PICS
I'm not saying that I'm more excited about my present than Obama winning the elections or the new episode of 'The Walking Dead', but I am more excited about my present. Thank you so much jweb - I absolutely LOVE it! 
As I’ve mentioned in my previous blog, today was the ‘girly morning Sunday’ and Vassilis, Lumo and I were supposed to go giggle at the camp guy’s shop and possibly for a tarot reading. A girly morning we had, but no giggles were given at the shop and tarot reading was a tad bit too pricey, so we had to satisfy ourselves with book hunting and talking rubbish.
The camp shop owner threatened to charge us for taking photos of his fabulous clothing items, so I had to satisfy myself with a few quick shots of the outside décor. He was pretty cool the last time I went there, but I think he just didn’t appreciate finger pointing at the shoulder pads of a magnificent golden jacket that Lumo intended parading in. Or he got his period this morning, who knows…
We spent quite a lot of time digging through piles and piles of dusty books and I must say that a very few things make me as happy. We discovered a whole lot of crap, but I ended up buying a lovely book about Christmas and a book of Disney stories. Not my greatest findings ever, but I just couldn’t leave empty handed.
We finished off with Vassilis doing something unexpectedly girly and getting a henna drawing on her arm. Now she’s stuck with swirls and flowers for like a week and luckily for her it’s darn pretty. Quite sure she’ll stencil in a little Spiderman somewhere in there before the week is up.
Oh, and the story is coming along nicely. All the characters are lined up and my lovely friend Ig has been kind enough not to only help out with the names, but write a prologue too. It’s worth the wait, trust me. Or at least Ig’s part is, I’m not making any promises.
The camp shop owner threatened to charge us for taking photos of his fabulous clothing items, so I had to satisfy myself with a few quick shots of the outside décor. He was pretty cool the last time I went there, but I think he just didn’t appreciate finger pointing at the shoulder pads of a magnificent golden jacket that Lumo intended parading in. Or he got his period this morning, who knows…
We spent quite a lot of time digging through piles and piles of dusty books and I must say that a very few things make me as happy. We discovered a whole lot of crap, but I ended up buying a lovely book about Christmas and a book of Disney stories. Not my greatest findings ever, but I just couldn’t leave empty handed.
We finished off with Vassilis doing something unexpectedly girly and getting a henna drawing on her arm. Now she’s stuck with swirls and flowers for like a week and luckily for her it’s darn pretty. Quite sure she’ll stencil in a little Spiderman somewhere in there before the week is up.
Oh, and the story is coming along nicely. All the characters are lined up and my lovely friend Ig has been kind enough not to only help out with the names, but write a prologue too. It’s worth the wait, trust me. Or at least Ig’s part is, I’m not making any promises.
So now what? Whatever I write won’t be as cool as my last blog, so I won’t even try. I can promise you though, that I will print out all your awesome comments and turn them into a story. I’m not much of a writer and it may take a while, but it’s coming. Anyway, all you get today is an update on my not so eventful week.
I’ve been working a lot and spent a lot of time tending to my SG Balkan page, which is not doing as well as I’d hoped it would. I guess I expected a bit too much and thought it would be easy. Nope, that’s not the way it goes. I have to get it out there somehow, and I still haven’t figured out how. As a friend of mine said, there’s nothing wrong with taking baby steps.
I taught another IELTS workshop this Saturday and that was as boring as ever. Oh, there was a lady that screeched like a banshee because there was an ant on her pants (not in – unfortunately) and that’s about the most exciting thing that happened during those 6 hours.
I visited one of the local flea markets this morning and bought ‘Treasure Island’ and ‘The Prisoner in the Mask’ for the whopping price of R20 ($2.30) and discovered my new favourite clothing shop. Okay, not favourite as in I-want-to-buy-all-the-clothes-in-there kind of favourite, but oh-my-god-is-this-even-real kind of favourite. It is owned by the campest gay dude you could possibly meet and it is filled with retro stuff from the 70s and the 80s. And yes, he has feather boas, cat suits and he wants to give me a makeover. I guess my jeans and a t-shirt outfit wasn’t to his taste. I’m taking Vassilis and Lumo there next Sunday and we’ll be sure to take lots of photos.
Hope your weekend was more eventful than mine!
I’ve been working a lot and spent a lot of time tending to my SG Balkan page, which is not doing as well as I’d hoped it would. I guess I expected a bit too much and thought it would be easy. Nope, that’s not the way it goes. I have to get it out there somehow, and I still haven’t figured out how. As a friend of mine said, there’s nothing wrong with taking baby steps.
