likes, loves and lusts

today is...

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...toadstool nails day!

library complete!

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It's taken a while to update this, but the library project is complete! With books, toys, chess set, carpet, chairs, table and everything!

green mantis

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colour me...

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One of my favourite, favourite blogs ever is Color Me Katie, a blog written by New York artist, Katie Sokoler, detailing all the projects and activities she gets up to that brighten her world. Every time I read it, I feel inspired to go out and do exactly what she's doing, only it doesn't translate so well here. For example, riding the tube without your pants on. Love the idea. Won't work here. Colouring in the snow. Love the idea. Won't work here.

But I don't think that should stop me, and I've decided to take Katie's blog as a guide and inspiration - how can I colour up my world?
Last weekend I bought myself a bucket of giant chalk, to try Katie's chalk project. It didn't work nearly as nicely as I'd hoped because a) a quiet suburban road doesn't really have an audience b) tar is a LOT coarser on our roads than I realised.

But I still got to make a colourful rainbow for when we arrive back home :) Onwards and upwards from here!



today is...

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Zebra nails day! Actually, it was last week, but I didn't get round to posting the photo.

everyone needs one of these in their neighbourhood

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dinner for twelve

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Nomiya is a new project situated on the roof of Palais de Tokyo, in the same vein as the Everland Hotel before it. It's a temporary structure, made entirely of glass overlooking the Eiffel Tower - and it's a restaurant.

Designed by artist Laurent Grasso and developed in conjunction with Electrolux Art Home, Nomiya seats just twelve people for a most memorable dining experience.
The auction is now open for Valentine's dinner! Who's in?

See a collection of images of Nomiya.

fawtly towers

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So R and i went to Dullstroom over the weekend so he could do some mountain bike training. I was looking for somewhere to relax and read while he was out. A girl's lazy weekend on the couch.
I found a spot that looked charming and cozy enough online, and off we went to Auldstone house.

Unfortunately while its mentioned on their website that Auldstone house is on the main road, what you have to realise is that the main road is a truck thoroughfare - it only quietens down at night and on Sunday. Not something you'd think of when going to a tiny town like Dullstroom.

But that's not what really bugged me...

While sitting there on Saturday morning, i received a marketing text message from Auldstone House advertising their whiskey tasting nights. I'd only arrived the night before, and wasn't going to be there come Wednesday, so huh?
I also didn't request marketing messages, or give permission for them to use my mobile number for that purpose. When i mentioned this in a survey i was asked by Auldstone to fill in, i received a prompt reply from Dullstroom Reservations telling me that "More often than not we have guests thanking us for introducing them to such a unique experience, most of our guests are really pleasant." Excuse me!? No, "thank you, noted, we have removed your number from our database". Instead i was told that "most of our guests are really pleasant".

I was also told "you're the first to complain. You can't please all of the people all of the time". I've never been treated with such unprofessionalism and rudeness from the hospitality industry before - especially when YOU ASKED ME to take time out of MY schedule to fill in YOUR survey so you could "improve your service" to guests going forward. It totally shocked me. But the more i thought about it, the more it fit - Dullstroom is expensive and arrogant, and really doesn't live up to its reputation. I'd do Nottingham Road before i did Dullstroom again any day.

So thank you Auldstone House, for cermenting an opinion i thought i might have been misguided in. I won't be back.