Elf's Drinky Link (II)

Unless you live under a rock you'll know it's Cheltenham, and I'm pretty sure it doesn't have its own cocktail, its not really a cocktail event....
however in the horsey theme The Kentucky Derby has its official cocktail, The Mint Julep!

Very easy to make, and might be a nice change for those that like Mojitos!



That's the Drink... now for the links......

Xbox makes the newspaper for the second time in as many months

Gingerpixel too!

Macawilliams First photo from his new camera

Swiss Miss's four rules more to be found on Notes to self

Proof that the Duck (like the man) is not for turning - have to say I laughed at the Registers heading for it "Bloke-Duck-Mounting"

The Guardian post Wendy Richard's Chilli Recipe - I love the commentary on this recipe and recipes in general, which says a lot for our culinary blog friends.

"A recipe isn't just a set of instructions for cooking, it's a personal gift. When someone gives you a recipe, they are not teaching you how to do something, but wanting you to experience something they loved."

Sticking with food, the ever wonderful lady that is Grannymar has shared with us most graciously her favourite sandwich recipes - now these hit the spot in terms of my culinary prowess...

The influence of Desked, our new favorite blog is can be seen all over the place - ok so maybe not Desked influenced but it is a gorgeous desk! :)

On the topic of cool things on Design Milk, this is a fantastic idea for families with power hungry kids , although you would have to find a way to ensure they cant just unplug it and toss it to the side.

Don't forget to vote for Irish man George in his attempt to get the Best Job in the World

And OF COURSE for our own Rick O'Shea in the Meteor's

And to finish with something sweet!

Things to do... Things not to do!

Things to do....

The Lives of others has a cunning plan for all your secret rants and wishes...
Try it, I'm sure you'll like it....



#133: Envious Originally uploaded by Stacy Magallon


Things not to do.....

Or at least not to replicate on *your* scanner...

Scanwiches, an archive of scanned sandwiches, as you do!













via SwissMiss

Spring has Sprung...

What a wonderful day today.

It was a real pleasure to cycle to work this morning, and I promised myself that I will take a morning/day off and do my route to work with a camera soon. There are so many cool shots to be had in the morning bike rush, if I can get my hands on a decent camera I know I'll make some of the photo-bloggers mouths water.

All topped of with plenty of stops along the way... I especially want to go back here for breakfast on that day!

(Of course this day off can be scheduled with anyone's visit, just pick a weekday morning and bring nerves of corrugated iron, if not steel, and we will have a blast)

So imagine my delight when the sun was still shining at 5.30pm, I took this as a sign I was not to work late and quickly donned my very glamorous cycling gear (Trackie bottoms and a sweatshirt) and hit the streets to cycle home. It wasn't as much fun as this morning, obviously people we no longer "sunshine happy" after a day at the office, and the good will and smiling of the morning commute had petered out.

All strains petered away as I cornered onto my street and heard the first Westerkerk Evening Carillon of 2009!

I haven't heard it since October, at which point I did video it with the aim of sharing it here, but like many blog posts at the time it gathered dust.

So now I'd like to share this magical thing with you. It might be the memories of the notes flowing across the summer warmed canal that makes it so special to me but I think its so beautiful you dont need to be here to appreciate it.

To me it rings out in such a way that if you sit and listen you can imagine living here in another time, I think of all the historical figures that would have listened to its melodies, Anne Frank and Rembrandt van Rijn as examples.

Of course this is where the "beauty" of single glazed wood frame windows come into their own, it plays throughout my 3rd floor apartment, as if only for me

The Westerkerk stands pretty much at the top of my street (if you don't count the Prinsengracht separating the two) and as I got off my bike and chained it up I was beaming listening to the tune. I looked down toward the the end of the street, and noted I wasn't the only person enjoying it. Many of the patrons of one of the local bars, Cafe Chris were out with their beertjes listening too.

I quickly went upstairs and tried to capture it on my rubbish camera phone, so forgive the orientation of the video, and the sub par picture, but the sound really does work! :) Had to take it several times as it picked up every conversation had on the street.


Carillon Westerkerk from Elfinamsterdam on Vimeo.

And here is an inside view of what is going on when a carillon is played


And last but not least, a little clip of Tulips from Amsterdam, taken from the top of the Westertoren when it was being repaired in 2007.


I want to climb the tower soon, its 85 metres high and was completed in 1638. In fact the local bar I mentioned earlier played a part in its construction, and was reputed not only to be the local bar of Rembrandt, who stopped there for a tipple or many on rout from his studio, but it was also used as the payroll office of the workers building the tower.

There is a unique gents restroom in the premises which I am happy to show you when we go for a beertje sometime! :)

See you there, hopefully the bells will be chiming!

