Eurovision Final 2007

This is the third year I've made the pilgrimage to Melbourne for Eurovision (it would be the fourth but I was, alas, on the other side of the world last year... Hehehe)

The party is always fabulous. Dressing up is optional (I opted out this year and last time I just wore one of my stripy shirts and pretended I was french) but Kerry and Dermuid always outdo themselves:(In case you can't read Kerry's badge, it says "Hello my name is Nana. Please note Dermuid's fine collection of ABBA bubblegum cards on the fridge, and admire the bottom half of his costume below:) Each year we have to pick a flag at random (this year it was out of a vintage ABBA vinyl case) and there are a couple of traditions involving them. If a song is particularly dire the chant of "burn! burn! burn!" starts around the room. And whoever "owns" the flag of that country has to ceremoniously throw it in the fire.

Two flags were burned this year. Turkey sacrificed itself with no encouragement and Armenia got a lot of encouragement to hit the fire.

There is also voting under topical themes. For instance, this year I got to be Finland and won the Paris Hilton's "Stars are blind" Jail Bird Song Award which meant I was presented with the following classy prizes:I've included a picture of the voting sheet as the voting system was simplified last year. Each person is given a sheet of stickers with one sticker for each category. There is a piece of paper representing each of the countries hung on the wall. You simply stick your stickers onto the country's paper when you decide to vote for them. Result: final counting much simplified! (See action shot below)Oh, you want to know what some of the categories were this year?

* The Turkey-Slap "Nil points" Award for most likely to be booted out (Ireland)

* Anthony Callea's Best Boy Disco Diva Award (Spain)
* Dig me up before you Go-Go...!! Anna Nicole Smith Best Dressed Award (Ukraine)

And speaking of Ukraine, why didn't they win...

instead of K D lang and Sean Lennon's love child with The Madonna Clones? I don't speak Serbian but imagine the poor thing was singing about how she only had white sneakers and everyone else had black high heels and how she wished she could afford black high heels.

Also high on my list (but, alas, it would seem, no one in Europe's) was the UK entry. Which I think Richard Branson should adopt immediately as the Virgin theme song:

And the themes of this year's final? Black (particularly leather). White. And black and white. Pork pie hats. And after Lordi proved heavy could win Eurovision we had a plethora of heavy and gothy entries (including one of the postcards)

Oh yes, the postcards. There was knitting (once) and Libraries (twice!)

Melbourne Day Three: Monday mooching

Tonight I'd originally planned to do a big Eurovision final post - but forgot that I was a) off to the hairdressers and b) needed to sort stuff out for an early flight to Sydney tomorrow morning.

So the big Eurovision final post will have to wait and instead I'll share with you my photos from Monday.

I had no real plans for the day except lunch with someone I'd known briefly when I lived in Sydney almost 10 years ago and had regained contact with. Oh, and a plane in the afternoon (with a guest pass for the Qantas Club kindly donated by the boys). Kerry was working so I was on my own...

First up I thought I might do a 2 hour walking tour of The Golden Mile, which started at 10am. But the weather was inclement so I decided not to tempt fate.

Then I decided, since I was down at Federation Square anyway, to go check out the Focus on Punk season at ACMI. Except they weren't screening anything that day.

So I checked out the three gift shops in the complex (ACMI, The National Design Centre and The Ian Potter Centre, where I spotted this 1/6 scale Vitra miniature Marc Newson Lockheed Lounge. A snip at $1,200.)

I wandered round the square for a while and took some photos like a good tourist:

And discovered the Optus Message board on the side of the building. SMS your message to 19 SMS FED and it'll display here:I just had to try it - I like the idea of electronic graffiti!Just across the road is one of the standard tourist shots of Melbourne, so I had to take one (whoever gave planning permission for that new building behind Flinders Street Station should be shot, by the way.)And, finally, here are two pictures of some of my favourite Melbourne sculptures down on the corner of Swanston and Bourke Streets:

"Oh! Look! A tram!""Oh! Look! A flying pig!"

Melbourne Day Two: Failure?

Taph says buying these is not failure in Use What You Have Month as tools (and, she says, patterns) don't count. I'm not so sure.

