PAPERCLAY
A ring of gold and the sun in it?
Lies. Lies and a grief.
- The Couriers, Sylvia Plath
DINS
i am a chef’s lament. all i need after a long day at work is, in any incarnation, batter, cream and french fries.
TOP: the wine company at dempsey.
BOTTOM: battered oysters, fish and chips
LOVER OF THE RUSSIAN QUEEN
dreamt that i took a cross-country train into Russia this afternoon, woke up and my heart almost burst in longing. that followed a conversation about countries to explore with jeremy, where i named St Petersburg as the city i would most want to visit (his were Tokyo and Venice). i appreciate modern conveniences but dislike urban crowds and homogenity (dependent as i am on starbucks). Russia feels like a modern oasis aloof to the crassness of globalisation – i picture myself wandering along dreary buildings unassaulted by advertisments, American franchaises and pretentious cafes, and being perfectly happy and at peace thus, maybe falling into a beautiful and dangerous adventure or two – but of course this is probably one of several misplaced, euphemistic impressions i’ve gathered from ENGLISHRUSSIA.
On that trip I learnt something very important. Escape through travel works. Almost from the moment I boarded my flight, life in England became meaningless. Seat-belt signs lit up, problems switched off. Broken armrests took precedence over broken hearts. By the time the plane was airborne I’d forgotten England even existed.
- The Beach, Alex Garland
ACROSS THE CAUSEWAY
i really wish i would remember to USE my camera more often. went on a shopping daytrip to johor bahru with sheena and returned with only two spartan photos when the little city was actually a buzzing trove of cheap little shops (due muchly to the forgiving exchange rate) and, well, space. it certainly felt awesome to be walking around without having to navigate warm crowds like a champion jostler, and having the cab accelerate wantonly because the roads were bare.
girl and i taking a break outside Holiday Plaza, a Far East Plaza equivalent according to her. afternoon was sweltering.
ended the day with streetfare at appropriately dirty, smokey and hidden alley.
MATERNAL CONTENTMENT
the house received a black, shaggy and wet visitor for a few days last week.
hazel had to fly off for a bit and i promised to have pammie, her boisterous schnauzer-bostonterrier over at mine, since it wouldn’t do for her to be sad and alone at home. the misanthropic old man silas had been staring at rasputin (the hamster) too longingly for both their own goods and pammie’s friendship could be a welcome distraction too. pammie descended upon the household like a whirlwind of joy – just look at that grinning face! definitely one of the most affectionate pups out there.
unfortunately silas didn’t really take to the excitable pammie rushing around and they had to be kept separate for the duration of the doggie’s stay, sniffing each other out tentatively through door bottoms. we were working on getting silas to understand that pammie couldn’t jump high enough to touch him if he be atop the dresser/cupboards.
but mostly he was just heartbreakingly sulky.
this was the closest silas would allow pammie after two days of getting used to each other and having them both within a hug’s length was enough for me to sigh in much maternal contentment.
Sky in progress.
Touching base at the Ford Factory where we be painting a mural. The sun is unforgiving but snacks will get us through..
Silas now has a social life! Hoping Rasputin the hamster doesn’t turn into dinner anytime soon.
EMPTY LOVE
i would rather have none at all.
IN SITU
it’s a grudging admission, but i think i am having trouble keepin’ up with this city.
