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September 10, 2009

In Search Of . . .Something

It’s 11:00 in the morning. I was up at 6:30 and my youngest left for school at 7:30. That means I’ve had hours of alone time. After a summer of not much “me” time you’d think I’d be hootin’ and hollerin’, and doing a happy dance. I should have lots to show for my new-found freedom. But, in reality I’ve accomplished little today, I’m still in my PJs and I haven’t eaten breakfast yet. Embarrassing, I know.

I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Am I lazy? Depressed? Unmotivated? Lacking inspiration?

Good heavens, someone just rang the doorbell. I’m going to hide until they go away. If it was you, I’m sorry. Whew, it was just the FedEx guy. He left a package and drove away.

I’m back, where was I? Oh yeah, procrastinating.

I’m not sure what’s wrong, but clearly I need to improve a bit in the time-management arena if I have any hope of cobbling together a day before the kids get home from school. What I need is a personal coach/mentor/nudger. Someone to gently direct and encourage. Someone like my children’s first grade teacher who found a way to praise a child’s efforts no matter how small. I can hear her telling me, “Good job, you got out of bed…maybe we can start the article you’ve wanted to write…or go to the grocery store.”

The other day my husband asked me where I wanted to be in ten years. Ten years? I don’t know where I want to be in ten days! I think this might be a problem (mine, not his). It brings to mind something my wise friend, Kathleen, shared on her blog the other day: Always begin with the end in mind. Hmm, maybe she and Dan are onto something.

Truly I want to live a life that honors God. And in some ways I do, but I believe there’s more. And I’m waiting for divine guidance to whatever that “more” may be. It seems God is kind of silent. Or maybe I’m kind of deaf?

I know it’s natural for me as a mom to reevaluate my life as my kids get older and need me less and less. And I know I tend to lose perspective real fast during these “transistional “ times. There’s much I could be doing (like writing/submitting/reorganizing/reconnecting) but I’m not.

The word momentum comes to mind. It’s a law of physics that it’s much easier to keep something going than it is to get it started. (Or something like that…I never actually took a physics class.) Anyway, I certainly lack momentum which is making it hard to get started in any direction. I seriously need some motivation.

For now I’ll get my momentum from the fact that I’m so hungry I can’t type anymore. Then I’ll get dressed. And maybe walk my dog. Who knows, if I start with the basics can self-actualization be far behind?

Do any of you have any idea what I’m talking about? Or is it just me?

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)

Analisa said...

Just letting you know it is so not you. I am so there. I know I was supposed to leave my job, I thought to write and now, well not so sure. Not about the leaving the job. That was pretty much written out for me by God but the writing. But I trust God and my favorite saying to Him is Lord you said your sheep hear your voice and another's they won't follow.

So I have increased my private worship and prayer time. Spending more time in the word. I mean up before my son gets up for school and I know God will guide me into what He has planned for me during this season. Sometimes when you don't feel like doing anything else it is because your spirit is crying out for more of God. Then the bored, restless, lazy feeling tends to fade. So turn on cable to some good ministries, get out a note book and dive in.

heartreflections said...

OK, thank you for putting into words what I've been feeling for the last year! I'm giving myself this school year to figure "it" out and then next school year I'm off to work... or something. I agree with "getting the ball rolling" - but which ball and which direction? hmm...

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

Nearly wettin' my pants over here (tmi); are you living my life? I didn't get out of jammies until 5:00 PM yesterday. I was nearly rotten by that point, determined to not let my Thursday go to waste. Wrong. Internet issues that consumed me for a good chunk on the morning; I did get the blog post up, but the other stuff I needed to do today didn't get done. At 3:00 PM I picked up the kids and ran to the store to get something for my husband's birthday, which is also today.

So, you're not alone, friend. I have some productive times and some that completely spend like a blur. I should have run today, but I didn't (don't shoot me Susan). Oh, and unexpected door knocks nearly send me OVER THE EDGE. I've been known to hide too!

Tomorrow will birth better; I'll pray along those lines for both of us.

Cheryl Barker said...

Kelli, I don't know if it's true for all writers, but getting started on new projects is the hardest part for me, too. Amazing what I can find to do while I'm trying to work up the fortitude to dive in and flounder around for awhile trying to get my footing. Good luck tomorrow! :)

Kelly said...

not just you. not at all.

Sometimes I think that God gives us quite times of reflection so that our mind can wander and we can go over thoughts that are in our head. At least, it seems to be true for me.

This is the first semester that my son has been in school, and the first week or so (tomorrow is his second Friday) I felt like I was missing a limb...there was such a void with him away from my side.

apowers said...

Sometimes more "Me" time is actually time you need with others. Take a shower, get dressed, and then you have more motivation to do whatever for that day even if it is staying at home by yourself. I hate staying in my PJs all day it makes me feel like a slob......

Kelly Combs said...

I get you! This is the first year both my kids are going to school (I have a kindergartener). Yesterday after I'd done all the laundry and cleaned the house and done everything earlier in the week, I actually watched an entire movie by myself. AND IT WASN'T ANIMATED!

I'm going to need to start inking out my time better and writing and doing things. May I glorify God in all things.

Wish we could meet for coffee! Wouldn't that be fun?

Terri Tiffany said...

It isn't you:) You may just need some down time to reevaluate just as you are doing. That is good! You will find your direction and then find also you have all kinds of energy to reach that new goal!

Irritable Mother said...

Seems pretty unanimous.
It isn't just you!!!
We know that of which you speak. *grin*
On days like that I try so hard to remind myself I cannot rely on my feelings. Time to exercise my will!
Here's to mercies which are new every morning, and a gracious God who is so patient with us!

Sue J. said...

I may be the only one here who WISHES she WAS YOU! I am so full of deadlines for things or new things starting; there's no time to sit in jammies!

I can't imagine being out of something to do at the moment.

But, see, now I have the opposite extreme issue, and it really isn't much better on this side of the teeter-totter.

Lists can be really helpful, just so you see in writing what's a have-to-do or a like-to-do. Even if it is "walk the dog," if it's on the list, you might feel the need to cross it off the list.

With everything that has been on your plate in the last few months, it's not surprising to find yourself in a nebulous neighborhood. But, again, if you wrote what you've done; what you've thought; what you'd like and need to do, you give yourself a visual...and you'll be hard-pressed to let that stand as a finished work.

Still....I'd like to come over in my PJs with coffee and commiserate over all this stuff!

Sassy Granny ... said...

How wonderfully normal!

Stay in your pajamas all day and read the day away. It's a cure that always works for me (and be sure to add some chocolate)!

Lelia Chealey said...

Oh sister, I wish I would've read this yesterday. Maybe I would've taken a shower before 8pm and fed my family before 9pm!
I did a lot of writing on the computer, but that's it. No dishes, laundry, library like I promised my 8 year old, just writing in the work clothes I came home at 7 that morning. Then I had to go back to work at 11pm.
Ugggh. I just read a quote by Denzel Washington this morning that his kids have memorized..."We do what we don't want to do so we can do what we want to do".
Thought that was a good thought for my day. :)
Keep looking up and being real! When we are real, that's when others relax because they realize they aren't alone.

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January 30, 2012

Early Morning Out of Boredom Shot

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It started with the spiderweb; I saw this spiderweb while I was watering the plants so I’ve thought that I should take a photo of the web before destroying it :P.

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Wednesday, 18 January 2017

Knocked up....now what? Maternity Clothes in Bangkok

I'm 23 weeks pregnant and trying to squeeze into my non maternity dresses is making me look like

Ursula from the Little Mermaid

cue panic attack as I stare into my wardrobe.

I'm not an avid shopper (although my husband may say different) but I am quite good at keeping key pieces that do come out year after year and work with new trends.

I am super lucky that some forward thinking a few years ago meant that I purchased two bamboo maxi dresses from Zhai in Singapore. Not only are they proving to grow with me, the bamboo is super soft but they are also black (which is perfect for a country that is in one year of mourning).

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They are perfect "in between" dresses, can be dressed up with some jewellery, but can also slouch around at home or by a pool chatting in them.

