#281: Mawson Gallery
Mawson Gallery is a tiny studio and gallery built into a suburban home on an ordinary street. I’ve passed it hundreds of times on my way to and from the home of a particular student, so when they cancelled their lesson* I squashed the urge to just go home, and I went there instead.
I was greeted at the door by two small and hysterically excited dogs. Two artists** were in the studio, and they answered my questions without intruding.
It took me about five seconds to ask, “May I touch things?”
I’d come across this:
I was assured that not only could I touch it, I could rearrange it. It was a movable sculpture designed to be interacted with.
From that point on, I was hooked. I love art that can be touched.
The above is a clay postcard with handmade buttons by Linda Davey, which costs $55. Seriously adorable.
The below is West George Street (Glasgow), made from stoneware and zinc. I deliberately photographed the glare, because the background is completely smooth and the foreground is smooth *swoon* It’s $400.
Many of the items in the gallery are “kitchen art” that is beautiful and handmade while also being useful. Most of those were made by one of the women I met.
And some traditional pictures too:
This was raku fired, and costs $140:
Given how much I hate ornaments in my home, it’s odd that I so passionately love sculpture. But I do. There were three stunning bronze pieces about 30cm high. This one is called “The Rehearsal” and it’s $2,200.
But this is the one that couldn’t help but draw the eye. It’s “Lily” by Berendina de Ruiter, and it’s $2,150. That’s the studio area behind her.
The marble itself is smoother and cooler than glass. Marble is the coolest substance ever, and that is all I have to say about that.
*and still paid me, thanks very much – only fair, since I’d driven all the way over and knocked on their door only to discover the student was sick.
**human artists, in case you’re wondering.
S#12: Healing Stones
My mission today was to go to “one of those hippy shops” and buy “something weird.” I bought a pack of “Mystic East” Frangipani incense sticks that apparently “improves the concentration of the mind for meditation and prayer”.
I decided, by way of experiment, to see if burning fangipani incense helped me remember more details from the history book I’m currently reading. Unfortunately, although I can’t say it didn’t improve my concentration, it did give me a headache so quickly that I didn’t have time to crack open the book. Result: Inconclusive, but definitely non-helpful.
I moved the burning sticks on their improvised stand into the laundry – home of cat food, CJ’s bike, and cat litter – to see if it could dissipate the peculiar smell that has lingered in that room since the octopus incident.
I can’t tell for certain if the smell is gone or not, but when I went inside to test the air (and check I hadn’t just burned down our rental home), I got a surprise: Ana was hanging out happily on the floor. Neither cat has EVER just lolled about in the laundry before – it’s their toilet, after all.
So it seems I’m mildly allergic to incense, but my cat really likes it.
Weird.
There are very few items left on the steffmetal.com list of awesomeness. Here’s what I’ve promised to do before the end of next month:
#79: Karaoke (and yep, I’m gonna sing – even if it kills me and every other person in the room – and video it)
#86: Starry Night (at an observatory)
#94: Pay off debt (it’s gonna be a tight squeeze, but I hope we can pay back my parents in the next four weeks).
#89: Dinner and a movie (all by myself – that’s the condition)
#32: Break from technology (four days down, three to go)
#8: Ich bin ein stern (glow in the dark stars)
#28: To the theatre (we plan to see the one-man Lord of the Rings! Awesome!)
and the most expensive exciting. . .
#76: Up in the air (hot air balloon ride!)
On THIS sunday, I’ll be writing about the epic international feast.
Halfway. Ish.
Not long ago, I wrote that I was planning to write a steampunk novel, but I wasn’t letting myself just dive straight in. Not this time.
First I had to:
1. Read at least twenty relevant history/technology books.
2. Write all my twittertales for 2011.
3. Write all my monthly short-short stories (there’s an email list – and yes, you can get on it) for 2011.
4. Take a break between the reading and the writing, so I don’t get overly excited and start lecturing readers on historical dates and/or how to build a steam engine (don’t you hate it when writers show off how much research they’ve done?)
About five seconds ago, I finished #3 with a murder mystery. Yay!!
#2 is one-quarter done, but I can do plenty more during #4.
I’m halfway through # 1.
These are the books I’ve read so far:
“Australian Bushrangers” by Bill Wannan – which also has a short but very useful section on guns.
“History’s Worst Inventions” by Eric Chaline
“Savage or Civilised” by Penny Russell
“Australian Lives” by Michael Bosworth -more on the 1900s than the 1800s, but still very good detail.
“Oxford Illustrated Dictionary of Australian History” by Jan Basset
“Black Kettle and Full Moon” by Geoffrey Blainey – again, focused on the everyday details that are so important for writing.
“A History of Victoria” by Geoffrey Blainey – good, but not as good as the above.
“The Most Powerful Idea in the World” by William Rosen – good, but the most useful bits were above my head.
“Commonwealth of Thieves: The Sydney Experiment” by Thomas Keneally – heartbreaking and enthralling reading.
“The Aeronauts” by Time/Life Books – SO much fun.
