Year of the selfie; favourite selfie of the year

Not like a took a heap, but this is my favourite selfie of 2013. Travelling alone, sometimes a selfie is the only way to get a photo with you in it! That, or self-timer shots, and I suck at those. This was taken at the top of a hill on day 3 of cycling alone around Savai'i, Samoa. I still can't believe I did that. Such a fun and challenging holiday.

Rosé

Rosé is quite often overlooked as a wine variety. There are some very average ones out there, as there is with any variety,  however the more of them I try, the more I realise that rosé can be really dynamic and interesting.

This is no official definition but my understanding of rosé is that it can be made from any type of red grape. The difference between a red and rosé is the time you leave the skins in with the grape juice to macerate - resulting in a more mellow flavour and colour. It seems you don't get those tannins either making it a very easy wine to drink without food.

Typically most rosés I've had have had that vanilla and strawberry flavour. Some of them have been really buttery, almost to the point of tasting like movie popcorn (looking at you,  Esk Valley malbec blend rosé).

This month one of my best friends who also loves wine, and I stumbled across a rosé tasting at one of our local wine stores.

We tasted a wide range from France, Corsica,  Spain, Lebanon (!), Central Otago and Italy I think.

They were the:
Domaine de Paris, Pettale de Rose, Hrieure de Montezargues, Conde de Valedmar, Terra Sangta and Domaine Fazi Corse.

I probably spelt half though wrong as they were scribbled badly in my notebook.

The one I loved and will definitely return to get a bottle was the Conde de Valedmar.  It is made from rioja. Utterly delicious.

The one I found most interesting but not exactly to my palate,  was the Domaine Fazi Corse from Corsica. It actually tasted really salty. I know nothing of the vineyard but I'm imagining it was from a vineyard by the sea.

The Lebanese one wasn't actually for sale, just to taste.  It was beautiful and quite different.  It really tasted like it had spent some time in oak. I know there is a vineyard in the mountains of Lebanon that does burgundy varieties and took out some French awards a while back. I wonder if it's the same one. In any case it was a nice suprise as when I think Middle East I don't think wine.

Terra Sangta was interesting.  The label was beautiful and the vineyard based on Felton Road. I was surprised I'd never heard of it before as Felton is not a long road. It was a beautiful pinot noir rosé, a safe choice for the kiwi palate.

My favourite way to drink rosé at the moment is in a Deepest Darkest Peru though.  That's a cocktail my friend made up for me that we now list.  I wanted something with pisco and passionfruit and he managed to slip rosé in it too. Not only is it delicious but also so brilliant because pisco, rosé and passionfruit are the first three things I think of when I think Peruvian drinks, but never in the same glass. Peru actually makes quite ok rosé near Ica in the desert south of Lima.

I'm looking forward to trying a few more rosés before the summer is done.

My top 5 rieslings of 2013

When we wrote the new bar list this year, we were very tempted to become Wellington's first Riesling-only bar. Every tasting we went to, it was the Rieslings that stood out.

In no particular order here is my top 5 (actually the first one is actually number 1!).

1. Rockburn Tigermoth (Central Otago)
2. Maude East Block (Central Otago)
3. Chard Farm (Central Otago)
4. Carrick Josephine (Central Otago)
5. Mt Difficulty (Central Otago)

Notice a common theme there? Though more known for pinot noir, I can't get enough of Central Otago's Rieslings!!!! And pinot gris for that matter. Although all grouped into the same broad region, each of these wines/vineyards are in different sub regions - for example Maude from Wanaka, Chard Farm from Gibbston Valley, Mt Difficulty from Felton Road in Bannockburn and Carrick from closer to the lake.

Rockburn was my absolute knockout of 2013. Most of my knowledge of their wines before this year was of their lower tier, Devil's Staircase pinot noir. I wanted so badly to list it at work but the numbers didn't quite crunch, so I recommend it to everyone I meet instead. Normally retailing for close to $40 a bottle, it's often on sale at Glengarry for only $23! Even cheaper if you buy a whole case! It's started hauling in the medals at wine shows so I'm sure it'll be a household name soon enough.

More Milos

My ribbed hat is coming along nicely. I really love the way it's striping on a diagonal. Excuse the fact I took the photo on my messy desk at work. The alpaca is so soft. I'm very jealous of the wee boy who'll get to wear it.

Once that's finished I am casting on yet another milo (hopefully by Tuesday). I ordered Skeinz vintage DK in pink for it. Haven't decided yet whether to do a plain cable, owls or XOXOs down the panel. It will be in newborn size so shouldn't take long but will be bitter sweet knitting as the little girl it was for sadly passed away - so I'll be thinking of her mum with every stitch.

