Week 13: are you afraid of ghosts?

Typical - I went out of my way to plan a great scary experience for this week, and one just came along for free, in the form of a GIANT hairy spider in our living room. So gargantuan was this beast that I didn't even think of getting the camera to take a picture, I just called Tom on his mobile (he was upstairs in bed and I couldn't walk past the door without getting within 6 feet of said spider) and he "took care" of it, in the mafia sense of the phrase.

But as I said, there is no documentary evidence of that experience, so it doesn't count. What does count is the 2-hour ghost tour we took on Friday night, courtesy of the brave folk at http://www.ghosttours.com.au/.



The tour took us all around the historic Rocks area of the city, which was the first area of Sydney settled by the immigrants when the first fleet landed here so many moons ago. This was one of the best things about the tour, getting to see all the little nooks and crannies of an area I barely knew, and learning all about the history of the area itself. Top that off with a few well-embellished ghost stories told by our dramatic guide, some of them genuinely chilling, and you've got a banging Friday night right there.




Love, ali x

Week 13: Scaremonger

This weeks challenge is to experience something scary.

Gem xxx (the kisses are for luck)

Week 12: Cherching £££

In the year 1983 the Bank Of England, seen here, introduced the one pound coin. I searched high and low in this city of money to find such a coin which was first circulated 27 years ago pictured in my wee palm below.

It was, however, more tricky to avoid using it when drunk at the bars. I must have looked like a total lunatic to the barmen as I squinted to see if the coin was 'my precious' which I firmly shoved back in my wallet until today. Now I can spend away!

This was a tough one but well worth it.

Gem xxx

Week 12: 1983, a wonderful year

I am blessed to have contacts high up in the architecture industry in Sydney, who can reel off the dates of buildings at the drop of a hat. I thus had several possible ways to fulfil my challenge this week, but finally opted for the beachside location of Manly, where sits the Queenscliff pavilion, established 1983 and opened in June of that year by the honourable Mayor, David A Hay (MBE).





As you can see, the exterior of the building isn't up to much, even with the lovely Tom & Katie standing in front of it, but hey, it was acceptable in the '80s (ha!).

Love, ali x

Week 11: Pub Shmub, this is where we party

As you pointed out in your post, the interpretation of 'pub' can be loose and fluid. This is good as my pub was a Japanese bar on Old Compton St called Binchu Yakatori. I went there with friends from work after a screening of a film we produced called 'In The Land Of The Free'. These are girls that I work with and it was nice to hang out with new friends and get to know each other. We had some warm Saki and some tasty nibbles, it was a brilliant way to end an evening.

Love Gem xxx

Week 12: Isn't she lovely?

Hey birthday girl,

This week, our challenge is to visit somewhere in our cities that is exactly the same age as you are going to become this week. It can't be a person, but that's the only restriction.

Love, ali x

Week 11: this is my life

This is Sydney, so the concept of "pub" doesn't transfer neatly across from the UK prototype. Pubs here are "hotels", large warehouses for the consumption of alcohol, without any of the saving graces of roaring fires and swirly carpets that you'll find in the traditional British boozer. So, this week our "pub" was the Domain, a large parkland area in the middle of the city. Our beverage was cider. Our outcome was FUN.



Love, ali x

Week 11: Let the good times roll

Enjoy a drink in the pub with a friend.

Gem xxx

Tick Follows Tock Follows Tick Follows Tock

Taking the plunge in week 10

Here's me and Matt sitting by Victoria Park pool, looking forward to our half hour of vigorous exercise. However, I quickly remembered that I am a rubbish swimmer, and could only manage a couple of spluttering lengths of breast stroke and backstroke (i.e. the cheating man's stroke), of which sadly no photographic evidence exists. Never fear though, I had already planned on signing up for a swimming course, which starts at the end of January - so I should be nimble as a fish in time to catch the end of the Australian summer. This would be fantastic as there are so many great outdoor pools here, not to mention ocean swimming, of course - if you can dodge the sharks...

Love, ali x

Week 10: everything in moderation

This week, emulate this happy woman by partaking in at least half an hour of vigorous exercise. Eating and drinking don't count, but pretty much everything else does.

Ali x

Week 9: So you have mastered the basics, now take it to the next level.

One of the most common themes of New Years resolutions is to try something new and I like this theme in particular due to the fact that I don't like giving anything up or limiting my excesses. Therefore I thought it right to build on something you have already showed some ability in to allow you to enhance a fledgling talent.

Life drawing is arguably the most difficult subject an artist commonly encounters, and entire classes are dedicated to the subject (some of which start at a modest £6.50 per lesson).

The human figure is one of the most enduring themes in the visual arts and in a bid to enhance your already established talent (see paintings from the 'London Years' under the acclaimed Tom AW, and the signs exhibited in Sydney airport from the 'OZ period') you must take a life drawing class in 2010.

Enjoy, it is a wonderful experience, even if all you end up with is a blob resembling nothing more than the Minotaur.

Gem xxx

Week 9: what dreams may come!

Gemma,

This year, resolve to write down your dreams every morning when you wake up. Get hold of a suitably pretty (but sturdy) notebook, keep it by your bedside, and try to jot down what you've been dreaming about as soon as you awake. Who knows what this precious record will inspire you to?

Wishing you a happy, happy 2010.

Love, ali x