Killer Recipe: Sticky Date Slice with Caramel Sauce

OK, so I had to make this for Christmas Day dessert, and I lost the recipe... only finding it at the last minute, phew! But now I am typing it here, so I will never lose it again:

Sticky Date Slice with Caramel Sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar
60g butter, chopped
2 eggs
1 cup plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
200g fresh dates, pitted and chopped
1 tsp bicarb soda
1 1/4 cups boiling water

- Cream sugar and butter with electric mixer for 5-8min
- Add eggs, beat well
- Sift flour and baking powder, add to mixture
- Place dates in separate bowl with bicarb soda, pour over boiling water and stand for 1 min
- Then add date mixture to butter mixture, it will be very runny but this is fine
- Pour mixture into lamington tin lined with baking paper
- Bake in 180 degrees over for 30min or until springy
- Serve with caramel sauce

Caramel Sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar
100g butter, chopped
1/2 cup cream

- Melt butter and sugar over low heat
- Add cream and stil for 5min or until mixture thickens

From: Donna Hay Magazine, Issue 26, March/April 2006

yummy! Happy Christmas 2008!

And to another (completely different) subject...

I have been reading an awesome book called 'Seven Days in the Art World' by Sarah Thornton.

I am trying not to devour it whole in 2 days, but already I have many pages dogeared so I can write down some quotes, and that place is here. So... just in case I ever get round to attempting an MFA... or is writing down quotes an old habit, or...?

'Mary Kelly used to think it was depressing that so few students could sustain themselves as full time artists, but then she realized 'it is not sad at all. I believe in education for its own sake, because it is deeply humanizing. It is about being a fulfilled human being.'

'Criticality is a strategy for the production of knowledge, our view is that art should interrogate the social and cultural ideas of its time. Other places might want a work to produce pleasure or feelings. Criticality is the code word for a modelof art-making that foregrounds research and analysis rather than instincts and intuition.'

Christmas Booty

Well there ain't no cash bonus from the government when it comes to teaching but it is surely a wonderful time of year for all of us that are valued by their students and colleagues.
I ahem - work in an affluent suburb of Sydney, and I have been overwhelmed by wonderful gifts and handmade cards. Here is a sample of the booty! (Mainly so I don't forget about all of the beautiful things I have received, no particular order):

- Westfield voucher for $250
- Massive, massive bunch of flowers from Pearsons (Lilies, roses, lizzies, and something I will refer to as 'brain flowers.') !
- Bottle of Croser champagne
- Over 1kg of Ferrero Rocher chocolates in various forms
- A box of 'Lindt Selection' chocolates that is bigger than a dinner plate
- Simon Johnson truffle oil (awesome!!)
- Kiehls body products (was just running out of shower gel...)
- A beautiful bunch of delicate pink Dahlias from Summers floral, Woollahra (my favourite!)
- A turquoise butterfly brooch (these kids listen...)
- An amethyst bracelet (LOVE crystals)
- A new coffee cup
- A whole teaset (somewhere to put my cake as WELL?)

Plus a whole mound of cards saying lovely things that I can barely stand to read! One student even wrote me a three verse poem!

I am blessed, I am blessed. I keep wanting to sob!! How my life has changed (for the better) these last few years.]

Love and light, love and light. xx

The Interview Process, Public School Style

OK, so I went for a few DET NSW interviews.

This is what happens (and here are a few tips!)

- The interview day and time is non-negotiable. They tell YOU when they want to see you. Be ready, and say yes!!
- When you get to the interview, you have a further 10min to prepare. The office ladies will bring out a list of the questions that you will be asked. You are allowed to make notes. You have every right to be ask to sit in a quiet place or empty office to answer your questions. (sometimes the office staff are a bit clueless about this!)
- In the interview you will be infront of a panel of three people. Generally: the principal, a teacher at the school, and a parent/ union representative.
- Try and answer each question on three levels: One for the principal, one for the teacher, one for the parent / union rep.
- Generally, the interview will take 30min - 1 hour
- Generally, the panel will not divert from the questions given.
- At the end, they will ask something like: Is there anything else you would like to add? Try and finish it with a bang!!

I will talk about interview tips another time, but this is a general overview.

x

Addressing Position Criteria: Boy's Education

I will be having an interview tomorrow at a private boys school, and of course the words are there inside me...

But one must learn to harness the energy of the concepts in order to discuss it appropriately at interview...

So here are a few notes submitted to 'The Inquiry into Boy's Education' in 2000.

http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/edt/eofb/subs/sub65.pdf

Happy reading!

The DET job application process, so... what happens?!

I have been applying for permanent teaching positions at the jobs@det website for about 2 or 3 months. When I first started, it all seemed like a mystery!

At this stage of the game, only 10% of all available teaching jobs in NSW are advertised. The other 90% of jobs are given to that mysterious employment program that involves you being given a number and waiting for it to get to the top of the list. After teaching for 5 years, I need to say don't sit around and wait.

And although much of it remains mysterious (and I still don't have a permanent job) here is a rundown of (in my experience) what happens when you apply for a teaching job via the jobs@det website:

- You see the job on the jobs@det website. You apply.
- The three days after the due date are the important days. This, I believe, is when you are going to get an idea if you really are being considered for the job or not.
- If you are being considered, your references will be called before you are spoken to. They may let another day or two pass after speaking to references before they speak to you about interview or reject you.
- If you are rejected you will be sent an email.
- If you are not rejected, you will be called. I have found that most of these calls take place at lunchtime or after work (3-6:30pm.)
- If you are called to interview the interview will then normally take place in the following 3-5 days.

Lately I have been told that each advertised job is getting between 85-120 applications. You should feel very proud if you make it to interview!

Teacher shortage, huh?

Addressing Position Criteria: Gender Education Strategy

I have more job interviews to go to, and with that comes more reading...

Ever wondered where to find the official word on gender equity in NSW education?
These days it's called 'The Boys and Girls Education Strategy.'

http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/media/downloads/schoolsgender/learning/yrk12focusareas/gendered/yr2008/strategy.pdf

http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/learning/yrk12focusareas/gendered/index.php

I could make all sorts of comments about this, but I'll just leave it til I get a permanent job.

You just gotta know about this stuff for interviews.

Playing the waiting game

Playing the waiting in game in teaching ends up being more like a juggling game. And to be deeply honest about it, it also makes me sick!

I have been worrying about my 2009 job situation since coming back from holidays and starting Term 4 (as I have every year.) At that stage there is never much to do about it other than worry, it usually starts for me with a bit of interrupted sleep, and some negative scary thoughts that are easy to divert because life is too busy!!

This is paired with the very liberating thoughts of 'if I could do anything at work, what would it be?' And for me, it usually comes back to 'doing exactly the job I'm doing now, just better!'

And so my mind flips back and forth.

And then it gets more intense. It got particularly more intense for me last week because I found out on one day that infact my current job wasn't being continued next year (the first time since I began teaching 5 years ago.)

And then the very next day I went for a job interview that I really liked, and gulp, I'd really like to have the job - it's just that I haven't found out yet whether I was successful, one way or the other.

It's like my feet are in concrete, and my mind just can't rest!! I have trouble concentrating, sleeping, and focusing on any particular moment.

And in the meantime, do I apply for more jobs? Get my casual CV ready? I mean, I like to have all bases covered but this feels a bit ridiculous, the interview appeared to go really well.

