My Food Blog is Back

After a long extended break, my food blog is back in action. Come visit and share some ideas:

http://iplayfire.blogspot.com

and im off to Taupo for New Years - fingers crossed for good weather this time ;0)

Then One Foggy Christmas Eve...

Hi again Santa

I'd like to thank you most sincerely for the extremely pleasant and surprising arrival of my parcel which I sent myself from China in September, so promptly after I wrote to you earlier this month to see if you know where it might be.

It did take three months but IT IS HERE! Its even all in one piece (though I can tell its been tampered with...) and everything in there is there - my sari, my half torn scarf, the clogs from Aarong, etc, and the glow in the dark horns (which no longer glew in the dark and broke promtly after this photo was taken - but thats the last thing I am worried about right now ;-D). I even realised that the sari was colour coordinated with the farm - so that's even better ;-)

Man-- I love you. Hey so thanks very much again for the excellent detective work, and taking the time to read my letter, and good luck with all the deliveries for the rest of the week, and enjoy a fantastic new years - I am sure you deserve a big huge holiday after this eh.

Cool, catchya then **lots and lots of kisses**
xx Wawa

Billy the Bulimic Goat

Coco my cuz has gone back to Taipei for the summer holidays and I am babysitting her goat Billy Billson for her. He's a nice boy, got a bit of an attitude but is generally cute and adorable enough to get away with being a bastard. Watch him tell me to 'fuck off' in the videos.

Billy had a mate (probably same sex lover) called Brown who recently died. Billy got a bit inconsolable and stopped eating, wouldn't move, and lost a bit of weight and got a bit scruffy, we thought he was going to die too. But now it seems like he's completely picked up again and eating like mad, as you can see. I hope it lasts. His favourite food at the moment is banana peels, but everything, anything goes.

I trimmed his hooves the other day all by myself, thought I was quite clever really. You can say hello to some of the other bovine friends I've met in the past here and here.

The craziest 'Guess Who?' board game to date

ANGELINA........... TAZ........ NATHANUEL.....Wild Bill MacNUT

KIM YEONG....... CARLOS........... PETRA........... Katherine








Lord_jarron69 ..Nyuen Duc...... GRETEL...... MOHAMMAD








V.J................... ABBY.......... LiNG-LiNG........ TAMARA!








YAMAMOTO .......HANS ............... LANA.......... ZOELENE








dA bomB ........... PETER............. MARIA............. Rob

The twins and I obviously had a little bit too much time on our hands & managed to completely revolutionise the moldy board game sitting in the cupboard. Download yours now!!

Readers - vote for your favourite (or least favourite) character.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa

I realise that I have never actually written to you before, so I apologise if my correspondence may come as a bit of a shock – as I am sure you are probably more used to hearing from those few obsessive types.

Well, what prompted me to write to you? Boredom really. I was in the post office the other day (dropping off my new employer’s boxes of Christmas cards which I stuffed and licked and swore at one by one) and I saw that they’d set up this crazy mail box for you so I thought I might as well give it a go. My parents were (and still are) atheists so writing to you was kinda not cool when I was growing up, but now that I am an adult, who I write to is really my business. Maybe this will really piss them off. Heh heh. But’uh - never know what’s going to land in the fireplace on the 25^th anyway so…see what happens.

So I’m imagining that I am sitting comfortably on your lap and saying this aloud - what do I want for Christmas? (by the way, at our house we don’t do Christmas either, and I am not a Christian yet, but I had a Christian teacher in the first year we came to NZ and she insisted that we spelt Christmas like Christmas and not with an X. As a sign of respect for other people’s beliefs I still maintain that this quite important).

I am actually quite happy with most of the materialistic things around me – enough fashion, cuisine, entertainment/leisure, IT, enough to make the quality of my life quite comfortable. Even my beer gut is getting flatter. Plus I am very likely to go abroad again in the new year (fingers crossed) so extra trinkets would actually be quite unhelpful. In fact I think you should stop giving people ‘stuff’ for Christmas cos all this unnecessary consumption is bad for the environment. People just have too much shit they don’t want or need just to keep you in your job. And if you absolutely must do it I think you should at least do it without the wrapping. One thing that pisses me off is bio-undegradable packaging – eg. What the fuck is with those individually wrapped sushi you see around places these days. Anyway enough patronising.

Spiritually I think I am at an OK place, I can’t ask for more given the circumstances. I think I did well this year, enriching myself with memorable experiences and inspirations from random places in the world, so I am well placed to use it well and make a good start to next year. It would be nice if I have a permanent ok-paid kick-arse job in my field in a kick-arse city in the Northern hemisphere, but I know I only deserve what I work for and I am happy just stuffing envelopes for the summer in Ham West if that’s what I should be content with for now, you know? I am not lacking too much on the orgasm front either, and the "right man" right now would be quite complicated, if you know what I mean. At least Freak4 has stopped calling. You’ve obviously been watching out for me *wink*. And family – well, each of them will have to write to you themselves I think. I’ve done what I can within my mental capacity. No more shoes for Ann is all I am suggesting.

