I have to confess that I did take this photo for the purposes of pinning it to Pinterest (of which I am heartly obsessed with) but isn’t it such a brilliant idea. Tea in a scientific beaker. Photo taken at the Firehouse, Ringwood. Sadly I had a weird reaction to the avocado (I think) in my breakfast and spent the rest of the day not feeling so dandy. But today is a new Saturday and this is a still a damn fine idea.

Watch it.

Check it, Broadsheet have reviewed.

“You don’t write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say.”
— F. Scott Fitzgerald

I’ve been wondering a little about why I haven’t blogged lately, nor even felt the true compulsion to get at it. I’ve lost my rhythm and my routine was royally screwed this past year so it’s no great surprise. Mr Fitzgerald has said it quite nicely. The bulk of the starkness (and patronisingly easy image/music posts) is that I don’t feel like I have very much to say. This of course is probably wrong when I really assess things…

What I haven’t said is…

Lots about work. It’s tricky you know, because I do work on some quite interesting stuff but I can’t really talk about specifics online. Work needs to get seen by the client first. Fortunately the folio, long overdue for a refresh is in the works of a facelift which shall include more work and possibly some of what I’ve done. In general terms some of the exciting/sometimes intimidating stuff I’ve done includes:

• Full building signage, we’re talking large format, stuff I haven’t really done before and it came up pretty well (not a sign, like a whole building wrap and frosted glass areas etc)!
• An exhibition stand. More large format, and a tricky client topic. It amuses me no end this client, it really does.
• Web. Doing more of web has further encouraged the little burn of happiness that comes when the code just works and your <divs> can magically make a structure as fast as you can type. I have also learnt much about Adobe Business Catalyst, which is a CMS/eCommerce solution > not always the solution but is pretty darn nifty. Lets just hope they keep developing it further.

I have loved being part of a small workplace where I can have interesting conversations, am treated (although I am technically a junior designer) as an equal where my input is valued and where I genuinely enjoy the company of the people I work with. We also play Triple J, Indie/Folk, The Smiths (a lot) and have MegaMix Fridays. There is the additional bonus of being within throwing distance of a superb cafe, props to Pat and Toby throughout the week and the Monday guy/girl team (I’ll get around to asking names).

I have said something about how the first two and a half months of full time work left me wrecked and incapable of normal function most evenings. Good news is that I’m getting used to it.

I haven’t said much about Missio Dei, and the community of new friends, the openness, the great food, girls group and the inspiring people who encourage me to live a better life… and join with me in making that happen.

and I haven’t said much about theology and God lately. This is not due to the fact (upon initial suspicion – my own) that I am thinking less about that stuff or am ‘less into that stuff’ etc. – however you might put it. But more that I have come to the conclusion (or rather the inkling) that God is teaching me in a different way at the moment and it’s more to do with my living than with my head. This is indeed a good thing although a monster to deal with at times. How to communicate that just yet, I’m not quite sure. Perhaps I will have to have a little think…

On the same lines as Missio etc and even theology/God/life stuff we have talked a fair bit (we had a camp you see) about the Enneagram, as many of may know I’m a bit mad keen on anything personality and so I jumped at it (and I am going to talk about it because I find it interesting)… Interestingly the Enneagram has actually genuinely helped me recognise certain responses in myself that are very ‘oneish’ and not always positive, and consequently I can change my response or attitude. Steve asked (I think… I could have this totally wrong) way back if I – as a one, clenched my jaw a lot – I said no at the time, but it’s currently freaking me out how much I am catching myself doing it, as a natural physical response I never really noticed to indicate something such as stress or the glorious ‘internal critic’. There’s something for you to chew on if you’re interested in blackboards, about as interesting as chalk – still, very helpful. I don’t think I really fully ‘get it’ yet in regards to helping me connect better with God – but I reckon we’re getting there slowly.

Love books, still do, always have. Bookclub is going great guns, we’re up to our 13th book – I think and have a regular tribe reading the Popular Penguins. We’ve had two engagements (Ana to Blake, Amanda to Tim) and there’s a baby on the way for lovely Cat. Currently we are lacking in the boy department and are working hard (if you’re reading this Norman) to get Norman back and suss out any prospectives. Harsh but true, most of the guys we all know don’t seem to be so inclined to read a book (even in the likes of Dracula or In Cold Blood) and discuss it with great food and wine. Society lacks. Society lacks.

And friends. It has been interesting looking at the past year and what our move North has done to friendships. Proximity is a grand thing. Thankfully many of our friends are above and beyond proximity or we would be dastardly lonely (apart from the new friends… but yeh, we’re still getting there). I went to a friend’s engagement party the other night and caught up with my lovely housemate (where proximity is a geniune issue and not just because we’re lazy about it)… but it reminded me of all the truly wonderful people I know and the richness of those I know who are encouraging and so distinctly themselves. It is so ridiculously good, seeing so many of my friends truly happy at the moment.

Geoff. He’s the best. Marriage is grand.

and now, I have said something. Throw some curlys my way and I might just say more.