I taught another IELTS workshop this Saturday and that was as boring as ever. Oh, there was a lady that screeched like a banshee because there was an ant on her pants (not in – unfortunately) and that’s about the most exciting thing that happened during those 6 hours.
I visited one of the local flea markets this morning and bought ‘Treasure Island’ and ‘The Prisoner in the Mask’ for the whopping price of R20 ($2.30) and discovered my new favourite clothing shop. Okay, not favourite as in I-want-to-buy-all-the-clothes-in-there kind of favourite, but oh-my-god-is-this-even-real kind of favourite. It is owned by the campest gay dude you could possibly meet and it is filled with retro stuff from the 70s and the 80s. And yes, he has feather boas, cat suits and he wants to give me a makeover. I guess my jeans and a t-shirt outfit wasn’t to his taste. I’m taking Vassilis and Lumo there next Sunday and we’ll be sure to take lots of photos.
Hope your weekend was more eventful than mine!
I’ve seen enough horror movies to know that not everyone makes it. It’s usually just a hot chick that makes it, and sometimes a hunk she met during the ordeal. Now, would I survive a similar scenario? Let’s say I’m in an abandoned mental hospital and there’s something hunting me… 
Yay
I’ve got a super sharp sixth sense, instinct or whatever you want to call it. Nothing major, but I can feel when shit’s about to go down and which turns are wrong turns.
I’m very good at controlling myself and it takes a lot for me to start panicking full and proper. If someone can keep it calm when everyone else is about to burst, that’s me. So there would be no running down dark corridors screaming or humping in the supply closet while there’s a monster on the loose. Also, I’ve got zero tolerance for bullshit, so any freaking out or Tarzan-like chest thumping would be nipped in the bud. Less freaking out, more listening to my instincts = getting out of there alive.
Nay
I’m a pussy! I can’t even go down a steep slide, for suck’s fake. It would be very hard to actually get me moving, because I would be perfectly comfortable locking myself in a cupboard and waiting for everyone to die and the monster to move on. Stuff you, I’m all good sitting here alone in the dark, pretending I’m invisible.
I am so bad with directions that I get lost inside of shopping centres I’ve been to hundreds of times. Put me in a dark building or a forest and I’ll move in circles until I keel over, or in this case, get shredded to pieces.
So, I think I would have a chance if I had the right people with me. This is who I’d need on the team.
- someone big and strong to kill stuff
- someone who’ll scream at random moments and get eaten first
- a nerd, everyone needs a nerd
- a medic to take care of torn limbs
- two people to hump in a supply closet, just because
- any other role you can think of
Feel free to apply for any of the roles or one of your own in the comments and I’ll choose the best ones.
Yay
I’ve got a super sharp sixth sense, instinct or whatever you want to call it. Nothing major, but I can feel when shit’s about to go down and which turns are wrong turns.
I’m very good at controlling myself and it takes a lot for me to start panicking full and proper. If someone can keep it calm when everyone else is about to burst, that’s me. So there would be no running down dark corridors screaming or humping in the supply closet while there’s a monster on the loose. Also, I’ve got zero tolerance for bullshit, so any freaking out or Tarzan-like chest thumping would be nipped in the bud. Less freaking out, more listening to my instincts = getting out of there alive.
Nay
I’m a pussy! I can’t even go down a steep slide, for suck’s fake. It would be very hard to actually get me moving, because I would be perfectly comfortable locking myself in a cupboard and waiting for everyone to die and the monster to move on. Stuff you, I’m all good sitting here alone in the dark, pretending I’m invisible.
I am so bad with directions that I get lost inside of shopping centres I’ve been to hundreds of times. Put me in a dark building or a forest and I’ll move in circles until I keel over, or in this case, get shredded to pieces.
So, I think I would have a chance if I had the right people with me. This is who I’d need on the team.
- someone big and strong to kill stuff
- someone who’ll scream at random moments and get eaten first
- a nerd, everyone needs a nerd
- a medic to take care of torn limbs
- two people to hump in a supply closet, just because
- any other role you can think of
Feel free to apply for any of the roles or one of your own in the comments and I’ll choose the best ones.
Two days ago I had to think of something to cook or bake to take to work for our cultural lunch. That's when we basically all bring food from our respective countries and pig out until we look like we're all pregnant (including men). I'm not much of a cook, but I know a thing of two, so I’ve decided to bake. It's a very simple recipe, mostly idiot-proof, so let me share.
Upside Down Apple Cake
apples (the number depends on the size of your baking tray)
4 eggs
250g sugar
100ml oil
100ml water
250g flour
one teaspoon of baking powder
1) Cover your baking tray or whatever you're using with baking paper. Cut the apples (any apples will do, as far as I know) into quarters, as many as you need to cover the bottom.