Given that you are quite well connected with the postal and travel world I’d actually quite like to find out what happened to the parcel that I sent myself from China in September – its now December and if you know which one of your elves has mistakenly presented it to the wrongful owner – PLEASE COULD I HAVE IT BACK. It has a very beautiful blue sari, pair of silk clots, battery operated glowing red horns and a tattered scarf in it. And if you happen to also be talking to the Qantas Airways staff member who TOOK MY BRAND NEW 8GB IPOD NANO OUT OF MY CHECK-IN LUGGAGE AT EITHER BRISBANE OR CANBERRA AIRPORT ON JANUARY 21 2007 – tell him or her to go fuck themselves because their management obviously don’t want to have the pleasure of doing that on my behalf.

Then I wouldn’t mind if you could remind those people that have lost contact with me to give me a bell because I would really like to hear from them. No questions asked.

Last but not least, I was wondering if you could track down the little boy in Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh I met back in August, I made him cry… you know the one? That’s one thing I haven’t really lived down this year. I hope he’s survived the cyclone and that he is ok. Could you please help him find a mum, because he deserves the kind of love that strangers and aid workers can’t give. The kind of love that only mothers can give, unconditionally and eternally. And that I am really sorry that I am not that person but I send my blessings and that I think of him a lot. Keep him warm, fed, safe, happy, inspired, empowered… and not too shocked when he see you turn up next next next Tuesday.

Thanks mate. That’s all for now.

WaWa

p.s. Well, no p.s’s – cos I know you’re not actually married.

Back on the Pumpkin Patch

To my surprise I am actually really loving being back at my parents' place. The beautiful New Zealand weather, space, healthy food, having my own things back like books and clothes and computer, the chance to sit on the lawn and think about where I should be heading next without too much pressure. And free food & rent... of course.

The best thing is that I am getting along with my parents really well. Finally we are relating to each other like adults. None of that nagging, interrogation and advising anymore. I think having young kids (my four young cousins) around here really helped them to realise that I am a responsible and independent adult in comparison - the stark difference between a 27 yo and 13 yos. Its sad that its what it had to take, but its good that they are breaking through that barrier in their head. I love spending time with my cousins too, very sweet and lively kids, each all blossoming into their own unique person. (Well, apart from the hiccup this week... if you read on to the bottom.) I have no qualms about continuing a strong and supportive relationship with them for the rest of my life. At the end, when everyone else is gone, they'll be my family.

It was great spending a week in Canberra. Seeing all my mates again and doing all the things I used to love to do, tying up loose ends and all that. It basically made me feel so much more comfortable about leaving things where it should be left and moving on. For good. Closure, if you know what I mean. I just left in too much haste last time, not enough time to figure out whether it was the right thing to do. But this time I think I feel much more happier with my decisions. It did confirm to me though, what a great place Australia is to live. Lively, pulsing, excitement, art, ideas and colour... I really think I still need a good stint in Sydney or Melbourne in a few more years I think.

Good old Hamiltronn. I went into town today, to a temping agency to get the ball rolling to gets some part time money coming in. I can type 72 words per minute, would you believe. I could even print two pages out of ten on reverse order and draw a border around a table. It does amaze me how a town can change so little in the space of eighteen years. Its just that I hardly recognise anyone here anymore. Except for this girl from school who now has two toddlers. I used to be able to call every second person by their second name on this street - that was ten years ago. I know this cos that was when Sway by Bic Runga came out, and they were still playing it in Max today. How I survived that long in this town is still beyond me. I did still find some adequate stimulations I guess, but perhaps my time was so suffocating that it still acts as my excuse to lead such a gypsiesque life style.

There is no doubt that my parent's place is kick-arse though. I wish they'd lived here when I was younger and not lost in suburban gossip. I love this farm. I love the river, how deeply green it is in the gully, the fluffy carves poking their pink noses at you, the abandoned duck nests on the bank, the lilac and white fox-tails looking so buttery in the late evening setting sun, having a beer and smelling the thick earthy air, watching a plane land, wearing a T-shirt...

