I’ve added some new features to the other rooms in the (blog)house and I’d love you to check them out! In the Library, I’ve added books with links that I have just read, or currently reading, as well as the latest on my coffee table. And in the Sound Studio I’ve added music I am currently listening to, currently playing on the piano, and currently composing, all with links. I will endeavour to write posts with reviews as I go too. So click here to go to the sound studio, or click here to go to the library (Alfred is there now waiting for you with some chablis)…

Also, something special is coming this way in the next few hours! I love surprises, don’t you? So be sure to come back this afternoon (or midnight for you aussies and morning for my american pals). See you soon! xx

This is my first Queens Day here in Amsterdam. The whole city is one massive party - the streets are full of happy people, everyone wears orange, and the streets become a ‘free market’ - like one gigantic car boot sale. I have my orange Ben Sherman shirt ready for the occasion. Although I am in crazy deadline mode again, I will try to get out my camera to take some snaps for you, but in the meantime, this day gives me the perfect excuse to share this song with you! It totally cracks me up and brings out the Dutchie in me…Happy Queen’s Day everyone!!

Wow. Well, I’m back. It’s been an emotional 48 hours, alot of unrest, alot of emails exchanged. I am so so wrapped by your comments, you all made me cry good tears, thank you. and there are some beauties in that comment box, so if you haven’t made the time to read the comments on the previous post please do. Before I can carry on with the good stuff of life here in the (blog)house, I need to put out an urgent appeal with links to petitions you can sign, from wherever you are in the world. Here is a little musical treat, a very cool Tibetan inspired dance mix I found, it is sure to get your fingers clicking to take positive action in this emergency world crisis…

The horns and bells you hear in the beginning are traditional Tibetan instruments which I just love.

Get Up is also responsible for helping to get the Australian government to say sorry to the Indigenous Australians which I wrote about here.

They are calling for 1 million signatures, so please spread the word.

And if I can ask for your help to keep Tibet in the media spotlight - this is a vital time for them, they need us right now and the moment the media attention drops off, well, I can’t tell you what that means for the Tibetans inside Tibet. And as the Dalai Lama has just stated,

So if you can post about it, you will be helping to ensure that the people of this part of our world do not become extinct, for they are already endangered. And you may not yet realise how important this is for our own future. Thank you to those who have already posted, I appreciate your efforts immensely.

If you feel unsure about supporting Tibet, if you are scared or you are worried about whether it is right or wrong according to different media reports, to put it simply, what has happened in Tibet over the last 50 years is an act of bullying and your fear is a reaction to that act. I for one have put a stop to bullying in my own personal life, and the Tibetans are trying to do the same. They have been bullied - pushed and shoved, lied about, and beaten down. And I know a little of what that feels like, perhaps you do too. So if you have any questions about this situation, and about why it is so so very important to act now, please do not hesitate to email me.

Next Up: we are going to have a little sneak peak at some recent my heart wanders submissions, and also answer one of my first reader requests, with help from my guest, which is rather exciting! Plus we will kick off our “Tibet in the Spotlight” design inspiration posts very soon. In the meantime, let’s rock this blogosphere because Tibet, we love you!

Update: Another great report on Channel 9’s Sunday programme this morning (March 23) with Tenpa, in case you missed it click here to view.

Thank Buddha the week is over. The deadline was yesterday so I can relax for the weekend. And how do I do that you might ask? Well with you of course! So grab a cup of tea - be it long island, milky or both - and sit back as I start the relaxation process by taking you with me on a little musical journey that will drop your jaw and jump start your heart, girl power style…

These women are what I call FREAKS OF NATURE. They are in my artist category of being raw, real and refined (well, perhaps the last one isn’t exactly ‘refined’ but she makes up for it in being the most raw and real of all!). The common theme you will see in these first 3 videos is that they are a one-woman band, starting with the gorgeous KT Tunstall...

