Ive had a house guest for the last 5 days. She's been studying an ancient form of massage: Thai Yoga massage, and I have been her guinea pig. A completely willing subject, I found no problems at all in being gently moved about between basic Hatha Asanas (postures). How delightful! All the benefits of yoga without the sweat, and more besides. Apparently this form of massages works on the 'Sen' lines, I think they are a bit like meridians, but its pretty powerful stuff.
I found myself (after 3x 1.5 hr massages over the last 3 nights) feeling not physically tested so much as emotionally opened. Yesterday I was close to tears most of the time, and this is not even my time of the month. I think this kind, or perhaps any kind of bodywork like this, brings the stuff one hasn't been dealing with terribly well to the surface! People tell me this is a good thing, but at the time it feels pretty raw.
If you want to have a look at some Thai yoga massage, have a browse through u-tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWRd0teUoRs
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Wedding
My beautiful friends M and R have wed, and it was a marvelous thing. Intimate, considered, and most of all simple, this was a great day. A great wedding! (Actually I have never been to a wedding wasnt wasn't great, as they are all special and personal in their own way, so perhaps every wedding deserves a few extra epithets... an effusive and happy wrap!
But I reckon this one was extra special, as M and R are both over 60, have lead full lives (she and artist and he an academic), and have loved deeply and been loved before. There are 6 daughters between them, although none were present. They wanted this to be a wedding just for their close friends (and we feel chuffed to be counted amoung them) as the complications of a few blended families made it tricky, well perhaps impossible to invite everyone, but also as they had done the 'big white wedding' deal before; they wanted this to be a more private celebration without pomp and ceremony, beyond the basic and beautiful exchange of simple vows, rings, and the all important kiss.
After aquiring her shiny new wedding band, M dunked it unceremoniously into the sink and scrubbed potates to eat for lunch: joking that the ring needed to be christened. This is no ordinary bride! While R prepared the table for lunch and refreshed glasses with Tassie champers , the guests got to know one another, and their connections to the happy couple were shared. Friends, and family were soon lazing about on couches after dining on smoked fish and veggies, while the family dogs were lolling about on the floor, woofing up the crumbs!
A lovely afternoon!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Bluey
Cool scaly grey skin
quick flick o' blue and then gone
as quick as a wink
(thanks to my eldest daughter Miss E for not only being brave enough to hold the lizard, but also helping me get the number of 'sillyables' correct!)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Fig Jam recipe
Ive been on a bit of a jam drivelately as the fruit is just dripping off the trees where I live. The last 3 kgs of figs fully ripened in the few days we had of 35 degree weather, so it was another all systems go, get down and jam it, jam day. Heres the recipe, which im getting some great feedback on. Its an adaption of a David Pascoe recipe, which a quick search a-la-Google provided.
FIG JAM
1 kg. of figs
750 gm. of sugar (I used soft brown sugar which tastes extra caramelly)
6 cloves and 6 cardamon pods
1 cinnamon stick
juice of 1 a lemon
zest from lemon rind
Weigh the figs after topping.
Determine the proportional amount of sugar required.
Mash or cut figs into chunks, you can choose how chunky you want your jam to be.
Ripe fig skin will soften nicely while boiling.
Add spices, lemon juice and rind.
Cover with sugar and allow to sit for 2 hours. (actually I didnt bother to do this and ts seemd fine)
Slowly bring the mixture to the boil over 15-20 minutes. Slowly boil for 1 hour. Cool and slowly boil for 15 minutes the next day. Cool.
Pour into air tight container that has been scorched with boiling water. Refrigerate.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Decandence
Fascinating reactions to my post from yesterday, with friends telling me that they are a little surprised at my shifts in architecture tastes/ideology. I really just wanted to completely reassure you all that there is still a place in my heart for architectural indulgences! Ive woken up this morning with the realisation that there is still a part of me that appreciates beautiful spaces. How can I not, with 6 years of aesthetic training? It would be a bit like giving up chocolate. VERY Difficult.
This house is again a Peter Stutchbury awarding winning thing. Its designed to house the clients rather magnificent and x-large art collection; that is the individual pieces are large, and I suppose there are rather a lot of them too. I had the good fortune to go to a 40th birthday party at the house last year, and it really was a beautiful eerie, percehed high on the cliffs above Sydney's outer harbour. I do however still feel conflicted by the thought that its is only the very wealthy ( and those that are fortunately enough to know them!) that have access to this stuff.
I think also, my reaction against this high end "boutique architecture" is as I'm just in the final (death) throes of completing a 'high end' project in North Adelaide, which is getting pretty tense with time and budget over runs...it doesn't make my job very pleasant! And im looking at it, 3 years after designing it and realising my priorities have shifted enormously: I couldn't design something so over-sized, and energetically wasteful again.
