African Mailman

Lately, I've had Africa on my mind. I've got a spring in my step, warm feelings in my belly and a constant desire to wear brightly coloured dresses due to a heady cocktail of the following African influences: the discovery of Ethiopian food, watching The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency and a catchy K'naan tune that keeps playing in my head. That, combined with my ongoing obsession with the amazing Miss Nina Simone, has quite frankly, put a spell on me. I'm bewitched! Is it black magic?! Is that a racist joke? I don't even know.

I do know that my heart longs to wear the dresses worn by the gorgeous 'traditionally built' Jill Scott on The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. Have you seen this show? You MUST buy the DVD! My family loves the Alexander McCall Smith books but I must admit I haven't yet read any. But the show is so very lovely, I shall have to add them to my ever growing book pile. But back to the dresses. They're not exactly flattering (maybe it's hard to 'flatter' a bust that impressive) but they're just so lovely, the colours, the patterns, the length, the sleaves - I want one! To wear every day. A new one to wear everyday. Okay I want many.

 

  

  

  

 

I might just also want to be a detective. As if Nancy Drew, Trixie Beldon, The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Adventurous Four et al hadn't already filled my childhood with mystery solving ideals, now my adult life is inspired by Harry Potter, Phillip Marlow and Precious Ramotswe too.

And the food. Oh the food...Does anyone know how to cook Ethiopean? Or any other African country for that matter. What are the spices used? Can you teach me?! Please?!

Yesterday, it just so happened that I was listening to Nina's African Mailman when Tom rang with his own African news - there's a strong possibility (but I don't want to jinx it!) that he will be headed to South Africa this June to work on the FIFA World Cup. I really can't impress upon you how very exciting that will be for him, a completely obsessed football fanatic. He wants me to come with....he has a week in Cape Town where I could join him. Should I? Have you been before? What can you do/see there? (Don't say football, please.)

Which brings me to K'naan, the Somalian/Canadian rapper, singer and poet. His song, Waving Flag, was already playing on repeat in my mind before I found out that it is the 2010 World Cup official anthem. I think this song is actually kinda daggy. But it's stuck in my head now and lifts my spirits everytime I hear it. And just like the lyrics go..."And everybody will be singing it...And you and I will be singing it...And we all will be singing it..." I'm sharing the song with you, so, you know, it comes true and I'm not the only one with it stuck in my head.



And we all live happily ever after.
*fingers crossed*

What's that smell? Oh, love is in the air.

Hello there!

Today is a special day for me as it is our (Tomas and I, that is) 7 year anniversary. Seven years sure has flown by pretty quickly, but we've crammed a good deal of living and adventuring in between those quiet moments shared together on the couch channel surfing or absorbed in the screens on our respective laps.

The very first time I laid my eyes on him I was intrigued. I was 10 years old and he was the new boy in class. He had super thick, straight, long, straw coloured blonde hair. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. To this day I cry EVERY time he shaves his head, which is pretty much his standard haircut these days, so there are a lot of tears in our house...

...but he is used to my tears. Used to my tears, my rants, my undies left on the bathroom floor, my constant need for a lift somewhere, my anal placement of tins in the cupboard, teabags in the caddy, my clothes on the bedroom floor, my wool everywhere, my voracious appetite for food and the tears and grumpiness that accompany my lack of it, my hypocrisy, my reluctance to brush my teeth each night before bed, my inability to end an argument in anything other than tears, my penchant for British television, my stinky armpits, my hairy eyebrows, my insensitive bashing of his Catholic upbringing, my daily chocolate desires, my late nights and long sleep ins and my grey hairs and he suffers it all with never a harsh word but always an open and forgiving heart.

So, I'm a pretty spoilt and lucky lady really, wouldn't you say?!

Here's what my Swedish darling left on the kitchen bench for me to discover this morning when I got up -

It's nice to say it with flowers! Even if your Swedish isn't very good, you still get the message!

