#29. Get contacts

Status: Complete
It was always going to take some kind of catalyst to really make this happen. Last week I found it. Finished a project at work after 9 days straight in the office and left work at 6pm (a few posts seem to start like this. hmm). Decided to take the brave step of taking an evening class at Sydney Dance Company. Picked Beginners Jazz and chose a spot at the very back of a class of about 70. Shortly discovered that I couldn't see the instructor, so had to rely on the people just in front of me, who were only marginally more capable than myself. This strategy also left me with a not-so-trendy time delay of a second or two.
Anyway, got an appointment with the optometrist the next day, who checked me out and booked me for a 'fitting'. Session 2 all went to plan - got over the sticking-my-fingers-in-my-eyes thing reasonably quickly, had a pack of 30 lenses ordered and relished walking back to work sans glasses and actually seeing the flags on the harbour bridge. Used my second trial pair on a very large thursday night, and was impressed that at 5 in the morning my eyes were still going strong.
And then the happy story ends. Rang optometrist on Saturday morning to check that my order had come in and was told no-go. Nope, my order would not be ready before I left for Singapore on Sunday.
Which leaves me here. In Singapore. On a 3 week training course, getting my glasses fogged up in the steam every time I leave the building and getting hopelessly lost whenever I dare to try and go without. Sigh.

#95. Gimme your stuff

Status: In Progress
The deal with this site is that you register a list of things you want to swap with someone in another part of the world. I like things from other countries, so....

To my potential swapper: I'm in Sydney. I'm a big francophile, but thinking of doing a stint in NYC, so I'll try to swap with someone in the Big Apple.
Things I'd like to receive:
Black and white snapshots of NYC/things in your neighbourhood
Maps - old/new/for a continent, city or just a museum...
House stuff
NYC stuff
Stationery
Ribbons - 50cm lengths - I like them in my hair...
Any other things - I like black, white and red and would love to get a 'feel' for New York
Things I can send:
Aussie food/sweets
Souvenirs
"market" things
I'm not hugely in to craft, but can dig up some craft things.
Most things - send me on a scavenger hunt.

Look forward to swapping with you!

#41. Know 7 recipes by heart (1/7)

Status: In Progress (1/7)
I think I initially said 7 because they were going to be dinner-type recipes and then I would have a notional weeks' worth. But I generally don't really use proper recipes for dinner (if I ever cook it). So this is my favourite chocolate cake, which I think, after baking 3 times in 2 months, is now committed to memory.
185g chocolate
2tbs water
150g almondmeal or ground hazelnuts
150g butter
5 eggs
120g sugar
Melt chocolate and water. Blend with almondmeal, butter and half the sugar. Slowly add egg yolks, blending. Beat egg whites and remaining sugar. Combine gently. Bake. Voila!