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Monday 29 December 2014

Beautiful Chaos

My family and I are on a two month long sojourn in Europe. 
Our connecting flight in Hong Kong was to contain a two hour stop over before we were to haul our weary, jetlagged bodies back into that place of inexplicable boredom and restlessness known only as a 'plane'. 

We went to board, tickets at the ready. Here we go. I stifle a yawn. It feels like I am averaging about one every ten seconds. Probably. 

I look at the air hostess as she checks our tickets. I wonder how they get their up do's so perfect; do they go to some sort of hair school as part of air hostess-training? A crease forms on her forehead. She speaks in a strange language; the sounds are somehow both conflicting and complimentary. Dimly my scattered brain communicates with the rest of my body that something isn't right. My shoulder slumps even more under the weight of my carry on bag (always squish your bulkiest things in here so that you have more room in your suitcase. This seemed like a good idea at the time). We are being told to go to the information desk. We are at the wrong gate. Our connecting flight left an hour ago. There are no more seats on this flight. 

Uh oh. 

We try a panicky call to our travel agent, but realise it is two in the morning in Australia. 
We had all taken out our sim cards and left them behind do we wouldn't get a massive phone bill.
This seemed like a good idea at the time, too. 

A night spent on an airport bench. 
Surprisingly comfortable, or perhaps Comfortably Numb as the song goes due to my extreme zombie-like state...
 despite that creepy man who keeps staring at me and my sisters. 
And staring,
And staring.
Hmm.  

6:00 AM Hong Kong time
Finally we make it through to our travel agent using the dodgy airport wifi network.
We are booked on a flight for the same time tonight; midnight.
We may as well spend the day wandering the city rather than staring at the inside of an airport for twelve hours.
Despite not knowing which way is up at this point. 

She'll be apples. 

This is a photo diary of my day in Hong Kong, 
which I treasure as a day of Beautiful Chaos; 
a phrase that immediately springs to mind when I think of this city. 

Matching mum and daughter. 
Matching people always get me. 

A sea of green. 









Three lonely animals... limited space here! 






Trapped. 




 A man and his trade in a Hong Kong backstreet... these guys are the true Backstreet Boys! 


From cane baskets to plastic bags... Hong Kong has modernised in their transportation methods

Loving would be easy if your colours were like my dream;
Red, gold and green. 





 And the adventure continues!

P.S.
This is what super airport boredom will do to you:


Did you ever see that Knight Bus scene in Harry Potter? 
Yeah. This bus trip was like that. 





Monday 15 December 2014

Literature: Eva Luna

Eva Luna is life. 
Not in an all consuming, this book is so damn philosophical it will change you forvever kind of way, 
but in a simple and profound way. 

The prose is interesting. 
There is no plot, and characters flit in and out like fairies. 
We grow attatched to them, then they go away. 
Sometimes they come back. 
Sometimes not. 

It's as if the book breathes, 
each story line shimmers and dances as it is interwoven. 
We breathe along with it. 
The tension mounts; a sharp inhale. 
A denoument. 
We let out a sigh of relief. 

And isn't all this just like life? 
I mean, it's really not that structured. 
It isn't broken up into rigid chapters and predictable events. 
To me, that's why Eva Luna is so beautiful.

The beauty is in the unexpected. 

I see Eva Luna as a collage of cultures, characters and periods. 
Thrown together in a chaos yet ordered by our own interpretations. 


This is a collage I created, of images my mind conjures up when I think of this novel. 

I hope you like it, 
and please read this novel so we can talk about it! 

 

Friday 28 November 2014

Cover: Talkin' 'Bout A Revolution

Sorry it's so blurrrrrrry, just think of it as a special effect or something haha :)


Hope you like it! 
Miranda


Thursday 13 November 2014

Tuesday 4 November 2014

Style: The Clash

I am a big believer in matching. I think that clashing prints, in a weird way, is sort of like matching them. If you keep a neutral back drop, like black, then technically your outfit is still matching on a colour base. The trick is to find some element between the pieces that ties them together. I've given it a whirl here, using polka dots as my staple. Using simple accessories with colours from your outfit ties it all together. 
Even though these two pieces totally clash, they somehow work as one. 







