set two alarm clocks
tick tock alarm snooze dream dreams
wake up to Monday
Sunday 31 July 2011
Saturday 30 July 2011
Zines: the art of self publication
Zine (n) /zi:n/
A small self-published magazine which is often handmade, and made up of original work. Copies are usually made with a photocopier, and it generally has a small scale distribution.
Last weekend I was down at Tangleball where they were running a zine workshop- a kinda hands on, make your own zine affair. I wasn't sure what to expect before I got there but it was heaps of fun. We were warmly welcomed by Tessa who also showed us how easy it was to make the base of a wee zine booklet. Easy as an A4 piece of paper. A few folds, a cut down one of the creases then open and fold it in on itself. Easy.
A solid base. Now we just had to find content to fill that bad boy. Magazines, newspapers, drawings, rubber alphabet stamps, pens, scissors, glue sticks... Heaps of stationary! There was also books and encyclopedias to cut up but I dunno, I just feel quite uneasy about cutting up books. I feel the same about writing in them, it's just not right. Anyways, I somehow found myself cutting up an encyclopedia (Aa- As). It was a real old copy that someone had dismissed onto the streets, and Tessa thought she would save it, but not really because there I was cutting it up. Now I wouldn't normally but she convinced me it was okay, and I was getting involved so... Yea, it still didn't feel right. I only cut out a wee section though- a wee piece of South East Asia. I thought I would make a zine about my travels to Auckland city but I didn't find too much relevant material so I'm stilling workinonit like Dilla.
*more
So there I was walking down K Road. I love K Road, so many different characters. Anyways, on Thursday evening I bumped into David Merritt with his boxes of zine making gear- rubber alphabet stamps, ink pad, stapler, and a box full of recycled book covers. He had a small collection of zines laid out on the bench next to him, and he was putting together more. I didn't make it to the zinefest but I had read about it, and him. He was the man who sits on K Road selling zines, and there he was. What a guy. I had to stop for a chat.
Legend.
A small self-published magazine which is often handmade, and made up of original work. Copies are usually made with a photocopier, and it generally has a small scale distribution.
 |
| One of David Merritt's efforts: recycled book cover, typed up prayers... staple it altogether! |
A solid base. Now we just had to find content to fill that bad boy. Magazines, newspapers, drawings, rubber alphabet stamps, pens, scissors, glue sticks... Heaps of stationary! There was also books and encyclopedias to cut up but I dunno, I just feel quite uneasy about cutting up books. I feel the same about writing in them, it's just not right. Anyways, I somehow found myself cutting up an encyclopedia (Aa- As). It was a real old copy that someone had dismissed onto the streets, and Tessa thought she would save it, but not really because there I was cutting it up. Now I wouldn't normally but she convinced me it was okay, and I was getting involved so... Yea, it still didn't feel right. I only cut out a wee section though- a wee piece of South East Asia. I thought I would make a zine about my travels to Auckland city but I didn't find too much relevant material so I'm stilling workinonit like Dilla.
*more
So there I was walking down K Road. I love K Road, so many different characters. Anyways, on Thursday evening I bumped into David Merritt with his boxes of zine making gear- rubber alphabet stamps, ink pad, stapler, and a box full of recycled book covers. He had a small collection of zines laid out on the bench next to him, and he was putting together more. I didn't make it to the zinefest but I had read about it, and him. He was the man who sits on K Road selling zines, and there he was. What a guy. I had to stop for a chat.
 |
| David Merritt What a character! He was great chat. A quick witted, but also very humble man. He was like, okay so what are you: a graphic designer, copywriter or a writer? I was like, I write things. Yeah, you're a geek I can tell! Why do you think that, I asked, is it because I'm wearing glasses?? No. Is it because I'm Asian?? Haha, no. See you've got it wrong, for me a geek is anyone who is passionate about something. Yea, you're totally right, I agreed. He goes on, it's just a lot of the time it's seen as a bad thing, or it's computer related but I can tell that you 're passionate. That you're a geek. Take one of these, go on, take the one down at the other end, GEEK PRAYERS, yea, that's it. Take it, it's yours, now get out of here. I was kinda overwhelmed by the gift. We had only been chatting for like 10 minutes but I was very pleased with it. It looks like he had stapled his collection of Geek Prayers together, and then sewn in a small thread binding. My first zine! I know, I know: you love what I'm doing, keep it up... Don't make your friend wait any longer... Get out of here. I'm going for a hot chocolate. |
Legend.
