ciao ciao!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIUsuUsiKb0

I open with a current favourite. I think Sharon Van Etten has release two albums both in recent years. Her most recent, 'Are we there?', opens with a superb song, 'Afraid of nothing'. I immediately stop whatever I am doing, on hearing the opening piano chords,  I know that her wonderful voice is about to tell me the song.

SVE

Life can be tough. I am a very strong believer in fate and destiny, as you know. However, it is impossible to foresee, and predict accurately. Everyone knows what they want, however it can unattainable. One’s journey, searching towards their goal, allows fate to take control. With such an unknown, I do not know what i can do. Confused? So am i… Life is for living. Live life and just accept that fate controls you. 

Unusually, I now give you a bit of product promotion and brand advertisement. Wonderful yoghurt that I discovered at the local supermarket.

I had one mouthful of the 'apple & cinammon' yoghurt, and was in heaven!

Twekkelo Farmhouse Yoghurts of Holland

http://www.twekkelo.co.uk

Apple & Cinnamon

mmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm :P

White space! 😛

Ok, as you may notice from this website, I love 'white space'. I am a graphic designer, so this may not be surprising. I made the above note, after I had left working, and being in a group debriefing. I was warned not to do this again. Basically, gggrrrrrrrrr!

Hehehe. I was in a department store in Richmond yesterday. On the way to 'wheelchair toilets', and I noticed someone following me! I continue anyway 

‘Do you want help?'

The following woman actually asked to help! I was startled, relieved that it hadn't been a 7ft heavyweight wrestler, but she was asking to help me go to the loo! WTF! Dazed and confused, I was. I then fortunately realise how far forward i relatively am. Yet again, I am in a wheelchair, so I am used to being grouped together with all disabled! Hmmm.

A quality tune...

Black Bat Liquorice

http://vimeo.com/97231342

decisions, decisions...

It is cold today, and I have made an important decision.

xmas Tree-less 

not yet pic!

It is only November, but the town is full of festive decoration (in sunshine)! 

I am not having a Christmas Tree this year. I will aim to give my flat a festive feel, but will not fall down with everyone else. A tree will not be needed. I am thirty years old, I live by myself, the decision is mine! I am different to everybody. Everybody is different, but everyone else acts the same. I want to show independence.

I moan about the ignorance of many shops...

I'm used to looking in shop windows, but now I find myself glancing immediately at the step in the doorway. If inaccessible, it is pointless for me to look at window!

I cooked the tastiest ever pasta dish, on Tuesday. I am proud but very experienced at this, well, relatively! I decided that no meat was needed, when shopping on the day before. I attempted to balance this, by using more vegetables. I bought a lot of garlic. I used a lot of garlic. Mid way through the meal, I could taste that

Garlic is the key!!!!

I probably won't be able to repeat this exactly, but now I have found the key is not meat, but garlic! :)

Angel Olsen

Angel Olsen

I recommended Ms Olsen the other week, via her NPR TinyDesk performance. An immediate fan, I bought the album. Brilliant. 'Depressing', I love it!

Maybe my typing style is too honest

Hmmm. I am not going to talk in detail about this note. It seems that I have become too  relaxed in my style of typing, too familiar with typing oh this blog with such honesty. The feelings are in my head, I can communicate graphically, maybe I am too lazy with choice of written words.

A communication breakdown.

Laura Doggett

Laura Dogget

Jools Holland is an amazing source for me!

I realise that someone has recommended Ms Dogget before, but unfortunately I did not investigate (sorry, whoever)

Santa's diet

A further reason for no tree. I hear that Santa is on a diet this year, so no mince pies!

Outstanding. Old, but maybe the best goal ever?...

I am impressed by the audacity!

Zlatan - 2008

wondergoal

So it goes...

Hmmm. I begin by relating to 'Rememberance Sunday', of the past week. Many people have visited the 'Tower of London', which has exhibited an amazing poppy display. Amazing it is, yet it perhaps should not be a surprise. It has been over a century since the beginning of the Great War, we should remember all wars anyway. Therefore we should always remember. No matter what ethnicity, origin, belief, or race.

Always remember. Always allow rememberance, of whoever, by whoever. We all are taught differently, thankfully.

Very few things 'ignite ME' a you anymore. Well different things. Coffee.

I want to learn about it... 

The above note was made much earlier in the week. I was feeling a bit lost, but then quickly found myself, as I completed the note! I researched online, finding an exciting project for myself as a graphic designer.

Pencil sharpener 

A pencil sharpener. Hmm, remember them? Hehe, I joke (sort of). I was writing my shopping list, using a blunt pencil. As I knew where the sharpener is kept, I decided it was needed. I realise that this sounds very strange and pathetic, but I found immense joy in using this tool.  Saddened by myself, I remembered how regularly I used to use one, but then figured that I am probably not alone. Although emails, Internet and tablet devices are wonderful, we must remember the wonderful simplicity of a pencil and paper!