I was doing pretty well at Camberwell Markets. I'd successfully sidestepped this stall:but was sunk when it came to needles (especially those still in original packaging for $2 a pair).

And it got worse. We went to Chapel Street Bazaar, and my favorite stall: where I bought more needles ($1 a pair. I rest my case)

I had a laugh when I spied this lot for $55:(I bought Pink Trees' set for 50 cents a piece)

And then I saw a smaller version of what Pink Trees bought me, for $45!Kerry and I took a tram back to the boys' placeand discovered the friendliest tram driver in Melbourne, who wanted me to drive the tram and kept suggesting (through the glass) that I ditch Kerry and go home with him. Oddly enough, I didn't show him the bottles of bubbly we had on board for the party that evening...

(Listening to: OneTwo, Item)

A travesty of justice - Eurovision 2007 semi finals

This, in our opinion, was the entry which should have won Eurovision 2007. Instead it didn't even make it through to the final :-(

Luckily, Nick burnt a DVD of it which we played during every commercial break of Sunday's final (another thing I'm not too keen on - it's just wrong for SBS to have commercials in the middle of programmes...)

Here's the other entry I think should have gone through, and not just because of the delicious jackets in the video clip (where the hell is Andorra, anyway?)

And I thought Austria's entry was pretty cool (once I worked out that wasn't a giant vagina but rather a large red AIDs ribbon...)

Melbourne Day One: Flowers, bubbles and (of course!) some architecture

After the exciting flight down from Canberra, I took the bus from Melbourne airport into the now finished Southern Cross Station. Which I like. A lot.(Can I bang on about "the juxtaposition of new and old blah blah blah"?)Then Kerry and I walked up to Bourke Street Mall where I'd planned to buy some Cowshed Cow Pat hand cream at Myer. Until I saw the price and decided that there was no way in hell I was paying $44 for a bottle of hand cream, no matter how pretty the packaging. Especially since I could buy a pair of black and white check PJs from the new Sussan range for the about the same price.

So we headed across the mall to Sussan where I decided that I really didn't like the fabric used, thus saving another $35. I've been in town half an hour and saved $80 already. Excellent!

Alas my visit to Smiggle didn't have the same result and I staggered out laden down with goodies for me and goodies for my Black and White swap partners.

After all that shopping we needed a rest and what better place than here:(Kerry and her birthday bag looking suave while plotting how to get the bench home)Much rested, we headed back down into the centre of town in search of lunch. On the way I spotted these heading up a side alleywhich got us wondering where exactly they lead...

In Block Place I spotted more sunflowersAnd, after lunch (the best ravioli I've ever had and a couple of glasses of bubbles at Alpha Cafe & Deli), we took a tram up to Brunswick Street where we found still more flowers:and stopped for a drink at The Cherry Lounge(yay! red bubbles in piccolos!), were snubbed by a localand so wandered off into the dusk to get ready for that night's Eurovision semi final...

Success!

Damn! Now I have to decide what I'm going to do with this really ugly bit of knitting that I didn't manage to get confiscated....

(Listening to: The Mission, Resurrection)

Oh yeah - almost forgot - another plea...

Are you in Australia? Do you have a DVD recorder? Is it free tomorrow night?

If so would you consider recording Get Ready to be Boyzvoiced for me? (SBS Saturday 12th May 2007, 10:40pm) I have it on video but would be very very happy to have a DVD copy as backup.

Name your price! (assuming it's not a 6 year supply of Boots toothbrushes or a Kaleidoscope Dolls House)

Plans, pictures and plots

I had such grand plans for this week - I'd even convinced myself that I'd make presents for the boys (I think I still will, but now I've decided I'll post them to them afterwards to say thank you, thus buying me some much needed time). But the week seems to have mysteriously disappeared and I'm going to be lucky if I manage to pack (especially as the skirt I want to take is still soaking wet - thank God for hairdryers!) and do the dishes...

And, as seems to happen when I decide to plan a day off, work has gone completely ballistic (I'm finding myself wondering if I could take my laptop to Melbourne with me and do some work on Monday even though it's really an annual leave day - but then I tell myself the world won't end if my clients have to wait one incy wincy teensy weensy extra day before they hear back from me...)

