Sher-Locked

Heyoo xo`

What did you think of when you saw this title?

Maybe pictures of Benedict Cumberbatch uttering his best-man speech flashed through your mind. For the oldest amongst us, possibly you imagined Christopher Lee exhibiting the legendary Deerstalker hat.  Or perhaps you suddenly envision Robert Downey Jr. dashing through the shadowy London streets.

With the recent contemporary BBC television program and the American series ‘Elementary’, this Great British hero has received a flood of renewed attention even though his story has been going strong for more than a century.

4 novels and 56 short stories later, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s late 19^th century fictional creation is known as perhaps the most famous detective in the world, and indeed one of the best known and most universally recognizable literary characters in existence. An icon of British film, the Guinness World Records has consistently listed this Englishman as the “most portrayed movie character” with more than 70 actors playing the part in over 200 films.

So why is he so popular? Why does everyone love the one-and-only Sherlock Holmes?

His Self-Confidence

Holmes knows he’s special. And his assurance in his skills and abilities just makes him even more unique.

His Insane Sarcasm

His rudeness is riveting. Always rude and dismissive towards others, the ‘Study in Scarlet’ star is a hopelessly contradictive character that you don’t know whether to love or hate. A bit like Simon Cowell?

His Unnatural Cleverness

It seems Mr. Mystery can deduce up any person’s life, personality and character from the slightest bit of evidence, simply by using logic and astute observation. On top of that, he is always proved right.

His Eccentricity

“It’s our party we can do what we want to,

It’s our house we can love whom we want to,

It’s our song we can sing if we want to,

It’s my mouth I can say what I want to…”

Sherlock Holmes has learnt from Miley Cyrus and is no follower of the rules. He sets his own way of life and is at ease with or without everyone else’s approval.

His Loyalty

Under the cold, unemotional exterior, we all can see that Sherlock is one of the world’s best friends to Watson. Their love and friendship for one and other is simply delightful. Mr. Holmes is willing even to put his own safety at risk and willing to sacrifice everything for him and their clients.

His Englishness

Patriotism had to come in somewhere.

His Wholeheartedness

To our Baker-Street detective, satisfaction comes not from fame and financial reward, but the fulfillment of solving a mystery. He loves what he does and his work is his greatest reward.

His Brutal Honesty

It is invigorating how blunt Sherlock is.

His Passion

When Holmes starts work on a mystery, he never stops until the end. He throws himself into each and every crime with the entire and best motive.

His Cases

When experiencing Sherlock Holmes, each one of us goes through a roller coaster of an emotional adventure of our own.

His Charisma

The ‘Hounds of Baskervilles’ star is no ordinary goody-goody two shoes protagonist. Holmes isn’t afraid to break the law.

His Social Awkwardness

We all secretly find Sherlock’s difficulty in comprehending human emotions amusing, and I’m sure you giggle when discovering how he responds to social situations.

*

Is it this quirk that makes him so compelling? Is it because we fantasize being as intellectual as him? Or is it simply because he is different?

I’m quite sure it’s all of these things that make Sherlock Holmes the maverick character he is. He may not see himself as a hero, or even as a high functioning sociopath, but this is exactly why we still love and continue to love Sherlock Holmes.

xo`

Giving is all it Takes

Heyoo xo`

How about trying to express your creativity while helping those in need?

It’s a win, win situation.

You can ‘help save lives, and change the world’ – through several fun, imaginative ways.

You could organise one of these fundraisers:

…-A-thon

Tournaments

Talent Show

Money Jars

Dinner Party

Bake Sale

Games Fair

Doughnut Selling

Garage Sales

Lemonade Stand

Fashion Show

Sponsored Event

Raffle

Auction

An Unusual Talent Competition

Sing-Off

How many sweets are in the jar?

Quiz Night

Beauty Pageant

Food Sale… Chocolate, Popcorn…?

Book Sale

 

Websites:

http://www.fundraiserinsight.org/ideas/

http://www.fund-raising-ideas-center.com/fundraising-ideas.html

http://www.profitquests.com/FundraisingIdeas.html

http://www.fundraising-ideas.org/DIY/index.html

Comment some of your favourite fundraisers!!

xo`

Geneva, Switzerland

Heyoo xo`

For the easter holidays i visited Switzerland for the first time.

