Monday, July 16, 2012
What the...!
Anyways, have been thinking about resurrecting this little baby for a while.
So much has changed! I no longer work full time. I'm not a part-time job-share with my previous employer (16+ years and counting!). I work two days a week, and the other three I am a full time student! A student! Yes, I know....Scary! Second semester of my first year started today :) I am enjoying it very much. Am studying a Bachelor of Science in Health, Safety and Environment and am hoping to go into Environmental Science. So, totes different to my current banking and finance career! Thought it was time for a change.
In other news....I GOT ENGAGED!!! At Christmas time. To my lovely man, Captain Chaos :) Wedding is set down for November this year, so am currently scurrying around making lists and invites and bookings and what not. Very exciting :)
Since I havent posted since November 2010 (oops! How time does fly!!) things have definitely changed. I did my first ever Half Ironman in May 2011 (signed up for the one this year, but the studying at university thing got a hold of me!). Have done a couple of half marathons, changed jobs, taken long service leave from my job, had a couple of overseas trips and a slew of other things.
Well, I guess that's my wee update in a nutshell :)
Here's hoping people are still reading (ha!) and I can manage to string a few more posts together. Heh!!
K xx
Saturday, November 6, 2010
I need...
Perhaps it would be easier if I just tithed a percentage of my wages directly to their head office in Sweden...
hehe
K xx
Thursday, November 4, 2010
The sound of silence...
*waves*
Yep still here.
Not posting a lot (well, obviously...), but still around.
I've been thinking about the blog a fair bit recently, and I reckon it's time for a wee change of direction.
When I first discovered blogs, and made the decision to start my own, I had visions of becoming some handicrafting maven (aka...well, too many wonderful blogs to mention really!). I had high hopes of regularly posting my crafty stuff and being all wonderful and stuff.
But, then I found I had trouble committing to regular blogging about my crafty pursuits and remaining 'focussed' on my blog. And my handicraft pursuits - such as they were - were really just me following the herd. Nothing new and ground-breaking for me in other words. And, I think that disappointed and somewhat discouraged me. Rightly or wrongly.
Anyways, as my reading of others blogs widened -away from specifically the handicraft based ones and into fashion, DIY, decorating, cooking etc etc, I discovered that although I was reasonably "crafty" and creative myself, there were things I was not...
- A 'leader' in terms of handcrafting / creativity.
- All that keen on vintage / thrifting.
- Able to fully commit to blogging about crafty pursuits in a meaningful and regular fashion.
But, I also discovered things that I WAS...
- wildly interested in home decorating.
- freakishly good at organising.
- apparently also considered somewhat stylish :P
So. This "revelation" (if you will...) has led me to think a trifle more about WKDN and the direction it might go in, and I've decided to recommence the blog, but with a changed direction. A little less of me trying to be like other 'craft' bloggers (which I have discovered I'm not all that!!) and a little more of me, trying to be like, well, me!!
There'll be a little more fashion / personal style commentary.
A modicum more of my home decorating.
Some snippets of organising goodness.
Plus, a trifle of crafting when I think it adds value and is interesting.
Now - a wee disclaimer - I can't make any promises about the regularity of posts! In my defence I hold down a reasonably pressure driven full-time job in Banking (which involves long hours and travl), plus I train for triathlons / Ironman / Half Marathons, and I have a partner who works FIFO (Fly In, Fly Out for those of you not au fait with the acronym :D) in the mining industry. So when he's home, I like to devote my spare time to 'us'.
That said, I'll do my best, and that's really all that can be asked of me!
So, all two of you that read (and I love you, I really do!!) I'm hoping you stick around.
K xxx
Monday, May 10, 2010
***Caution*** Deep and Meaningful post ahead ;)
Does anyone else ever sit back and think over the past? About how those things that seemed sooooo terrible and hurtful and awful at the time might actually have prepared one perfectly for the here and now?
As my close friends know, I had a reasonably train-wrecky year last year relationship wise.
