Sunday, December 21, 2008

Dear salesgirl at Harrods...

Dear salesgirl at Harrods,



Put a skirt on, for heaven's sake.

Love,

Elizabeth.

--------

You'd think that the HR department of such a prestigious retailer as Harrods would have stringent policies on such things. Clearly not. Shame, Mr al-Fayed, shame.

I had a great day yesterday - making flirty eye contact on the tube with the man of my dreams (more on him later), wandering around Portobello Rd market, exploring the British Museum and spending ages at Harrods drooling over things that I could never afford in a million years (Anyone got a spare eleven thousand quid for a chinchilla fur cape?).

I did, however, indulge in some far more reasonably priced luxury leathergoods - a gorgeous little woven-leather purse-wallet-thing by Dior.

Ooh la la!

This is my first foray into the world of deluxe designers, but I've been squirrelling away part of my savings for a while now for this particular reason. It'd be wonderful to be able to drop a few grand every year on the latest It bag (like a couple of Saudi princesses were doing in the Chanel department) but I think my way is just as good, and perhaps more special. My little purse will mean far more to me than Paris Hilton's Birkin collection ever will.

What do you think? What's the most luxurious thing you've ever bought for yourself? What are you coveting? Just because we have no money doesn't mean we don't like to look at beautiful things!

E xox

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

A Very Un-Day Monday.

This morning, I was all revved up! I got up early-ish, and got all dressed and ready to go into London to start off my week of sightseeing in the city.

Then, and I'm not sure exactly how it happened, I looked at myself and said, "Actually, no. I'm going back to bed."

And so I did.

And goodness, my body really must have needed the sleep, because I went back to bed at 10am, and I didn't wake up again until well after 7pm.

Does that ever happen to you? Sometimes you just have to listen to your body.

But having wasted my Monday, I only have 5 more days to see as much of London as I can. I better hit the ground running tomorrow!

xox

Overheard In Potters Bar.

Scene: a small boy, walking with his mum and his baby sister in a pram, trips over and falls down. His mum picks him up and dusts him off as he tries manfully not to cry.



Mum: "Oh, dear, have you been drinking Daddy's beer again?"

Monday, December 15, 2008

Love.



This image made my heart skip a beat or two.

Via Le Love.

xo

Dear security guard at the Carling Academy...

Dear security guard at the Carling Academy in Oxford who confiscated my Mars Bar and (probably) ate it,

We will meet again. I want my Mars Bar back.

Love,

Elizabeth.

-------

Seriously, though, I thought that was overkill. Confiscate my water bottle, fine, but a Mars Bar?

I was in Oxford for the weekend, and last night I was wandering up the road past the Carling Academy I noticed that there would be some bands playing there later on. I bought at ticket from one of the support bands who were loitering around out the front, and promised to come back later to check them out.

Unfortunately, though, I had a dinner date already arranged with some girls from the hostel, so I only managed to get there in time to see the headline act, Flamboyant Bella who, in all honesty, weren't that great. So I missed the band I was supposed to see, Target Nine, but I did get to meet some luverly people for some beers after the show, so it was well worth it.

Oxford is totally gorgeous, by the way, despite the Mars Bar-grabbing security guards. More on that later, I've gotta go heat up my Marks & Spencer dinner...

xoxo

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Elizabeth in the lands of Spaghetti and Bad Teeth.

Here it is, my new blog of adventures!

Elizabeth in the lands of Spaghetti and Bad Teeth.

There's only one post in there so far, and it covers my journey from Melbourne to Dubai, so don't get too excited, just yet..

I'm pulling big-sister weight tomorrow and dragging my brother into London to do Christmas shopping for our families. The lazy sod didn't send them anything last year, but I'm making damn sure he does this year. Wish me luck!

All I Want For Christmas..

...is some snow!!

It's freezing here in southern England, but the skies have been clear all week. Mother Nature better smarten up her act!