Allow me to indulge myself further here, with a little film Tom made for me...
It's my 'world' apparently, according to him. My world involves living in a terrarium that kind of looks like the surface of the moon. It also involves no makeup and messy hair, so, be prepared...as I certainly wasn't when I was unwittingly being filmed!




I hope that wherever you are today someone gives you a hug and tells you that they love you. Because they do! If that hasn't happened though, don't fret - I guarrantee someone is thinking about doing it! And if you don't believe me then feel free to give me a call, I'm awfully good at hugs and declarations of love. Maybe it's my welcoming bosom (everybody needs a bosom for a pillow), long arms or powerful grip, I don't know, but trust me, I rock at hugs.

Happy weekend, remember to breathe deeply and inhale the love in the air! xx

Julie Andrews, my new job mentor

Yes that's right, you read correctly, I finally have a new job. (But no, it's not as a nun. However, Julie Andrews is crucial to my skill set.) Hence the absence from blogging - I've been in training and it has been so exhausting learning all the new skills I will need that I come home and hit the sack immediately, too tired to even turn on my computer. Sorry Internets, I missed you dearly, will you ever forgive me?!

When I was made redundant before Christmas last year I knew that it was a chance for me to change the path I was on - to grow, learn and fill my days with a job that made me feel good about myself, made me feel alive and didn't leave me wondering if I could call in sick every morning. But even that 'chance' was sort of stressing me out. I couldn't find any jobs advertised that I liked, that I felt I could be passionate about. I was really getting worried that my window of opportunity was closing, money was running out and decisions had to be made. I couldn't just stay home watching Midsomer Murders and Come Dine with Me all day and chatting on twitter, apparently.

Now, I LOVE The Office. I just hate working in one. I can't stand office politics, micro management, petty infighting, jealous co-workers, no pay rises despite working hard and deserving them, getting promoted without a pay rise due to the lame excuse of economic hard times, food court lunches, eating lunch at your computer because no one takes a lunch break, doing unpaid overtime practically every day, getting no recognition or praise for your efforts, wearing boring smart casual office clothes and performing mind numbing work that sucks your will to live.

I know we all have to pay our bills somehow, but I never imagined that I would have to work in an office to do this. I don't know what I imagined exactly, maybe I never really thought it through - I just know that the past 3 years of working in an office have left me rather bruised and reluctant to return. So when the chance to do something completely different came up, I decided to grab it with both hands.

This was the job ad -

"If you want this choice position
Have a cheery disposition
Rosy cheeks, no warts!
Play games, all sorts

You must be kind, you must be witty
Very sweet and fairly pretty
Take us on outings, give us treats
Sing songs, bring sweets

Never be cross or cruel
Never give us castor oil or gruel
Love us as a son and daughter
And never smell of barley water

If you won't scold and dominate us
We will never give you cause to hate us
We won't hide your spectacles
So you can't see
Put toads in your bed
Or pepper in your tea
Hurry, Nanny!"

Well actually, I've grabbed this chance with one hand and the other is multi-tasking. Say hello to the new Sara, part time nanny and freelance writer extraordinaire.

Who would hire a 27 year old with relatively no experience with children to look after their 5 month old baby boy 3 days a week? My sister-in-law Sara would. Bless her for believing in me. And bless Austin, my darling nephew, for naming me his favourite Auntie. (He hasn't learnt to speak yet of course but when he does, we all know what he will say.)

It's a bit of a leap of faith for me really. It feels like a brave decision, for me, a bold move even. I've certainly felt some opposition to my decision...
"But you've got two degrees and first class honours in English, you've got loads of experience working in digital, what about your career?"
or
"Ew babies, gross. They cry a lot. And poo and stuff."
and
"Working for family huh? Hmm, that's tricky, I hope that works out for you..."