Its an epiphany, and a timely one for me. There is a place I think in my architectural future for high-end residential work, but ill be so much more mindful of issues of material longevity, embedded energy, and just more persistent in pruning back spaces to be no bigger than they really need to be. (Less materials used up front, and less energy spent in lighting/heating and cooling spaces that are superflous to ordinary requirements). This is the biggest issue with clients as they often want homes to wrap around the once-a-year entertain 20 guests scenario!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The Favourite Building
A bonus question: Offered as part of a Blogger Interview. Kel's final question cannot remain unanswered as its particularly thought provoking. This is a difficult thing: to isolate one building, among so many that is so fantastic I would love to be its author!
(spare question) As an architect, which well known building thats not yours would you most be willing to put your name to, or love to claim as your own?
Not much to look at perhaps, but this shearing shed near Wagga Wagga in rural australia I respect for its integrity, environmental commitment, and its expression of a contemporary Australian vernacular.
In the architects own words:
The Australian Shearing Shed has undergone marginal change throughout the history of its evolution. Sheep movement has been constantly refined; the shed was lifted to provide for undercover sheep storage and the shearing board was raised to ease the passage of wool to the classing table. In some areas technology has also contributed to the more efficient management of shed techniques. But fundamentally the shed as a building has become less decorative and more direct. Deepwater Shearing Shed has moved toward the integration and resolution of current concerns and functional requirements for such a building.
Another jury Citation, here.
More and more I appreciate the work of architects less and less. I'm finding myself drawn to projects that have a signficant public component, that are egalitarian, in the sense that the design can be appreciated by the public, not just enjoyed by the elite. So much of architecture is commissioned privately and commercially which makes the end product exclusive, unattainable by so many.
Im also loving projecs that use natural resources wisely.
(spare question) As an architect, which well known building thats not yours would you most be willing to put your name to, or love to claim as your own?
Not much to look at perhaps, but this shearing shed near Wagga Wagga in rural australia I respect for its integrity, environmental commitment, and its expression of a contemporary Australian vernacular.
In the architects own words:
The Australian Shearing Shed has undergone marginal change throughout the history of its evolution. Sheep movement has been constantly refined; the shed was lifted to provide for undercover sheep storage and the shearing board was raised to ease the passage of wool to the classing table. In some areas technology has also contributed to the more efficient management of shed techniques. But fundamentally the shed as a building has become less decorative and more direct. Deepwater Shearing Shed has moved toward the integration and resolution of current concerns and functional requirements for such a building.
Another jury Citation, here.
More and more I appreciate the work of architects less and less. I'm finding myself drawn to projects that have a signficant public component, that are egalitarian, in the sense that the design can be appreciated by the public, not just enjoyed by the elite. So much of architecture is commissioned privately and commercially which makes the end product exclusive, unattainable by so many.
Im also loving projecs that use natural resources wisely.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Five Questions, five answers
Responding to Kel's challenge to submit to 5 curly, targeted questions that probe the inner most corners of your psyche, I volunteered to give it a go:'The Interview", blogger style.
It works like this:anyone reading this can volunteer to be subjects, then Ill send you five questions by email.
Here are my answers to the five questions Kel asked me:
1) besides children/pets/partner ( all living things) if you had to take one
thing from your home due to emergency circumstances, what would it be? why?
I'm trying to think about this as if I were in emergency circumstances: not thinking too much about it, and the first thing that comes into my mind is that aside from the children/pets/partner, I am not really terribly attached to the objects in my life. I mean I haven't worked to hard on the Zen approach to living, or indeed to Buddhist ideals of non-attachment, but there you have it. I'm just not that into stuff. I suppose that might be as I have had my house burgled three times, and my stuff stolen while traveling. Things (objects) that I have loved, have been taken from me before, so I guess I'm a bit ambivalent about jewelry, photos, favorite clothing items, etc. If I did think to grab something, it would be irreplaceable work files(those on my laptop), and photos therein. Boring, but this is the stuff that would be impossible or time consuming to replace.
2) currently, what are you loving most in life ?
The thing that is giving me the most pleasure in my life right now, apart
from children/pets/partner ;) is my renewed interest in yoga. This (almost) daily practice is allowing me to make some quiet places in my life for navel gazing, contemplating beauty in all things, get to know the limits and capacities of my body, teaching me a deep connectedness of all things. At the end of a good session of yoga, my own life's worries are pretty puny, and that lovely glow of loving kindness can last all day! Better than any drug I know of, or have tried! Im also loving experimenting with my life, shaking things up a little to see if I can break some bad habits, encourage some new life affirming ones, and enjoy a slower pace of living. In the last 12-18 months I have made some significant changes: shifted state (this has nothing to do with yoga
practice!), quit my job as a lecturer, focused my energies less on my career and more on nurturing myself and my children.