(Top Tip - at the moment I am loving jewellery from Maison de Siam, which has been set up by an English couple sourcing ethical handcrafted jewellery in Thailand and giving generoursly back to the community, currently only available in the UK, but contact them for more details)

Unfortunately (mostly for my husband) I have also given in to waste bands almost entirely - they are uncomfortable at the best of times but now they feel like they are a tourniquet around my poor babies neck, and my bladder!

I had slipped into a habit of sitting around at home in not much more than my knickers....not a good look!

Fortunately, as my husband pointed out, there are some great, very cheap, stretchy options in Thailand, that can be picked up at places like MBK very easily for THB300-400. I have to admit that the elastic at the top is not the most supportive so these are strictly my 'lounge around at home dresses', but I couldn't live without them, and they are a little more elegant than sitting around in my knickers!

Now, if you are just here to pick up some hints and tips on where to get summer maternity clothes in Bangkok, then please see the table below for a (hopefully) helpful list of where you can try to find clothes that will fit.

Please bear in mind though that even at their fattest, Thai girls are not born to the same proportions as many foreigners, so you may still find that arms are little too tight or waist lines a little too high, but then again an oversized cotton shirt is an oversized cotton shirt and can be dressed up or down, so you will always find some thing that works.

Now in the meantime, I had an emergency!

A trip back to the UK and a weekend in Finland in January

Instead of my normal delight at wearing my skinny jeans, knee high boots and cashmere jumpers I entered a spiral of panic, all I could think about was how cold I would be wearing MBK summer dresses in the middle of winter back home!

So I asked around and was told that H&M in Central World has a maternity range, that is coincidentally useless for Thailand as it is mostly jeans and jumpers - hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah

So bump and I went shopping!

It transpires that the shop has less choice than the website but there was enough to get me started.

I choose to stick to key items, that would co-ordinate with my leather knee high boots or navy pumps.

For the plane I wanted to be comfy.
So I choose maternity joggers (THB999) and options for layering on the top

THB 500 (sale item)
 THB200 (sale item)

Other collaborations:

Navy blue maternity jeans @ THB1,399 and cream and navy maternity jumper @ THB1,099

Navy blue maternity jeans @ THB1,399 and beige maternity jumper @ THB500 (sale item)

But this didn't solve every problem and most importantly my one and only winter coat was not going to co-operate and stretch around my expanding waist line.

A quick look on The Mummy Club, Thailand and I discovered that many people get their winter clothes from Uniqlo. Whilst they don't have a maternity range I hoped that by utilising the right shapes and sizes I could get away with some key pieces.

I was convinced that layering was the way to go, so I layered up two outer layers

Ultra light down vest @ THB990 (sale item)

Blocktech coat @ THB2,990

I also stocked up on thermal options for inner wear layering

 Heattech extra warm turtle neck t shirt @ THB390

Heattech crew neck t-shirt @ THB390

and then treated myself to a "show off the bump" ribbed cotton stripped long dress @ THB790

and just as I was leaving the shop I saw this amazing bargain, that could hide an elephant under it let alone a baby bump!

Sweat 3/4 sleeve tunic @ THB590 (sale item) which I teamed with some Heattech tights in navy @ THB 290

I did also sneak back to H&M to buy a grey pair of maternity jeans from H&M to go with this green maternity jumper I had spotted.

So, I was confidently set up with maternity wear for heading back home...probably too set up,

it just about fit in the suitcase!

UPDATE @ 1st February - it was all perfect. I honestly couldn't have taken a better wardrobe home with me. It all co-ordinated well and I was never cold. The down vest and blocktech combo were an immense success in Finland in particular.

UPDATE @ 28th February - even though Bangkok is considerably hotter than the UK or Finland in January, I am surprised to find myself wearing most of the clothes I purchased, with obviously a few wardrobe rematches.

The striped dress is great for showing off the bump and I love to wear it in the evening for meeting friends for dinner, when the air con can get a little chilly in restaurants. AND I LOVE LOVE LOVE maternity jeans - why oh why did no one tell me about these before. I wear them all the time with long vest tops, they give lovely support and hide the fact that I can no longer reach my legs to shave them!

Although I still live in my black maxi dresses and MBK specials, when I need to be super comfy at home!

  1. Glad you found some nice things. I inherited some pretty things from my sister but mostly stayed in maternity jeans and baggy tops #StayClassyMama

    1. Hi Laura, I couldn't believe how great maternity jeans were when I found them, so amazing for being back in the UK. Thanks for reading!

  2. I was the least fashionable pregnant woman, I was all leggings and stretchy tops. You have some amazing matched outfits and I bet you look beautiful! Maxi dresses are fantastic. I love the stripey dress. Thank you for sharing on #stayclassymama xx

    1. Thanks Jade! It's maxi dresses all the way now that its the hot season in Bangkok. Soon we will get to over 40 degrees, I'm gonna melt! Thanks for reading!

  3. I've been look at this site even before I became pregnant! They have beautiful maternity dresses which would be perfect for my baby shower.

    1. The website looks lovely. Just a shame that it's not based in Thailand and therefore anyone here in Thailand would have to pay customs duties, which can be very expensive and awkward to arrange sometimes :-(

  4. Buy maternity dresses online for pregnant women & enjoy stylish pregnancy with your unique sense of style.


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Monday, December 28, 2009

Holiday Season Events

We went down to Astoria for Thanksgiving and had a great time visiting with family and friends.  Jake’s twin cousins, Whitney and Kennedy are getting so big – they will be 2 in February!  Maggie and Jerrod are doing well, they are living at the house in the country and Jerrod has been hard at work fixing it up.  Maggie is going to back school to get her transfer degree.  Chris is doing well, he is close to becoming a long shoreman, so we will be seeing more of him while he works the Ports in Tacoma and Seattle.  He will be traveling to New Zealand next year as well.

          Picture 003 Picture 009 Picture 004

Picture 005

Picture 007

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We took Jake to a Santa Breakfast again this year, he had a great time, LOVES Santa!  He will go right up to him and say hi and asks for a “foo-foo” (choo-choo).  Above Jake and I are in line to get breakfast, below is a picture of Mrs. Claus passing out candy canes.  There were several craft stations for the kids, face painting, dance floor and pictures with Santa (I need to scan in his Santa pictures soon).

Picture 012

Picture 013

This is Jake’s 3rd year of picking out a Christmas tree, the last 2 years it has been snowing but this year it was just COLD!  We had a great time and had a wonderful visit from my best friend, Aunt Melissa.

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Jake’s face when he came downstairs after his nap and the tree was decorated.  He continues to call it “the pretty” every time we turn on the tree lights.

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At Snowflake Lane in Bellevue with the Kilborn Family

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Some of our holiday crafts!

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Making sugar cookies with mom, he was such a great helper!

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Decorating the cookies with sprinkles

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Lots of sprinkles = Lots of love!

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Mmmm… I did a good job!  Santa will be happy.

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We took a 3 day trip down to Eugene, Oregon to visit family and friends.  Jacob did AWESOME, he of course loved all the attention but we had such a great time at everyone’s home for the holidays. Thank you, I wish we had more time to see people and to see you all longer.  Above is a picture of a “foo-foo” by Great-Grandma Abby for Jacob.

Picture 252Cracking up at Grandma and Great-Great Aunt Dottie

Picture 266 Jacob got a TON of gifts from everyone in Oregon, he is spoiled! Jake opened fun matchbox car stuff from Great-Uncle Mark.

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Giving Abby some hugs and kisses.  Jake LOVES both of his glow in the dark etcha-sketches, he plays with them all the time!  And we turn on the animal nightlight each evening, he has so much fun watching all the animals go by.   Thank you Eugene Family!

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Jake loves his bouncy ball, his cool car and ambulance and cuddles with his homemade blanket from Great-Grandma Jane each morning.  Thank you CG family!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Another little Connaway…

As most of you know through phone calls or word of mouth, we are expecting a little baby Connaway!!  I am just over 5 weeks pregnant or so, I will have a Dating Ultrasound this month to figure out my due date.  We couldn’t be happier, Jacob will be a fantastic big brother and we look forward to meeting our new little bundle of joy in late July or early August.  Thank you all for you continued support, we have the best family and friends!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Happy Halloween

We went to a few Halloween parties during the month of October for Jacob.  One was at our friend Sarah’s house, she has a boy Jake’s age, Joey and a baby girl Stella.  The kids had a great time running around in their costumes and doing some craft projects!

