June 28, 2012

Le fotografie: My Week in Photos

I can't remember if I've shared this song before.
Either way, it's a great song so I don't think it matters :P

I know that it's Thursday, and this is an odd day to do a 'my week in photos' post, but it kind of suits because I counted last weekend as starting from Thursday evening anyway. Oh how I love uni break :)

Arrive at a friend's house to play this awesome (slightly nerdy) game called Munchkin.
Find Hamish & Elliot engaged in a nerf war. My friends are so rad :D


Couldn't resist including the action shot... :P

When the nerf war was over...
I spent most of the game figuring out ways to photograph the house, but unfortunately didn't get to it...

The next morning - Andy putting the winter sun to good use :)

Shopping with my friend Lauren.
How cool is this??

A Housewarming and an attempted moustache!
I think the latter part failed :P

Shoes, anyone?

Just a really tall ginger dude wearing blue tartan creepers.
You know, the usual :P

Still feeling introspective and reflective.
Journalling helps me to get it all out and keep me sane :)

Going out for dinner with a few old friends for the first time in a little while.
I cannot begin to tell you how utterly tasty these beef cheeks were!
It's been a good week guys :) I could get used to this winter break business!! Although, tomorrow I have a job interview and it would be nice to get some extra work, so it might not last too long. Either way, I don't think I'll be complaining.

Happy almost weekend!

Over and out.
Rhi :) xx

June 27, 2012

Keep It Simple Stupid: Week One

Contrary to appearances, I haven't been neglecting my Keep It Simple Stupid goals (although now that I come to think of it, I have neglected one...) I've just been terrible at blogging about them :P

I've been digging Beirut this week.

Last week, I watched a new movie, I cooked dinner and I tried a new coffee place!

I must say, I've been looking forward to seeing Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy ever since I first saw it advertised. Just the name had me intrigued, and Colin Firth being in it may have helped following my lifelong obsession with Pride & Prejudice :P So, when my brother and I decided it was a good night to watch a movie, and we saw Tinker Tailor sitting on the shelves, it was an easy choice.

It was pretty grand - it suited my mood and so I really enjoyed it. It was a tad hard to follow though, but that just means I'll have to watch it again, which I don't mind at all!!


Coffee involved traipsing down a little alleyway slightly west of central Perth and sitting on comfy couches that apparently, according to the same brother, I could have used as camouflage? That was a fun experience, especially because I walk past Tiger, Tiger every morning on my way to Lowdown. I think it looks like a great place to have a lazy lunch during the summer because of the big wooden tables set up outside. And the coffee wasn't too shabby either!

Alleyways and Exposed Brick Walls

Coffee

Camouflaging and unintentionally pulling strange faces.

Sadly, the DIY/crafty projects are yet to take place. I have cleaned all the textbooks, notebooks, scraps of paper with scribblings about politics and Italian and anthropology off of my desk though, so I at least have somewhere to do my little projects, but that's not really good enough. Tomorrow, the crafting shall begin!!

Thank you so much to everyone for your lovely responses to my last post :) It was a little daunting posting something that personal on this space, but you guys make it worth it!!

Over and out.
Rhi xx

June 25, 2012

A Letter to my 9-Year Old Self.


Painting - as of yet unfinished - by my dear Madre, Helen Nelson.

Dear Moo,

Yes, one day you will grow to not mind that nickname, but that's not really what I wanted to tell you in this letter.

You're having a rough time at the moment. You're in Grade 5 and you're starting to discover that girls can be really unbelievably mean. You don't quite know what to make of it and spend a lot of the next year or so playing in the sandpit alone, or sitting underneath that big tree on the side of the oval by yourself. You'll feel a little sad, but don't worry too much. You'll make some amazing friends eventually, and although I don't expect you'd quite understand what this means yet, it really is character building.

More to the point though - the reason I am really writing this letter - your joints are starting to become a real problem. You've begun to properly realise that all the pains and aches you get aren't normal, and some of them will become absolutely unbearable. No matter how many doctors tell you you're making it up, please please don't believe them.

