The curious lump in my chest that has been consuming so much of my attention the past couple of weeks turns out to be a not very common, but completely benign, fatty lump. Not even a cyst. Simon, the very sweet ultrasound technician, was prompt in telling me that it certainly wasn't cancer. Then he showed me on the monitor exactly what it looked like. To be honest I could scarcely tell one grey bit from another grey bit, but once Simon said "It's not cancer" he could have been playing a rerun of "I Love Lucy" on the monitor for all I knew.
So yay. On the way home I bought a pig out dinner of some good porcini mushroom pasta, pesto, good parmesan, and a yummy bar of good dark chocolate. Tonight we live a little.
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Diet Friendly Chilli For One*
I cooked this up this evening for dinner and it was so delicious I thought I might share it. This whole dish taps out at about 5 classic old school Weight Watchers(tm) points - 3 for the mince, 1 1/2 for the beans and around a half for the couple of short oil sprays. All the vegetables are considered 'free'.
125g of extra lean beef mince
1/2 cup of canned red kidney beans (drained)
1 can of diced Italian tomatoes (not drained)
1 carrot
1 stick of celery
1/2 an onion
1/4 green capsicum, diced
1 tsp preserved garlic (or 1 fresh clove)
1 tsp preserved chilli (or a small red chilli to taste)
canned jalepenos or mild peppers
1 generous tsp of sweet paprika (or to taste)
a large pinch of ground cumin
a shake of dried thyme
1 beef stock cube
olive oil spray
Spray a non-stick frypan with a quick spray of olive oil spray, and brown the mince. Remove the mince from the pan and set aside. Grate or dice finely the carrot, celery and onion (I use the food processor with the grater attachment). Spray the pan with another quick spray of oil and sautee the vegetables, garlic and chilli until the vegetables are soft. (Because I always cook for just myself, I find it hard to get through garlic and fresh chillis before they deteriorate, so I usually keep a jar each of chopped preserved garlic and chilli in the fridge.) Towards the end of the vegetables cooking I add the spices and allow them to cook off a bit to become aromatic.
Tip in the capsicum, tinned tomatoes with juice, beef mince and beans. Dissolve the stock cube in a 1/4 cup of hot water and add in also. Put a lid on the pan and cook on a low heat for about half an hour, until everything is tender and some of the liquid has reduced. Towards the end of the cooking add the sliced jalapenos or mild peppers to taste.
I think the mix of spices in this are important, you need the depth of heat and savoury flavours from the paprika and cumin. Just be wary with the cumin in particular as it's very strong. Better to add a bit extra later if it needs it, once you've tasted the dish in the final stages.
Enjoy!
* One fairly big eater, like me.
125g of extra lean beef mince
1/2 cup of canned red kidney beans (drained)
1 can of diced Italian tomatoes (not drained)
1 carrot
1 stick of celery
1/2 an onion
1/4 green capsicum, diced
1 tsp preserved garlic (or 1 fresh clove)
1 tsp preserved chilli (or a small red chilli to taste)
canned jalepenos or mild peppers
1 generous tsp of sweet paprika (or to taste)
a large pinch of ground cumin
a shake of dried thyme
1 beef stock cube
olive oil spray
Spray a non-stick frypan with a quick spray of olive oil spray, and brown the mince. Remove the mince from the pan and set aside. Grate or dice finely the carrot, celery and onion (I use the food processor with the grater attachment). Spray the pan with another quick spray of oil and sautee the vegetables, garlic and chilli until the vegetables are soft. (Because I always cook for just myself, I find it hard to get through garlic and fresh chillis before they deteriorate, so I usually keep a jar each of chopped preserved garlic and chilli in the fridge.) Towards the end of the vegetables cooking I add the spices and allow them to cook off a bit to become aromatic.
Tip in the capsicum, tinned tomatoes with juice, beef mince and beans. Dissolve the stock cube in a 1/4 cup of hot water and add in also. Put a lid on the pan and cook on a low heat for about half an hour, until everything is tender and some of the liquid has reduced. Towards the end of the cooking add the sliced jalapenos or mild peppers to taste.
I think the mix of spices in this are important, you need the depth of heat and savoury flavours from the paprika and cumin. Just be wary with the cumin in particular as it's very strong. Better to add a bit extra later if it needs it, once you've tasted the dish in the final stages.
Enjoy!
* One fairly big eater, like me.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Birthday Weekend: In Review
Who knew that 45 was the fun one? Seriously. I had an absolute blast this birthday!
Friday night I met Mikey (TLE) & Evan, David, Brad and Christopher for cocktails and dinner at the Japanese fusion restaurant Uchi Lounge. Two of my favourite things are lychees and alcohol, so I had to start the night with a nomsworthy Lychee-tini. Lychee sake, gin, a splash of lychee syrup and one of the luscious pearlescent fruits to garnish. Yum.
We settled on a banquet, and the food (and wine!) just seemed to keep coming in an endless stream of delights. The eggplant with a sweet/savoury miso and parmesan dressing sounds like it shouldn't be, but it was heaven! Miso! And Parmesan! Crazy talk.
Numerous courses and four bottles of wine later, we poured/rolled ourselves out the door into the night. Being that well fed, with little distended round bellies all, the only logical thing seemed to be to make our way to the Flinders Hotel for the Harbour City Bears night. Some of myno stamina soft cock friends fellow diners decided to call it a night, but the rest of use headed off to the Teddy Bears Drink-nic.
You're in for a big surprise, at least that's the hope we always hold for it.
It was one of those busy but sociable nights that stick in your memory. New people met, old friends bumped into, good times had. Completely sleep deprived but happy, I had breakfast the next morning with David and a new friend Deen. Coffee, a plate of hang-over cure greasiness, sunglasses, sunshine and good company. Perhaps a little too much coffee, as any possibility of an afternoon nanna nap fled in the face of an over-caffeinated buzz. It was ok though as I had a quiet night in on Saturday, and a fairly lazy Sunday also. Nice.
