It's finally here and the excitement is building - I loved watching the torch arrival in Venice flood my Instagram and the cauldron will be beautiful!
Differing to the Summer Olympics, the Winter games has a feeling of fun and the atheletes often seem to be having a good time, which is an infectious joy to watch.
I am astounded by the Women's Nordic Combined being excluded, when the Men's is in the schedule. I'm equally astounded that they say there's a lack of interest, as it's a brilliant sport to watch! (News of it here and a petition here.) Honestly, how in this day and age this is even allowed is beyond me.
Starting from the 6th of Feb, we have two glorious weeks of snow sport action and icecapades.
I will be cheering for every snowless country if an Aussie isn't in competing in the event.
The Olympics, uniting the world when we really need it.
#Allseasons linky runs from Thursday to Wednesday each week.
Link one post that shows something seasonal. Traditional weather wise, a seasonal nature marker or a seasonal celebration or event. Please link relevant posts only.
Make sure you link back to this #AllSeasons post.
Please comment on the post before yours and the host. Don't dump and run.
One thing I loved about Paris is that you don't even need a guide book to learn it's history - just look up. Everywhere you go there are signs of who lived and died in buildings. It brings a vibrancy of the past to the present.
The other benefit of looking up is the abundance of street art. It's everywhere - the mosaics of Invader, the large murals of SETH and so many more...
Paris is a delight for lovers of street art, it's everywhere.
The Little Things is a new blog linky over at CosyWithCoffee and a great way to appreciate the month you've just had.
READ I really haven't read much this month. Not sure what happened. I did read a book I got from the street library and read it on the plane. It's an interesting look at Australians from a new migrant. It's interesting the things I didn't know were uniquely Australian (street give aways for one! I give so much stuff away on the fence and am amazed when people ask me what it's there, or if they can buy it - we recently gave away a double bed matress away to two German backpackers and even got them a trolley to borrow to wheel it to their place.) She also thought thanking the bus driver was an Australian quirk but I did a poll and it seems pretty universal - though the yelling it if you get off at the middle doors might be our pecurliarity). It's not a must read but I did think it was interesting to see us through others eyes.
HEARD We went and saw David Byrne's magnificent gig, so I've been hearing a lot of his music when my husband puts on the music and I finally got to see Timmy Trumpet (though I have to say Brois Brejcha was an absolute vibe. I never would have picked him for me, but live, he was excellent! And Loud Luxury. So dance bangers have been flooding my playlist. Interestingly I also haven't gone back to my podcasts but work begins so I guess I'll get into that soon.
WATCHED We just reawatched season 1 of The Night Manager, having completely forgot what happened when we watched the opening recap of Season 2, and it's still great. So we begin season 2 tonight.
Loved No Other Choice. It's funny, playful (with the audience) and satisfying. A very dark comedy. Interestingly saw Marty Supreme on the Saturday of the long weekend and No other choice on the Monday - I felt the Korean film successfully did what Marty Supreme was trying to do. I have to say I agree with this article - how did F1 and Marty Supreme get Oscar nominations and this didn't?
The heavy coat (and my ugly theft proof travel bag)
WORE I got this brilliant coat in Venice and wore it to the Opera in Rome. I got fab gloves to wear with it. I also got to wear my huge coat that is usually to warm for here, so it was lovely stomping about in the snow and cold in Europe, blending in with the locals, largely ignored by touts. (Though the gloves are for tourists, sold everywhere and cheaply so no doubt made in a different country, as is the furry coat).
MADE This dog ramp. I'm worried about my ageing baby's legs and joints so trying to get her to use the ramp to climb onto the things she jumps on. So far, no good. But I did put it together by myself.,,,Ha!
AND LASTLY How to narrow it down to three? Too many top moments to list - but being back in Paris and sharing my Paris with my youngest was very special, as was sharing her joy at Disneyland. Getting a water taxi from the airport and up the grand canal was definitely a highlight for me - when I spent 10 days in Venice for Carnivale in the 90's, I had no money so only went on vaporetto. I've still never been on a gondala, but the water taxi - worth every cent! I loved every minute of it! I could not stop smiling.
I've had a month of restuarants, arts, gigs and catching up with friends but the biggest smile on my face was the first walk of my little furry baby when I got back. She gets cross with me for going away (she did stay home with my middle child!!) and punishes me by ignoring me for a bit, but on the walks, all is forgiven momentarily. As Frank Sinatra sang 'It's very nice to go travelling but it's oh so nice to come home!'
Paris is the world's most beautiful city, there's no denying that - but at Christmas time, it goes next level. The streets and buildings glow with fairy lights.
The first time I went to Paris I flew Boxing Day, and it was impossible not to fall in love with the city immediately & that feeling cemented when the sun went down.
I love I was able to share this with my youngest. Such a magical time in a very special place.
#Allseasons linky runs from Thursday to Wednesday each week.
Link one post that shows something seasonal. Traditional weather wise, a seasonal nature marker or a seasonal celebration or event. Please link relevant posts only.
Make sure you link back to this #AllSeasons post.
Please comment on the post before yours and the host. Don't dump and run.
Christmas seems a distant memory and yet I feel January flew past! It dissolved into a holiday in Europe and a flurry of Sydney festival days and nights and yet I feel I haven't done anything! (In no small part due to a lazy long weekend).
And so here we are!
Something I loved We had what is probably our last holiday with our youngest - I loved showing her Paris and I loved spending all that time with her (in thrift shops mainly but regardless!) Unfortunately she got sick halfway through the trip so barely saw much of Italy, but I did get some nice dinners with my husband, which was nice to share with him, as well as touring the Vatican together. I am sad that is the end of my holidays with my kids, but I've had so many precious ones, I have to be grateful.
Something I learnedThe gladiators were short - around 5'2- 5'8 (but 5'4 was sort of the best) There were women gladiators too - the women fought against other women or animals, and the men fought men and animals. The gladiator name came from the sword they held, and they notched the handle with their wins.
Something that went well The logistics of the trip went well even with snow chaos at airports and train and taxi strikes in Italy.
Something I let go of The first time we went to Italy (in the 1990's) the food was so much better than ours - even the fruit. This time, in both Franch and Paris, we only had one 'you must go there!' meal. We had plenty of lovely meals but nothing really blew our minds - some of the rooms did, and of course the history and art did but I think Sydney food scene has really powered ahead - Of course, I'm not really comparing like with like - we know where to eat and we cull out the bad so only go to the good places, be it takeaway, casual or fine dining. The restaurant picks in Paris and Rome were just off a page, So I may not be entirely fair....maybe I should go back and research more? Back then too, we had less money, went out less so eating in restuarants for lunch and dinner during travel would probably also seem more amazing. Anyway, I've let go of my harsh judgement of our food offerings if that's the right word...or at least become more appreciative of our cuisine. Let go of that famous cultural cringe....
I've a lot of jetlagged 3am thoughts - but not necessarily at 3am. What do you think was happening in 1928 when sliced bread was invented that made it 80% of bread sales by 1933? Were knives terrible? Were they making 100s of sandwiches a day? What was so hard about cutting bread that made it so popular? Was it because kids could make their own lunch without using sharp knives?
I found this article interesting, but it didn't really explain it (but when it was banned during the war, it caused public outcry). If you can believe it, there is a book which I've just ordered on the social history of sliced bread...I will no doubt keep you informed of such pressing matters as I learn.
Why do you think it became the standard of the most popular invention with which to compare all other inventions since?
There is an irony that we now pay double for unsliced bread, deemed 'better'. Unsliced loafs are now the best thing since sliced bread!