So here I am juggling. My feelings are all up in the air and I'd love to see where they land. I am basically coming to a point where I feel very fatigued and exhausted from the ongoing struggle.

There is no headhunting for NSW teachers (ha ha!), no agent to act upon my behalf. I have to literally get in the car and get myself to the front desk of practically every school I'd like to work at - sort of a misuse of resources, because at many schools, the front office staff are not even the people who employ casuals, it's just to 'be seen making the effort.'

I hope I just find out soon about this permanent job - someone please put me out of my misery. I'm sort of embarrassed that so many people at my current work know about my current situation as well, and I'll feel a bit weird if I fail, it can be a pretty judgmental environment at times.

I don't normally air this sort of thing on my blog, but I put it here for a couple of reasons. Mainly, so I will be able to look back and laugh when everything is OK. Secondly, there are so many good teachers in my situation at this time of the year, and it's nice putting it out there, so nobody feels on their own in the midst of madness!

Killer Recipe

This recipe has now become a staple of our little household... enough to eat once a week and freeze the rest for the next... I have been cooking this for a few years... keep getting frightened I'll lose the recipe so now it's time to share...

Chilli Beef

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 chilli, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
250g or 500g mince (doesn't make a difference really!)
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
400g red kidney beans, rinsed
1 teaspoon ground coriander
salt and pepper
bocconcini cheese
boiled rice, bread to serve (preferably pita)

1. Cook onion, chilli, garlic in oil for 2 min
2. Add mince, cook for 5 min, drain off excess oil
3. Add tins of chopped tomatoes, kidney beans, ground coriander
4. Simmer as long as you like (5 minutes minimum)
5. Serve with rice and bread, garnish with bocconcini

From Donna Hay Issue 26 March/April 2006

Mark's favourite!!! xxx

"Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. That is why some people with mediocre talent, but with the inner drive, go much farther than people with vastly superior talent" --Sophia Loren

Addressing Position Criteria: Computer Coordinator

Many of the teaching jobs I have been applying for have been asking if I am able to 'support the computer coordinator.'

Sure... I think I've done bits and pieces, but if I'm asked in an interview, well, according to the NSW Department of Education, what is a school computer coordinator meant to be doing?

There doesn't seem to be anything official... but I found this!!

May help any position-seeking teachers...

http://www.waggad.det.nsw.edu.au/DO-Internet/technology/cc_role-statement.htm

Looking for a new job, NSW teacher style...

How can I write this without sounding jaded, whingey, and just good 'ol fed up? Oh that's right, I am actually all of the above, so you'll just have to put up with the tone, sorry.

In the world of work some of my friends are known as 'mid career' by now, some, are referred to as 'middle management' or even above that. They have company Amex cards, company cars, drinks on the office tab and the occasional gift or financial reward.

I am a temporary teacher. Who wants more. I simply want the security of an ongoing job with view to permanence.

It's that time of year again. I'm writing reports, finalising selective high school applications, attending meetings and parent interviews. Everybody is looking forward to Christmas, the holiday break. I've been congratulated for a good job well done this year. However I am staring into an abyss of uncertainty and potential unemployment. And it sucks.

So get off your bloomin' arse! You say...

And I have! I've applied for 11 permanent jobs in 2 weeks. Registered with two agencies, and have attempted to register with The Catholic Education Office (just need to find 2 university transcripts and a JP for that one...)

And haven't heard a single thing... except for one agency, who says to call back next year...

And I'm wilting. I love my current job, every term I feel even stronger and more able to develop my role. I love (most of) my colleagues, and am becoming more involved in external school activities as my confidence grows. My current school has done wonders for me, I know that.

And I know the drill with the 'NSW system,' no worries there. My current school does not owe me anything, if anything I owe them for everything they have done for me! Once I'm finally in a permanent job I'm set for life so I should just hang in there and put up with it! And isn't there a teacher shortage? (So that's why I hear about the 100+ applications received per advertised teaching position right now?)

But it's been 5 years of waiting, I'm over 30 now, and my friends are having kids. And why do my older colleagues insist on my 'doing time out in the country?! I had my name down for that for 3 years, and nothing happened... what am I doing wrong? Or is there something wrong with the system?

But in the meantime I'm worried about paying the rent... and that I will become a purposeless wandering ghost of a casual teacher... I got into all of this because I actually wanted a career, not just a job to fill in gaps...

So I'm spending each day afraid to check my phone, and if there's a missed call with a message, I cross my fingers and wish so tightly that it might just be about a job. But... so far it's just been mum, or the bank calling, and I'm really hoping it will change.

It's easy to feel like you're failing in the NSW Education System... you really do feel like you're stranded on an island sometimes, where communication is impossible or you are deemed irrelevant.

I don't expect a medal, but after 5 years of temporary teaching, even having the phone answered at the other end of The NSW Department of Education feels like a small victory.

When will I feel like I belong (to the system) and that I am making a contribution (to my career?) hmmphh.

In honour of my mate Leng, who does this most days, Today :-

I'm reading: Off the road - by Carolyn Cassady (yes, it's Kerouac related - reading because I'm bored and can't find anything else in this house of books at the moment)
I'm listening to: fleet foxes
I spoke to: many staff at David Jones Sydney because my bag kept setting off the security alarm
I watched: not much actually, a bit of The Bill on ABC1, also various ice addicts argue and generally scream on Macleay St Potts Point
Today's mantra: I will find a new job for 2009
Today's success: Getting the Christmas shopping done for people I work with (numerous and awkward, and certainly within a budget)
Today's challenge: Not buying whole new outfit from Saba or an antique ring, all sparkly, who am I kidding, I'd never buy that but they looked stunning!
What inspired me today: People exercising around the city, I'd love it to be me, I'm off to a great start!
Today's selfless act: lending my car to Mark so he can visit his mate Adam in Canberra (but hnestly, it didn't take that much effort!)
If i wasnt here, id be: well today, I'd be down the coast. Probably in Currarong, in the little house. Rain or shine, it would suit me, the silence and isolation, the crickets and wet grass... and Mark...

xx

The quest for the perfect morning routine

I was just going to compare my actual morning routine to something that (I believe is) is more ideal. But then when I read what I do in the morning, well I'm pretty happy with it! So I'll leave it at that. It's sure to get worse if I have to commute or have kids, so I can read this again in the future and I'll feel better. Anyway.

Actual:
Wake up at 7am to sound of Mark's phone alarm, which I attempt to refer to warmly as 'The Caribbean Man.' Snooze 2-4 times, depending on how long I want to cuddle Mark. Get up, and do things in this exact order (which I honestly believe, somewhere in my mind, optimizes my time. It probably doesn't.)
Switch kettle on, turn computer on. Go to the toilet. Apply deodorant and come back to kitchen to pour tea or coffee. Enter computer password as I am walking back past. Dress, brush teeth, come back to kitchen and put last night's washing up away while tea/coffee brews. Pour tea/coffee and drink in front of computer eating banana and reading news and trash. Rush around in circles a bit, maybe add some makeup, then leave.

When reporting, surprising things happen.

Today I was writing my school reports and something came to me quite suddenly - about three minutes later I had written a whole poem on my spell check sheet!... the joy of spontaneous writing, if only it would visit me more often.
I shouldn't ruin my poem with a long explanation, I suppose a tiny bit of my subconscious managed to spill over the rim of my psyche for a moment, and memories of me 15 years old are suddenly back. Not with nostalgia, mind you, it was what is was. I thought I should send it to my ex and facebook says I did not have permission to contact him - smirk. Here is the poem -

River.

