One more week...

I was hoping to post a Monday Mural on Monday the 7th. But after my hand surgery on September 27th, my hand is still swollen and bruised and I still have trouble folding my fingers, so I'm using one finger to write.

I'll continue my exercises and be back in action a week later, Monday the 14th with a new mural.

Have a great week.

Sami

                                                       (sneak peek of next week's mural)

10 Things You Didn't (need to) Know About Me

It´s meme time and I was lucky enough to be tagged by the world traveller Amanda, and that means that I have to write a post about 10 things you didn´t (and don´t need to?) know about me.

Hope I can think up of 10 interesting things to tell you!!

1 - I have always been shy, but the last couple of years I have been making a big effort to participate more in group conversations or to even make small chit-chat to strangers. (Maybe hitting 50 helped me unwind!!)

2 - I can´t use chopsticks although I love eating Chinese food. I have been shown mountains of time but just can´t seem to get the hang of it. And Chinese restaurants never give you knives, so I have trouble just using a fork to eat. Because I´me now gluten intolerant and don´t eat all Chinese foods anymore, I eat mainly rice and vegetable dishes.

3 - I like to have more than one craft project on the go at all times, I seem to get a bit bored doing just one thing until the end.

4 - The same for books - I usually start reading 2 or 3 books and alternate reading a few chapters from each.

5 - I have a sweet tooth, and would rather eat sweet than savoury food.


6 - I am a great dessert maker, and whenever we get invited to friend´s houses they always ask me to bring dessert. Somehow my cakes rarely turn out well. They get eaten nonetheless, mostly by me!!

My chocolate Mousse

7 - I´m not a sporty person, hated participating in sports in school and don´t follow much sport on TV either, apart from the Olympics which I enjoy.

8 - I love necklaces, have probably over 50 of them in various colours and always wear one matching my outfit. I have been collecting them over many years and a lot of friends knowing of my penchant give them to me as gifts.


9 -  I like to move furniture around all the time and redecorate, but because I try to do too much on my own, I then get backache from all the pushing and shoving, so I have put a stop to that....unless I have willing help.


10 - Just like Amanda, I have never been to Bali. When you live in Perth, it´s like saying you´ve never been out of your city. It´s cheaper and quicker to fly to Bali than to any other Australian city. I have heard good and bad things about Bali, so haven´t yet made up my mind if that is a place where I would like to go.


Finally, such a meme requires that I tag other blogging friends to have a go at the same thing.
So, taking inspiration from my meme write your own post on 10 things we don´t know about you!
- http://bananarunkin.blogspot.com/
-http://emaleecrochet.blogspot.com/
-http://withoutcomplexities.blogspot.com/
-http://presepiocomvistaparaocanal.blogspot.com/
Good luck, hope to read some interesting things about you!

Early morning visit to the Dentist

This morning I went to the dentist to finish the crown procedure that was started two weeks ago.

The first time the dentist had to anesthetize my mouth to prepare the tooth -  he removed some of the outer surface, made a mould of it to go the lab, chose a colour to fit with the rest of my teeth, and then fitted a temporary crown. This was all quite painless of course and I just had to refrain from eating or drinking hot things for a couple of hours until I regained feeling on my gums.

This is not me of course, just to show the rubber mat!

Today, after sitting on the chair, being fitted with the blue plastic goggles and the bib, the dentist removed the temporary crown, fitted the final one, and then it was adjusted by biting, moving the teeth back and forward, to check it is the right height, etc.
But because I had two fillings to be done as well, midway through the procedure he administered some anesthetic into my gum and then continued working on the crown fitting.

After he was satisfied that all was in top shape, he proceeded to fit the latex green mat over the area where he would be working. The dentist cuts a little hole to fit over the tooth where he will be working and it apparently is better for the patient, as it protects us from swallowing the debris of the drilled tooth, or from breathing in any chemicals used in the fillings and protects our gums and tongue from harm from the drill.

Even though it´s meant to be good for us, I really hate when the rubber mat is fitted to my mouth, I can´t stand the taste of the rubber! I can´t even chew bubble gum for over 10 minutes as I start to feel nauseous.
The rubber mat has the same effect on me, so I really have to try and float away into an island dream holiday to take my mind away from  it.
I hadn´t been to the dentist for about 2 years, and luckily now he has a big TV screen on the ceiling, so while the patients lie there, they can be entertained with the shows.
Last week I watched the Morning show, but this morning they had a boring music concert that wasn´t doing the trick for me!

So I really had to try hard to imagine my dream island and its transparent blue warm waters....while my saliva was running down to my neck...
See you next year Dr!! (I have to say to his credit that he is a very nice young dentist and I never feel pain)

My dream island holiday in Bora Bora...

What are you thoughts on this latex rubber mat? Does your dentist also use it?

My interests and my first blog post

After an exciting day lesson at the University of Western Australia (extension), with the lovely Amanda - on "How to Become a Blogger", here I am writing my first post on my brand new blog!

I consider myself a world traveller - due to my husband's line of work, I follow him around, so I have lived in many countries - in Africa, Europe and now Australia. I consider myself lucky to be able to experienced different cultures, meet new people, see the world, and luckily I seem to adapt quite well to wherever I move to.

I live in Perth, a beautiful city by the river Swan on the West Coast of Australia. 
Some people consider it quiet and dull, but I love it; not being a social butterfly I prefer dinners with friends, visiting museums, walking along the river...

I am a very keen crafter, have done all sorts of art projects - oil, acrylics, watercolours, fabric, wood and glass painting. When living in Europe I ran a crafts group, but in Australia haven't been able to join one, as most clash with my working hours.

My new pastime is recycling fabric into jewellery and bags, and you will be able to see some photos of my recent work.

I enjoy photography as well, and usually carry my camera with me everywhere, taking pictures of monuments, beautiful scenery or people.

Working around the world has it's downside, because as soon as you make friends and your house is all remodelled and to your liking, it's time to uproot again, change jobs, sell house, make new friends...

Does anyone relate to this? How do you make new friends in a new country?

I hope you can join me and comment on my crafts as well.

Looking forward to meeting you all.

Gaugin - acrylic on canvas

Glass plate with gold leaf

Lady in Purple - oil on canvas