Well all of these statements may be true but where else would I find a job that allows me to sing all day long, like my life is a musical? Singing at meal times, sleep times, play times, happy times and sad times, I love to sing. And I mostly make up all my own words too, because I can't remember the words to most nursery rhymes and childrens songs for the life of me. I can wear whatever daggy old clothes I want because they are going to get covered in food, drool, milk and tears anyway. I get to nap several times a day! I GET PAID TO NAP! These are a few of my favourite things, people!

So I'm channelling Mary Poppins and Fraulein Maria for nannying advice because they are 'practically perfect in every way' and as I've seen those films a million times each I suspect that the Julie Andrews School of Childcare brainwashed me from an early age.

If you've got any pearls of wisdom about parenting, or auntying, or nannying to offer, I'm all ears.(Please, I'm begging you!)


And the freelance writing part? Well that's a whole different ball game. I was never very good at sports. But I do try. So 2010 is my year for trying new things. Wish me luck!

my love/hate relationship with Melbourne

I hate Melbourne for stealing my best friend Naomi. But I do love going to Melbourne to visit her.

You're awfully lovely Melbourne, with your delicious places to eat, dangerous places to shop and delightful art and crafty spirit. But you lose points for STEALING MY BEST FRIEND.

We spent a good week at the end of January down in Melbourne and it was a welcome break from my unemployed, house bound routine of late.

We ate the best jam donut I've had in a decade (also the only jam donut I've had in a decade), we had karaoke fun times at KBox (Gangsta's Paradise went down a treat, One Hand in My Pocket, not so much), indulged with yummy cake based brunches in Yarraville, amazing Ethiopian in Footscray, lots of late night gelato runs to Charlies, a drive in the country to Healesville with yummy olives and cider at the brewery there, we saw the mind blowingly talented Ricky Swallow exhibition at NGV, we watched the tennis on the tele, we had yummy BBQs with homegrown goodies, swims at Williamstown, homemade ginger beer, saw the wood chopping in Alexandria gardens on Australia day, played a thrilling game of bocci, tried to buy brie in Footscray Markets (rookie error, Footscrazy idea!), we thoroughly warmed Naomi and Anthony's new home, got a bit competitive over a finger sprint game on Naomi's iphone, hauled several tonnes of Bluestone on and off the back of a borrowed ute after some accidentally over zealous ebay bidding and we dined in a hurry due to a cranky waitress at Pellegrinos.

Here are some of the times I remembered to use my camera:

 

Thanks for a swell time Melbourne! You're tops!

I do however always feel terribly self conscious whenever I'm in town - not only is everyone is so good looking and well dressed but I'm always in constant fear of being ousted as a Sydneysider. Even Hitler hates on Sydney when in Melbourne. Every time I hop on a tram and wonder how to work the ticket machine I worry someone will realise I'm from Sydney. Can Melbournians smell fear? Do I have an accent that might give me away? A girl once asked Tom for street directions when he was standing outside a pub in Carlton, talking on his mobile phone - when he apologised and explained he was from Sydney, her reply was - WELL, YOU'RE COMPLETELY F#CKED THEN! Yes, it feels like it sometimes.

To the super trendy ladies casually dripping from head to toe with the latest indie fashion and design, I genuflect, then quickly step, out of your path. My eyes linger longingly on your shoes as you stride up Centre Place...

Oh Melbourne, why can't we be friends?! I'll be like Tai in Clueless, you can make me over.

Will this wonderfully geeky graffiti seen in Hosier Lane ever come true?

handmade love

Thank you everyone for your kind comments about my tiny felt bunting and for sharing with me how you add a touch of handmade love to your gifts, I love them all! First impressions may count for something but I'm also pretty sure that in order for your gift to impact with a sucker punch to the heart then your best chance is to give something handmade.

I know making stuff is hard. (Well, it is for me.) It takes a super long time, always longer than you thought it would, it usually costs way more than if you'd bought a 'ready made' gift and often it doesn't turn out exactly perfect either, or like the vision you had in your head.