It was beautiful.

If you plan on going, read some of my notes on what to do and see.

This post is about Geneva. I’ll post more about Interlaken and Saas-Fee later…

View of the Swiss Alps from the Aeroplane

If you want to go around Switzerland, I would recommend renting a car. Avis seems to be a good choice, with a branch in most cities and airports.

The best time to visit Switzerland is definitely in March-April, possibly during Easter – if you want clear-skies, but still snow and the cool breeze of the Alps. For even more of a wintery feel, you could risk going earlier in the year (January-February), and if you are just going to Switzerland for the beautiful sceneries, and clear skies, any time from (May-August) should be perfect.

First, we went to Genève (Geneva) for a day. In Geneva, mainly French is spoken. Geneva is lovely, but you only need a day to capture the main sights.

You could stay at the InterContinetntal Geneva, which has modern but cozy rooms and is right in the hub of the city -a five minute walk from the UN Square, a twenty minute stroll to the lake, a bus ride away from the Old Town, and not far from the airport.

Be sure to visit the infamous United Nations Chair, take pictures in front of the flower clock, take a stroll around the old city, and have an ice-cream in the mist of the Lake Geneva Fountains…

We walked into the spray of the Jets d’Eau.

We had a picnic in the cold grass.

We walked around the historical sites and sloping streets of the Old City.

We visited small shops that sold traditional specialities.

We sampled fine chocolate (don’t you dare visit switzerland without taking home some chocolate) and olive oil.

We browsed in countless watch shops. The swiss are always on time.

We admired colourful mosaic street art.

We stuck our head in old canons.

We ambled along the cobbled paths.

We stood under arches and gazed at the view.

We ate Swiss Fondue (must-do!) in gourmet cafes.

 

We drank hot chocolates on a wooden bench.

We peeked at the windows of high-street brands.

We sunk into the world of historical Swiss art, where people painted the ceilings, and carved beautiful frames.

 

We stopped by modern galleries.

With Salvador Dali’s work on display.

We read original French Asterix comics.

 

In a library with a bookshelf outside the door!

If you have an extra day in Geneva, you could take a 90 minute drive through the picturesque Arve Valley to Chamonix, one of the most famous mountain villages in France, at the foot of the beautiful and majestic Mont Blanc; which you may ascend by cable car.

Be creative with your travel ideas!

xo`

Tick Tock Clock

Heyoo xo`

Today, I forgot to put on my watch.

So, throughout the day – you would find me searching blankly around the room for some indicator of the time.

Which is when i realised that i don’t have a (functioning) clock in my room. Honest.

So, in school, we are making Acrylic Clocks, and I’m going to make the most creative, fun clock i can think of, to put in my room..

Here are my ideas and sketches so far:

I love the geometrical simplicity, symmetry and colourful boldness of this one.

Each square represents an hour.

I might need a base layer though, to stick all the squares down on.

This design is also probably the easiest to cut out and file!

This is more artistically creative, and less precise – like a splash of paint on my wall.

Its just one layer, but it could be hard to cut…

But maybe too much red? I could use another colour…

Although its made of layered crosses, this clock represnts a flower, with sharp corners but smooth edges.

Yellow and purple are my favourite colours, because they give a contrast of warm and cool, yet are extremely complimentary.

However, i think i went overboard with the yellow in this design. Maybe if the bottom later was red or green, it would look more attractive?

I love this idea – its innovative, creative and would go well with the theme of my room.

The colour is also quite attractive – a turquoise green.

However, unless I have a white base, with the spiral stuck on in vinyl, this design would be almost impossible to cut, file, and make!

Also, the battery pack would probable show from underneath.

This design is inspired by Memphis clocks the most.

It is quite asymmetrical, but still very attractive and pleasing to the eye.

The colours start cool on the inside and get warmer on the outside, and are like the colours of the rainbow.

The black circles represnt each hour and i like the way they stand out.

*

What do you think? Which design is your favourite?