Sometimes I think of the river
It’s low smell, three o’clock
The pooling of dank water
Warm, salt insects

Of the wind rushing my skirt, perched
That wouldn’t really touch me
The trees rushing by one colour
And silence I could see

The cool grit smell of evening
Inhaled smoke and bitter
The lights on mum’s car waiting
As grass cut at my feet

You wave and I still smell you
The stubble and the water
It was so sweet and salty, then.
My river time is through.

Happy Endings...

This afternoon I've had the grumps, getting ready to return home is a hassle and a half! Upon returning to New York the weather has heated up again and everything is sort of steamy too (not good when you are wearing the same stinky t-shirt two days in a row!)

We spent today finishing up on the shopping, buying the REAL touristy stuff and some other stuff along the way, much to my dismay (but not surprise) Mark has bought absolutely nothing other than books on the trip. But I have plenty of goodies, and look forward to unpacking my bag once I'm back in Sydney.

I started out on 5th Avenue at the Abercrombie & Fitch store. Jesus bloody Christ, I have never been inside a store quite like it, and sort of hope I never do again (the nudity, the assumed slave wages, the forced 'everybody's having a good time here!' feeling.)

Entering this store is like entering a nightclub. There is a shirtless guy at the entrance (were you can get photos) and once you are past the velvet rope the whole store is pumping with house music remixes. The staff are actually encouraged to dance and I found it very embarrassing, for both them and me! Inside it is DARK except for the stairs which are lit up in white, and as a result of this, i had no idea about the colour of the shirt I ended up buying! I'm also pretty sure I bought the wrong size! I'll just put it down to experience...

And then H&M, the land of the $24.95 fashion. If only I had the hours to try on a bit of everything, the H&M tops I bought in Europe in 2000 lasted me until 2 years ago! I can only pray H&M ends up in Australia sometime soon, it will shake up everyone else, that's for sure. Sportsgirl, watch out!

Then I picked up some really cool New York souvenirs at Fishs Eddy. I just hope it all stays together in my bag... I'm also concerned about the weight it is adding, fingers crossed.

We finished up the day with a smoothie at Pinkberry which is another something I have always wanted to try, I wish I could tell you it's not from reading Perez Hilton, but it is. Either way, it was damn good tasting and apparently pretty healthy, so cmon down under, Pinkberry!


mmm... Pinkberry!

And that's about the end of my New York story. I'm happy to say that Mark and I celebrate 18 months together today as well and it's been a wonderful trip. The two weeks was just enough, and New York will recommend itself to you, I don't have to bother.

Thx for reading my blog and I hope you enjoyed your little trip to the USA via the internets x

PS If you ever think of coming to New York, here are some humble observations and tips from me!

- Don't accept a ride from the airport from anybody! Wait in line for a cab yourself, or get the subway. You will get ripped (ask Mark...)

- This really is the land of the sneaker. I don't mean trainer, I mean the New Balance you have put aside for the gym. If not, flat shoes at the most, with a pair of thongs in your handbag for when the going gets tough (and it undoubtedly will, can't stress this enough!)

- The tipping thing is not that stressful. We did not have to tip nearly as much as what I imagined! Tipping is mainly for services, so if you do most things yourself, you wont have to tip (and even then, it's only a few dollars.) It seemed to me that haircuts and beauty treatments are where the heavy tipping really starts happening, but I avoided all that.

- New Yorkers in the most part are very friendly. Dare I say it, definitely more friendly than Sydneysiders from the Eastern Suburbs (yes, we need to take a lesson here.) In the end I had to smarten up a bit myself, start making eye contact with people and saying sorry etc. as I bumped or clumsied my way along the street. I have to say I am surprised at this one!

- Bring all prescriptions and over-the-counter medications you need, it really can become a nightmare in a snap if you are feeling unwell.

- Don't bother with the coffee or tea. Don't let a sign saying 'cappuccino' fool you either! I tried about three and all had burnt milk and no taste. If you can't beat em, join em. Just drink the American peculated coffee to wake up in the morning and be done with it. I even tried a flat white from an 'Australian Canteen' in Nolita and had no such luck. It doesn't work.

All the best x

Philadelphia and end of holiday melancholy...

Yesterday Mark and I rolled into Philadelphia, the weather was beautiful and it was rather sad to say goodbye to small-town USA... we drove for about 4 hours all told, even saw some beautiful covered bridges, and we couldn't have timed any better to see such a beautiful display of Autumn leaves as we drove along. I so badly wanted to stop in a small town called Lancaster to satisfy my new-found Amish fascination (apparently lots of Amish live there...) but we had to move on...

Then it was hello Philadelphia, or Phila, or Philly! We stayed at the local Holiday Inn which was a good choice as it was near the historical centre and we could have a good look around.

But Phila... wasn't my most favourite place in the trip. To get straight to the truth, it smelled like piss and quite often like sewerage, and within two blocks of stepping out of our hotel, we were asked for money.

Philadelpia is the sort of place that I believe would be ideal if I were 20 or so, wanting to go away for a weekend, see some great music, hang out in dark bars and get off into the drinking side of things etc. Might have been a good idea a few years back, but these days I find it just a bit too edgy for my liking, if not straight out confronting at times!

Mark and I went to South Street for dinner, it's sort of like a hepped up Newtown, and I tell you, if Philly has one thing going for it, it is ladies' accessory stores! Big gold earrings? check. Fake gucci scarf? check. Fluorescent sunglasses? check! Again, if I was around 22 I could have gone wild!


South Street, Philadelphia.

Mark and I went to see the Liberty Bell and the Georgian architecture in the area was also pretty impressive. It was unfortunate that we did not have so much time to get into the historical side of things properly, which could have thrown a different light on the whole Philadelphia experience.

We did however, make it to The Philadelphia Museum of Art, which may be a little more familiar to you than you may first think... because, this museum is featured in the 'Rocky' film where Sylvester Stallone runs up the stairs during training, punching the air! There is even a bronze statue of him out the front, and the museum itself is one of the largest in the USA, with whole rooms full of Renoirs, Motherwells, a beautiful case of Cornells, and a whole room of Twomblys. This museum has to be a great secret to international tourists like ourselves, the collection rivaled MOMA but there was nowhere near the crowding! There is also a Rodin Museum in the same area but we sadly did not have the time...


The Philadelphia Museum of Art - check out those stairs!

One highlight though was visiting the Reading Terminal, which was like a giant indoor farmer's market... and it had a few Amish stores! We ended up eating homemade blueberry Amish pancakes, $10 for two people. Wonderful! If there was anything like this near my place in Sydney I'd kill it!

We now have made it back to Hoboken in one piece, and we are staying in Tim and Fabienne's brand new place, which is actually set out much like the old one, just brand spanking new and shiny and a little closer to the action.

So now it's all setting in... the idea of getting on a plane for 22 hours and coming back to reality. arrghh! It really does set your mind off overtime, at times all sorts of stange thoughts and possibilities can take over! But just one moment at a time, easy come, and easy I will go...

xx

Falling Water!

I woke up with the alarm this morning because it is very dark in the mornings here! I woke Mark up, who is a bit sick (bronchitis?) and we headed to Mill Run, Pennsylvania to visit Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water House. It is actually located in an area called Ohiopyle State Park, like a National Park to us Australians.