So, one of the good ones, and big thanks to the boys for such a great night.
Friday night I met Mikey (TLE) & Evan, David, Brad and Christopher for cocktails and dinner at the Japanese fusion restaurant Uchi Lounge. Two of my favourite things are lychees and alcohol, so I had to start the night with a nomsworthy Lychee-tini. Lychee sake, gin, a splash of lychee syrup and one of the luscious pearlescent fruits to garnish. Yum.
We settled on a banquet, and the food (and wine!) just seemed to keep coming in an endless stream of delights. The eggplant with a sweet/savoury miso and parmesan dressing sounds like it shouldn't be, but it was heaven! Miso! And Parmesan! Crazy talk.
Numerous courses and four bottles of wine later, we poured/rolled ourselves out the door into the night. Being that well fed, with little distended round bellies all, the only logical thing seemed to be to make our way to the Flinders Hotel for the Harbour City Bears night. Some of my
You're in for a big surprise, at least that's the hope we always hold for it.
It was one of those busy but sociable nights that stick in your memory. New people met, old friends bumped into, good times had. Completely sleep deprived but happy, I had breakfast the next morning with David and a new friend Deen. Coffee, a plate of hang-over cure greasiness, sunglasses, sunshine and good company. Perhaps a little too much coffee, as any possibility of an afternoon nanna nap fled in the face of an over-caffeinated buzz. It was ok though as I had a quiet night in on Saturday, and a fairly lazy Sunday also. Nice.
So, one of the good ones, and big thanks to the boys for such a great night.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
The Law Of Chocolate Attraction
You know, maybe there is something in this The Secret bullcrap. I mean last night I posted a satirical comment on The Facebook about not having any chocolate in the house, then I obviously created the environment blah de blah to attract chocolate to myself, opened myself up to the possibility of chocolate, created the space in my life for chocolate to happen, because today I received a gorgeous box of fine Belgian chocolates from The Universe! Actually, from The Universe via its agents, my lovely kind friends Meg and Snerg!
Tonight I'm posting a satirical comment and opening myself up to the possibility of a million dollars. Wish me luck.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Starting Over
Thanks for the wonderful supportive comments on the last couple of posts everyone, it's very much appreciated! I'm only just starting the process of re-organising my life this morning, so I've yet to really experience the highs and lows of job hunting in the current economic climate. However, having said that I'm feeling pretty positive at this moment in time. The trick is in maintaining that outlook against the slings and arrows of job hunting, right?
It's a bit wet and miserable in Sydney today, but as much of today will involve working the phone that's not such a bad thing. I made a batch of buttermilk muffins with apple and walnuts last night, and tucking in to one of those and a cup of coffee has been a nice start to the morning. Sometimes I make these with mixed berries (the frozen ones from the supermarket work really well), but this time I experimented with dried apple, chopped walnuts and the tiniest hint of cinnamon. Nom nom. I usually freeze a batch of 12 and then have them for morning tea.
So, thanks again. Your support has meant a lot to me. Can we make a deal? I'll try and stay positive if you guys could agree to give me the occasional elbow pat and a "there there" if I fall off the wagon too badly.
It's a bit wet and miserable in Sydney today, but as much of today will involve working the phone that's not such a bad thing. I made a batch of buttermilk muffins with apple and walnuts last night, and tucking in to one of those and a cup of coffee has been a nice start to the morning. Sometimes I make these with mixed berries (the frozen ones from the supermarket work really well), but this time I experimented with dried apple, chopped walnuts and the tiniest hint of cinnamon. Nom nom. I usually freeze a batch of 12 and then have them for morning tea.
So, thanks again. Your support has meant a lot to me. Can we make a deal? I'll try and stay positive if you guys could agree to give me the occasional elbow pat and a "there there" if I fall off the wagon too badly.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Chicken Soup For The Soul
On a whim last night I decided to stop by the supermarket after work and [vegetarians look away, look away!] grab the fixings to make chicken soup. From scratch. No bouillon cubes. No packet this, no sachet that. Just an organic free range chicken, water, carrots, onions, celery, a bay leaf (thanks Speedy!) and some peppercorns.
A couple of hours and a house full of nummy aroma later and I had a big pot o' chicken and delicately flavoured stock. Most was placed in a container in the 'fridge to allow the fat to solidify and then be disposed of, and some was placed in a small pan to be simmered with risoni, salt & pepper, some of the veggies from the stock, lashings of shredded chicken and some parsley. A small squeeze of lemon would have been good too, but I forget to get any lemons at the supermarket. When life doesn't give you lemons, make... do without them.
It was rewarding and relaxing. It felt nice to be making something from scratch, and putting aside something for future meals. In this case containers of stock in the freezer for cold winter soup nights, or risotto maybe. Most nights I only have the enthusiasm to spend 10 minutes throwing together some pasta or something easy, but given the lightning strike of time and energy there was real enjoyment in checking the pot, skimming, smelling and waiting.
And then today found me looking up small sized slow cookers online. I mean, a casserole all ready for me when I get home on a winter work night? With portions boxed up in the freezer for later?... Nom nom.
A couple of hours and a house full of nummy aroma later and I had a big pot o' chicken and delicately flavoured stock. Most was placed in a container in the 'fridge to allow the fat to solidify and then be disposed of, and some was placed in a small pan to be simmered with risoni, salt & pepper, some of the veggies from the stock, lashings of shredded chicken and some parsley. A small squeeze of lemon would have been good too, but I forget to get any lemons at the supermarket. When life doesn't give you lemons, make... do without them.