Check out some of these cool clocks:

I’ll post you my instructions on how to build a clock and a picture of my finished product when i’m done.

Why don’t you try your own creative project, such as building a weird and wonderful clock?

Clocks are perfect for any occasion. They’re completely useful for, well… telling the time, they can add a splash of colour and design originality to the room, and they’re are a lovely gift for your Mum or Brother. And all the better if you make it yourself!

xo`

Quiz Time!

Heyoo xo`

I thought i’d put together something fun for you to try.

Be creative and write your own silly quiz!

Silly General Knowledge Quiz

How long did the hundred years war last?

*100 years.

*116 years.

Which country makes Panama hats?

*Panama

*Ecuador

 From which animal do we get catgut?

*Cats

*Sheep and horses

In which month do Russians celebrate the October revolution?

*October

*November

 Camel’s hair brush is made of

*Camel hair.

*Squirrel fur.

The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?

*Canary

*Dog

  King George VI’s first name was

*George

*Albert

What color is a purple finch?

*Purple

*Crimson

Where are Chinese gooseberries from?

*China

*New Zealand

What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane?

*Black

*Orange

How long did the thirty years war last?

*30 years.

*31 years.

Highlight (select) below to see the answers!

Don’t Cheat!

1. The hundred years war lasted 116 years.
2. Ecuador makes Panama hats.
3. We get catgut from sheep and horses.
4. Russians celebrate the October revolution in November.
5. A camel’s hair brush is made of Squirrel fur.
6. The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after Dogs. Its Latin name was insularia Canaria – island of Dogs.
7. King George VI’s first name was Albert.
8. A purple finch is crimson in color.
9. Chinese gooseberries are from New Zealand.
10. The thirty years war lasted thirty years, of course! 

Yup, I foooooled you! ;”)

xo`

Stationery

Heyoo xo`

I loooooove stationery. No, not stationAry (keeping still). I definitely don’t like keeping still!

I mean pens and notepads and erasers and sharpeners and pencils and pastels and paints and highlighters and glue sticks and scissors and paper clips and all those lovely little things.

This post isn’t really about a way of expressing creativity. Its about HOW to express creativity. And to do that – you generally need stationery. See? It’s useful! 🙂

First lets talk about pens and markers. My 3 favorite brands are:

1. Sharpies – From the classic on the right, to the minis, and super thin tips, sharpies have every type of permanent marker out there. But what’s so special about them? Sharpies are yearned for by everyone. They’re the new stationery trend.Why?

Maybe because of the fact that you can do anything with them…

You could doodle on your car.

You could make your own “wallpaper’.

You could stylize a t-shirt.

You could design your own iPhone case.

You could create a stained glass window.

You could draw on fruits and make “Annoying Orange”.

You could transform your mousepad.

The possibilities are endless.

Why?

Because Sharpies are completely. Utterly. PERMANENT.

But Sharpie’s best creation by far must be the Sharpie Gel Highlighter, a stick of fluorescent gel that works on any type of paper, doesn’t smear, won’t bleed through paper and won’t dry out if left uncapped.

It’s absolutely to die for – perfect for highlighting, doodling and drawing.

And it’s so fun to use! Like a giant waxed crayon, it smoothly glides across your paper, leaving a neon trail of marks.

2. FriXion by Pilot Pen – Now this one is more obvious. Everyone loves the friXion pens. Oh, and highlighters. And i know why. Because, somewhere in the amazing world of physics and forces, they discovered how to rub out (i’ll say erase for y’all americans) certain ink using friction.

So, if you spell stationary with an A, have no fear! You can just erase it out using the back of your awesome friction ball point pen and write it again. StationEry.

3. Mr. Sketch – Now these are popular with the children. Mr. Sketch was introduced in the 1970s, and are now know for their thick, chisel point tips.

Oh, and it might help that they smell.

Well, they smell great.

Because Mr. Sketch markers are scented.