I'm actually planning (hoping!) to spend Christmas in Copenhagen with some friends, where I should DEFINITELY see some snow. Depending on flights/whether I can afford it, I'd also like to spend a couple of days in Paris. Flights aren't hideously expensive, and luckily I am on paid leave from work and have a brother who will lend me money if I need it. So tonight will be spent running around the internet trying to find the cheapest flights. Does anyone know anyone who will let me stay with them in Paris??

I've started typing up my travel diary, and I got my photos back today on a CD, so I can start putting that stuff online soon. So that I can keep the spirit of this blog intact, I'm going to start up another one that will strictly be a travel diary. Only thing is.. what do I call it?? Suggestions are very welcome.

Here's a shot of me in Sorrento as day was breaking. The Bay of Naples is just beautiful, no matter what time of year it is! It rained hideously for the full day we were there, but then by the evening the clouds had cleared, and the morning was gorgeous, as you can see in the photo!



xoxox

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

The Old Country.

So it's goodbye to Italy (for now, at least), and a big hello to the United Kingdom!!

As I type this I'm lying in bed in my brother's flat, snug in a doona and listening to the trains roll past. Poor Dave is hard at work in the kitchen downstairs - he'll finish up at 10pm and I'll go down to the bar to join him for a knock-off pint or two.

That is, if I'm still awake! I awoke this morning at 3am, and was at the airport in Milan to catch my flight to London at 6. Ouch! I'm not at all sleepy though - I napped on the plane and on the buses to and from the airports, and I had a snooze after I arrived here in Potters Bar.

England so far is not really how I expected it to be! The town where my brother is living, Potters Bar, is quite nice, but I was expecting something smaller.. something a bit gentler and more countrified. There are four charity shops in the High Street so I am looking forward to rummaging through those!

Tomorrow I am going to begin work on my Italy tour blog - I'll keep you posted!

For now - goodnight from the Old Country.


xoxo

Saturday, December 6, 2008

A Sad Story

On Monday morning, I am catching a plane from Milan to London.

My flight leaves at 06.45.

I have to check-in by 06.05.

The bus journey from the train station to the airport takes one hour.

I am catching a bus at 04.45.

I need to be at the train station at 04.30.

I'm thinking I'll book the taxi to pick me up to take me to the train station at 04.00.

It's going to be a LONG DAY. I think I might just not go to bed the night before.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Still alive!

Ciao!

Just a quick note to let you know that I'm still alive and well and in freezing cold, drizzly Milan.

I was abandoned by the tour group this morning as they head back to Australia, by way of Dubai, and I've just spent a frustrating and fruitless couple of hours at the central train station trying to locate the lost property office - I left my red leather Columbina mask on the train from Venice yesterday! I was told "Down the stairs and to the right" by many different station staff, but it must be invisible or something - it's definitely not there! I wll go back with Rita or Mia in tow tomorrow and they can help me break through the language barrier. One phrase I will definitely not forget now is "dov'è l'ufficio di bagliato perduto?" Argh!!

I'm feeling quite at home in Milan though because they have trams, just like in Melbourne! I am spending three more nights here before flying off to London very early on Monday morning.

What else is news? Since I last posted from Rome, we've been to Sorrento (spending the day at Pompei in the pouring rain), Orvieto (Google it - the duomo in particular is just AMAZING), Florence (David! The Uffizi!!) and Venice. The day we arrived in Venice was the day it flooded - the highest acqua alta in 50 years! We arrived at the station at 12.00 and weren't able to get into our hotel until the water dropped at 16.00. Venice is so gorgeous though, I felt the most at home there than any other city so far. I'd really like to go back there (once I've finished paying off this trip!) and spend a semester or two studying at their university.

I did some serious shopping in Venice too - I bought a pair of gorgeous, soft, cashemere-lined red leather gloves, a red leather mask (now trapped in the non-existant Ufficio di Bagliato Perduto...grrr), a print of my favourite painting in the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and a cute navy blue leather purse from a shop I just happened to stumble into on my roamings through the lanes and streets.

I'm sorry for the lack of pictures, too - I'm in an internet cafe, and my USB cord is in my suitcase back at the hotel. I'll post photos soon, I promise!