I’m also reading all the modern steampunk I can find that I haven’t already read, and I plan to read some 1800s fiction (which I have ready to go), but right now my non-fiction to-read pile is ridiculously big. So I’m going to stop procratinating and go start on “Technology in Australia 1788-1988”.
#280: Make yum cha
There are about a million different yum cha dishes. The easiest to make (while still looking awesome) is dumplings.
Here’s the recipe I utterly mangled:
500g minced chicken (or half chicken half pork)
6 canned water chestnuts, drained and finely chopped (get sliced ones)
1 small carrot, finely chopped
1 tsp ginger, peeled and finely chopped
2 spring onions, finely chopped
1 tsp each Asian sesame oil, rice wine, and soy sauce
2 tsp sugar
2 tablespoons cornflour
30 wonton wrappers (which are in the ham and cheese aisle at Woolies)
500mL peanut oil
1. Mix together everything but the wonton wrappers and oil.
2. Lay out the wonton wrappers on a clean bench, covering those you’re not using with a clean wet teatowel.
3. Put a teaspoon or so of mixture in the middle of each wonton wrapper, then wet the outside edge and push it together at the top.
4. Steam some (in a steamer lined with greaseproof paper) for twelve minutes. Fry others in oil for about two minutes each (you can tell the oil is at the right temperature when a cube of bread dropped into it immediately sizzled and turns golden). NB: Do not leave boiling oil unattended. It spontanously combusts. NB#2 If your oil suddenly bursts into flame, move it off the heat and put the lid on. You are now a real cook.
5. Eat with soy sauce.
Coming soon: The epic international feast, featuring yum cha dumplings, sushi, and so much more. Getting the mashed potato a day early was the catalyst for something deeply strange but ultimately beautiful (and, my peeps, photogenic).
#279: Cat reunion
I was cunning and did a big clean just before we left for holidays – including the toxic epicness that is my annual oven clean (the plants are downstairs because I set off a Mortein bomb at the same time).
Indah (aka Grumblebum) expressed her displeasure at our abandonment by meowing a great deal for the first day (we also discovered a present she’d left for us in a hidden corner of the living room).
Ana (aka Fuzzybutt) was pleased to see us, but has been misbehaving more than usual.
Still, we’ve been home over a week now and everything is back to usual.
Ana stayed with my parents (so Indah didn’t leave us an even more exciting present of her entrails), and we waited a day before bringing her back. She travels best in a pillowslip – so this video begins the instant I placed her pillowcase on the floor.
The secret of love
CJ and I have now been married over two years (the two that are meant to be the hardest – one of several reasons we haven’t tried for kids yet). Overall, it’s been a lot easier and nicer than I expected – and I know how unusual that is.
I think the secret to a happy home (other than picking someone kind) is knowing who should do what – and doing it (before the other person has to ask) plus a bit more for love (but not too much – the other person has to have a chance to show their love too).
CJ earns most of the money; I try my best. I do more chores than CJ, but when I’m freaking out I ask for help and he helps. I let CJ spend money on computer stuff and books; he lets me spend money on awesomenesses and writing things. I coordinate most things, especially money and running the household; CJ has less impact on day to day things but also less to remember and be responsible for. In all these areas, we’ve found what works best for both of us.
Chores are the most difficult thing. Before marriage, I expected chores to be the hardest thing (having seen CJ’s bedroom many a time), and they are (even now) – but they’re a million times better than I expected. We talked about chores plenty, both before and after the wedding. CJ lifted his standards, and I lowered mine.
A good marriage is built on mutual respect and love – which is exactly where chores come in.
I don’t think it’s possible for me as a woman to respect a man who is too immature to do the dishes without being told (that makes him a child, and I’m not attracted to children). I also don’t think it’s possible for me to feel loved if I’m constantly cleaning up after a man. I DO clean up after CJ, but I know he also cleans up after me.
We’ve now spend half our time together dating, and half married. The married half has been nicer, more peaceful, and has seen less disagreements (partly because we know each other better, and can predict the other person’s reactions with enormous accuracy).
The hardest part of being married is that I am forced to carry my mental illness with me. I hate feeling that CJ has only ever met the second-best version of me (not that that’s entirely true; I have plenty of good days). I often feel angry that he is so content and happy when I’m living in the dark. It’s pretty clear neither of those things are his fault – and if he wasn’t immune to my depression he would be pretty useless.
The nicest parts of marriage are being able to make plans together, knowing that we have each other to rely on and laugh with, and having a warm body next to me at night*.
*One that doesn’t only love me for my ability to open the cat food cans.
#272: Small town lolly shop
*not to be confused with lolly shop which is completely distinct from this entry, since I haven’t repeated myself once*
Mmmmmmmmmmmmm……..looooooolllllliiiieeeesss.
See those jelly beans? One of the flavours was pomegranite. POMEGRANITE! The others were sour lemon, wild cherry, pear, cranberry and apple, watermelon, grape, hawaiian pineapple, lemon and lime, tangerine, banana split, granny smith apple, tropical punch, mango, passion fruit, strawberry, peachy pie, raspberry jam, strawberry smoothie, south seas kiwi, pink grapefruit, and blueberry pie.