Black – Black Licorice

Red – Cherry

Blue – Blueberry

Green – Mint

Pink – Melon

Purple – Grape

Turquoise – Mango

Yellow – Lemon

Orange – Orange

Brown – Cinnamon

Dark Green – Apple

Magenta – Raspberry

Peach – Peach

Petal Pink – Bubble Gum

Lavender – Cotton Candy

Sunny Yellow – Banana Split

Mint Green – Tropical Punch

Sky Blue – Blue Raspberry

4. Hamleys Magic Pens These are so cool! With Hamleys Magic pens, you can produce up to 3 colours from one pen (every kids’ dream) , you can rub out ink from anywhere (every Mum’s dream), and draw lighter colours on top of darker ones (my dream). Check it out:

Let’s move on to stationary stores and companies.

My favorite are:

1. Caran D’Ache – I’m going to explain this one with pictures. I took these in a narrow street in Geneva, Switzerland when i visited during Easter. The selection of colour pencils, pastels, watercolour paints and sketch pens was amazing. Caran D’Ache tips has a beautiful soft edge to it, which is what gives it the special touch.

 

2. Staples – Staples is the all-american stationary brand. Each shop itself is generally huge, and you can find anything!

The difference is, that smaller stationery shops gave a warmer, more hand-made vibe that I love, whereas Staples products can come across as factory manufactured.

3. Lamy – Before vsiting Switzerland, i had never heard of this brand. But the minute i walked, i fell in love with the canvas textures, and solid colours the shop glowed in.

 

I just adore these colour pencils. They are soooo cute and bold!

4. Knock Knock Stuff. Their slogan is – ‘We put the fun in functional’.That’s exactly what stationery is and should be for me, which is why i love ‘Knock Knock Stuff’! The witty, but useful notepads are so pleasing to the eye.

To give you an idea…

I have 3 ‘Knock Knock Stuff’ notepads, which i use all the time:

(I am sooo bad at making decisions. It took me 7 and a half minutes to decide whether i should mention this or not!)

And other than notepads, ‘Knock Knock Stuff’ also sells handy desk accessories, organisers, gifts, journals and sticky notes.

What’s your favourite type and brand of stationery?

xo`

Nutella

Heyoo xo`

Nutella.

 

Every chocolate lover’s dream. A jar of creamy, nutty, sweet, yummy deliciousness.

But, other than other than putting it on your toast, which is a great breakfast treat in itself…

What else can you do with Nutella?

For a lighter dose of chocolate, try making a Nutella crepe.

The Parisian creation of Crepes continues to please the world with their thin, fluffy base.

But the best part of crepes is the inside.

Instead of having your crepe with ham and cheese (which is definitely delicious too), why not try a sweeter, more chocolately essence with a Nutella, hazelnut, ice cream delight crepe?

Sweet Nutella Crepe

2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup water
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons melted butter, plus more for pan

Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. If you don’t have a blender, whisk the eggs, milk, water, and vanilla together in a bowl until smooth.

Add the flour and sugar and whisk to combine, and whisk in 2 tablespoons of the melted butter.

Then strain the batter into another bowl, and cover this bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least an hour to allow all the air bubbles to settle.

Heat a small crêpe pan (or nonstick skillet) over medium high heat. Swirl 1 teaspoon of butter in the pan and add a small amount of batter to the pan–swirl the pan so that the batter evenly and thinly coats the bottom.

Cook for about 30 seconds (until lightly browned) and flip. Cook for another 10-15 seconds and remove to a plate.

Continue cooking the rest of the batter, adding additional butter every third crêpe or so. Place the crêpes on a sheet tray, cover with aluminum foil until ready to serve.

(NOTE: They taste best right out of the pan, so don’t let them sit too long)

To serve: Spread each crêpe with Nutella and warm chocolate sauce. Make sure you aren’t stingy with the filling, be generous  – in this case less is NOT more!  Getting the right balance between the texture of a lightly crisp but still soft crepe and some smooth Nutella is the key to a perfect dessert! Now fold in half, then into fourths, like a napkin. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm, with a side scoop of vanilla ice cream or even whipped cream.

Great for any family dinner or party dessert!

Turn this Italian dish into a chocolatey home-made dessert!

Nutella Pizza

Pizza Dough

1/2 cup very warm water
2 teaspoons yeast
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for bowl

Mix the warm water and yeast in a small bowl to blend. Let stand until the yeast dissolves, about 5 minutes.

