HARI Therapy

I will start working from next week. It's nice to have routine in your life after a long long holiday. I'm excited to work in a new clinic with new people with new patients ! My work is unusual as I don't really have colleague like normal office work but the place I'm working seems to have good team, a gathering of freelance therapists.

My site is upgraded !

HARI Therapy : www.haritherapy.com

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY !!!

Dress Making

My long term ambition, dress making course will start this week !!!

I spent loooong time choosing fabrics and patterns in this very friendly shop "tessuti". I picked this reversible (strips / dots) fabric for making a dress. Actual sewing part is fun but setting up sewing machine is such a pain. I will carry my mum's machine to the course this week and learn all the basic skills.

http://www.tessuti.com.au/

INCEPTION

We watched INCEPTION in IMAX last night. Very confusing. I understood so little but enjoyable movie.



So it left us lots to discuss after the movie. We had a quick dinner at Ping Pong. It's not an authentic dimsum but fun.



We were talking what was the instant classic movies recently produced ?! There were Godfather in 70's, Blade Runner in 80's. What is ""THE MOVIE" in recent years ? Matrix ? The Load of the Rings ? Inception could be the one ? I would say "Let the Right One In" was one of the best in recent years !

Kaffeine

This summer, I will go to top 10 coffee shops in London introduced by Time Out !
Big summer sales in everywhere but I can't increase any possessions now as I'm living out of suitcase, I decided to do something fun to replace it.



Kaffeine is owned by Aussie and so they have all the OZ menu. Interior looks a bit like scandinavian sauna. Pale wooden table and furniture. I ordered a fruit toast and a cup of flat white, delicious !!

Kaffeine
66 Great Titchfield street Fitzrovia W1W 7QJ

Sports Massage

This weekend was all about Sport Massage ! I took a weekend course at the Regents College. A course runs by London School of Sport Massage. So I am a sports massage therapist, masseuse. I have not done much CPD since last year, so I am very satisfied with my little certificate.

It was an introductory course, mainly targetting those candidates for their diploma course starting this autumn. I was the odd one. Odd acupuncturist in a bunch of body workers. People were from everywhere. They are just starting to think about becoming a therapist. It's like seeing me of 7 years earlier. Questioning about how to set up business, how much to charge, where to find clients etc etc..... Then I realized how much work, how much steps I have been through ! I often need to compliment myself ^_^

I am now more confident with my massage technique and I am even thinking about adding "Full Body Massage" on my menu.

Sunday

Woke up early this morning. First thing I did was to bake a fig & walnut bread for breakfast. Then I wiped all the floor, hovered the carpet and scrubbed the bath. So ready to enjoy Sunday !

I love reading in the bed just before going to sleep and always wished if there is someone who can read for me while I close my eyes. I love the feeling of "enjoying reading but can't help sleeping" and dropped off to sleep. Then I thought Joel might read for me because I am reading an English novel now. Then he did read for me. It was my (small) dream come true moment.

What we did today

Today we walked all the way to town from home. It took us 1.5 hours. Very sunny day. I love feeling the sun. Walking through Regents park and went for shopping in marylebone high street. Joel got a John Smedley top, a T-shirt from agnes.b and another T-shirt from Uniqlo and 2 pairs of socks from Paul Smith. I got a hat, man's hat from Uniqlo. Yes, big head.

We had lunch at Carluccio. I thought all the waiters and waitresses seem a little sad. Then went to watch Uruguay vs South Korea match in a pub. Joel got Uruguay in a sweepstake at work, but we were pretty neutral. Now back home. Joel had cheese toast and I had somen for dinner. We fancy totally different food. Why compromise ? We cook them both.

Tennis

I have played tennis on Sunday after 2 years break. My stamina is deteriorating, I needed to sip water every now and then. But I felt great feeling the sun on me, my skin was happy. This is what I was missing.

After coming home, the Australia vs Germany match has already been started. Disappointed.... Not a good start. Come on Socceroos! They can do it better !

Traveling in mind

Waking up in the middle of the night. My secret guilt is to nose around people's blog. Not the celebrities, normal people. I have a preference. Normal people living their lives in the places I haven't been. I'm now imagining what the life would be like in Scandinavia. This girl I've read last night living in the northern edge of Copenhagen, Skagen. I was so curious, checked where it is in the Google map. It's a little town in at most northern end of peninsula surrounded by water. Amazed ! The most memorable matter she said was how depressing she could be in the winter. She even cried for looking at a folk falling down.

She is a Japanese girl studying there for something very technical. Many years ago when I was still in my high school, my dad made me believe that I could go anywhere, be anyone I want to. Now I've come far from home, doing what I wished to do and happy but feeling achy sometimes for not being able to live another life, could be in Scandinavia, Indonesia or Colorado...

Serendipity

Serendipity is my favorite word. It means the natural ability to make interesting or valuable discoveries by accident. Many of famous discoveries such as inkjet printers, penicillin, microwave, safety glass etc... are the results of serendipity.

I like this word because serendipity is not a luck or chance. It's "the ability" to encounter the discoveries. You don't just sit there and wait for it, but you need to be prepared for it without knowing what to expect. It's the mix of chance and effort. It only makes meaning because it happens to you, not to someone else.


