Drop in with Laura

Killer Recipe: Capsicum Toffee Cream Cheese

2011-12-26T14:11:00.001+11:00

So I made this for my family Christmas table, it really is a once-a-year thing (for me) but it is cheap to make and truly delicious! I was a little nervous because I was given the recipe by word of mouth, but I was very lucky it worked out even better than expected! Very versatile, you could easily substitute ingredients to suit taste or occasion.

INGREDIENTS
2 x blocks of philadelphia cream cheese
1 x cup malt vinegar
1 x cup brown sugar
1 x cup of water
1 x red capsicum, sliced
sprinkle of chilli flakes (optional)
pinch of fresh rosemary (optional)
handful of dried cranberries (optional, I added because it was Christmas)

METHOD
- Arrange cream cheese in a dish (the aim is for it to sort of look like a log)
- If you are adding anything extra (I added dried cranberries this time,) place them on top and around the cheese.
- Place sugar, vinegar, water in a saucepan, bring to boil.
- It should be a rolling boil all over, not too fast, not too small or slow, stir frequently.
- Add sliced capsicum, stir.
- Boil for 20-40min until liquid reduces and starts to become sticky
- Test regularly by drizzling a little bit on a cold plate, after 30sec you should see whether it is becoming 'sticky and sauce-like' or if it needs more time on the stove.
- When liquid reaches desired consistency, pour over cream cheese.
- Leave to set, can be stored in refrigerator but is best served at room temperature.

Best made on the day you plan on serving it, make sure you include a spoon as well as a cheese knife to serve!

New Orleans, New Awlins

2011-10-19T12:24:00.010+11:00

Here goes, my first ever blog post from an iPad! Guess I'll finish it off on Mark's laptop later, we are finishing off our last night in New Orleans and what a relaxing and beautiful way to (almost) end a fantastic and successful holiday!

The drive from Houston to New Orleans was pretty tiring, it took about seven hours all up and we left at 7am. It was a smooth ride until we were about 4 miles out of New Orleans, where we simultaneously hit a freeway closure and our GPS decided to direct us around in circles while we searched for our car return. Although our comfy car was air-conditioned, the sun was beating down and we were hungry, sustaining on a bag of trail mix and water - the very thought of another stop at a fast food restaurant turned my stomach (and it really is fried chicken, shrimp, crawfish over here, you get over it after you have eaten it... once). We managed to hold it together but were fairly out of words by the time we managed to return our car at New Orleans airport!

The cab ride from the airport to our accommodation was great because in New Orleans it's a flat rate! Our cab driver was also very helpful and let us prebook our ride back to the airport on Wednesday, boxes were already ticked there. We decided to stay in a Bed and Breakfast in New Orleans and made an excellent choice in a restored Southern-style house called Ashtons. We immediately felt better than right at home, with cake and cookies waiting for us, along with two friendly cats (Boots and Leon) and pretty much the best shower I have ever had!

Our room, which was called 'Jazz Festival' - check out the bed!

We had an antique bed that I had to climb up a little step to get into, and finally, a blessing for us both - a room with a ceiling fan for us to sleep under! The friendly advice of our host Patrick (along with amazing breakfasts) ensured we packed as much as possible into our three day stay.

It's true that New Orleans is really special, I didn't arrive expecting anything (hmm I'm a bit stuck for adjectives) but it's sort of like a melding of Brunswick Street (Melbourne), Byron Bay and Newtown - all the best bits of course!

The weather was about 31-34 degrees and it was definitely beer and margarita heat! We spent a great deal of our time walking around the French Quarter, which was pretty rowdy on the first day we arrived (a Sunday) as the New Orleans Saints were playing a game. One of many good things about New Orleans is there doesn't seem to be such a separation between locals and tourists. It's more that they are inviting you into their world a little, and you can go ahead and enjoy how you please.

New Orleans is colourful and musical and boozy and sure at times can be a little tacky, but there is a strange sense of earthiness and community and acceptance as well. It's definitely the place I would live if I were stuck in my 21 year old body, it's cheeky and idealistic and slightly melodramatic! I would love to visit regularly if I lived in LA or San Francisco, anywhere in the USA actually, there is just a sense of real here, the brand names and chain stores are missing and there is a live band playing in practically every bar along Bourbon Street, even midweek daytime, promise!

So we spent one of our days doing a self-guided walk through the 'Garden District' and Magazine Street where we walked around gawking at huge Southern Mansions, including those of John Goodman (bought from Trent Reznor!), Anne Rice and Nicholas Cage. We beat the heat by having ice cream at Sucre and greeting the local pussycats who were sunning themselves outside of local houses and stores.

Honey Island Swamp.

Today we did another walk in our local (more 'Creole') area up 'The Esplanade' past the Degas House to the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) then rushed back home to go on a Honey Island Swamp Tour. Who'd ever think we would be so excited about watching some alligators? It was great learning about the local wildlife and 'swamp life' - there are still people living along the swamp crabbing for a living and getting on with ahem, a pretty redneck type of existence! We also learned a few things first hand about Hurricane Katrina which was fairly confronting. There certainly is a resilience amongst the people here and most we have came into contact with have bounced back fairly well.

We finished off our stay with trashy cable TV in bed ('Extreme Couponing!') and cups of tea after a final shower in the best shower in the world. Our early flight means a 5am start and we are not looking forward to it!

Now back to LA for the long journey home...

Bigger than Texas!

2011-10-18T10:35:00.022+11:00

After an all-too-short stay with Michelle in LA (more on that later), we boarded our flight for San Antonio to start off the Texas leg of our trip. San Antonio - what a pleasant surprise! We picked up our second hire car at the airport and headed to Hotel Havana, an oasis and one of the most impressive hotels we have stayed in, suited us right down to the ground. Photos just don't do it any justice, but a visit to the website will give you a better feel for it. It just had a lovely sense of space with large airy rooms, hardwood floors and crisp linen - not to mention the most covetable fridge in the world! (to me, anyway).

Hotel Havana, San Antonio.

Our room opened right out onto a beautiful balcony.

Our hire car, a Lincoln MKT. Huge!

San Antonio would be the perfect long weekend away - if we lived in LA or San Francisco. It's a rather flat city with a tourist precinct built along a river. The element that connects downtown San Antonio is a thoroughfare called the 'Riverwalk' and it is gorgeous; more like a European canal. We saw lots of ducks and water birds, squirrels and even a turtle as we were walking along!

The San Antonio Riverwalk. (Sorry about the dark photo of Mark, it's all I have!)

Hotel Havana was located about 5 minutes walk from all of the action, and I must admit the tourist area (which is something I usually avoid) is really attractive and amenable. We only had 24 hours in San Antonio so we visited the San Antonio Museum of Art and The Alamo, not before visiting the local IMAX theatre to watch the story of The Alamo (seems this is a sacred moment in American history but like parts of Australian history, it's sort of questionable!)

The Alamo.

The rather odd but very enjoyable Mi Tierra restaurant - open 24 hours per day since 1941!

We also visited the landmark restaurant, Mi Tierra. The only way of describing this restaurant is by saying the interior felt like living inside a Christmas tree! If I were a child this would surely be my favourite restaurant in the world. We enjoyed gigantic helpings of food and a mariachi band played us a 'happy' Mexican song, which was the song from the 'One Tonne Rodeo' Holden ad a few years back. We fairly rolled right out of there and tried to walk it off...shame that this part of America is all about driving!

A surprise for us both was that San Antonio had it's own 'Market Square' or 'El Mercado.' It was sort of an indoor Mexican Market with lots of stalls selling all of the touristy stuff... just that Mexican touristy stuff is sooo good! We stocked up on a few embroidered shirts and platters and I'm glad we did because we didn't see anything similar elsewhere in Texas.

The beautiful Ocho.

Mark sets up office.

Before leaving the following morning, we ate the most beautiful meal at the hotel cafe, Ocho. This has to be one of my favourite meals of this trip, Mark and I sat up above the river in a glass conservatory-style room, shaded by magnolia trees and palm fronds. I had some fantastic 'huevos ranchero' which was a 'little' plate of scrambled eggs, grilled banana, chorizo patty, tortilla and refried beans. The cool breeze blew in and we considered the drive ahead. I think we were both a little disappointed to leave San Antonio so soon!