A dream come true! Just that... Falling Water was another hour or so drive away from where we are staying, not good when our tour began at 8:45am. Mark valiantly rose to the challenge and got us there at 8:46am, not bad work! We booked the 'in-depth tour' which goes for two hours, and it really flew by, visiting Falling Water is a wonderful experience.


Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water.

Our tour guide Cara (also the education officer) took a small group of us around, and covered what I am sure is every aspect of the house; ranging from the history, to the artwork (Picassos, Rembrandts, Klees... and so much more) to the more structural architectural stuff. Falling Water really has been one of the highlights of our trip. I'm thinking that not many Aussies pass through either because they were pretty curious to see us there!

We were allowed inside the house as well as outside, which was a real treat as the interiors were awesome, and still relevant today! (If you just drop by and purchase regular admission, they will not let you in the house itself.) The visit really was comprehensive without becoming overbearing, by informed and passionate staff who were obviously motivated by so many aspects of the property overall. I cannot recommend a visit highly enough. Oh, how I'd love a job there!

So, moving on. What is it like being in small town America? Well, it's sort of like what you see on TV! After Falling Water Mark and I decided to visit a Diner for breakfast, when we walked in there were three guys in full hunting regalia sitting there... and behind us were a couple talking to some sort of broker about the possibility of having their farmland drilled for gas! There was a jukebox on every table, country music played, and the food was horrible and greasy.

When you ask for a cup of tea a hot cup of water comes out and you have to put the bag in yourself. All of the milk is that long-life stuff in tiny containers, and the cheese is a funny colour (sort of orange and plastic.) Besides diners, there isn't really many family run businesses in towns like these, no Thai or Indian places, everything is part of a chain or a big brand. It is true that people are generally 'bigger' out this way, but it really isn't too different to looking at suburban Australians.

At the moment everyone is getting ready for Halloween. We have passed lots of Pumpkin shops and stands by the road and lots of houses are getting decorated, they look really cool! I'm just amazed that people wouldn't come by and trash the decorations, or steal the pumpkins, but this doesn't seem to be the case. I'm pretty sure we'd have lots of problems with this in Oz.

There are only white people here, which seems odd. People say hi to you on the street, or in the supermarket. Everyone is very helpful and 'you're welcome' about everything, and people will strike up random conversations with you as you stare at a stand of postcards or select which ice cream you want.

I'm not really sure what people do here. There are lots of churches and apparently the town was founded upon coal and then continued to grow with the railroads. There is no more coal so it appears many people work in the service industry for mostly minimum wages. I think they are trying to encourage tourism, you can ski near here in winter and 'outdoor activities' like mountain biking are encouraged. Yes there are trailers here! On top of the hill there are wind farms, but if anything it contributes to the eerie tranquility of this place. Yeah, that's it! Eerie tranquility!

Well, I might go off for a walk soon to take it all in one more time before leaving tomorrow - Philadelphia tomorrow!

xxox

Hello Pennsylvania!

This morning Mark and I caught a bouncy cab to Newark Airport and picked up our hire car. One cool thing about New York cabs is that they now have touch screen TVs in the back! You can watch whatever you want, as well as find out about real estate, news, etc. etc. Unfortunately the smaller car we had booked did not come with GPS, so we had to upgrade, to a Hyundai Santa Fe.

Another thing I have to say is hire cars are damn expensive for visitors to the USA! The car itself only cost us US$15 per day, but the rest of the charges were over US$150 per day! But the car is nice and big and comfy, just the way Americans like it.

I visited my first ever diner for breakfast, the Readington Diner in New Jersey. Hey, I like Diners!! I had this excellent pan grill thing which was scrambled eggs with some other things mixed through it, like onions, potatoes and sausage. It was really good! And the service was personal. In conclusion, I'm all for diners.

We drove for about 5 hours down a non-descript but uncrowded freeway, and the last hour of the drive was glorious, with all the Autumn (Fall) colours, but we were a little too tired to enjoy it! We saw lots of McCain Palin signs and were disheartened, also a sign saying 'Wind energy costs us more money!' Welcome to small-town America.

But we are glad to be here! We are staying in a gorgeous Mansion, called the Levi Deal Mansion. This house is a dream come true. We are in a huge room with a whirlpool (spa), double basins, a huge bed and separate sitting area. It is very relaxing and there is even a guest kitchen with free wine and brownies! So far, I don't even know how they are making a profit...


The Levi Deal Mansion.

Meyersdale Pennsylvania is a small quaint town of about 2500 people with a railway running through it. We arrived on a Sunday, so nothing is open, and when we drove through the main street I saw a couple driving a horse and cart! I thought it was a tourist thing, but then I realised... these were Amish people!! I'm still totally fascinated and keep playing it over in my head.

So glad to be having a rest, sending love xxx

The Sopranos Tour of New York!

We sat here today!

This morning Mark and I took advantage of a quiet sleep in and headed up to the garment district for a 4 hour tour of Sopranos locations, a great activity to break up a trip to New York!

We visited sites from the opening credits as well as popular locations from the 6-part series, we also met the actor who played 'Vito,' who was busy flogging merchandise to us from the boot of his car.

We drove past Pizzaland, which is shown in the opening sequence, and they'll even fedex you one of their pizzas! (Not sure how it would taste once it makes it to Australia...)

One highlight was a visit to Holstein's Diner, where the very last scene of The Sopranos was filmed. We also got a chance to sample their famous Onion Rings and get a photo taken in the booth Tony was sitting in when it all ended. Too bad the man I asked to take our photo took a hopeless shot where you see nothing except for our faces!

Did you know that HBO made approximately $1 billion from The Sopranos? The tour also had great trivia and tips, and answered all of Mark's tricky production questions without skipping a beat.

It was great to have a chance to see small town New Jersey, and the day ended with a real-live visit to Tony Soprano's Strip Club 'Bada-Bing!' The funny part is it is actually an operating strip club called 'Satin Dolls,' and it was open for business, and full of clientele when we were there! We watched the girls dance on the poles and bought merchandise from the back storeroom, before heading back to Manhattan.

If you are a fan of The Sopranos and you make it to New York, I really recommend the tour! You can look at the tours here - they also do The Sex in the City tours of New York as well.

Since coming to New York, we have found all of these resources that I wish we had seen when we were back in Sydney planning! So I am going to plonk them down here, so they don't get lost again.
- I LOVE NEW YORK The official New York State Tourism Website. I particularly love the daily 'foliage report' for Fall, that will tell you where the leaves are changing colour.
- Time Out New York if I had followed Time Out more closely before arriving I would have realised that Nick Cave and Beck amongst others were playing while I was here, and I could have organised tickets, bummer.
- And as I have said before, book early. Hotel rooms don't get cheaper, they simply get booked out. Last-minute deals don't seem to be the flavour of the month here.