Wednesday 27 July 2011
FOR PETE
HAVE A DANCE OR TWO
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM SUE
HAVE A DRINK OR THREE
YOU'RE NOW TWENTY THREE
HAVE A CAKE WITH A FACE
EAT ITS SPONGY, JAMMY FACE.
HAVE A GOOD ONE PAL
EAT SOME CAKE AND YOU SHALL
HAVE A FACE WITH A CAKE
A FACE FULL OF CAKE!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
LOVE,LOVE,LOVE
SUE
AGE 24
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM SUE
HAVE A DRINK OR THREE
YOU'RE NOW TWENTY THREE
HAVE A CAKE WITH A FACE
EAT ITS SPONGY, JAMMY FACE.
HAVE A GOOD ONE PAL
EAT SOME CAKE AND YOU SHALL
HAVE A FACE WITH A CAKE
A FACE FULL OF CAKE!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
LOVE,LOVE,LOVE
SUE
AGE 24
Monday 25 July 2011
t y p e
I really want a typewriter.
I've just had the urge to bash out a story.
I don't know what it's going to be about yet.
I've just had the urge to bash out a story.
I don't know what it's going to be about yet.
bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash ring slide click bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash scroll slide click bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash ring slide click bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash bash scroll scroll scroll scroll scroll scroll scroll
That will have to do for now.
Thursday 21 July 2011
Photo Thursday: Glasgow
Glasgow gets such a bad rep but it's one of my favourite places in the world.
I went to university there, made ace friends, and had heaps of good times. It's July. It should be summer, and sunny! I can't get used to this.
I miss hanging out in Kelvingrove Park on a sunny day. On the big hill with pals, and the rest of the Westend. Everyone would chill on that hill. Drinking, chatting, and waving at the polis. I miss the Westend in general. I found these photos on my phone so I thought I would share.
- It's Winter in Auckland. They don't have central heating here...
I went to university there, made ace friends, and had heaps of good times. It's July. It should be summer, and sunny! I can't get used to this.
I miss hanging out in Kelvingrove Park on a sunny day. On the big hill with pals, and the rest of the Westend. Everyone would chill on that hill. Drinking, chatting, and waving at the polis. I miss the Westend in general. I found these photos on my phone so I thought I would share.
 |
| The Kelvin |
 |
| Love this. I think these guys were singing out their window |
 |
| Great Western Road |
I did not pack for a winter in NZ when I left on my trip but this working holiday visa. It's working out okay eh...
Tuesday 19 July 2011
The Loft, yoga studio, Auckland
I've done quite a few yoga session since I left on my travels in September.
From a studio set in the serene surrounding of paddy fields and beautifully fresh air, in Ubud, to an air conditioned studio in one of Singapore's many, many malls. The world class instructors make up for the lack of atmosphere in the latter. But all in all, it's been pretty good, and varied.
I have found a nice wee studio in Auckland. It's called The Loft but I'm pretty certain there is another floor above it. Anyways, for $17 ($14 for students) you get a 75 min yoga session, dinner AND dessert. Absolute treat! It's all vegan food so it's all round goodness.
Monday's Vinyasa class is worth checking out. It's in the smaller room so only fits like 12 people but it's great, and a bit more challenging which I like. Miki teaches this class. She is a quirky Japanese girl who effortlessly demonstrates some positions, and says things like 'if you've never done this position before... watch the person in front of you' for others. Lucky the person in front of me knew what they were doing. I'm still trying to learn all the different names. The small room is literally 6 mats wide, and 2 deep. Intimate. I like it.
