Signs of Life

Although it does feel like Winter is dragging on and on, we did have some lovely almost Spring weather over the weekend. And with the slightly warmer weather  comes some signs of life. Seoul is slowly, slowly peeling off its drab grey Winter coat.

These shots were all taken on our roof garden. I get so excited when I spot the little patches of bright green in our lawn, or when I see the first new shoots on our azaleas. With everything lying dormant and brown for so long, it always seems a little miraculous when it all suddenly bounces back to life.

A Snowy New Year!

Well hello there 2013*! You kind of snuck up on me... 

We had a pretty relaxed new years - roast lamb, chocolate pudding, staying cosy indoors. Seoul has had a ton of snow this winter. It's turned the streets into not-so-fun slippery dips but it looks oh so pretty, I'm still enamoured with it. 

In the morning on new years day I took the dogs for a walk (well actually I took Elfi for a walk and carried Ferdi most of the way...) and it started snowing just as we were turning for home. The kind of snow that's big and floaty. It made for a kind of magical start to the new year. 

Which was exactly what I needed as I realise I don't actually cope well with the new year. I lose my mojo, fall in a bit of a funk. I think partly it's the let down after all the build up to xmas, realising that all the festive frivolity is over. It's going back to doing the banking and organising dog vaccinations and filing the paperwork after two weeks of focussing on decorating, cooking, present wrapping. And there's more than a hint of exhaustion (what I would do for a day in bed reading! But that is not on the horizon for a little while yet). And there's the weight of expectation - a new year means exciting opportunities and possibilities, but I also feel a little heavy when I think of all the things, all the projects, all the lists... 

But! Today the sun is shining and the snow is sparkling, and I think I'm nearly out of the new year funk. So 2013, bring on the work and the changes and the chaos. Bring on the ups and the downs, the noisy times and the quiet moments. Bring on all the good things!

ps. What's a new year without some gratuitous tinsel bokeh?

*Yes, when I first published this post it welcomed in 2012. Because I'm an idiot. Or perhaps in denial. Sigh.

Seoul Walking : Autumn Gold

Have I mentioned Autumn is my favourite season in Seoul? Oh, I have? Once or twice you say? Well, it is. And one of the best bits is the golden glow of the gingko trees that line so many streets. The leaves look especially stunning against the glorious blue Autumn sky. And when the wind blows so many leaves fall through the air it's like you're walking through a golden shower shower of gold. And after a windy day the city is carpeted in yellow (slippery as heck but so very pretty!).

Seoul Walking : A Moment in Namsan

In Seoul we're already saying goodbye to Autumn. The between seasons are fleeting here, there's really only a few weeks in the year which you could call 'spring' or 'autumn'. And maybe because of that I appreciate them even more. Autumn is most definitely my favourite season in Seoul - clear, blue, sunshiney skies; crisp nights, warm days; the changing colours of the leaves; the shifts in produce and products (overnight the markets stalls switch from brollies and sun hats to mittens and scarves). 

Namsan is a mountain, a park, right in the heart of Seoul and right on our doorstep. In the middle of this ever changing, ever expanding city it's a calming oasis of clean air and stunning vistas. I've only walked a small part of Namsan, but it's been stunning - dappled light, leaves just starting to turn, the sound of water flowing. 

When I can (which is not often enough) I pack a picnic and head for the hill. If I'm on my own I often get stopped by curious Koreans and some lonely expats too. I love seeing the office workers drinking in the fresh air on their lunch breaks; the groups of 'hikers' thoroughly kitted out, gossiping as they walk; the sight impaired making use of the tactile walkways...

Seoul Walking : Summer Umbrellas

It's summertime in Seoul, hot and humid. And that means it's umbrella time. Which also means that for me it's chasing-elderly-ladies-down-the-street-with-my-camera time. I've been a bit obsessed with capturing the passing parade of umbrellas...

There's something about a brolly that makes one look just a little more lady-like isn't there? Especially when it's one of these gorgeous floral ones that the ladies of Seoul seem to favour.

(Okay so no umbrella in that last one, but she is rocking the floral, so...)

Seoul in the mist

Whilst I have been greatly enjoying the glorious crisp blue sky Winter days we've been having of late, I do quite like those days (like today) when the weather closes in and everything is half seen and half heard.  Mist makes everything seem rather mysterious and romantic, don't you think?  

In other weather-related news, we finally had a bit of snow over night.  It's pretty much all melted already but they're predicting more falls in the lead up to Xmas, so it might be a white one after all - hooray!

ps. For more misty goodness (by photographers way more accomplished than me) head on over to my Snap! board on Pinterest.  You will see that I have a bit of a thing for mist...

The weekend that was...

Hola!  How was your weekend?  What did you get up to?  Did you do exciting things with fun people?  Or did you spend all day in your jim jams?  

It is well and truly rainy season in Seoul at the moment, typhoons have been causing havoc across Korea and aside from a brief moment of sunshine on Sunday it's been rain, rain and a bit more rain. The dogs are quite depressed about the whole thing and have a bad case of rainy day blues (plus they are refusing to pee outside, but that's a whole other story - toughen up doggies!).

So my weekend was all about sad dogs, chopped salads (my current obsession, more about that in another post!), staying dry, nostalgic gym tunes (Gatecrasher Black anyone?) and trying to get organised before we head off on our big trip (trying being the key word there).  Oh, and also way too much delicious New Zealand pinot noir at the NZ wine festival on Saturday...

Ummm, Ferdi - you may have cabin fever but that is no reason to chew on the couch!  Bad dog!

Spring in the Garden: Irises

When we first moved in to this apartment, a bit over a year ago at the tail end of last winter, there was a row of bulbs planted in the garden.  Spring game and they grew lush and green, and we waited for them to flower.  We waited, and we waited.  And then Summer came and then Autumn and they gradually turned brown and shriveled up, leaving me pondering what on earth they were - decorative grasses perhaps?  But this Spring we've discovered they are magnificent irises which have suddenly bloomed like crazy, allowing us to rejoice in all their purpley blue glory!  

ps. Isn't 'irises' the most awkward plural you can think of?  I think perhaps 'iris' should be like 'sheep' - both singular and plural - don't you?

pps. Happy June 1st!  Isn't this year just screaming past at an alarming rate?  Yikes...

Spring in the Garden: Azaleas

As I've already confessed I am not a gardener.  Luckily we have a garden full of low maintenance plants that just do their thing,* and I am constantly fascinated and amazed by their transformation through the seasons.

A few short weeks ago the azaleas where just a bunch of straggly brown twigs.  Now, thanks to some sunshine, warm weather and lots of rain, they are literally bursting forth with green growth and a carpet of bright purple blooms.  Lovely!

*(Plus we also have some people that come to our apartment every fortnight or so and keep all our plants happy and healthy - they are Korean retirees actually, with a passion for plants, and they do an amazing job).

My Black Thumb of Death

[crochet cacti by planetjune]

I do not have a green thumb.  I don't even have a green-tip-of-my-pinky.  In fact, my thumb is so not green I recently managed to provide a slow painful death for a succulent.  Yep, a succulent.  Those plants that are sold as 'impossible to kill' and 'perfect for the non-gardener'.  

So it was with a slight sinking feeling that I recently received a gift of grow-your-own basil.  But ignoring my track record I followed the picture instructions (plant seeds, water - tricky stuff!), put the pot on the kitchen window and held my breath.  And guess what?  It's sprouting and growing and totally not dying!  Ok, so it's not quite at the 'honey can you pick me some basil to toss in this pasta' stage yet, but may there is still hope for my black thumb of death?

To be continued...