It was rewarding and relaxing. It felt nice to be making something from scratch, and putting aside something for future meals. In this case containers of stock in the freezer for cold winter soup nights, or risotto maybe. Most nights I only have the enthusiasm to spend 10 minutes throwing together some pasta or something easy, but given the lightning strike of time and energy there was real enjoyment in checking the pot, skimming, smelling and waiting.
And then today found me looking up small sized slow cookers online. I mean, a casserole all ready for me when I get home on a winter work night? With portions boxed up in the freezer for later?... Nom nom.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
"What I Did On My Blog Holiday" by The Other Andrew, Age 44 & 1/2
Hey ho everybody. Well that wasn't long! Is it a bit naff to dramatically announce a break (back of hand to brow) and then come back after only a week? I suspect it is a bit, but if this wasn't attention seeking then it wouldn't be blogging, right?
In reality I feel a little better, especially in the past day or so. Even as recently as Thursday I still felt congested, but yesterday and today I feel much better. Still hacking enough to get a free seat (and an exclusion zone) on the bus... but if that's what it takes to get a seat, so be it. Chalk that up to a bonus. 5 weeks in and I am ready for this to be done with, so cross everything that it's really going this time!
I got a little cabin crazy. Aside from going to work, and going to dinner a few nights ago, I've hardly left the house. My couch has a deeper ass shaped dent in it now than it ever had, and given that I'm a comfort eater (sigh) it's a marginally bigger dent too!
Anyhoo, that past week in a nutshell. A week in which I...
Survived:
Enjoyed:
Did not enjoy:
(* Or one of them. Along with "never eat anything bigger than your head", "it's not cruel if it's funny", etc.)
In reality I feel a little better, especially in the past day or so. Even as recently as Thursday I still felt congested, but yesterday and today I feel much better. Still hacking enough to get a free seat (and an exclusion zone) on the bus... but if that's what it takes to get a seat, so be it. Chalk that up to a bonus. 5 weeks in and I am ready for this to be done with, so cross everything that it's really going this time!
I got a little cabin crazy. Aside from going to work, and going to dinner a few nights ago, I've hardly left the house. My couch has a deeper ass shaped dent in it now than it ever had, and given that I'm a comfort eater (sigh) it's a marginally bigger dent too!
Anyhoo, that past week in a nutshell. A week in which I...
Survived:
- A power blackout. Thankfully it was the night after Earth Hour, so you know, thanks to lacksadaisical housekeeping the candles weren't even put away yet! Score.
- A burnt thumb (damn your eyes homemade pizza!).
- That cranky, irritable time of the month we in the accounting trade refer to as 'month end'.
Enjoyed:
- Recovery.
- This song full of dancing Harajuku-jin. The higher the hair, the closer to Elvis!
- Actually, maybe it's a hair thing, because I'm digging this song by La Roux... and one thing she has got is a fab head of hair.
- A foray into steampunk fiction (although I do agree with this reviewer that the characterisations are somewhat thin).
- A fantastic night out with James, Tom, Colin and Judy at a special "Colonial Gastronomy: Spice" dinner at Elizabeth Bay House. 19th c dishes in one of Sydney's best preserved colonial homes, with a fantastic demonstration and talk about the colonial spice trade, good company and lashings of wine. Because in this life my motto* is "pics, or it didn't happen" of course there are photos (and as always, click them to enbiggen):
Did not enjoy:
- Not blogging! Oh sure it was nice to not feel the pressure to come up with blog posts, but the flip side is that I'd find myself thinking I'm SO blogging this!... oh, crap.
(* Or one of them. Along with "never eat anything bigger than your head", "it's not cruel if it's funny", etc.)
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Dinner With The Diva
After reading each other's blogs for a little while, and originally meeting online through Thom's blog Fabulon, last night I caught up with US blogger "La Diva Laura" (of La Diva Cucina) right here in Newtown. OMG, so much fun! Laura livid in Sydney for quite a few years, so this trip has been a homecoming of sorts. I knew from reading her blog that Laura would be warm and funny, as were her friends, and we clicked straight away.
Laura.
Laura & Fiona. Fiona had the best glitter eyeliner on. Covet!
Libations! A very nommy "Asian Tiger Caprioska" - lime, passionfruit, lychee, sugar syrup, vodka, heaven.
Laura & Amanda. Good times!
"Just James" starring James O'Brien.
On the way out of the hotel we passed this cute boy busking. So nice to see the young people taking care in their appearance.
Laura.
Laura & Fiona. Fiona had the best glitter eyeliner on. Covet!
Libations! A very nommy "Asian Tiger Caprioska" - lime, passionfruit, lychee, sugar syrup, vodka, heaven.
Laura & Amanda. Good times!
"Just James" starring James O'Brien.
On the way out of the hotel we passed this cute boy busking. So nice to see the young people taking care in their appearance.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Dessert Du Jour
This where I exhibit a piece of my weirdness for The Internets. My favourite at home dessert - not chocolate, not tiramisu, compotes, bombes, clafoutis, meringues or anything brulee. No!
Instead it's kind of, well, baby food in a sense. But yummy! Take one tub of no fat French Vanilla yogurt (Formé by Yoplait, quell exotique nest pas?) and one small tub of apple and mixed berry puree (Goulburn Valley, adds a rustic all Aussie country home goodness feel, right?). Either combine, or, my own favourite method: grab a teaspoon, take a little scoop of puree (approximately half a teaspoon, or to taste), then add a little scoop of yogurt on top. Into gob.
Nom nom.
Equals heaven, quite frankly.
Instead it's kind of, well, baby food in a sense. But yummy! Take one tub of no fat French Vanilla yogurt (Formé by Yoplait, quell exotique nest pas?) and one small tub of apple and mixed berry puree (Goulburn Valley, adds a rustic all Aussie country home goodness feel, right?). Either combine, or, my own favourite method: grab a teaspoon, take a little scoop of puree (approximately half a teaspoon, or to taste), then add a little scoop of yogurt on top. Into gob.