Here's the link to the pattern for the Milo. People I've made it for before have said it's the best baby knit as it's so easy to get on and off - no buttons - and great for any season. 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/milo-3

I think I've posted the photo below before but I just love this photo my friend took of her gorgeous little girl modelling her Milo. I made that one in Ashford Tekapo yarn so it was quite a cheap knit. Only $18 or so... and my labour was free as it was a gift.  It seems to have washed up well too. 

Gone fishing

I've had this yarn for a while. I bought two skeins of it at Flagstaff Alpacas in Dunedin and got several small projects out of it already.

It's so beautifully soft. 80% alpaca, 20% wool.

This will be a simple rib hat. Because it's ribbed it should fit a 1-3 year old. I'm planning on sending it to a friend for her son. Hopefully he'll get some use out of it next Winter.

Isn't the colourway gorgeous?!

Blanket

Tonight I picked up a knitting project I hadn't touched in a while as I needed a break from my lace hat.

This will eventually be a blanket - either a couch snuggle rug or big enough for a single bed. I've used a baby blanket pattern from Vintage Knits for Modern Babies but cast on extra stitches.

It will be for my niece once it's done and hopefully I'll finish it before I go travelling! There's hours and hours of work to do before then though. Each row has a couple of hundred stitches. I've done only 40 rows so far...

The yarn is assorted part balls of dk weight left over from other projects. It seems that purple is going to feature a lot - remnants of baby girl knits.

More Catching Fire knits

Tracked done some more pictures of some of my favourite costumes from the latest film in The Hunger Games trilogy.

I am so in live with Katniss' knit nightgown/top.  Likewise this jumper.

A 'new' site in Peru to explore

Too many late nights have turned me a little into an insomniac. The internet at least can while away some time when the rest of the city is tucked up in their beds.

 

I stumbled across several articles on an archaeological site in Peru that somehow I've never heard of. I've been to so many museums in Peru, visited I thought most of the major sites in both the north and more touristy south, but somehow this escaped my attention.

 

Marcahuamachuco is being billed as a big tourist drawcard in the future. It's situated in the north, not far from Trujillo but up in the mountains. It's a massive site that spans over 200 hectares and is surrounded by a stone wall. It sounds incredible. They still don't know who built it/lived there as it was abandoned before the rise of the Incas and unfortunately,  like in many parts of Peru, grave robbers have looted a lot of the site of objects that might have provided clues.

 

It's been researched since 1900 but only started to be cleared in late 2010 (which is probably how it escaped my attention, having left Peru in late 2010). Anyway I am excited to visit this next time having done Machu Picchu twice before. In the bit over 3 months of my life I've spent travelling in Peru I've barely scratched the surface on things to see and do. Counting down the months until next time...

For now, here's a link to an article and also some photos of other sites I've visited. There is definitely more to Peru than Machu Pichu. The south of Peru that EVERYONE visits is pretty darn cool. But the north of Peru is what blew me away. Such beautiful scenery, amazing ruins, much friendlier people and best of all, way less tourists.

 

http://www.peruthisweek.com/news-marcahuamachuco-archeological-site-emerges-from-obscurity-in-peru-11080

Chavin ruins, Cordillera Blanca

Chavin ruins, Cordillera Blanca

 

Ventanillas de Otuzco near Cajarmarca

 

 

Kuelap fortress in Chacapoyas province

Catching Fire

Well I finally watched Catching Fire. The 11.30pm session on opening day was the first I could make, and it did not disappoint. I can't wait to see it again.

The movie was all around awesome - great acting, great effects (the jabber jay scene in Dolby Atmos = holy moly!) and some great costumes. I love films that are set somewhere cold as there always seems to be some great knits. Catching Fire was no exception.

Actually that cowl/top is woven apparently but I read that they're making it into a knitting pattern. Yay.

Finding savings where I can.

I'm starting to look at which spending I can cut out or lessen.

One area that I spend more than $1000 a year on is hair cuts. That's just a haircut and blonde highlights every 2 months. Seeing as I won't be able to keep that up on the road anyway, I figure I might as well get used to being brunette now.

I'm going to keep growing it long for another year as I'm plain lazy and love to throw it in a ponytail each day. Plus you can get away with trimming it only every 6 months or so. Looking back on my last trip,  I can see I might cut it shorter once I reach Bolivia and Peru. Hot water in hostels is not that common there and let me tell you, washing hair in a cold shower on a freezing cold morning is not fun at all!

