| Posted by Lou | The time is 11.59pm here in London UK |

Moscow & St Petersburg - this was almost my 30th birthday trip but didn't work out. I think if I was given the "one place to go before you die" choice this would be it so it is going to take on Top Priority next year. Unfortunately it's not the sort of place you can go by yourself (or even as a twosome) so is dependent on others' availability.

Berlin - only a small hop away so hopefully can slip into a weekend next year. It's sort of a weird place though - known for its cultural and social craziness; but also the source of one of the most harrowing chapters of human history. Do you try and combine the two, or does it require a depressing historical trip and an awesome party trip separately?

Vancouver - sigh, unfortunately just far enough away that it turns it into a relatively major trip which has meant it hasn't fitted into my life yet. But as I have a friend with a big house and a pool maybe it can go into next summer...

A Greek Island - I loved being in Santorini and having nothing to do but soak in the sun and hang out at the beach, so am going to make a repeat trip to one of the other islands a big summer priority.

Amsterdam - I can't believe I haven't been to Amsterdam. It's so close and so cheap to get to and has such easy and obvious things to do once you get there... but as an acquaintance just moved there it might give me that extra impetus to make it...

And of course:
New Zealand! - Yes, I'll be on a whirlwind visit late-Feb to early-Mar :) The whirlwind an attempt to allow more time for the above...

Posted by Bel. The time is 12:36pm here in Wellington, NZ.

In 1916, sisters Augusta and Adeline Van Buren rode their motorcycles from the east to west coast of America. Frustrated that they were not permitted to be part of the armed forces in the build up to World War I, they used this epic journey (on what would now be considered ramshackle equipment) to demonstrate their willingness and ability to be involved.

It was just the public opinion that they had to work against. They were actually arrested on more than one occasion - because they were wearing "men's clothing", the leathers most suitable for this kind of arduous long journey, on roads that were not yet the super highways now common in the States.

You can read about the Van Buren sisters in more detail here.

This story appeals to me on so many levels. I love their determination and their feminist attitude (wanting both sexes to be treated equally). Their plan to carry out action and achieve change as a result brings to mind other inspirational women such as Rosa Parks and Amelia Earhart.

Also, my family are a bunch of motorbike hoons from way back. As a child, my parents often teasingly bemoaned my presence on this earth and how it prevented them from continuing their carefree jaunts on hulking Japanese roadbikes which apparently were a near daily occurrence before the restraints of parenting came along. *rolls eyes*

This is photo of my great uncle, taken in the 1940s. (My mum calls this the 'Che Guevara photo'.)

Conversely he, and his brother, my grandfather, were conscientious objectors, who did hard labour for their pacifist views.

Motorbikes are often a symbol of freedom and rebellion, used iconicly in films such as The Wild One starring Marlon Brando and Easy Rider starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper (who also directed. Who knew). For me though, the gloss has worn off - mainly thanks to my cousin who broke his leg in six places coming off his dirt bike. Six places, people. Count it out on your leg. Uggh.

And here endth my rambling vaguely interconnected post. Oh wait - maybe a photo of Brando, just for good measure:

***Addition by Lou***

I love Easy Rider and think Peter Fonda is unspeakably sexy in it, so am adding this piccie:

Posted by Bel. The time is 1:45pm here in Wellington, NZ.
Yes, doofus. I figured we'd put that at the top, so anyone reading would straight away know which of us was ranting. I put some codey stuff in the template so if you write on the next line down it is not so ittybittycommittee styles. CODE BITCHES!! I CAN DOS SUM!

The flat we were going to take fell through. They wanted us to sign the lease and hand over $3000 tomorrow. Um, hello? There's this trendy new thing out - you may have heard of it: the 'recession'? Hmm? Well we have jumped right on the band wagon and ain't no way I'm pulling that much cash out of my ass.
Honestly, real estate people are such scummers.