August Moon Day 10

Day 10: Wishing on a blue moon

Kat writes: if you had one wish - guaranteed to be fulfilled by the end of 2013 - what would it be?

I would be in Peru working as a volunteer in a school in the mornings and a daycare centre in the afternoons, 4 days a week. I would use my 3 day weekend to sit overlooking the Pacific Ocean and many surfers, knitting. 

This isn't going to happen by the end of the year but I wish it would! This would be my routine for a few months as part of an extended trip around South America.

Not quite as unlikely, but still just a wish not a reality, would be to be able to take an entire week off work and spend it at home pottering. A whole week to catch up on jobs like cleaning the bathroom ceiling and filling the freezer with meals. A whole week when I could drink wine at lunchtime, knit, read and sew.... I always go away when I have 3 days or more off in a row but it'd be so relaxing to have an at home holiday!

August Moon day 8 & 9

August Moon Day 8: Letting go

Kat writes:

What are three things you would like to let go of before the year is out? See if you can list three physical things and three emotional ones.

Going to quickly get through this blog post as it's 3am already. Time for bed!

So first 3 things I can think of that I'd like to let go of are:

1. Old clothes I rarely ever wear. This month I want to have a ruthless clear out of my wardrobe, ready for summer. It doesn't seem like much but it always makes me feel much better. I feel suffocated in my single room without a wardrobe when there's too much clutter. I feel bad for getting rid of some of the dresses as they cost a bit and I've hardly worn some as I don't like them that much. I guess writing off that money spent and thinking twice before buying clothes spontaneously again will be a good thing. 
2. I need to let go of resentment I feel towards people. I find it difficult when I don't feel people are pulling their weight as much as they ought to, but there really is no point letting it get me down. 
3. Argh, struggling to find a third. I guess I need to let go of bad habits. Like getting up too late and not having time to get to work on my own steam. 

August Moon Day 9: Goals

Meredith writes:

There are only four months left of 2013. Have you accomplished your goals for the year?

What do you need to prioritize to end the year on a high note?

I haven't saved nearly as much as I should've, so I'm going to prioritise saving money.

I'm also going to prioritise my health - eating more healthily and exercise.

I'm also going to prioritise me time - time to garden, to cook (making everything from scratch again) and prioritise knitting time before the summer madness hits!

Movies I've watched : Mr Pip

This is absolutely my film highlight of the year. I cannot emphasize enough how much everyone should watch it. Seriously. Tell all your friends. Mark October on your calendars. 

August Moon day 6 & 7

August Moon Day 6: Zeniths and Nadirs

Kat writes:

Where have the highlights and low points been for you so far in 2013? Where are you now?

How would you like your year to end?

My highlight would definitely be the feeling of achievement when cycling around Samoa. Actually the high point was one particularly long down hill section where I felt so free - speeding past coconut plantations and cattle farms on my bike with a view of the ocean and steep cliffs to my right. It was probably made better by having just walked my bike up the steepest and longest hill. It was so hot and I was struggling. I was counting 20 steps, then resting a few seconds, then counting another 20. At the top I collapsed under a breadfruit tree barely able to move. A woman came down from her house to say hi and didn't speak any English. I could barely speak at all but we shared a moment.

A work highlight was working The World's End premiere. It was such a fun day made better by starting my day by watching the film, even before the premiere invitees saw it.

My absolute low point was actually in Samoa as well, but American Samoa. I had spent a fair bit of money to get there and was immediately struck down with the worst food poisoning of my life. I was lying down, so ill I couldn't even pick up the remote to change channels. The 100m trek to the shop between time spent in the bathroom to buy sprite was so challenging. There was free wifi when I started to feel slightly better but I could not buy the right adapter anywhere. So I was alone in my room, lying on the bathroom floor for most of the time, wishing I could just go home already, watching CNN's footage of the women kept locked in a sick guy's house for a decade and unable to change the ruddy channel! Sunrise on the last day with a cruise ship entering Pago Pago harbour was beautiful though so it wasn't all bad.

I know I'll be working right through December so I am looking foward to spending my breaks on the roof, soaking up some sun and making the most of that harbour view. I'll have been to Melbourne on holiday by then, and home for a speedy visit, so plenty to look foward to. Hopefully I end the year with a tidy amount of savings. I've been dropping the ball a bit lately (read: booking too many holidays, eating too many takeaways, drinking too many cocktails) so fingers crossed...