Travel planning: Antarctica

Well I've done it. I've handed over the first of a lot of money for my next overseas adventure.

I bought a new laptop this week but I'm not sure that counts as a travel expense. However having excel again has meant a lot of playing around with budgets and researching costs.

Which in turn led me to make the decision to splurge quite a lot on a cruise to Antarctica.  It isn't cheap but wasn't as expensive as I imagined. I'm officially going now that I've put down a deposit to hold my space!

My plan now is to fly in one go from Auckland - Santiago - Buenos Aires - Ushuaia.  Thats about 34 hours of travel to make it to the southernmost city in the world.  Doing it without stopovers cuts out those little costs that add up to quite a bit - taxis to and from airports, accommodation, rushing to see sights in a few days. 

I've booked the last G Adventures cruise of the season on March 12th 2015. I like that I'll arrive into Ushuaia a few days before (don't want to miss the boat!) and get the only booked tour in right at the start leaving me months to meander up the continent.

Cost:
Bed in a 4 share cabin NZ $6099

The tour includes a warm jacket (to keep) and gum boots, all meals and all excursions.

They apparently aim for 2x excursions ashore or tours in the zodiacs each day but that's weather dependent. There are lectures on the region and wildlife to keep you entertained as well.

There is an option to do kayaking but it's an extra grand so I've opted not to.

Other costs I foresee are:
Any drinks (alcohol not included)
Tips (they recommend US$10-$15 per day)
Paying more than I would normally for travel insurance due to needing higher cover for medical evacuation from remote areas.
Renting waterproof pants
Accommodation amd other expenses in Ushuaia but I would've visited that city regardless.

I'm so excited about this trip. I can only imagine how amazing it will be to see icebergs,  wildlife like penguins etc. Not to mention all that knitting time on the trip over the Drake Passage if I'm not too sea sick!

New yarn

Serious savings

I'd composed this post a couple of days ago but it still says uploading and I can't access it - darn blogger app.

This week I had one of those moments of clarity when all of a sudden some switch clicks on, motivating you to do something. I added up in my head all the little holidays I've taken this year and how much they cost.  The total was $5000. That's this year alone. In the past 2.5 years I've done Samoa twice more,  Sydney and quite a bit of NZ. Basically it dawned on me that I've spend on a series of mini breaks what it would cost me to spend 6 months in South America.  Ouch!

I don't regret any of those holidays for a second, but all of a sudden I can't wait to get out of here and long term travelling so a serious savings plan is about to kick in.

My minimum savings goal is $32,000. I will fly out February 2015 as soon as the final Hobbit is done with and I feel like I'll be able to leave Embassy (again) tidily. I need another year there to make sure those knitting sessions are firmly established,  you know...!

Hopefully I'll be able to save a bit more than my goal (I haven't factored in a final holiday pay pay out, for one). I've chosen a fortnightly amount of $760 to save which allows for a comfortable amount to live on and not give up wine! My hours differ depending on the time of year so over the busy summer period I'll do 7 day weeks and give the savings an extra boost.

I want to have a spare 10K to have in the bank while I'm away so that I have it to fall back on if I decide to study or can't find a job right away.

It's not an easy thing to post about money on the Internet but I found last time I planned a trip there was too little info out there on what travelling costs and how much everyone saves to do it.

I've banned takeaways and taxiing to work when I'm feeling lazy. I just placed my last yarn order and will be working through my stash over the next year. I'm holding off buying new work dresses until I've worn the current ones out. I'm sure I'll make more cuts as time goes on.

I'm reading up and planning where I want to go - getting excited about it makes saving easier!

This time I want to start in Santiago, hitting the vineyards nearby and possibly a side trip to Easter Island. Then I want to trek Torres del Paine in Patagonia.  The Perito Moreno glacier is a must, then head up through Argentina visiting Barliloche and the Mendoza wine region (again). Buenos Aires will feature of course, along with Northern Argentina, a proper tour of Uruguay, Paraguay and up through Bolivia to Peru.

I want to spend a lot of time in Peru volunteering probably and backpacking through the less touristy central Andes to Pucallpa and catching a launch down a different Amazon tributary.

From there funds will decide whether to continue upwards. It'd be cool to go right through Central America and end with a working holiday in Canada.  Who knows?!

Strawberry lemonade

I don't know what this 4 ply hazelknits yarn is going to become,  but between 3 and 4 am this morning it somehow ended up in a tidy ball....

It's probably about time it jumped on the needles considering it was a birthday gift from mum a couple of years ago. What to do with 800 yards of it?