Mix the flour and salt in a food processor, and later blend in the oil. With the machine running, add the yeast mixture and blend just until the dough forms.

Turn the dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, for about 1 minute.

Transfer the dough to a large oiled bowl and turn the dough to coat with the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm area until the dough doubles in volume. This could take about 1 hour.

Punch the down dough and form into ball. The dough can be used immediately or stored airtight in the refrigerator for 1 day.

Nutella Pizza

1 pound homemade pizza dough or purchased pizza dough
2 teaspoons butter, melted
1/4 cup  Nutella

Optional:

Handful of white Chocolate Chips, Milk Chocolate Chips, Dark Chocolate Chips, Jelly Beans, Gummy Bears, Candies, Hazelnuts, M&Ms, and other yummy treats! Be creative!

Position the oven rack on the bottom of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Line a heavy largebaking sheet with parchment paper.

Roll out the dough to a 9-inch-diameter round. Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet. Using your fingers, make indentations all over the dough, and brush it with butter.

Bake until the crust is crisp and pale golden brown, about 20 minutes.

Immediately spread the chocolate-hazelnut spread over the pizza and bake just until the chocolate begins to melt, about 1 minute.

Now sprinkle the toppings over the pizza. Cut into wedges and enjoy!

Nutella doesn’t have do be eaten nice and warm, when its snowing outside.

On a hot summer’s day, imagine you are an Italian Gelato Maker on the cobbled streets of Florence, and try making some Nutella ice cream at a perfect creamy consistency without eggs or cooking!

Nutella Ice Cream

¾ cup milk

1/2 cup organic heavy whipping cream

¼ cup granulated sugar

5 tablespoons Nutella

Pinch of salt

3 tbsp cocoa powder if your feeling brave

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend on a low speed until combined – around 15 seconds.

Pour into a container for your electric ice cream maker (sorry if you don’t have one – read below) and process until frozen, following the manufacturer’s instructions for your machine.

You may chill the mixture before processing if you like, but it is not necessary.

Eat immediately (it will be a soft-serve consistency, or scoop into a container and freeze for several hours to harden it further.

Note:

Lazy? Add all the ingredients to your ice cream maker (skip the blender step). You might have to stir it a while it churns, to distribute the blobs of Nutella, but you’ll emerge with a chocolate-speckled version that is kind of like chocolate chip ice cream.

Want an even more luxurious version? Switch the cream amount for the milk amount. So, use 3/4 cup cream and 1/2 cup milk. It works! It will be twice as creamy and rich, with the Nutella flavor every bit as good.

Don’t have an ice cream maker? Have no fear! Instead of using normal milk, use condensed milk and do the following:

Whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form, and mix the rest of ingredients in with the cream. Pour into an airtight container and let it freeze for at least 6 hours before serving. That’s it! Easy peasy lemon squeasy!

I’m a bit spoilt when it comes to Macarons (yes, i spell it the French way), which you will come to know about in my future post ‘Ladurée vs. Pierre Hermé’.

Also, I always fail to make Macarons my self.

So, i’m just going to post a really hard, confusing recipe (but its one of the easiest out there, honest) on how to make delicious Nutella macaroons, and when you master them, you can send me a batch. 🙂

Nutella Macarons

1 cup confectioners’ sugar
3/4 cup almond flour
2 tablespoons cocoa
2 egg whites, warmed to room temp
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar (pinch)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 ounce semisweet chocolate
4 -5 tablespoons Nutella

Prepare your baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper, and start by combining confectioners sugar, almond flour, and cocoa in a food processor.

Set the dry mixture aside and whisk egg whites until they start to get foamy. Add cream of tartar and whisk until soft peaks form. Reduce speed and add granulated sugar, and once its mixed in, increase speed and beat until stiff peaks form (about 3 minutes).

Sift the flour mixture into the egg whites, and fold the mixture until it is smooth.

Transfer the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a large round tip, and pipe the macaron mixture onto the prepared baking sheet about an inch in between each one.

Let it sit about 30 minutes or until you can gently touch the top and it won’t stick to you finger. Meanwhile preheat oven to 325 degrees.

