2/11 - Learn to whistle

I was sure I had this item on the list, but apparently it got lots somewhere between my first (2005) draft of the 101 list and this 'final' one.

Couldn't tell you how I've managed it, but I have now learnt how to whistle. Not only have I learnt it, but I've somehow developed an addiction. I whistle instead of sighing, I whistle when I want to cool down my tea and I whistle when I have nothing better to do.

Now I have to learn to moderate my whistling so I don't develop wrinkles.

Nr 84 - Create the food blog with the flatties

We actually completed this item very long ago (I'm tempted to say several years ago, but at most it would be two years). Despite living in different countries, it is still updated now and then. Once I get the recipe for Roti (my nr 64) I will put it up on the blog, with photos!!

Click here for the link, and ENJOY!

Nr 26 - Go fishing at the cottage

When I got back to Sweden in the late summer 2008 I went fishing with my brother and one of his friends.

I didn't catch anything (fish are so uncooperative that way) but hopefully I will go fishing again next summer. If I do I'll take photos and hopefully have something to bring home for the Brai.

Nr 59 - Watch a foreign movie without subtitles

I'm lucky I didn't specify this item any more.
I watched the German movie 7 Zwerge with J. No subtitles and I tried to figure out as much as possible of what they said on my own, but when I couldn't J would translate for me.
Once I've learnt some more German I'll try to watch it again. I'm sure some of the jokes were lost on me.

Nr 25 - Cut my hair

In June 2008 a hairdresser (see below) cut approximately 30 cm of my dark locks. I'd been 'saving' them for about 4 years. I am not as dedicated as the hairdresser though, he had kept his beard for 11 years!!!

Here it is... and still I haven't sent it to locks of love (or the Swedish equivalent). Will get that sorted shortly.

Nr 9 - Go back to Waiheke island

Another token picture. Mum and I visited Waiheke for a day during our trip to both the South and the North Islands of NZ in April 2008. We visited friends of friends who have recently set up a life-style wineyard on the island.

Nr 12 - Go wine tastin

In an effort to increase my count of 'completed items' on the 101 list, here is another photo (I'm too lazy to write lengthy descriptions).
When T and I went to San Fran in 2008, H took us for a day of wine tasting in Sonoma County. Among the smoke from the thousands of wild fires in the surrounding area, we enjoyed good wine (from several different vineyards) and good food, such as olives, cheese and bread (all locally produced as well).
I discovered that it is possible to appreciate a 'good' red, but only in comparison to a bad one. My bias toward whites was not shaken what so ever, but at least now I know I'll not be lost if five glasses of red are placed in front of me! Suck it up (and just driiiiink!)


By the way: thanks T and H for an awesome day!

Nr 31 - Do the TESOL course

Here is picture proof that I completed this relatively 'large' item. Three weekends of learning about Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and getting to know some other eager teachers.
Now it is all about braving the scary world (and the intimidating children, teens, or business people who want to partake in my beginner teaching skills).

Nr. 31 - do the TESOL course

I've completed it and have signed up for the specialization module on teaching Business English. I will write about the weekend course as soon as I get home and get the pictures from one of my classmates!

No 47 - Favourite 25 songs 1/3

Here I am, with an evening full of possible adventures, but nothing to do. Why not complete the first list of my 25 favourite songs. I will do this two more times to complete the item.

The process of elimination went as follows:

Step 1. Systematically (I.e. alphabetically) go through whole itunes library. Note that my precious Ipod died a few months ago (R.I.P) and as a result some of my most loved music, essentially all my NZ stuff, is now gone. Therefore, this 25 list is not necessarily a completely accurate representation of my favourite 25 songs.

Step 2. Discover that previous step resulted in a 'top 118 songs' list.

Step 3. Rate songs from the 'top 118' list according to itunes star ratings. Now discover that 30 songs fit the 5 star rating.

Step 4. Bump five items down to 4 star rating to make the 'top of the loser songs'.



The (first) top 25 (with top 10 performers in bold)

Beth Orton - Absinthe (will I ever get sick of this song?!?)
Ane Brun (feat. Teitur) - Rubber & Soul (a duet with two of my most loved artists)
Sarah Isaksson & Rebecka Törnqvist - Pearl of the Quarter (newly discovered jem of a cover)
Teitur - Umbrellas in the rain (I love most of his stuff, this is the current winner)
Emiliana Torrini - Serenade (just like my favourite word: mellifluous)
Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine (motivational songs 101)
Tiger Lou - Oh Horatio (I'm a sucker for stories about people meeting on trains...)
Sophie Zelmani - Going home (my heart melts 1.20 minutes into the song)
John Mayer - Stop this train (representative of all hours lost to JM's lyrics and melodies)
Kings of Convenience - Missread (likewise, KOC hold a special place in my heart)
Amos Lee - Black river
Jewel - Enter from the east
Feist - I feel it all
Coldplay - Trouble
Carla Bruni - Raphaël
Frou Frou - Let go
Keren Ann- For you and I
Laleh - Invisible (Acoustic version)
Madeleine Peyroux - Between the bars
Tingsek - World of its own
RJD2 - Ghostwriter
The roots - The seed
Beth Orton - Central reservation (the Then again version) (only artist to feature the top 25 twice...)
Nina Simone - Tell me more and more and then some
Yann Tiersen - La valse d'Amelie (piano version)