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We had another party with the mom’s group I am a part of, it was a lot of fun for the kids.  Lots of food, games and cool prizes.  Jake was a lion for this party (but didn’t want to wear the hat of course).

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Jake and Landon jumping around to the music

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Jake holding Katherine’s hand, they just stood there like this for 15 min.

Picture 174 Giving Jake POP ROCKS (yes, remember those?)

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One of the many faces he made from the POP ROCKS, but he actually asked for more after this!

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We went to Albertson’s for some trick or treating.  They had a great haunted house for the kids (which Dracula scared Jacob), we decorated a few cupcakes in the bakery and got candy from all the departments.

Picture 247 Getting ready to decorate his pumpkin

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Picture 302 Jake’s finished pumpkin – “all pretty” as he would say

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Nate’s finished pumpkin

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Jake’s Halloween Basket from Grandma

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Getting ready to go Trick or Treating!

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             Helping make cookies                    Jake’s new haircut

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Nate bought Jake this hat and mitten set for winter

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text:
The musings and misadventures of a girl unprepared

Sunday, 30 June 2013

Street Kids

This morning I got up to an empty bedroom for the first time in weeks and felt that odd sense of freedom you get when travelling alone. Freedom to go where I want, do what I want, see what I want and of course the freedom to walk around starkers should I fancy it.

I took my time about getting ready, did an expert repack of my bag and perfected my previously shoddy henna skills. Not to shabby if I do say so myself!

For the first time in my life I was able to take a leisurely stroll to the station because I was SO EARLY and plonked myself down to wait for the bus.

Within minutes I was bombarded by three street kids, all girls aged around 5, 6 and 11 years old. I'm ashamed to say I acted in the usual fashion, attempting to get rid of them as quickly as possible saying I had no money (which was genuinely true for once) however these three were rather persistent so after a little while I began chatting to them, in broken bits of English, Spanish, Portuguese, German and lots of mime.

They told me how they were sisters and slept around the back of the bus station. They had no parents and had to beg everyday for food. Most people ignored them, which was sad sometimes, but at least they were together. I showed them a picture of my sister and they told me how beautiful she is. I retorted that they haven't seen her as she'd just woken up and laughed in agreement, poking fun at each other. The conversation was not grave but amicable, with lots of smiles, giggles and asking me about my home, whilst trying on various bits of my jewellery.

Feeling touched by their presence, I gave them a present each of a ring and two bracelets of their choosing. Immediately after they ran away from me, fearful that I might retract my gift. Seeing my initial confusion, they cautiously returned before settling down to chat again. It saddened me a little that these beautiful young girls were wary to trust even someone who had been kind to them.

After a while they helped me find my bus and carry my bags (I confess I was a little worried about them running off, but I'd decided trust had got me this far, why not give it a chance?) The driver shunned the youngest as she went to check whether it was the right stop, but she simply shrugged and beckoned that I would have to do it.

Saying goodbye, I didn't really know what to do. We'd known each other only 30 minutes and yet I felt a strange connection to these girls. Leaving with just a 'see ya, have a nice life' seemed rather inadequate. Squeezing their shoulders and telling them how beautiful they are was barely an improvement, but with no parents to remind them I decided they deserved to hear it.

As I went to board the driver stopped me and demanded 2 bosnian-whatever-they're-called for my backpack. Having already paid for my ticket and spent the last of my pennies on paying for the hostel the night before, I was quite literally skint, but on telling the driver so he just shrugged and took my bag off the bus. I stood there, dumbstruck, at a loss of what to do. My new friends looked at me with understanding eyes, just as a kind norwegian gentleman jumped off the bus and paid for my bag as well as his own. I thanked him profusely, beaming at the girls who then proceeded to beg him for money - you can't teach an old dog and all that. I couldn't help but chuckle, climbing on the bus accompanied with a wave of airborne kisses and shouts of 'gruezi!'

Make of it what you will, but it's proved a rather thought provoking morning for me. I'm currently munching on a peach I acquired from that same kind stranger, who claims that England has given him so much during his travels there, he is simply paying a minute part of it back.

Saturday, 29 June 2013

Assassination of Franz Ferdinand; 99th Anniversary

(Sorry for the multiple uploads today, the Wifi has been a bit shoddy recently!)

Our exploration of Sarajevo began with a visit the Latin Bridge and the sight where Franz and Sofia Ferdinand were assassinated, which was on the 28th June 1914. 99 years ago to the day. We didn't even plan it intentionally! I found it really strange to stand in pretty much the exact spot Gavrillo Princip stood as he took aim for the shot which would shake up the entire future of Europe. I wonder if he had even an inkling of what he was about to start.

Views walking down from the hostel. A perk of being up so high. (Instagram @josiepanda)

(Instagram @mitchellckc)

The old town is gorgeous, reminiscent of Istanbul according to Steve and Josie. We walked in as a call to prayer echoed through the cobbled streets and I was able to witness my first Muslim prayer ritual. Is it bad to find the customs of a religion that is relatively alien to me fascinating? I don't mean to patronise or condescend, as I have no idea what I believe in, I just think it's interesting to see different forms and places of worship. Religious studies has always been a particular passion of mine.

For lunch we had some traditional Bosnian Ćevapčhičhi, which was delicious and after just 3€ worth I was fit to burst.

We wandered down to the memorial for the 1992-1995 war, which is a beautiful fountain in a park just next to the main high street. There was also a list of children who had died during the war, which really hit home when I noticed that many were born the same year as me, but were deprived of their privilege of life before they'd even turned three. Looking around at the young Bosnians in the street I realised that many of them must have lived through the war; some may even remember it. It's so strange to consider something like that happening in my life time but at the same time, it still very much a reality for many citizens across Middle East and Africa. Children die needlessly in war because adults act like children. We forget the important things and protect our pride and greed and honour and whatever other stupid, unnecessary, selfish tendencies we possess, rather than those innocents who are crying out for peace.

We decided to head to a shisha bar to wind down after a hardcore day of sightseeing. It was SO CHEAP I could barely believe my ears when the waiter told us the equivalent of £2.50 for one! I don't even smoke but even I was tempted at that price.

The evening was spent in true traveller/hippy fashion, dreadlocking more of my hair (I'm now up to 13 dreads!), attempting to use henna and failing because being an idiot I cut the nozzle too thick. We managed to improvise though...

I also knitted some more headbands whilst the others span around in a hammock and massaged each other. Literally Emily hippy paradise.

We got the train to Mostar this morning - early get ups are much easier when you're drunk on culture and jelly sweets. Let's see where the day takes us.

Journey to Sarajevo

Luckily we had a a private bus for the five of us plus our two dorm mates, Zach and Tom from Leeds. We all passed out for the first few hours, Steve trumping us all with his initiative and opting to stretch out on the floor, until we arrived at our first stop off, a 24 hour trout farm. We must have been a sight for sore eyes as we stumbled inside, bleary eyed still covered in last nights now panda-esk eye-liner and cigarette infused beer stench, drooling over the soft drink selection but completely penniless. So whilst the driver gorged on his breakfast and coffee, we all reluctantly sauntered back to the van feeling rather sorry for ourselves.

At the second stop I discovered a rather strange rash appearing on my arm that looked a little like this...

You see those red spots? Nothing too serious but I kept an eye on it all the same.

The drive was breathtaking for the most part. The views were absolutely awe-inspiring and had it not been for my extreme fatigue I would have really enjoyed the journey. However a combination of hangover, motion sickness and ridiculously windy roads, along with a drive who liked to break as hard as possible at the last humanly imaginable second made for a rather nauseating trip.

We crept up to Sarajevo from above, giving us a spectacular view of the city. I literally couldn't believe my eyes. The city was situated in a valley, it's expanse of white washed houses scattered up the hillsides reminded me of a cluster of stars sprinkled amongst a leafy green sky, which slowly became more concentrated towards the core and glittered in the sunlight.