Nom nom.
Friday, February 20, 2009
5 Way Fun Things I Have Done This Week
- Rummaged, exclaimed, declaimed, come over all woozy from excitement and ultimately purchased a bunch of gorgeous things at a shop called Bollywood Braid & Trims.
- Forgotten all about the diet. Sorry, what diet? (Don't worry, only for part of the week and I'll be back on the path of righteousness next week.)
- Posted an RSVP to attend the wedding of 2 friends. And I've volunteered to do their photos. And they're getting married in full Victorian dress! OK, steampunk wedding photos... too much?
- Signed up for a Wardrobe Re-Fashion challenge. (More on that to come.)
- Enjoyed walking in the rain for a few days, got well and truly over it by day 5, and then enjoyed walking in the sunshine even more.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Food Coma Of Epic Proportions
I just had the most amazing Mexican meal of my increasingly longish life. Now Mexican is not a dominant cuisine in Oz, not as ubiquitous as Thai for example, but I've sought out Mexican restaurants wherever I can find them over the years. I'm a fan. Well, be gone shredded 'tasty' cheese (that isn't) and goops of sour cream because The Flying Fajita Sistas have got your number.
The service was friendly and non obtrusive, the Bohemia beer was tasty nom noms, the food fantastic, and the restaurant was one of the few on Glebe Point Rd that was actually full of diners, and atmosphere. So. Much. Food. I wish I could have managed a third course, but it was not to be. Even though there was something on the dessert menu that combined orange, coffee and caramel in what only can be described as (probable) brulee heaven.
Home now, and frankly I can barely type from the food coma.
The service was friendly and non obtrusive, the Bohemia beer was tasty nom noms, the food fantastic, and the restaurant was one of the few on Glebe Point Rd that was actually full of diners, and atmosphere. So. Much. Food. I wish I could have managed a third course, but it was not to be. Even though there was something on the dessert menu that combined orange, coffee and caramel in what only can be described as (probable) brulee heaven.
Home now, and frankly I can barely type from the food coma.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Bearable Lightness of Being
I decided not to mention it here when I first started (in case I ditched it as quick as I started!) but I've been dieting this week. Not excessively or weirdly. No "Isreali Army Diet" or Eat Only Bananas In The Morning type malarky, just covering the 5 food groups, eating smaller amounts, no takeaway, less fat, less sugar, less carbs in general (especially in the evening). Basically an informal version of the Weight Watchers I did some years back. I still have all the points guides and stuff, and kind of winged it.
Anyhoo, I eschewed the Company Sweetie Jar and kept to the path of righteousness even when Fat Food Friday rolled around at work. (This week was fish & chips, so I opted for grilled fish and a salad with balsamic dressing.) A normal day for me this week has been a poached egg and toasted English muffin for breakfast, a couple of plums and a small tub of no fat yoghurt as snacks during the day, a wholemeal sandwich (no butter) with some shaved ham, cucumber slices and tomato for lunch, and for dinner a small chicken breast or lean steak with vegetable and/or salad and 'lite' dressing. Maybe another piece of fruit or yoghurt in the evening. (And avoided watching anything food related on tv.)
Judging by my demi-accurate bathroom scales I've lost over 2 kilos this week. After the first week it should settle down to about a kilo a week. I don't have heaps to lose, about 7 or 8 kilos to get back to the goal weight I was a few years ago. I got a shock when I discovered my blood pressure had climbed even higher recently, so any weight loss should help that. If I can brave the heat that's forecast for this weekend, I might go and buy some more accurate digital scales.
So. I made an awesome veggie bake for dinner tonight! I coursely grated a large zucchini (courgette), salted it and put aside in a sieve to drain for a while. Then I coursely grated a carrot into a bowl, added half a finely chopped smallish onion, a chopped spring onion, some of my favourite All Purpose organic seasoning and some pitted and sliced black olives. Then I rinsed, drained and patted dry the zucchini and chucked that in with a couple of spoonfulls of low fat cottage cheese, and lastly 1 whole egg and 2 egg whites loosely beaten. All that went into a super cute 1 person casserole I bought at Target the other week, which I had sprayed lightly with olive oil spray, and baked in a moderate oven for about half an hour. Until everything was cooked through, the egg was set and the top was browned. It was great! Next time I might add some parsley, maybe some chilli... or capers...
I promise not to turn this into a Diet Blog, but I'm stoked that I lost some weight this week and thought I'd share. I feel like I've flipped the switch in my brain that goes from comfort/boredom eating to being more disciplined. Huzzah!
Anyhoo, I eschewed the Company Sweetie Jar and kept to the path of righteousness even when Fat Food Friday rolled around at work. (This week was fish & chips, so I opted for grilled fish and a salad with balsamic dressing.) A normal day for me this week has been a poached egg and toasted English muffin for breakfast, a couple of plums and a small tub of no fat yoghurt as snacks during the day, a wholemeal sandwich (no butter) with some shaved ham, cucumber slices and tomato for lunch, and for dinner a small chicken breast or lean steak with vegetable and/or salad and 'lite' dressing. Maybe another piece of fruit or yoghurt in the evening. (And avoided watching anything food related on tv.)
Judging by my demi-accurate bathroom scales I've lost over 2 kilos this week. After the first week it should settle down to about a kilo a week. I don't have heaps to lose, about 7 or 8 kilos to get back to the goal weight I was a few years ago. I got a shock when I discovered my blood pressure had climbed even higher recently, so any weight loss should help that. If I can brave the heat that's forecast for this weekend, I might go and buy some more accurate digital scales.
