29.12.12

'U got da horn so why don't u blow it' -Prince

Today i was standing at the tram stop minding my own business, probably looking pretty damn miserable as homesickness is in overdrive courtesy of my older brothers visit over Christmas, that and it was stupidly cold.
Then these two strangers came up to me and gave me a rose.
I was really confused at first.
What do you want?
Money?
Sexual favours?
Turns out they were just cruising around handing out roses
No double agenda going on.
No anthrax sprinkled on.
No nothing.
Just a beautiful rose.

Now i just thought that was lovely. Got me thinking about those mythical beings we like to call 'genuinely nice people'.

Want some inspiration. Check out this awesome post from Buzzfeed.com.











26 Moments That Restored Our Faith In Humanity This Year

Sometimes you need a reminder that people can do wonderful things.posted 


1. The parents who made their son's wheelchair into the best Halloween costume ever

The parents who made their son's wheelchair into the best Halloween costume ever

2. The terminally ill man who loves receiving mail... and got more than he ever expected

The terminally ill man who loves receiving mail... and got more than he ever expected
Scott Widak has Down syndrome and suffers from liver disease, and he loves receiving mail. His nephew Sean posted his P.O. Box on Reddit and the site's users responded with hundreds of letters, packages, and gifts.

3. A kind stranger who stopped a day from being ruined

A kind stranger who stopped a day from being ruined

4. The doctor who offered free medical care after Hurricane Sandy

The doctor who offered free medical care after Hurricane Sandy

5. And the people that helped out any way that they could

And the people that helped out any way that they could
Via: reddit.com
Hospital employees make a human chain passing containers of fuel up 13 flights of stairs to the backup generator at Bellevue Hospital in New York City.

6. The older couple who saw themselves in two young parents

The older couple who saw themselves in two young parents

7. This Libyan child who doesn't believe in hate

This Libyan child who doesn't believe in hate

8. The parents who tattooed insulin pumps on their bellies so their diabetic son wouldn't feel "different"

The parents who tattooed insulin pumps on their bellies so their diabetic son wouldn't feel "different"

9. The police officer who bought shoes for a barefoot homeless man

The police officer who bought shoes for a barefoot homeless man
Jennifer Foster was visiting Times Square on Nov. 14 when she snapped the heartwarming moment. Here's her account of what happened:
“Right when I was about to approach, one of your officers came up behind him. The officer said, ‘I have these size 12 boots for you, they are all-weather. Let’s put them on and take care of you.’ The officer squatted down on the ground and proceeded to put socks and the new boots on this man. The officer expected NOTHING in return and did not know I was watching*. I have been in law enforcement for 17 years. I was never so impressed in my life. I did not get the officer’s name. It is important, I think, for all of us to remember the real reason we are in this line of work. The reminder this officer gave to our profession in his presentation of human kindness has not been lost on myself or any of the Arizona law enforcement officials with whom this story has been shared.”

10. And the police officers who made blind 13-year-old Gage Hancock-Stevens' dream of being a cop come true

And the police officers who made blind 13-year-old Gage Hancock-Stevens' dream of being a cop come true

They even gave him a cake

They even gave him a cake

11. The Michigan soccer team who gave their team manager with Down syndrome an opportunity to start

The Michigan soccer team who gave their team manager with Down syndrome an opportunity to start
Source: Courtney Sacco  /  via: annarbor.com
Source: Courtney Sacco  /  via: annarbor.com
Source: Courtney Sacco  /  via: annarbor.com

12. The Texas A&M students that blocked Westboro Baptist Church protesters with a human wall

The Texas A&M students that blocked Westboro Baptist Church protesters with a human wall
When students heard that Westboro Baptist Church planned on protesting the funeral of a soldier, they formed a human barricade around the funeral service to block them out.

13. And this brave kid who stood up against hate

And this brave kid who stood up against hate

14. The woman who kept a homeless man dry during a downpour

The woman who kept a homeless man dry during a downpour

15. The Disney security guard who is amazing at his job

The Disney security guard who is amazing at his job
Via: reddit.com

16. The Icelandic heroes who rescued sheep during a major snowstorm

The Icelandic heroes who rescued sheep during a major snowstorm

17. The quick-thinking little girl who saved her mom's life by slapping her with a piece of pizza

18. The young girl who loves her dog unconditionally

The young girl who loves her dog unconditionally
Source: twentytwowords.com  /  via: cheezburger.com

19. The famous rugby player who visited his biggest fan in the hospital

The famous rugby player who visited his biggest fan in the hospital

20. The bros who worked together to save a cat

The bros who worked together to save a cat

21. The community that came together to make Caine's dream a reality

The community that came together to make Caine's dream a reality
You can watch the full story here.

22. The football star who gives children in need a shopping spree each year

The football star who gives children in need a shopping spree each year
This is a receipt for $19,000 in toys.

23. The man who comforts the old dog that saved his life

The man who comforts the old dog that saved his life
When John Unger had suicidal thoughts after a breakup, it was his dog Shoep who brought him back from the brink. This photograph shows Unger cradling his friend in lake Superior to soothe the dog's arthritis.
Source: johnschoep.zenfolio.com  /  via: facebook.com

24. These candidates for parents of the year

These candidates for parents of the year

25. The amazing couple who stuck together through unbelievable odds

The amazing couple who stuck together through unbelievable odds

26. And every single time anything like this happened.

And every single time anything like this happened.

So lets all stop being grumpy shits.
Thanks www.buzzfeeds.com from your wise accumulation of pictures, videos and all things viral.


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23.11.12

It's a sad day for Australian literature.

If you are unaware of the name Bryce Courtenay shame on you. SHAME ON YOU.