2) Mix 4 eggs and 250g of sugar until they look like this...
3) Add the rest of the ingredients to your eggs & sugar mix...
...and this is what it looks like when you forget to add water. So yeah, don't forget to put stuff in.
4) Pour it over your apples.
5) Pop it into the oven and bake at 180 degrees Celsius until it looks like this. In case you're not sure if it's ready, poke it with a toothpick and if the toothpick comes out dry, you're ready to go.
6) The next step is to turn your cake over (because it's an 'upside-down' apple cake
)...
7) Wait for it to cool down and slap some cream on top.
That's it! As I said, mostly idiot-proof. Mostly because I didn't wait for it to cool down before putting the cream on top and in the morning I found my apple cake swimming in a cream soup. Yum!
By Idiot
Upside Down Apple Cake
apples (the number depends on the size of your baking tray)
4 eggs
250g sugar
100ml oil
100ml water
250g flour
one teaspoon of baking powder
1) Cover your baking tray or whatever you're using with baking paper. Cut the apples (any apples will do, as far as I know) into quarters, as many as you need to cover the bottom.
2) Mix 4 eggs and 250g of sugar until they look like this...
3) Add the rest of the ingredients to your eggs & sugar mix...
...and this is what it looks like when you forget to add water. So yeah, don't forget to put stuff in.
4) Pour it over your apples.
5) Pop it into the oven and bake at 180 degrees Celsius until it looks like this. In case you're not sure if it's ready, poke it with a toothpick and if the toothpick comes out dry, you're ready to go.
6) The next step is to turn your cake over (because it's an 'upside-down' apple cake
)...7) Wait for it to cool down and slap some cream on top.
That's it! As I said, mostly idiot-proof. Mostly because I didn't wait for it to cool down before putting the cream on top and in the morning I found my apple cake swimming in a cream soup. Yum!
By Idiot
I suck, I know…I have been seriously neglecting you guys and my Twitter, which is absolutely unheard of. But (of course I’ve got a ‘but’ ready), it’s not my fault!! I must blame my lack of social life, real and virtual, on two things:
1) A new discovered book series called ‘Kara Gillian Series’. Okay, it doesn’t sound like much and it isn’t the best series I’ve ever read, but it does have that something that makes you want to read more and you want to read it NOW. It’s a nice mixture of a good detective story, good humor, strong characters and just enough book porn. The first book left me wondering who’s the killer until the very end and that’s just the way I like it. I’m on the second book now and it’s bloody hard to put down.
2) A game that I wanted to play for a while now – Witcher 2. I actually wanted to play the first installment first, but it was never made for consoles, so I had to start with this one. It is good! It is so good I want to hump my Xbox and lick my TV screen (and no, there will be no photos of that). I’m still at the beginning, so no spoilers please! The combat is very complex compared to other RPGs I’ve played recently, but I love the challenge. I still get my ass served to me on a silver platter daily, but I’ll be kicking butt soon enough.
So yeah, sorry for not being around as much, but I’m weak like that when it comes to good books and good video games. Still love you, though.
1) A new discovered book series called ‘Kara Gillian Series’. Okay, it doesn’t sound like much and it isn’t the best series I’ve ever read, but it does have that something that makes you want to read more and you want to read it NOW. It’s a nice mixture of a good detective story, good humor, strong characters and just enough book porn. The first book left me wondering who’s the killer until the very end and that’s just the way I like it. I’m on the second book now and it’s bloody hard to put down.
2) A game that I wanted to play for a while now – Witcher 2. I actually wanted to play the first installment first, but it was never made for consoles, so I had to start with this one. It is good! It is so good I want to hump my Xbox and lick my TV screen (and no, there will be no photos of that). I’m still at the beginning, so no spoilers please!
The combat is very complex compared to other RPGs I’ve played recently, but I love the challenge. I still get my ass served to me on a silver platter daily, but I’ll be kicking butt soon enough.So yeah, sorry for not being around as much, but I’m weak like that when it comes to good books and good video games. Still love you, though.
And on tonight’s menu we’ve got some good old Yugoslavian rock. This is the stuff I grew up with and it really takes me back to another time. Almost like a DeLorean with a functioning flux capacitor.
The ‘new wave’ Yugoslavian rock was created mostly in the 70s and the early 80s, but it is still quite popular across the Balkan. These songs are on every amateur DJ’s playlist and are usually played after everyone is well on their way to give the nearest toilet a hug. Playing of one such song is often followed by hugging the nearest fellow drunk, emotional howling and a whole lot of bromancing – you get my point. I’ll just mention a few of my favourite ones.
