Anton's 19th birthday

Los 19 de Anton los celebramos pasando un dia juntos y dandole muchos abrazos y palmaditas y todo lo que se nos ocurria darle ese dia. Como le puse en la tarjeta nunca ningun regalo parece suficiente, ya que el se merece el mundo entero. Mi hijo es el mejor hijo del mundo y verlo crecer tan rapido me da como nostalgia. Fue un dia lindo, empezo con regalitos, donuts y factura, despues salimos a pasear, merendamos en Choclatte y compramos otros regalitos y termino con fiesta en casa, torta y mini concierto de guitarra y violin. Hijo solo deseo que seas muy feliz, te mereces nada menos. Te amo!

We spent Anton's 19th birthday celebrating together giving him lots of cuddles and pats on the back and everything that we could think of to give him. Like I said in his card no gift is enough, he deserves the world. My son is the best son in the world and seeing him grow up so quickly makes me feel nostalgic. It was a very nice day, started with presents, donuts and pastries, followed by a trip to the shops, more presents, afternoon tea at Choclatte and ended up at home with dinner with friends, cousins and a mini guitar and violin concert. Son I only wish you happiness, you deserve nothing less. I love you!

Too bright

My cats don't like the light in the morning. I must admit I feel like them when my alarm goes off and I realise it is time to get up. Oli is really funny because he only opens one eye, he likes the idea of being only half asleep (literally), but still see what is going on around him.

It was Felipe's birthday on Saturday and we forgot to celebrate so he will have to share Anton's birthday celebrations. Sorry Felipe your humans are too busy and are not being very good, but don't worry not long now before things start to change. We love you so much!

A mis gatos no les gusta la luz a la manana. Debo admitir que yo me siento como ellos cuando suena mi alarma y me doy cuenta que es hora de levantarse. Oli es re gracioso porque abre un ojo solo, le gusta la idea de seguir medio dormido, literalmente, pero todavia poder ver que es lo pasa a su alrededor.

Fue el cumple de Felipe el sabada y otra vez paso desapercibido, asique manana tendra que compartir la celebracion con su hermano Anton. Perdon Felipe tus humanos estan muy ocupados y no te estan dando mucha bola, pero no te preocupes que falta poquito para que las cosas empiecen a cambiar (para mejor). Te amamos tanto!

Ethiopian Food

I have never had Ethiopian food before and I think I will never have it again. Not that the flavours weren't nice or interesting, it's more the way it was all so meaty and cooked like a puree. The meat dishes looked like meat puree, the pieces so small that it was almost like a paste with nothing more than three pieces of lettuce to accompany it.

The food was spicy and quite hot and there was no cutlery to eat with. The food came with this pancake like bread that you had to brake into pieces and use to pick your food up with it. I couldn't eat more than 4 mouthfuls and I was really sick of the intense flavour. I thought if at least there was some rice or vegetables to mix the flavours with then it wouldn't have been so bad, but there wasn't and the lettuce leaves were running out, so I got up washed my hands off the oily substance that impregnated them and considered the meal finished.

Father's Day

Father's Day last week, we accompanied Ricardo to Fitzroy Gardens to visit the possums that live there. They are so friendly that they would just come and sit next to us on the park bench. Anton could even pat them. They are so cute!!! On our walk we crossed a few nice buildings like St. Peter's Cathedral and Bionic Ear Lane...! What a name for a street. If you live there you have to be very quiet or everyone else will know what you are saying or doing. We ended the night at The Horn, an Ethiopian restaurant on Jhonston Street. I will write about this experience in my next blog entry.

A night of music

I nearly cried when I heard the first chords of the Amadeus film opening theme played by my son's orchestra on Saturday night. One of my favourite movies and my favoruite composer played by my beloved son. I couldn't have asked for a better way to end an otherwise dull day (only that Ricardo could have come).

The concert took place at a church and even though the view was hindered by big headed people (they always seem big headed when you are stuck behind their disproportioned heads trying to see at a dot in the distance) it had the right atmosphere for such sublime music. I enjoyed the concert but missed my husband who was unable to come as he was helping his sister move house.

I am feeling very emotional lately, tired, sick of it all and just struggling to make it to the finishing line. I better let my nails grow so they can hold me when I am falling. I think that November can't come soon enough.

Casi lloro anoche cuando escuche los primeros acordes del tema inicial de la pelicula Amadeus (Mozart, A.W.) tocados por la orchesta donde toca mi hijo. Una de mis peliculas favoritas, mi compositor favorito y tocada por mi hijo. No puedo pedir por una forma mejor de concluir un dia que de otra manera fue opaco (solo lo hubiera hecho mejor que Ricky pudiera venir).

El concierto fue en una iglesia y a pesar de que la vision fue obstruida por gente cabezona (siempre parecen cabezones cuando te sentas detras de otros y tratas de ver entre las medidas desproporcionadas un puntito un la distancia) tuvo la atmosfera perfecta para musica tan sublime. Disfrute el concierto pero extrane a mi marido que no pudo venir porque estaba ayudando a su hermana a mudarse.