Friday 31 October 2014

Flash Back Friday

In Australia we don't have Halloween. It's just not the done thing. But it's slowly gaining more popularity, like a good indie band that goes mainstream.

So, in honour of All Hallows Eve, here are some eerie/spooky/fabulous Flash Back Friday songs.

Riders on the Storm,
The Doors


This song is actually terrifying. Don't listen to it at night time when you are home alone and there is actually a storm (I speak from experience) 



Wuthering Heights, 
Kate Bush
Or anything by Kate Bush really, to get that eeeerie gothic vibe. 
Read the book at the same time and be transported to the dark, gloomy moors. 



Werewolves of London, 
Warren Xevon
 
Sing along LOUD and PROUD:
'ahWHOOO Werewolves of London'


Time Warp, 
The Rocky Horror Picture Show

 
It just wouldn't be a Halloween post without something from 
Rocky Horror, and this is not just my obsession talking.. 



Wednesday 29 October 2014

Literature: An Open Letter to my various English Curriculum Books

Dear various English Curriculum books, 

Today was my final English exam. 
(one down, four to go!) 

It made me think of how many of you I have read over the years. 
We have had quite a turbulent, long-winded relationship. I'm sorry, but there were so many of you I reviled. You probably can't help it that you wind up on school book lists. It's not your fault. Here you are subject to the harsh criticism of moody teenage students. But you usually deserve it. 
Teachers seem to love those of you that are riddled with Wednesday Addams-like adolescent angst, 'coming of age' novels that involve many (many) curse words which substitute for actual proper English. 

You were not fun. (okay, I admit it was a little funny when the teacher tried to read you during out-loud reading time). 

But sometimes, among the deluge, there was a gem. 
I would raise you to the roof, all Lion King-esque: 
You made English class what it was. Reading you was no longer a chore. 

Not to play favourites, but here is a list of you who I loved most of all (I am actually playing favourites). 

To Kill A Mockingbird- Harper Lee
Obvs. A pure classic. Not to the dismay of my class, however:
'This book is so old'
' What kind of a name is 'Atticus?' 
' Is Scout a boy??' 
' Is this even in English?' 
Oh, you poor, poor souls. If you can't understand TKAM then I don't know how you will ever see the beauty and brilliance in authors like Jane Austen. I loved you, Mockingbird. 
There are so many life-worthy quotes that come from you: 
“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.” 

The Quiet American- Graham Greene 
I've done a post about you before. That's because you are fascinatingly brilliant. 
You make people question their humanity. This is pretty heavy for a class book.
Perhaps that's why I liked you so much. You are never boring. I read you five times in one year. 
Thank you for being so intriguing.

Girl With A Pearl Earring- Tracy Chevalier 
Surprisingly, I was the only student (the teacher loved it) who genuinely enjoyed you. 
And this wasn't just because Colin Firth played Vermeer in the movie adaptation of you (mostly). 
I looked at the front cover and I was hooked (yeah yeah, don't judge a book by its cover... then why do we have cover designers? I'm shallow. I like pretty pictures.)  This book stemmed a love that is still going for classical art and art history. I cannot look at this painting without it completely hypnotizing me and drawing me in. Tracy Chevalier thought the same, that's why she created a whole novel from the feeling the painting gave her when she looked at it. 
Seriously: just look at it. 



The Reluctant Fundamentalist- Mohsin Hamid 
You little trickster, you. Every time I read you I miss something and and also find something. Then I have to read you all over again. It's a viscous cycle. But I forgive you this, because you are so interesting. Your allegory's are second to none. Your narrative structure is one of the strangest and best I've ever read. You make me think. You are so multifaceted it's insane. I will read you always, each time looking for something new and inevitably finding it. 

So there you go, English Curriculum Books,
I have loved you and I have hated you. 
I liked some of you more than others. 
I even read some of you in my sacred place of reading: the bath. Seriously, the bath is usually reserved for Charlotte Bronte and the like. So well done, I commend you. 

Thanks for expanding my horizons. 

Miranda 



Friday 24 October 2014

School's Out Forever



Today was my last day of school EVER! :( 
(shh I actually really like school). 
And while I'm SUPER excited for the future,
I'm really going to miss it. 

I'm going to miss my English teacher who 
was practically dripping with sarcasm
and did the quiz from the newspaper every lesson. 

