Somebody that I used to Know (Gotye)

This is the original video of the song composed by Gotye (Mebourne composer) that was one of the most popular songs of 2011. I wanted to put the original here because last night I saw a cover by Walk of the Earth on youtube and thought it was spectacular, so I wanted to put both of them here to share with all of you.

Este es el video original del tema de Gotye (musico nativo de Melbourne) que fue uno de los temas mas populares del 2011. Quise poner el original para que puedan compararlo con la cover que encontre en youtube hecha por esta banda Walk of the Earth y me parecio espectacular. Quise poner los dos temas juntos para que puedan compararlos. Disfruten.

French Crepes

Mmmmmm.... French crepes....yummy! After the Gold class movie today in Crown (which is not worth it at all= the Gold class experience that is!) we headed to Fitzroy to a place near Brunswick Street called Breizoz French Creperies. We had wanted to go there for a long time but every time we went it was closed. Today finally we could taste the delicious crepes. We shared two, a savoury one (cheese and ham) and this sweet one with strawberries, mango sorbet, almonds and chocolate. I really enjoyed both of them and they were filling! I liked the place too perhaps because it wasn't very crowded, it is kind of a small so I imagine it wouldn't be very pleasant when it is full. Follow this link if you decide to venture into this little corner to experience something French: http://www.breizoz.com.au/

Looking at buildings

We had tickets for a Gold Class movie and decided to use it today at Crown in the middle of the city. We caught the bus and walked along Queen Street towards Southbank. I don't walk in this part of the city too often. It is a bit different from other parts in that it is more business related banks, offices, people in suits and women in high uncomfortable shoes smoking outside the buildings' glass doors. In my walk I noticed some interesting architecture, like this old safe deposit building that looks like a cut out against the modern high raise buildings in the background. It is like it almost doesn't belong and it is being swallowed by the new era. I thought it was really pretty and had intricate designs on the windows.

Teniamos tickets para una funcion en la Clase Dorada de los Village cinemas y decidimos usarlos hoy en el medio de la city. Nos tomamos el colectivo y caminamos por la calle Queen hacia Southbank. No camino muy seguido por esta parte de la ciudad. Es un poco diferente al resto ya que se nota que es un area mas de negocios, bancos y oficinas. Abundan la gente en traje y mujeres en zapatos de tacones incomodos fumando en las puertas de vidrio de los edificios. En mi caminata note arquitectura interesante como este viejo edificio que parace recortado y pegado delante de los otros edificios modernos. Es casi como que no pertece ahi y esta siendo tragado por la nueva era. Para mi era hermoso, lleno de disenos intricados en las ventanas.

Home made pizza

I made home made pizza on Saturday night. I love the way the house smells on home made pizza nights. Anton wasn't home on the night so it was only for us two. We watched a movie and went out for ice-cream afterwards. We were caught in the rain but didn't matter cause it was a hot night!

Pizza dough recipe:

1.2 kg of plain flour

3 sachets of dry yeast

1 tablespoon olive oil

5 teaspoons of salt

warm water

Method:

1- In a bowl sift flour and mix in salt.

2- In a cup pour in the dry yeast and add warm water to dissolve, add 1 teaspoon of sugar and mix. Put on stove to keep warm (next to an on burner). When it starts to bubble and raise, pour into the bowl.

3- Mix in the oil with extra warm water and add to the mixture stirring in well with a wooden spoon.

4- Keep adding warm water until all the flour is mixed. The dough should feel soft and moist.

5- Roll into a ball and put into a previously oiled big container (I use a big saucepan). Put a lid on and bring to the stove, again I leave a burner on and place the saucepan nearby to keep warm.

6- Leave there until the dough has doubled or tripled in size.

I felt like a tourist

Today I felt like a tourist walking around Fitzroy Gardens and Federation Square and taking pictures of the beautiful things we found around. We saw an exhibition at ACMI (Australian Centre of the Moving Image) called Screen Worlds, which tells the story of the moving image through a series of interactive displays, screens and collections of items. It was sensational! I urge everyone to go and see it. It is amazing to see how it all changed in so little time. From movement executed by a spindle and handle to today's social networks.

Anton met some friends in the city and we walked to Fitzroy for a coffee and chocolate that promised to be "dulce de leche" but tasted like chocolate.

Hoy me senti un poco como una turista caminando por los Jardines de Fitzroy y Federation Square y sacando fotos de las cosas lindas e historicas que veiamos. Fuimos a una exhibicion en el Centro Australiano de la Imagen en Movimiento llamada Mundos de Pantallas, la cual contaba la historia de la imagen a traves de una serie de displays interactivos, pantallas y colecciones. Estuvo sensasional! Recomiendo que la vayan a ver. Es increible ver como todo cambio tanto en tan poco tiempo. Desde imagenes que se movian al mover una manijita hasta los networks sociales de hoy.

Anton se encontro con unos amigos en la city y nosotros caminamos hasta Fitzroy por un cafe y un bombon que prometia ser de dulce de leche pero tenia gusto a chocolate.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Last night we went to the Palace Cinemas in Balwyn to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie. I don't fancy myself as a very insightful movie critic. I know that I like movies or dislike them for reasons that make sense to me. Sometimes though it is nice to know what somebody else thinks of a movie before paying the ridiculous expensive movie ticket price to go and see something worth the bucks.

