I love Autumn, it is my favourite season. Its still warm, but not so hot you feel like you’re on fire. Its cool, but not so cold that you feel cold to your bones. Everything is soft and muted, the sunlight, sounds, it all has a far away quality to it… the sort of quietness that sooths you in the evenings as you sit and watch the world with a cuppa tea on hand. In Autumn we also get chestnuts, and there is nothing more yummy than chestnuts that have been pressure cooked to tender sweetness. Pressure cooked you say? I know, its a novel idea… most people are used to roasting them…...

I’ve mentioned Toby the Ginga Ninja cat before, but never shared photos. I think part of my problem is that I just haven’t felt like sharing much of my life lately. Still don’t, but Toby has spent the afternoon snoozing on my bed while I read, and being adorable, it seemed so wrong not to share his awesome cuteness! Things you need to know about Toby: 1. I did not choose the girly name. I hold no blame for that one. I do hold blame for the girly pink bell, thought it suited him. 2. He likes bringing home BIG BUGS, and eating them while you watch *crunch* 3. We have learned to wear...

I have a deep and abiding love for tea. Cultured during my time spent in England (probably one of the few good things that came out of that period) and developed over the years as I have discovered and appreciated new and different blends. It is always a pleasure to discover a new taste, but regardless of all the varieties out there, there are some I go back to time and time again because they alone can plug a “need.” When I’ve just woken up, early in the morning when the sky is still dark and there is a nip in the air, a good strong cup of English Breakfast (Dilmah) gets me...

Its weird, for the last 5 years, my life has been full of highs, and regardless of the lows that did happen I’ve always felt happy. There have been moments of despair (losing my job, struggling to find a job) but always, always I kept in control. Kept focused. Never lost track of who I was and the things I loved. When I woke up yesterday morning with a splitting migraine and yet still worrying about so many things, I knew something was very wrong. I am not happy. I am not satisfied. Nothing brings me joy anymore. I am so behind in many things, and I have not enjoyed my hobbies in months. My...

Dear friend, I have enjoyed the chats, enjoyed the double-entendres, jokes, and the sharing of opinions, thoughts and interests. I looked forward to hearing from you, you were one of the few good things in my life in the last 10 months, as sad as that sounds. You know what I have not enjoyed… and I guess you’ve proven to me just how much of a stranger you really are… and I am dissapointed and sad. Sad that you aren’t willing to just come out and be who you are. Dissapointed that it has ended this way. The door is always open, but otherwise, fare thee well. Yours Zeb … and...

New year and many new things in my life! I shall of course only discuss the good things, which today is Psychology and Hoopnotica. Psychology – Most of us have no clue what we want to do job-wise when we leave school. I coasted through two years at uni, before going into a career in IT. To say I “chose” it, isn’t correct. I fell into it, was good at it, so stuck with it. Teaching myself and progressing up the ladder. Does it make me happy though? Not anymore. Its only been in the last year, when I’ve had time to seriously self-reflect and think about who I am, where...

My family has never celebrated Christmas, which has meant some very lonely and quiet Christmases for me. Not that I should feel that way, because technically it’s a Christian holiday, but how many people really remember the true reason for Christmas? I usually feel a little left out of all the fun. This year I decided I didn’t want to spend Christmas Day alone. So two friends and I had a picnic at a local park. We ate and ate, talked and laughed, played on swings and chased one of the girl’s dog around. I am sitting here feeling so warm, relaxed and tierd. Seriously considering...

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love hunting down and acquiring pretty and rare things. Not just any pretty rare thing… it usually revolves around a specific hobby or interest of mine… most of the time anime or manga related, books or cross stitch related. Like the time when Amazon was advertising the superbly limited edition Tales of Beedle the Bard Collectors edition. I initially wanted two copies, one to keep in pristine condition, the other to open and drool over. Alas I only bought one copy, and it sits, un-opened, being pristine and untouchable. Or certain anime/manga statues...

This year I took part in my first cross stitch Christmas Exchange, organised by members of a local cross stitch forum. Members were given the name of another to be the “secret santa stitcher” for… we had to stitch a Christmas themed ornament. Took me a long while to decide what to stitch, but I finally settled on a Just Nan design called ‘Holiday In Ice,’ a complimentary design published in 1997. Surprise surprise… can you tell how addicted I am to her work? After some initial froggy moments (where I stitched some stitches in one angle, and others in another) the...

Last month I put my name down to take part in a cross stitch meme style Pay It Forward (henceforth referred to as PIF) with the lovely Heather over at Reflections in the Pond. Received the package yesterday and all I can say is, yay! Heather sent me: Just Cross Stitch magazine featuring Teresa Wentzler’s ‘Nativity’ Topiary Trees by Teresa Wentzler Petites Peacock & Unicorn by Teresa Wentzler Stitchable bookmark DMC, Whisper, beads and a gorgeous card. I’ve been wanting those TW designs for quite some time, so thankyou Heather! Still need to put together your care...