It was an easy 3 hour drive to Houston where we had some more family-type stuff to do. My attempts at eating there were rather unsuccessful and we ended up at Wholefoods (a sort of upscale supermarket, Sydney needs a few!) for two meals because I was seriously feeling a lack of nutrition!

The Rothko Chapel for those of all beliefs and denominations.

The Cy Twombly Gallery.

The most pleasant surprise with Houston was The Menil Collection - which is a group of art museums funded by a very, very wealthy family which includes the Rothko Chapel and Cy Twombly Gallery. This was special and evoked some emotion, particularly the large rooms of Twomblys! But driving around all the time in Houston evoked a different type of emotion. The hot weather and long periods on the road (even in our comfy car) meant I sort of felt stale for much of the time, even though we stayed in the very nice Hotel Magnolia.

The Hotel Magnolia, Houston.

We wound up our trip to Texas with a 7 hour drive to New Orleans, but more on that later :)

love, Big Sur.

2011-10-07T15:09:00.009+11:00

Part of the Big Sur coast.

This morning Mark & I woke up to the sound of raindrops and wondered if our trip south to Big Sur and The Henry Miller Library would be worth it. What an adventure! And completely worthwhile it was...now I truly feel as though we are on holiday.

We set out in the pelting rain, and in Mark's words: "It was bucketing down - interesting drive along the coast when you can't see a foot in front of you, you're driving on the wrong side of the road, & the drop to the right is a few hundred feet." I was just glad that I was not at the wheel...

The Henry Miller Library.

In the cloud and torrential rain the view really looked no different to the Sydney coastline. But upon arriving at the library we were welcomed by the sight of a little wooden lodge? cabin? and once we were safely inside we were surrounded by books, posters, memorabilia, a few guys on macs happily typing away on the free wi-fi. Everything was sort of cosy and interesting - not to mention meeting a very friendly pussycat who was hopping from lap to lap saying hello!

Inside The Henry Miller Library.

Fortified, we stepped back out to the car and on to the famous Big Sur Bakery for lunch. I gasped appreciatively at the sight of a real coffee machine, and we feasted on turkey noodle soup and peach pastries. This was the closest I have eaten to Sydney food and I say that in an entirely complimentary way, especially after trying Dennys for the first time yesterday! After finishing lunch, the sun came out, and we thoroughly enjoyed our drive back to Monterey, this part of the world is gorgeous in a pretty special way!

So, what's so special about Big Sur? I can't exactly say. There is very little information available on what it is exactly, but it is basically one road that runs between the forest and the ocean for about 30 miles? - and it offers the best of both worlds. There are a handful of very expensive resorts but other than that there are a few campgrounds and not very much in the way of tourist attractions. Which leads me to the very reason that people go - to experience the natural environment in the first person, I guess! I really hope one day Mark and I can return and hike around, and without sounding too trite, to simply enjoy nature, and maybe enjoy one of the famous concerts held on the grass outside The Henry Miller Library, such as those given recently buy The Arcade Fire and Thurston Moore!

Schoolhouse at Big Sur.

Monterey.

2011-10-06T11:30:00.013+11:00

Monterey's famed 'Cannery Row.' Sort of sad they fished out the entire place in 20 years and everything had to shut down. (Whoops, sorry to start sounding negative!)

Yesterday we bid goodbye to San Francisco and started our trip down Highway 1 to LA. We are giving ourselves 5 days to do it which has turned out to be an excellent idea, we have slowed ourselves down considerably and we have more time to put our feet up and enjoy the moments between bursts of activity. The slower end-of-summer pace here certainly soothes the nerves and the coastal landscape actually looks quite similar (so far) to that between Stanwell Park - Wollongong in Sydney, not sure what I was expecting, but sort of surprised about that!

Monterey.

The most unexpected thing I thought I'd say at this point is our Youth Hostel is outstanding! After the shock of a bunkbed sleeping arrangement in San Francisco we are actually now in a room that is mostly UNDERGOUND! So at first... this was not that pleasing but it was certainly not enough to ruin our mood or our day or anything. But the service here has been just so friendly - free home cooked pancakes and waffles for beakfast, where they tell you to sit down while THEY COOK, big comfy lounges with footrests (sort of like a business class airline seat!), shared food etc. all in the 'YHA spirit,' now this place has got soul and I'm really glad we are staying here. We are just a block or two from Cannery row, and the tourist advice here from the front desk has been spot on every time, even re-selling us an aquarium ticket used by another family earlier in the day for half price - now that's service!

So, why Monterey? Well, from what Mark and I can gather this is a pretty pristine 'tourist town' between San Francisco and LA. It seems pretty wealthy and set up for visitors to enjoy, with a few tourist trap restaurants and attractions along the way (but nothing too tacky). It's sort of like a 'Bowral by the sea' - somewhere where people come to get married or wealthy retirees come to enjoy a weekend. There are sea birds and fresh air, and at certain times of the year, whales and seals (I'm sad they're not here at the moment though!)

The John Steinbeck Center.

The Steinbeck House.

Today we went to the National Steinbeck Center & House in a little town called Salinas (which we are told, is a fairly 'typical' Californian town). We visited the John Steinbeck exhibit (of course) and I guess I'll be re-reading some of his texts in the coming months. It's great that these things exist, and there is an audience to support it!

Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Jellyfish at the aquarium.

We finished up today at the Monterey Bay Aquarium which has been awesome, awesome. We watched sea otters, a great white shark, seahorses, jellyfish, you name it! If I were a local I'd return again and again. Such a lovely way to spend the afternoon, there is no way you could pass this by if you were to visit Monterey!

On the way home we had to stop to buy some bananas (24c each!) at of all places... Target! It was in one of those huge industrial estates where they just seem to sell EVERYTHING, it was novel, that's for sure! Of course I also looked at the Missoni for Target range and there were only 3-4 remnants left overall, and a big sign saying 'this is all that is currently available.' Oh well, just a week or two late I guess!

Tomorrow we continue our literary path with a visit to the Henry Miller Library, and maybe we will squeeze in a bike ride if there is time... there are lovely bike tracks here and everything seems relatively flat!

Fort Mason, Golden Gate Park, Alcatraz, Friends and Anniversaries!

2011-10-04T16:51:00.013+11:00

Skyline of San Francisco from the Alcatraz Ferry.

So Sunday was our first Wedding Anniversary, and we woke up with big plans... to walk the Golden Gate bridge! I'm not sure what happened (maybe it was the bunkbed sleeping situation) but we were sort of over-optimistic about how far we could walk after some pretty heavy walking the two days previous.

Mark takes a break on our bunk at the Downtown YHA.

Fort Mason Park.

We didn't EXACTLY head out in the wrong direction but it became clear pretty early we weren't going to make the distance in good spirits. We did instead, however take a rather lovely walk along Fort Mason and through the very well kept neighbourhood of Pacific Heights, which ended up being quite enjoyable in itself. Oh, and if I ever have money drop on me from the sky I'd like an apartment at 3665 Scott Street please, you can look that up on google maps if you feel curious :)

Palace of Fine Arts.

The De Young Museum.

We visited the rather extraordinary and monolithic Palace of Fine Arts (once used to house telephone books!) and then caught a cab over to Golden Gate Park to visit the De Young Museum. First, there is no way I could do justice to just how good the viewing platform is in this museum. Second, Golden Gate Park is just so vibrant and beautiful, and if I ever return I'd be attempting to do and see more there. In the short time we were passing through we saw rock 'n roll dancing, a big brass band and segway tours, we didn't have the time to properly take much of it in at all. So many people were sunning themselves on the grass with friends or riding around on a bike, I just got the feeling that this might as well be a place for me if I return.

Happy first wedding Anniversary to us!