*shudders*
Urk. Without going into too much gut-wrenching detail, I split up with my long-term partner (my decision...which I had actually been putting off for some time...it just seems easier sometimes to continue on in a relationship that isn't really working - and hasn't been for some time - rather than exposing oneself to the vagaries of being over 30 and single...) in December 2008 and then spent 2009 lurching from one dating / relationship disaster to the other.
I'm pretty sure my friends were thinking about staging some serious interventions there at various stages, such was my ridiculosity and certain behaviour being entirely unlike my normal, sensible, level-headed self.
Anyways, at one point during the year I was writing in my diary lamenting the lack of a 'nice' man for me. 'Cos I'm nice (or at least I like to think so), and I couldn't grasp why the men I was meeting were so freakin' awful!!! So in a fit of angst, I poured my little heart out into my diary and listed down the things I wanted (no, wait, the things I deserved darnit!!) in a man. Not things like tall, dark and handsome...but important-to-me qualitative personality traits. Kindness. Intelligence. Et cetera. You get the gist.
So. Some months pass. I meet several fellows who meet most of my criteria. One of which completely broke my heart. As in completely wrenched- it- from- my- chest- couldn't- eat- for -weeks. Still don't know what his problem was, but I bet it's hard to pronounce!!
Then I met him.
The one.
The sweetest, nicest, most lovely fellow.
Who is perfect for me in every way, which I know sounds super cheesy...but it's true. He's not completely without baggage himself, but hey, who over 30 is? It's really how you carry that baggage away from the carousel that matters!!
And it's almost as though everything that's happened to us both in our relationship histories has prepared both of us completely, perfectly well for the two of us to be together now. We get along ridiculously well and have a ludicrous amount in common. A ludicrous amount. Weird.
I've been thinking about this a bit in the last several weeks for various reasons. I'm a bit of a thinker from time to time (some would claim an over-thinker!).
And then I found my diary from last year. On the last page was my little diatribe about useless men, blah blah, and what I wanted.
And you know what...he's everything on that list.
Which makes me very happy indeed.
But what is even funnier is that I had to make up a 'fake' boyfriend at one point last year (due to having a sort of co-worker who turned into a bit of a stalker). And my current squeeze exactly resembles the faux-boyfriend of fiction. Right down to his job and hobbies
o_O
(Don't worry, I've checked...he's a real person :D)
Is there a moral to this story? Not really, but sometimes I wonder if the Universe (or your God or not-God of choice...we're mutli-denominational / multi-belief and very accepting here in the WKDN household) is totally working us to a plan.
Have a great week.
xx
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Ouch
*sigh*
Walked into a wall...yes, really...
My top lip now appears to be the victim of some OTT lip enhancement procedure, however luckily no teeth were harmed in the making of this particular Vortex of Mayhem (tm).
Seriously? I've walked through my loungeroom so many times in the dark and completely missed the wall. But this one time? Pow! Right in the (nose and) kisser.
Oops.
Fortunately the force of my impact did not result in a black eye or split lip or knocked out teeth.
All possibilities.
For future night-time perambulations I will be wearing a head torch and a suit made of pillows :)
Monday, March 29, 2010
Five Faves
- The new scarf I've just started (yeah...like I need another scarf o_O). Love the wool. Love the pattern - now that I've safely negotiated the whole 'ssk' stitch debacle that took me over and hour to work out and ended in some SERIOUS Googling;
- My Kathmandu water bottle. Pink. Sits on my desk. Reminds me to keep drinking my water :)
- Grana Padano cheese. You MUST try it. Like Parmesan, but betterer (IMHO);
- Autumn in Perth. Perfection! and
- My boy :) what's not to like? He's lovely ;D
Not liking so much? Bicycle chain rings. Am sporting a rather unattractive bruise cum 5 x curvy scratch on my inner calf due to a bicycling *ahem* incident on the weeked. *sigh* it was a case of the bicycle or me. Given the bike is v expensive, I sacrificed my leg.