(You can't really tell, but despite the cloud cover it was actually quite sunny. This picture really doesn't do it justice)

Finding the hostel proved to be a bit of an adventure. As usual, the satnav managed to get lost and we ended up having the grand tour of Sarajevo's higher regions. However after asking around a dozen locals and dying for some fresh air, we finally arrived at our hostel. Near the top of a mountain. In the middle of no where. Locked and completely devoid of people.

Now considering that since we'd set off all we'd been dreaming about was the bed that was awaiting us, unsurprisingly we were starting to lose the will to live. Whilst Josie, Mitch and I were contemplating our certain death atop a Bosnian mountain, Caitlin and Steve decided to entertain themselves by climbing cherry trees and playing with stray dogs, with the most impressive amount of fake energy I have ever witnessed. I'll never understand those crazy cats.

Oliver, owner of the hostel, arrived around 45 minutes later, with rather dilated pupils and a toothy grin that was impossible to be mad at, even with his only half hearted apology about picking up some other backpackers from the station.

So we slept, ate and slept some more, in order to feel fresh for our day in Sarajevo. Oh and that rash I mentioned earlier? Well, it got a little worse...

It's currently itchy as hell but on the plus side I'm drugged up to my eyeballs on antihistamines making everything rather dreamlike and lovely. What would a trip be without some kind of accident or ailment at my expense eh? It'd be a shame to break tradition. ;)

Friday, 28 June 2013

Serbian Madness

We got another night train to Belgrade, forgetting to factor in the border control which woke us up repeatedly around 2.30am. I say woke 'us' up, I personally didn't sleep a wink but the others were getting pretty annoyed by the third passport check.

The train arrived at the station so early in the morning I'd rather not think about it. We crawled into the hostel and straight to bed before taking in any of our surroundings. Night trains always seem like a good idea at the time but we ALWAYS forget about how difficult they are to sleep on and often you end up losing time by making up for the sleep you missed.

Belgrade was surprising, though I'm not sure what I expected it to look or feel like.  They are without a doubt the friendliest people we've met so far (closely followed by The Polish). One Serb we met in Bratislava explained how it's due to the desire to change outsider's perspectives of the country, after so many years of war and human rights abuses. And I can truly attest to what a lovely nation it has become, everyone wants to help you out and I even felt safe walking the streets at night, a notion I don't even get in some areas of London.

Ice cream AND free wifi?! A travellers dream. I'm sold.

On our first night we decided to try some tradition local cuisine at a restaurant called the 3 Hats, as recommended to us by Srdjan, owner of Madness Hostel (highly recommended!) and absolute legend. The food was once again, really tasty. I love Eastern European food! We also had to try Rakija shots which are traditional in Serbia to drink before and after each course. These on the other hand, were disgusting. I am not a shot or spirits person at all.

Our American friend being serenaded by the restaurant's live band.

Fake smiles at the prospect of Rakija.

We managed to rally a group together in an attempt to try out the local nightlife but unfortunately Tuesday night isn't the night in Belgrade so Steve, Josie and I along with the guys whose cabin I shared on the train and two lovely Swiss girls chilled at a local bar and then called it an early one after failing to find a club. Oh and I also mentioned the 'Liquid Cocaine' shot we tried in my last post... Possibly the worst thing I've ever put inside my body. It was a mixture of all my least favourite beverages plus you have to snort a bit of the liquid too... First time I've ever snorted anything and my last, thankyouverymuch.

Day two consisted of CAITLIN'S RETURN (!!) and sleeping a lot once again (the others are starting to hit the travel wall after going hard for so long and I'm still a little poorly) but Josie and Mitch powered through and whilst on the walking tour discovered the oldest restaurant in The Balkans called '?'. I tried some special Schnitzel with cheese which the waitor refused to give me ketchup with... He was right though, it was so tasty by itself!

Absolutely stuffed and nuturing rather large food babies we strolled around the markets in the park and took a little train around the castle for an incredible view over the city.

Being real Serbs. Mitch legitimately considered buying this hat.

That night I was so tired I decided to have a chill one with my train buddies Will, Chris and James whilst the others went on a bar crawl, with a few beers, playing cards and eating watermelon out of a frying pan... (There was some logic behind this, though I can't rightly remember it...)

However I somehow managed to only reach my bed around 4am, making the 6.30 get up for our bus to Bosnia rather painful. Though at least I had it a little easier than Steve who hadn't actually slept, bless him.

I realise this post is made up entirely of sleep, food and drinking, it's been a lazy couple of days! However I'm determined to get my tourist hat back on today and do some proper exploring. Come at me Sarajevo!

Wednesday, 26 June 2013

Budapest Round 2

I call it round 2, as this was actually my second trip to Budapest within the last year, however I was lagging on the blogging front last time and unfortunately didn't actually write about it. So this is a convenient way to fill in what I missed out (as we did a lot of the same things as last time) and add in the extras.

On the first day I was rather exhausted, so whilst the others headed out to explore I stayed in at our hostel (Home Plus Hostel, defo recommended!) writing postcards and blogging. As I said I'd been before so I wasn't too bothered about missing a bit out. That evening we headed out to a Hungarian/Italian restaurant near the basilica, which had tasty food but the slowest service in the universe and was drastically overpriced. I'd recommend heading a little further out of the main area if you'd prefer cheap and cheerful, especially if you don't want to wait two hours just for the main course.

We spent the whole of Sunday at the baths. The others had gone out to a club called Traffic the previous night, so it made for a good hangover cure/chill out day. At only 4300 HUF (a bit less that £15) it's a great day out, with saunas and loads of different heated and chilled pools. It's the second time I've been and I'd definitely go again! I did however forget to top up my sun cream and severely burned my back... Well done Em.

(Instagram @smutimer)

Picture from last July with the lovely Lauren :)

En route back we took a detour through Heroes Square which looked beautiful in the sunshine.

On our final day we discovered an all you can eat and drink Hungarian buffet... So naturally we spent almost the entire afternoon eating and drinking ourselves silly. I think we had five bottles of champagne between the four of us. I tried so many different dishes: venison (which was divine), duck, veal, shark (not nuts on that one) and ate so much cake I felt like a little kid who scoffed their party goody bag a little two quickly. Had someone presented me with a wacky warehouse I'd have been raring to go. I think it was called Trófea and it got TripAdvisors top place to eat last year, so it's definitely worth a look in if you fancy treating yourself.

Stumbling out the restaurant Steve decided to give his flip flops a 'funeral' by chucking them off the side of the bridge so in solidarity as good friends we all decided to wander barefoot to the park in the middle of the river. Oh champagne logic. Unfortunately the musical fountain that I visited last time was under construction...

...and we were a little bit too betrunken to rent bikes... despite the weather starting to turn we decided to lie in the rain listening to Disclosure and Taylor Swift drinking a bottle of wine we'd opened on a rock because we're just that classy.

I was supposed to be getting a train to Brasov in Romania that evening but the taxi that was supposed to pick me up cancelled at the last minute because it was spitting a bit (no exaggeration, I was so mad) so I missed my train and eventually decided to join the others going to Belgrade rather than risk being stranded. I met three English lads in the station who were lovely enough to let me share their cabin since I was too late to bunk in with the others. Although it wasn't a particularly comfortable journey or fruitful in terms of sleep, I actually quite enjoyed myself since we stayed up chatting for most of the night. It's so nice when you click with strangers :)

The only things we missed out on this time was the trip up to the castle which gives you a fantastic view of the city...

...and the ruin bars which have an incredible vibe. But I've enjoyed this visit just as much, Budapest is definitely my favourite European city. Luckily for me, one of my besties is moving to Budapest for his year abroad, so that means this visit wasn't my last!

Now we're in Belgrade, dying from liquid cocaine induced hangovers (it's a shot, not a drug, don't worry Mum) but that's for another post! Also my head might explode if I have to concentrate on writing anymore...