So. I made an awesome veggie bake for dinner tonight! I coursely grated a large zucchini (courgette), salted it and put aside in a sieve to drain for a while. Then I coursely grated a carrot into a bowl, added half a finely chopped smallish onion, a chopped spring onion, some of my favourite All Purpose organic seasoning and some pitted and sliced black olives. Then I rinsed, drained and patted dry the zucchini and chucked that in with a couple of spoonfulls of low fat cottage cheese, and lastly 1 whole egg and 2 egg whites loosely beaten. All that went into a super cute 1 person casserole I bought at Target the other week, which I had sprayed lightly with olive oil spray, and baked in a moderate oven for about half an hour. Until everything was cooked through, the egg was set and the top was browned. It was great! Next time I might add some parsley, maybe some chilli... or capers...
I promise not to turn this into a Diet Blog, but I'm stoked that I lost some weight this week and thought I'd share. I feel like I've flipped the switch in my brain that goes from comfort/boredom eating to being more disciplined. Huzzah!
Monday, February 02, 2009
These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things
Red summer fruits. Pomegranate anything. Texture and gloss. Green majolica dishes. Leaves.
I've had a rough week, mostly because it has been about being sick and also being super busy at work. Not a great combination. While I was at the doctor getting my gastro bug checked out I discovered my old buddy High Blood Pressure was back with a vengeance. Add another pill to the mix. When I dance I now sound like a maraca, but that's festive, right?
Patina. Things with a past. Stories. Inscriptions*. Shine.
Leaving a lens cap and piece of fruit in shot.
Mind you, in amongst that there was mucho goodness. Haircut Day (back to super short), knitting with buddies and Opera In The Domain. Pagliacci, bitches! Even doing overtime at work has its upside, tell the man with the money to come and pay me. On the way home there were luscious fruits to buy, and one gorgeous pomegranate, solid and weighty with promise. Then I thought, maybe my favourite fruits would look nice in my favourite old silver plate pedestal dish. (They didn't, the fruits too big and the dish too small.)
Now, a guilty pleasure chick flick on the teev ("The Devil Wears Prada"). So this new week hasn't had a bad start to it after all. Maybe it'll be weighty with promise too?
[*It reads "Semaphore Carnival. 75 yds Sprint. 2nd. H.G.Toms. 26.1.31"
Updated
In the comments Cathy wrote:
Not sure if the cup is a family heirloom, but I would put money on this being the previous owner;
TOMS, HEADLY GORDON
Service Australian Army
Service Number SX3560
Date of Birth 1 Sep 1913
Place of Birth ADELAIDE, SA
Date of Enlistment 25 May 1940
Locality on Enlistment MILLSWOOD, SA
Place of Enlistment ADELAIDE, SA
Next of Kin TOMS, LINDSAY
Date of Discharge 13 Nov 1945
Rank Warrant Officer Class 1
Posting at Discharge 2 ECH AIF (ME)
WW2 Honours and Gallantry None for display
Prisoner of War No
I am just fascinated by old stuff....
Cathy, I think you are right. I bought the cup in Adelaide when I used to live there. Interesting fact, he enlisted in Millswood in Adelaide which is the suburb I grew up in! Plus, he would have been 18 when the cup was awarded, which was a good age to run a 75 yard sprint I think. Thanks for the research and for sharing!]
Monday, January 26, 2009
Teatime With Sarah
Today was a funny old day. I had planned to catch up with an old workmate this afternoon, so when Mikey rang at 1pm to see if I was free for a picnic in Centennial Park I tried to figure out if I could shoehorn it into the schedule... and it just didn't fit. So having turned it down I hung out at home for a while and then started getting ready for my afternoon coffee catch up with my old workmate. Except, she cancelled at short notice. It would have been quite late by the time I changed gears and got to the park, so instead of too many things to do I ended up with too few.
So, it may be the case that when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping. It's definitely the case though that when the going gets dull, thedull err... bored go shopping. I decided to do some bookshop window shopping at least. Newtown already has some great bookshops but there's always room for one more, and one more has just been added. (Actually, a few years ago my favourite secondhand bookstore closed, and recently another of the new books bookstores closed for renovations, so essentially the balance has been maintained.)
The perfect miniature lemon meringue tart.
So I was wandering around the secondhand level of the new Berkelouw bookstore in Newtown, wedged in an aisle between Christianity to sinister and Sex/Gender to dexter (common, right?), when I heard my name called. My good friend Sarah had a similar idea as it turns out, and so we both found ourselves in the same place at the same time.
Industrial style in the secondhand books level.
Berkelouws have a fantastic formula for their large bookstores, one level of new books, one of secondhand and antiquarian books, and a cafe. This new store has been created inside an old two story warehouse space in a side street in Newtown, and I'm in love with the conversion. High ceilings, original windows, sandblasted brick, raw timber shelving, old patinated wood, tin and industrial style lighting.
I want these lights. WANT.
Oh, and the most fabulous antique searchlight type industrial lights that I coveted so bad I could taste it. There was a pair, and for a few seconds I made fantasy calculations as to whether Sarah and I could make the dash downstairs and out the front door carrying one each.
The clerestory and exposed tin ceiling.
So instead of a dull afternoon, I had a lovely coffee date after all! A perfect little meringue and organic mint tea for me, and a latte and little passionfruit cheesecake tart for Sarah. The cafe was light and airy, and although fairly full was quieter and less bustly than many Newtown cafes. Judging by the laptops out on a few tables I would assume there's free wifi too. It was a lovely afternoon talking about creativity and the future, and the perfect antidote to a dull afternoon.
So, it may be the case that when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping. It's definitely the case though that when the going gets dull, the
The perfect miniature lemon meringue tart.
So I was wandering around the secondhand level of the new Berkelouw bookstore in Newtown, wedged in an aisle between Christianity to sinister and Sex/Gender to dexter (common, right?), when I heard my name called. My good friend Sarah had a similar idea as it turns out, and so we both found ourselves in the same place at the same time.
Industrial style in the secondhand books level.