The Gin Chair

I have a confession to make. I really really really want to bundle mum and dad off to the Bay of Islands to a batch when they are ready to retire and take over this place. I'm going to make it into a cafe-gallery on the first floor and a Bed & Breakfast on the second. Pump off the concrete slab out the back and put in a huge wooden deck, extend the kitchen (but keep the vintage fire stove), make the girls' room into an ensuite, add a few more carparks, hire a proper gardening advisor, computerised watering system... Serve coffee that's actually worth drinking and cakes that are actually worth six bucks a pop; sushi from Cambridge; and have lots of weird-shit type art exhibits; invite the town for openings serving the best champagnes and cheeses in the world; a $5 surcharge to sit on the Gin-chair under the lemon tree; a biannual music festival down by the river with the Finn brothers; Cats, peacocks and monarch butterflies running amok in the garden. Definitely no dogs. If they want, people can get married here. That kinda thing.

And bringing out banana smoothies to German backpackers sunbathing nude in the backyard.

Great Things This Week

• Howard's gone - woo hoo
• Driving
• Rediscovering trampoline
  

Shit Things This Week

• My 15 yo cousin running away from home and having to be on the "Picking-up-the-pieces Committee". Little shit.
• Ink on my insurance claim receipts completely faded
• Still feeling bloody upset about Cupes
• Lost a set of photos I thought I had downloaded two years ago.... eeeeeek!!!
  

Blinking #93

If I died, I'd like to come back as a magnolia tree.

Its About Bloody Time...

If I were an Australian I would vote for a government that doesn’t lie

If I were an Australian I would vote for a government that can’t get away with lying

If I were an Australian I would vote for a government that listens to public opinion

If I were an Australian I would vote for a government that won’t just lip service climate change and actually gives a shit about investing in renewable energy

If I were an Australian I would vote for a government that won’t lie about nuclear energy – hello – who in the right mind would think that’s a) safe b) sustainable c) not a propaganda to cover up dodgy sells to rogue states developing nuclear weapons

If I were an Australian I would vote for a government that isn’t morally bigoted

If I were an Australian I would vote for a government that hasn’t got fundamental religious freaks in cabinet

If I were an Australian I would vote for a government that will say SORRY to indigenous Australians – and mean it – and committed to better their lives

If I were an Australian I would vote for a government that represents the majority not the few

If I were an Australian I would vote for an intelligent conversation about real issues that affect our future generations and not about shallow things like interest rates and ear wax

If I were an Australian I would vote for vision, responsibility, tolerance, harmony, justice

If I were an Australian I think my only choice this year is to vote for a Labor win and the Greens to hold balance of power in the Senate

So if I were an Australian I would vote. Not only would I vote but I would vote for change

COS ITS ABOUT BLOODY TIME!

Canberra Album

Big Big Bird

Back In Town

Canberra.

Nothing's changed here. I slip in so well. Know where to turn left and right, where to buy bread and coffee. Betsy the dog down the street still comes to say Hi when I walk past, the lady with the silver bob on the 36 bus still gets off on the same stop, same little girl at the supermarket checkout asking the same questions.

Maybe because nothing's changed that I've noticed how much I have changed. I observe and notice things I never used to think about. I just feel different.

My conversations with people are more relaxed, I am much happier, and I would like to think that I am now a more likable person. For the first time in a long time, I'm finally feeling comfortable with who I am. I still have no idea where life will take me, but I'm no longer frustrated by that fact.

.................

I help Mish and Peter clean the Wakefield House. We play Crowded House on the ipod, dance with broom sticks, tease Shane. Every room is empty, the beautiful polished timber floor glistening, the blinds flatter in the breeze. I walk around and can hear a pin drop. Remembering the spot on the ceiling I starred at one morning when I woke up feeling I was in love with the person next to me; the spot where I walked into Mish's room and she was rolled up in bed sobbing inconsolably; the spot I was standing when Stace told me she was pregnant; the spot where Li Bing hurled a bucket load of rotten cabbage across the fence; the spot I was sitting when I heard the car crash in the corner, and many many more moments...

.............

Kylie and I drink champagne and eat smoked salmon; roll around on the couch giggling & screaming; we talk about seemingly classy things like Veronika Maine, paintings, feathers, and seemingly unclassy things like farting, roast pork, and masturbation. We make prank calls, again.

............

Pip invites me to an end of year cocktail party with young beautiful people at KittyKirk's. I terrorise the party with my usual superb form. Back in town for one minute and already ripping it apart. I AM terrible.

.................

I sit across the table from Louise, having mussels and chips at the Belgium Beer Pub in Kingston. She is glowing with happiness, big shining Jordanian rock on her ring finger, Shane in her arms, sneaky little smirk on his face. If there's one good thing I'd done in my life, this would be it.
.................

I see MzOki, shak'in that ass, shak'in that ass; JC's back in the office; 'afterwork' drinks at KingO's; Bailey's Corner is alive and kicking right here right now!

..................