The new Sherlock Holmes movie it's not very different from its predecessor, it is perhaps a little more incongruous with what one would expect, particularly about things that are done over the top and only serve to remind us that we are watching a Hollywood movie.

Robert Downy Jr. has really made this character his own and I have to admit that he does it well, even though it is hard to relate it to the original Arthur Conan Doyle's character.

The absence of a good female character is clearly noted as it is the overuse of the "how Sherlock can predict what will happen based on his calculations" effect.

I enjoyed the movie because it is fun, fast paced and entertaining. If you see it don't expect an improvement from the previous one or even a more cerebral script.

I do love the Palace Cinemas though. Old fashion, kind of quiet and close to home.

Una charla con mi abuelo. A talk with Grandad.

Today the weather in Melbourne was just perfect. After a few days of intolerable heat we were blessed with a 24 degrees day and sea breezes. I had a very productive and special holiday day.

In the morning I had a chat with my recently turned 90 years old grandfather using Skype. I was so happy! It has been years since I can talk to him because he has lost most of his hearing and our phone communication has obviously been hindered by this. I used to call and scream to the top of my lungs, so much so that my son would wake up scared not knowing why I was screaming so much! I have given up for years and had to be content with my mum mediating my hellos and happy birthdays. Today she was there to mediate too, but after the initial shock I think he finally understood or at least accepted that I was not really a photo on the screen or an old video. I was actually talking to him "live". He still couldn't hear me very well, but my mum translated and he could answer my questions. He really came alive when he started telling me again about his ox steering job after he came back from the army to Spain. He must have told me that story about 100 times, but I listen to it with joy knowing that it must mean something very important to him. I love my grandad. He looked older and not all there, but he is 90 years old and he was still snacking on Spanish chorizo. Thank you mum for helping me make this possible and thank you technology for letting me talk to him today after such a long time.

Hoy el tiempo en Melbourne fue simplemente perfecto. Despues de unos dias de calor intolerable fuimos bendecidos con 24 grados y brisas del mar. Tuve un dia muy productivo y especial.

Por la manana tuve una charla con mi abuelo, quien recientemente cumplio 90 anos a traves de Skype. Me puso tan contenta! Hace anos que no puedo hablar con el porque ha perdido la mayoria de su audicion y nuestra comunicacion ha sido obviamente afectada for esto. Yo solia llamar y gritar a todo lo que da, tanto que mi hijo se despertaba aterrorizado no sabiendo porque yo gritaba tanto. Hasta que me di por vencida y por anos mi mama fue la mediadora de saludos y feliz cumpleanos. Hoy mi mama estaba ahi para mediar tambien pero despues del shock inicial creo que mi abuelo se dio cuenta o al menos acepto que yo no era una foto en la pantalla o una pelicula vieja, sino que estaba ahi hablando con el en vivo. Igual no me escuchaba bien, pero mi mama le traducia y el pudo contestarme algunas preguntas o comentarios. El realmente se entusiasmo cuanto me empezo a contar otra vez sobre su trabajo llevando la junta de bueyes cargada al mango con madera al mercado cuando volvio a Espana despues de la conscripcion en Africa. Me habra contando esa histora como 100 veces, pero yo igual la escucho con alegria sabiendo que debe significar algo importante para el. Amo a mi abuelo. Lo vi mas viejito y no del todo ahi, pero tiene 90 anos y estaba merendando rodajas de chorizo espanol. Gracias ma, por haber hecho esto posible y gracias technologia por dejarme hablar con el hoy otra vez, despues de tanto tiempo.

After this beautiful morning I was happy all day, and I did some work and later I went with my family for a nice coffee to Camberwell and from there I walked to the city with Ric for the first time in 2012. It was such a great day for it. I enjoyed every minute of it.

Despues de esta manana hermosa quede feliz para todo el dia, despues trabaje un rato y a la tarde nos fuimos a tomar un cafe a Camberwell y de ahi Ricky y yo nos fuimos caminando a la city por primera vez en el 2012. Fue un dia perfecto para hacerlo y lo disfrute mucho.

Welcome 2012

Finally 2011 is behind us, with all its good and bad. It has closed its doors to open 2012 gates. We walked through them with a sense of hope and high expectations for a great year. For me 2011 was a very difficult year but a rewarding one, with a healed hip and a new career. 2012 will be a challenging one, but I am looking forward to the opportunities and hard work that is ahead of me. I am hoping to enjoy my first class and the new school and I hope 2011 will also bring a healthier me (both physically and mentally= less stressed) and a more family oriented one. I hope 2012 brings everything you all desire.

Finalmente 2011 esta detras nuestro, con todo lo bueno y lo malo. Ha cerrado las puertas para abrir los portones del 2012. Caminamos por ellos con esperanzas y altas expectativas para un buen ano. Para mi 2011 fue un ano muy dificil pero uno con mucha gratificacion personal, con una cadera curada y una carrera nueva por delante. El 2012 tambien sera dificil, pero estoy ansiosa de aprovechar las oportunidades y el trabajo fuerte que esta por delante. Espero disfrutar de mi primer clase y de la nueva escuela y espero que el 2012 sea mas saludable para mi y que pueda disfrutar mas tiempo con mi familia. Espero que este ano les traiga todo lo que ustedes desean tambien.

Frapee at Max Brenner

Having a rewarding frapee at Max Brenner in the city after a 2 hour walk from Camberwell. It was awesome to walk that long again, but I was sore and tired after. We sat there at HQ and have a delicious frapee (the best in Melbourne).