When they don’t stick to your finger pop them in the oven for about 10 minutes.

Take them out and let them cool while you prepare the filling.

For the filling pour the heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat, and heat until it simmers.

Place the chocolate and Nutella in a heat safe bowl, and add the heavy cream. Wait a minute or so and then whisk the mixture until everything is melted.

Place in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes for it to stiffen up.

Once the macarons are ready to be assembled, take out the ganache and beat it on high until it changes to a lighter color.

Put the macarons together by scooping the ganache on the tip of a teaspoon and placing in the center of one macaron. Take the second macaron and gently press the two together until the ganache comes out to the edge.

Store in the refrigerator, and let them sit on counter for about 10-15 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Not only do i love Nutella, but I also love peanut butter. So, why not put them together?

Nutella and Peanut Butter Cookies

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 & 1/2 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup Nutella

In the bowl of an electric mixer, add both sugars, peanut butter, butter, vanilla and egg and mix until smooth and creamy.

In a separate small bowl whisk together the flour, salt and baking soda.

Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.  Add the Nutella and using a knife swirl it into the batter.

Refrigerate for 15 minutes. While it’s in the refrigerator, preheat your oven to 350 and spray 2 cookie sheets with cooking spray.

When the dough is done chilling, scoop about a 1/4 cup of dough out and roll it into a ball and place on cookie sheet (no more than 12 on a cookie sheet).  With a fork, press down gently on each cookie to flatten it a bit and to give it the cookies a nice pattern on top.

Bake for 12-15 minutes. Add Nutella as icing, and enjoy!

There are hundreds of other things you could do with Nutella. Be creative! You could make french toast, a Nutella smoothie, a Nutella and Oreo cake, a Nutella popsicle, some choco-coated popcorn, or even dip your fruit into the ‘breakfast spread’.

And the good thing is… Whatever you do, it’ll be yummy!

xo`

Bubbles

Heyoo xo`

Today, i looked for inspiration in the magical world of bubbles.

Try to show creativity by writing your own poem!

Bubble

Inflated by a soft whisper of breeze,

A gentle breath gives birth to another gem of wonder…

A kaleidoscope of shiny colours,

Twisting and turning,

Meandering through the pleasure,

A bubble.

A misty crystal ball,

Mirroring, reflecting, shimmering, glimmering

Discovering secrets,

Seeking the future,

Remembering the past,

The bubble.

Symbolizing unity, laughter and friendship,

Although different shapes and sizes,

All together as one

Dreams of beautiful fragility

That captivate a sense of wonder.

The bubbles.

Up and away it goes,

Light and carefree,

Dancing in the air,

A creation of never ending joy…

POP!

My bubble,

Gone.

What do you think?

xo`

Write Your Heart Away

Heyoo xo`

Sometimes, I express my creativity by putting myself into someone else’s shoes. Then I write. I write my heart away. I write about whatever I’m feeling. Try it.

Heard of the book The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-Time? It’s an absolutely outstanding book – interesting and engaging for both teenagers and adults. Haddon grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and lured me into the unique world of Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old student who sees life differently – through numbers and observations. Read it.

Well, today I was feeling like an outsider, like Christopher. So i wrote this:

7

 I am Christopher Boone. I know all the countries in the world and all their capitals. I know π to 2347 decimal places[1] and the multiples of 7 till 10,934[2]. But I am not so sure if I understand people.

Siobhan said that to help me understand I could keep a log of what people say and what they do and what what they say and do means. Then, is someone said or did something I didn’t understand, I could look in my log. And that would help me understand.

But I like Arthur Conan Doyle. And Arthur Conan Doyle didn’t keep logs of what people said and did. So neither will I. But Arthur Conan Doyle did write interesting mystery novels like the ‘Sherlock Holmes’. And I do too. My first book was called ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’. It was a big success. I even got it published.

Everyday, I get letters in the mail like:

Or

 There were a few things I didn’t understand about these letters:

1) Firstly, Mary (the four-year-old) spelt my name wrong and has bad handwriting. I do not like this.

