Like the World.

26.02. Dogs + Water = happy times

mareelouise — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 04:51:55 +0000

Today. Port Melbourne dog beach. Understandably chockas.
Like.

BTW, for some absolutely fabulous underwater pics of dogs after balls, take a look at Photobotos’ site

25.02. Pimms and Lemonade

mareelouise — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 04:14:57 +0000

We have returned to a very hot Melbourne from a very cold Europe.
And we need coping mechanisms.
Even a chilled white wine is not enough to combat 40 degrees.
That’s where Pimm’s and lemonade comes in. One of the most refreshing drinks I know.
Take some sliced orange and chunked out watermelon. Pimms to lemonade ratio of 1:2 or 3. Plenty of ice, and hey presto, the afternoon looks a whole lot cooler!

How do you cope with the heat?

30.01. The Testimony – a new memoir from Halina Wagowska

mareelouise — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 02:37:08 +0000

Finished this lovely book, The Testimony, which will be launched at Readings St Kilda on Thursday 15th March. Written by 81 year old Halina Wagowska, a survivor of Auschwitz and Stutthof, as her last testimony before “she drops off the twig”. It is a great tale of the resilience of the human spirit. It also reminds us, as her story continues to her life in Australia, of the immense value that refugees of all kinds bring to Australia. Something that gets forgotten alot in the current hysterical debate (read “demonisation”) about “boat people”.

I’m looking forward to the launch, Halina Wagowska reads like one of those people you really want to see in real life. She will be in conversation with Anna Epstein (curator of the Jewish Museum of Australia) and the book will be launched by philosopher Peter Singer. For details of the event, jump here.

The Testimony
The Testimony is the memoir of a woman determined not to remain a victim, despite having been a victim of the most horrific crimes against humanity, the Holocaust.

The Testimony begins by relating her idyllic pre-war childhood in Poland. From there, we descend with her, deeper and deeper into the hell of Nazi occupation as her family is moved first into the ghetto, then to Auschwitz-Birkenau and finallz to the hell of Stutthof.

Without drama, she tells of the physical conditions in the camps and gives us a glimpse of the emotional impact of the dehumanisation, fear,hatred and despair.

What makes the book really glow for me though, are the personalities of the people who share her journey. Stasia, the gentile housekeeper who goes with the family into the ghetto; Frieda, who becomes her ersatz mother in Stutthof or Sasha, the Russian who finally liberates her. It is these, and the relationships that carry her beyond, to a gentler life in Australia, that create the sense of hope in this memoir.

This is fascinating stuff, told in a simple, straightforward style that makes it accessable and easy to read.

It is not only a testimony of what happened to her, but a testament to the power of the human spirit and the capacity human beings have to illuminate the lives of those around them, no matter what the circumstances.

Read as part of the Hardie Grant Bookclub.
To read what other bookclubbers think, jump here.

29.01. Paris: City of Love

mareelouise — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:09:29 +0000

Yes it’s a cliche, but Paris is full of references to love.
I love it!

On the Pont des Artes, couples attach a padlock as a symbol of their love.

And everywhere else, love is in the air and on the street.

24.02. Coming home and resuming transmission

mareelouise — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:45:33 +0000

So we’re back.
Drying skiing gear in the back yard in 40 degree heat.
And this blog is back.
All this while, I’ve been “blogging” on paper. What folks used to call a journal.
So I have a month’s worth of content to catch up.
The plan: each day I will be posting the day’s Like as well as catching up on one post a day for Jan./ Feb.
Hope that’s not irritating. Let me know if it is.

Today’s like is coming home.
And being welcomed.
By your best friend;

and fresh muffins and tomato pickles from your mother in law xxx.

28.01. A break in normal transmission

mareelouise — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:12:03 +0000

I am on a little break.
And I had hoped to keep updating Like The World with posts.
But at the moment the only pics I can upload are off my phone and I,m not happy with the quality. And I don,t want this blog to be about ordinary photos.
So I am going to give this blog a rest- and then bombard you with pics in about a month.
Au revoir till then, mes cheries.
If you,re looking for me, I,ll be here.

27.01. Paris, I Wish You Love

mareelouise — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:05:13 +0000

Simply divine.

Music by Charles Trenet & Léo Chauliac
Original Lyrics by Charles Trenet
English Lyrics by Albert Beach

Here is a heavenly version by Stacey Kent.

A Translation. Just beautiful!

Goodbye, No use leading with our chins,
This is where our story ends,
Never lovers, ever friends.

Goodbye, Let our hearts call it a day,
But before you walk away,
I sincerely want to say:

I wish you bluebirds in the Spring,
To give your heart a song to sing;
And then a kiss, but more than this I wish you love.

And in July, a lemonade,
To cool you in some leafy glade;
I wish you health and more than wealth, I wish you love.
My breaking heart and I agree
That you and I could never be,
So with my best, my very best, I set you free.

I wish you shelter from the storm,
A cozy fire to keep you warm;
But most of all, when snowflakes fall,
I wish you love.

I wish you bluebirds in the Spring,
To give your heart a song to sing;
And then a kiss, but more than this I wish you love.

I wish you shelter from the storm,
A cozy fire to keep you warm;
But most of all, when snowflakes fall,
I wish you love.

26.01. Rainforest in an airport

mareelouise — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:37:34 +0000

Nice one KL

25.01. Holiday House Wisdom

mareelouise — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:55:32 +0000

24.01. Something different for breakfast

mareelouise — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:28:46 +0000

Middle Fish in Carlton has been open just under a month.
They serve Thai, but also European breakfasts.
It’s a fantastic space- a spacious warehouse feel – and the food and coffee is great too.
Something different.
Very cool.
Highly recommended.

Middle Fish
122-128 Berkeley St
Carlton 3053

Open Mon-Fri 7am-5pm; Sat-Sun 10am-4pm