Mirthful

As that’s what you’re getting today, too. For some action, check out the bookblog and the comestibles blog, they’ve been updated quite frequently lately.

Anyway, one year away from the big 4 oh. Next year will be celebrated in style, that’s the plan anyway. Not sure what sort of style, but style, definitely. This year there will be less celebration, but of course I want gifts anyway.

1. A new laptop, one with a decent graphics card and more than 2 GB RAM. I can’t run Photoshop and email at the same time on this one and that’s a pain in the b***, especially since I just spent the last three months or so using Photoshop daily to create photobooks from last year. I got them back today (the photobooks, not the three months) and there might just be a post on those at some point, but I’m rambling and I’ll stop here.

2. A wok pan that works on induction stovetops. We just changed our stovetop (since the old one died) and now we don’t have a working wok. Not good. We got a frying pan from Woll for Christmas which I adore, but they don’t seem to make make woks. I’d prefer one with one long handle on one side and a non-stick coating that can take metal utensils.

3. A small pot that works on induction stovetops. 1 liter or thereabouts. We have one, but frequently need two.

4. Things that can be eaten or drunk.

Dear Santa,

this year I am having a hard time coming up with wishes. Well, other than the regular first wish of peace on earth, that’s a given as we’re not – really – quite there yet. I’d still like an overlock, other than that I seem to have practically everything I need (or have room for). Technically I’m only supposed to wish for money this year, anyway, since I already bought myself a Christmas present. You see, I was in Oslo for three days recently and the camera started behaving oddly on the first night, but I didn’t think any more about it until the next day, when I realised the lens was making rattling noises. So I traipsed off to FotoVideo to hand it in for service and was faced with 36 or so hours without a working camera (I hadn’t brought a spare lens). Well, I really couldn’t have that, so I trundled on upstairs and purchased a wide angle lens. Which was, it should be said, next on the list of “photography gadgets to get”, but not at all on the budget for the next few months. So. I need money to pay for that. Other than that, well, life is pretty good. But here we go:

1. Peace on earth.

2. Health and longevity for my nearest and dearest and for the following authors/artists (and any others I may have forgotten): Robin Hobb, J.K. Rowling, Stephen Fry, Jo Nesbø, Ole Paus, Bjørn Eidsvåg, Alanis Morisette, Michael Wiehe, Michael Parkinson, Håkon Gullvåg, Lillebjørn Nilsen, Neil Gaiman, Bill Bryson, India Knight, Kate Atkinson, Bob Dylan, Jasper Fforde and the Top Gear guys.

3. Anything from Gaver med mening, Gaver som forandrer verden, Oxfam unwrapped (look, you can buy “me” schoolbooks!) and similar sites.

4. The Sandman books, vol. 3 onwards.

5. An Overlock. Like this one. Or one of the Husqvarna Huskylocks they have here.

6. Non Stop (though not a lot, since the littlest lass seems to react badly to her mum’s sugar intake, so as long as I’m nursing I need to keep my consumption to a minimum).

Well, I’ve certainly started thinking about Christmas, so I guess it’s about time.

Dear Santa,

Well, I got presents last year despite the fact that we told the lass you don’t exist and so on. In fact, she got presents too, so I’m guessing you’re ok with that, then? With the amount of attention you get it might just be refreshing for someone to ignore you, I guess, and considering the number of homes you need to visit in one night I guess being able to drop things off early and not give a personal appearance is probably a bit of a relief. Anyway, you know the drill:

1. Peace on earth.

2. A laminating machine that takes A3 format. Preferably a decent quality one that handles a bit of thickness.

3. Health and longevity for my nearest and dearest and for the following authors/artists (and any others I may have forgotten): Robin Hobb, J.K. Rowling, Stephen Fry, Jo Nesbø, Ole Paus, Michael Wiehe, Michael Parkinson, Håkon Gullvåg, Lillebjørn Nilsen, Neil Gaiman, Bill Bryson, India Knight, Kate Atkinson, Bob Dylan, Jasper Fforde, Robin Laing, Mads Eriksen, Frode Øverli, Lise Myhre, Richard Russo, Alexander McCall Smith, Nick Hornby and the Top Gear guys. Oh, and Jeffrey Archer, but dear, dear Santa, please make him stick to writing books rather than involving in politics (or, the horror, another groundless libel case).