Eventually, (a long way down the track) all of these joint problems will earn you the name dislocato-girl. You'll find it funny at the time, and be a bit sad that it is your joints that seem to define you, but then you'll begin to claim it. You'll eventually realise the reason people make light of it is because you get on with life regardless, and you'd rather they didn't look at you with the utmost sympathy every time something fell out of place.

This year, you have been told that you have the jaw of a 50-year old and will have to stop playing your violin. I remember how painful that was - emotionally and physically - especially because you can't quite comprehend being 50-years old (don't stress about that part too much, it's hardly important :P). Try not to be too sad though, otherwise you'll be angry about it for a long time to come, and well, trust me, it isn't a nice way to feel.

Next year, Mum & Dad will be the amazing people they are and work their butts off to buy you a cello. Even though all you'll want to do is play your violin, try the cello; at least play it a little bit. It will become your most cherished possession and it will take you to some pretty fantastic places.

This year the jaw hasn't been the only problem. Something will happen to your shoulder and it will be in so much pain that you'll have to take a few days off school and Mum will even take you to the hospital. They won't tell you anything useful - the same old story (I'll bet you anything it dislocated, hold that over the doctors head in your mind... As much as I don't want to encourage my own bad habits, it will help). Don't let it worry you too much though once it's over.

Just after you've discovered an absolutely brilliant cello teacher, you'll have to stop playing for a few years. Be sad about it for a little while, but don't linger on it, because eventually you'll meet a doctor who won't write you off as another whiny little kid. He'll fix your shoulders (and your knees). And the pain and the depression that goes with it will be horrible. But while you're suffering through that - and this is the part I really need you to remember - know that on the night I wrote you this letter, 10 years in the future, you get to play your cello for the first time in your life without pain, and you'll struggle to hold back tears because you will realise that all the bad intonation (and jaw dislocations) in the world couldn't ruin the feeling of absolute joy and happiness that that moment will bring.

It's only going up from here kid.

Love, your 19-year old self.


PS. Please get over the brothers teasing you about boys. It never ends, and honestly, they're only doing it because you kick up such a fuss! :P

June 21, 2012

Reminiscing: The India Project

Today, I:
  - finished my final exam.
  - got lunch with an old friend.
  - fell asleep on a bus, multiple times.
  - piked on a gathering, something I never, ever do (and feel dreadful about, I'm sorry Leisha!!).
  - dreamed about travel. How unusual :P

An oak tree in a cracker box.
One of the little things that make life grand.

As I was dreaming about the travel and the adventures I could one day have, my thoughts couldn't help but to stray back to India. Like Singapore, as long as Bec is there, I think India is going to become a permanent fixture whenever I travel. I've already vaguely planned (i.e. decided) that I am going to 'stop by' India on my way home form Milan for a month or so, because it's on the way, right? :P And I plan on going back again after I've graduated.

India taught me that travel is important, but not only as a form of leisure or business.

Despite strongly believing all my life in equality of race, gender, religion and sexuality, I've always struggled with blocking out racist ideas and thoughts, especially given how prevalent they are in my own society - which, now that I think about it, is sadly a huge part of global society as well. But travelling, even just to the few places that I have been, has enabled me to see people of different races as humans, not as something foreign that I cannot understand.

This realisation was one of those rare moments of clarity that, when we are lucky enough to experience, we all struggle to hold on to and to remember. So when I was dreaming about travelling and exploring the world this afternoon, as I tried not to fall asleep again on the bus trip home, I determined to always remember that trip - to browse over the pictures and reread my journals - so that I can hold onto that moment of clarity.

But more than this, I decided to really focus on living life to its full - I know it is corny (a lot of my thoughts seems to be this way lately), but new experiences are vital. Going out and trying new things helps us not to become complacent in life, and to always beware of others around us and the things they might be experiencing. It helps us to see outside of ourselves and gain perspective, and to me, that is worth fighting for.

Sunset in India
A Quiet Evening.
Just your average crowd... :P

At the cricket.
Go Chennai Super Kings!!
...I hope I got their name right :P

Garlic store at the markets. Imagine...