Oh dear.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Perth storms
Got caught in a bus shelter during the worst of the hail, however the other lovely ladies trapped in there with me banded together and prevented the worst of the rain and hail reaching us :) those were some HUGE hailstonees - not golfball sized as some had, but largeish...
Scared stiff during the actual lightning and thunder part (long story involving me getting an electric shock from an electrical storm as a teenager...there may or may not have been tears and some hiding under the bed covers), some minimal flooding to my garage, patio nearly went fully under water (!!) and discovered a leaky window in my dining room, but other than that escaped scot free and much better off than some who sustained serious house and car damage.
Apparently I should consider branching out into either panel beating or windscreen installation in order to make a buck!!
Pretty glad the whole thing is over though!!
Promised tutorial still underway. Techno blogger issues and a lack of electricity @ my place have hampered efforts somewhat.
Be patient!!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Five Faves
Hmmm.
Let's see.....
- Favourite Recipe - Cauliflower + Caramelised Onion Tart from www.smittenkitchen.com. Yummo. This lovely girl's recipes have never failed me.
- Favourite Song - Starstrukk by 3OH!3 feat. Katy Perry. Have been enjoying this song for a while. Not sure why :) I think it's the wolf whistling and the (I think) hilarious video!!
- Favourite Arty stuff - Sculpture by The Sea which is finishing this weekend over her in WA @ Cottesloe Beach. Lovely.
- Favourite Coat - amazing red Italian wool melton coat from Marcs. Sigh. Coveting. Of course, prohibitively expensive so a lot of pondering going on...
- Favourite snack - Green + Black's organic chocolate. Yummo!
Done!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Playing along...
For THE FIRST TIME!!!
yay me :D
Anyways, slightly messy craft room / office - featuring the 'only ever used for crafting' ironing board. I hate ironing. With a passion. Some evidence of future Easter crafting potential on the board! A pile of 'things I want to do' over on the right...and other 'stuff'...
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
The Sound of Silence
Hello.
*looks around with shifty eyes*
Yes.
Well.
Sorry about the continued and protracted absence.
Crafting has been continuing. Promise. Along with other stuff.
In good news, some of my WIP's are gone, gone, GONE!!
Some more new stuff started. Trying to teach myself to knit with DPN's. Interesting.
One of the lovely men mentioned in my last post (yes, that's right. That one from back in November...last year...) has turned out to be quite the keeper.He's making me very happy. So that's good :)
Had a lovely trip to Tasmania (with the aforementioned Lovely Man...woooooooooo!!) - spent some time in Hobart and also hiked The Overland Track for 6-days. Gruelling. But worth it.
Several more triathlons undertaken. Continuing to improve. Bought a REDONKULOUSLY expensive new triathlon bike. That I love a little more than is strictly seemly. His name is Felix and the photo below does seriously not do him justice :)

Went to a lovely friends lovely wedding. Beautiful :)
Visited my parentals in Albany for Xmas. Fun. Kinda...
Met the Lovely Man's family. And his plethora of friends. Apparently his family think I'm wonderful. They may be right ;)
I think that is all of note.
Promise to pop a tutorial up in the next few days for a fabric canvas thingy I made. So easy it doesn't really need a tute, and has possible also been done to death on other blogs, but I'm very impressed with myself.
Will also update WIP progress.
Pinky swear.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
WIP Weekend Washout
Oh well...at least the proposed Christmas Snowflake thing got some work done on it...
Luckily I proclaimed it a WIP Week also
o_O
Saturday, November 28, 2009
WIP Weekend + WIP Week
So have decided to have a WIP Weekend followed by a WIP week.
My list of projects (in no particular order of finishing required, nor actual importance...)
- The scarf I was making for my former housemate. To give to her on her birthday. In September. Then rescheduled to give to her before she flew to the US for Xmas. Three weeks ago. Now re-rescheduled to finish and post to her by 1 December...
- Similarly, a scarf for my former housemates boyfriend. *sigh* I probably could've had this finished BEFORE they went away if I had only knuckled down. But not long to go on that one.