Me siento muy emocional utlimamente, cansada, podrida de todo y simplemente peleando para llegar a la meta final. Mejor que me deje crecer las unas asi me sostienen cuando me este resbalando. Noviembre no pude llegar mas rapido...

Bike Ride to Heidelberg

I had to push myself very hard today to get off the couch and onto the bike, but in the end it was worth it. My energy levels are at its lowest. I wake up with no energy, even after a Saturday sleep in. I am absolutely exhausted. I also had a headache today, lingering all day and pushing my mood down to the bottom of the barrel. I wish it was the Summer holidays, as I am predicting a good rested break after finishing uni, rounds and everything else that is draining me at the moment.

Me tuve que empujar fuerte hoy para levantarme del sillon y subirme a la bicicleta, pero al final valio la pena. Mis niveles de energia estan super bajos. Me levanto sin energia, incluso despues de dormir de mas un Sabado. Estoy totalmente exahusta. Hoy tambien me dolia la cabeza y todo el dia me molesto empujando mi humor bien al fondo del barril. Deseo que sean las vacaciones de verano, ya que me imagino un verano de descanso despues de haber terminado la universidad, las practicas y todo lo demas que me esta quitando la energia en este momento.

We took the Yarra Trail today on our bikes on the other side of the Finns Reserve bridge and turned towards Heidelberg. We have done this path many times before, but haven't in a long while. Riding it today it was nice to see everything the same, but different as the vegetation grows and changes the scenery. Two years ago during the 2009 draught the Banyule Flats were completely dry. Not a single drop laid there. It is nice to see the water there today.

Hoy tomamos la bicisenda Yarra Trail en las bicis del otro lado del puento en Finns Reserve y doblamos para Heidelberg. Hicimos este camino muchas veces, pero no por un buen tiempo. Andando por ahi tambien, fue lindo e interesante ver todo igual pero a la vez diferente ya que la vegetacion crece y cambia alterando el paisaje. Dos anos atras, durante la sequia del 2009, no habia ni una gota de agua en esta laguna. Podias cruzar de lado a lado caminando. Es lindo ver agua de vuelta.

Congratulations and Welcome back

Saturday night was a night of celebrations. Congratulating Andrea for becoming a flight attendant, I am so happy for her, finally will be enjoying a change in career and lifestyle. Well done Andrea! On another note welcome back Miriam and Horacio to Melbourne. Home made pizza and cheese cakes of sorts made the night complete. Lots of chatter and laughs, as always makes the night warm and friendly. It is so nice to see our old friends again!

El sabado a la noche fue una noche de celebraciones. Felicitando a Andrea por lograr su sueno de ser azafata, estoy muy contenta por ella, finalmente estara disfrutando de un cambio en su carrera y en su estilo de vida. Muy bien Andrea! En otra nota, le dimos la bienvenida a Miriam y Horacio a Melbourne. Pizza casera y tortas de queso variadas hicieron la noche completa. Mucha charla y risas como siempre hacen la noche calida y amistosa. Que bueno ver a estos viejos amigos otra vez!

Another weekend indoors

Another weekend spent indoors writing assignments and studying hard...I am so over it that I have to do a lot of self-talk to push myself hard and not give up. I am tired, stressed, overworked and don't have enough hours in the day to do everything I have to do. Added to the normal uni load I now have to prepare a portfolio, write a job application, answer selection criteria and prepare for interviews. My oh my! I think that all this stress is actually working in my favour as I finished two assignments one week before they are due. I am learning about design for learning spaces where I learn about creating environments that will positively affect learning. That is why I have lit a candle whilst I was studying because research shows that smelling certain smells aids concentration....I think it worked or was it the placebo effect? :) and so I rewarded myself with a latte in Camberwell.

Otro fin de semana encerrada escribiendo y estudiando fuerte...estoy tan harta que tengo que darme mucha charla a mi misma para darme fuerza y empujarme a no tirar la toalla. Estoy cansada, estresada y sobrecargada de laburo. No tengo suficiente horas en el dia para hacer todo lo que tengo que hacer. Sumado a la carga universitaria que tengo ahora se le suma prepararme un folio, escribir una postulacion para laburos, contestar criterios de seleccion y prepararme para entrevistas, mi dios! Creo que todo este estres esta actuando a mi favor ya que termine dos laburos para la facultad una semana antes de la fecha de entrega. En una de mis materias estoy aprendiendo diseno de espacios de ensenanza, se trata de crear espacios que afecten la ensenanza y el aprendizaje positivamente. Por eso me prendi una vela mientras estudiaba porque las investigaciones indican que ciertos olores ayudan a la concentracion...me parece que me funciono...o habra sido placebo? Asique hoy al final de tanto laburo me recomponse con un cafelatte en Camberwell.

For a bit of Inspiration