4. An Overlock. Like this one. Or one of the Husqvarna Huskylocks they have here.

5. Anything from Gaver med mening, Gaver som forandrer verden, Oxfam unwrapped (look, you can buy “me” schoolbooks!) and similar sites.

6. Non-stop.

7. The Sandman books.

8. A Roomba, or other robotic vacuum.

9. Books. Not that we need any more, but on the other hand: One will always need another book.

And then I honestly can’t think of anything else. I think life must be pretty good, actually.

List for the lass to follow.

Though I imagine most people would be a bit surprised if their cherry tomatoes tasted of chili (with one l, what chilli with a double l is, I have no clue).

Well, you know. I like birthdays. Especially my own. I mean, what’s not to like? People give you attention, and gifts, and cake. Cake!

Oh, and gifts. So, obviously, wishlist:

1. A vacuum cleaner (ours died). Like this one. I hear good things about Miele in the vacuum department. Or a Roomba. A Roomba would in many ways be even better, especially in that I wouldn’t have to push it around, or indeed get off the sofa at all.

2. Crumpler camera bags. More specifically, one Crumpler Banana Hammock in brown  and a shoulder bag with room for DSL and at least two extra lenses, preferably more. The New Dehli 770 (or larger) looks nice and so does the messenger style in XXL or XXXL. (On a related note, I’ve got a lightly used Think Tank Urban Disguise 40 for sale…)

3. An overlock.

And. Uhm. Is that it? I think it might be.

From which we can conclude that life is pretty good.

Just like Christmas!

All new and shiny!

See? Very, very shiny.

So, I’m now the proud (?) owner of a HTC Desire HD. Lay the Android Apps reccommendations on me! Need to get a wordpress one, at least.

What's o'clock?

Seen at the hotel next to the Dublin Wheel were we had coffee. I want one. Anyone know where I can get one?

1. The bloodbank has Moomin mugs again! My visit yesterday resulted in 0.5 litres less blood but in return I got this:

Yay!

2. I registered at Pinterest. My username is Lattermild. There isn’t much to see, yet, but that’s bound to change. If you have your own board(s) or suggestions for whom I should follow, let me know.

3. We seem to have succeeded at getting the lass a place at Birralee as of this autumn. It’s for pre-school (or nursery school), and doesn’t guarantee a place at school proper, but I am quite delighted in any case.

4. If you read Swedish you should go read this entry by Ketchupmamman, which says all the things I’d like to have said about why genderised clothing for kids bothers me.

I’m feeling a sense of accomplishment today. Before Christmas I received a promotional code for a photo book on photo paper from Japan Photo, and after a little deliberation decided it would be the perfect incentive to finish the very half-hearted start I’d done on an album from the trip to The Gambia in 2009. The promotion ended yesterday, and the album was ordered just in time. Considering I have a tendency to attack these projects with gusto and then have my enthusiasm fade away long before I’ve actually finished anything, having ordered the book feels like a big accomplishment.

Which is nice.

The best thing? I managed to pace myself sufficiently that I’m not sick of looking at and processing photos. The previous photo books I’ve ordered have led to a few moths hiatus on further layouts because of overload towards the finishing line. Not so this time, I think.

Once I get the book, I’ll post a few pictures of the result and get into what exactly I did. In terms of scrapbooking it was extremely minimalist, but a couple of resources need to be mentioned. I’ll get to that.

The next project, apart from finishing the hobby room (where we’ve run into a little problem, more on that later) involves the sewing machine and needs to be done by the end of the upcoming weekend. We’ll see how that goes.

The next photo-related project involves going through my supplies to create a faux Project Life (because I really don’t need to buy any more supplies) to see if I can’t get a “document life as it happens” thing going. If I get my act together, I’ll share what I do.

…for nå har jeg shoppet selv. Bilder kommer.

CI Pedersen har tilbud på Mummi-krus og asjetter:

• Krus 129,-
• Dyp asjett 199,-
• Asjett 229,-

Siden normalpris ellers er 199,- for krus (OBS! har som regel standardutgavene til 149,-) og 299,- for dype asjetter må man jo kalle det knalltilbud. Dere trøndere som samler, eller trenger julegave til noen som samler, er herved tipset.