3) If you could choose to be someone famous, who would it be?
I have secretly always harboured a desire to be an actor, to be a vehicle for a story, an emotion, to perform and perhaps even entertain. It would be fabulous to have the skill to move between characters, to explore the range of human types by inhabiting a world other than the one you know intimately. Its not the fame and glory thing that inspires me here, its really a kind of Geminian interest in exploring aspects of self in a socially sanctioned way.
Which actor would I like to be? Hmmmm... Ive enjoyed the skills and presence of the great Aussy actors: Judy Davis, Rachel Ward, Cate Blanchett (of course) but especially Judy Davis. I loved her portrayal of Sybilla in 'My Brilliant Career'. She exuded all the passion and fire of a willful 16 year old, which inspired me.
4) the chicken or the egg?
Look, I don't know, you know? I have wondered how to answer this conundrum. I'd like to think up a funny answer, but this isn't my forte! Maybe I could squeeze out a pseudo-philosophical response, but this kinda bores me too. The very first lecture I went to at university was a logic lecture, and this was by mistake! I was meant to be in a biology lecture and I got the room, building, and indeed faculty completely arse up. I panicked, figuring Im just too dumb to even understand basic biology: gee University must be for extremely wise and knowledgeable people, and clearly I wasn't one of them! This experience put me off philosophy! The irony here is that my husband is a philosopher, and yes, I find the preoccupations of the profession irritating. At some level the constant picking apart of semantic understanding undermines the joy of life. Hmmm... but still I have a healthy respect for those that wish to do so. And, to be honest, there are some new braches of philosophy, ecosophy that do really interest me and are challenging my view of my profession.
Chicken? Egg? Both exist: one requires the other. Why is it an either/or
question?
5) Looking at the various life choices you have made, which stand out and how do you feel about them now?
This is a biggie. With almost 40 years of life under my belt, theres alot of decisions there, and some have more resonance than others. The first one was one of those "Sliding doors" moments (terrible Gweneth Paltrow film, dont bother seeing it) where I made a decision to return home after 6 months overseas, just days before Christmas. I was 18, feeling more than a little lonely, out of money, and missing the sun, and my boyfriend at the time who had gone back to Melbourne. So instead of taking a few risks, I took the easy option and used my return flight, when what I really wanted to do was stay in London and work for a while, experience a bit of inner (big)city life. On returning to Australia I spent the summer working hard paying off my debts, but not really wanting to be back in OZ. I was listless, perhaps even depressed. My overseas fling with the melbourne boyfriend went sour. I often wonder what might have eventuated had I ripped up the ticket and stayed in London, even though I was a little scared. I would now have more courage to face my fears I think!
Another big one was filling in my University enrollment form, having received offers for several courses. I ticked "architecture" without really knowing much about the profession, what sort of life it would lead me to, indeed how hard a course it was, as it demanded a different kind of thinking--critical thinking--that secondry schooling really doesnt seem to prepare you for. My brain was dragged kicking and screaming from a world where rote learning was rewarded, to an environment where if you gave the'expected' or standard answer, this was considered banal, ordinary and
really rather boring. Architectural training has given me many things: an aesthetic training, an appreciation for literature/culture/human creative endeavour, a passion for black, and a chance to engage in a profession where you get to buy colour pencils and write them off as a legitimate tax deduction! Hey, not a bad thing at all. Cant do that as a biologist!
(spare question) as an architect, which well known building thats not yours would you most be willing to put your name too or love to claim as your own?
Ill answer this one in another post!
So, please feel free to let me know if you'd like to continue this fine tradition of the Blooger Interview, and Ill email you a set of personalised questions all of your own! Its like a session with your on-line shrink, and it doesnt cost a cent.
Thanks Kel, for some great, thought proviking questions!
It works like this:anyone reading this can volunteer to be subjects, then Ill send you five questions by email.
Here are my answers to the five questions Kel asked me:
1) besides children/pets/partner ( all living things) if you had to take one
thing from your home due to emergency circumstances, what would it be? why?
I'm trying to think about this as if I were in emergency circumstances: not thinking too much about it, and the first thing that comes into my mind is that aside from the children/pets/partner, I am not really terribly attached to the objects in my life. I mean I haven't worked to hard on the Zen approach to living, or indeed to Buddhist ideals of non-attachment, but there you have it. I'm just not that into stuff. I suppose that might be as I have had my house burgled three times, and my stuff stolen while traveling. Things (objects) that I have loved, have been taken from me before, so I guess I'm a bit ambivalent about jewelry, photos, favorite clothing items, etc. If I did think to grab something, it would be irreplaceable work files(those on my laptop), and photos therein. Boring, but this is the stuff that would be impossible or time consuming to replace.