I'm going to miss mucking around 
at lunch time,
being a total dag and 
playing truth or dare 

or soccer

(Only three girls, myself included, 
play soccer at lunch time) 
Hopefully the girls below us 
step 
up. 

And I'm going to miss just seeing 
everyone, every day. 
It's been fun. 



p.s. I went as my childhood icon...
Madeline! 

(she was always the smallest one of all (like me) but inside she's TALL!) 


YES WE DID IT 



Saturday 11 October 2014

Style: How to be a Tom Boy-Girly Girl


Hello there, 
sorry about the lack of posts this week, 
year 12 practice exams took over life... 

This is me all dressed up before an event, 
two hours after 
this: 

Spikes were swapped for Heels! 

That's me at the front, I made it to the State finals 
next Friday for 100 and 200m! :) 
Keen as a bean for that. 

p.s. 
The dress I'm wearing is vintage, a $10 score! 

Remember, it's okay to be a Tom Boy- Girly Girl! 

Miranda 

Wednesday 1 October 2014

Tuesday 30 September 2014

Songwriting: How Long Is A Piece Of String

Hello! 

This is a little song I wrote and recorded a while ago, 
called 'How Long Is A Piece Of String?' 
I wrote it about my little sisters.
You know that age where they just ask you questions about everything? 
All sorts of impossible questions that you don't have the answer for...

But wish you did.
That's what it is inspired by. 

I hope you like it, let me know :) 
x


Literature: The Quiet American

So, The Quiet American is officially one of my all-time favourite books. 

I didn't think I would like it....
But immediately, I was hooked. 

The main character, Fowler, 
is very intriguing. 
From people I've discussed this book with,
I've heard very mixed opinions about him.
Like, polar opposites.
That in itself is compelling.
I for one would read this book just for Fowler's wry wit alone! 

It's centered around what is to become the 
Vietnam War, 
But that's not the only conflict. 
Fowler also has to compete for his love interest. 

To what lengths will he strive to keep her?  

That's where Pyle,
'A very Quiet American',
comes in...
but he also has a hidden agenda. 

'I never knew a man who had better motives for all the trouble he'd caused.' 


Sound good? 
It is. 
Read it, please. 


Saturday 27 September 2014

YUM: Mint Sorbet Recipe (You're Welcome)

As the weather becomes warmer, 
the need for a refreshing afternoon snack also escalates. 

This recipe for Mint Sorbet from Donna Hay is sooo good.
It's super easy and the results are delicious! 

I'm kind of a hopeless ice cream tragic so for me this is like the best thing ever.
Have fun making your own!
(and also using a retro ice cream tin is so much cooler (PUN) and more fun ;)


INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup mint leaves

3 cups (750 ml) milk

1 1/2 cups (240 g) icing sugar 
(it says to sift it.. I tried and 
lets just say my mum wasn't very happy with me haha. In the end it worked fine without doing it) 

1/4 cup (60 ml) glucose syrup 
(this stuff is super sticky but run your spoon under hot water first and it will slide right off) 

METHOD 
 Place the mint, milk, sugar and glucose syrup in a blender and blend until combined. 
Pour into a metal tin and freeze for 3-4 hours or until set. 
Cut the sorbet into squares and, in batches, blend until smooth. 
(make sure you do this step. I know it's tedious but seriously it looks and tastes so much better afterwards) 
Return the sorbet to the freezer for 1 hour or until ready to serve. 
Makes 1 litre. 
(I made 2 litres; just double all the quantities) 


(and dad's 'redback' sauce in the background!) 

YUM! 

Happy cooking!
(...or freezing?) 

x


Friday 26 September 2014

Happy 50th, Gilligan's Island!

This has always been one of my dearest television shows. 
It's appropriately goofy and hilarious haha :) 

When it come on I get super excited and go coconuts (pun intended) like this: 

I always loved this scene where the girls start a go-go band!


Here is a compilation of funny moments:

Thank you Gilligan's Island, 
for cementing my love of the 60's 
and good, clean fun. 








Music: And It Was All Mellow (Indie Folk)

I know I usually post about the old-school tunes, but I also really like to listen to indie folk music. 

Here I'm going to share a few tracks from my favourite bands/artists in this genre, if you haven't heard of them before then give them a listen :) 

Let me know if you have any cool music you want to tell me about! 