Always good to find another Jelly belly imitation.
Hey, fun and educational fact: The word “lolly” originated in Victoria, Australia. It first appeared in print in the 1860s.
Yay us.
#112: Horseriding!
Dogs worship humans. Cats despise us. Horses will meet your eye as you approach, and make up their minds what they think of you (the results of which will be clear as you ride them).
This was my birthday present from CJ, and it was exactly as excellent as I remembered from distant childhood memories (I had friends with horses for a while). Also, it definitely counts as research for my steampunk book.
This was my horse – Max.
As you can see, we hit upon a simply stunning location – and the staff instantly became some of my favourite people. The main lady, Janice, is smart and sarcastic and I can’t imagine her anyplace not surrounded by ducks, cats, dogs and horses (it would be too much of a shame for the animals). Our riding companion was a real country boy (which to me is fantastically exotic). Both CJ and I know we are city folk through and through, and it was great to talk to someone who would be as sickened and uncomfortable in our lives as we would be in his. It was absolutely clear that the quality of our experience was a direct result of the competence and horse knowledge of the staff. These people are passionate about what they do (and so laid back we spent about three times as much time there as we expected – loving every minute).
This is not something I’ve been paid to endorse – it’s something too brilliant to keep to myself. (These guys are emphatically a different company to the Pender Lea operating at Thredbo.) It was about a half hour drive from Merimbula. Here are all their details:
Pender Lea Trail Rides
Kia-Ora Mia
Tantawanglo Lane, Candelo NSW 2550 (6km north of Candelo)
Phone: 02 6493 2862
Mobile: 0427 048 636
Web: www.penderleahorserides.com.au [which is having issues at the moment]
[Editorial note made in 2013: There is significant controversy about this company, including dozens of allegations of animal abuse as well as assaults on people – see comments for details.
Editorial note 2014: The owner has now been convicted of a long list of crimes against animals – see comments for details.]
Horses to suit all standards of riders. Some of the rides available:
- Twilight ride between 5:00pm to 7:00pm.
- Day rides available by booking only.
- Pony Rides for the little people in the family.
- Catering for families, small exclusive groups or large corporate groups.
Horses are visually stunning; a mix of calm and powerful, with daunting size (and bearing; cows are a similar size but no-one describes cows as “noble”) and very visible muscles beneath short fur. They tend to shuffle or stamp a foot periodically and/or swish their tail or shake their head. They snuffle, snort (especially in frustration), whinny (especially in greeting), and neigh. They are hotter than humans to touch, and soft like velvet.
The sensation of having them eat from one’s hand is quite dry and breathy. Their lips are giant and firm (unlike human lips, which are soft and mould to other objects). And they look mighty fine in water.
Walking on a horse is quite leisurely and comfortable, although the four-legged gait is just a little odd. If you fall asleep, you will fall off. Otherwise (unless your saddle is too loose) it is quite difficult to fall off. The reins are no good for balance – just steering. You grip with your knees – using unfamiliar muscles that made us both sore.
Riding a trotting horse is more difficult than any other step – it’s extremely bumpy. You need to get into the syncopated rhythm, and use the stirrups to go up and down with the horse.
A canter (or slow gallop) is exhilarating as well as being quite smooth. If you start to slide off (most likely due to attempting to turn the horse, or if the horse turns itself or leaps an obstacle), you probably won’t be able to correct yourself unless you’re moderately competent (my foot fell out of one stirrup, and that was fine). It feels wonderfully smooth (if you sit back in the saddle and flow with the steps) and fast – like flying, but with the exciting immediacy of being close to the ground.
Getting on a horse is a little like climbing into a tall vehicle while knowing it may or may not move, but a confident (and reasonably tall) person can get on first go using a stirrup. Falling off a horse generally involves a slide to one side or another, a brief trip downwards as the horse exits stage left – then a bruising hit on the shoulder, hip, or side (unless there are complications). Neither of us fell off (CJ had never ridden a horse before).
The strong smell of horse is about 10% Human Male Who Needs A Shower; 50% Leather; and 40% wet dog. It sticks to everything – clothing, humans, saddles, blankets – for days or years afterwards (depending how well they can be washed). So long as you’re outdoors, it smells wonderful (in much the way that freshly-cut grass smells good).
If you haven’t ridden a horse, you REALLY should. We rode for an hour and a half, and it cost $45 each.
Here’s a video that makes our canter look a lot slower than it really is:
Some awesomenesses that are fast approaching:
Karaoke (oh f–foccacia)
Hot air balloon
Meander at a beach
Yeah, yeah. I know. I should have called this one “Beach” and this one “Take heroic coastal pictures”. Whatever.
Look! I’m walking on water!
#277: Go for a walk
It says plenty about me that the year of Daily Awesomeness is in its final stretch, and yet this is the first time walking anywhere has featured.
Flushed with holiday spirit, I followed CJ from the Main Street of Merimbula up the Northern Headland on spider-festooned trails to Bar Beach and back again.
I like pretty things, and thus it was worth it*.
*Whether for CJ’s prettiness or the scenery is anyone’s guess.
Felicity Banks 