- A paper snowflake mobile for Christmas. Only started this on Monday. Cutouts done. Ironed nice and flat (FYI best done without the steam function turned on...). Just dabbing some KindyGlitz on for sparkle-arkles and then have to thread together and I am done.
- The afghan. 'Nuff said.
- Plastic canvas fridge magnets. Long-term, semi-abandoned project fished out of a cupboard yesterday;
- An aged baby blanket I started about 5 years ago. Oh well, other people are still procreating...
- The Thimbleberries Quilt. Have finally galvanised myself to buy the backing fabric. I suspect I should have it completely finished in, oh, about 2 years at this rate...
- Finalising some storage cards for my plethora of DMC embroidery threads.
- The skirt I started back in July. Which I fear no longer fits me...
- Some applique to tea-towels which had tiny fraying holes in, but are otherwise perfectly serviceable.
- Oops. The baby hat for my friends 3 1/2 month old baby o_O
- Some applique to screen prints I did at the last Brown Owls I attended..
- I'm sure there's more...
So there you go. In the snatched moments between social engagements this weekend (you think I'm kidding. I'm totally not...), I shall endeavour to finish at least some of this list :)
Wish me luck...I think I'm gonna need it o_O
Friday, November 27, 2009
July, August, September, October AND November update.
Life has been painful, awkward and busy. And I haven't felt like posting.
So, no apology :)
Well. Things have been happening. Not all good, but as a wise friend of mine comments, "whatever does not kill you will only make you stronger". Without going into too much detail, here's some updates!!
- Well. Bachelor # 1 proved to be a jerk. I moved onto Bachelor # 2, who seemed to have a LOT of promise. Turns out he was an emotional retard. *sigh* think I might have been the only one who got hurt out of that. Thanks again to my friends for their tolerance of my general down-in-the-mouthedness during that period!!
- Got sent to Melbourne for work. Yays!! Meant to stay a week and then fly back on Saturday. Got a last minute phone call begging me to come back the following week. Soooo, work basically paid for my weekend accommodation and meals in Melbs :)
- My friend had a beautiful bebeh girl. Ahn. So cute! Both momma AND bubby that is!
- Work moved into our spanky new building. It is full of awesome.
- Took two weeks holidays. Didn't go anywheres :( My employer has this "rule" where you must take 10 consecutive days worth of leave in a 12-month period. I had not done so, thus was 'forced' to take leave. Darn them.
- Joined some online dating sites o_O I figured after recent dating failures I could hardly do much worse!! It's been fun thus far. I highly recommend dating (casually of course - nobody is sleeping with anyone!!) a slew of men ALL AT THE SAME TIME. It stops one from obsessing why one guy isnt calling you as you have too many other dates to even have time to clean your freaking house :)
- Per the above - have actually met a couple of lovely boys :) We'll see how that pans out!
- Did very little crafting. Started a scarf for a friend. Missed the delivery date. Negotiated a second delivery date. Have still to finish it. Nothing else really of note in the craftiness area...
- Heaps of athletic pursuits! Triathlon Pink over here in sunny Perth. V pleased with my performance. Mucho improvement. All those winter training sessions in the cold have paid dividends. Great Bike Ride last weekend also an improvement on prior performance. Lookin' good in lycra...well, as good as one can look!!!
- Farewelled my BFF and her significant other who are off for a three month overseas jaunt. Not. Jealous. At. All...(miss them already!)
Hmmm. Feel sure that I have missed something...numerous friends birthdays...work...training...dating eligibile batchelors...work...training...nope :) think that's all of note.
I'll try not to leave you so neglected next time!!
More crafty shenanigans to come over the next few days.
Pinky swear.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Hallooooooooooooooooo...
::echo::
Hey :)
I'm baaaaack!
*sigh*
Been busy.
Lost my crafting mojo slightly.
But better now!! Back on the rails. Steering steadily. Promise.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
10 on Tuesday (on Wednesday)
Last weeks was 10 favourite places to eat, and as I am hardly an international (wo)man of mystery, most of my places would probably have been in Perth (or at the very least just Western Australia) and therefore possibly of little or no interest to others!!