Here's a photo of the print I bought at the Guggenheim, though - it's called Solidità Nella Nebbia (Solidity Of Fog), painted by Luigi Russolo.



Until next time....

xoxoxo

Monday, November 24, 2008

Elisabetta in Roma

Ciao a tutti!

We arrived on Friday and have spent the last couple of days in Rome - we're heading to Sorrento and Pompeii tomorrow. The last few days have been jam-packed - we've been to the Vatican and St Peter's Basilica, the Colosseum and the Forum, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps... everywhere! I made a special trip by myself this afternoon to see the Ara Pacis - Augustus' Altar of Peace. I've been wanting to see it ever since we learned about it in first year Classics, so I'm so glad I got the chance to see it! It's just beautiful and so serene.

Here's a couple of photos to keep you interested - I probably won't get time to do any real blogging until I get to my brother's in London in early December.


It's a little known fact that the Colosseum was the first pop music venue.


The exit ramp in the Vatican Museum.


Some people at the Colosseum.


The Colosseum!!


A flower on the Sant'Angelo Bridge.



Above and below, some marbles sculpture at the Vatican Museum. That's David below, but not the famous one. The open mouths above made me think of those clowns you put the balls in at the show!




Look at that sky! This was in the Piazza del Popolo this afternoon.

OK.. that's enough from me for now I think! We're off to Sorrento tomorrow and Pompeii on Tuesday. I still can't believe I'm in Italy. Wow!!

Love!

xoxo

P.S: Google an artist called Bruno Munari. You won't regret it!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Just a quick one, then.

This Totem "Safi" blouse from Bird Motel is my favourite item of clothing at the moment.



What do you think? It got the thumbs-up from my Italian teacher, anyway!



(Totem blouse, age-old Jeans West skinny jeans, typical inner-north backyard)

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Snapshots.

Not much has been happening lately. I've been out and about trying to soak up as much sunshine as I can before I depart for the wintery northern hemisphere (22 sleeps yo!), and I keep forgetting to take my camera with me.

Nevertheless, for my fan (hi Dad!), here are some random snaps from the past couple of weeks.



This is a hole in the fence in my backyard. You can kind of see the play equipment set up next door - I'm completely jealous of the small child who lives there! When I was younger we used to borrow toys from the Toy Library, and one of the coolest things was this huge toy that my parents made forts for us with in the loungeroom - it was fantastic! Did anyone else get to play with this when they were small? And does anyone know what it was called? My dad and I are going crazy trying to think of it!



This lovely couple is (are?) my friends Sam and Adele. Sam and I have known each other since before birth, when our mothers played hockey together while we were in utero.

We're at Silly Yaks in Westgarth, a cafe that is totally, completely, ONE HUNDRED PER CENT gluten free. Coeliac Adele goes a bit nuts whenever she enters this store - "Argh! I can eat EVERYTHING! Where do I start!? Ack! Head explode!"

Interested persons should note that Silly Yaks has recently changed hands, and the new owners are planning a whole swag of changes, including a market-style set-up out the back of the cafe, where you will be able to buy gluten-free ingredients, fresh produce, and all sorts of things.



The gardens at my university are pretty nice to hang out in on a sunny day.



Last Friday was Saudi Arabia's national day, and all the Saudi students at uni were celebrating in the uni centre. It was crazy - lots of singing and dancing and laughing - but I did feel a bit sad that the Saudi women were sitting down and watching quietly, not partaking in the festivities.





Here's my best friend being a tourist in the middle of the city on the weekend:



And here's the coolest mid-life-crisis car I've ever seen:


My papa, in North Carlton on Friday night.



And... last but not least - my new haircut!



It's not a WHOLE lot different to how it was, but it feels so nice to have short hair again. I made sure the hairdresser cut lots and lots of texture into it, and I really, really like how it looks. What do you think? I'm not 100% happy with the highlights, but I can live with them.


Don't you think my wonky mouth is a bit weird? I never notice it except in photos - I wonder if that's how it looks all the time?