Squeezing too many people in a car and sweating like pigs :D




June 19, 2012

Just your average Ryan Gosling video...

Injecting some joy into this rainy Tuesday, I give you - Ryan Gosling, cooler than everyone else since 1991.

June 18, 2012

Glorified Meat & Vege

A song performed by the Beards seemed appropriate seeing as I'm talking about the steak I cooked. Both manly things - beards and steak :P

The keeping it simple has begun! I cooked dinner tonight. It was quite a joyous experience. Just chopping up the vege and chatting away to my Madre while I was at it. Not thinking about my final exam on Thursday, because a girl has to eat - the study could wait! Starting to serve up just as my oldest brother walked in the door. Sitting around the table and chatting about whatever it is we talked about, I hardly remember (which is usually a sign of a good time for me...more on that later). Being laughed at because I declared we had some leftover stewed rhubarb and ice cream for dessert - exactly what my dear Grandma says after almost every dinner. I think I could get used to this cooking business...

Any tips on photographing food would be appreciated :P
Oh and on how to make good sauces for steak!
This steak was a bit sad without sauce of some kind...
We ended up with steak, potato mash and grilled vege (so really, meat and vege). I kinda just made it up as I went along - I'd highly recommend it. It's an awful lot of fun, as long as your happy to laugh at yourself when you do something silly :P

Anyhow, I need to try to keep up with sleep at least until Thursday. Buona notte!! Rhi :)

PS. Thanks so much for the lovely comments and movie suggestions after my last post! Reading over the comments is oh so much fun, and I've added all the movies to my list. Get excited! :D

June 15, 2012

Keep It Simple Stupid

Life has been feeling a little static lately. I suppose exams don't help because I've been studying day in and day out for a long time now, but I swear I don't usually get this bored with it all. I suppose it would've helped if I'd gone to my lectures, so study wasn't just catching up on those, but you know :P

My brilliant not-so-good uni student ways aside, I've decided something has to be done to brighten up my mood - something to mix things up a bit. I've been thinking about how to do this for a while now, and when I finally figured it out, it was a bit of a slap in the face - why don't I just do all the things that I keep wishing I did? Keep It Simple Stupid - duh!


So far, I've come up with 4 things to do :)

Watch a new movie every week.
My friends are constantly shocked and horrified by all the movies I haven't seen. It is actually bordering on ridiculous. I hadn't seen Forrest Gump until my friend forced me to watch it earlier this year. It didn't stop me from yelling 'Run Forrest, Run!' randomly, but you know... I also hadn't seen Jurassic Park until I visited my friend in Singapore last year - she put an end to that one. I am yet to see the Little Mermaid, or Pulp Fiction, or...well, a lot of movies. So I've decided to put an end to all of the incredulous looks people give me when they quote very famous lines from very famous movies and I meet them with a blank stare. I'm going to fix it. I'm going to watch a movie (maybe two) a week. Suggestions greatly appreciated!!

I may already have seen this movie, but I really want to watch it again.
Does that ruin the whole point? :P

Cook a new meal every week.
I like cooking, oh so much. And I used to be pretty darn good at it, if I do say so myself :P I was even starting to copy meals that I ate in restaurants, or just making dishes up off the top of my head. But then I had two shoulder reconstructions and that made cooking really tough. Then when I started to cook again, it didn't work out quite the same and I got a bit sad, so I stopped cooking. I'm going to stop wallowing in my own misery though - the cooking starts now! Instead of feeling sad when I watch masterchef because my chef skills vanished, I'm going to get back into it. Brothers beware!! (They're my test dummies. Drag queen meringues have been the favourite so far...not really) :P

One of the things I miss about cooking?
The excessive amount of garlic I put into everything savoury :P
See this post for how I chose to consume this garlic :D

Get at least one coffee a week... (you laugh now, but keep reading!) :P
...that's not from Lowdown, Tim or the Roastery**.
Lowdown? You know all about. Tim? Scroll down until you see a picture of a donut and then you can know a little about him :P The Roastery? It's my local coffee haunt - I really ought to tell you more about that one. I do love these guys and the utterly fantastic coffees they make, but really, I'm a coffee fanatic, so I should be able to talk about a few more places, especially when Perth is starting to get kind of exciting on the coffee scene! Bring it on!