1. ANGUS AND JULIA STONE 
This Aussie duo is amazing. Their music is so chilled but is still very poetic and often moving.
(p.s. I have a pretty big crush on Angus) 



Mango Tree


Devil's Tears

...and they recently released a new album! 
So far this is my favourite song:

Death Defying Acts


2. First Aid Kit 
These two sisters are one of those acts where you can listen to an entire album
without getting bored.
Their sound is so entrancing and powerful.
Their own songs are beautiful and unique but they also do amazing covers. 


Emmylou 
(one of my all time favourite songs!) 


Wolf


Dancing Barefoot, Patti Smith Cover

They also just released a new album, and it is 
ethereal. 


How cool is that album cover! 

There are so many good songs off this album but I love: 

Cedar Lane 


3. Xavier Rudd 
Xavier Rudd is just the epitome of chilled, mellow beats. 
I love him. 

One of his best songs is Spirit Bird, 
which goes for about 10 minutes but is never boring.
I could listen to it on repeat all day, 
probably while making home made lemonade and then lying in grass. 




Follow The Sun 


Come Let Go 



Flash Back Friday


This song is all kinds of funky. 

Thursday 25 September 2014

Fashion: Florals? In Spring?....

Despite what Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada thinks, I love spring and I love florals and I love them together. 

Here I am defying all the rules. 
(you can always defy the rules as long as you wear a grey t-shirt because a grey t-shirt will go with everything). 








Arty Farty: Finished Product

...Ground control to Major Tom!
I'm back, baby!

My internet went totally AWOL for a while there so sorry I've been away so long.
(you forgive me? Good.) 

As promised, here is the finished product (YAY!) of my art final! 
It's done entirely in pointillism. 


Hope you like it!

Stay tuned and stay classy, 
Miranda

Friday 12 September 2014

Arty Farty: I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar

I have quite a love of digging through oooold photographs.
I found this one in a family album.
This is my great grandma, and she was a pretty special lady.
In this picture she is in her nursing uniform.
I love finding out the stories of these women of the 'olden days',
having to make a path for themselves in a world dominated by men. 
I did a little art series juxtaposing the beautiful oldness of the photographs with typography showing 
my favourite feminism quotes. 
'I Am Woman' is one of my all time favourite songs
and pretty much the feminism anthem. 
It rocks... just like you.

Roar like a lion today. 







Tuesday 9 September 2014

Style: Oh! Spring how I love you


How much do you love spring!
The sun is out!
The birds are out!
The flowers are out!
The snakes are out (oh)...

Maybe not the snakes. 
Utterly terrified. 

But as you can see I am combating my fear because the fruit is also out, 
and I can make lemonade. 
(there was some dispute as to whether these were in fact oranges or lemons 
(said the bells of St Clements) but we did eventually discern that they were the latter. 



I might even share my lemonade recipe 
(because you're just all so spesh and it's so spring). 

I love that weather where it's still cold enough to wear pants, 
but warm enough to go bare sleeved and sandal clad. 

I also love when an entire outfit is op shopped!
YAY! 

Wishing you safety from slithery bitey things and lovely weather, 
Miranda

Monday 8 September 2014

Arty Farty: A Decade Of Change

Hey guys, 
I thought you might appreciate a little peek into what my life is revolving around 
right now. 

This is the first piece in a series of ten,
focusing on the 1960's in Australia. 

I've been using pointillism as it's representative of pixels,
like the events would be portrayed on television 
to families at the time. 

I wanted to explore Australian events of major change because 
I feel like significant events happened here too,
that are relatively unknown to the rest of the world.

This picture is of Frank McFarlane, 
known as the father of immunology 
for his work in the bodies immune response, 
specifically around clonal expansion and deletion. 

Because science. Anyway, he was 
awarded the Nobel Prize. 

(interesting side note: Alfred Nobel
decided to invent the Nobel prize to deflect attention 
from the fact that he also invented dynamite...
there were a lot of people not too pleased with him at the time!) 

So, 
this is my first image in the works :) 


(Please excuse my just-showered hair, I told my dad not to take it with flash haha) 

Hope you like it! 

I'll post the finished product soon...

once I finish it ;)