Here's what I'm wearing today - my very favourite summer dress. Apologies for the bra strap hanging out the side, but I didn't have time to fix it before the timer on my camera went off!



Love!

xoxo

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Desperately seeking (AKA Jacketlust).

So, I'm a bit of a Neighbours junkie. Actually, I'm a TV-as-a-whole junkie, but let's not go into that right now... my parents are probably reading this.

(Mum, if you do read this, I just want you to know that I know you spent more time reading Georgette Heyer novels in your second year at uni than you did studying! You have nothing on me now!)

Anyway, I was watching a particularly exciting episode where Elle and Lucas are trapped in a shed and the bad guy's coming for them, and the sparks are flying, and then...



"Argh! Elle's jacket! I must have it!"




So, I spent a good half hour on the Neighbours website, screen-capturing, copying, pasting, and cropping, and now I'm applying to you, dear readers, for help in identifying and locating this jacket.



(How cute is the silver birdie brooch?!)

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Frocklust.

MUST. HAVE.






By Cocotte of Barcelona. This gorgeous frock, and many more, can be found at the website, the blog, and the Etsy store.

The irony is, I already HAVE a little black dress that's pretty much identical to this one. Same tulip skirt, same pockets at the side, same buttons, except the buttons on mine are down the back, not the front.

However, as I'm sure my female readers will understand, Frocklust knows no logic.

*sighs*

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Hair tales.

I need a haircut.

Can anyone recommend a hairdresser in Melbourne? I'd prefer somewhere close by to my home in North Fitzroy, but I'm willing to travel for the right haircutter.

Those who know me well know how true this statement is. My regular hairdresser, Elli, lives in Hobart, and I go to see her whenever I can, but right now I just can't justify that luxury. It's killing me to have to let someone else touch my hair, but I'll just have to deal with it.

Please don't tell Elli, though...

This is the kind of style I'm after, first spied on Camille's brilliant blog:





My hair isn't as thick as hers, but it boufs up nicely with a bit of texturising spray. I really like this look because it looks versatile, easy to style (see the previous sentence!) and easy to maintain and look after myself while I'm on the road.



The model's name is Freja Beha Erichsen. Isn't she lovely!

Budgie-sitting.

Meet Flori!



Flori is going to be staying with me for a few weeks.

Right now I'm trying to figure out what kind of music she likes. She didn't like Woody Guthrie or Pikelet, but she seems to be enjoying Louis and Ella's take on Porgy & Bess. Maybe she's a jazz bird? What do you think? What music do your animal friends enjoy?



Right now she's zooming around the room. I think she's annoyed that I'm not paying attention to her! Better go!

(I'll be back with more later!! xxx)

Friday, October 10, 2008

Zoom-zoom.

1. Come fly with me, come fly, let's fly away...
I forgot to mention yesterday that I booked my flights to London and back! I'll be flying Milan-London in early December, and London-Pisa a month later. So exciting! This whole trip is getting more and more real with each passing day. Only 41 sleeps to go!

I'll be spending a month in London with a very tight budget - anyone got any tips for things to do for free? Obviously I'll be visiting all of the many galleries and museums! I can't wait to visit the British Museum, and in particular I want to visit the Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons. I've just finished reading a biography of pioneering 18th-century surgeon John Hunter, and it'd be wonderful to see all of his specimens in the, er, flesh.

Obviously, visits to markets, vintage stores and H&M are a must, too! I'm taking the minimum of luggage with me so I can stock up while I'm away!

2. Speaking of H&M..



I spotted this in a shop in Northcote Plaza this afternoon, and it made me laugh out loud! Here's the real H&M logo...


OK.. it's getting late and I have to get up at 5am tomorrow! I hope everyone's weekends are lovely, and I'll be back on Monday!

xxx

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Mighty Ducks 8.


1. $60/kg cheese.

I couldn't help myself! I dropped into Maria's Coffee House & Deli in Nicholson St on my way home from uni to stock up on capers (an essential in my larder) and this little wedge of cheese caught my eye.