We finished the day with a pretty special anniversary dinner at a restaurant called Aziza, recommended to us by our San Franciscan friend Deb. Well, I could get more used to dinners like this! We had meatballs and grilled grapes on skewers, de-boned chicken wings and the most wonderful grilled flatbreads with home made spreads. Not as expensive as Sydney, I even enjoyed a few glasses of wine and we came in under $150, not bad at all for something attempting to be a little more special. We even managed to hold prolonged conversation after hanging out for four days straight, so a gold star for both Mark and myself!

Alcatraz.

Today we hopped on the ferry to take the quintessential tour of Alcatraz. Sort of dragging our feet at the idea of doing something overly 'touristy,' this was all rather well-organised and efficient, it ended up being informative and enjoyable! We boarded the ferry and took the 10min ride to the island, where we took an excellent audio tour of the buildings and learned about the history in some more detail. It ended up being one of the highlights of my San Francisco stay, so by all means do it if you visit.

We finished off our day visiting our San Franciscan (is that how you put it?) friend Deb, who we met in our Sydney yoga class earlier this year (she was visiting Sydney for work and was disciplined enough to find a local yoga class!) She kindly invited us to one of her 'weekly barbeques' that she holds at her house in Mountain View. It was raining, so about 7 of us ended up around the kitchen table eating home made apple pie made from the tree in her backyard! Funnily enough, this has ended my visit to San Francisco perfectly. Even though attractions, fancy food and shopping can be dazzling, good conversation and friendship is what makes these experiences truly satisfying. Quite a few people at the table had either been to/are going to Australia and gobbled up the Tim Tams I brought along. I also knew once and for all I was in Silicon Valley, sitting at a table with 2 x googlers, an aeronautical engineer, a robotics engineer, a network security specialist and a drama teacher (ha! San Francisco!)

We leave San Francisco in the morning for Monterey, giving our tired feet and stretched wallets a bit of a rest as we hit the road for a few days of driving. It has been a little rainy and San Francisco city is now full of corporate visitors for a Java/Oracle conference, so it definitely feels like our time has come to leave.

I hope to be able to pass on some more news from the road!

Farmers Market, Shopping, The Mission (sort of)

2011-10-02T15:47:00.012+11:00

Hey, glad you enjoyed my first San Francisco blog post! Tonight I type to you from our nook in the Downtown YHA, there is no TV here so computer time rules. I need to confess now I made a pretty terrible mistake today... we cheerfully checked out of our rather lovely hotel to slum it for a few days, and we weren't too concerned because I had managed to book a private room and all... and then we turned up to check in... and it IS a private bedroom... just with a BUNKBED! Not to mention it's our first wedding anniversary tomorrow, so umm, it's not exactly the most romantic situation you could find yourself in! At the moment Mark is wedged in opposite me between the wall and the bunkbed ladder... not quite what we were imagining, but we will just have to make the best of it for a few days! Sort of hilarious really, and nostalgic for Mark, apparently he has stayed at this very hostel in his younger years :)

San Francisco Farmers Market.

Mark at the Farmers Market.

This morning we woke up and headed down to the famous San Francisco Farmers Market in the Ferry Building, as this is apparently what local people do on Saturdays. I'd like to say it would be a very enjoyable thing for somebody who enjoys waiting in lines, I actually found very little pleasure in the whole experience and would prefer a trip to Bangalow anytime, now that's a relaxing and memorable Farmers Market experience!

First I need to point out that despite hearing to the contrary, good coffee is still a major problem in the USA, this unfortunately includes San Francisco. Even more disappointing is that tea here as we know it is virtually non existent! So there is this one brand of coffee called Bluebottle that everyone goes crazy about. I have been holding off for days because I have heard the lines are frustrating, and is only served in a handful of cafes in San Fran, but today I could no longer wait. I joined the queue down at the Farmers Market and it took me 25 minutes to get my first decent (but not the best I've tasted) USA coffee. I'm sort of confused that this is happening and if I ever have to do anything entrepreneurial in the USA I would be setting up a damn coffee cart every two blocks, it's obvious this place is more than ready for it!

The produce itself at the Farmers Market looked wonderful and if I were a local person I'd surely come down for a weekly fill, we bought a nice tourist photo off an artist and had a good walk around on the pier. All of the produce was very cheap compared to Australia ($1.50 for 3 bananas!), its just a shame we currently have no use for fresh food. So after taking in the sights we walked back up the hill past an anti-corporate demonstration stopping for lunch at La Boulange. Although the USA is full of food to eat I do recommend this place if you're at least making some effort at eating healthy, the salad is actually fresh and crisp and there is a fairly wide range to choose from. Let's face it, America is carbohydrate central, it seems lunch basically translates as 'a trip to the bakery.' But La Boulange, although a bakery, offers some other satisfying stuff as well.

La Boulange.

Anti-corporate demonstration.

After heading back to discover our new 'bunkhouse style' living situation we headed back to the shops for some retail therapy. Wont bore you too much other to say I bought a year's worth of Victoria's Secret bras for about A$120 (unheard of) and Mark bought a new lime green swatch watch :) I pretty much bought a bag full from my (almost) favourite store Anthropologie and will probably make another hack at the credit card in their LA premises. For the Sydney ladies I'll also let you know I saw stock in Zara that is currently sitting on the racks in their Sydney store so they are staying true to their word about distributing their current range widely.

Mexican is Mark's favourite so we headed back into town for dinner at a 'nice' Mexican restaurant called 'Tropisueno' ($8 margheritas!) where i can't seem to get enough of the enchiladas. After that we decided to take the BART to 'The Mission' for some ice cream at the famous Humphry Slocombe ice cream parlour. This is a must do trip! If I were younger, I may like to say, frequent a few of the bars in the area! And the food smells yummy and authentic, murals painted all over the street, everything a little edgy, I'd go as far as saying this is a 'must do' in San Francisco. I had pumpkin 5-spice ice cream (Halloween is coming!) and Mark had milk chocolate malt, YUM!

Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream.

So what about the little day to day differences in San Francisco? What do I see here?
- You definitely need to stand to the right on escalators, and just in general. There are however, many people that just take up the whole escalator :)
- When you hear funny whistles in the street (sort of like a recorder) it's just a hotel concierge trying to call out for a cab.
- If you are riding a bike and would like to take it on a bus, there is a bike rack on the FRONT of the bus where you can store it! The whole bus has to wait for you to get it up there and locked in, I could just never imagine that going down in Sydney.
- Women here love wearing makeup, it seems everyone has a full face on!
- Ladies love to wear the skirt and boot combo, I feel like I am in a mid 1990s video clip, floral skirts (even CULOTTES!) with boots BOOTS!

Store your bike on the front of the bus!

And before I go, some fashion forecasts for the ladies! (All Winter stock is coming in here now...)
- Cardigans Cardigans, knit only, waterfall style or open at the front. These are EVERYWHERE and it's tiring to see!
- Cropped navy military style jackets with brass buttons, cute, I wouldn't mind one of these
- 'Shrunken' knits (sometimes cabled and consisting of a few different colours) which are sort of fun but I'll have to hit the gym hard to feel completely comfy in this one
- Wedge boots, more of a 'lace up at the front' style in a beige or light grey, suede
- Leggings (still) but they are looking increasingly less appropriate and more suburban, I wouldnt say the legging has much further to go
- Jeans are getting wider, or are staying skinny but are getting colourful (yay, something new!)
- Heavy rim glasses (well I dont have bad eyes so I have nothing to say about this!)

So that's my day in San Francisco, my bunkmate is saying he wants to switch off the light shortly so I'd better do the right thing! Tomorrow we are off to walk the Golden Gate Bridge to celebrate our first wedding anniversary, so special!! x

Heart in San Francisco

2011-10-01T10:24:00.017+10:00

Hello from San Francisco!

I've been here 2 days already and the time has just flown, mainly due to the mixture of familiarity, discovery and jet lag! The flight was long, and changing planes in the last 2 hours in LA left me almost delirious.. the jet lag has bitten me pretty hard this time and I was awake for a good part of last night, as well as 'napping' today during the Australian night time.