Sunday, 23 June 2013

Bull's Testicles and Sun Burn

By the time we'd arrived in Vienna I'd survived two night trains in a row, had a grand total of ten hours sleep over three nights and visited eight cities in six days. Safe to say I was pretty exhausted.

As Mitch and I have already visited the city before we spent the morning at the castle with Steve and Josie, before parting ways to head to Bratislava around lunch time. We didn't really achieve much until tea time when we gorged on traditional Slovakian garlic soup (served in a bread bowl!) and the tastiest beef goulash with dumplings. I was so full I could hardly walk and we only spent like 7€ each!

Steve and Josie arrived on the last train that night, so the next morning we all went out to a lake on the recommendation of two lovely Canadian girls from our hostel. It was such a BE-A-UTIFUL day, we just lounged around in the sun and swam for six hours. Which unfortunately left Josie with a rather interesting tan...

At lunchtime we were feeling adventurous so we decided to try something new... Bull's testicle goulash. Now I expected (and kinda hoped) not to enjoy it, but it actually turned out to be really tasty! I kid you not. I actually preferred it to my bolognese. It looked different to how we expected too, which probably lessened the trauma a little.

That evening we attempted to try out the Bratislavan night life but failed somewhat miserably. We ended up drinking a little too much cheap Slovakian vodka at the hostel with a couple if Swedes we'd met and despite wandering the city streets for an hour or so didn't manage to find anywhere suitable so just retired early. Well, around 2.30am.

We're now in Budapest and about to head out to the baths for the day, I literally cannot wait! :)

Friday, 21 June 2013

Although I know this is going to be a difficult and not particularly pleasant post to either read or write, I don't feel it's an experience I can just brush over or write off with a brief comment in another post. It may sound a little cliché but there really is nothing that can prepare you for this trip, especially for those of us who have learned in detail about the atrocities that took place from a young age and those whose continent's history was directly affected by what happened. History lessons and background reading can only give you a glimpse into the atmosphere of the place. And visiting, I can only assume, still barely scratches the surface of what it must have been like.

We started with the main camp, Auschwitz. Simply by walking into the camp I could feel a chill wash over my entire body; I was extremely aware of the hairs on the back of my neck and the curvature of each individual vertebrae of my spine. Perhaps it was caused by my personal anticipation but the eery chill of death seemed almost tangible to me. We were given headphones to wear so that the tour was almost completely silent, except for the soft murmur of the tour guides speaking into their microphones.

Walking through the gates under the intentionally ironic words 'ARBEIT MACHT FREI' (WORK MAKES YOU FREE) I tried to imagine how the place may have looked in the 1940s, though to little avail. Although the atmosphere was sombre, there is a stark contrast between the silence of respect and the silence of fear. The crunch of the gravel underfoot wasn't march like but pensive - every step was as careful as each person's silent contemplation. The looming bunkers had no character, no personality. They stood in rows, mirroring the uniformity of the prisoners who were contained inside them, staring at the passersby, a constant reminder of the insignificance of an individual under the looming presence of a powerful and oppressive regime.

At first I was too overwhelmed to even think, but after a while, as the initial shock subsided a little, I was able to fully digest what I was witnessing. My first reaction was anger, though surprisingly not at those who had carried out the crimes. It was at myself, for not being able to shed a tear at what I was seeing. I stared desperately at a case containing clothes fit for babies no older than three to six months old, but I seemed to feel nothing. Hundreds of suitcases piled high, one inscribed with 'Petr, KIND' (Peter, child) along with a birthday that made him no more than four years old when he was undoubtedly murdered. Nothing. A cabinet containing uncountable numbers of walking sticks, false legs and wheelchairs. Still nothing. What was wrong with me?

I walked outside and sat down in the glaring sunlight to try and figure out what was going on. 'It's almost too shocking to be sad. You just don't want to believe it's real.', Mitch breathed as he sat beside me. In that instant I realised what was going on in my mind. I wasn't numb to what I was seeing. Of course I was sad, angry, bitter, frustrated but all of this was buried under the utter bewilderment which I was experiencing. The society and people which I have come to know is so far removed from what happened during the Holocaust it was completely impossible for me to understand how those people must have felt. I also found myself contemplating the mental state of those who seemed to believe that they had the right to murder and torture and destroy so many lives. That was the only way I could begin to comprehend the logic behind their actions, they must have been utterly convinced of their right to harm, their superiority over these 'lesser beings'. Even that is difficult for me to fathom. How can one human believe he/she is better than another? That is something I will never be able to understand.

A corridor inside one of the bunkers was plastered from floor to ceiling with photographs of the prisoners, with a brief description of their name, identification number, previous career, date of admission into the camp and the date they died. However what caught my attention were their eyes. Some full of fear, some forced courage but all had lost sparkle with only an empty void of sadness which pierced a hole straight through me. And whether it be terror or determination that accompanied that sadness seemed to have little impact on survival. Most died within a few months, whilst some lived much longer. Which caused me to question whether I would fight for survival or whether the fight would be too much for me? Giving up isn't exactly in my nature but then my nature wasn't developed through extreme torture and degradation. I'm glad I'm lucky enough that I will never discover the answer.

Once inside the gas chambers, I found it difficult to do anything except stand and stare. Looking at the glittering display of candles, flowers and prayer cards at the back of the room, I realised I couldn't possibly put faith in a God that allowed this to happen. Real or not, it would seem that Him and I disagree drastically on certain issues. I placed my hand over one of the handmarks on the wall which had been clawed at in anguish, during an innocents last moments of life. I wanted to be there for them so badly, jump in a time machine, shoot Hilter in the face and hold them, saying that everything was going to turn out fine. But I can't. I can only think about now and work towards the future. Never will I watch suffering and turn a blind eye; terrible things are still happening all over the world from which captives need to be set free and I can only hope that I'll do my best to improve these situations. I promised this to the scarred wall, whilst gently tracing the indentations with the tips of my fingers and finally dragged myself back outside.

The second camp, Birkenau, displayed how the Nazis were able to murder such huge numbers of people. The sheer expanse of the place was mind-blowing. Bunker after bunker lined up in the baking sun, but even the beautiful weather seemed overshadowed by the darkness seeping up from the very ground on which we were walking. The stench of murder, pain and desperation was almost too much for me. I was so full of questions with no one to answer them for me.

My visit taught me two valuable and conflicting lessons. Humanity can be both dangerous and inspiring. Despite the disgusting and atrocious actions which took place at Auschwitz, the beauty of humanity was never completely destroyed. We heard stories of twelve men who gave their lives so that three could escape and a priest called Maximillian who voluntarily took another's place and was starved for two weeks before receiving a lethal injection as a result of his compassion. And the man who's place he took? He lived until 1996. So in a weird way, I learned that despite branding, torture, humiliation, sarvation and a whole host of other degrading and debilitating treatments, some hope still survived. And once again, I can't even begin to comprehend how this was possible, I only know that it is an incredible and inspiring thing.

So would I recommend a visit to Auschwitz? I could say it's not for the faint hearted though I managed it. I'll let you decide for yourselves, as each reaction and interpretation is so individual, it is impossible for me to determine. I'm glad I went though.

Thursday, 20 June 2013

33 hours from Cologne to Krakow... Say WHAT?!

Since I had SO MUCH TIME to plan this blog post/time to kill on my a million and one train journeys (well six but close enough) I've prepared you a special treat... I started vlogging! Yes, you read that read it right. Now goodness knows why I am sharing video footage of myself in this state with the internet world, but unfortunately for all involved I think this is the best way for you to witness my progressive exhaustion and delirium. So I am sorry that you have to look at me in various questionable states, though hopefully you'll get a pretty good picture of my most epic journey so far.

My camera work is impeccable. I intended to cut my mouth off for most of that video, I'm just that quirky. On another note I've been let down a considerable amount by German trains/conductors, for the first time ever. I didn't think Germans had the ability to be late. It's safe to say that they're not used to it. Whilst us Brits are experts at lateness and therefore know how to deal with it, it would appear Germans simply panic, causing them to not let anyone know whats going on and constantly inaccurately guestimating new times of arrival, resulting in my case in a lot of frustrated adults, who were then further aggravated by the group of restless teens on a school trip... Well done Deutsch Bahn. Though like I said, this is the first time they've let me down, so hopefully it was just a one off!

