On the hunt for collars ...

... nice collars, for cats, our furry girlcats.
Most cat collars, when you google these things or even visit a pet accoutrement emporium , are horribly vulgar contrivances, all bling and sparkle. Which I don't understand as cats are generally discrete creatures of impeccable taste. And yet this is the sort of thing I am offered when I pootle through the interwebs looking for something with a little style, a little elegance to grace the delicate furry necks of the Brown-Mouse girls. It's a little like, I assume, being the mother of a little girl and trying to buy her something not pink or princessy. Nothing would compel me to put one of these around the throat of Miss Tigger. And I'm quite convinced Miss Pingu would die of shame if forced to wear this floral tribute. Ugg.Other offerings, like these for example, are too bright and, I suspect, not genuine leather, peeled from a cow. They just don't look well made. This is slightly tempting, particularly for Miss Tigger, who's neck is so thin that no matter how dainty the collar, it just looks huge on her. But, you know, it's nylon and nylon gets ratty, quickly. Well, it does on our cats anyway. Sharp toenails are, I think, the problem. I am quite taken with these, particularly when I spotted the "Tigger in Lime" but up close it's leather is thin and the stitching is not particularly well done. The little fish bell, though, squeee.I really want something not colourful, something a little reminiscent of bridles and harnesses. Smooth, deep brown, oiled leather. Plain with the simplest of attachments. Well made. I found them of course, they are made in Montreal, Quebec. They are perfect. They are just exactly what I am looking for. They are $292 each.
EDITED TO ADD - Bugger, I've just noticed that those beautiful collars don't have the anti-strangulation bit of elastic on them. The search continues.

In which Lee ...

... of Pink Granite fame, becomes an enabler.
She tweeted me a link the other day, which led me to this site, and from there this pen, The Morgan.
Seriously, how am I expected to resist this?

I may have to wait for the traditional end of the calendar year gift exchange for this one, I've been a bit self indulgent in the pen area lately.

Getting in early ...

... for my birthday this year, I've submitted my list to Mr Brown.
You know, the 3 birthday wishes list.
This year I'm F focused, it would appear, as I've asked for ;
1. Fancy French Food (the dinner element)
2. Fine Art from a Far off Foreign land (the big present)
3. A FishFacsimilie (the little present)
Of course, I've not been that vague and wibbly in the actual submitted list, but to say more would give it away and spoil the surprise.
Rest assured, arrangements are in progress, emails pinged overseas, shops visited, websites perused and bookings made (or they had bloody well better have been, I don't want to be disappointed Mr Brown!)

I want ...

... This Chair, called Lyra, so badly it almost aches (only in red, obvy).I've wanted it for years.
I think I first spotted on the back of a Vogue magazine.
I've found somewhere that sells it.
That somewhere is a little coy about the price, which makes me a little uneasy.
You know the saying "if you have to ask the price, you can't afford one"? Well, I need to know the price, also, is it comfortable?

The interwebs ...

... makes impulse buying too damn easy. Earlier this week it was a Munch inflatable Scream Doll and 6 violently expensive (but beautiful) volumes from Persephone Books.
And a couple more books at the Art Gallery while I was waiting for Mr Brown to pick me up.This is from When the Moon Forgot by Jimmy Liao. Lovely thought, no? Cradling a young and frightened moon in your arms?
But I will not succumb this time, will not.

Tonight is birthday treat # 1 ...

... because my eat treat is not open on Monday (I'm so having the peach pannacotta, rose granita, honey and amaretti for pudding), and besides, a birthday blowout isn't so much fun on a school night.
And since we'll be in town anyway, I've added to my wish list - A ride on the Phucking big Pherris Wheel at Darling Harbour. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

This birthday is brough to you by the letter P ...

... so anyone who's read this blog for at least a year will know the Brown-Mouse birthday tradition - 3 things. This year my wishes are ...
1 Photography - a brand-spanking-new camera that will let me take photos of beetle dicks and is compatible with the new-fandangled computer system.
2 Pigging out - I want to go to Coast again, for the Antipasto di Salumi, and assorted other delicious things.
3 My wish for a new Pusscat, Puppy or Pony being vetoed by the evil overlord husband person, Mr Brown - I'm opting for something Pretty, and wandering down to Ms Buckley's shop to find something appropriate (preferably something in the ear-decoration department).
And can you believe it, the NSW Government has declared a public holiday in my honour, really, 'tis too much.