That's all for now, we leave New York for Pennsylvania tomorrow, we have to go to Newark to pick up our car first thing. It will be so sad to say goodbye, New York is my kind of city for so many reasons!

xx

Moving house, Columbia University & Wall Street

Today we woke up with a shock because the removalists had arrived! Not ours, but the removalists for Tim and Fabienne. It was also time for us to leave Hoboken, so we packed up pretty quickly and gave everyone some room to get on with the task. Luckily Tim had actually paid a crew to help with the move, moving is a nightmare for anyone, but with big heavy furniture and no car it was bound to otherwise end in tears. The apartment was fairly bouncing with New Jersey accents and I could have stayed to listen to their stories, I kept thinking 'what nice and kind people, I've never met such friendly removalists!' and then Mark reminded me that they were expecting a big tip at the end of the job, probably 20-25% of the cost... I think I'd rather have a gruff Australian who did the job silently and expected nothing at the end!

Then I stumbled and said 'Thanks for the good job boys, there's a six pack of beer in the fridge for you!' Mark's face turned a little blue and he took me around the corner to quickly tell me nobody calls anyone 'boy' in America etc. etc. due to the past (i.e. slavery) and inside I crumpled...by the time I came back out they had gone and I had no chance to apologise... I'm still feeling terrible just typing it...

The day commenced at a pretty low point, it then got even lower when I got stuck in the turnstile at the PATH (train) station with my huge suitcase at morning peak hour. I then had to actually crawl under the turnstile on my hands and knees towards Mark's disapproving face which made me feel incredibly embarrassed and self conscious. It is true, the services at different subway and train stations really vary which can make it very difficult to navigate - some stations will have lifts and escalators, others will not even have a turnstile for prams or disabled people (or clumsy 30 year old lady with suitcase.) There was nothing else I really could do at the time, but it was both exhausting and exasperating!

We dropped off our bags at our lovely hotel called The Gild Hall, which is in lower Manhattan, a block away from Wall Street. I cannot begin to tell you how expensive hotels are in New York, and furthermore, even if you are paying top dollar, you are not necessarily getting the standard you would expect for the outlay. Luckily I found The Gild Hall for basically half price on travelocity.com, but once taxes are paid and currency conversions are done it would still add up to being the most expensive hotel I have probably ever stayed in. There are really not that many cost effective options in Manhattan, we looked at The Larchmont and The Cosmopolitan, but unfortunately left it way too late to book!


The Gild Hall.

That said, The Gild Hall is lovely lovely lovely. We are on the 16th floor, resting on a real queen size bed for the first time in a week, with Frette robes and a tartan woolly blanket. There is an iPod docking station, free wifi in our room and a flatscreen TV. Our room's size is as big as any hotel room in any city, so we are not cramming ourselves in. With the blinds shut it doesn't feel like New York at all, it's quiet, comfortable and exactly what we needed after walking for one week straight. We are both falling apart a bit both physically and mentally, so this is a great place to relax and recollect before our next adventure!

After dropping our bags off this morning we caught the subway up to the Upper West Side to have a walk around and take in the sites. We walked across Central Park (which is fine, but I don't seem to love it nearly as much as any New-Yorker) and up towards Columbia University. On the way we saw the outside of 'Tom's Restaurant' from Seinfeld and checked out some bookstores. Tired and dragging my feet, we walked up to Morningside Park and took in the lovely view of Harlem. I would recommend this walk, and Columbia University sure is wonderful! I felt like sitting down and commencing an independent and absorbing task immediately upon walking through, oh to have the time and money to continue one's study!!

On the way back to the hotel I accidentally came across a shop I had badly wanted to visit, called Anthropologie. If there is a brand that could define me, this would be it! Mark had to leave me there to look around, and eventually I found the sale section and something I could afford. I was really glad to tick that off my list, I'm glad I saw it before I had to leave, it didn't disappoint!

Now I am back in the hotel room, feet throbbing, tired but happy. I can hardly wait to sleep tonite after (gratefully) sleeping on the equivalent of a plank for a week! Bring on the comfy times!!

xox

The Guggenheim (almost!) Galerie Neue, Greenwich Village and a trip to the Pharmacy.

Let me start by saying that I woke up feeling a little unwell this morning. The wild goose chase that followed made me feel even more anxious and unwell, and made me want to bow down and worship at the feet of Medicare Australia and our wonderful health system!

I sat down and found the nearest pharmacy on the internet (which was at the local supermarket) and thought I could simply go along and get my over-the-counter medicine, no worries. This was not the case at all!! I went to the pharmacist and explained my problem, and although she was kind and concerned, she could not give me the medicine I needed! I won't divulge my health situation, but believe you me, it's an over the counter exercise in Oz, and untreated, I would remain very very uncomfortable for the rest of the trip. She told me my best shot was to visit an Emergency Room, or to somehow find a doctor, which is usually via recommendation by a current patient on the books (these is no such thing as a medical centre here.) The whole situation was laughable!

Defeated, I came home and had a cry in the kitchen, then looked up the internet to see if there was any way possible to get some medication prescription-free. I found a list on the internet, wrote it down in my little notebook, then headed out to the local drug store. Long story short, the lovely Jewish pharmacist found the medication I needed and had it delivered to his pharmacy for me this afternoon! I have never felt more grateful in my life!! All thanks to the internet, because the pharmacist had never even heard of the medication brand I needed! Phew!! The lesson here: bring every drug you need with you. Try and think of every possible situation! I had NO IDEA it would be this difficult. Thank God I eventually got the help I needed!!

Anyway, moving on from embarrassing personal health matters, Mark and I decided today was the day to visit The Guggenheim, only to arrive and find it is shut on Thursdays!! We were still impressed with the building though, we are just not sure that we will have time to go back now, so are a little unhappy about it. However, we were lucky enough to visit The Neue Galerie which is a small and impeccable space dedicated to German and Austrian Art and the sucessionist movement. We saw works by Klimt, Kokoschka, and Schiele amongst others, as well as a collection of furniture and design from the 1890s-1940s. The gallery housed an impressive bookstore and a very cosy wood-paneled cafe. I definitely recommend it!


The Neue Galerie

We strolled back down to Little Korea (32nd Street) and had our weekly fill of Bulgogi and BiBimBap, (little Korea is much nicer than Chinatown) and then walked back towards Greenwich Village, our main purpose being to visit The Magnolia Bakery to sample a red velvet cupcake. The aroma of baking filled the air even a block away from the store, and we waited in line for about 5 minutes before going in. Once inside, people were snatching cupcakes everywhere, I thought I was going to miss out! But a whole fresh lot was delivered from the kitchen and I got to try three different flavours, and yes the red velvet. What is red velvet cake? I have never seen it in Sydney. It tasted just like a red-coloured buttercake to me, and when I got back home and looked up recipes I was disappointed to discover it is in fact, exactly that - a light buttercake made with buttermilk, with a little cocoa and red food colouring added. It still tasted great! But the red colour... well, it's not from anything particularly exotic.


Magnolia Bakery!


This is a red velvet cupcake!

We also bought some takeaways and brought them home for our hosts Tim and Fabienne, who are currently in the throes of moving house. Today is our last night in Hoboken, tomorrow we are going to stay in Manhattan for two nights, before heading off on our road trip!

And I have to add, I'm getting used to the walking, now I actually WANT to walk which is a great feeling, and could walk way further than I could just 5 days ago... yeah...!

More news soon, lots of love xxx

Greenwich & East Villages, Ground Zero...

Today Mark and I had a lovely day wandering around Greenwich Village and East Village, Nolita, Chinatown, skimming the edge of Little Italy and across to Ground Zero. We finished the day eating ice cream in Battery Park, took in the view of The Statue of Liberty, and ran back to the subway dodging serious drops of rain!