Something I forgot to include is my impression of Poznan... well, let's just say I wouldn't recommend it, though I did only get to wander for about an hour. Still, there are much nicer places to visit.

On my eventual arrival to Krakow - seventeen hours later than I originally intended, because of course, that train was late too - I met up with Josie, Mitch and Steve, who were moments away from calling my mother for fear I'd been kidnapped. During the day we visited Auschwitz, which was well... intense, emotional, shocking, disturbing, overwhelming... I'm going to write a separate post on my own reactions to the visit soon, I just feel that particular one deserves a special amount of time and attention to get it spot on. We also had a little meander around the centre for a few hours in the evening, which I really enjoyed. The atmosphere was lovely and it really is a beautiful place. I'd love to visit again the future and spend a bit more time there.

After my SECOND NIGHT IN A ROW on a sleeper train, we arrived in Vienna around 6.30 and started to explore early. It was nice to visit the castle for a second time and we even got to go in the labyrinth!! Mazes are like one of my favourite things ever in the world ever. However after walking around until lunch time Mitch and I were simply too worn out, especially with the scorching 36*C heat and around just ten hours sleep over the past three days. So now we're chilling for the afternoon in Bratislava whilst Josie and Steve continue to explore Vienna. It's a pretty nice city on first impressions and super cheap which is always a plus. Also, our hostel which is called Patio is so nice, slightly more than we'd usually spend but the showers and rooms are lovely and there is free wifi, computers and a bar/club with a garden. Special thanks to Lisle from Lousiana for the recommendation in Krakow :)

Tuesday, 18 June 2013

I spoke too soon...

Never again will I make the mistake of saying 'I know what I'm doing'. Because after watching last nights train leave the platform where I'd been stood for an hour, I've only just arrived in Berlin after a 3 hour delay, meaning I won't arrive in Krakow until 7.13am tomorrow morning... 16 hours later than I originally planned. Good going Em.

Monday, 17 June 2013

Siegburg, Cologne and Bonn

Since Friday I've been staying with my friend Mani, who I met in Cusco, in a city called Siegburg which lies between Cologne and Bonn and having an absolute whale of a time. Not only has it been great to see Mani again and be back on the road, I'm also loving the feeling of knowing exactly what I'm doing (sort of). Although my first big adventure was exciting in that I was constantly learning and having to figure out how to do this thing called 'backpacking', it's nice not to worry about the little things that bothered me last time.

Despite having had only two hours sleep in the airport lounge the night before, as soon as Mani came to pick my up from the airport we headed out into Siegburg. I'm just so hardcore. After wandering around the centre and climbing up to the Convent at the top of the hill to see the pretty view (still being hardcore obv.) and sleeping in the afternoon, we headed out to a lake in a nearby town called Hennef, where we had beers and cake and bubbles and music to celebrate Mani's friend's birthday in the sunshine :)

On Saturday we visited Cologne. En route to the Cathedral we wandered across this really cool bridge which was COVERED in love -locks (I think that's what they're called...) There's literally thousands and apparently they're getting so heavy specialist people are starting to worry about damage to the bridge. I love it though!

We then climbed the Cathedral which was FLIPPING high, something stupid like 523 steps. But it was totally worth it, the view was really something! The inside was kinda cool too, you could see the huge bell and all the graffiti on the walls which has been there for years. Usually I'd be apposed to drawing on the walls of a church but I think it gave it character in a weird way. You could see the thousands of names of those who'd visited the church in the past and I personally love to think about where those people are now... does Ole still love Christina? How did Dave's 'eurotrip with the lads' end? I suppose I just like to let my mind wander.

That night we went to see Die Ärtze with two of Mani's friends. IT. WAS. AWESOME. I seriously recommend you check this band out.

I reeeeeeeeally hope this wasn't a real tattoo...

We decided to have a lazy Sunday, which consisted entirely of eating McDonalds, drinking beer, swimming and drinking more beer. Oh and a party in the kitchen where Mani and I learned to catch popcorn in our mouths and I tried and failed a juggling apples.

Today was my first day as a lone ranger as Mani had to go to work. I spent my time getting lost in the centre of Bonn - I'm telling you that city is like a maze, I kept on going round and round in circles. I bought some wool to make a headscarf with to give myself something to do on the train (its like 12 hours long tonight, which admittedly, I would have been ecstatic with in South America, I've just gotta get back into the swing of things!)

I leave Mani's at like 9 o'clock tonight for the station and then it's off to Poland, which is a new country for me which is all very exciting. I'm also meeting up with Mitch, Josie and Steve once I reach Krakow, which suggests to me that tomorrow could be a rather messy catch-up night.

Thursday, 13 June 2013

Eurotrip 2013 begins

This is it. I've finally left Moonraker and said goodbye to the last of my exchange friends. I'm currently sitting in the train station waiting for my train to Gatwick airport, where I will board my flight in just over five hours. I've been reunited with my pack, which I already loath and love all over again, and the tingly sensation is already invading my fingers and toes, knowing that I'm setting off on yet another adventure.

I don't know what to expect. I certainly couldn't have predicted the events of my last jaunt. All I know is that as I left, a good friend hugged me and said, 'Come back with a smile on your face and sparkles in your eyes' and that's exactly what I intend to do. I've been devoid of my sparkles for far too long.

My first stop is Cologne, Germany, where I'm staying with my friend Mani who I met in Peru last year (as I've mentioned before, keeping in touch is a strong point of mine!) I literally cannot wait to see him and explore the city as I've never been there before. It's going to be interesting hanging out in a setting where I'm the guest, rather than where we're both travellers. I've also realised I'm wearing exactly the same clothes as the last time he saw me, as my travel wardrobe is fairly limited... I'm sure he'll appreciate the familiarity!

Thursday, 6 June 2013

Summer To-Do List

Every summer for a while now I've written myself a to-do list to try an encourage myself to be at least a little productive and not just simply waste the months away. I am yet to even come close to completing one of these lists, so this year I've decided to post it on here and I'll have to write a short update every so often on the end of a blog post to keep you guys up to date. This way I can review my (lack of) progress might actually get something done... It's worth a try at least!

First of all, I've picked a few things from my bucket list I'd like to tick off:

46. Learn how to say that really long welsh town name (Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch)
50. Have a big 21st
104. Do the cinnamon challenge

'That was the single worst thing I've ever had to do'. Why do I challenge myself to do these stupid things?? Though for your entertainment and proof that I actually tried it I might film myself doing it. I can already feel the regret creeping in...

Then a few I'd like to work towards:

42. Learn to speak fluently in at leats five languages

I'm obviously going to keep up my German and Spanish but I'm also going to work on one of Arabic, Danish or French, as I already have a little understanding of these. Which do you think I should go for? Also any learning tips would be greatly appreciated.

83. Watch 100 Greatest Films of all time - Watch at least 10 of these. I got my two lists (which can be found on my Bucket List page) from a friend who is the biggest film buff I've ever encountered, so I doubt there exists anything more accurate!

84. Read 100 Greatest Books of all time - Read at least 5 of these. I'm not sure which list is exactly the official one, but after reading a few this is the one I most agreed with. If you know of a better one, let me know. Though since it's rather opinion based thing, I can't guarantee I'll agree.

Then there's practical things like sorting out my files in preparation for next term, moving into my NEW FLAT in Bermondsey, buying books and sorting out things for German Society! I'm also willing to consider any other challenges you may be able to think of for me whilst on my travels... Comment/tweet to let me know! Let's see how I manage eh?!


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Sunday, September 21, 2008

1 cup chicken stock
2 potatoes, diced
1/2 teaspoon tarragon
1 teaspoon paprika
salt & pepper
2 onions, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
3 slices bacon, chopped
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 C milk
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cup cleaned periwinkles
1/2 cup light cream
pinch cayenne pepper

In a large soup pot, heat chicken stock, potatoes, tarragon, paprika, salt & pepper. Melt butter in a skillet, and lightly sauté the cleaned periwinkle meat (see below), onion, celery, and bacon.