So... what is San Francisco like? What is going on here?
Hotel Rex

Mark and I are staying at the Hotel Rex which is just a block and a half walk from Union Square (the equivalent of Pitt Street Mall.) It's just enough to be in the heart of things, but also a little away from it all. Hotels here are surprisingly expensive... and also pretty rickety and old. So we are staying here for 3 nights, then we are heading tomorrow for the Downtown YHA (a bargain private room) for another 3 days to save a few dollars. I would honestly recommend The Rex to anybody thinking about coming to San Francisco, the whole hotel has a 'book theme' and I'm currently drinking my free daily glass of red wine from their library bar. It's lovely coming back each afternoon to a freshly made up room and the staff here are warm and friendly.

So far, I sort of feel like I'm sort of in Sydney and sort of in Brisbane! Driving in from the airport it felt like Brisbane... but it's obviously not! San Fran certainly lacks the intensity (and self importance) of Sydney and is much more laid back and less self conscious. Clothing is very casual and people are generally more chatty (hard for someone like me who is used to generally ignoring anybody's attempt at eye contact after 4 years in the Eastern suburbs!)

Of course San Fran is a shopping mecca for Australians and Aussie accents can be heard everywhere. It's nice shopping in a Zara store that doesn't look like it's been completely ransacked and customer service, like in New York a few years back, is excellent. I wouldn't say San Fran is entirely as efficient as New York in this sense but it certainly is easier work having help in changerooms and at registers, it makes it all easier spending my hard earned dollars!

Maiden Lane.

I would recommend a walk down Maiden Lane once you are jaded by Westfield and big brand surrounds, sure alot of it is very expensive, but it certainly has a nice feel and is a bit outside of the ordinary. I'm thinking about buying some ballet flats from London Sole in the next few days because they are virtually half the price as they are in Australia.

The Bourbon and Branch.

Food? Well I'm pretty difficult to please because we are lucky to have best of the best in our part of Sydney. We have eaten some good food, sure, but nothing completely stand out. I attempted to get Mark drinking last night at The Bourbon and Branch without much success, but I'd definitely recommend this bar to anyone attempting to impress. It's basically themed around a speak easy and you can't get in without a booking and 'password' at the door. It's dark and rather seductive inside, and the quality of cocktails is second to none, and apparently 'expensive' at $11 (HELLO Sydney prices!) so I had a rather lovely time drinking my cocktail and most of Marks before hitting the pavement again at 7pm.

We are going to the famous Farmer's Market tomorrow and also a 'recommended restaurant' on Sunday so I'll see how we go with the food... one thing for sure is the Mexican is a standout and I can't wait to enjoy more of it!

The Haight - famous for it's 'painted lady' houses.

The row of houses from TV Show 'Full House' - Where's Uncle Joey & Uncle Jesse?

Today we went for a massive walk through The Haight and Golden Gate Park. We were gone for most of the day and had lovely weather to walk around in. We ate breakfast in Kate's Kitchen and I have to say this was the most 'normal' tasting meal I've had so far, even though they served fries with breakfast. My stomach was very thankful about that!

We walked up Haight Street (which is pretty much a hybrid of King Street Newtown and Byron Bay) and Mark took me to the Grateful Dead House. It was a nice walk with lots of colourful things along the way (sometimes a little tense feeling around Fillmore St) and it's something I'd certainly recommend doing.

Japanese Tea Garden.

We ended up in Golden Gate Park, which is basically a bigger and greener version of Sydney's Centennial Park, I could certainly imagine being a regular here if I lived nearby. We visited the Japanese Tea Garden where we found an excellent tea house which was tranquil and calm with a few squirrels hopping about, at least until I had my sunglasses stolen! Despite this frustration, I'd definitely recommend it to any visitor, besides, my lenses were very scratched so their karma has already come back upon them as far as I'm concerned!

So overall, we are really pleased to be in San Francisco. It also makes me feel very fortunate to be living in Sydney, where there are far fewer homeless people, and things are generally newer, cleaner and hip, I guess. Sydney HAS arrived. Don't worry I'm not going to take out my flag and start waving it around yet, but we certainly have it good!

Hello Honeymoon Bali!

2010-10-06T10:33:00.014+11:00

After a wedding day that flew right by, we flew out to Bali as husband and wife for what was supposed to be a 'mini honeymoon,' except I'm not sure that mini is exactly the right way to describe it so far!

With months of planning behind us I was almost reluctant to set out on this trip - I wasn't sure if Mark would like Bali, I didn't know if we would get good value for money, or if the weather would be any good. As it turns out, we have have come at an excellent time (just outside of the high season), it has been sunny and thirty degrees every day and our villa has been well, beyond luxurious belief.

Arriving at Denpasar airport was a bit of a shock to the system, but provides excellent material for a film set. People herd themselves every which way beneath hopeless ceiling fans slicing thick air, families sweat in long queues and argue over money exchange and 'being ripped off.' A gamelan (a sort of Indonesian xylophone) plucks away in the background, grating and jangling tired and uncertain nerves.

All of the 'new airport security equipment' (eye and fingerprint devices) were on display but were not being used, and our immigration official bopped away to music coming from his mobile phone while he moved at a snails pace processing passports. Mark diligently attempted to declare goods at customs but the line was so long and disorganised that people were just being waved through in any which line by security; my suitcase went through an x-ray machine that was seemingly being watched by nobody. But then we were through and our honeymoon could begin!

Our driver was waiting to take us to 'Villa Air,' where we had booked a one-bedroom villa for three nights. We had our own private pool and gardens, a 4 poster bed with chiffon curtains, a spa bath, double basins and a waterfall in our (outdoor) bathroom as well as an outdoor kitchen and lounge, all covered by a big bali hut. I tell you, it's going to hurt leaving! (Which we are doing, today.) Every day we have had a 90 minute spa treatment, as well as afternoon tea and breakfast served to us in our villa. Spoiled!

Our villa living area (yes, that's our pool in the background!)

Our bedroom (with outdoor bathroom through the doors.)

Our beautiful outdoor bathroom (oh how I hope to have double basins in real life one day!)

The next day we went on a 6 hour tour with a driver and unfortunately I was pretty carsick for a lot of the time. We went to a monkey park where they climbed all over us and we got photos, a beautiful temple (still dont really understand temples) and a big rice paddy field - the Tegallalang Rice Terrace? (which was absolutely gorgeous but I was pretty much vomiting by this stage so couldn't really enjoy it). Then we visited the Agro Wisata Coffee Farm where I got to try the famous 'luwak?' coffee (you know, the one where the beans pass through the animal first.) Needless to say, Mark was disgusted.

Part of me really wanted to 'get into town' to see everything however I'm glad we let our driver take us to these different places because once we did go into the shopping district I was pretty confronted and disappointed.

That night we ate at 'Sarong' restaurant, apparently one of the best in Bali, and I laughed once I read the chef is ex-Jimmy Liks and Longrain in Sydney. So yes, it tasted very familiar to us and the food was great, for say a 30% cheaper price than Sydney. I particularly enjoyed eating one of my favourite dishes, 'murtabak,' which I have not been able to find in Sydney, and have not eaten since about 2005! So yes, I was very excited about that.

The beautiful Sarong Restaurant.

I have been thinking about the shopping thing alot; yesterday we walked down the main street of Seminyak where there are a whole row of shops selling all sorts of 'trendy' fashion but it wasn't nearly as sophisticated as I was expecting (oops, snob me.) Sure, items were cheaper and I think that this is perhaps the main reason why people go shopping crazy in Bali. I'm pleased to say I don't really need much right now, and once I really thought about it I realised I didn't need to buy anything! That said, if I was decorating a large house and had a huge suitcase (or shipping container) I wouldn't hesitate in combing over the shops.

I suppose I would need more time (and probably a good shopping mate) to enjoy the shopping a little more. Mark and I walked around but did I really need another flowing jersey top or beaded pair of sandals? It was very hot so we though we should at least take a walk down by the beach, but we had much trouble finding access as we bravely walked around the gangs (backstreets) of Legian looking for a spot to walk down the beach.