One of the most influential and the most popular rock bands of former Yugoslavia is a Croatian band Azra from Zagreb. Their first single was released in 1979 and their last album was recorded in 1988. The lead singer left the next year, moved to the Netherlands and became a bit of a weirdo, but Azra is still everyone’s favourite.
Ekatarina Velika (EKV) is a personal favourite of mine. It’s a Serbian band from Belgrade that made some kickass music before the band fell apart after their frontman died in 1994. They started playing in 1982, changed their name and band members a few times, but the music is and always was great.
And then there’s a representative of Bosnia – Bijelo Dugme from Sarajevo. They were most active between 1974 and 1989 and besides cool music they also had the craziest album covers.
They were by far the most popular and influential band in Yugoslavia during those two decades and they had a big comeback in 2005. Concerts were held in Zagreb, Sarajevo and Belgrade and about 250.000 people saw them live, most of which were young buggers who grew up with the ‘new wave’ rock just like me.
Enjoy, I’m off to find a drunk person to hug and cry about good old times (which I don't remember, but who cares).
The ‘new wave’ Yugoslavian rock was created mostly in the 70s and the early 80s, but it is still quite popular across the Balkan. These songs are on every amateur DJ’s playlist and are usually played after everyone is well on their way to give the nearest toilet a hug. Playing of one such song is often followed by hugging the nearest fellow drunk, emotional howling and a whole lot of bromancing – you get my point. I’ll just mention a few of my favourite ones.
One of the most influential and the most popular rock bands of former Yugoslavia is a Croatian band Azra from Zagreb. Their first single was released in 1979 and their last album was recorded in 1988. The lead singer left the next year, moved to the Netherlands and became a bit of a weirdo, but Azra is still everyone’s favourite.
Ekatarina Velika (EKV) is a personal favourite of mine. It’s a Serbian band from Belgrade that made some kickass music before the band fell apart after their frontman died in 1994. They started playing in 1982, changed their name and band members a few times, but the music is and always was great.
And then there’s a representative of Bosnia – Bijelo Dugme from Sarajevo. They were most active between 1974 and 1989 and besides cool music they also had the craziest album covers.
They were by far the most popular and influential band in Yugoslavia during those two decades and they had a big comeback in 2005. Concerts were held in Zagreb, Sarajevo and Belgrade and about 250.000 people saw them live, most of which were young buggers who grew up with the ‘new wave’ rock just like me.
Enjoy, I’m off to find a drunk person to hug and cry about good old times (which I don't remember, but who cares).
Yesterday I got into an honest to God fight over hairy vaginas, or better yet, the right to keep your vagina hairy. It all started with me posting a screen shot of a tweet that made me snort and squeal in a very unladylike way on Facebook.
I thought and still think that this is the funniest thing I’ve ever read! As I was contemplating shaving my Wookie, a friend who shared it got attacked by a rabid feminist. Just to be clear, I’ve got nothing against feminists as long as they aren’t the crazy type that claims that shaving your vagina is degrading for women.
I’ll post the whole thread here, you just have to click on each section to enlarge it. In case you don't feel like reading it, here’s a breakdown: that woman is nuts.
She called my friend and I names, told me to go read a book or two and generally turned one fairly innocent vagina joke into a global bashing of womanhood. That’s some mad skills, my friends…
All in all, I’m all for equal rights and expressing your opinions, but sometimes enough is enough. Thinking that you have it all figured out without ever looking back and reconsidering the correctness of your views is what creates fanatics. And laugh a little, for goodness sake!
And also…
It all started with me posting a screen shot of a tweet that made me snort and squeal in a very unladylike way on Facebook. I thought and still think that this is the funniest thing I’ve ever read! As I was contemplating shaving my Wookie, a friend who shared it got attacked by a rabid feminist. Just to be clear, I’ve got nothing against feminists as long as they aren’t the crazy type that claims that shaving your vagina is degrading for women.
I’ll post the whole thread here, you just have to click on each section to enlarge it. In case you don't feel like reading it, here’s a breakdown: that woman is nuts.
She called my friend and I names, told me to go read a book or two and generally turned one fairly innocent vagina joke into a global bashing of womanhood. That’s some mad skills, my friends…
All in all, I’m all for equal rights and expressing your opinions, but sometimes enough is enough. Thinking that you have it all figured out without ever looking back and reconsidering the correctness of your views is what creates fanatics. And laugh a little, for goodness sake!
And also…