But these reasons (aside from the cost!) are what makes receiving a handmade gift up there with a big bear hug when you're feeling really down or a really sucessful therapy session. Handmade gifts are forged in the fiery furnace of love, people! That warm fuzzy feeling growing inside you is actually heat emanating from your handmade gift.

Why am I harping on about handmade love you ask? I'm probably preaching to the converted. You've probably been making amazing gifts for years and think nothing of it, it's just what you do. Well, you're amazing and I appreciate your efforts. I aim to be just like you one day - generous and thoughtful and talented. But have you ever found your handmade gift didn't receive the praise or appreciation that you were hoping for? How did you cope with that?

I love receiving handmade gifts. I was brought up by a ridiculously humble, super talented maker and every year of my life has been filled with handmade clothes, special birthday dresses, beenies, scarves, jewellery, endless handbags, nighties for me and matching ones for my dolls, dinosaur pjama pants stolen by numerous uni friends, teddie bears, blankets, blankets and more delightfully cozy blankets. My mum is a powerhouse of handmade love. Now it's just how our family operates - we make stuff for people we love.

Recently I was referred to as 'the eccentric aunt' by the father of my partner's 2 and a half year old niece. I've always make sure our presents for our niece are handmade, or at least partly handmade, because I thought it was important to carry the handmade torch, to share with her family the joy of handmade love and to show how much I care, but despite my efforts to connect with her she will barely say more than two words to us.

I was really upset by his comment. I interpreted it to mean that I was crazy, wacky, out of touch with reality and that my crappy handmade gifts would have been better received had they been Wiggles merchandise or store bought items. Maybe it means my colourful clothes or the flowers I wear in my hair don't make me look like a respectable adult. Whatever he meant - it made me feel like who I am and what I stand for weren't right and that was why our niece doesn't like us very much. And that made me sad.

A big grey storm cloud hung over my head and I just didn't feel like making stuff anymore.

A few weeks later, on a day that matched my miserable mood, I was surprised to find a parcel in the letterbox addressed to me. As I opened the parcel a gust of wind swept up behind me and hundred colourful spots danced around me on the wind. I gasped loudly, not knowing what they were at first, then laughed with delight when I realised it was crepe paper confetti and like a burst of tiny colourful balloons being released into the sky, this signified a momentous occasion, a special moment in my life.

Special doesn't begin to describe what was inside that parcel.

Kate, completely unbeknownst to me, had knitted me one of her special panda hats and sent me one on the sly. A complete surprise. For no special reason, other than the lady is filled with talent and love and generosity of spirit.

I actually burst into tears. Happy tears, of course. My tears of pain and sadness and self doubt were flushed out and replaced by happy, grateful, inspired, wonder filled tears. The best kind.

I'm certain that this is a magical hat and that whenever I wear it my spirit will be filled with strength, generosity and happiness and remind me of the power of handmade love and the importance of passing that love on.

I may be fragile, weak, childish, not particularly talented, flawed in many ways, eccentric even but at least I know that people will still share their handmade love with me. I couldn't think of anything more wonderful than that honour.



p.s If you'd like a panda hat of your own or for someone in need of a magical strength giving handmade gift, speak to Kate as she mentioned she might sell one in her etsy shop!

first impressions count

Does anyone else get almost as much pleasure from wrapping a present as they do from making what's inside? You can't beat squeals of excitement and anticipation. My squeals, of course. Giving presents is so much fun!

Quite often the outside of my presents trump what's inside the wrapping paper. This can lead to disappointment. Be careful to balance the inner with the outer for optimum delight when gift giving.

Here's my latest attempt at gift wrapping.

Brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favourite things.

Curious about what's inside?  
This awesome book and some handmade crocheted granny star coasters - a house warming present of sorts for my lovely friends Naomi and Anthony who've just bought their first home. I spent the last week visiting them in Melbourne and wished I could live in their lovely spare room permanently, while they make me tasty food, play me fun tunes and entertain me with hard labour. Believe it or not, you can have lots of fun hauling tonnes of bluestone on and off a ute.