As you may have read over on Geoff’s blog there is now a ‘competition’ running with my in-laws to pull the body weight down before Christmas. Mostly as a bit of motivation. I don’t need to lose more than about 5kg so I probably can’t win, but the motivation of a competiton is a good one regardless of the prize (Which is good, but not the real draw card). Unfortunately I’m beginning to suspect that there is one little aspect of my diet that if I altered, could have a relatively decent impact without me doing a whole lot.

Cut the coffee.

I also discovered this past week that coffee has horrendously high embodied water which makes me quite sad (140L per cup!). Embodied water is all the water that goes into making something/a product. If you really want to save water, you can keep having those 3-4minute showers but you really need to work address embodied water as that’s where the biggest change can be made. Yes, your consumption of products affects water. And water is fast running out. We’re in the shits hitting the fan stage. It’s a much bigger problem than advertised.

So will I cut the coffee? Perhaps not all of it, but I will limit the intake somewhat and opt for tea. Although I hate paying for tea when I’m out, I always get the idea that I’m just paying for a little bit of flavoured water… but I guess that’s better than 140L buckets arriving at my table.

Check out more about embodied water on Water Footprint

the awesome coffee infographic is from here

Although Melbourne Coffee Review doesn’t think much of coffee art, I am still out to perfect it. There are difficulties with home machines in getting the milk right (ie. hot enough, quickly enough) but this morning I must have done something right, as the picture suggests; should my technique have been slightly better perhaps we would’ve seen the elusive free pour leaf (which is the the one and only goal – until I reach that and find something else I’d like to do).

So to clarify, I don’t work as a barista – although I recently indulged in a course that was fun and taught me a little more than I knew already. I’d rather work as a designer once I finish this last semester of uni, being a barista might possibly be the temporary fall back plan in case I wind up living out in woop-woop (That story to come when I’m allowed to share it) although I’d probably try wedge myself into some kind of photography job if that ever occurs.

Espresso tips:

• Own a grinder with grind settings… (one day, one day). However the coffee you can make with pre-ground, if you’re careful can be okay, so do proceed.
• Buy Fairtrade
• Grind the beans yourself (see the first and last point – I don’t do this and it makes me sad)
• White dots in the lovely brown crema shouldn’t be there! (see point 1)
• 30 second extraction for 30mls of espresso (see point 1 – not usually or always possible with pre-ground)

Milk frothing tips:

• Hot, fast steam wand
• No noise after the initial, ‘put the wand in the milk’
• Use a milk thermometer if you have no idea, or your heat tolerance in your hands clearly isn’t high enough (like mine)
• If you don’t use a thermometer, heat your milk until you can’t touch the jug and maybe give it a tiny bit extra
• If you can smell your milk you’ve burnt it
• Sit the wand just under the surface at the top of the milk and NOT so it bubbles
• Do not freaking wave the jug up and down, it should just sit there.
• Milk should be smooth and silky and not have air bubbles

Yesterday I finally found them at Wheel & Barrow, after I braved the new Doncaster Westfield. They were tad pricey but a little too pretty to resist.

The verdict on the glasses is good, the verdict on Doncaster is that it’s far too showy and self important. I’d only return for the paper shop, the rest is somewhat ridiculous and I didn’t enjoy the experience.

There’s also the issue of distraction. I’m really good at the whole distraction thing and I’m hoping after the 4 or 5 episodes of Gilmore Girls last night that I’ve worked screen related procrastination out of my system. A camera would be a distraction.

As it goes, yesterday I put in a mammoth effort and completed my 2D animation rotoscope related brief and worked out that there are quite literally millons of ways you can put 3 very similar, relatively boring rotoscoped work together. It’s kind of quirky, I’m sure there are areas I could improve on and I’m really sick of listening to the ragtime soundtrack but it’s done and it’s something out of the way that is due on Thursday (and worth 50% of the subject).

What occupies my mind at present and is suffering from distraction is a group assignment for Managing Design – it’s a proposal based on the Future Melbourne project. I am doing the bulk of the actual writing (tasks divided up according to strengths) and we have a presentation on the draft on Tuesday. The problem is not in writing, but in sitting down for long enough to concentrate the words out of me.

The best technique thus far is taking the mac to a cafe and isolating myself from the internet. But as I’m still in my pyjama’s, that’s probably not the best option right at this moment.

Back to it.

image source

The basic idea is that social justice messages/charities make themselves known on coffee sleeves (Those cardboard things around your cup that attempt to prevent burnage). The sleeves are a conversation starter, hence (hopefully) evoking change.

Now I love the idea, but to be situationally honest, the beautiful cafe culture of Melbourne, (Which is fine indeed), mightn’t be the best of venues for the application. Our Starbucks are closing by the dozen, Gloria Jeans do their own charity work and the majority of our ‘non-chain’, (Becuase we believe in non-chain coffee) cafe’s use cups that actually do the job already… or, you sit down and get a real glass with your latte.

That saying. HQ could use some help, although they may not want to cover up their delusional character filled labels. They could also use some help in the brewing department but that’s an entirely different story.

Regardless of the fact that I think the idea mightn’t float so well in this city of mine, I do like the concept and I may yet suggest it to my semi local ‘Kofi Bean’ because they would probably get behind something like this.

Also check out Junky Car Club. Get yourself out of debt, buy your car outright. We did. AND we only own one car between the two of us, it’s quite doable. Save the planet at the same time as your consumeristic butt.