So we found the beach, and the beach was... ugly. I closed my eyes and thanked the stars that I hadn't dragged poor Mark to one of these 'resorts' that line the beach. It would be good for some, but represented everything we are not. People drinking down on the beach, piles of rubbish, dirty looking water and the sun beating down. People were touting for anything and everything, and there was also a few beggars about (lucky I have lots of practice doing the 'Eastern Suburbs stare, where I can look straight past people) and loud, pasty, overweight Australian families lying on rows and rows of sunlounges.

So we ate some satay and a burger and quickly jumped back into a cab to head back to our own little piece of paradise - our villa. And I think this is what makes the ideal Bali Holiday - getting some books and reading material together, packing a bag with next to nothing, and enjoying the comfort, relaxation and hospitality of a villa. Last night we had our own 'celebration dinner' in a little hut, 4 courses all included in our villa price. 80s power love-ballads played and candles were lit, it was just so lovely relaxing together and thinking about the future, without the madness and traffic of the town.

Our little dining area.

Some things you might need to know about visiting Bali:
- Don't pack anything too fancy - it's simply too hot. You barely need more than a swimming costume and a few cotton dresses. That said, the Balinese prefer a little modesty (i.e. sleeves) and it's been awful seeing some of the Aussies move about town in next to nothing.
- Same goes for makeup - just forget it.

- Tipping isn't expected which is refreshing, but people are paid so poorly it doesn't hurt to give a tip here and there (we gave our driver a $20 tip for a 6 hour tour and we are now seemingly friends for life.)

- It is cheap here. Apparently not as cheap as in the past, but Mark and I have barely spent $500 in 4 days, and this includes alcohol and eating in fancy restaurants. It has been terrible watching people haggle over such little prices (I saw an English teenager rudely haggle over a $12 pair of sandals, ugly) and I think it's nice to show some restraint here. People are constantly talking about money and what things cost, when at the end of the day...

- I think the ideal Bali trip would be to travel around Bali without doing Kuta / Legian etc. at all. It seems to bring out the worst in people and left me cringeing and wondering what the hell Australia has done to Bali and its culture. The loud drunk Bogan thing was definitely going on and I think it's fair to say that I would stay away from these people at home so I am best staying away from them on holiday!

Today we head to our next destination - 4 nights in Ubud. I'll let you know how it goes!

Resolutions

2010-01-01T11:31:00.001+11:00

Who likes that word, resolution?

Remo sent me an email yesterday, and I very much enjoyed this poem they attached.
Happy New Year!

2009 into 2010

2009-12-31T15:46:00.018+11:00

I had an email (well, a Facebook message) the other day saying 'Do you still do your blog?' Uhh, not really. Here I am on New Years Eve, pumpkin roasting in the oven (no, that's not a metaphor!) with some time to spare so I thought I'd write a little about 2009, what happened to me, and what I hope for in 2010.

I started my new job, and it has been (mostly) good.
You know, I think a lot of teachers feel like they're faking it most of the time, myself included. I mean, you do the study, you stand up in front of the class, and sometimes the magic happens. Well, the magic happened with my Year 6 class of '09. It was the first class of people I have actually missed during my holidays and most of the year was nothing short of fabulous. I was really lucky to fall on to my feet in a school that I immediately felt familiar with; and even after a difficult selection process, I was welcomed by my new colleagues with open arms.
Most of all, I appreciate being a permanent teacher (finally)! After years of holding out for an Art job (and never seemingly, teaching art), I finally have found a job where we can study Basquiat and Arcimboldo amongst the other subjects, and then go forth and create... at this age the kids enjoy the theory as well as the practice, and for me, that's a little piece of heaven!
I do however, miss my freedom. My school can come across as being too much of a 'tight ship' and sometimes this can be translated as being mistrustful of teachers. Well I'm happy to report I'm at a school where everyone works damn hard, and this is evident in the happy, well balanced students we are helping.

I started my Masters degree, and it was sort of a shock!
I applied to commence my Masters degree in Education in 2009 (well, the first 'part') when I wasn't sure if I would ever get a permanent teaching position. I figured it would help my prospects and keep me busy if I found myself out of work. Well, as it turned out, I got the job AND started the Masters degree in 2009.
It has been hard, I have kicked and screamed and whinged all along the way. I started off getting really bad marks and lost my confidence. I quickly improved but found attending lectures with other teachers annoying, most of all I hated feeling like I had to be competitive. Completing assignments meant locking myself up at night and on weekends for weeks, and this also meant an increased presence on the net ;)
However, good things have come out of it, including some extra paid teaching work at the uni, and it's good to feel like I know what I'm talking about when I'm asked to contribute to professional conversations at work. I will probably take a year's break from half way in 2010, mainly because I am getting married!

In 2009 I got engaged to the one I love!
This is by far the most pleasing and exciting thing that happened to me in 2009! On the 24th of July Mark and I went away for the weekend to Kangaroo Valley. We stayed at a beautiful little cottage called the dairy@cavan and something special happened when we were walking across the Hampden Suspension Bridge, the oldest suspension bridge in Australia, built in 1898 (neat!) It was lovely to see how genuinely happy everybody is for us, and we are very excited about our wedding in Sydney, October 2010!

So, we had an engagement party.
We didn't necessarily want to have an engagement party, but it seemed like an opportune time with new babies recently born, Dad returning from Portugal, and elderly family members wanting to get together. So one Saturday early in November, at approximately 37 degrees celcius, we held a Mexican Barbeque (of course!) for our families.
One of the best things was that my Nana Colgate eventually came along after all, after threatening not to come for about a month (giving very confusing reasons and making me upset). I was also pleased to see my Pop Richards, as the week before he was in hospital having quite a serious operation, so it was a big effort for him to come along and sit in the heat.
We received some wonderful presents! Such as an authentic Norman Lindsay print (a lady with her boobs out!) and expensive kitchenware (my favourite). Engagement presents to start with seem a bit extravagant, so we were touched to receive so much quality stuff!
Besides the bbq, I cooked some awesome enchiladas after poring over cookbooks for months and asking my friend Michelle in the USA what she thought of the recipes. The family couldn't get enough, I could have got away just with having an enchilada party!
We had an adorable cake, this lady up the street from my Dad's place in Menai truly makes the freshest, most delicious buttercake with second-to-none buttercream icing. We had a heart shaped cake studded with smarties, which we ate with ice cream, it definitely was a highlight of my day - and just $40!

This is not me! (I'm pretty sure it's my teacher Caroline.)
I (then we) discovered yoga.
Yes, we have all heard about how yoga is a life changing experience. Well, I'm so pleased I found the Kings Cross Yoga Centre this year, and have become very disciplined about attending classes (unusual, I know)! I couldn't even touch my toes at the beginning of the year, and now (after stretching) I can rest my hands on the floor. After I had been attending for about 6 months Mark started as well, it has been great for both of us. The best thing is knowing that I will keep going to yoga, it's no longer something I have to force myself to do. I generally have always disliked team sports and fitness, preferring incidental exercise, so it has been wonderful to find something we both enjoy and can commit to wholeheartedly as well.

We both very much feel like adults these days.
It seems I don't mind talking real estate, I worry about my car and think about when I should organise salary sacrifice. I cook the dinner, I turn up on time, get a little buzz from feeling organised, and wake up without hangovers. It's great to support my friends and (try) to be there for my family. We still live in our little flat with great views in Potts Point and often consider sacrificing our house deposit for an overseas trip.
Most of our close friends no longer live in Sydney, and we continually wonder how we'll do it - even though on paper we do pretty well, it seems to buy a place, have children and afford Sydney you must cling to the fringes of the city. We wont be moving anywhere in the near future though, we have a very quiet and pleasant life and our jobs keep us firmly planted right here!