I went up to Parliament House today for work and took some pictures but they're all crap so you're not going to see them. Sorry!

Instead, here are some pictures my knitting obsessed and dolls house enthusiast readers:Knitted cushions I made a couple of years ago. The tape measure is in inches. I used Appletons Tapestry Wool and 1.25mm needles. The cream one came first then I (insanely) decided I'd try cables. You know, just to see if I could.And a picture for the sock knitters among us. No, I didn't make these. I bought them for 50 (NZ) cents a pair (yep - you read that correctly. 50 cents a pair - I snapped up three pairs before they could change their mind and started charging a realistic price) at the NZAME Hamilton Miniature Convention way back in...ummm... OK, a long time ago!

And speaking of knitting, I have a plan. Or is it a plot? Tomorrow I'm flying to Melbourne.

After Stitch 'n' Bitch discussions about this post where Needle's Edge manages to *gasp* knit on an airplane (and during which I suggested this year's Knit in Public Day in Australia should involve a nationwide deluge of people with knitting needles trying to get airside to knit - and make a peaceful protest at the utter idiocy of banning knitting needles on internal flights), I thought I could (potentially) sacrifice my $2 Hot Dollar 4mm bamboo circular needles and some crapolla acrylic yarn and see if I can manage to do the same....


(Listening to: In bloom: French Electronic Music (double CD, $3 from Vinnies. Score!)

Bagging it out

I've been a bit busy sewing the last couple of days with bags needed for:

* My Mystery Bag Swap International 2 (done, dusted and in the post well ahead of schedule - no photo as it would spoil the surprise (and besides, I forgot to take one!))

* L who had a birthday this week. I decided to make her a fold up shopping bag to match the pouches I made for her back here:

Folded
Unfolded!

* Nick and Dermuid who are kindly putting me up this weekend in Melbourne. I'm still trying to decide if they'd prefer shoe bags or fold up shopping bags - or if I have the the time, materials (and inclination) to produce both before Saturday morning!

(Listening to: Men without Hats, Folk of the 80s (Part III))

Also not a birthday present!

Lovely Anita (no blog as far as I can tell) heard my plea for Boots toothbrushes and so a swap was arranged: toothbrushes for Vita Weats (That has to be up there in the list of odd international swaps!)

I certainly got more than I bargained for: enough toothbrushes to keep me going for 6 years plus a bar of yummy Rococo dark cardamom chocolate.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Anita! Your package will be in the post Thursday.

Is this cheating?

Day 5 of my Use what you have month and I bought wool.Very small wool!I also picked up some lovely vintage miniature goodies from one of my favorite sellers:(after I actually found her!) The show moved from Bankstown to Olympic Park last year while I was away and I used to know exactly where the stalls I wanted to visit first were and make a beeline for them as I entered the hall.

This year I had to wander round looking lost for the first half hour before getting my bearings....
(Listening to: Jamiroquai, Emergency on planet earth)

Sunday in Sydney

Princess B and I went for a wander:Dropped of at IKEA (where I spent money, but not on myself). Then we had a coffee:And went to the Miniature show which was disconcerting as it's now at Olympic Park and all the stalls have moved so I couldn't find my "usual" stalls....I found some good knitting from NZ: (Here's my finger for scale!)And there was even entertainment!And some history...
(and in case you haven't worked it out - all the pictures are of miniatures)
(Listening to: Hird, Moving On)

The Biggest (not) Morning Tea

You may ask "Wyong earth go for Afternoon tea in Wyong?"To which the only reply is "It was invitation from Di, The Op Shop and Apron Queen (sorry, you can't quite see the hand embroidered Crinoline Lady in her apron in this picture...)Approximately 30 of us raised $520 for Cancer research. It was a good day (and Di adored her knitted cupcakes!)

I'm away for the weekend...

...with limited computer access.

So here's a link to check out: Quotes on shopping.

I suspect this might be my next knitting project...

And a really cool black and white link from my father:

Oh bum! It would seem cupcakes are now passé...