Tuesday's Ashtanga class is good too. Miki again. I've been a few times, and the class size seems to vary a lot. It's in the larger room. The first time I went, it was packed out, I think someone even had a mat in the changing room at the back! I wasn't a fan of the crowded class at first, thinking they were packing too many people in but I kinda forgot about it throughout the practise, and I've been back since so all good. Second time, the class was a better size. Heaps of sun salutations, balancing poses, stretches. A good balance, and at a decent pace too. Mat hire is free, and there's loads of blankets for relaxation at the end. THEN it's dinner time.
Food food food. Vegan isn't a lifestyle I have ever really considered. I've done a vegetarian challenge but never vegan. Every time I've been to the Loft though they've cooked up something different (from the last time), and tasty, and it all seems pretty simple too. Portion sizes are huge. They make these delicious chocolate brownies but without the chocolate. They use carob. I hadn't even heard of carob before but it's tasty as. A tasty vegan friendly chocolate alternative! I kinda joked that the girl next to me got a bigger piece than me, and she was like, we can swap, I like the corner slabs anyway, and that made me go hmm maybe the corner slab is better, maybe I'll keep it. I ended up with both pieces cos she was so full after dinner, hahah. Treat! Hopefully carob is good the next day too.
I believe Wednesday, Thursdays are hatha classes, I've not tried them yet but the website will tell you more about the classes.
See you there!
NEXT: I'm keen to try Bikram yoga, and also laughing yoga. I'll be back.
Monday 18 July 2011
Oh hiyaz- a definition
Oh hiyaz came up in conversation today when I met up with Emma from re>publication.
I struggled at the time to think up a formal definition but I got in touch with an old friend, Ginge, and together we came up with our interpretation of said phrase. I wouldn't call ourselves pioneers but anything along those lines will do nicely.
Sheena MacSween
Sue Tsang
Sue Tsang
Sheena MacSween
- banter.
Sunday 17 July 2011
GoogleAds is pretty handy- it let's you know where all your site traffic is coming from.
It made me smile when I saw that someone had typed 'camembert nightmares' into Google, and it directed them to my page. This made me review my post, and I found it a wee bit upsetting that I did not report back with my findings. Sorry about this, pals!
I don't think it worked. I think you really need more than a slither to get a cheese induced nightmare. Also maybe camembert is a bit too creamy. Maybe I need to get a smelly, crumbly cheese involved...
WATCH THIS!
It made me smile when I saw that someone had typed 'camembert nightmares' into Google, and it directed them to my page. This made me review my post, and I found it a wee bit upsetting that I did not report back with my findings. Sorry about this, pals!
I don't think it worked. I think you really need more than a slither to get a cheese induced nightmare. Also maybe camembert is a bit too creamy. Maybe I need to get a smelly, crumbly cheese involved...
WATCH THIS!
Thursday 14 July 2011
A morning in Luang Prabang, Laos
I cruised down the Mekong for two days to get to this little gem of a city.
Two days because I opted for the cheaper and safer slow boat. It takes literally a quarter of the time if you want to take the fast boat. I actually saw a few zoom past. The passengers wore motorcycle helmets. The fast boats only seated about 5 people, it's a speed boat. Meanwhile, the slow boats can squeeze in like 100 people- rows and rows of small wooden benches. Minimal leg room. Wooden, numb bum but at least you don't have to wear a motorcycle helmet, and if you were to crash into a rock, the whole boat would not crumble. A speed boat would, warned my hostel owner in Chiang Mai. Oh it would, he said. Safe! You can read about the slow boat journey here.
Once locating your backpack, and climbing up the small hill, you'll be greeted by a small group of tuktuk drivers. The city is a UNESCO world heritage site, making all big vehicles forbidden. It's a real religious city- about 90% of Laotians are Buddhists- and it's forbidden to be higher than a monk so no buses! It was really quite refreshing being in a town without heaps of traffic.
Monks do not have any possessions- although sometimes you see them in big cities with mobile phones, and shopping which I can't really understand... anyways, in Luang Prabang, every morning, the monks walk down to the main street to collect alms. They each carry an alms bowl which they use to collect goodies and which they all share out later in the temple, and that's their food for the day.