Melbourne

I had an amazing and busy 3 days in Melbourne.  What an amazing city. Here are the photos.  I spent a lot of time just walking the streets,  looking at the architecture and street art (and offspring location stalking). I loved Fitzroy.

Other highlights were the Monet waterlily exhibition, watching King Kong the musical, having a drink or two at the gin palace, the Queen Victoria market, Cooks Cottage, the view from the highest skyscraper and of course going to a couple of yarn stores. Pretty much the whole trip was a highlight!

I kept costs down staying in the YHA.  Enjoy the pictures.  Hopefully I'll be back there next year for Les Miserables!

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. 

Style

I was thinking today, as I was getting dressed, that at the age of 25, I seem to have found my style.  I don't mean by that that I am stylish in the slightest. It's probably more that I'm a lazy dresser and shopper and all my outfits are much the same. 

My process goes like this...

Do I have time to iron anything?
No - wear a lace dress
Yes - choose dress on basis of whether or not it requires a slip underneath

Choose tights..
Black, skin colour or branch out into grey or brown

Choose a cardy from drawer stuffed with cardigans. Black, grey, beige or purple.
Or pick a power blazer if pockets are required for the day.

Put on large necklace or earrings or both. Preferably one featuring owls.

Belt and scarf optional.

If cold or hair unbrushed, put on handknit hat.

If time, straighten hair. Normally just chuck it in a messy bun or put hairtie on wrist to deal to later.

Pick shoes. Black flats or black flats unless you aren't on the way to work and it's between August and May, in which case jandals are appropriate. 

Apply basic make up in a 2 minute job in front of the mirror at work. Foundation, mascara and lipstick only.

And if it's your day off, jeans, a cardy and black t-shirt will do.

What's your personal style?

Movies I've seen on the big screen recently

I'm getting a bit behind on movie watching. I only get one night off a week and am not an early riser so I struggle to see them on work days, and hate to go to work on my one day off. Tomorrow I'll be getting my Ryan Gosling fix though at a different cinema in town.

Love all three of these (saw Gatsby twice) except Man of Steel. I thought apart from the eye candy, it was a little dull. Really enjoyed World War Z though and Before Midnight was a perfect end to the trilogy (unless they make a 4th in a decade's time?) but the conflict throughout did make me feel more than a little tense.

Knitting in the islands

I am still meaning to do a post about my trip to Samoa. For now, here's some pictures of knitting in Samoa. 

I find it really hard to sit still and relax these days without knitting - it just feels wrong. So of course I took a few small projects to the islands with me. I knitted every day, bar one (and only because I was so ill I could barely move, let alone pick up the needles).

Thinking of the heat, I took cotton with me to make a dish cloth, and sock yarn. I attracted a lot of attention knitting over there - both from fellow tourists and the locals. Men and children were not shy to come up and stare and ask a lot of questions while I knitted in public. The woman running the fales were intrigued by what I was making and kept checking my progress at meal times, as most of them do a lot of weaving and edge their mats with yarn. 

There really is no better way to unwind than sitting on the beach with a beautiful view, the sun shining and needles clacking :-)

Finished projects

This week I finally finished the baby outfit I started to work on in late May. It feels good to have it done and sent off. Now I can knit for myself guiltlessly. I love the look of the booties but must convert them to the round because sewing up, quite frankly sucks!

I also whipped up a hat for my friend in a couple of days. Inspired by the life aquatic, it's made from the most gorgeous scarlet yarn. I had been promising a hat for a while and this jumped from 12th in the queue to 1st because I feel so deeply in love with the yarn. I needed to knit it then and there. I now have two spare balls to use as I massively overestimated how much I'd need. Ideas?

Leftover sock yarn hat

What do you do with the rest of your skein of yarn when you're done knitting yourself some socks???

Make something for a little person of course.

Basic hat with knot in cascade 

sport weight. Made in size one (though my gauge is quite loose) for this beautiful,  petite 20 month old.

It fits perfectly and I love the colour.

Knitting!

It's not just this blog that's been suffering from neglect, but my knitting too, these past couple of weeks. I've been so busy working, and then sleeping, I've been forgetting to make time for knitting! This photo makes me remember why I need to finish my current baby knitting project - it just looks so darn cute on the recipients! 

Also, we had our second lights up knitting screening last week. I'm just finalising the details on the next one. And making sure I can sit and knit through it - after all, that's why I started it up anyway :-)

https://www.facebook.com/LightsUpKnittingAtTheEmbassyTheatre