セレンディピティという言葉が好きです。意味は、何かを探しているときに、探しているものとは別の価値あるものを見つける能力・才能、だそうです。今までたくさんの発明家の素晴らしい発見は、このセレンディピティによるものだと言われています。 この言葉が素敵なのは、ただの幸運や偶然とは違うところ。セレンディピティって「能力」なんです。発見を呼び寄せる能力や才能。ただ待っているだけではダメ。常に準備していないと素晴らしい事につながるかもしれない出来事を見逃してしまいます。 偶然と努力が混ざったもの。他の誰でもなく、私に起こったから意味をなす、そういう偶然。

EVE LOM

I was given a packet of sample of this EVE LOM cleanser at the Liberty skincare counter. It comes with a special cloth. The shopgirl said "the best cleanser in the world". How can it be ? I was not taking her seriously but then after trying it for two days, I have to admit that she was correct. Great thing about this cleanser is that you don't need anything else after cleansing. No need for toning, serum, face cream etc. Dramatic change in everyday routine ! I have been discovering many all-in-one kind of clever products recently. The soapy, scrubby sorbet-like texture with nice scent of natural herb can remove make-up, wash + scrub + massage face. Leaving skin with toning and moist-protected feel. Pricy but worth it ! Love it !

Shopping in Paris 2

Paris is for lots of shopping opportunities. Joel couldn't resist to buy this expensive chocolate bar. It's green tea flavour (by a Japanese patissier, so can't be wrong) with sesames inside.


Tea Party from Mariage Freres. We sniffed many different tea leaves and picked "Tea Party" blend. To be honest, I couldn't really choose by smell and picked it by name. Mariage Freres is a famous gift from Paris but we can actually buy them in Atre Meguro.


My main purchase of this trip was these vintage dresses. I've checked five vintage shops and bought them for 10 euro (the red dress) and 15 euro (the one behind). Not bad. They are hanged to take off its fusty smell.

Vintage - rue des Rosiers in Marais
CHNEMACHINE - rue la Vieuville near Montmartre

Shopping in Paris

What did I buy in Paris ? I kind of knew what I wanted from Paris. I spent hours in a pharmacy. There are pharmacies in every step you walk in Paris.

Bioderma sensibio H2O

"Bioderma" - it's a line of skin care brand. I got this cleanser my friend recommended. This pink line is called "Sensibio". Sensibio ? .....sensible ?! I assume it's for sensitive skin. It dramatically changed my skin care routine. I no longer "wash" but "wipe" my face like French women. I'm liking it so far.

Nuxe Powder Prodigieuse Tanning Compact Powder

Most definitely, absolutely, without a doubt "the best purchase" !! Just one brush will change the complexion to healthy bronze. Also smells nice.

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi Usage Dry Oil - Golden Shimmer

Another amazing product from NUXE. It's called "multi-purpose dry oil". The one I got has sparkles. Handy for the very first day you're out to beach, when you expose your pale legs.

Paris

Paris Paris Paris Paris Paris

I've just been to Paris for the weekend. Stayed in a lovely Montmartre area where loads of local bakeries are. We've been to at least six bakeries in four days. Since when they stopped calling Cafe au lait ? I thought that's a signature drink but instead they call it Cafe Creme ?!


The exhibition of Beat Kitano Takeshi at Foundation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain was great fun ! I felt privileged almost for the first time in many years since I live in Europe for understanding each pieces of his art! The depth of his humour has been lost in translation in French. This also made me think how much I have been missing in beautiful epic paintings for not knowing European history and religion.


Just wish to understand little more French words. That would make shopping a little less difficult.

正露丸

正露丸 rocks !

Joel is almost recovered after taking four tablets of 正露丸.
He was even drinking sparkling wine in the end of the evening !　
Didn't know about 糖衣version - less smelly.

Mildreds Soho

A vegetarian restaurant in soho. It's useful to know when you're out with strict veggie friends. Down side is no reservation policy. You can only be seated when everyone show up.

Mildreds Vegetarian Restaurant
http://www.mildreds.co.uk/index.html
45 Lexington Street, London , W1F 9AN 020 7494 1634

Fela Kuti

Just listening to Fela Kuti.
Joel got many of his records and I like his music too. I miss our audio system. We rarely listen to good music in this temporary flat. Music definitely enriches our lives. He had many lady back dancers who are all his wives.

Bainiku Ekisu

Well.... not a good news.
Joel is completely down or even attacked.

We both had more less the same shot and it's like he's already been to India. I'm afraid if I'm following his path and get it in a few days.

Just made him take some Bainiku Ekisu - which is a plum extract - it was on my mum's "must to take to India" list. Apparently the plum extract which contains citric acid potentially increases the antiseptic property in the stomach.

It's a multi-healing remedy. People used to gargle with it, spread it for stiff shoulder and even used it as an ointment for an athlete foot !!

Princi

Lunch at Princi.
Nice deli food and coffee. Loved it !


http://www.princi.co.uk/
135 Wardour Street, London, W1F 0UT
Telephone +44 (0)20 7478 8888
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7.00-00.00 Sun 9.00-22.00

Sponge cake

Baking lesson number two. Very basic but essential & secret skills for a sponge cake learned.