I walk inside the house and up the stairs. Shiner is not there to greet me with his ripping howl and a big warm cuddle. I scroll across his photos on the ipod instead. Its very sad, but it was probably his time. I'll probably never finish The Adventures of Sexton the Cat, but I know he's partying up large in the clouds with Milly, Cupes, Spike and all those ghastly goldfish, in a shiny new coat. They all have wings.
.................

I kiss Alice's gorgeous big belly. She suits being pregnant and Chris suits being asleep. I am sooo happy.

..................

I see Regan at Walk Against Warming. She completely suits being a mum. Little Vivi is the most gorgeous baby I've seen in a long long time. Go bananas!

...................

I saw the most beautiful night sky I've ever seen in my life. Big call I know. But I am sure. It had stopped raining 20 minutes earlier, the sky is clearing up framed with thin wads of cloud. A light clear aura tinting it, it looked like a deep fresh lake. Its not a night full of stars, but of what is visible, they were sparkling and tingling slowly changing colours into blue and orange, like tears. The sky from the Sahara desert was stunning and magnificent in a grand bold way - but this, is beautiful. The air was crispy and spiced with smell of wet bark. I've been in so much smog and grey weather and small spaces in the last little while, I forgot what it was like to be surrounded by unspoilt nature. It took my breath away and I began to cry.

.............

I am secretly sexy.

.............

Bob Dylan is rolling in his grave

Rained Out In Sydney

There is just so so much I love about this city. Even in the rain.
The rained out rush hour is just like how I feel right now. Bit sad, bit soaked, rushing through trying to get somewhere ahead, just not stopping where I think I should.

I'm ready now.

So I think I should mention briefly without further procrastination so everyone's on the same page before I jet in - Templeton and I have broken up. I really prefer not to discuss my relationships too much on the WWW, but without everyone falling apart with trauma, just want to say that we continue to be good friends and as far as I know, still share custody of the fishbowl.

Rally in Taipei - Gumbade Taiwan

Aunt Jean, my sister and I went to this huge UN for Taiwan rally/concert in Taipei on Saturday - marking the end of a successful round-the island marathon type thing trying to get around 3 million signatures on the petition to hold the UN for Taiwan referendum in March 2008. The atmosphere was superb and music was really fun, but the great speeches by President Ah-Bian and Frank Hsieh (DPP Presidential Candidate) was the cream on the icing. And hello stardom - the three of us got on TV a few times head banging to the rap (can you believe that this guy is the Minister of the Government Information Office??) what a blast, though Cindy and I had to make sure Aunt Jean didn't have a heart attack, she was pretty wild. Unfortunately camera played up so borrowed a few pics from http://www.socialforce.tw/people/ for the moment.

A-Gong is out of hospital and doing really well. He can pretty much do all the daily things by himself now and eating well. So I'm heading back to NZ via Australia (for sure this time) early Wednesday morning. Its hard to leave when there's so much excitement going on here, but unemployment and lack of green space & alcohol is catching up on me, so going home to regroup is the best plan for now.

Taiwanese Banquet

Aunt Jean's Bank Manager (guy singining on the right) took the family out for a banquet the other night, slice of life for you. And yes without fail I did smash Sinatra once again.

1000th Reader

Hey! Big welcome to my 1000th reader since February 2006.

SOS>>

He said he felt like a lone island, drifting off in a forgotten sea. He said he might be going mad because he is so homesick. SOS. SOS.

I showed him a picture of this world map in the common room of a backpackers I stayed at in Germany, where guests are invited to put a pin to the place that they come from. I had two pins, one for each passport in my pocket, and the obscure bizzare islands I claim to represent. And how I never felt so alone, standing back and feeling so insignificant. SOS.

Bizarre things I saw at the Hospital

• A giant traveling Barbie suitcase
  
• Identical triplets dressed in identical outfits


• Giant turkey wings on sale at the café downstairs next to some pig ears


• The fourth floor and the nineth floor is missing - one means "death" and the other means "long" in Taiwanese - one wants to die or stay too long in a hospital


• A neat pile of fire distinguishers outside a shop on the way home - always well prepared just in case China invades...

Taiwan Photo Roll

(1) Breast cancer awareness week at Taipei 101; (2) Me and Dad on the metro (he's back to fix some IP rights to his invention); (3) Cuzzies (Mum's youngest half brother's sons); (4) A shrine for Mobile phones; (5) A lunch feast in Shin-Wu at relos; (6) UN for Taiwan campaign banner at Taipei Main Station; (7) Clockwise - Nono (Grand Aunty's Oldest daughter's second son); My sister, Grand Aunt (Grandfather's sister), Cuzzie Gina (Grand aunt's third daugh

ter), Gina's new adopted baby;