The walking around this part of New York is much easier on the feet, you don't feel as compelled to rush, and the trees are green and shady, many of them giving shelter to squirrels (my new friends, why oh why weren't they ever introduced to Australia?)

First stop today was St Marks Bookshop where Mark studied the shelves and I bought a few postcards. This whole area is infact suited to more of a local style of living, where I felt more like an onlooker than a direct participant. I spent lots of the day staring into shop windows and reading menus taped inside windows, you can only eat so many times per day! I found (what I think is) my favourite street so far, it's called Orchard Street. It is the perfect collection of small shops, restaurants, slightly off-beat designers and discount stores. I have since read they close the whole street every Sunday to have markets, now that would be AWESOME! But I wont be here on Sunday, so I'll have to keep on dreaming...

We then walked through Nolita (looks like another great place for food, oh, how I would like to be taken out on dates here!) and through Chinatown, where all I wanted to do was wash my hands and vomit. Chinatown here is not only huge, it really is filthy and the smells were so bad it put me off the idea of food, or even breathing really. I am open minded but after smelling those smells I have no idea how you could just pop into a shop for a bowl of noodles. It did look like there were lots of jewelery stores here though, but I'm in no hurry.

We kept walking and found ourselves at Ground Zero, it's everything you expect and you feel even worse. I looked up and saw a poster of lost fireman in the disaster and felt my throat close, I didn't go into the museum at all because I knew I'd become a mess. Instead Mark and I went to Wintergarden where we could take in the view from 2 storeys up and get a few photos. I won't go on about the tragedy but I WILL for a moment. Just the feeling you get from being there, reflecting on the hatred and loss of life, the fear, the courage, the valor of those involved... it all sounds so old-fashioned but this was real and you could feel it. The challenge and drudgery of being involved in the rebuild, going to work everyday knowing that underneath your feet there is such a recent history of mass suffering and misery... my heart really felt it.

And we finished out day at Battery Park, eating ice-cream and walking South to catch the ferry back to Hoboken. If you don't have time to catch a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, Battery Park is the place. It's a lovely walk and there are lots of quiet spots to sit down and take in the view. Only it started to rain so we had to run back towards the subway instead! I'm glad to say I'm finally becoming more familiar with the subway and how it all works and little pieces of New York are starting to fit together, making it a little less puzzling.

Still happy to say there's so much more to do, days and days of it, and there will be lots we miss out on. But today has been another excellent day, it's been such a happy adventure!

The Plaza Hotel and...

My love affair with New York was off to (a bit of) a slow start, but yesterday I fell head over heels and had a magnificent, wonderful, fabulous day!

Mark and I decided to have a bit of a rest day because our feet were not holding out too well, even with the help of some Badger Foot Balm I was still feeling like the little mermaid must of when she walked on dry land. We visited the local post office and while trying to find it stumbled upon some excellent views of Manhattan from the local college on the banks of the Hudson River, I saw my first frat house, and imagined what it would be like to be an all-expenses-paid blond college student with a VW, a self-obsession and eating disorder (lots here!)


The Plaza Hotel.

It has been very hot and I was dreading coming back home to change into my dress to wear to the Plaza Hotel, where we had booked a High Tea. We managed to get to 59th Street, my composure still in tact, and sat down in The Palm Court Restaurant and enjoyed three courses of tiny delights, complemented with French champagne. If you'd like to treat yourself, this is an amazing New York experience. Scones hot out of the oven, miniature sandwiches which ooze exotic flavour, and sweet treats that taste like little clouds of exquisite-ness, all at a price much more reasonable than one would expect! (Well, cheaper than the US$850 a night for a room!) Not to mention the location, which over the years has had guests including F Scott Fitzgerald and The Beatles. The history!


Yes, we ate HERE!

Slightly tipsy from the (one glass of) champagne and drunk from the atmosphere, we walked out onto 5th Avenue where we visited FAO Schwartz and the creepy baby nursery, with it's very own matron, and the build-your-own hot wheels car station. I needed to visit a bathroom and stumbled into Bergdorf Goodman and Good golly! My head just started spinning at the possibilities here. Not the potential purchases, just at the fact that a place like this would even exist in this world! While trying to find the bathrooms I traversed through some of the most beautiful rooms full of some of the most divine designer goods I have ever laid eyes upon. Suddenly my fake Max Mara coat and Witchery dress was not enough. I was greeted constantly with 'How you doin?' and 'Can I help you dear?' People stepped out to serve me in a symphony, and all I was doing was looking for a bathroom! I ended up in the basement, in a pink tiled confection, with free product samples everywhere and a very thoughtful 'ladies sitting room.' If I ever come into money, I promise that you will find me back here, with a personal shopper in tow.

After dragging Mark back in to look at the diamond watches we walked down 5th Avenue and into Saks, where he had to hold my hand to stop me from buying a cream Marc Jacobs Bag, lined in purple fabric, with a big gold frog charm on it with gleaming ruby eyes. We took the express elevator to the shoe floor where the first pair of shoes I picked up (a pair of tan Chanel riding boots) was US$1350. Somewhere around there my bubble burst and I knew it wasn't worth teasing myself any longer, at some point I would surely give in to these worldly delights! So we walked through Rockerfeller Plaza bound for the The Broadhurst Theatre to see the play Equus, with Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths.


Yes, I saw his willy!

The play was nothing short of amazing in my humble opinion, and an excellent career move for Daniel Radcliffe, who pulled off his (very difficult) role most convincingly. I believe the other main character, Martin Dysart, played by Richard Griffiths is just as crucial in the success of the play and I am still thinking about it all today. Being in New York really has been a one-off opportunity to see a production such as this and I rue Sydney's distance from this source of quality and exciting entertainment!

I came back home happy and exhausted, a bit of a sparkle in my eye. I really could do the very same thing all over again today, and tomorrow, in fact, every day for a month! For fear of American immigration reading this, I shouldn't say it, but I now understand why people come to America, and STAY.

x

The Empire State and...

Today we woke up and the sun was streaming in through the windows, so the first thing I thought was "Let's go to The Empire State Building!" Mark and I headed across and for the first time since arriving, Manhattan felt more like I was expecting, I even felt a wee bit excited!

That was until we joined the queue to go into The Empire State. And then the queue went into another room, and another, and they were renovating, and we chose to climb 6 flights of stairs to skip another 20min wait, and my jeans were falling down, and then suddenly, we were there!!

What an awesome sight, I kept thinking of all the people over the years who would have stood on that very platform. A cool breeze was blowing and the light was fairly bouncing off The Chrysler Building. Some brave soul had managed to get their child up there in a pram and could not move in the crowd. Other people were kissing, or marking their names on the bricks, or (over) posing for photos. I'm glad we did it; if you go to New York, I would put it down for one of the first things to do as it really gives you a sense of the enormity of the area (before you kill your feet pounding its pavements.) And buy your tickets first on the internet! It gave us a 5 minute advantage in the queue, and believe me, every minute counts.

Then the inevitable occurred - I started shopping. I was really pleased I had held off this long but I basically couldn't stand it any longer and went to a few places like Banana Republic, Gap, and Loft. Really pleased I did, because they still had end of summer racks and I didn't purchase a thing over $50. We ate lunch at Macys and then I went to Victoria's Secret and they measured me up and I bought some requested items for my sister. This store is AWESOME, just everything about it, you could never expect anything like it in Oz. From the level of service to product knowledge and efficiency of paying and packing and getting the hell out of there... suddenly, even after shopping in Europe, do I understand what this is all about.

