Rainy Days

It's been raining all morning. Really raining. Tropical rain. I wonder how long it will last and how many parts of the city have flooded already. No matter, I'm enjoying it. It's a complete distraction.



I wish I smoked so I could stand in the open doorway, arms folded, sucking that cigarette and looking sardonically to the sky. Or reflective, like I was contemplating something REALLY big. "Yeah," I'd think, "it sure is raining."



These pictures go no way to showing you how much water is falling from the sky. But you get an idea of the colour scheme.

sock

This is the latest edition to our household. He is fashioned from a pair of socks. Look at him. He seems a little nonchalant to me. Thanks to The Orange Tree for sending me this and many other patterns! Orange Tree, do you know the name of the book this pattern came from?

We have been getting lost in the city (again), eating banana leaf meals at 'lost' locations, dining with Russians, cleaning our drains and spying piano players in fancy malls.

Mr David is Selling His House

This banner was hard to miss as we walked up the highway to the shops. It wasn't there the next day. I wonder if Mister David managed to sell his house. With 5 bedrooms and 7 toilets I bet it was snapped up quick smart.

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

"Here. Here I am dummy. In this shop window, playing at being a mannequin. Modeling this sweet outfit."
I walk past this shop window at least once a week. The very first time I did, I stopped and stared. This here dummy is a dead ringer for my little (!) brother. I kid you not. The face, the height, the hair!! It's uncanny, I swear.

Lauren Williams Handmade

Look what was waiting in the letterbox for me this morning! Lauren Williams and I did a little swap, and I scored two beautiful brooches and a ring. Thanks Lauren! You can see more of her work on her blog and on her etsy shop.

Well, we had jaunt to Singapore this weekend. Oh! It was lovely. We caught the double decker bus from KL, which was a vast improvement on our last train journey to Singapore. Actually, it was awfully luxurious. Meal included, complementary tea, coffee and water. Pillow and blanket. We stayed overnight in a cheap-o hotel, and wandered the streets, eating and looking. We remembered how nice footpaths are and spent much time at the Singapore Art Museum and National Gallery. There was even a visit to Spotlight(!). Here are some shots to show you how darn bright and colorful Singapore was.

Fun With Cut and Paste

Four collages I've made this week. Fun fun fun. All the paper is recycled too!

A Tardy Weekend Post

Saturday was 'let's go somewhere new day', so we trooped off to Central Market. It's in the city center and a tourist trap for sure, a bustling indoor market selling primarily Malaysian arts and crafts. Still, it was nice to spend a few hours fingering batiked cloth and woven shawls. There were also lots of badly designed t-shirts featuring KL landmarks. Our favourite spot was the antiques and collectibles area, where we found a box of ephemera - old used envelopes sent from Chinese migrants working in Malaysia back home. Or so the stall holder told us. We'll have to go back when we have spare cash and sharper bartering skills. Attached to Central Market is the Annexe, where all manner of 'fine art' is housed. No, it was pretty cool. There was a street full of portrait artist, each with a small studio where you could watch them work. The quality was pretty darn good, and we chuckled over the idea of commissioning a family portrait. (Like the one of the Kennedy family hanging over their mantle in Neighbours.) The real reason we made the trip to Central Market though was for the Annexe Gallery, a great contemporary art gallery. We saw a wonderfully tactile show called 'Please Touch' by Simon Keogh. So we did, and it was good fun!

After lunch we wandered out onto the street and eventually stumbled across China Town. I was quite excited about this, but it turned out to be full of knock off designer goods and sweaty people sneaking up to us and coyly opening a vinyl wallet saying 'DVD for you? DVD?'. Not very exciting. Still, not much compares to soaking up the energy of a city and you know what, we didn't buy anything remotely tourist-y. Except for a bottle of water...


Can you believe we didn't take any photos in either Central Market or China Town? All the above images are from the streets in between these two places.

Hey Nephew

Big shout out to my nephew (who likes to be referred to as X) whose parcel I've just received in the mail. It came covered in sweet little dog stickers and included great little gifts of chalk, Malaysian money and a nifty little rock. Thank you Mr X, you made my day!
xox k