Add to stock mixture. Stir in wine and simmer until potatoes are cooked. Do not boil. Add milk and cream slowly, stirring constantly; do not boil or it will curdle. Add cayenne.

To clean periwinkles: take a sauce pan full of water and throw in a small amount of salt. Bring to a boil and toss in the snails. Let them simmer for a few minutes, remove and use a toothpick to pull the meat from the shells. The salt water serves to both shrink and toughen the meat, making it easier to remove. Don’t boil them too long or you will end up with a very tough and chewy meal.

courtesy of: Recipes Wiki

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Positive Thinking & The Meaning of Life by Marcus Freestone

Positive Thinking & The Meaning of Life

By Marcus Freestone

  • Release Date: 2013-09-14
  • Genre: Self-Improvement
Score: 4
From 173 Ratings
Download Now
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Are you plagued by negative thinking, indecision and guilt? Would you like to transform your life with positive thinking skills and effective stress management and eliminate negative self-talk? Have no fear, this is not your typical self-help book. This is a collection of practical, down to earth tips and techniques gleaned from psychology and philosophy that can help you transform your thoughts and actions from failure to success. Learn how your brain actually works and the processes that control your thoughts, actions and emotions. You will learn that it is very easy to rewire your brain and gain new levels of motivation and self-confidence. Replace self-doubt and sadness with self-esteem and happiness. You will also discover that the meaning of life is no big deal after all.

  • What a joke

    By OniiiAbC
    I wouldn't give it any stars but as we know, at least one is required. All he's doing in the book is imposing HIS thinking on others. As if HIS thinking is proper and has no faults. He's dismissing any possibilities of what can be as if he knows. Plus there is a ton of grammatical errors. This book is a joke and so is he.
  • Zero

    By globalwarning
    A pathetic and incorrect analysis of life, the universe and existence. Not worth any 'stars' but give one because the rating system requires at least one to post.
  • Interesting quick read

    By tw02320
    Enjoyed the book overall. Some interesting ideas are discussed, although the conclusions reached may be radical for some. Worth it, in my opinion!
  • Poor conclusion

    By Bostonian78
    This man is an atheist, he doesn't even know why he is living, now I understand why you are suffering and you will continue to suffer if you don't change your mind. If you want to know what an idiot thinks read this book. And I ask a question to the author, if things just exist as you stated, who created the earth or the sun? Was it by accident or why does matter exist if there is no meaning on anything????
  • Fantastic

    By sally0407
    What a great read. Logical, rational and full of great examples. Definitely implementing the ideas you conveyed. Thank you for taking the time to write this guide


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The Paddle In The Park Contest is back for 2015!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Canoes: The NEW Accessory For Your Paddle!

This past Spring, we attended our first Canoecopia with Rutabaga in Madison, Wisconsin. Thousands and thousands of people attended, and many were there to buy boats. Which usually prompted these purchasers to also buy paddling accessories like paddles, PFD's or maybe even some North Water equipment.

But as it turns out not everyone buys the canoe first! We definitely would have to say our favourite customer quote [ever!] came from Donna, who purchased a couple of "Reverse Splash WaterColours" from Badger®/Rutabaga at the recent expo.

Interestingly, Donna informed us by email that she had seen one of our unique WaterColours™ paddles at Canoecopia and just had to order a couple for her and her cousin, Joan. In fact, Donna was so excited, her new paddles prompted the purchase of a canoe! (See Donna's quote below.)

Donna and Mike at Canoecopia 2012

"We are so excited about our new paddles. It’s even better to know the folks who are making them. I wasn’t even in the market for a paddle but had to have one once we saw the Badger Paddle display. I even bought a new canoe to go with my new paddle !" ~ Donna G.

Donna and Joan's special ordered "Reverse Splash WaterColours".
Donna went even further to request to have Fiona's signature on the "Reverse Splash" paddles created. These paddles are truly one of a kind! We really dig making special paddles for special people. People like Donna and Joan. Thanks, Donna, for letting us post your awesome quote, and for letting us have some fun creating your paddles!

For more information about our WaterColours™, or personalized paddles, visit our website or contact us: info(at)

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We will Be back Soon

We are full of energy and new ideas

Preparing wonderful content

Becoming more centered

Sneak Peak from Badulina Life

We are so busy with developing community and creating deeper connections,

that building our new website has a small delay.

Below brief look into our activities.


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Water Garden Plants

Gardening in the ground and gardening in water share much in common.The idea of matching the right plant to the right place and designing for contrasting or complementary colors, textures and forms applies to water gardens, too.

And just as the selection of garden plants continues to increase, so does the selection of aquatic plants. We generally divide water plants into three categories:

  • Floating plants
  • Submersible plants
  • Bog plants

Most aquatic plants thrive in full sun – six hours or more a day. Aquatic plants are a must-have for any water garden. Not only are they beautiful, but they help maintain water quality and a good ecosystem.

Floating Plants

Floating plants are an asset because they bring beauty and shade to a pond. The general rule of thumb is if a pond gets a half day or more of sunlight, it needs about 50% of its surface shaded. That’s best achieved with plants floating on the surface of the water. These plants include:

  • Hardy water lilies
  • Water hyacinths
  • Water lettuce

Submersible Plants

Of all the water plants, the underwater plants are arguably the most important because they provide oxygen to the pond and help create habitat for fish. These plants include:

  • Anacharis
  • Hortwort

Bog plants

Often called marginal plants, bog plants live in the shallow depths of a pond – even in a consistently wet area of your yard. These plants, which prefer about four hours of sunlight a day, provide eye-catching beauty with gorgeous flowers. And they help keep the algae level down. These plants include:

  • Hardy Bog Plants
  • Iris
  • Thali
  • Arrowhead
  • Rushes
  • Cattails
  • Parrot’s Feather
  • Tropical Bog Plants
  • Papyrus
  • Umbrella Palm
  • And Much More

Papyrus and umbrella palm are great tropical plants for the water garden, with stems that shoot straight up out of the water and flower in late summer. Papyrus form large “puffs” of green, while the flowers of umbrella palm are small and inconspicuous sitting atop umbrella-like foliage. These plants provide color, but what really makes them stand out is their upright growth habit, which adds a vertical form to an otherwise flat environment. Papyrus can grow to be quite large, 6’ or more – although dwarf varieties that stay under 2’ are available. Umbrella palms grow to 3’ to 4’ tall.


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Tuesday, June 01, 2010

That's the end of this blog.

I survived a year in Ethiopia. Or, to be more precise, I survived nine months in Ethiopia.

But rather than start up again with this blog, I've decided to switch over to Wordpress. I've gotten bored with this format and want to try something new. Join me at the new blog!


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Grape Leaves (per lb.)

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Minimum Purchase:
2 units

Starting off with premium grape leaves we roll them with fresh rice and vegetables (parsley, tomatoes and onions) or rice, lamb and beef. Either way we use lemon, olive oil and our secret Mediterranean spice blend to create a heavenly appetizer!

Health Benefits

Beef is a good source of Vitamin B12 and an excellent source of protein, niacin, Vitamin B6, selenium, zinc and phosphorus. As well as, choline, pantothenic acid, iron, potassium and Vitamin B2.

Lamb is a good source of omega-3, Vitamin B12, protein, selenium, Vitamin B3, zinc and phosphorus among many other benefits

Tomatoes are an excellent source of Vitamin C, biotin, molybdenum and Vitamin K. They are also a good source of potassium, manganese, fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, folate, niacin, Vitamin E and phosphorous.

Onions are known to be an immune system booster and contains chromium which assists in regulating your blood sugar. It is also known to reduce inflammations and heal infections quicker.

Parsley is a good source of Vitamin B12, C, K and A. It is also an immune system booster, increase bone health and heals the nervous system among many other benefits.">


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Thursday, July 21, 2016

Federal Agents Went Undercover to Spy on Anti-Fracking Movement, Emails Reveal

Anti-fracking protest. (photo: Christian O'Rourke/Survival Media Agency)
Anti-fracking protest. (photo: Christian O'Rourke/Survival Media Agency)

Federal Agents Went Undercover to Spy on Anti-Fracking Movement, Emails Reveal

By Lee Fang and Steve Horn, The Intercept
20 July 16

   When more than 300 protesters assembled in May at the Holiday Inn in Lakewood, Colorado — the venue chosen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for an auction of oil and gas leases on public lands — several of the demonstrators were in fact undercover agents sent by law enforcement to keep tabs on the demonstration, according to emails obtained by The Intercept.