We walked up to Columbus Circle which is sort of the closest thing to an actual 'mall' in New York where shops are close together, I think by the time we got there we were all tuckered out, and it was time to head back to Hoboken again! One good clue about Columbus Circle is there is a huge Wholefoods store in the basement that sells little picnic packs to take over to Central Park (which is opposite) and enjoy there. I am hoping to do it later in the week, particularly if the weather stays like this (sunny warm with easy cool breeze.)

Today Mark and I also got ripped off! We were on the corner of 33rd and Broadway, walking along with all the people, when some black guys all kitted out in hip hop gear approached us, waving CD demos in our face. At first it was free, and then it was a donation, then before you know it they are signing your name on it, then asking for a minimum of $10!! Mark and I just laughed it off, but there was a whole group of about 20 of these guys, spread out in the crowd doing this to lots of tourists and other unassuming people! People were arguing everywhere, some were very red in the face and indignant. I'm glad we didn't let it get us down, it was a pretty ridiculous situation... and could surely only happen in the US!

Some random thoughts and observations about New York so far:
- Fashion is non existent until night time (and I don't really go out.) The whole weekend seems like one extended gym session for most women here, and they seem to get around in gym gear and running shoes most of the time (I don't mean street wear, I mean actual gym gear.) I guess that saves alot of stress about 'what to wear!'
- Women here actually wear alot of make up though, and often quite badly, mostly while wearing above mentioned gym gear. Doesn't always look so good...
- People are generally more friendly than I first guessed, lots of 'sorrys' and 'excuse mes' when you get bumped on the subway or somebody dashes past on the street. I will put it out there and say i definitely find New Yorkers more friendly than Londoners.
- Clothes sizing is much the same as Australia, I am a 12 there and a 12 here. I think all of that size 0 bullshit etc. is for Asian chicks or the many neurotic New Yorkers who walk all day then obsess over dinner in the aisles at Wholefoods before actually eating... nothing (all after yet another 2 hour gym session.)
- There are lines everywhere but they are always moving, patience, patience.
- Ladies, be prepared to see leggings, and more leggings on a street near you, for like, the next 2 years.

Well that was my day! I'm quite excited about tomorrow as we are going to The Plaza Hotel for High Tea, then off to see Daniel Radcliffe in Equus... this is the life!

Mush love xxx

New Yawk

Good Morning New York!

It's day 2 for me here and I'm up typing because I've been struck with jetlag, not that bad though because I managed to sleep until 6:30am. Alot of people get up at 6:30am, just that it is Sunday here and awful quiet.

I'm not staying in Manhattan, I'm staying in Hoboken New Jersey with Mark's brother Tim and his girlfriend Fabienne. Up until now the only thing I knew about Hoboken was how much I enjoyed the Homer Hudson icecream, 'Hoboken Crunch.' Hoboken reminds me alot of Pyrmont in Sydney, lots of rebuilding and middle class white couples wandering around, we are in a two bedroom apartment about 10 blocks from the water and the 'PATH' (the train to Manhattan.) To live and rent here is almost exactly the same price as East Sydney, about US$400 per week for a one bedroom. Interesting!

So far I find New York... comfortable (as long as you have the money to make it that way!) I did not think that would be how I would describe New York at all, but I don't really find it awkward, or challenging, or really that confronting.

Yesterday we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and I immediately started singing Rufus Wainwright's song 'The Art Teacher' in my head, but I did not see any of the artworks mentioned in his song. Instead Mark and I saw a great Morandi exhibition and I generally longed for my early twenties again where all of this stuff could have fed directly into my study. (Then I spent lots of time imagining I was a kid in New York and visiting The Met was a common and normal thing to do.)

We walked across Central Park and saw the squirrels running around and zig zagged back down 5th, Lexington, and Madison Aves. There were lots of unhappy faces inside the designer stores, probably due to all of the recent financial troubles in New York - they were all empty! I must add that now most of these stores are just about anywhere around the world, including airports and internets, they are not nearly as impressive or exciting. If anything it all looked a little bit stupid, and there certainly weren't any Carrie Bradshaws swanning about. Not a pair of platform high heels or a giant-flowered lapel in sight, phew!

It's been hot and muggy here both days so far, and there is sort of a fog over the city. Apparently there is a hurricane off the coast, and New York feels more like Asia, hot and muggy. It has rained on and off and I'm dying to feel just the slightest breeze. There is alot of aircon around but it just doesn't feel like it's cooling anything down, and the subways are steaming! Up on the road steam is rising and pouring out of manholes and pipes, it feels as though underneath the city is bubbling away, a giant pot of dirty soup. For some reason it reminds me of Loreal and Maybelline commercials, where a lady always seems to be running across the street away from a yellow cab in New York, smiling and applying lipstick. Go figure!

The people here are, well, even out on the edge of the city this place is full of people who don't live here! My ear is constantly straining to hear an accent, but instead I hear French, or Russian, or even Australian accents (yes, there seems to be more of us here than you would expect.) Living in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs and Inner West has given me a thick enough skin so being ignored or spoken down to doesn't really crack me up. A lady at the subway gave me a dressing down yesterday because Mark lost his ticket and I came back through the gates to help him - then my ticket wouldn't work when I tried to get back through. Apparently you can only use your subway ticket once every 20 minutes, point being? I don't know. Although it was obvious I was not a local I just stood there and shrugged, waited for her to finish. I smiled at the end because it was actually interesting to hear someone talk in real life like they would in the audience of an American talk show - she was very to the point and forceful!

The food here is awesome. It's not what I expected at all, I thought it was all Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks. Yesterday we had breakfast at an amazing store called Garden of Eden which was basically any organic store you could imagine on steroids. Fresh fruit and vegetables are everywhere, and we even stumbled on a Farmer's Market in Union Square yesterday. Paying people in tips means that service is excellent and you are never forgotten. I feel like slapping Sydney waitstaff over the hand now I see how it works here. Last night we went up to a local grill and gig venue called Maxwells, nothing showy, $30 for two people including a giant margherita! The food was fresh, fast, and friendly. The night before we ate at a great Mexican restaurant called Charritos. It was possibly the best Mexican I have ever had! That said, I'm still thinking I might get some donuts today, or something like that, you have to try everything once!

Today we are going to walk less and subway more, there is a Kirchner exhibit on at MOMA and we might try the Guggenheim as well. I haven't really been shopping yet, but plan to make Monday a shopping day as more of the smaller stores will be open. Later in the week we are going to stay in Manhattan for a few days while Tim and Fabienne move house. It has been hard deciding where we will stay as everything is so expensive, but we feel a bit beyond hostels, it' hard to make a decision about what to spend when you will hardly be there, hmmm.

Well, time to go and make a cup of tea, it's nicer making it here at home and then I'll catch up on my facebook scrabble games while I wait for Sunday to happen. Hopefully by tomorrow, my (very mild) jetlag will be over!!

PS No photos yet but I'll add them later

x

Quote

"When you raise a god instead of a child, you're bound to be serving him for the rest of your days." Mama Day.

Bexley North

This is the house my Mum grew up in at Bexley North.
We were driving past the other day and thought it would be a good moment to get a photo, she reckons that barely anything has changed!

Paperplanes...