But, this week it's all about your 10 Favourite Sounds.
Hmmm....
- The sound of your loved one sleeply peacefully next to you;
- Baby birds chirping merrily away in their nest. And, that's a strange one for me, 'cos I DISLIKE birds intensely *shudders* I think it's their scaly little feet. Bleurgh;
- Music! Not all music, but most music!
- Bagpipes. I know - another odd one, but part of my family heritage is Scottish and I do love a good skirl on the pipes, even if it sometimes makes me feel like crying, but they aren't exactly a perky instrument now, are they?
- The sound of (other peoples) children merrily at play. You know that bubbling laughter that kids have when they are just having the most fun playing chasey (or whatever it is that kiddies play these days!);
- Pre-dawn silence. I hear a lot of this due to the ridiculously early time I am usually up in order to go to training.
- Silence in general :D
- Frog songs! Especially when there are lots of them gurgling away!
- The hubbub of a heap of people who are having a great time. In a bar, or out at a restaurant. The clink of cutlery, the sound of conversation....
- The susurrus (sp?) of trees gently blowing in the wind. Not a strong stormy wind (cos that'd just freak me out), but tall eucaplypts rustling in the breeze. Awesome!
That was harder than I thought...
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Knitting Nana
On the bus!!!
Bless :D
There I was, sitting down minding my own biznez on the bus, plugged into my iPod so that I don't have to interact with my fellow human beings...yes, yes, I know it's anit-social, but good lo' you should see some of the people on my bus route...
So there I was, immersed in Beyonce or Rage Against the Machine or Kylie Minogue (or similar) when the bus paused at a stop to collect a vision in blue rinse! Black jumper with gold metallic embroidered rose pattern? Check. The most INCREDIBLE crystal earrings? Check (they looked a little Vegas showgirl, but hey, who really cares!!). Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes? Check and (possibly) check :D. Long strand of metallic silver beads around her neck? Checkarooney. I have almost never seen so much glitz on one person!
She looks at me - I look at her. She reaches down and grabs out a plastic carrier bag full of wool and needles and notions. And then proceeds to knit what looked like the most complicated cable stitich EVER. On a moving bus. Without stabbing herself or anyone else with her non-commuter needles. I wasl almost tempted to ask her to show me the stitch :D
Amazing! She got quite a lot of the scarf completed in the 10 or so stops before I got off, and she was still madly clickety-clacking away when I left the warm cocoon of the knitting bus!
The only gripe I had was the shocking array of wool she was knitting with...but, hey, it's a 'Global Financial Crisis' (allegedly) and needs must!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
10 on Tuesday (on Wednesday)
OMG!!!!
10 Favourite songs of the 80's
hehe
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a bit of an 80's music tragic. I may have trouble keeping this to 10 Favourites!!
Here goes...and in no real order....
- (I've Had) The Time of My Life - from Dirty Dancing;
- Addicted To Love - Robert Palmer. Who didnt love all those girls in the background?
- 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton. This could almost be my theme song at the moment...
- Ti Amo - Laura Branigan (I hope...)
- Take On Me - a-ha. Those boys were HOT back then and I saw a photo of them recently and OMG THEY HAVE AGED VERY WELL!!!
- Pretty much anything by Whitney Houston released during the 80's;
- Again pretty much anything released by Bananarama;
- A LOT of Belinda Carlisle;
- Two words. Bon Jovi; and
- Lady In Red - Chris De Burgh. Love love love this song!
Hopefully those are actually all from the 80's. I sometimes have overlap as I am more a child of the early 90's and some of the music from this era sort of merges into the one time frame for me - that of finishing primary school and moving into the first years of high school. Ah, good times!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Belated June Update!!