2) Secondly, Mary (the four-year-old) is only four years old. She should not be reading my book. Children are young and stupid and they have sticky fingers. She would not understand my book and she would make it dirty. And my book must be clean and it must be understood. So I wrote a letter back to Mary telling her this and telling her not to read any of my books ever again. But Mum found my letter and said I was being rude and this would decrease her profits. So she ripped my letter into 22 pieces. And Mary will keep reading my books and make them dirty and not understand.

3) I do not understand what Mr. Nathan Hall (Director of Random House Publications) said about capturing ‘the character of an autistic teenager perfectly, as if you were actually him’. I do not understand this because I am not autistic and my book is about ME, not a character, so of course I have captured the character of a teenager perfectly, as if I was actually him. I AM him. And I am not autistic. I just have Behavioural Problems. Siobhan says that this means that Mr. Nathan Hall (Director of Random House Publications) ‘misunderstood’ the fact that my book is an ‘autobiography’. But I think he is just stupid too.

But I do like the idea of becoming a millionaire. Then I could live in a big house, all by myself, away from stupid people like Mary (age 4) and Mr. Nathan Hall (Director of Random House Publications) and away from people who tried to touch me and away from people who make me angry or confused and away from strangers.

My house would have nothing that was yellow or brown[3]. And it would have an endless supply of red Gobi Aloo Saag[4], Milky Bars, liquorice laces, clementines[5], pink wafer biscuits, orange squash and my different sorts of food would never touch. And I would never have to go to France. And nobody would move the furniture. And I could have my own car and video games and documentaries and a library full of math books.

Mother said that because ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ was a big success and I enjoyed writing it and even solved the mystery and uncovered some extra mysteries, I should write another book[6]. But I just think she wants me to because she will get more money. But I will anyway. So that is why I am writing this.

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[1] Pi to 2347 decimal places is: 3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693993751058209749445923078164062862089986280348253421170679821480865132823066470938446095505822317253594081284811174502841027019385211055596446229489549303819644288109756659334461284756482337867831652712019091456485669234603486104543266482133936072602491412737245870066063155881748815209209628292540917153643678925903600113305305488204665213841469519415116094330572703657595919530921861173819326117931051185480744623799627495673518857527248912279381830119491298336733624406566430860213949463952247371907021798609437027705392171762931767523846748184676694051320005681271452635608277857713427577896091736371787214684409012249534301465495853710507922796892589235420199561121290219608640344181598136297747713099605187072113499999983729780499510597317328160963185950244594553469083026425223082533446850352619311881710100031378387528865875332083814206171776691473035982534904287554687311595628638823537875937519577818577805321712268066130019278766111959092164201989380952572010654858632788659361533818279682303019520353018529689957736225994138912497217752834791315155748572424541506959508295331168617278558890750983817546374649393192550604009277016711390098488240128583616035637076601047101819429555961989467678374494482553797747268471040475346462080466842590694912933136770289891521047521620569660240580381501935112533824300355876402474964732639141992726042699227967823547816360093417216412199245863150302861829745557067498385054945885869269956909272107975093029553211653449872027559602364806654991198818347977535663698074265425278625518184175746728909777727938000816470600161452491921732172147723501414419735685481613611573525521334757418494684385233239073941433345477624168625189835694855620992192221842725502542568876717904946016534668049886272327917860857843838279679766814541009538837863609506800642251252051173929848960841284886269456042419652850222106611863067442786220391949450471237137869609563643719172874677646575739624138908658326459958133904780275900994657640789512694683983525957098258226205224894077267194782684826014769909026401363944374553050682034962524517493996514314298091906592509372216964615157098583874105978859597729754989301617539284681382686838689427741559918559252459539594310499725246808459872736446958486538367362226260991246080512438843904512441365497627807977156914359977001296160

[2] The chapters of this book will be the multiples of 7 – 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and so on. Because I like multiples of 7.

[3] read chapter 131 of ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ to understand why I do not like those colours.

[4] Gobi Aloo Saag is an Indian Dish made of caluliflower, potatos, and spinach. It is yummy, but it is yellow. So I add red food colouring.

[5] A clementine is a variety of mandarin orange. The exterior is a deep orange colour with a smooth, glossy appearance. Clementines can be separated into seven to fourteen segments.