Berkelouws have a fantastic formula for their large bookstores, one level of new books, one of secondhand and antiquarian books, and a cafe. This new store has been created inside an old two story warehouse space in a side street in Newtown, and I'm in love with the conversion. High ceilings, original windows, sandblasted brick, raw timber shelving, old patinated wood, tin and industrial style lighting.
I want these lights. WANT.
Oh, and the most fabulous antique searchlight type industrial lights that I coveted so bad I could taste it. There was a pair, and for a few seconds I made fantasy calculations as to whether Sarah and I could make the dash downstairs and out the front door carrying one each.
The clerestory and exposed tin ceiling.
So instead of a dull afternoon, I had a lovely coffee date after all! A perfect little meringue and organic mint tea for me, and a latte and little passionfruit cheesecake tart for Sarah. The cafe was light and airy, and although fairly full was quieter and less bustly than many Newtown cafes. Judging by the laptops out on a few tables I would assume there's free wifi too. It was a lovely afternoon talking about creativity and the future, and the perfect antidote to a dull afternoon.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Beached!
It's late, late at night as I write this and I'm sunburnt and pooped, but I've had a thoroughly fantastic day. So big a day that I'm blogging it in installments. THAT BIG. (No scratching in the dust for something to write about this weekend, oh no.)
Giant inflated ironman, part of a kids' playground.
Young master O'Brien and I had a lunch date at Bondi Beach with his friend Colin. Getting to Bondi from Newtown by public transport isn't the easiest thing in the world, it's either two train trips and a bus ride, or two buses. In the end I opted for the bus trips, and as it would turn out they were the first of 5 bus trips we'd take during the day.
Bondi icons, although its unusual to see the beach so quiet.
Frankly in my opinion five bus trips is about 4 too many, but they were entertaining in their own way, especially the first trip. As the bus headed from Newtown through Surry Hills an increasingly odd assortment of people got on the bus. By the time two quite rough looking guys got on and sat in the seat in front of me, the bus was full of the elderly, the Russian, and (unfortunately) the unwashed. When I saw one of the rough looking guys in front of me turn and talk to his mate I noticed that he was wearing eyeliner... and his friend was wearing both eyeliner and foundation. Ah, not so tough after all.
In the jaws of the beast!
After a bit of missed bus shenanigans with Colin, James and I agreed to meet him at the restaurant The Bondi Trattoria. Did you know that there two Bondi Trattorias? No, neither did we. One at the south end of the beach... and one at the north. Or at least so Colin thought. (I never did find out the exact name of the restaurant we ended up at...)
Not everybody sunbakes.
Anyhoo, so James and I strolled the length of the beachfront and met Colin at the north end. (There was certainly no hardship in walking the length of Bondi, even on a day that began quite cool and overcast there were beauties by the score.) We had a fantastic meal with Colin, although as gorgeous as my scallops dish was I was a little disappointed by the size of the serving. 5 small scallops... at a shade under $6 each scallop by my reckoning. They were delicious... but without the side dish of veg we ordered, bread and olives on the table, and helping James with his substantial pasta dish, I would have still been hungry.
Bondi is a martini free zone! (L) and full of lots of colourful street art (R)
By the time we rolled out of the restaurant the day had morphed from cloudy and cool to quite warm and windy. We had some time to kill before James and I had to head off to a house warming for Mary-Helen and Sandra, so the three of us strolled along the beach for a while.
Who watches the watcher?
And that's where the sunburn bit comes in! I am possibly the palest person in Christendom on a good day, and even when it's overcast I can work up a nice sunburn in very little time. By the time I finally got home around midnight I was a pretty shade of lobster pink. Nothing says Summer like an accidental sunburn.
[Click any of the pics to see them bigger on Flickr.]
Giant inflated ironman, part of a kids' playground.
Young master O'Brien and I had a lunch date at Bondi Beach with his friend Colin. Getting to Bondi from Newtown by public transport isn't the easiest thing in the world, it's either two train trips and a bus ride, or two buses. In the end I opted for the bus trips, and as it would turn out they were the first of 5 bus trips we'd take during the day.
Bondi icons, although its unusual to see the beach so quiet.
Frankly in my opinion five bus trips is about 4 too many, but they were entertaining in their own way, especially the first trip. As the bus headed from Newtown through Surry Hills an increasingly odd assortment of people got on the bus. By the time two quite rough looking guys got on and sat in the seat in front of me, the bus was full of the elderly, the Russian, and (unfortunately) the unwashed. When I saw one of the rough looking guys in front of me turn and talk to his mate I noticed that he was wearing eyeliner... and his friend was wearing both eyeliner and foundation. Ah, not so tough after all.
In the jaws of the beast!
After a bit of missed bus shenanigans with Colin, James and I agreed to meet him at the restaurant The Bondi Trattoria. Did you know that there two Bondi Trattorias? No, neither did we. One at the south end of the beach... and one at the north. Or at least so Colin thought. (I never did find out the exact name of the restaurant we ended up at...)
Not everybody sunbakes.
Anyhoo, so James and I strolled the length of the beachfront and met Colin at the north end. (There was certainly no hardship in walking the length of Bondi, even on a day that began quite cool and overcast there were beauties by the score.) We had a fantastic meal with Colin, although as gorgeous as my scallops dish was I was a little disappointed by the size of the serving. 5 small scallops... at a shade under $6 each scallop by my reckoning. They were delicious... but without the side dish of veg we ordered, bread and olives on the table, and helping James with his substantial pasta dish, I would have still been hungry.
Bondi is a martini free zone! (L) and full of lots of colourful street art (R)
By the time we rolled out of the restaurant the day had morphed from cloudy and cool to quite warm and windy. We had some time to kill before James and I had to head off to a house warming for Mary-Helen and Sandra, so the three of us strolled along the beach for a while.
Who watches the watcher?
