts today and have a nasty headache coming on. This time of year is nearly always awful for me. On one hand, every time the barometric pressure changes I get a headache (plus ear pain) and on the other I find it difficult to breathe easily depending on the amount of humidity in the air (crisp, cold air is best for me). Judging by my headache, I’ll be surprised if we don’t get a storm later on today.

Even though they do make me feel a bit icky, I still love storms! My favourite weather is the type that most people dislike; heavy rain that goes on for days, mists and heavy fog, storms with hail and of course my absolute favourite – snow! Hmmm, maybe today is the day I finally manage to get a photograph of lightning!

Afternoon (2pm): Yup, here comes the storm!

One of my most favourite songs, the type that’s so dreamy it makes me close my eyes while I listen and enjoy: Over The Mountains – Robertson Brothers, who also hail from the Blue Mountains. Mmm, must listen again…

Oh my. I finally saw The Lake House. I’ve always been the kind of woman who gets emotional over certain types of movies, but this one had tears streaming down my face more than once. Especially with the ending. I adored this movie, so much so (and because I’m still teary) that I’m lost for words. The notion of a love that strong is just so magical and so wonderful that I really wish that at least one couple in this world find a love like that.