Isn’t she fabulous? That song always gets my feet going. My French readers will know this next one. And although I have heard rumours that her ego is a little oversized since she hit the big time, remember that she is Parisian (hehehehe) and plus that is just a rumour, I have not seen evidence of it although I could imagine it. Her album, Le Fil is a killer - I bought it a year ago and still listen to it from beginning to end. A self-taught musician, check out what she can do with her voice…

Next up is another beautiful French singer, this one perhaps takes herself a little less serious than Camille and in saying so, takes us straight to the Scottish Highlands. Welcome to the (blog)house stage, Anaïs…

And I cannot leave you without this from my absolute favourite female singer of the moment: the incredible Sia… and not just because her name rhymes with Pia. I bought her album a couple of weeks ago called, ‘Some People have Real Problems’ (oh I could not agree more!!) and I cannot get enough of this album. Although this video is not in line with the above one-woman shows, just take a look at the ease of her abilities here as she sings live on radio, dressed in a daggy t-shirt and no bra by the looks of it (oh us Australians, soooo uncouth!) She obviously came out of the womb with this voice, and she is a complete nutbag which makes her all the more charming. The first 15 seconds of this clip is the remnants of the previous recording so just stick with it. Take it away Sia…

Hope you enjoyed this as much me, I’m ready to start my weekend now…

A few of you requested my all-australian birthday bash playlist, and as it is rather large instead of writing each artist out I have captured the whole playlist for you below. It is pretty intense, so if you don’t have the patience to scroll the whole list I will just mention here that I highly recommend you add the likes of Sarah Aubrey, Angus and Julia Stone, Karma County, The Waifs and Sia as your beginning aperitif list of songs, and then continue with the likes of Blue King Brown and Sneaky Sound System to get your guest’s feet tappin’.

To add to this authentic collection it is essential to include a few old faves like Midnight Oil, The Bee Gee’s Jive Talkin’ (let’s not get into a debate about whether they are really aussie or not), and even throw in a Paul Kelly. Include a dash of early nullities one-hit wonders with Lino’s Auger Well.

My added splash of didgeridoo with the likes of Xavier Rudd and Ash Dargan really bring the house down.

Enjoy this selection - even for those of you non-australians, I think you will find some artists in here that you will completely fall in love with: for modern-day jazz and blues lovers there is the very awesome DIG and The Badloves, and for alternative rock there is good ol’ Josh Pyke, Alex Lloyd and Pete Murray - I prefer these guys earlier stuff to be honest, I do feel they lost a bit if their individual style in their later work.

And then, the very number one must have song in your collection? YOTHU YINDI, Treaty! You thought I was going to say Men At Work’s Down Under didn’t you?! That is in there too, they’re all gooooood…

Note: most songs mentioned above are available on the fabo itunes and if not, head straight to the artist’s website for purchasing.

I love music. I love making it, listening to it, thinking about it and talking about it.

bonang from khairul’s flickr collection.

Mental Floss has an awesome post on 5 peculiar instruments from around the world which include two of my favourite instruments from ‘my own lands’: the bonang from Java, Indonesia and the Didgeridoo from Down Under. To listen, click here, it is truly inspiring.

Xavier Rudd from megremlin’s photostream

When I have my little soirée on Friday night to celebrate (or mourn) the last day of my roaring 20’s, I will be subjecting my guests to an all-Australian playlist, including music from the young fellow above. I’m a sucker for a bit of didge in a song and Xavier knows how to play that thing like I’ve never seen before.

And there is an incredible and extensive Didgeridoo gallery here in Amsterdam that sells the most beautiful didges, and if you ask nicely the gallery manager will serenade you with a sampling (click here for proof!) I will be heading in there this week to get my fix of didge as part of my celebration week. And I hope I am lucky enough to be greeted by the incredible Lies Beijerinck, Dutch Didge chick extraordinaire, her perfomance is mesmerizing.

So get your jivin’ shoes on and let’s rock this blogosphere!