Piccolo Flat White from Lowdown.
Please excuse the recycled pictures :P

Finally, do all the DIY/crafty projects that I've been planning to do/started and haven't finished.
Bet you didn't know I like being crafty! Probably because I never finish anything, so I never have anything to show for it :P Again, that ends now! I should actually do this stuff because I really enjoy it, I just seem to get to the tiny last little bit and never finish, which seems a bit silly. Also, this means more trips to my aunty's place to use her sewing machine, and I really like seeing my Aunty :D

My desk - home to my crafty projects and film cameras that I really ought to use.
And my wall - home to an ongoing collage that could do with a bit of love :)

Hopefully, this will mean a few more interesting blogs as well. Wish me luck guys! Oh and have a rad weekend :)

Over and out.
Rhi xx

**It should be noted that I will still be drinking copious amounts of coffee from all of these lovely shops :P

June 11, 2012

Tales of Jim and Sam: Introducing Billie

As promised, some more of Jim and Sam...except it's actually about a new character, Billie. Billie is my absolute favourite. She's strong, and beautiful, and despite her problems, she gets past them. Well, actually I haven't really decided yet, but I have high hopes for her :) 


This chapter has been gathering metaphorical dust on my hard drive for over a year now. It's probably my favourite part, except for maybe Prologue, but I've thought perhaps I should keep some of these parts for when I (hopefully) finish this book one day in the future. While writing the 'about' section for my brand spankin' new facebook page tonight though, I realised I started this blog to share my creative writings, so share them I shall!!


Just before I let you in on this part of the story that I've held so tightly to my chest though, for my dear Mother's sake (and my Aunty's, in case she reads this), I must clarify - I believe you need experience to write. It does not mean what I write is my own experience. Even though I have grown very fond of her, I am not Billie, or rather she is not me. Just a girl that I like...and that Sam might like a little as well...


So, without further ado, I introduce to you, Billie.


source // here
She found the power thrilling. A quick glance and they would come over to say hello and introduce themselves, all the while moving their bodies closer in time with the music. Sometimes, she'd wander off to get a drink and laugh with her friends. She found it entertaining that most of the men she met would come to find her, or accidentally bump into her at the bar, and ask her if she wanted to dance.

The pulsating bass thumping through their bodies and the false confidence they'd been drinking all night meant slowly the'd get closer, closer. Their lips would meet hers, their peculiar tastes intriguing her as the music faded into the background. Then eventually, her friends would come to find her. It was time to leave.

The boy would beg her to stay, she'd decline. He'd promise to call, and then one last time pull her in by the waist, leaving their taste on her lips as she disappeared into the crowd. To find a taxi. To find a place to wipe off her powdered mask. To fall heavily to sleep.

The next morning, head sore, lips bee stung, she'd think about the boy. Usually, they sent her a message, did she want to meet them again? No sorry, it was a one off. She had been very drunk and she really was sorry.

She never thought of them again.

And then one night, she met Sam. She met Jim first, actually. Jim was the boy who came to find her as Sam watched on somewhere in the background.

Sam didn't seem all that interested. He watched the girl and felt sorry for her. Jim didn't really care, he was fiercely loyal but no need for loyalty to a drunk girl you met in a club. Eventually, her friends came to find her. Jim begged her to stay, she said no, so he kissed her one last time, watched her leave, and then went to find another.

She went outside to find a taxi, laughing with her friends, but when the fresh air hit her she stumbled. Tonight, she'd drunk more than usual. Life was shit. She wanted to feel better and cheap wine and colourful shots gave her that. At least, it gave her that until she stepped out of the club. She stumbled down the stairs, down the alleyway to the side, a boy appeared, the one that hadn't seemed interested, asked her if she was okay, and then she hurled.