My favourite places to be in 2009...
- Walking down Macleay Street in the afternoon, when the breeze carries the smell of the harbour up the street
- Andrew Boy Charlton Pool
- My lounge, staring out the window out towards the Art Gallery of NSW!
- City of Sydney library at Customs House
- Yoga
- Fratelli Paradiso or Yellow for coffee, if I have a visitor (otherwise it's the plunger at home)
- A Tavola restaurant for something special
- Jimmy Liks for cocktails!
- Newtown or Glebe, largely for reasons of misplaced nostalgia
- Melbourne (only wish I could go more often)
- jezebel.com to feel normal
- passiveaggressivenotes.com or lamebook.com for laughs
- jcrew.com sale page for beautiful clothes (thanks for sending them out Michi!)
- oncewed.com for my type of dream weddings!

My favourite other things of the year...
Well it seems that most of my watching is done on the net these days, how can one possibly wait for a weekly show on free to air television? It got even better towards the end of the year when we hooked up our macbook to the big tv.
2009 was definitely a year for watching the entire (available) series of Mad Men and The Wire, which I enjoyed very much. I'm also watching Seasons 1-3 of Big Love looking forward to Season 4 with gusto! Those who know me well also know I enjoy watching the news and this year I found I was watching SBS world news more often, as well as the 7:30 report and Q&A on the ABC. I'm also a sucker for most cooking shows and design shows such as (anything!) Nigella and Grand Designs.
I'm adoring Ben and Jerrys ice cream's arrival in Australia, along with cooking Pastabilities frozen pumpkin and goats cheese ravioli on the nights we can't be bothered to cook!
I loved the new album from The Crayon Fields this year as well as Monsters of Folk. We don't go to too many gigs at the moment but really enjoyed Joanna Newsom, Rufus Wainright and Sufjan Stevens (all seperately!) at the beginning of '09, rock on!
We are constantly watching films and the main three that come to mind this year were The Savages (but then again, was that 2008?!), Bright Star and Elegy.
Books? I'm constantly reading but it's better that you ask Mark.

And now I am all out of puff. That is all for now, it has been quite a self-indulgent experience, this blog post!

We have had a great year, wishing you all the best for 2010! (another exciting year for us!)

xx

New look

2009-12-24T10:27:00.003+11:00

So, I'm not sure if I have been neglecting my blog or if it's just because I'm getting all grown up and I don't feel that I have to broadcast every thought I have!

This blog has largely become more of a place for dumping things I want to look at again and has definitely moved from something of an attempt at being public, to something that I use more simply to please myself.

If you happen to find yourself here, enjoy. I have changed templates this morning and it feels much cleaner to be here. A newly cleaned room with the window open and the curtain fluttering in the sunlight.

Killer Recipe: Cardamom Cake

2009-12-24T09:09:00.002+11:00

I made this cake to celebrate my last yoga class of 2009. It was a smashing success! I have only begun baking again recently, but this cake is encouragement enough to keep it up!

Ingredients
* 40g butter, chilled, cubed
* 1/4 cup plain flour
* 1/4 cup demerara sugar (or combination of brown / raw sugar)
* 1 lemon, rind finely grated
* Handful of shredded coconut

Base
* 3 eggs
* 1 cup caster sugar
* 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom
* 125g butter, softened
* 300ml carton cream
* 2 1/2 cups self-raising flour
* 1/2 cup flaked almonds

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line a 7cm deep, 10cm x 21cm (base) loaf pan, allowing a 5cm paper overhang.
2. Rub butter into flour to resemble fine breadcrumbs. Add sugar and lemon rind. Mix well. Set aside.
3. Make base: Beat eggs, sugar and cardamom until combined. Add butter. Process until smooth. Add cream and flour. Mix until combined. Spoon into pan.
4. Sprinkle almonds over cake, pressing in with your fingertips. Sprinkle with lemon rind mixture. Bake for 1 hour or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Stand for 5 minutes in pan. Use baking paper overhang to lift cake onto a wire rack to cool. Slice and serve

Syrup
* 1 1/4 cups water
* 1 cup caster sugar
* Juice of one lemon
* 1 tsp ground cardamom

- Bring water, sugar, cardamom to the boil
- Simmer for 10-20min
- Cool

Enchiladas!

2009-09-29T22:34:00.002+10:00

It's enchiladas time, I must not lose this link (and have forgotten my delicious log in, yawn)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/chicken-enchiladas-with-roasted-tomatillo-chile-salsa-recipe/index.html

Killer Recipe: French Pastry Hearts

2009-08-11T18:17:00.004+10:00

When I was little my mum used to drive to Illawong Bakery and buy me a french pastry heart. Well now I am engaged! and tomorrow I am having a work morning tea to celebrate. I decided to take along a little plate of these, and they are so easy and quite cheap to make.

When I was searching for a recipe I quickly discovered that this is quite a famous little snack in Buffalo, New York. Well, you learn something new every day.

Ingredients:

* 1/3 cup sugar
* 1 tsp. cinnamon
* 1 sheet puff pastry dough, thawed if frozen (I just keep going with a pack of 6)
* 3 Tbsp. butter, melted

Preparation:
Line baking tray with baking paper. Combine sugar and cinnamon in small bowl.

Brush pastry sheet with melted butter and sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top. You can be very generous with the sugar!

Starting with the longest sides, roll up each side until the rolls meet in the center. Refrigerate dough 5-10 minutes or until dough is firm.

Preheat oven to 190 degrees. With a knife, gently cut the pastry roll into 16 slices. Place slices, cut side down, 4cm apart on baking paper. Pinch bottom edge of each slice to form a heart shape. Drizzle hearts with remaining 1 Tbsp. butter and sprinkle with any remaining cinnamon sugar.

Bake at 190 degrees for 10-18 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire rack to cool completely; store at room temperature.

Ice and add sprinkles!

2009-07-20T17:40:00.004+10:00

I imagined someone asking, What's the big difference between then and now? I knew that it wasn't all the changes, big and small, in Turkey or India or Singapore or Vietnam. It wasn't the computers or the internet or high-speed trains, not fast food or cheap wristwatches or everyone wearing blue jeans. The greatest difference was in me. I had survived the long road that led to the present. I felt lucky, I felt grateful. I didn't want any more than this in travel, clattering through the tunnel; I didn't want another life. I had a book to read, a book to write, and enough solitude. Most of all, someone missed me and was waiting for me, someone I loved. As Murakami had said of his own love affair with Yoko, that was everything.

Paul Theroux, Ghost Train to the Eastern Star

Killer Recipe: Spring Vegetable Soup

2009-07-18T15:10:00.002+10:00

The other morning Mark woke up and told me he would like vegetable soup for dinner - I wasn't too enthused but on the same day I fell across a recipe and the results were brilliant!

Sure it needs a trip to the green grocer and a food processor but the results taste just like Rosella Spring Vegetable Soup that I so loved in childhood (a compliment!)

SPRING VEGETABLE SOUP

25g butter
1/2 cup sliced leeks (white part only)
1/3 cup diced celery
1/3 cup diced sweet potato
1/3 cup diced turnip
4 cups vegetable stock
salt, pepper
1/3 cup frozen corn kernels
1/3 cup diced zucchini
1/3 cup chopped green beans
1 peeled and chopped tomato
1/3 cup frozen peas
1/3 cup parsley, chopped

Melt butter, add leetk, celery, potato and turnip, cook stirring for 5 min.
Add vegetable stock, salt and pepper, bring to boil.
Lower heat and add remaining ingredients, simmer for 5 min.
Top with chopped parsley, serve with bread.

From: Bill Granger: bills SYDNEY FOOD, Murdoch Books 2004.

On the trail of Laura Ingalls Wilder

2009-05-07T07:46:00.001+10:00

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/44451872.html

Procrastination

2009-04-25T15:56:00.001+10:00

The home of procrastination, I love it.

http://procrastinus.com/

Melbourne, Great Ocean Road, Mount Gambier, Kangaroo Island, Adelaide.

2009-04-23T08:34:00.013+10:00

Mark and I decided to take a trip. It had been a few years since I had seen my very good friends Ben and Kristyn who live in Mount Gambier, they now have three kids! And Mark is yet to see much of our wonderful country, excepting some boardrooms in a few different cities. So we saddled up, and off we went! Here are some travel notes.