...just as I packaged up mine to take to Sydney tonight.

Yup, it would seem scones are the new big thing (odd, I didn't even know Americans knew about scones - always thought they called them biscuits...)

And I'm pleased to say I was one year ahead of trend. (*snort*) Now if I could only work out a pattern for knitted scones...

(Listening to: Sketch Night & Day (free with April 2007's Living Etc magazine)

IKEA Hack/ Mothers' Day gift idea

I'd forgotten about this IKEA Hack and thought I'd feature it now in case you wanted to steal the idea for a Mothers' Day present.

I bought some Ribba frames years ago and broke the glass in one of them. Rather than throw the frame away (or put it aside where it would sit forever while I got round to getting new glass cut for it) I did the following:

* Removed the mat, leaving just the backing card in place.
* Bought a packet of Home Brand wooden clothes pegs, and stained one with the wenge coloured stain I had on hand.
* Waited for the peg to dry then glued it onto the backing card.
*Clipped on a postcard I'd picked up at an exhibition I went to (originally I'd planned to change the card on a regular basis but Man Ray has been in there for a couple of years and seem to have no plans to move)

The entire project cost under $2 (the cost of the pegs, with enough left over for 11 more frames!)

Even if you bought a frame from the op shop and a test pot to paint the frame and peg with, it shouldn't cost you more than $5 to make.

(Listening to: Fabric 3)

_________________________________________________________________________

Featured on IKEA Hackers in June 2007.

See my other IKEA hacks:

Colouring in fabric (December 2006)

Zippered pouch (December 2006)

Shopping tote (January 2007)

Rationelle coasters (February 2007)

Not a birthday present...

... so I could open it immediately. Thrift Shop Project sends me such good parcels.

Thanks Kristin! More chocolaty minty goodness on the way (even though you say you still haven't finished the last care parcel I sent)

(Listening to: Everything but the girl, Walking wounded)

May I say?

So how did it get to be May already? Sheesh! Where has the year gone? In three weeks (and one day, but who's counting?) I'll be 41.

I've rejoined Use What you Have for this month. And then realised I'd planned to replace my nasty awful very very green cutting board with a slick new foldable black one but it was too late. Until Princess B came to the rescue and said she'd buy it for me for my birthday. What a gal!

Speaking of birthdays, I'm planning something new (apart from actually being here for it for a change!). It's called patience and it works like this: I get a birthday present. I put it in the Birthday Present Box and LEAVE IT THERE until the actual day. At which stage I open the contents of the box over a leisurely breakfast. Interesting a concept, eh?

I'm all over the place this month with two trips to the Sydney area, one to Melbourne and a birthday weekend down the coast (I haven't been down there for years. I'm a bad bad Canberran!)

And the picture up there? The bag I'm making for my Mystery Bag Swap International 2 partner. I'm loving my new cutty tool which I bought only because it was a) white and grey and b) on special. Why didn't I buy one of these years ago? It's amazing!

(Listening to: Erasure, The Innocents)

Library stuff

This is new to me but it would seem it's been doing the rounds for at least a year - how did I miss out seeing it before now? Pity they don't actually exist as I would be happy to add 20 toy Librarians to my desk!

And I'm loving the ACT Public Library Service at the moment. I got an email yesterday afternoon letting me know the copy of Shopaholic and Baby I'd reserved was waiting to be picked up (yay! I just saved $32 which is particularly gratifying as this book was a fast read and was back at the library less than 24 hours after I picked it up.)

While I was at the library I wandered over to check out the knitting/ architecture/ design books and spotted the complete three volume set of Phaidon Design Classics sitting on the shelf minding their own business. ARGH!!!!! They were scooped up and I staggered over to check them out before someone realised they should be reference only.

So here's a pile of loveliness that "saved" me $280:Alas the library don't appear to have (or be ordering) Jessica Adams' The Summer Psychic but, before I succumb to buying it, I've sent feelers out to library contacts stretching from here to the Central Coast in the hope of managing to borrow a copy to read.

(Listening to: Thomas Dolby, Astronauts & Heretics)