I really, really need ...

... some dark blue socks. Pretty, soft, girly dark blue socks.

Thinking about chairs ...

... I can't decide.

Have GoogleMaps will travel ...

... someplaces I've longed to go for simply ages. The Uffington White Horse. The Cerne Abbas Giant. The Long Man of Wilmington. Stonehenge.

Wish list ...

... this book is on my list for the next bookshop fossick. And from the little I've read of her writing, this one too.
I love this quote about alcoholism -
"It's not a disease either, if it was, you'd have caught it".

... well, you need to smell nice, shave the prickles off your face, have big manly-man hands, a deep voice, be good at fixing things, plenty of chest hair, enjoy eating and drinking (but neither to excess) and be nice to me - not so very difficult really.
Oh, smokers and god botherers need not apply.

Go take a peek at ...

... Roo's Salamanca pictures, what an amazingly beautiful place. Something else to add to the wish list.
When I first spotted Roo's link I thought he'd been to Tasmania, but no, t'was somewhere far more exotic.

WHY oh why ...

... did I not discover this site in time for ... seasonal gifties???Want, want, want!!!

Halloween ...

... Halloween is not traditionally celebrated in Australia*. Which is a great pity because I'd just love an excuse to make this costume! Also, I could make this out of a pumpkin.



* It's starting a bit now but I think that's more of an influence of all the American TV & Movies we see down here. The tiny bits I see seem so faux, so forced, that I just can't bring myself to join in. One day though, I'm going to play Halloween in the US, where it's real.

I'm a Winter bebe ...

... but it seems my wishes are Spring-based. 'Tis my birthday today. So, a couple of months ago I gave Mr Brown my birthday wish list:
a native bee hive (with bees);
a pomegranate tree (with nice eatable fruit); and
dinner at The Ottoman (a favourite from our Canberra days, recently opened here in Sydney).
Well, 1 out of 3 ain't bad. We dine at the Ottoman tonight.
He did try for the full list (that's why he's my favourite) and the tree and the bees are on order. Problem is, neither can be delivered until the Spring. He did give me this though, the dafty. And, so I'd have something all wrapped up to open on the day, he gave me this too - one of my favourite smells ever (I guess that makes me an old-fashioned girl).
The whole birthday thing started yesterday with lunch at the Bambini Trust Cafe (where I had the most amazing duck liver and black truffle pate and a beautiful baked pork cutlet with pomegranate molasses and other yummy things) with some special girl friends - and they shouted me - bless their little cotton socks.
And Fiddles gave me the loveliest colour-coordinated gifty (book mark all the way from Vietnam), this is my favourite use. Then cake for afternoon tea (shared with another birthday girl and a pregnant one, as it was her last day). Then drinkies at the pub after work. I was only going to stay for 1 but have no self control and so I was easily talked into several fizzy wines and chatted and laughed and got home quite late and was in no fit state to cook Mr Brown any dinner.
Oh, and there were parcels when I got home. My new T-shirt from Remo, and one for Mr Brown (2 for 1 special - mine on the left, his on the right, apparently funny if you are a computer dweeb), and my two new Mary Russell books from Amazon (because there was no way I was waiting until they were finally published here) - it's very wild, wet and windy outside, perfect for me to curl up with good books and, perhaps, a fire.
Oh, oh, and I finally got a hair cut, 2 years and 1 month since the last one. The haircutty chappie was most surprised that someone would leave it so long, but did say nice things about how healthy it was (all that not dyeing or frying with hot irons or curling wands I guess).
Then I went and renewed my drivers license for another 5 years and can you believe it? I managed to pass the eye test - that really made my day!
On Saturday my mum will be cooking one of my all-time favourites (lemony veal and lots and lots of green beans) and the following Saturday we meet up with some old friends to eat at Chinta Ria, a Brown Mouse tradition. I am SO going to have Sassy's Duck.