nifwlseirff

Please make sure anything you send me is in a plastic bag or water-proof. My letterbox is not waterproof!

The Victorian bushfires in Australia have been burning very close to home. (Blog entry about the fire in Upwey)

As I hail from Melbourne, Australia, packages sent to and from Australia by air may take up to 3 weeks. Packages sent by sea mail can take up to 3 months - rest assured, if I am sending to you, I will post your package by air mail!

I am very much focused on losing weight and getting fit, as I am currently on a 6 month course of anti-cancer medication (not chemo, to shrink a non-cancerous growth). The side effects are horrendous, especially depression, motivation, memory and weight gain.

I am learning Japanese (and trying to up the intensity of my studying using JapanesePod101.com), and studying for a TESOL degree. I have two adorable large kitties.

I would love to garden more and spend more time learning, rather than working. A variety of chronic illnesses mean I do not go out much. I love eating and cooking Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Mexican foods. I would love to exercise more - specifically hiking, swimming, bellydancing and various martial arts, but I am unable to at the moment.

I am hoping this site will spur my creativity and help me make new worldwide friends. I do try to go above and beyond for swaps, and try to tailor swap packages and e-swaps to each swapper's profile.

I like anything Japanese (candy, foods, music, kawai accessories and stationery, bento boxes, culture, language magazines, books). I still haven't found ochazuke, despite looking in every shop I visit :-(

I love black tea, green tea, macha, herbal teas and flavoured coffees, BUT Australian customs usually removes tea and coffee from packages that are from outside Australia grumble. Please don't send me anything that has artificial sweetener (allergic).

Chocolate is another favourite - customs let this through if it is described as candy ;> I prefer small amounts of good quality chocolate (my favourite brand is Lindt), rather than larger amounts of cheaper chocolate.

I love Totoro and the tachikomas from Ghost in the Shell. I'm growing my anime and manga collection slowly. Current favourites: Ghost in the Shell, Appleseed, Totoro, Spirited Away, Witchhunter Robin.

I lenjoy browsing decor and design magazines, reading eco and gardening magazines, and absolutely love receiving Japanese cooking magazines. I am interested in Feng Shui, dragons, German board games, Final Fantasy et. al., Wii, PS2 and Nintendo DSLite games, strategy and anime Mac games. If you are sending me a document electronically, please use PDF or HTML formats, I do not run Windows or use Microsoft Office.

I would like to read more Japanese manga, magazines, and books, and watch more JDrama and anime, to motivate me and to help me learn Japanese more easily.

J-pop, K-Pop, alternative, celtic, world, heavy, trance.

Hamasaki Ayumi, Dead can Dance, Loreena McKennit, Tarkan, Sunyata, many soundtracks, Portishead, Bjork, Cure, Secret Garden, Bel Canto, Enya, Tea Party, Thievery Corporation, Transglobal Underground, Nakashima Mika, Tool, Limp Bizkit, Evanescense,

science fiction, fantasy, action, martial arts.

Lord of the Rings, Labyrinth, Ladyhawke, Legend, Last Samurai, Aeon Flux, Final Fantasy, Ghibli, Interview with the Vampire, Harry Potter, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Hero, Shinobi.

Stargate, Atlantis, Farscape, Battlestar Galactica, Buffy, Angel, Babylon 5, anime, Iron Chef (original Japanese version), subtitled JDrama.

cross stitch, knitting, beading, patchwork, decorations, origami, sketching, photography.

I regularly cross stitch (fantasy themes only), have collected loads of bits and pieces of craft, bath and herbal things, and have a huge store of fabric that I need to use up. I love Asian patchwork fabrics, and Chinese brocade and kimono/obi remnants.

I have a fairly large kawaii collection of various bits and pieces. I don't have any pet hates in the kawaii world, but my favourites would be Chococat, Rilakuma, and punk/goth Hello Kitty.

Australian swaps

I love receiving different teas, seeds and plant cuttings - things that customs does not allow in from overseas!

T2 is a dangerous shop for me!

Private swaps

I'd love to receive Japanese magazines, Japanese cookbooks, Japanese treats, T2 tea, fantasy and science fiction books, Jpop and Jrock music, Asian themed cotton patchwork fabrics, Japanese kimono scraps, Chinese brocades, exercise DVDs, and exchanging emails for weight-loss/chronic illness support swaps, craft projects, gardening, photography, website/blog writing, and studying (TESOL degree/Japanese).

I can offer random kawaii stationery and stickers, some bento and tupperware gear, fantasy and science fiction books, Australian magazines, tim tams, cherry ripes, other Australian foods, chocolates, bath/body products, random teas/coffees/hot chocolates, random beads and craft supplies, and various other bought and handmade items - just ask!

• Artificial sweeteners (including phenylalanine)
• Citrus, ginger, or lemongrass in bath/body products
• Cigarette smoke (smell) - triggers severe asthma

More natural soaps and bath products, preferably without parabens and SLS, are less likely to irritate my skin.

I don't like tacky, kitschy, pink, light colours, girly, or country-style things. I don't like trinkets, or magnets - I am trying to simplify my life and reduce clutter around me.

I much prefer receiving items that I can use, wear, learn, eat, drink, plant, listen to, watch, and read!

Please check my allergies above before sending!

I think I must have a lot of bad karma to work out - the list of swaps I have never received is rather long. Ones where I have received something from a swap angel are noted - a huge thanks to the angels!

• Inspire the artist within you - racoon
• Peek from my window e-swap - RaggedWood
• What's important to me picture e-swap - CE
• 2008 Reading Log #4 - sandra (received from an angel)
• Email letters - long termers - gabs
• 2008 Reading Log #3 - Cholieann (received from an angel)
• Amazon wishlist International - iqeal
• Lots of mail, cheap and easy - user 2717