August Moon Day 7: Opportunity

Meredith writes:

What once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity(ies) came your way so far?

I was so lucky to be invited to Malborough for a day towards the beginning of the year. We were flown over to Blenheim in a tiny plane, given a tour of Seresin vineyard and then taken by boat to Waterfall Bay in the Sounds for a 5 course degustation lunch with matching wines. The chef was flown out from Australia to cook for people who paid to do this (and paid a lot) for 4 days. The 5th day they invited people involved in hospitality in Auckland and Wellington to enjoy the same menu, on them. The food was simply phenomenal and we tasted the entire Seresin portfolio including their high end single terroir pinot noirs and an experimental co-fermented wine. This foodie/wino was in heaven!

August Moon

Well I've decided to join in on this 11 days worth of blogging prompts. It seems a good time going into Spring, to take stock of the year so far and start thinking about where you want to be heading for the rest of the year/into next year. Thanks Angelina for inspiring me to do this - and the original link here http://www.katmcnally.com/p/august-moon-13.html


The first 5 days worth of prompts:


Day One: Intentions

How have you treated yourself this year?

Have you kept your intentions?

My personal resolution this year was to find a balance between my work life and home/social life. To be honest, I've failed miserably so far. I am a terrible workaholic. I make myself available to my job 24/7. I normally work 6 days per week but during busy periods like Film Festival I can go a couple of weeks without a day off. On my days off I struggle to switch off and will do work related things, unpaid, like taking flyers to yarn stores, constantly checking work social media or going to a cafe or bar but am always analysing their service and their menus...One way I compensate myself for this is by taking a holiday every few months and totally spoil myself to make up for treating my body not so nicely (a diet of too many takeaways, not enough sleep - the joys of odd hospitality hours!). In January after working 30 days straight, I took off to Waiheke Island/Auckland for 2 days. In May after a mad time in the kitchen after a Grab One offer, I disappeared to Samoa for 2 weeks cycling around the island (with little internet access, making me pretty much uncontactable). Before film festival I took 1 nights in a hotel when my family came to stay purely to have a soak in the bath! This weekend I am taking 3 days off in a row to go to Melbourne to see King Kong The Musical and Monet's water lilly paintings exhibition. So I'm great at getting myself some much needed solitude, but I have barely seen any of my friends outside of work for months. I've told my job I need at least 2 nights a week off from October for 2 months so I can have a social life (or just be home for dinner, or to knit or read) before the madness of The Hobbit begins.

Day Two: Seize the Season
Kat writes: We are about to enter into a gentler season i.e. Autumn/Fall if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, Spring if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere. For me, these seasons often feel like a relief after the intensity of Summer and Winter. How do you intend to transition into the new season?
I am definitely feeling more motivated and optimistic with the warmer weather. Last week I was inspired to tackle the gardening I'd neglected for the entire winter. There's something soothing about getting your hands dirty in the garden when you live in the middle of a city. I love being outdoors and being more in tune with the seasons. So every day off I'm going to do something outdoors, even if it's just going for a walk. I'm going to get back into the habit of going to the market each weekend as well to cook in season, and get back into jam and chutney making.

Day Three; Blessings

Meredith writes:

Sometimes we get too caught up with life's circumstances.
Count the blessings you've had to be grateful for this year.
It's easy to complain and get caught up in the negative aspects of life - I'm sure everyone has those moments. I'm quite a positive person though and having travelled a bit, I know my life is very comfortable compared with many people.

I'm thankful for my job and being able to provide for myself, save money for future travels or studies, and be able to afford luxuries like holidays and wine :-) I'm also thankful for a job where I'm able to continue to learn and grow and indulge my interests.

I'm grateful for having great friends and family even if I don't see many of them as much as I should/like. I love having my family to visit, I have lovely flatmates, great work mates (that indulge my knitting obsession) and amazing friends. I'm very happy that I get to spend time with two babies as it's like having more nieces - I don't get to see my niece as often as I'd like to!

Day Four: Word

Kat writes: What word did you choose as your travelling companion in 2013? How is it working for you? Where have the surprises been? If you didn’t choose a guiding word, what word sums up your year so far? And why?