And that's where the sunburn bit comes in! I am possibly the palest person in Christendom on a good day, and even when it's overcast I can work up a nice sunburn in very little time. By the time I finally got home around midnight I was a pretty shade of lobster pink. Nothing says Summer like an accidental sunburn.
[Click any of the pics to see them bigger on Flickr.]
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Chopitty Chop Chop!
About a week ago I bought a copy of this. (Which despite the title is not about Lindsay, or Britney.) There is an element to my psyche that wants to be much more connected to the food I eat. To buy locally made produce, preferably organic. To make and store things to eat later. To enjoy and celebrate through cooking, experimenting and trying new tastes.
Of course this side of me is constantly at war with the side that wants to lie on the couch and eat takeaway forever. But I digress.
So my local supermarket has big bags of good tomatoes, at a reasonable price, and while they're not organic OR probably locally grown, they were inexpensive and good quality. Fast forward to tonight and I've spent much of it cutting up 500gs of onions, 2kgs of tomatoes, a couple of cooking apples, and along with vinegar, sugar, salt, garlic, mustard powder and curry powder I now have myself a big pot of chutney boiling on the stove. Chopped fine. That's a lot of chopping.
Now the house is filled with a delicious sweet vinegary smell. I just tasted a spoonful, even though it has a while to cook still, and OMG the sweet/sour balance tastes just about right. So soon I'll sterilise the motley collection of jam and pasta sauce jars I knew I was collecting for a reason, and just before I'm ready to collapse into bed (note to self, I should have started all the chopping earlier) I should have myself a monster batch! I'm already planning the crusty bread and sharp cheese... but I won't be making those. I know my limits.
Of course this side of me is constantly at war with the side that wants to lie on the couch and eat takeaway forever. But I digress.
So my local supermarket has big bags of good tomatoes, at a reasonable price, and while they're not organic OR probably locally grown, they were inexpensive and good quality. Fast forward to tonight and I've spent much of it cutting up 500gs of onions, 2kgs of tomatoes, a couple of cooking apples, and along with vinegar, sugar, salt, garlic, mustard powder and curry powder I now have myself a big pot of chutney boiling on the stove. Chopped fine. That's a lot of chopping.
Now the house is filled with a delicious sweet vinegary smell. I just tasted a spoonful, even though it has a while to cook still, and OMG the sweet/sour balance tastes just about right. So soon I'll sterilise the motley collection of jam and pasta sauce jars I knew I was collecting for a reason, and just before I'm ready to collapse into bed (note to self, I should have started all the chopping earlier) I should have myself a monster batch! I'm already planning the crusty bread and sharp cheese... but I won't be making those. I know my limits.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Small Treats
I had a hot, tough, tiring day today. Struggling through a busy month-end with a couple of staff down, and struggling through the heatwave and un-airconditioned buses of a Sydney summer! Yay.
So anyhoo. Once I was home in Newtown with my pay burning a hole in my bank account I felt like, well salving the hurts with a little retail therapy. A little something nice for dinner. Nothing extravagant, just little treats to remind myself I'm worth it after a somewhat craptastic day.
So I bought a couple of magazines, surface and the Christmas Martha. Frankly that sums me up, all hard edged and high shine on the one hand, and a person who thinks about making things from doilies on the other. Then a small dinner bento box of miso, sushi, sashimi and chicken teriyaki for dinner. Followed by a lychee gelato for pudding on the stroll home.
Less than $30 bucks well spent.
So anyhoo. Once I was home in Newtown with my pay burning a hole in my bank account I felt like, well salving the hurts with a little retail therapy. A little something nice for dinner. Nothing extravagant, just little treats to remind myself I'm worth it after a somewhat craptastic day.
So I bought a couple of magazines, surface and the Christmas Martha. Frankly that sums me up, all hard edged and high shine on the one hand, and a person who thinks about making things from doilies on the other. Then a small dinner bento box of miso, sushi, sashimi and chicken teriyaki for dinner. Followed by a lychee gelato for pudding on the stroll home.
Less than $30 bucks well spent.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Let The Parade Of Desserts Commence!
OMG. I may never, ever eat again. I possibly said that last year, the year before, and so on, so clearly I cannot be trusted on this... but that's my plan. I'm not waiting until New Year, I'm making a Christmas Resolution.
So. Thoughts on Christmas Day...
I love my friends. A huge dinner table for 20, or so, barely seats us all and that includes the inevitable absences. Friends who've moved overseas, interstate, or just have other plans. The rag tag bunch of us now includes many ankle biters underfoot, which has added a further dimension to Christmas. Oliver and I made the lion puzzle, the zebra puzzle, the elephant puzzle and of course the giraffe puzzle, then back through the cycle a couple of times more. At no point were giraffe legs combined with a lion head, frankly between the two of us we put the intelligent into intelligent design.
Not to mention that once the thorny issue of the difference between the words assume and presume reared its head, we couldn't let the issue die without an answer. In a nutshell, they are functionally the same except some of the secondary meanings differ. Perhaps I'm being assumptuous, but I presume you're as interested as we were.
The food. Oh, the food. The glorious, glorious food. Meaghan pulled out all the stops, with Christmas favourites like a huge leg of ham, and some new dishes such as a string bean and pomegranate salad dish that was to die. To. Die. Are five desserts too many? I think it was five. Pudding... pavlova... chocolate cake (with raspberries and raspberry sorbet)... the ne plus ultra of panacotta with jellied mulled wine glaze.... I know that's only four I've listed, but trust me it felt like five.
I did fairly well in the giftage this year. Everything I gave seemed to go down a treat, including a rave review of the scarf. My sister was gobsmacked that I had made something so beautiful (her words), which is high praise indeed. I received a few fab gifts, primarily knitting related; a wonderful ball winder (dirty?), some great books, some scrummy yarn. I see a Boxing Day spent winding some balls. How about you?