MELBOURNE..
Well many of us know Melbourne pretty, if not very well. This was probably the longest time I have spent there without it blurring into some type of three day hangover, and it was just lovely. Mild and sunny, with many locals out of town for Easter, we wandered around and took in the sights, caught trams, gorged on food, reaffirmed coffee addictions.

Melbourne Street Art.

More Melbourne Street Art.

Balcony Room at Hotel Tolarno

We stayed at Hotel Tolarno in St Kilda, which in itself was good value and an excellent choice. However, we paid a little extra for a balcony room which was largely a bad idea because most of the time it was out of the sunlight (so was a little cold and dark) and the pubs and venues in the area ensured we had one night of disrupted sleep, with the usual noise problems and drunk people cruising up and down the street.

Crazy Acland St Cake Shops! (There are at least 4 like this, and we didn't eat a THING!)

I liked staying in St Kilda because it is out of the Melbourne CBD and gave Mark and I some breathing space, and trams and cabs were always available. Upon arrival we wandered up Acland Street and gaped at the cake shop windows, and back down The Esplanade via Luna Park and the wharf. There were markets and it was warm and sunny, and it was a lovely start to our trip. I will say however, that St Kilda is not quite the same place as I remember from a few years ago and now in spots reminds me more of Oxford St in Sydney. It was a shame to see the arrival of a few 'New York Pizza Slice' food outlets and the like, seemingly at the cost of small boutiques and the more eclectic and colourful stores of the St Kilda I remember.

Scenic Railway at Luna Park. Notice the guy standing up operating the brake!

Kewpie Doll on building, Flinders St.

Other highlights in Melbourne mainly involved food. We ate at Mirka which was a wonderful experience, sitting amongst all the artwork and murals. I really enjoyed my 'Bombe Glacee Pavarotti' which was basically hot raspberry sauce, surrounded by icecream, then meringue. A triumph! We also made our usual trip to Pellegrinis Espresso Bar and visited various bookstores around town including Metropolis Bookshop. Remembering we were in the middle of an Easter weekend, we got quite a lot done!

Me at Pellegrinis, Melbourne.

Mirka Restaurant.

The Paperback Bookshop.

Free push bikes at Little Creatures Alehouse, Melbourne. Mark actually drank a beer here!

GREAT OCEAN ROAD.
So we picked up a hire car and were disappointed that we had no GPS, even after requesting. Boo Thrifty! After a few nervous moments we made it out of town and on the road to Geelong and The Great Ocean Road.

The Great Ocean Road.

I'm not really sure if I should air this view, but the Victorian Government has done a pretty good job of talking up The Great Ocean Road. Sure, parts of it are awesome, but most of it is really no different to driving south from Sydney. The real action doesn't really start until after Apollo Bay, where we stayed at the excellent eco beach YHA Apollo Bay. This part of coast was busy with holiday makers, lots of cute cottages and houses to stay in, and even in the Autumn breeze people were swimming! This coastline is obviously a favourite for Melbournites as it seemed everywhere was booked out, although everything still seemed relatively quiet.

I really enjoyed the drive from Apollo Bay to Port Fairy the most. Of course, this is the area where the Twelve Apostles are and some of the other major natural attractions. I like the more jagged and atmospheric appearance of the area, the rocks and the more powerful oceans. On this part of the coast I was also reminded that fishing is indeed the great unspoken national pastime, and we saw many long jettys jutting out into less gentle seas, whole families of people fishing, and rusty trawlers full of 'pots' for crayfish/lobster fishing.

Mark at the Twelve Apostles.

Somewhere on the road.

There is not too much else to say about The Great Ocean Road unless you are there, or you have been there. It is something that is worthwhile doing, although I would recommend doing it over 3 or 4 days for a more relaxing trip, we missed a few things as we needed to move on towards Mount Gambier. It would be a great place to holiday and this is evident from all of the many people staying there year round. I think it would pay off to have a holiday house on The Great Ocean Road!

MOUNT GAMBIER.
It was awesome pulling up at the petrol station, turning around and seeing Kristyn, Ava, Edie, and Gabe waiting for us! By total accident we had chosen exactly the same place in town to wait and meet up, and our friendship resumed as if we had only seen each other days, instead of years previously!

Alfie the little cat.

Mount Gambier is a town about the same size as Orange or Bathurst in NSW, it is farming and forestry country and the 'welcome to Mount Gambier' sign has a picture of a logging truck on it. Ben and Kristyn have a wonderful home and one hundred head of cattle, chooks, a dog called Chasey and a little cat called Alfie, who I almost took home with me, such a bundle of sweetness!

Alfie and Laura.

Alfie the Hunter.

Ava and Edie made us pictures and showed us how to collect eggs and hold a chicken, Gabe took a few shaky first steps and we visited local Coonawarra Wineries where I bought enough bottles to put my bag overweight at the airport in Adelaide! I picked up a few bargains at local antique shops (an old seed sack is now a pillowcase!)and we heard about the 57 or something snakes that were killed on Ben and Kristyn's farm over the Summer.

This really is a wonderful little corner of the world. Kristyn is a member of a very supportive arts collective called sole sisters; making, exhibiting and selling artworks locally in addition to running a web design business as well as raising three beautiful kids! The earth is golden from limestone and there are beautiful coastal areas nearby like Penola and Robe where I could imagine returning to have a very relaxing and scenic beach break in the future!

Mark at The Big Lobster, somewhere on the road.

KANGAROO ISLAND.
Kangaroo Island is much like The Great Ocean Road, but I enjoyed it much much more. Unless you've been there or are going there hearing all about it would be about as enthusing as watching a prolonged slideshow of your uncle's trip to Hobart in the 1970s. But Kangaroo Island is unique! It's just a shame that we saw so much but often forgot to get our camera out of the car, although Kangaroo Island really is a place of awe and beauty that is best seen with the eye.

Umm, Kangaroo Island is really hard to describe because it's sort of environmentally conscious, and empty of people, and overflowing with nature, with early 1980s kit homes in small towns, tasty seafood and home businesses that like you to 'visit and take the tour!' And tour we did.

We picked up a hire car after catching our ferry over on Sealink, although I'm pretty sure that next time I would fly over to Kingscote. The ferry trip itself was pleasant, but the bus connection from Adelaide to Cape Jervis was tedious and made me quite sick. We stayed at the Penneshaw YHA, which had really comfy beds and was nice and close to the ferry terminal! There were many great little houses to rent, however with only two of us it would have been a waste of money.

We spent a few days driving around the Island (called 'KI'), checking out the sights and local business. Highlights included a visit to Island Pure Sheep Dairy, where we saw Sheep getting milked for cheese, and they all looked so happy and contented, and the cheese was gorgeous to taste and so cheap! We also visited Cliffords's Honey Farm and snapped up lots of gifts, as well as sampling the famous honey ice cream. Kangaroo Island is famous for its Ligurian Bees and it was wonderful to see the whole process in action, I was also happy to pick up a few pure beeswax candles as I love the smell of honey candles and they can be quite expensive here in Sydney...

By far the highlight of Kangaroo Island is the wildlife. On the first night Mark and I went up to the pub for food and on the way back were greeted by penguins! There are penguin tours around the area but you don't really need to be taken around to find them, they are just running around on the foreshore, making their funny honking sounds!

We drove to Seal Bay and watched Sea Lions (many, many Sealions) on the beach, which was so interesting we lost all track of time. Seal pups suckled their mums and Bulls chased Cows around the beach, as well as lazing around and diving through the surf. There was also a skeleton of a Humpback Whale on the beach which was pretty cool to see, I think if I lived on Kangaroo Island I'd like to work at Seal Bay!

We also visited the New Zealand Fur Seals down at 'Admirals Arch' where they played by the water and were generally very smelly. We also stopped by 'The Remarkables' which is a series of strange volcanic rock that poke directly out of the coastline. Enough said, you'll have to see it for yourself!

NZ Fur Seals at Admirals Arch. I have no idea why we don't actually have any photos of The Admirals Arch itself!