He was one of the greatest modern wordsmith and storyteller to come out of Australia (yes sure he's South-African born but we adopted him as our own) and had one of his books turned into a film with Morgan Freeman, so with that alone you know he's a cool dude.
Four of his books have secure places in my top ten. They are so beautifully crafted that each book has been revised to my memory at least 5 times each. The Power of One (aforementioned book-turn-film with Freeman) made me want to take up boxing. Tandia, it's subsequent sequel made me wish i wasn't so politically ignorant. Jessica then brought out this bushwack side of me, fuelling this bizarre craving to ride around the outback on a horse, being all righteous and whatnot. And finally April Fools Day made me, a self-proclaimed anti-cryer, bawl my eyes out on the train from Sydney to Byron while an elderly woman looked on cautiously.

Bryce Courtenay passed away on the 22nd November. Yesterday.
I never knew the man but i wish i did.

He left this video on his long-time publishers (Penguin) YouTube channel that just makes you want to cuddle the man.

RIP Mr Courtenay, you brilliant man.


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21.11.12

Legit. I swear.

So of recent I have started to try and get over my lack of motivation by writing for a few online mags in Australia. It's still early days so the jury is still out. However, an interview i conducted with top Aussie wonderkid, Mitchell McLennan is up on Fawn Magazine.

He's a cool dude.
Takes a great pic.
Loves a good party.

For more on Mitch click 

8.11.12

No not Sweden, Switzerland.

Switzerland is like Sweden's cousin that the family keeps hidden in the attic so Sweden can outshine its rival cousin. The end result is now people aren't to aware of it's existence. Except for a few things in the past before the exile began, like watches, or banks, or cheese, or chocolate. The generic memories.

But low and behold the tiny landlocked country is making a come-back. How? By hosting a leg of the Merecedes Benz Fashion Week tour. Yes there wasn't enough fashion to prolong the event to Week but nevertheless Mercedes Benz Fashion Days Zurich is in town. And last night was the Official Opening.

Wrangling a press pass proved to be fairly simple. It's true it's who you know not what you know. Don't try and fool yourself otherwise with your ideas of prevailing morality.

While in the VIP tent wandering around i was amazed at having walked through the wardrobe from the less concerned commeners into the Narnia of the well-dressed where Pims was free flowing and German chatter ensued.

A few designers paid models to strutt their stuff down the runway and i'll tell you what, kudos. Kudos because there was some beautiful clothing going around and to my knowledge fashion isn't the most front running aspect of Switzerland. They have really stepped up their game that's for sure.

However, you can read about all of that elsewhere. I think i'll just focus on the other things i saw that i find worthy of noting.

The actual show started off with some cute mistranslation in cute euro accents. Milan designer Massimo Giorgetti claimed that 'loves the clean hair, the people, the sky' but kept focusing on his love of the hair. It wasn't until the audience realised he meant 'air' that we all collectively made a condescending 'AWWWW'  coupled with approving nods.

There was a nip slip during Marco De Vencenzo show which if i was the vollunteer offered up for the steaming job, i would have quit right there and then.

Mila Schon's beautiful gowns got individual applause as they went down the runway but you could barely hear over the noise backstage (slight exaggeration).

Guest of honour Lauren Hutton, super foxy model from back in the day, was questioned 'Can you reveal me a beauty secret?' Her reply - "Good men." 

Swiss band Pegasus played. Modern day looking Beatles with their suits and carefully 'uncut and unstyled' hair. Not my particular genre of music but can definitely appreciate Noah Veraguth's voice. And that they were hot.

One plug i have to make is the clothing from the aforementioned 'hair lover' Giorgetti and his label MSGM. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. Colourful, patterns, cute cuts, dresses, skirts, jackets, shorts and just good ol' styling. But i'll write something on it sometime soon. Promise.

. Must be important.

. Not bad, not bad at all.

. Full crowd.

. Cute, right?.

. Beautiful women in front of you, get off your iPhone.



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23.10.12

Mother clucking surf's up (metaphorically....no actually, not even metaphorically. Damn it!)


'Mother fucking surf's up'
- Moses Gun Collective

Well no, not for me. For as you see i have made the rash decision to continue living in Switzerland. No not Sweden as most people tend to confuse. Sweden is the country full of beautiful gene pools, Switzerland is the chocolate land, you know, Lindt and all that.

So I'm here. Living in a landlocked country where snow is imminent.
After spending summer in the States frolicking with the corrupted youth of over consumption and ponies (seriously) i had planned to cheat my allotted summer time and make a hast return to Australia for yet another summer. But alas! Things never turn out as planned. 

Summer has been traded in for frost bite and hypothermia in a country with no beach, no surf, no ocean.

Already, in autumn, the weather has dropped below anything my tender Australian body is used to and the baffled claims of the natives 'it's not even winter yet!' makes me think that i may not be as prepared as need be. I mean it's a good thing i have all my summer clothes that i will be in no way needing with me, but it's ok, i just knitted myself a scarf. It's red.

For someone who spent a who year of her life avoiding the sun like the plague (a whole other story), getting used to this wouldn't seem so hard. But courtesy of the forever present reminders that summer is a-coming for my fellow Australia's, the transition is proving to be.......hard for nostalgic sake.

I am not able to give up summer yet, my stubborn brain won't allow me. It is so set on the idea of bare legs and floral prints i even managed to get in a few last days of wearing shorts. Mind you, the other city walkers where stunned, 'What is this? A girl wearing shorts? This can't be right.....summer is over..'

Summer is over when i fucking say it's over. And right now i'm not ready to let it go.
For now, the indoors will have to shelter me and my scantly clad body from the cold.
Summer, my love, please don't leave me. 



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