So, a nice Christmas. Fairly chilled out during the day, with a lovely social evening. Capped off afterwards with a major food coma and supine staring at The International Dancesport Championships (known as ballroom dancing by civilians) on tv from the comfort of my own couch. Just when you thought it couldn't get any gayer. (Someone tell the Pope, put a fatwa on Dancesport and save the world.) Now it's late and I'm watching a German comedy on tv, which is an über camp take off of Star Trek, with what appears to be an all gay crew. Plus the extremely nummy Til Schweiger.
At least, I think I am. It may be the result of that 4th dessert...
Anyhoo, I hope you all had a lovely day!
So. Thoughts on Christmas Day...
I love my friends. A huge dinner table for 20, or so, barely seats us all and that includes the inevitable absences. Friends who've moved overseas, interstate, or just have other plans. The rag tag bunch of us now includes many ankle biters underfoot, which has added a further dimension to Christmas. Oliver and I made the lion puzzle, the zebra puzzle, the elephant puzzle and of course the giraffe puzzle, then back through the cycle a couple of times more. At no point were giraffe legs combined with a lion head, frankly between the two of us we put the intelligent into intelligent design.
Not to mention that once the thorny issue of the difference between the words assume and presume reared its head, we couldn't let the issue die without an answer. In a nutshell, they are functionally the same except some of the secondary meanings differ. Perhaps I'm being assumptuous, but I presume you're as interested as we were.
The food. Oh, the food. The glorious, glorious food. Meaghan pulled out all the stops, with Christmas favourites like a huge leg of ham, and some new dishes such as a string bean and pomegranate salad dish that was to die. To. Die. Are five desserts too many? I think it was five. Pudding... pavlova... chocolate cake (with raspberries and raspberry sorbet)... the ne plus ultra of panacotta with jellied mulled wine glaze.... I know that's only four I've listed, but trust me it felt like five.
I did fairly well in the giftage this year. Everything I gave seemed to go down a treat, including a rave review of the scarf. My sister was gobsmacked that I had made something so beautiful (her words), which is high praise indeed. I received a few fab gifts, primarily knitting related; a wonderful ball winder (dirty?), some great books, some scrummy yarn. I see a Boxing Day spent winding some balls. How about you?
So, a nice Christmas. Fairly chilled out during the day, with a lovely social evening. Capped off afterwards with a major food coma and supine staring at The International Dancesport Championships (known as ballroom dancing by civilians) on tv from the comfort of my own couch. Just when you thought it couldn't get any gayer. (Someone tell the Pope, put a fatwa on Dancesport and save the world.) Now it's late and I'm watching a German comedy on tv, which is an über camp take off of Star Trek, with what appears to be an all gay crew. Plus the extremely nummy Til Schweiger.
At least, I think I am. It may be the result of that 4th dessert...
Anyhoo, I hope you all had a lovely day!
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Lychees
Hey you know what, it's Summer!
I can't believe tonight is going to be my first lychee feast of the year. Normally I treat myself to a little bag once they start to appear in the shops, even if they are ball tearingly expensive (as Mikey the lovely ex would say). I saw these tonight in the supermarket, and sure they're still $20 a kilo, but that's kind of reasonable. (I've paid a lot more, but what price that luscious, sweet pearlescent flesh?)
You know you're a photography tragic when your second thought is, shit I've got to get home now before the light fades because I have to photograph these! A similar train of thought that saw me pick up a pomegranate last week, and consider whether I wanted to pay $5 each for them just so I could photograph them first. I decided I didn't want to pay that much, but I regretted it afterwards. They would have made a great shot, and been great in a salad...
So here you have it. Shot minutes ago as the shadow's lengthened towards an early Summer's evening. I grabbed one of my favourite little Japanese plates and set this up on my table in the courtyard. I had to act fast not just because of the light, but because these little babies are destined for my belly.
I can't believe tonight is going to be my first lychee feast of the year. Normally I treat myself to a little bag once they start to appear in the shops, even if they are ball tearingly expensive (as Mikey the lovely ex would say). I saw these tonight in the supermarket, and sure they're still $20 a kilo, but that's kind of reasonable. (I've paid a lot more, but what price that luscious, sweet pearlescent flesh?)
You know you're a photography tragic when your second thought is, shit I've got to get home now before the light fades because I have to photograph these! A similar train of thought that saw me pick up a pomegranate last week, and consider whether I wanted to pay $5 each for them just so I could photograph them first. I decided I didn't want to pay that much, but I regretted it afterwards. They would have made a great shot, and been great in a salad...
So here you have it. Shot minutes ago as the shadow's lengthened towards an early Summer's evening. I grabbed one of my favourite little Japanese plates and set this up on my table in the courtyard. I had to act fast not just because of the light, but because these little babies are destined for my belly.
Friday, November 21, 2008
5 Things About Friday, 21st November: Gluttonous Edition
- I spent so much of yesterday working, it was like the biggest shock to the system. Today's plan is to be somewhat more temperate about this whole thing.
- Tall & Handsome and I went out for a truly fab Thai meal last, and frankly I still feel full. OMG, discovery of the week is the very reasonably priced and incredibly quaffable Wirra Wirra "Scrubby Rise" Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Voignier. The name doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but the flavour makes up for it. All the tropical fruit and citrus flavours of a Sauv Blanc with a bit softer finish from the Semillon and Voignier. Nom nom.
- Free Coffee Morning this morning! My local cafe gives you every 7th coffee purchase free, and I never tend to keep track of it myself, so it's like a present every time it happens! For me? You shouldn't have!
- I was going to add a point about the huge tin of spice biscuits that one of our suppliers gave us at work, but then I realised this was going to be waaaaay too much about food and beverages. Like giving the wrong impression that I'm a glutton. So I won't.
- So, um. Another point not about food. Well, isn't sex just like the best thing ever?
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