Laugh, Ukraine!

Ukrainian uses the Cyrillic alphabet — i.e. The same funny letters as in Russian. In fact, Ukrainian is quite a similar language to Russian but it's just different enough that Gina can't read the newspapers or most of the street signs in this, her home town. The pilot of our Air Ukraine flight struggled with speaking in Ukrainian during his spiels over the PA, but gave up shortly after takeoff, reverting to Russian.





Have been learning the letters from Gina, plus some helpful words. I practise by Reading signs and menus. It's hilarious to come across "Long Island Ice Tea" or "Club Sandwich" in Cyrillic characters. Here's a bus shelter advertisement I saw the other day.


That's right: it's Joe Cocker!

Ukrainians don't like to smile a lot. This guy — who is some kind of Steve Fielding-type politician — is a choice specimen.


The metros are full of these ads which appears to be some kind of government program. They all feature funky young folks holding up handwritten gags. The slogan says "Laugh, Ukraine!".


Even the souvenir industry are doing their bit to change Ukrainians' dour image.


The fridge magnet is dressed in trad costume and holding a piece of pig fat — one of this country's favourite dishes.

Location:Kiev, Ukraine

Marrameko

Our model wears a Raw Cloth dress in Marrameko fabric. Ukelele by Mahalo.

Mopping up operation

Painting over the wall at the old venue for Happy Yess.

It's moving to a place around the corner where it'll fit more people.

It's a shame y'all won't get a chance to see the inside of this old place.

The end of an era that I'm glad to have had the opportunity to witness.

i'll see you're cute pet photos and raise you

Enjoying the RDL (relaxed Darwin lifestyle)

Cat + Chopin

Ben Vautier

I recently rediscovered one of my favourite art works. This banner, hung up outside the artist's own exhibition, says "Art is useless go home". I loved it so much when I saw it in high school that I wrote "Music is useless" on my bass guitar.


This is another of his works: the slogan is "The museums don't serve (for) anything". The dude just wants a tall frosty!