This is Ben and Jesse, two men I'd aspire to be more like, if I were a man.


We went to pub trivia this week, this is Steve throwing his paper plane outside of East Village.



Steve tests his plane...


Deep inside, Mark knows his was the winner (and it was...)

A now and again thing.

Dear Blog,

I'm sorry I have been neglecting you but it doesn't seem that much is happening for me these days, well, nothing with much drama attached to it! I'm putting it down to being in my thirties, and besides, a calmer life certainly reduces my past anxieties...

I still think of you often and when I see or think of things that are worthy of you I promise to let you know.

Here are some recent photos that say more about what I have been up to.

Love from Laura xx
*


Before the recent school holidays one of my Year 5 students won an Art Competition! This is her artwork here, it is called 'Spirit Summoner.' It made me very proud, sometimes it really feels like teaching pays off.


This is a photo of another student of mine. Excuse me, this is just an awesome photo.


I went up to Brisbane for my holidays. I am still not sure what I think of it overall, but I really liked going on the ferry, it would be a great way to commute. I took this photo of a pedestrian bridge and it made me think of everyone's comings and goings. hmmm.


This is a photo of my mate Rebecca Olive (R) and her friend Erin (L). Rebecca is the reason I went to Brisbane, and will be the reason why I would go back! Both Bec and Erin are doing their Phds in Cultural Studies at The University of Queensland, I like Erin because she is a teacher as well and it's always nice to compare notes with other teachers.


The other reason I went to Brisbane was to see the Picasso exhibition. It was well worth it! It would be certainly be a great weekend away if you can get some cheap fares (which you can.) http://www.qag.qld.gov.au/home Check it out!


And who would ever guess that Brisbane is all about baked eggs? They are available EVERYWHERE! I ate this plate at Anouk
in Paddington, Brisbane.


And this is a Witchery store in Paddington, Brisbane!


We found a Campos coffee shop in 'The Valley,' and these were the fans inside. I could only imagine the pain of a Brisbane Summer!


I think this picture sums up how I traditionally felt about Brisbane perfectly. Nobody could enjoy a packet of Jim Beam chips like a Queenslander!


A local antique light store, I bought a great tea canister there that (I reckon) would be about 6 times the price in Newtown!


At night Bec and I cooked at home, drank wine, and lit candles...


And this cat is called Thug. He lived at Bec's house, he liked to come inside and complain about not having enough food.


Overall, I don't love Brisbane, but I think my fondness is growing!


When I came back from Brisbane I went to visit my niece Lily. We had morning tea for one whole side of our family. It was nice to catch up with everybody, and of course Lily was star of the show!


My second cousin Tara was minding a little kitten, and of course Lily and kitten became fast friends. Cute!

Killer Recipe!

I live in fear of losing this one, so i am plonking it down here so I can find it when I need to!

Sausage and Bean Soup

1 tablespoon of olive oil
4 pork sausages, sliced (I use Italian sausages)
1 brown onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 teaspoon thyme
4 cups chicken stock
2 x cans of white cannellini beans (rinsed and drained)
150g green beans, trimmed and cut in half
1 ripe tomato, chopped
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Heat oil in large pot and cook sausages for 2min
reduce heat, add onion, garlic and thyme and cook for 3min
Add stock and bring to the boil
reduce heat and add vegies, cook for 3min
mix in balsamic vinegar and tomato, serve.

(I also add any chopped vegetables on hand, the one that I ate most recently had carrots, potato and zucchini in it)

Adapted from: Donna Hay Magazine, issue 28, July/August 2006

I am addicted to this soup!

"I have known fear and the terrors of solitude. I have known those fair-weather friends we call tranquilizers and drugs. I have known the prison of depression and the confinement of hospital. But one day, I was able to come through all of that, dazzled yet sober."

RIP Yves Saint Laurent

Teacher on holidays

Only a few days to go and I'm back in the classroom! Do I say it with joy or dread? I'm not sure yet but one thing I do know is that I have slowed down considerably and it's been a wonderful break. The rainy weather has helped as well - lots of reasons to hide under the covers!!

Well what have I been up to? Good news is that Mark has had holidays as well and we have been enjoying each other's company, not one single argument! It's been lovely reading and cooking, walking slowly up the street and browsing in the shops. Visiting friends, catching up with family, not rushing!

I did some of the awkward things as well such as pay the bills and clean out the wardrobe. I found better credit card rates and scrubbed the bathroom. Bought a bunch of flowers for myself each week and enjoyed the views from my windows.

I finally saw the film 'no country for old men' and the very wonderful 'the squid and the whale.' The cockies came and stole my kid's science experiments from my window sill and Mark went for a helicopter ride organised by my dad, lucky thing!


Scary Scary man from No Country for Old Men.


I think this is my new favourite film! Click on the picture for a review...

And of course we went down the coast for a few days, it rained the whole time but we drove around looking at all the surrounding towns such as Hyams beach, Huskisson and Calalla Beach. We relaxed and enjoyed the silence and warm house. Eventually we will be able to go down there when we can swim and enjoy the sun, I'm sure!

Do teachers have too many holidays? It's something I've often thought about. Teachers don't honestly like talking about it, and I'd be crazy to ever say we actually have too much... but I can tell you a few things about what I think... well..

By the time I went on holidays this term I can honestly say that if I heard even one more "Miss Richards!" I would come close to losing my sanity. It was by all means time for a break!

And the work does come home... I have spent a few days attending to marking and planning. I would be more than pleased to actually do this at work, if work was actually well equipped with decent facilities. I wont go on and on about it, but not much looks different in a classroom from when I was at school as a student, and the world has leaped forward since then!

I also see the holidays as a substitute for higher pay and time-in-lieu. I was back at camp in the last week in Term 1, and it really is quite an ordeal for a teacher. It's 72 hours straight of supervision, at times tiring and stressful. It's not exactly a business class flight and 5 star hotel!

So yes, in the most part, I think teachers need the holiday!

It's been a great break! After this there are some photos of the zoo when Mark and I visited recently...


Let's start with something Australian, shall we?


Who does this remind you of?!




Dinner time!


We all gotta eat somehow!


We both got to meet the elephants, which was the highlight of my day.


Another happy couple we met!

I HEART: Chai, my new gumboots, the fact that cheap candles work just as well as the expensive ones, celebrating one year with Mark, tulips, puddles, lounges and blankets, Tani and Cesar's wedding!

I DON'T HEART: Those silly printed hoodies that look like vomit, naughty cockatoos, umbrellas with holes in them, dry skin, overbitten nails.

Hope to hear your own news soon! x

Tani and Cesar get married!

Yesterday I had the joy in seeing one of my oldest friends again... and also to be present at her sister's wedding! Tania Van Der Water became Mrs Tania Bassee (need to check the spelling) - what a beautiful day!


Everything was black and white... and once inside the venue it felt like you were in a fairyland!


Tania looked gorgeous in her white confection...


And the back looked special too!


Cesar arrived on time...


And everyone felt a little nervous!


Michelle was last to get ready...


And the whole family sparkled!


Here comes the bride!


It was hard to get photos inside because it was so dark, but here is one of the happy bride and groom.


Three beautiful bridesmaids...


Everyone enjoyed the day, especially the cocktail bar and Argentine BBQ!


It was such a happy and special day.

Lots of love and light to Tani and Cesar... and see you again soon Michi!!

x