Category Archives: Web Design

Noodles and Business

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I’ve been too busy lately… So I’m writing a quick update while having the leftover Thai Green Curry that I made earlier this week combined with Japanese buckwheat noodles that I prepared five minutes ago. It’s yummie I tell you, extremely spicy because I added too much paste and unfortunately too hot temperature-wise *wink* I feel it’s okay to compliment your own culinary creations especially when it’s this good!

A had a great meeting with the manager of the City Auditorium, a really nice woman who might invite me in a few months to participate in a pitch to obtain an assignment. A new logo, stationery and website needs to be designed which is something not to be taken lightly. It might be one of the largest assignments I have taken so far and I must admit I’m slightly nervous about this, although it would be a great addition to the folio!

I’ve been completely honest about it: graphic design won’t be a problem but web design requires another level of technique that I can’t do on my own so I’m looking for a trusted partner. I called a colleague/friend of my brother and asked him to help me. I’ve had email contact with him before because of previous business matters, but we’d never spoken on the phone. It was weird because we ended up talking for five hours!

Perhaps it clicked because he’s half Indonesian, a quarter Chinese and another quarter Dutch. It just felt like I’ve known him for years and it was great to talk about business and other topics as well. He mailed off a CD that I hopefully will receive today, it contains a course that I’m eager to start! I’ve been feeling a tad overwhelmed this week which makes me realise certain things that I need to improve about/for myself.

I went to the hospital on Tuesday and the woman I had to see that day, pointed out something similar and related. She told me to express myself by writing more often, so I’ve installed another blog to keep a private diary. I have to learn to rechannel my energy and use it for my own benefit first and then that of close friends with integrity and who genuinely appreciate it: me. It’s about time I cut that Gordian knot fercrissakes!

So that’s what I’ve been doing lately: give no time to those who only seem to know you when they need something from you. Instead I’ve used more energy on those close to me… Yesterday I went to a thrift shop to look for some things I need for my business plan and came home with a gorgeous old serving dish instead (only € 1,50). Plus a sheer long sleeve top: a late birthday gift from my neighbour who gave me a ride to the shop.

I still have a cold and have been sneezing a lot so I’m gonna take things slow! I have to prepare an email as well but it’s something I need to think about: I was asked what kind of courses I’d like to offer, when I’d be available, what I’d need software-wise etc. But there’s so much I’d love to teach… So I have to give it thought before I write that reply. It will be great to teach again though but first things first: getting better *wink*

/* End of update, have a great weekend! */

© Zesty Gal
– Thai Green Curry with chicken and courgette (zucchini) and Japanese buckwheat noodles

New Theme: Asian Style…

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I haven’t had much personal time, hence my absence from blogging but yesterday I felt like taking a break from building websites and have some ‘me-time’. I’ve wanted to change the theme of my blog for a while but never took time to do it. I love theme design and the challenge is to make it work cross platform which most seem to forget about resulting in bad coding and/or design. But then again that’s what makes me stand out *ahem*.

I haven’t written much because I also have to admit that I’m feeling a bit down in the dumps lately. It’s not bad bad but I have lost a bit of zest, mainly because I’m dealing with a few problems. One is a major allergy that has been acting up for two months now causing inflammation. It stops me from running along the canal (workout) and at times even from socialising. I don’t want to go into details but my health is far from good at the moment.

I’m postponing seeing a doctor as usual because I know she will send me to a specialist at the hospital and I’ll end up fighting the symptoms again and not the cause which is typically a scientific and medical approach which I try to avoid if possible. But I have to admit I’m close to being desperate and I want this condition to end asap and the only way to do that is taking the medication they’ll prescribe which is hardcore unfortunately.

It’s a vicious circle; the condition keeps me from sleeping because of the inflammation and because I have no sleep, healing takes forever or the condition aggravates. Okay… enough of that… but it is the main reason for not having the zest to write. So yesterday when I decided to do something for me, I was basically giving myself a gift by taking a break from clients (I have another Flash website lined up from Scotland next week).

So… what do you think? I collect fruit stickers -don’t ask!- and was inspired by the simple design of one so I changed it into my own and that triggered the rest of it… I thought it would be nice to have a green phase for a while. It represents nature, renewal, balance, love, self-control, healing, emotional safety and is soothing… No wonder I chose these colours *wink*. And for the design freaks: all is done in Illustrator…

(ps: don’t forget to clear your browser cache and refresh a few times, it might act pesky on pc *of course* mixing old and new design *hehe*)