Food for thought

                                                    

                     

Things are tickling along nicely in Leipzig. Last week we had our first snow! The funny thing is that I have only seen snow twice so when I went outside that morning to ride my bike to school I thought all the white stuff everywhere was salt. I've seen these huge vats of salt for putting on the ground ( I think?) in preparation for snow so I thought, 'Oh wow, snow is coming! ' It wasn't until I got to school and the teacher said it was snow that I realised. Silly me!

                         

We've been enjoying various things like going along to flea markets, life drawing class, winning at English trivia and seeing some English comedians last weekend. I also started a little social group for expat women in Leipzig and so far we've gone out for cocktails and watching a movie at ours in English with Deutsch subtitles. Good fun! 

Some bizarre flea market goods:

Love these drawers:

We also have the big Leipzig Weihnachsmarkt (Christmas market). Think lots of lights and decorations, stalls with gluhwein, stollen and pastries and lots of things to eat, drink and buy. 

I've been a bit under the weather the last week with bad sinus that went to a runny nose and has now become a cough.Just coming good now. So annoying! The weather doesn't help, although it's definitely been warmer the last few days. 

Things I've enjoyed reading:

I nearly died. So what? Meaghan Daum, The New York Times

Pussy Riot: when friendly people like us become enermies of the state it is very strange, Carole Cadwalladr, The Guardian

The absolute best and weirdest german integration class I ever had, from Oh My God My Wife is German.

Jarring experience, Alexia Schmidt, Courier Post. Great tips here for using your jarred preserves in recipes!

Living the veg life, Health Perch. I really like the info charts,especially the last one to assist people transitioning to a veg life. 

I'm loving this house

These gingerbread terrariums are a great idea! 

I also wrote an article myself about my experiences of Idiopathic angioedema for XO Jane. I have been trying to get more freelance writing work but it is difficult if you do not have a suite of published work to present. I'm working on some other topics also, not just writing about me. Hope everyone is enjoying the lead up to Christmas. X 

Food for thought

from here

"Change", David Leibovitz.  I love this article as it discusses the same problem we have here in Germany, everyone wants change and it's really hard to get big notes split!

"Kids left in hot cars: why technology and (your) creativity are needed to prevent the unthinkable", Dan Lacivita, Fast Company

Cate Bolt is a mother of nine, humanitarian, social activist and is awesome. She also has a wicked sense of humour as her craft attests:

"What an ALS family really thinks of the icebucket challenge", Bo Stern, The Difference of a Day

"Drunk online shopping regrets: clarinets, elephants and flatpacks", The Guardian. Good to know I'm not the only one!

 I don't listen to music nearly as much as I used to. I was talking to someone last night about Australian music so I decided to make a quick playlist. It's not exhaustive or in any particular order, a lot of the stuff i wanted to add wasn't on Spotify. I hope you enjoy listening to it, what would you add?

Food for thought

This book reminds me of me, working on my novel (slowly)

Can bloggers live off rainbows and hugs?, Holly Becker, Decor8

Is Freelancing a Lonely Business, Liz Parry, The Guardian

David Lynch now has a line of women's sportswear. Weird.

You can see some of my favourite places to eat in Melbourne here. Sadly Camy Shanghai Dumpling Noodle Restaurant is not mentioned!

Silo by Joost replaced by Brothl, looks really interesting! I'm not big on meat based dishes but I think it's a clever way to address food waste. You can see the menu here.

I've always been blown away by the work of Ron Muek. How can you not be? I was lucky to see some in Melbourne a few years ago. This is not a new article but rather new to me.

Very pleased to see another interview with my friend Kate. I look forward to owning her book someday!

This website made me giggle. And did you know there's a big Goth Festival in Leipzig every year? There's quite a few gothic clothing shops and clubs so this make me lol.

Point of difference: who are you?

I love the way that so many people are so different and I sometimes wonder what causes them to be different. I feel that with the rise of television, infotainment, celebrity, popular culture, sponsored bloggers and the like, we are constantly given perceptions of who we are based on what we have and what we consume. I know from running Green Renters for example, that many people have a very set idea of a) how the founder of a national charity should be and b) what a sustainability 'expert' will be like. I tend to surprise people a bit as I don't tend to fit their stereotypes. No, I don't read the Herald Sun or watch Channel 9 (considered more right wing activities), but I also don't wear clogs and Gorman sack dresses. Or thai fisherman pants. (I have actually had two pairs of clogs in the past but gave up after the buckles kept falling off).

1. I don't drive. I'm 38 but I never learnt. I moved to the city for University and had no one to teach me. After that I couldn't afford it and/or was struggling with bipolar and driving wasn't a good idea at that time. The thought of driving makes me nervous. Some people find it astonishing that someone can be in their late 30's and never had driven. I take public transport, ride a bike and use taxis as needed.
   
2. I make all my own cleaning products with the exception of dishwashing liquid. Dishwashing liquid is very hit and miss and when you make your own you tend to need far much more than when one is mass produced.
   
3. I adore crime shows and crime fiction. Big fan of the work of Jimmy McGovern and Val McDermid amongst others. I studied criminology at Uni. Yes, it's all very interesting but employment requires many years of further training.
   
4. I far prefer winter to summer. I find hot weather exhausting and find I always have plenty to do in winter. I also don't feel guilty being indoors cooking, reading, crafting when the sun isn't shining. I always have a internal dialogue that says one 'should' be doing things on sunny days but often I don't have the time or people to do them with.
   
5. I've been self employed for six years. I work from home all of the week except for meetings, workshops and buying materials, errands, post office etc. Self employment has many merits but there are also many disadvantages. I work most weekends. I've had only one job on a Monday only in six years. No one books anything on Mondays. I couldn't do it forever. That said, I'm moving to Leipzig to work on a chic lit (romance) novel. Enforced self employment really.
   
6. I enjoy crime fiction and chic lit. I am not ashamed of this.
   
7. I've never been part of any sporting team. I've never followed any sporting team. I've never seen a sports game in it's entirity. I'm just not interested, I'd rather read a book-except for roller derby recently. That was fun. My husband asked if I wanted to go again. My reply "Why? I've already seen a game".
   
8. I make all my own skincare. I don't make soap though, I don't need any more crafts!
   
9. I don't have children or any inclination to have children. I never have. I think some people see child rearing as a rite of passage to adulthood and don't consider being childfree as a viable life choice. I think people who really want kids should have them and I feel sorry for those who are infertile. Me,  I have other things that I devote my passions to.
   
10. I have a rare health condition called Idiopathic Angioedema. It's been really quiet this year which is fantastic.
    
11. I don't own a telly. But we watch plenty of online shows of our choosing. At the moment I'm watching Greek. It's suitably mindless whilst doing other things like sewing. 

Do you want to join in? I love getting to know people

Life this week

Reading

read about it here

read about it here

Writing

Far too much data (doing a short term data entry gig that I loathe. Luckily I finish this week).



Watching 

Her

Computer Chess



Planning

• An afternoon of batch cooking today in preparation for the hot weather next week where we won't want to cook.
• A decluttering party of all my vintage and crafty stuff

• Tofu, tempeh and nut cheese masterclass
• How to look after Mr Pablo in the upcoming heat wave....

Eating

Lots of tasting plates like cheese and crackers and olives

Drinks

earl grey tea, rosé wine

Liking
Really funny
Written Off by Rebecca Mead

This makeover on Desire to Inspire