and the top of the losers (I.e. numbers 26 to 30) are:

The Doors - Riders on the storm
John Butler Trio - Company sin
Travis - Last train (surprisingly so far down the list, because overall the albums are consistently fantastic)
Hurlements d'Léo - L'Addiction
Julie Delpy - A waltz for a night

Nr 76 - Learn to use Photoshop properly

A selection of my first attempts, before and after. Early stages, but here goes. Format of the post is also a bit messed up, but oh well..

Playing with simple things like saturation and highlights/shadows, to bring out the dramatic sky.

Again, saturation and highlights/shadows, but also messing with filters.

Nr 56 - Turn my cellphone off for 48 hours

I did this in Samoa.

Sure, not having any reception means it was quite useless to have it on... but still. It was off for a whole lot longer than 48 hours to make up for it.

Consider it done!

Nr 3 - Graduate in Wellington

This might not look like much more than a list of random names, but look closer...
It is in fact MY name in the 2008 graduation program for the graduating students at Victoria University of Wellington.

Unfortunately I was high during the ceremony so I couldn't personally attend. ;)

But, my name is there, and that is all I need to cross this item off this list.

Tick, another huge item is complete on the list.

Nr 87 - Make the Wellington Cafe diary

Nr 81 - Go to at least 20 new cafes during my last year

Many thanks to K for being such a faithful café junkie with me!
Just to clarify, first of all, my 'last year' does not mean the 12 months before I leave Wellington for good. Since it seems like I might never get away from here (oh how I love my dear Welly) I've decided that what I will count as the 'last year' is year 2007 because when I wrote the list that is what I thought would be my last year here.
Secondly, my definition of "going to a Café" is this: I have to have ordered something (and consumed it there, no takeaways), and it does not include clubbing (which means that places like Matterhorn, Murphy's and Hotel Bristol don't count because they weren't stricktly speaking 'café/restaurant visits and I didn't ordered anything to eat there).

Lets see how many of the 20 I can remember!
1. Katipo
2. Roxy
3. Plum
4. Perrets corner
5. Bambalina
6. Wellington Sports Café
7. Offbeat originals
8. Sweet Mother's Kitchen
9. Burrito Brothers
10. Aro Café
11. Calzone
12. Blondinis
13. Brandon street café
14. Burger fuel
15. Chocolate frog
16. Floriditas
17. Mojo (on Willis)
18. The Office
19. Victoria street café
20. Zing

Hmmm... I wonder if I can do another 20 in 2008!?

Just want to take another chance to say: I love Wellington!!!

Nr 80 - walk 'the round the bays' race (with K)

We finally did it.

An early morning in January K and I made our way down to town and on toward the orange needle in Kilbirnie, picking up J on the way. The day was beautiful, the water still and the smell of sea very strong. It didn't take us very long either, only about an hour and a half.

Great!!

Should do it again, I like walking in Wellington when I can avoid the silly hills... Oriental parade rules!

I might add photos when I get them.

Nr 52 - Have a picnic

This summer I have had not just one picnic, but several. The free concerts at the Soundshell in the Wellington Botans were just too good to resist! Here is photographic evidence of one gloriously healthy picnic (accompanied by the Beat girls, I think).

And here we've got lots of other keen picnickers at another concert (the Age Pryor one).

Nr 68 - Buy a tripod

I bought it a while back, but have not really had (and by that I really mean, taken) the chance to use it. But here is one of the few occasions that it actually got to come out into the world with me.
(thanks to K for taking the photo, and for giving me the kick in the butt that I needed to actually use it during our trip).

And here is a photo that was taken just a few minutes later. No masterpiece to be sure, but I have been assured that practice makes perfect. Eventually...

Nr 27 - Write a Christmas letter to post to friends and family

And here is the result:

Making these photo things is so much fun I think I'll try to make more of them (but no promises of course).

Nr 7 - Go to the ballet again

Well I have written about this already. Since I cant remember many details except that the costumes were beautiful and the guys dancing on the crutches were cool, I wont expand...