funny little country.

Police in Denmark hug bicyclists without helmets, then give them helmets

We did a project while I was there where we asked a bunch of Danes, old and young, why they didn't wear a helmet. Most said because it would ruin their hair. No joke. 16 year old boys and 50 year old ladies alike. The wind there would do a lot, lot worse than any helmet ever would!

more films.

This time, the French And They Lived Happily Ever After.

I'm not that big a fan of Johnny Depp (don't even get me started on Pirates of the Caribbean 3) - not that I think he is a bad actor, or don't like the films he picks, quite the opposite - more that I just don't buy the whole sex symbol thing. Also not fans of: Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, that Twilight guy that everyone seems to be raving about (again, don't get me started). But Depp in this movie was quite magical, despite his small role. The scene above, with Charlotte Gainsbourg who I love, love, love, love, love, was amazing. And it was set to Creep by Radiohead. In fact most of the soundtrack to this film was either Radiohead or the Velvet Underground, which was a nice surprise.

The whole movie was lovely, looking at the relationships of three men and questioning whether the 'wife and kids' path was the right one for each of them to either take or not take. The end was a little disappointing, but oddly satisfying at the same time.

I've really been getting into SBS lately. Mad Men is great. The commercials seem to be really chronically bad at the moment; or maybe they always have been, and I've just matured in taste a little.

Anyway this movie made me want to have long hair again, wear more trench coats, saunter around Paris, and live in a lovely upstairs apartment with a double-door entry, big windrows, wooden floorboards and multiple fireplaces.

allegro.

The Danish film Allegro was on SBS last night. It's strange - Australian films are never particularly city-centric, it doesn't really matter which city a film might be located in, more that it is in 'a' city. But this film, although sort of sci-fi/fantasty oriented, was so based around Copenhagen; around streets I've walked and buildings I recognise... and the sort of dull ache it stirred in my heart made it both difficult and wonderful to watch.

Helena Christensen was quite lovely in it, really. Very elegant. I find myself wanting to hate her (she is, after all, the girlfriend of one Mr Paul Banks), but I was quite enchanted by her. Maybe it was just her coat and her tights and her heels on the cobblestones by the canal at Gammel Strand...

bikey-bike.

I was walking past the bike rack during my break at work today, admiring a shiny blue bicycle with a white basket.

Then I realised that it was actually mine. Possibly the blondest moment I've had in a long time :)

We are getting along fabulously, although ever since I got Mary it seems like everyone's coming out as a closet bike-lover and cyclist.

I'm going to be on the radio tomorrow! My friend Pat interviewed me for his radio show, I'm talking about Danish media and culture. I don't think I really want to listen back to what I said though!

yum yum.

Chargrilled Vegetable Pies Recipe

I've been making/eating this recipe religiously lately, it's so good. And I don't even like vegetables! I've decided that using potato is better than zucchini, and coupling it with tomato sauce makes it super-yum. No, I'm not one of those people who needs tomato sauce on literally everything, but I don't think you can beat the pasty/sauce combo. I'm so Australian, haha. Also, there's no need to bother with various colours of capsicum, I've just been using red. You can cook in a frying pan with a little olive oil instead of using a proper char-griller too.

I learned when I was overseas that not many countries use the word 'capsicum'. Instead, 'pepper' (and its various translations) is the word of choice. Strange.

one and two.

One: Diana Instant Backs.

Two: a little bit in love with this blog.

feb/mar.

Finally, some pictures of my February/March. Had some lovely times at the Fringe, in the Garden of Unearthly Delights, seeing comedians, at Format DIY Festival/Zine Fair/Academy of DIY. Lumonics are sadly no more. Rooftop bars are wonderful, especially in the late afternoon sun.

bicycle.

This is what I bought and wanted to share. A little reminder of Denmark, with 80% less rust and 99% more reliability (and movability) than my darling Danish bike. She is shiny and blue and my bag fits into her basket perfectly. We ride to work together. However, Australian divers aren't so well-acquainted with graceful (/awkward?) little bike couples like me and her. Still deciding whether I should take my rightful place on the road, or reclaim the footpaths as a safer option.

I'm thinking of calling her Mary, in honour of Princess Mary, but am definitely open to suggestions.

miss you.

Denmark seems like a dream. I know that I was there, but it just doesn't seem real anymore. I have come home and feel somewhat changed, but don't know where or how it happened. I have new friends, new photos, new things, and yet the memories of how I came to have these aren't crisp. This is all probably normal, but I don't want it to be this way.