Normally winter is dull. But this winter is amazing and it keeps getting better. Writers festivals, film festivals, art festivals and now…A WINTER FESTIVAL. I missed out on this whole thing last year. But, outdoor iceskating, mulled wine and carbohydrate food! It doesn’t get any better. Austrians today, are amazing. All I need now is a wee trip to the mountains for some type of woolen goods and some hot chocolate.

My gave me this new casserole dutch over dish for my birthday. It’s pretty great because I chucked a whole bunch of random things into the other night and put pastry on top and put it in the oven. And well, I pretty much can’t wait for lunch again.

Last night me and my pal Ella went to see PechaKucha. As we walked there we were wondering if it was going to be a bit ‘wanky’. It could have gone either way. The formula is, 20 slides with 20 seconds to talk about each one. Anyone can do it, but talk about something you’re passionate about.
I had immediate flashbacks to that painful Belvoir piece all those years back, slideshows of that man’s family history. I wouldn’t want to inflict that upon myself again. Anyway, being a Japanese invention (invented by architects who were sick of long boring architectural speeches), made me think it would have something going for it. In fact I was the one who has been so keen to go, but I did have reservations.
Anyway, it was great! People just talked about all these random projects they were into. Things you’d never normally hear about, like the woman who has a ‘design’ studio and who collects Australiana teatowels and makes upholstery stools from them. And the woman who told the story of a garage sale of stuff from her parents house and their nice country community. The swing dancing dude. But it was just all these little snippets of people’s lives, things people love and inviting us to share in it. It was so inspiring.

Often I get stressed at uni and then I worry that I am doing the wrong thing. But, I am writing my feature on forestry right now and I am having FUN. And I had fun making my TV story even though it stressed me out. So that is good. What is not good is how angry the NSW Government is making me right now! It’s incredulous what they say. I better not say anything more or I will tarnish my online image as a non-biased journalist. But I have facts! Fools.

I love Germans. They invented plantations in 1850 because it was easier to grow trees in straight lines.

It’s sort of funny, one (well, actually maybe just me) becomes a journalist because that is the way to change public opinion…and well therefore, the world. But just as I don’t trust anyone else to guide public opinion, I sure don’t trust myself. So I don’t really know what the solution is.