It's parmigiano di bufala, or buffalo parmesan. I tasted it in the shop, and it's much sharper and zingier than cow's milk parmesan. The woman in the shop told me firmly to hide it! For the price it was, I'm going to use it for something special. I'm Googling recipes as I type so hopefully I'll find a dish that complements the cheese perfectly. I shall report back!

Side note: OH MY GOD. As I was hunting up recipes just now, I found this on a menu - "Spaghetti alla castagne: Spaghetti sautéed in a chestnut cream sauce topped with cocoa powder. Like Pip says, that sounds like it should be illegal.

2. People on public transport.

It was a bit scary on the bus home from uni tonight - a young man got on and sat up the back of the bus near me who was very agitated. He was muscled, and dressed in trackies and a tank top - not someone you'd want to mess with ordinarily. He was talking to himself quite loudly, and bouncing up and down in his seat, occasionally coming out with bursts of manic chuckling. I don't want to say "crazy," or that he was dangerous but he definitely made me and some of the other passengers that I spoke to later feel very uncomfortable. What do you do in those types of situations? I just kept my head down and my sunnies on and read my book. The whole bus breathed a sigh of relief when he disembarked.

3. Cute thing cute thing!!.

Everyone! One.. two... three.....

...AWWWWWWWW!






I spied these cuties at uni, enjoying a walk in the sunshine around the campus with their mum. Awwww!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Go panda go!

Not much interesting has been happening lately. Sorry for the lack of blogging! I really wanted to be able to post every day, but I didn't want this thing to become an "I did this and then I did this" type of blog - boring!

So instead, here is a roly-poly panda:


(isn't he cute! Apologies to Miss A. H. Cayley for stealing her idea..)

Ooh, so in attempt to spice up this post, I just went around the house and took some photos of things I like. Maybe you'll find something you like too!

#1: yellow tights.


This is what I'm wearing today. The pink shirt is a Love Of Diagrams tee, and the shoes are Docs that I'm trying to break in. They're beating me so far, but I am determined!

#2: silk scarves.


One of the easiest ways to add a splash of colour to your Melbourne black is with one of these babies knotted casually around your neck. Mine are all from various op shops and vintage stores, except for the skinny arlecchino one, which is from Gorman.

#3: my window menagerie, plus teapot.

Some little things I've collected over the years. Here there are in more detail:


My friend Preethi gave me this cat money-box as a housewarming gift when I moved into my last house, in Thornbury. I've never put any money in it, though.


A pig from Vanuatu, and Three Wise Monkeys from Botswana, both gifts from my parents from various overseas trips. Take note, potential suitors - this pig is my dowry, as is traditional in Vanuatu. Form an orderly queue, now.


Half a tiki, from New Zealand. My dad brought this back years ago - it used to scare me a bit.


An elephant from South Africa, and a teapot from Savers in Greensborough. Isn't it funny how teapots and elephants are similarly-shaped?

#4: vanilla tea.


My very wonderful and talented friend Pip sent this to me from Tasmania. Aren't I lucky!

(also note my baby-blue kettle!)

(psst.. Pip! I've nearly run out!)

#5: dictionary.

This Chambers dictionary was a 21st birthday gift from my grandmother, who thinks every home should have one. It's definitely one of the most useful gifts I've ever received - it gets used on an almost-daily basis. Ask me a word - any word - and I bet you $10 it's in there.

#5: organised clutter.


This is a recurrent theme throughout my house. My mother will scoff when she reads this ("Ha! There's no such thing as 'organised clutter'!"), but I swear I know where everything is, except when someone else has moved it. In this example, you will see (from left to right):

A Vancouver moose, brought back from Canada by my mother, my film camera, Bear (who was a gift from my first love), my zoom lens, a mint-green clock from an antique store in Hamilton, a robot birthday card which I was supposed to send to my father for his birthday almost a month ago, a Butch Vig drumstick, a Glomesh purse that belonged to my grandmother, and a couple of candles brought back from Malaysia by my father.

Phew!