And again. And again.

She shouldn't be here. Where were her friends? Why did her feet hurt so much? The fear made her yak some more and then the boy was next to her.

Maybe you should sit down hey? She looked bewildered.
I'm not... I'm not usually like this. The words took a long time to come out as she slumped to the ground.

Faarrk that stinks.
Do you wanna move? We'll go somewhere and take off your shoes?
I wanna go to sleep.
Orright, but not here k?
Groan.
Upupup, let's go.
Groan.

He lifts one limp arm around his neck, holds her waist, and gently picks the girl up. She drags her heels painfully across the ground until they find another alley, puke free, and she slides down against the wall again.

Where're your friends?
Groan.
Orright. Sam laughs. How do I get you home?
Too far.
Hm, so you're going to sleep here?
Hm-mm. Her eyes began to droop.
Shit... Hey, what's your name?
I'm reaaaaally...drunk.
Nice name.
Not...funny.
Orright, well what's your name?
Billie.
Your parents hippies?
Groan.
Well Billie, I don't reckon you wanna sleep here.
Yeah I do.
Nah, I'm gonna take you to mine ok? I promise I won't touch you, 'cept to put you on the bed. I'll have the couch, orright?
Groan.
I'll take that as a yes.

Sam picked Billie up again. Billie said she wanted to go to sleep. The floor was comfortable. He should leave her there. Sam said he didn't think that was a good idea. Billie groaned, mumbled something about liquid confidence, fell asleep slumped against his arm. Sam put her in a taxi, carried her inside his house, took off her shoes and wiped her face with a cold, wet towel.

Despite the stench of cigarettes and puke, she was beautiful, and Sam thought of kissing her goodnight. He leant down, slowly, slowly. Her hot breath landed on him and he searched her features for some sign of consciousness, taking in her beauty. He could almost feel the skin of her lips on his, and suddenly, he recoiled.

He wiped his own face with the cold towel that he'd used to sponge off the vomit stuck to her dress. Sat on the edge of the bed and sighed. Sam kicked off his own shoes, flung his shirt into a corner and rested his head on his palms, staring out the open window for God knows how long, feeling like the dick he thought he was, until he saw a taxi pull in next door. Jim was home.

Sam snapped out of it, pulled an old stained foam mattress out from under his bed and feel heavily to sleep, hoping Billie wouldn't flip when she woke up hung over in a perfect stranger's bed.

June 10, 2012

Today was a day for...

...coffee and donuts (at the Fremantle Markets of course) :D


Seriously guys, you should've seen the weather. It was completely bonkers. Curling up in bed would've been grand as well, but I woke up with a ridiculous headache so getting out of the house seemed like a much better plan :) Also, Black Cherries Espresso, also known as Tim's (according to me) :P, in the markets, is only open on the weekends so I have to make the most of it while I can!

And last night was a night for fires and good company!! I don't like winter much, but I absolutely adore being allowed to sit outside by a crackling, smoky fire. It's kind of grand.


I hope you've all had a lovely and relaxing weekend :) Rhi xx

June 07, 2012

Little Red Riding Hood

I combated the cold with this jacket today. I've never felt so warm and snuggly in my life! Seriously, people say we don't need real jackets down under, but this is so amazing!! I bought it off of urban outfitters for $30 in the post-Christmas sales, and so it's been hiding in my wardrobe for the past 5 months waiting for appropriately cold weather. Clearly, it was a grand decision :D


Also, Nageena made The Wildest of Dreams a facebook page. She's written an overly nice description of myself and has told me she is apparently retaining control of said facebook page. I'm not complaining though - it makes it a little more fun :D Get on it people!


Over and out.
Rhi xx

June 06, 2012

The Lowdown: June 6

A few weeks ago, Mark from Lowdown officially asked me to be their unofficial photographer. I think it's rather entertaining because, although I love the idea, I'm not a photographer - just another kid with an iphone and a few photo editing apps. I suppose that works for the purpose though :P

And then this morning, I realised I haven't actually taken any photos, so I decided to give it a go. I'm learning though that my phone really doesn't like to focus well on bright red things, specifically flowers... Any tips?