   The “Keep it in the Ground” movement, a broad effort to block the development of drilling projects, has rapidly gained traction over the last year, raising pressure on the Obama administration to curtail hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, and coal mining on federal public lands. In response, government agencies and industry groups have sharply criticized the activists in public, while quietly moving to track their activities.
The emails, which were obtained through an open records act request, show that the Lakewood Police Department collected details about the protest from undercover officers as the event was being planned. During the auction, both local law enforcement and federal agents went undercover among the protesters.

   The emails further show that police monitored Keep it in the Ground participating groups such as, Break Free Movement, Rainforest Action Network, and WildEarth Guardians, while relying upon intelligence gathered by Anadarko, one of the largest oil and gas producers in the region.

   “Gentlemen, Here is some additional intelligence on the group you may be dealing with today,” wrote Kevin Paletta, Lakewood’s then-chief of police, on May 12, the day of the protest. The Anadarko report, forwarded to Paletta by Joni Inman, a public relations consultant, warned of activist trainings conducted by “the very active off-shoot of” that had “the goal of encouraging ‘direct action’ such as blocking, vandalism, and trespass.”

  The protesters waved signs and marched outside of the Holiday Inn. The auction went on as planned and there were no arrests.

  “I believe the BLM reached out to us,” Steve Davis, the public information officer for the Lakewood police, told The Intercept about preparations for the protest. He added that the protest was “very peaceful.”

  “Our goal is to provide for public safety and the safety of our employees,” says Steven Hall, the BLM Colorado Communications Director, when asked about the agency’s undercover work. “Any actions that we take are designed to achieved those goals. We do not discuss the details of our law enforcement activities.”
BLM reimbursed the Lakewood police for costs associated with covering the protest, the emails and a scanned copy of the check show.

(photo: The Intercept)

Aggressive Stance

  Despite a relatively uncontroversial protest, the tactics revealed by the emails, recent public statements, and other maneuvers suggest that the federal government is beginning to take a more aggressive stance toward the Keep it in the Ground movement.
“I’m really wondering what more the BLM is up to,” said Jeremy Nichols, a climate and energy program director for WildEarth Guardians. “Some of the emails indicate more extensive intel gathering on their end.”

   “Why are climate activists, who are only calling on the BLM to follow President Obama’s lead and heed universally accepted science, facing this kind of uphill response?” Nichols asked rhetorically. “It’s a shame that the BLM has turned climate concerns into a law enforcement issue instead of a genuine policy discussion.”

  During a congressional hearing in March, Neil Kornze — the agency’s Director and former senior policy advisor for U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid — appeared to compare the anti-fracking activists to the armed anti-government militia members who occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.

  “We have had a situation where we have had militia; we’ve had people raising arms at different times. We are on heightened alert and we are concerned about safety. And so a situation that we are not used to, separating out who is a bidder and who is not, gives us pause,” Kornze said, explaining to GOP congressman that his agency faced “abnormal security” concerns.

   The bureau maintains its own force of special agents to investigate crimes committed on public lands. The website for the agency notes that “investigations may require the use of undercover officers, informants, surveillance and travel to various locations throughout the United States.”

Broader Trend

  In recent years federal and private sector groups have poured resources into surveilling environmental organizations.

   In 2013, The Guardian revealed that the FBI had spied on activists organizing opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline. The agency “collated inside knowledge about forthcoming protests, documented the identities of individuals photographing oil-related infrastructure, scrutinized police intelligence and cultivated at least one informant.” The FBI later confirmed that the investigation violated its own guidelines.

   In 2011, an executive with Anadarko boasted that his company was deploying military-like psychological warfare techniques to deal with the “controversy that we as an industry are dealing with,” calling the opposition to the industry “an insurgency.”

Online Auctions to “End the Circus”

The focus on preventing the leasing of public lands for fracking gained national headlines in 2008 when activist Tim DeChristopher successfully bid on 22,000 acres of oil and gas land in Utah. DeChristopher, who served two years in prison, did not intend to pay but won the bid in order to disrupt the auction and call attention to the leasing program. That pricing regime allows private corporations to pay deeply discounted rates — as little as $1.50 per acre — for drilling rights.

   In 2009, the U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Inspector General released a report calling on the bureau to do a study on “which auction process is best suited for oil and gas leases” in order to prevent the next Tim DeChristopher, whose action landed an explicit mention in the report’s introduction. An email exchange from the day before the Lakewood Holiday Inn action shows both a Lakewood police officer and BLM officer on high alert about the possibility of another DeChristopher-type action taking place. Among the choices laid out in the report as a possible new bidding method was online bidding.
Just days after the Lakewood protest, Kathleen Sgamma — a lobbyist for industry-funded group Western Energy Alliance — advocated for online bidding as a means to “end the circus.” In a May 18 email, BLM Office of Law Enforcement Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Mannino thanked Lakewood Police Chief Kevin Paletta for his department’s help and conveyed that public auctions could soon become a thing of the past.

   Congress has followed suit. On June 24, Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Calif., and Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., introduced Innovation in Offshore Leasing Act (H.R. 5577), which calls for online bidding for oil and gas contained in waters controlled by the federal government. On July 6, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a hearing on the bill and it has since passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee.

  While the oil and gas industry has come out in support of online bidding, and one contractor in particular named EnergyNet stands to profit from such an arrangement, several environmental groups issued a statement decrying the shift toward online bidding. EnergyNet, whose CEO testified at the June 24 congressional hearing, will oversee a September 20 BLM auction originally scheduled to unfold in Washington, D.C.

     Two recently-released studies concluded that phasing out fossil fuel leases on public lands is crucial for meeting the 2° C climate change temperature-rise goal, with one concluding that even burning the existing fossil fuels already leased on public lands would surpass the 2° C goal. After the release of those two studies, environmental groups filed a legal petition with the Interior Department calling for a moratorium on federal fossil fuels leases.

C 2015 Reader Supported News

Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218.  Ph: 410-323-1607; Email: mobuszewski [at] Go to

"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs

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Sunday, November 5, 2017

In Context: A Billion Nights on Earth

When a treasured object goes missing, real-life father and son actors (Michael and Winslow Fegley) must rely on their own creativity, and each other, to survive a world of wild landscapes—and still make it back home. Context is everything, so get even closer to A Billion Nights on Earth with this curated selection of related articles and videos. After you've attended the show, let us know what you thought by posting in the comments below and on social media using #BAMNextWave.

Program Notes

Fringe: Thaddeus Phillips creates his first children's show with 'A Billion Nights on Earth' (The Inquirer)
“It’s so exciting how we are able to make the stage transform before your eyes from an airport to a cave or from land to the sea,” said Phillips.

Steven Dufala transfers his inventive artwork to the Fringe Fest stage (Metro)
The Man Man co-founder and Dufala Brother is involved with two shows coming to Next Wave this fall, with faves Geoff Sobelle and Thaddeus Phillips.

Now your turn...

How did you enjoy the show? Likes? Dislikes? Surprises? Tell us what's on your mind in the comments below and on social media using #BAMNextWave.

  1. Very good, but a quick fix to make it better; paste a photo of the father's face inside the floating space-suit.

  2. Excruciatingly dull, unimaginative, and uninspired. It lacked both rigor and finesse, and the pacing was absolutely deadly. Honestly surprised that BAM would book something so amateurish under the guise of "children's theater" and then charge so much money for it.

  3. Amateurish. I am surprised that BAM Next Wave accepted this level of theater as part of its subscription choices. The puppetry and stagecraft were on the level of a second rate children's performance. The three stage hands worked earnestly, but it was all so obvious and labored. A story of a weary architect who had lost his creativity and his imaginative son who helped him rediscover it could have been told so much better.