I was with my friend, Pete, and we got up at 530am to get ready to go hand out alms. There was already a lady there setting up a stall with baskets of sticky rice so we bought a couple from her. You can also buy packs of biscuits if you are into that. It was still dark at this point but a few people had started to gather. Once it started getting light, more people arrived, tourists and locals alike and we all lined up at the side of the road. Soon we saw the bright orange robes of the monks walking down the street in single file. They walk alongside us and open their bowls each time they pass someone with an offering. There was a local next to us, and she would pinch some sticky rice, and roll it into a ball before popping it into the monk's bowl, and whispering a prayer. They come by really fast so I probably only managed every 3rd monk but they all share the food anyway. It was a good experience.
There were a couple of homeless families on our side of the road too, and a lot of the monks would donate all their alms to them. One of the woman selling alms across the road had one of her kids with a box on our side of the road, and the monks would hand over all the biscuits and treats into the kid's box, and I guess the goods would get sold again the next day... huhh.
The only thing that annoyed me were the tourists that chased the monks down the road to snap photos! It was crazy, running after the monks like that. Very disrespectful, and embarrassing seeing falangs (foreigners) disrupting the morning ritual like that. I took a photo from afar...
Two days because I opted for the cheaper and safer slow boat. It takes literally a quarter of the time if you want to take the fast boat. I actually saw a few zoom past. The passengers wore motorcycle helmets. The fast boats only seated about 5 people, it's a speed boat. Meanwhile, the slow boats can squeeze in like 100 people- rows and rows of small wooden benches. Minimal leg room. Wooden, numb bum but at least you don't have to wear a motorcycle helmet, and if you were to crash into a rock, the whole boat would not crumble. A speed boat would, warned my hostel owner in Chiang Mai. Oh it would, he said. Safe! You can read about the slow boat journey here.
Once locating your backpack, and climbing up the small hill, you'll be greeted by a small group of tuktuk drivers. The city is a UNESCO world heritage site, making all big vehicles forbidden. It's a real religious city- about 90% of Laotians are Buddhists- and it's forbidden to be higher than a monk so no buses! It was really quite refreshing being in a town without heaps of traffic.
Monks do not have any possessions- although sometimes you see them in big cities with mobile phones, and shopping which I can't really understand... anyways, in Luang Prabang, every morning, the monks walk down to the main street to collect alms. They each carry an alms bowl which they use to collect goodies and which they all share out later in the temple, and that's their food for the day.
I was with my friend, Pete, and we got up at 530am to get ready to go hand out alms. There was already a lady there setting up a stall with baskets of sticky rice so we bought a couple from her. You can also buy packs of biscuits if you are into that. It was still dark at this point but a few people had started to gather. Once it started getting light, more people arrived, tourists and locals alike and we all lined up at the side of the road. Soon we saw the bright orange robes of the monks walking down the street in single file. They walk alongside us and open their bowls each time they pass someone with an offering. There was a local next to us, and she would pinch some sticky rice, and roll it into a ball before popping it into the monk's bowl, and whispering a prayer. They come by really fast so I probably only managed every 3rd monk but they all share the food anyway. It was a good experience.
There were a couple of homeless families on our side of the road too, and a lot of the monks would donate all their alms to them. One of the woman selling alms across the road had one of her kids with a box on our side of the road, and the monks would hand over all the biscuits and treats into the kid's box, and I guess the goods would get sold again the next day... huhh.
The only thing that annoyed me were the tourists that chased the monks down the road to snap photos! It was crazy, running after the monks like that. Very disrespectful, and embarrassing seeing falangs (foreigners) disrupting the morning ritual like that. I took a photo from afar...
Pappin the papz
We went along to the morning market after. Lots of treats!
Baskets for sticky rice alms
Colourful veggies
Rice, rice, rice
This little kid was actively involved in choosing dinner. The ducks were freakin out.
Catch you next time,
Sue
Wednesday 6 July 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)