Oh and there's also a photo of shoes, because it seemed cool at the time...

Piccolo Flat White.
Nageena potentially took this one.
I swear I took the rest though! :P


See what I mean about focussing on red?
Or maybe it's just bright colours in general...



"The Lowdown" might possibly turn into a semi-regular feature. We'll see how it goes :)

Over and out.
Rhi xx

June 04, 2012

Pomegranates and the Winter Time

Winter is officially here guys. You know how I can tell? The leaves on our pomegranate tree magically turned yellow. Around the 1st of June every year, we'll look outside and wonder what happened to the pomegranate leaves. It's pretty impressive really, but I don't like winter!

It's been getting dark too early, so here's yet another over exposed photo :D
Another photo of some pomegranates at Lowdown, just for good measure.

I know that comparative to most of the world, Australia's winters really aren't that bad, except for the part where nothing here is built to cope with the cold! I remember being at the airport picking my brother up last year, when a British guy walked out of the arrivals area, and yelled to his friend 'I thought it didn't get cold here! This is worse than it gets at home!'. It made me laugh a little.

Anyhow, I've decided to not really do a 'now' post like I said I would, because, well... If you want to see photos from the now, you can just scroll through my past blogs! Or you can just keep reading this entry! ;)

Last Friday I organised with some friends to go kayaking on the river, and then to head out to a brewery in Fremantle afterwards. Unfortunately no photos of the kayaking, because nobody was stupid enough to take their cameras out on the water. With the guys I was with, everyone knew that even if we didn't tip the kayak accidentally, somebody would willingly help us out :P There is a photo of our rather large amount of beer/cider glasses from Little Creatures, plus a few photos of the other things I've been up to :)

Hope you've all had a grand start to the week :) Rhi xx


See the guy in the photo above wearing the brown sweater?
This is his dog, Cosi. I think I might take her home with me one day, cause she is kinda rad :P

Doodling at work. Can't wait until my shoulder is working well enough to play my cello again!

Nageena taking photos of me studying hard in the common room...
The guys playing MBA Jam on an old SNES. It's pretty rad.
Ahhh uni life :)

PS. Stay tuned. There's more on Jim and Sam (some creative writing) coming up soon :)

June 02, 2012

Perspectives: Part 2

If I ignored the hangover, earlier today I was like 'woah! That second blog post isn't really necessary anymore!' Everything is in - the tests have been sat, the assignments have been completed and the exchange application has been submitted :D Not to mention the seriously fantastic day I had yesterday (more on that in a later post). Winning!

But then winter came and ruined everything. Really, I didn't used to mind winter that much, but currently, winter is my kryptonite. My old-man joints seize up, my muscles tense and everything really freaking hurts. So now, given that my neck is so tense I can hardly hold my head up, the second post has once again become necessary.

The recent...

I spent quite a few days with this guy's songs playing on repeat...

When we probably should've been studying.

I'm 19 everybody!

Making friends with the locals in Singapore :D

After going for a spontaneous swim in the middle of Winter,
whilst wearing jeans and a jumper.


Pulling attractive faces on the first trip outdoors
post-shoulder reconstruction numero due :)

Walk to Cure Diabetes.
It's a fantastic cause people, so get on it!

Polaroids in Singapore.
My favourite is the one on the far left of Bec glaring at me :D



Fennel, anyone?

The cousins dancing in some puddles.


Spontaneous crawling from pub to pub.
When we really should have been studying.

Clearly, if I love someone I show it through having
photos of us pulling ridiculous faces...

We really should have been twins.

I has a water balloon!! Well, my cousin has a water balloon :P

A photo that sums up my uni friends almost perfectly.
Also, "There's seagulls in my eyes!"
Ben's 21st. I have honestly never laughed so hard in my life.
I might explain that last one if you ask me... maybe... :P

Oh man, that popped rib isn't bothering me so much anymore. I feel better already! This really is therapeutic.

Hope you're all having fantastic weekends :) Rhi xx