[6] Siobhan says this is called a sequel.

So,

What do you think?

xo`

Sri Lanka

Heyoo xo`

Last winter, I visited Sri Lanka for four lovely days.

We started in Colombo, which you don’t need much time for. A day or two should be enough to visit historical sites.

Then we went to Bentota, a small village between the beach and the banks of a river. It was great for a short getaway, but if you plan on visiting, acknowledge my few recommendations.

We stayed at Villa Red, which is perfect for large, easy-going groups of friends and family. It’s a bridge cross away from Bentota beach, and the river deck connects directly to a water-sports centre next door. The dining room is in complete open air, so make sure you spray on some mosquito repellent!

We enjoyed jumping into our own tiny pool.

Exploring the nature.

Watching the magestic sunset.

Meditating at dawn.

Water-sports at dusk.

Eating away into the night.

and

Playing charades on our private deck.

There were lots of beach hotels such as The Surf with included facilities such as a funky karaoke bar, restaurants, and an outdoor Sheesha lounge.

We took a day trip down south of Bentota to go Whale Watching in Mirissa.

It does get very boring, being out on the sea for so long, but make sure you don’t try to read, or you will get horrifically sea sick, like I did.

However, it was definitely worth it, because in the end, we saw a BLUE WHALE. The largest mammal on earth. And it was magnificent.

On your way to or from Mirissa, be sure to visit the Galle fort, a UNESCO world heritage site with a Dutch Colonial feel.

Although the chances aren’t completely confirmed, i would highly suggest to try your luck at Whale Watching, and who knows – you might see some fin whales, dolphins, or even a killer whale!

 

At the beach, there are plenty of exhilarating water sports for you to try. Being much of an adventurist myself, i was in pure bliss as i water-skied, tubed, kayaked, banana boated, windsurfed, and jet skied along the Bentara river! Make sure you tell your instructor/guide to take you to the Mangrove on your jet-ski – its a cave of trees. You won’t regret it.Prices are fair, but make sure you don’t mind being thrown into the water!

Near mid-november is a perfect time to visit Bentota. The water isn’t to hot or cold, and the temperature is generally good all day long. Be aware of some rain, however!

Food in Bentota, if you aren’t prepared, can be a bit of an issue. We made the mistake of forgetting about our picky palettes and arriving without a clue of what to eat. Our staff were unfortunately not too accommodating to this, so if you do stay at Villa Red, make sure you tell them your culinary preferences in advance. Outside, try to avoid street food and stick to hotels. You know why.

But don’t forget to have a few coconuts! They’re so sweet and refreshing!

The sunsets in Bentota are amazing. Enjoy a boat ride at dusk to a lighthouse island near the coast for a beautiful panoramic view of the majestic sinking of our sun.

 Located a few minutes away from Bentota,  is the Lunuganga Estate, the famous country home of the renowned Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. Also in the area is the garden of Geoffrey Bawa’s brother – Bevis Bawa. This beautiful property was once a rubber estate, and the garden is landscaped according to various themes and has been illuminated through Bevis Bawa’s creativity.

Bentota is also home to several turtle sanctuaries and hatcheries, where one can help protect turtles by personally releasing their own turtles into the sea. You can also view disabled turtles, and rare turtle species, and help to care for them. A must for animal lovers.

Bentota has several quaint little souvenir ships. I would greatly recommend to buy some gems and from Sri Lanka, as these shops are found nearly everywhere, selling genuine amethyst, ruby, and even emerald stones that are great to be made into jewellery back at home. I picked up a lovely pair of peridot earrings (my birthstone), and a blue sapphire pendant.

Relaxation is the key to any holiday, so make sure to pick up a massage or two to rejuvenate your senses. There are few affordable massage centres in Bentota, but one a comfortable 20 metre walk away from Villa Red! It might look slightly shady, but don’t worry! You’ll smell slightly of oil afterwards, so just keep that in mind when you plan your swims and dinners!

Sri Lanka also has some lovely Art, Postcards and Masks, so make sure to pick up a memoir of your hopefully fabulicios trip!

xo`