I have stayed strong enough to refrain  from starting my day, with a coffee at breakfast. I admit that I have felt tempted, but I've stayed strong.

Life in a wheelchair. Hmmm, able-bodied people usually find themselves in a position of 'giving-way' or allowing myself to pass through a tight gap, first. However should myself (in a wheelchair) come across a 'motor-buggy', they are usually driven by an OAP speed-demon, zipping along without a care for anything or anyone! Unfortunately these maniacs count as wheelchair users (even if I I see them walking around town, later)! Grrrrrr

Old people speeding alongside  in buggies

See a gap? Just go for it!

Hehehe! I continue, talking about my wheelchair driving skills. I am self-confident(as you all know), and quite proud of my wheelchair-driving ability. I am confident that my former life as a keen cyclist has the answer. My ability of judging sizes, gaps, gradients was initially partly learnt as a mountain-biker (North-downs, and French Alps)!

My next note is one word.

Chocolate 

Hehehe. I want to proclaim myself as 'banning chocolate'. The heavenly taste was experienced the other day. I realise that I may taste chocolate, through other means (such as coffee mochas, or hot-chocolate drinks), but there is nothing like biting into a chunk of chocolate! I will refrain, as the longer I go without, the better it will be! ;)

smoke fairies
There is news from an upcoming release, of a new album from a pair of 'my new music favourites' ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rkgc2fLVAXg

I return home, as I am unlocking my door, I am singing 'So it goes'. I want to listen. Decisions, decisions...

Do I scroll through the alphabet three times on ipod(artist, album, song), or do I hope my cd will not jump/skip?

IPod wins...

so it goes...

... 'play on!'

OK, i type this in my flat, frustrated as I have typed this blogs post during the day, but I have just deleted!  :(

Fortunately I have all the notes, so i will type again. As I know that this process is energetic for me, you guessed correctly, coffee will be made! :)

Yay, my coffee, not some shop's (mine IS the best).

First note of the week, was actually made last weekend. Oh man, I have seen Dave Grohl in a variety of guises, but he is best known leading the Foo Fighters. He is a legend, and so, I view everything that he does with much regard. He is currently showing on BBC, with the Foo Fighters, a documentary tv series, 'Sonic Highways'. Behind-the-scenes footage of their upcoming album creation.

Much studio action is combined with relevant interviews etc. A must for any fan of the Foos.

Foo Fighters

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04n60j3/foo-fighters-sonic-highways-1-chicago

My second note, is another music tip-off.

Parov Stelar 

I 'discovered' this through a friend online. OK, a few years old, but new to me! I heard, liked, investigated and downloaded (all online). It's the 21st century, man!!

Although some of it is eclectic, I was attracted most by his superb montage of electronic house and swing jazz musics.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt--KPIXk7j7NU/parov_stelar_the_mojo_radio_gang_radio_version_coco_ep/

Unusual, but I heard that eggs are being sold separately in France. Apparently the future is no longer 'bulk buy'. In France, one egg is...

un ouef :(

Teeheeheehee. I am always complimented for my humo..

...No there is no point in trying to hide! Sorry.

Back to serious matters, relating to 'wheelchair life'...

Accessible toilets are rare. Hmmm, ok, we know this. However, they do exist. When a toilet is 'accessible', rarely is the whole room designed accessibly. Unless, they are 'wheelchair-specific', the room is designed for able bodies. Rarely, do i go into a toilet and can view the mirror. OK, the actual toilet and sink are useable, but anything else?...

... Hmmm I am excusing myself for always having a faceful of cappuccino!    

Mirrors 

I know that 'Lily & Madeleine' have a new album out, so I was investigating online, when I stumbled across this superb US website. Whilst essentially it is a big website with a lot of news and politics, I skipped, going straight into the tremendous archive of live music. I highly recommend. 

US news and politics? No no

Live Music? Yes Yes

http://www.npr.org/event/music/260174254/lily-madeleine-tiny-desk-concert?autoplay=true

Angel Olsen

Banks - ‘raw' live version :

The Angel Olsen album is good, however I read reviews and decided against Banks'. There is so much on this npr.org including a variety of genres. All quality. 

Disney hit the streets of Kingston in the summer.

Naughty Mickey :)

Life in rehabilitation. I know I pushed as hard as I could. This satisfies. Life was extremely tough, but I would now be living through hell, if I thought that I could have done more. 

I am alternative (I've always thought this).

Fortunately, I still believe that somehow everything equals, else I would be 'elsewhere'.