Curious about how to decorate your gifts with leftover scraps from your crafty pursuits?
As you can see from the images, it's not rocket science - it just takes a little time and effort. Just a little though! Hand sew scraps of felt or material cut into tiny triangles onto a length of wool with invisible thread to make a bunting garland like I've done below. Saving all the tiny scraps of wool cut off your crochet/knitting projects and knotting them together to make a super colourful, economical, no waste ribbon for present wrapping is surprisingly satisfying. Just think, those tiny scraps could have ended up in the bin but you saved them from certain destruction and allowed them to reach their full potential!

I'm never throwing away my scraps ever again.

How do you like to make a good first impression when giving gifts?

slides from the vault

My mum got a slide scanner for Christmas and has been very busy scanning countless boxes of slides taken on their adventures all over the world and all through the 70s, 80s and even into the 90s. I thought I would share some of my favourites with you.

Sugar Doll Blog Awards

The amazingly sweet and talented Evie from Handmade Romance tagged me a little while back with a Fabulous Sugar Doll Blog Award. How kind is that?! As a result of this award, I have to share 10 things about me - so here goes. Warning - it's kind of verbose and photo heavy, just like me.

1. My name is Sara. You probably knew that already. But did you know it's pronounced Sah-rah not Sair-rah? The pronounciation of my name (or constant mis-pronounciation) has been a burden that felt ever so heavy during my school years but seems to be less of a problem these days. Although I do miss having an entire class yell 'SARA' to a teacher who dared say it the wrong way. It's nice to have the support of friends!

This is me, pretending I'm a celebrity (or still have a Myspace!/!), all glammed up to accept this award.

I have a very special last name too, which 0.01% percent of people pronounce right first go. It's Carkagis. I know, I know, I can hear you all saying "Car....what?' It's actually not hard to pronounce either - Car-cage-is - but most adults still freak out like it's some CRAAAAZY weird last name that doesn't fit into their usual repertoir of Smith, Jones, Brown, Williams etc etc. Kids however, have no problem whatsoever. And yes, it is an anglosised version of a Greek name, in case you were wondering.

I used to hate my name. I wanted to change it to Zara and longed to get married to a man with a simple, common last name but it's kinda grown on me after all these years.

2. I'm fat. It's another thing that's grown on me over the years! I'm certain it's how people would describe me behind my back - but oddly enough no-one ever seems to mention it in my presence. Like the elephant in the room perhaps?!

Standing next to one of my tallest, skinniest, prettiest blonde friends was never going 
to make me look like a supermodel though, was it?

Despite this apparent 'flaw', I have a wonderful partner and gorgeous friends who love me dearly. So I'm fairly certain that being skinny wouldn't/couldn't make me happier. Which is lucky because I'm also fairly certain that I'll never be skinny. I'll never look like Nigella Lawson either, but a girl can dream, right?!

3. I met my lovely partner when we were both 10 years old. We became instant friends. 17 years later we still get on like a house on fire, spend ages on the phone each day listening to each other breathe and laugh at each others jokes and I wouldn't swap him for the world. (Don't get me wrong, he drives me insane, but I give as good as I get.)

Punch drunk love. And also, just plain old drunk.

4. I'm a night owl. And consequently - NOT a morning person. I also love to sleep but mostly during the day. Cat naps rock my world. A cat to cat nap with is even better!

Montalbano only looks cross because he doesn't like having his photo taken, not because he is being held under duress.

Late at night I like to read, watch black and white films on ABC or World Movies on SBS or while away the hours listening to music and drinking whiskey.

5. I cry. Frequently. I cry when I'm sad, when I'm happy, when I unexpectedly hurt myself, when I see/hear about/think about animals being hurt or dying, when I hear songs that I love, when I think about how awesome Harry Potter is, when people show kindness and love to me, when I don't get the dinner I want, when I'm watching movies or reading books.

It's my first birthday party and I'll cry if I want to.

