Hamish and Andy’s Tall Ship Adventure

This blog seems to have turned into a Oz/NZ love fest, so I’m revisiting another past post to bring more reasons why I like Hamish and Andy - Australia's finest.

Their Australian drive time radio show is now transmitted into Tasmania. To celebrate, the guys decided to sail across the Bass Straight to Hobart, Tasmania’s capital, in a 17^th century tall ship (re-christened 'The Tally Shore'). They’ve named the voyage ‘Open Your Buccaneers Tasmania!'

Departure was scheduled for Monday but a hurricane warning left them docked in Melbourne’ harbour until Tuesday when the weather forecast was downgraded to gale force winds. Neither Hamish nor Andy has sailing experience and Hamish has prepared for the voyage buy getting an anchor tattooed on his bicep...and not doing much else. 

They chose naval ranks at random and ended up as Rear Admiral and Commodore. Because Hamish’s Rear Admiral outranks Andy’s Commodore, he is forcing Andy to marry a rat while in international waters - apparently this is something that you can do at sea. Poor Andy is not allowed to see his rat bride before the big day. So far, they haven't managed to do anything other than lay on deck and vomit. The swells reached 10ft on Wednesday night:

This is why I love Hamish and Andy. They take a small idea and let it snowball until it’s so random and ridiculous, that you just have to go along with it. They took a small group of listeners 'the peoples crew' to welcome the Tasmanians to the show. The first 24 hours of the trip consisted of them, and the peoples crew, vomiting due to severe sea sickness, but their show was still entertaining. To call it professionalism would be misguided, but it’s pretty cool.

You can follow their journey here: Open Your Buccaneers Tasmania!

Posted By: Cat

Flight of the Conchords

New Zealand folk-rap-electro-rock duo Bret Mckenzie and Jemaine are 'The Conchords', although they bill themselves as: "Formerly New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo a capella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo." Their HBO series follows the band as they try to make it big in New York with only their hapless manager Murray guiding their careers. Lone fan/stalker Mel provides an audience for the boys’ less than popular gigs.

This show is hilarious. Its second season is underway on HBO in the States and is to be shown on BBC3 here in the UK soon. Jermaine and Bret’s comedy is quirky and subtle but the highlight is Rhys Darby who plays Murray. He is hilarious. Try watching it without adopting a New Zealand accent and calling out ‘band meeting’.

Catch up with Flight of the Conchords:

Posted By: Cat

Cookies and Cream KitKat

Many of my posts on this blog are regarding food which, while incredibly unhealthy, tastes heavenly. Fear not, for change will not come soon! Step forward Cookies and Cream KitKat.

In London, there is a store of dreams called cyber candy (visit online here). Anytime we find ourselves near Covent Garden, my friends and I will visit and spend ridiculous amounts of money on imported candy and foodstuffs from foreign countries. It was my birthday recently, which coincided with my friend Caff’s trip to the capital. She returned with the aforementioned KitKat for me.

I have previously blogged about my love of the KitKat, but I had never heard of the cookies and cream variety. I have since learned this beauty is sold in Australia and New Zealand. Turns out it’s a treat which will live on in memory as a perfect blend of gluttony and awesomeness.

The cookies and cream KitKat resembles a KitKat chunky, but instead of the line of wafer, it has a base of Oreo cookie. Sleeping on top of this layer, like the hottest boyfriend you ever had, is a delicious creamy paste that tastes like the white inside part of a kinder egg. Inside this paste are sporadic moments of loveliness conveyed in the form of Oreo cookie chunks. Basically, its perfection. Almost.

Because there is no ying without yang, there must be a downside and the KitKat is no exception. The combo of chocolate, cookie, weird white paste and more cookies, is a devastating sugar overload that can fell even the most seasoned KitKat consumer. It took me about an hour to actually eat the whole bar, having to rest between bites and allow the sugar wave to subside before launching in for the next beautiful mouthful of goodness. This ‘downside’ has a silver lining however. It makes the bar last, which when you’re paying four times the cost of a normal kitkat, can only be a good thing.

Posted By: Cat

Midlake

Until a few weeks ago, I was oblivious to Midlake. A friend gave me their first CD and urged me to listen to it. It was awesome.

The band is from Texas, and if I were pigeonholing them, I’d say are a cross between Flaming Lips and Rilo Kiley.

