April update

New blog features

I've been slowly working on some new things:

I've set RSS feeds up properly, so if you have an RSS reader you can stay up to date with my blog.

I've also been working on a dumb little project to add to my site, a tamagotchi version of my cat Bagheera.

He's not quite done yet but eventually he will be able to do all the things real Bagheera does: poop, meow, etc.

Melbourne Comedy Fest

Unlike last year where I crammed in 5 shows a night, I've only seen one show this comedy festival: Guy Montgomery's Guy Montspelling Bee. Bafflingly popular (I mean, I love it, but I was surprised he sold out the Palais!). Promising for future seasons of the TV show.

It was a really great show, with a bit more fanciness in it compared to last year, with live spelling and roaming cameras for the 'spell the audience member's name' segment.

Also I haven't been to the Palais before, it's a beautiful theatre, and I got to see the horrifying visage of Luna park at night!

Closer to home

A friend came to visit town, so we took her out to the local goth bar at a very inappropriate time for a goth bar: 5pm (she had dinner plans with local family). The vibes weren't quite right, but the drinks were nice. Here's Henry opening up a treasure chest full of smoke (and a fancy drink).

Henry has been busy making the connecting bridge between the catio and the house. Now Bagheera can come and go as he pleases (but somehow he still complains at us to be let outside the back door)

Henry also made me a lovely shelf for my sewing room/office. Now I can display cute things on it! I need to get a nice big droopy plant or two.

Baking exploits

I made some of Samin Nostrat's Ligurian foccaccia to bring to a friends place. It's so easy and so good (it's all the olive oil and salt). Topped it with some of our home grown cherry tomatoes (which are still producing fruit in this strange warm Autumn weather we are having).

We then brought it to our friends house where they made a delicious mediterranean feast.

I also made some hot cross buns last night, from the Beatrix Bakes cookbook. They taste good but are a little flat, maybe needed different flour? She puts black pepper in her spice mix which is a fun addition.

I iced the crosses with an op-shop find: some cute copper vintage piping tips that came in a cute tin.

Sewing stuff

The library had some pattern making books which I borrowed, including one that was all about drafting patterns accessories, like hats, shoes, gloves etc. But for some reason it also very strongly wanted you to know that it also had a bunch of dog clothes patterns.

I've also been working on some sewing projects, but have yet to take some good photos, so more details will be in future posts, but I have been working on drafting a properly-fitting bodice block from my measurements so I can draft my own patterns. So far I've run through 2 different methods and just bought an online course to try for a third method (so you can tell it's gone well and not driven me crazy at all).

I also finished the shirt/shacket that I promised I would make Henry for his birthday last year! I'm pretty proud of the details on it, so I need to make him model for some proper photos before I share it :)

📺 What I've been watching

I keep watching videos about trying to quit/cut down on phone usage. Just the whole state of gestures around at everything has made me feel pretty down about tech, tech industry and social media. So far I'm struggling to kick the addiction. But maybe if I watch a few more of these videos on my phone I might be able to do it.

I stumbled across this vlog of a Japanese woman visiting Melbourne, and thought it was funny seeing the reverse of the blogs of all the Australians going overseas to gush over Japanese food, sights and shopping. It's fun to see your home through another person's eyes! I also enjoy her shots and colour grading.

A few months ago we bought an awesome original sculptural art piece, and the creator has a making of video of it which is so fun to watch.

🎮 What I've been playing

I've not been playing much except Balatro lately, but I did play through the first story of The Roottrees are Dead which is a fun puzzle game where you have to fill out a complex family tree based on using 1998 level internet research. A lot of searching for keywords to uncover different websites, looking up periodical magazines to find articles etc. Very similar kind of concept to Hypnospace Outlaw which I also really enjoyed (but Hypnospace is much better aesthetically).

🎵 What I've been listening to

• Lucio Corsi - Volevo Essere Un DuroI'm still deep in Eurovision mode. I really like this one from Italy this year.
• Shock Treatment - Bitchin' In The Kitchen I just really like this weird Rocky Horror sequels songs, ok?
• Tandy 1000 RSX Deskmate Music Samples Henry got a CD compilation of classical music, and when Canon in D started playing I was transported back to childhood playing with the music software on my sister's hand me down Tandy computer. This is what I think this song should sound like, the classical music versions weird :P.