- Meet new people. Some of them boys. Some of them jerks...actually of the three (seemingly nice) boys I met, 66.66% of them turned out to be jerks. The remaining 33.33% (recurring) are doing well so far......ssshhhh, he might be a keeper ;)
- Not do very much crafting at all. I have been horribly lax. My craft room has been unattended, vacant and ignored even. I did make one teensy tiny tissue paper flower...but that's about it. I started a knitted baby hat. And thats where that finished! Oh well. It's not as though I have lost my crafting mojo, it's merely on a brief hiatus and I have a feeling it will be back soon;
- Celebrate my dear old dads birthday. Ahn. Bless him. 63 years young and still the man I judge all others by. I love my dad (could you tell?). The bestest thing about dad is that I know no matter what I do in my life (perhaps short of committing a serious crime) he will always love me and never judge me. Jeez, I love that man!!!
- Finish my Bento Box quilt. Finally. Refer to post from 9 June for more deets on that long-winded project;
- Catch a cold. Bleurgh. Twice. And still not over this last batch. Yuck. I am quite possibly the worst sick person this side of a man-flu sufferer. I've been going through about a box of tissues every two days. I should buy shares in Kleenex damnit because I sure am keeping them in business at the moment!!!
- Have dinner(s) and drinks with friends. I love my friends! They listen to all my neuroses and shenanigans and over analysing of situations and then provide a voice of reason. And despite all those hard yards - they still love me! You guys are the best!!!
- Get a Facebook stalker. ummm. Awkward!
- Volunteer. My work gives us time off with pay to volunteer with community organisations and the like. It's a really cool programme and they promote various things through our internal internet. Things like weeding gardens at elderly peoples houses and helping with maintenance, or setting up for fund raising events for childrens charities. Cool stuff that is good for the community;
- Join the gym. Yep. Despite my ridiculous amount of triathlon training I have not been a member of a gym for quite some time. However, I have now joined up with my housemate and we have been going to copious amounts of classes...well, until I got sick and forced myself to rest!
- Farewell one of my colleagues who has gone off on maternity leave to prepare for her first bub. So cute - she is getting all out in front with baby at the moment, but still over a month to go!
- Farewell another colleague who left to set up her own marketing, communications and events management business. If anyone needs anything like that in Perth, get hold of Suzanne at http://www.creativeelements.net.au/ and tell her that Kylie sent you!!!
Hmmm. I think that was all. I mean aside from the ridiculous busyness that is my paying job. *sigh*. Global Financial Crisis (I love how people - including myself - capitalise the words) means I will continue to be wanted, needed and loved (or perhaps slightly loathed) in a work related manner for quite some time!!
Yay.
And in closing, there's this...well...there was going to be an incredible photo of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine (ggrrrrrrrr!), but Blogger appears to be having some photo techno issues so I am afraid there's no photo. Just visualise instead :)
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Stuff 'n' Updates
OMG - I am such a sucker for baby animals :)
They just had a baby langur (sp?) monkey on. Oh. My. Goodness. So very, very, very cute!!
So, what's been happening? Well, I've FINALLY finished my Bento Box Quilt (per last weeks post). I've also finished the bulk of the cross stitch on my Les Lapins project, so now just all the outlines to do (bleurgh. My least favourite bit). I've finished 95% of a skirt for work - just need to attach the lining and finish the waist and hem. My first item of clothing that I have made since Home Ec in High School...
Hmmmm......what else?
Let me see...Oh yeah! My work and Facebook stalker! I really shouldn't laugh, but there was this guy that works for the same company as me who had taken a sudden and unexplained liking to me. It's a long and complicated story, but suffice to say, through a bit of subterfuge and a few little white lies (I know, I know!!!) my friends and I believe we have staved off any potential issues. Of course, I now have an imaginary boyfriend. He's pretty hot, you know (lol). A cyclist, 6 foot 5, in great shape, works as an engineer....what!!? Well, if I'm going to have to lie about having a boyfriend to see off a potential stalker/suitor, I am totally going to make it worth my while :D
Anything else.....oh yes.
ItotallymadeoutwithanotherguybutItotallydontknowwhereitsgoinganditssupercomplicatedandohmygoodness.
::ahem::
Sometimes I wonder what I'm thinking.
But usually only after I've done something I probably shouldn't have.
Cos THATS when you should do your thinking...