2) currently, what are you loving most in life ?
The thing that is giving me the most pleasure in my life right now, apart
from children/pets/partner ;) is my renewed interest in yoga. This (almost) daily practice is allowing me to make some quiet places in my life for navel gazing, contemplating beauty in all things, get to know the limits and capacities of my body, teaching me a deep connectedness of all things. At the end of a good session of yoga, my own life's worries are pretty puny, and that lovely glow of loving kindness can last all day! Better than any drug I know of, or have tried! Im also loving experimenting with my life, shaking things up a little to see if I can break some bad habits, encourage some new life affirming ones, and enjoy a slower pace of living. In the last 12-18 months I have made some significant changes: shifted state (this has nothing to do with yoga
practice!), quit my job as a lecturer, focused my energies less on my career and more on nurturing myself and my children.
3) If you could choose to be someone famous, who would it be?
I have secretly always harboured a desire to be an actor, to be a vehicle for a story, an emotion, to perform and perhaps even entertain. It would be fabulous to have the skill to move between characters, to explore the range of human types by inhabiting a world other than the one you know intimately. Its not the fame and glory thing that inspires me here, its really a kind of Geminian interest in exploring aspects of self in a socially sanctioned way.
Which actor would I like to be? Hmmmm... Ive enjoyed the skills and presence of the great Aussy actors: Judy Davis, Rachel Ward, Cate Blanchett (of course) but especially Judy Davis. I loved her portrayal of Sybilla in 'My Brilliant Career'. She exuded all the passion and fire of a willful 16 year old, which inspired me.
4) the chicken or the egg?
Look, I don't know, you know? I have wondered how to answer this conundrum. I'd like to think up a funny answer, but this isn't my forte! Maybe I could squeeze out a pseudo-philosophical response, but this kinda bores me too. The very first lecture I went to at university was a logic lecture, and this was by mistake! I was meant to be in a biology lecture and I got the room, building, and indeed faculty completely arse up. I panicked, figuring Im just too dumb to even understand basic biology: gee University must be for extremely wise and knowledgeable people, and clearly I wasn't one of them! This experience put me off philosophy! The irony here is that my husband is a philosopher, and yes, I find the preoccupations of the profession irritating. At some level the constant picking apart of semantic understanding undermines the joy of life. Hmmm... but still I have a healthy respect for those that wish to do so. And, to be honest, there are some new braches of philosophy, ecosophy that do really interest me and are challenging my view of my profession.
Chicken? Egg? Both exist: one requires the other. Why is it an either/or
question?
5) Looking at the various life choices you have made, which stand out and how do you feel about them now?
This is a biggie. With almost 40 years of life under my belt, theres alot of decisions there, and some have more resonance than others. The first one was one of those "Sliding doors" moments (terrible Gweneth Paltrow film, dont bother seeing it) where I made a decision to return home after 6 months overseas, just days before Christmas. I was 18, feeling more than a little lonely, out of money, and missing the sun, and my boyfriend at the time who had gone back to Melbourne. So instead of taking a few risks, I took the easy option and used my return flight, when what I really wanted to do was stay in London and work for a while, experience a bit of inner (big)city life. On returning to Australia I spent the summer working hard paying off my debts, but not really wanting to be back in OZ. I was listless, perhaps even depressed. My overseas fling with the melbourne boyfriend went sour. I often wonder what might have eventuated had I ripped up the ticket and stayed in London, even though I was a little scared. I would now have more courage to face my fears I think!
Another big one was filling in my University enrollment form, having received offers for several courses. I ticked "architecture" without really knowing much about the profession, what sort of life it would lead me to, indeed how hard a course it was, as it demanded a different kind of thinking--critical thinking--that secondry schooling really doesnt seem to prepare you for. My brain was dragged kicking and screaming from a world where rote learning was rewarded, to an environment where if you gave the'expected' or standard answer, this was considered banal, ordinary and
really rather boring. Architectural training has given me many things: an aesthetic training, an appreciation for literature/culture/human creative endeavour, a passion for black, and a chance to engage in a profession where you get to buy colour pencils and write them off as a legitimate tax deduction! Hey, not a bad thing at all. Cant do that as a biologist!
(spare question) as an architect, which well known building thats not yours would you most be willing to put your name too or love to claim as your own?
Ill answer this one in another post!
So, please feel free to let me know if you'd like to continue this fine tradition of the Blooger Interview, and Ill email you a set of personalised questions all of your own! Its like a session with your on-line shrink, and it doesnt cost a cent.
Thanks Kel, for some great, thought proviking questions!
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