I didn't really choose a word for this year. But my year so far has somewhat selfishly been all about 'me'. I guess I'm now at an age/stage where I know who I am, what I enjoy and am trying to continually push myself to do things that make me a little afraid. For example when I started in hospitality 10 years ago, I was so shy and scared to even ask someone their order. Now I can get up in front of a crowd of people and speak to them. I can go by myself to events where I don't know anyone. In earthquakes or when someone is badly injured, I remain calm and think sensibly about the situation and be a leader. I didn't think I had the fitness to cycle over 200km in tropical heat - at times that was so hard but I kept going and achieved it. I want to be a better knitter so I practice every chance I get and and try to learn more techniques and skills. Perhaps my word should be 'growth' or 'confidence' :-)


Day Five: Yearnings

Meredith writes: Have you developed new yearnings so far this year? Let go of old ones?

It's not a new yearning, but my yearn to travel again is stronger than ever this year. I really want to have the money to see Easter Island, dive the Galapagos and trek through Patagonia this time though, so I am hanging tight and working until I have a very decent chunk of savings to see me on my way.

As for letting go of yearnings, I'm not sure I have. I'll have to think about that some more...

In knitting news...

I'm feeling a bit guilty about just how little time I've spent knitting lately. Must rectify by getting out of bed earlier! However I do have some photos to share :-)

Owl milo for one cute baby in Naturally Loyal 8 ply? Size 6 months

Jarred Flood's rosebud hat in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino (apologies for the dark photo)

This is finished but I love the close up of the bobbles.
Gwen Stacy hat in Naturally Loyal 10 ply.

I want all this yarn!!!!!! Visited Holland Road Yarn Company. So tempting!

And I got interviewed for the paper about Lights Up Knitting. Also taught these 3 to knit!

3 more films ticked off

Only God Forgives was obviously a must see for me simply because of the Gosling factor. It didn't disappoint. It was even worth coming into work for on my one day off for the week. It was nowhere near as violent as I was expecting, beautifully shot, and playing to Ryan Gosling's strength (that moody look) had very little dialogue. 

Just tonight I finally saw Elysium. It was a great watch. Less action blockbuster than I expected, and more social commentary. It's definitely worth a watch (and the Dolby Atmos sound is also very cool). 

The other film I watched was The Way Way Back. It was the perfect, light hearted, quirkly coming of age story. Steve Carrell played a fantastic arsehole :-)

Movies I've seen on the big screen July/August - all 18 of them...

Before festival started I headed to Lighthouse Cuba on a day off to see the latest Penelope Cruz film, Twice Born. I was not disappointed. Her and Emile Hirsch were fantastic in a film that kept delivering more and more. It was set in Italy and war torn Bosnia over a period of about 20 years. The story kept me guessing and really tugged at the heart strings.

A couple of weeks before I got my Gosling fix, again at Lighthouse Cuba. The Place Beyond the Pines was simply amazing. I loved it. 

The past 18 days we've hosted the New Zealand International Film Festival. I managed to squeeze in 16 films as well as working a nice 168 hours or so....

I really liked every film I saw. They were all so different. In no particular order, I watched:

The Bling Ring

The East

Frances Ha

The Gilded Cage

Ginger and Rosa

The Great Beauty

In The House

Like Father, Like Son

Much Ado About Nothing

Mud

Omar

The Past

Twenty Feet from Stardom

Uncharted Waters: The Personal History of Wayne Lynch

Utu Redux

Wadjda

If I had to pick a top 5 to recommend though, it'd be:

Frances Ha - shot in black and white, this off beat comedy was so great. Even better, it's out very soon in cinemas so go and watch it! 

The Gilded Cage - this French movie was the last I saw and what a delight! There is nothing I didn't love about this film.

The Great Beauty - one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen. Watch it!

Much Ado About Nothing - Joss Whedon hit the mark with this film shot in only 10 days at his house. The slapstick will have you in fits of laughter.

Wadjda - an adorable film set in Saudi Arabia and shot by a woman director. Worth seeing just because it's made history for this, but also it's really well done. Made me cry with happiness.

Am now totally exhausted. And still didn't get to see half of the ones I wanted to.