Amsterdam Cool: Moodwall

Design is a BIG thing here in Amsterdam. More than in any other city I've experienced Amsterdam prides itself on its creative community. Its great to have a policy that really cherishes small companies that want to create new and inventive ways of looking at the world and doing business.

Outdoor design is also really promoted, and in the suburbs there is the space to try out new things, from cool bike shelters to crazy parks and walls. Recently unveiled the Mood wall is just that, a 24-meter long mood wall consists of 2,500 led lamps and a video system.

The standard urban wallpaper video program on the wall is alternated with an interactive program that responds to passing pedestrians. the project was initiated to increase the sense of security in obscure passageways in Amsterdam's bijlmermeer area. Its located on the okkermanviaduct, adjacent to bijlmerplein 395 [bijlmermeer].

Talk about concrete enhancement of ones living environment, the mood wall, a concept concocted by Urban Alliance, a network of industries specialized in lighting solutions for public spaces. Urban Alliance is a collaboration of designers and developers - Studio Klink which does architecture and design; Illuminate, specializing in interactive lighting and video content; and Cube Architects that specializes in building design and development.

The tunnel’s screen is stretched out horizontally so that the images are better viewed from the side, and outside the tunnel, which makes people want to view it from the outside, and also prevents the tunnel from becoming a loitering spot (at least in theory).

The official statement from Urban Alliance “The Moodwall is located in a pedestrian tunnel and interacts with people passing by, improving the atmosphere in the tunnel and making people feel happier and safer. The interactive urban wallpaper is made from 2500 LEDs behind a ribbed semi-transparent wall. The curves in the wall make it less vulnerable to graffiti and improve visibility.”

World Wide Weird

Possibly the strangest site..... but certainly the coolest header...

Click and see what happens! :)

Yes its rubbish fun Monday

Your Sh*t don't fly with me....

From my mate Stacy..... who obviously found this sh*t on the Onion

Wear Headphones or close the door if in work! :)



Sony Releases New Stupid Piece Of Shit That Doesn't Fucking Work

Dimanche Relaxez-vous!

Sunday Chillout!

Last night was fun, was lovely to see Elly & George, poor Elly had bad back pain so they got an early night. Sharon and I went on to DM's "I love the 80's" party... fun!

Woke up at a decent hour, all considered (made it to bed around 4.30am) and thought, yeah! get ass in gear, get groceries done... really be productive!

Fail - Bike @ Sharons.... oh well a walk would warm me up!

So quick breakfast and shower and hour later sees me walking up the Prinsengracht to get my bike back.

Have been having a hard time at the weekends managing my food intake / sugar levels, so as it was nice and sunny and I had passed the place a billion times without going in, decided to go for a coffee in Coffee Company on Haarlemmerdijk.
Its such a cool cafe (need to stop saying coffeeshop, but its just so natural for me) there are LOADS of plugs, free wifi, and of course coffee. Its also really sunny and just THE best people watching place! Next time there will be photos!

I will have to rethink my current media/camera config. As if I'm listening to radio on the phone via 3G I cant take photos with the camera. Not too into taking a second camera with me but, there are so many cool things I want to record here. So many cool shots I could put on this blog or just on my flickr, I really need to think again. Any suggestions?

Went shopping, in AH on Westerstraat, it made sense as I was passing it, and refuse to use AH on Haarlemmerstraat (its badly stocked and laid out and just rubbish)
Westerstraat isn't much better, no fresh bread rolls, and it looked like that was the norm for them. Shouldn't have been so lazy I guess. I have discovered I like AH on Elandsgracht, as it's much better stocked, more cash desks and there is a Natur Winkle (health food/organic shop), Etos (Boots type place) and some cool artisan meat, bread and cheese shops on the street too.

Anyhow, got home and it was so lovely and sunshiny, I remembered why I really loved living in this apartment last year. Its so bright up here. I forgot that during the winter, as leaving in the dark and getting home in the dark has just been depressing. I am really looking forward to summer again.

I was in such good form, I even cooked, and I made enough for lunch tomorrow!

So excuse me while I go clear up and pack my lunch for tomorrow. :)

Hello Goodbye

Quick Post:

Tonight I get to go to dinner with the first blogger to get to the 'dam** Ellybabes & her lovely hubby George!
Looking forward to it! :)

Then I am going to the first goodbye party of our crew here! Donna Marie.
I'll miss her spirit and madcap party attitude. Her great smile and her open mind.
She just takes everyone as she finds them and has such a wonderful heart.
Also she's the perfect foil to the effervescent Keith!



So Long, Donna Marie, and "listen here" it wont be a good bye... see you in Dublin.
All you Dublin heads, go visit her in the all new River Island Mega Store opening on Henry St.

Tell her I sent ya!


**Okay the trip was booked before we met at IBA09