I cry in public a lot too. Like reading on a train on my way home. And sometimes I like to have a good old cry in the shower, then wash all the tear stains away.
If I feel like I'm going to cry - nothing in the world could stop that salty discharge from leaking out.

This morning's tears are dedicated to not getting a job I wanted and losing an item I was meant to pass on to my mother in law. Incidentally, taking photos of yourself when crying is the quickest way to stop them, very strange seeing yourself in such a state! Next time you feel sorry for yourself, take a photo and you'll change your mind quick smart.

6. I love to laugh. In fact, it was recently pointed out to me that I'm a giggler. I'd never thought about it before but it's true, I giggle a lot. After most sentances in fact, if I'm having a friendly conversation. But I don't limit my laughter just to giggles, I like to laugh loud and hard sometimes. Or just one big HAH! Followed by a booming HAH HAH HAH HAH haaa oh man. I'm pretty sure the neighbours are used it by now. I don't mind the occasional laugh snort either, if the mood takes me. But I never LOL or ROLF or LMAO. That is for cats only.

This is me, far left, in the throws of laughter.

Still in a fit of laughter.

And dearest Jen, on the far left, along with the instant gratification of the digital camera, is the reason for such laughter.

Other things I have been known to laugh at mostly include boys - Wes Anderson, Arrested Development, Simon Pegg, The Office - both versions, my brother, my boyfriend, fart noises, Dylan Moran, Shaun Micallef, The Flight of the Conchords, my dad, Seinfeld.

7. I can swear like a sailor and do so, often.
 I mostly manage to tone it down when I am around my parents (yes mum, I'm afraid I swear about 90% more when not in your company) and after seeing Fantastic Mr Fox I am hoping to replace my heavy dependance on certain swear words with 'cuss'. So now my most frequently used phrases will be -
"Are you cussing kidding me?"
"What a cusswit!"
"Get cussed, you mothercussing CUSShole"
"Cuss off, you fat cusser" (this one is always said with a scottish accent)
"That is cussed up"

It's an appalling habit and terribly unladylike, I know...but swearing, I just can't quit you.

8. I don't have an ipod, or an imac or an iphone and I don't know how to use any of them either. It's not part of a concious decision to be anti-mac or anything, I'm just immensely uncool and poor.
I went to a private school and painfully remember the desperate desire to own everything in designer or brand names like I felt all the other kids had. I eventually grew up and realised what a crock of cuss that was, embracing opshops, second hand goods and best of all - handmade anything. I know you can't make your own mobile music player, computer or phone but having what all the cool kids have doesn't concern me like it used to when I was 13.

9. Guilty pleasures include visiting art galleries and heading straight to their shop, buying books in bookstores even though I have shelves full of books back home which I haven't read yet, lounging around all day doing very little then hurriedly tidying up the house and doing laundry in the hour before my boyfriend comes home so it looks like I had a busy, productive day and hiding at home alone when I could be out socialising.

10. Women whom I admire/look up to/want to be like when I grow up/have made me who I am/inspire me include:
My amazing mother, Frida Kahlo, Amelie Poulin, J. K Rowling, Enid Blyton, Zadie Smith, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, Justine Clarke, Tiny Fey, Gertrude Stein, Margaret Atwood, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Xena Warrior Princess, Judith Butler, Beth Gibbons, E. Annie Proulx, Salma Hayek, Liv Tyler, Ashley G, Elloh, Nigella Lawson, Princess Buttercup, Kate, Alex, Pilgrim and as it happens, it's to those last three lovely ladies that'd I like to pass this award on to!

I want to know 10 things about these amazing ladies - and hereby present the Fabulous Sugar Doll award to...
Kate at Craftastrophies
Alex at Whole & Happy
Pilgrim at Draw! Pilgrim

You should check out what Evie wrote about herself too! And her shop, it's awesome! Thanks for the excuse to crap cuss on about myself even more than I usually do too!!

So that's it. 10 things about me. Any questions?! Hahahahahaaa