Check them out at their official website: http://midlake.net

Posted By: Cat

My friend Dan

All the way from the ATL, my friend Dan has amazing talent of the creative variety. We may live over three and a half thousand miles away from one another, but she always remembers me and sends me the cutest cards and gifts.

For my upcoming birthday, she made me a hair band and necklace. As well as sending a Vera scarf and homemade card. I love homemade cards and gifts. I would rather have one thing homemade than something brought from a shop worth hundreds of pounds. When you make something for someone, you put in effort and while you make it, you’re thinking of them.

Dan has her own blog at Dan Dan Noodles  in which she posts some of her projects and tutorials. She also writes a blog for The Vera Company here: The Vera Company

In the past, she has made me this necklace and headband, which are staple accessory choices for me. The scarf is the aforementioned birthday gift. I tied it using one of her tutorials on The Vera Company blog.

Thank you Dan, you are truly awesome.

Posted By: Cat

John Mayer being funny

CBS announced last month that they have optioned John Mayer to create and present a musical variety style show for them. The show will premiere sometime this year.

I have mixed views about this. I think that Mayer is fun-ny. Other people think that he’s an egomaniac, a douche, an attention whore.... I think he has a touch of all these things, but they are what make him witty. I’m worried though, the guy hasn’t made an album in almost three years and I’m bored to waiting while he gets distracted with one thing (read: woman) after another.

So in the spirit of Mayer’s comedy talent, and my anticipation and hope that his show doesn’t suck, here is a video that I like.

Makin' Music with John Mayer from John Mayer

Posted By: Cat

The Zeedonk

The Zeedonk is almost one of a kind. Back in 1971, Colchester Zoo had a little accident when they put their donkey heard in with their zebras. The Zeedonk was born and started a little craze that saw zoos around the UK trying to recreate their own unique sub-species. Now that we’re all nature conscious, Zeedonk breading has been put on hold and so Colchester Zoo’s little guy is all alone.

A Zeedonk basically looks like a donkey with zebra print leg warmers on. As with other crossbreeds, they are infertile, so no baby donks on the way. I love the Zeedonk because it’s so unique and I always feel so sad when I see him at the zoo and he’s all alone.

Posted By: Cat

Text Messaging

Some people say it’s impersonal but I say its fun and sociable. You don’t always have the time to call someone, or enough to say when you do. With text messaging, you can let someone know you’re thinking of them with a few taps of your thumb. 

I just discovered that my phone can text other countries so Nicci and I have been taking the randomness to a new level across the pond. Sending a text to America to say ‘hey, by the way I think I have a crush on Ben Affleck.’ is a lot easier than sending a letter, postcard or even logging on and sending an email.

Posted By: Cat

The Black Balloon

The Black Balloon is small Australian indie film that borrows from What's Eating Gilbert Grape, and has amazing performances from Toni Collette, Rhys Wakefield and Luke Ford. 

The film follows Thomas (played by Wakefield) as he adjusts to moving to a new town while coping with a disabled brother who suffers from autism and ADHD. His Mother is pregnant, and Thomas must help out with his brother's care when she is put on bed rest. On top of all this, he is struggling his way through first love with Jackie (Gemma Ward). 

The Black Balloon is funny, heartbreaking, intelligent and absorbing. Just like Gilbert Grape, Thomas struggles with the anger he feels toward his brother and himself for feeling such a way. I was completely absorbed with their world and loved the quirky nineties nostalgia the film has. 

Toni Collette is outstanding in everything she does, and this is no exception. I was very surprised by Rhys Wakefield, Home and Away never showed his potential as a good actor and I'm really excited to see how he develops. Luke Ward is so compelling as the autistic Charlie that it's hard to believe that he's acting. 

See the film. Its why small films should be made.

Visit the website: http://www.theblackballoonmovie.com/
Buy the movie: The Black Balloon

Posted By: Cat

Fringe Braiding

Before I start, for any American readers of this blog let me clear something up – here in England, we call bangs a fringe.

I’ve had a fringe for just about as long as I can remember. I like it. You can hide behind it when you feel shy. It can be blunt, swept to the side, pulled back with a clip, or my new favourite style: braided.

Sometimes fringes are annoying, and they get in your eyes and irritate you when you’re working, or if it’s a windy day. Last week I decided to braid it along the side or my hair line to keep it out of the way and it looked cute. It’s quirky, but practical. I’ve have compliments on how pretty it looks.

Lauren Conrad is a big fan of this look too. Hers is a little more complicated, but its the same effect.

Posted By: Cat