Laura at Lighthouse on Kangaroo Island.

Laura.

Laura at The Remarkables.

You can learn more about Kangaroo Island overall here. I would genuinely recommend a trip to Kangaroo Island, although I think a five day trip is more appropriate than the three we spent there. There are many walks around the island we had to skip as we did not have time, which would have been a good break from all the eating we did! I'd also recommend that you hire a 4WD, we almost flipped our car on a dirt road and although everyday cars are 'fine' I think a 4WD would offer more peace of mind and comfort on the many dirt roads around the island.

Mark at The Remarkables.

ADELAIDE.
Adelaide, no need to be so self conscious! It seemed that wherever we went people were apologising for the fact we were visiting their city, which surely would be so boring and inadequate compared to Sydney! Sure, Adelaide is no more than a two day city, but it has a wonderful set of shops on one end of Rundle Street, including a great boutique called Bauhaus which had a great collection of Mexican homewares (sorry, no website!)

We stayed at the very nice Clarion Hotel Soho which was on the 'right side' of town, very quiet, with lovely louvered windows that gave us an uninterrupted sunset and fresh air. It was by far the best hotel we stayed in on our entire trip, and at least $100 cheaper than their equivalents in Melbourne or Sydney. If only we had stayed a little longer, it was so relaxing!

Room at Clarion Hotel Soho, Adelaide.

I also had the pleasure of visiting the restaurant of Simon Bryant, the Chef from the TV Show 'The Cook and The Chef.' His restaurant is called 'The Brasserie' and is the mid range restaurant at The Hilton Hotel Adelaide. I was disappointed that Simon was 'in and out of the restaurant' that night because of a cold, but I sensed he wasn't there, oh well. The food however was delectable, with Mark eating one of the best servings of king george whiting and chips I have ever seen! If I were an Adelaide local, I would be visiting The Brasserie often.

Beehive Corner, Adelaide.

While on the subject of Adelaide food, one must visit the Chinatown cafe for a meal. I stumbled upon this restaurant while waiting for the bus to Kangaroo Island, and had some of the best Asian greens and rice I have ever eaten anywhere! Definitely food for the soul, this place was hustling with customers during lunch when I returned with Mark for more food. I'm sure locals are all about this place, but don't make a trip to Adelaide without visiting Chinatown Cafe!!

The Art Gallery of South Australia was also a lovely surprise, with a eclectic collection of colonial and Australian Modernist works, it felt as if my HSC Art Textbook had come to life! A great gallery store with plenty of art postcards made Mark happy, and I loved seeing early Margaret Prestons and Arthur Streetons come to life, complimented by some serious colonial furniture and quirky silver on display. Like I said, nothing to feel embarassed about Adelaide, you certainly hold your own!

And that was our trip to Victoria and South Australia. Nine Days in total, two hire cars, one speeding ticket, one misplaced NSW driver's licence, a few kilos heavier, two loaded credit cards and two happy faces. I think you should try this trip.

Why it's good to have a sick day. (sometimes.)

2009-03-04T10:54:00.008+11:00

Last week I was sick with something mild but I kept going in to work.

Being a teacher, this mostly goes unnoticed as the people around you are mostly kids and they do not really know how to see much beyond their own noses.

Anyway, I ended up FATIGUED! I kept asking myself "is something wrong?" and I was even worried I was becoming depressed, I thought I might need to see a nutritionist because I was all out of energy! And then I realised I just needed a day off.

And this is why it's wonderful. I:

- organised to get my blinds and kitchen sink fixed
- went for a run, and there was hardly anybody else running
- watched the sky turn the colour of a latte
- hung out my window and watched some road rage as a (rather hot) looking workman used his own crane to load gravel into Paul Keating's backyard
- moisturised
- got a quote to get my cream lounge cleaned, then booked
- found out the details of my health insurance and changed my address with them (haven't heard from them for 18 months)
- took a piece of my birthday cake down to my building manager
- ate a piece of birthday cake myself, with a properly brewed pot of tea
- booked a table at Jimmy Liks for dinner with my friend Kat
- got my fringe trimmed
- had my car washed
- walked around my local shops and bought some groceries
- watched screaming kids climb the mast of The Young Endeavor from my window

All before yoga and dinner!

But then in the afternoon I felt sick again, and almost vomited in the hair dresser. Yeah, I am still sorta sick. The more I rush the more giddy I feel. Mild ear infection!

I must admit that I still haven't done my ironing though. Sigh.

Killer Recipe - Lasagne

2009-02-28T18:35:00.004+11:00

I had my birthday celebration today and I cooked a very successful lasagne!
This recipe is 1970s all over, the more everyday your ingredients are, the better! So dried herbs are fine, I also use low fat cheese and milk, just so the lasagne is not so rich, I must admit this seems to work.

Here is the recipe:-

lasagne noodles
parmesan cheese
cream

MEAT SAUCE
1 tablespoon oil
500g mince (I use heartsmart)
2 x cans tomatoes
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon rosemary
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar

CHEESE SAUCE
60g butter
4 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
salt, pepper
125g grated cheese
handful parmesan

- Heat oil in pan, cook mince until brown, pour off excess fat.
- Add rest of ingredients, bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer 60min

- To make cheese sauce melt butter in saucemapn, stir in flour, cook for 1min, gradually add milk until sauce boils and thickens, stir in cheeses.

- Layer in pan - noodles, meat, cheese sauce. Finish with a layer of noodles. Add parmesan cheese on top.

- Bake in moderate oven for 25min, spoon cream on top then cook for a further 10-15min. Yummy!

From Australian Women's Weekly Cooking Class Cookbook, 1992.

2009-01-11T17:29:00.001+11:00

"When I was young I admired intelligent people, as I grow older I admire kind people." --Abraham Heschel "Kindness and patience with others is the ultimate sophistication."

Anatomy is Awesome!

2009-01-04T21:37:00.005+11:00

I've been exercising more steadily for about three months now. I ain't no Olympic Athlete, but for pretty much the first time in my life I'm enjoying myself and am beginning to see small changes and results.

I run up around Mrs Macquaries Chair a few times a week, I have begun meeting Mark at the Andrew Boy Charlton Pool to do a few laps, and I am considering a return to yoga.

A pretty big turn around if I do say so myself! (Think back to 2 years ago when I smoked a pack a day and ideal snack was Sao with butter, maybe honey too ;) or 5 years ago when... oh let's not look back that far, I may have been skinny but there were definitely problems)

Anyway, so I'm learning lots, but of course along the way I have had a few pains, mainly in my legs. Some stretching has helped, but sometimes it's hard to describe where the pain is, to ask how I should stretch!

And then I found this awesome website. Go forth and experience anatomy for yourself!

http://www.gwc.maricopa.edu/class/bio201/muscle/leg1.htm

And some stretches to help cure the problem: http://myname.physiotherapist.net.au/exercises.htm

Oh, and it's my Soleus that hurts :)

2009-01-02T14:38:00.001+11:00

Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come. --Chinese proverb

Killer Recipe: Sticky Date Slice with Caramel Sauce

2008-12-26T10:09:00.007+11:00

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...

2008-12-22T08:48:00.003+11:00

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

2008-12-18T16:02:00.002+11:00

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

2008-12-14T19:26:00.005+11:00

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

2008-12-10T20:09:00.003+11:00

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?!

2008-12-08T21:28:00.003+11:00

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

2008-12-07T16:01:00.005+11:00

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

2008-12-01T14:58:00.008+11:00

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

2008-11-30T18:56:00.006+11:00

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

2008-11-28T15:50:00.001+11:00

"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

2008-11-25T22:19:00.005+11:00

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...

2008-11-17T16:45:00.010+11:00

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 :-

2008-11-15T22:13:00.004+11:00

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

2008-11-13T16:09:00.002+11:00

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.

2008-11-12T17:17:00.006+11:00

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...

2008-10-10T11:14:00.009+11:00

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...

2008-10-09T12:10:00.011+11:00

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!

2008-10-07T06:34:00.004+11:00

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!

2008-10-06T10:29:00.007+11:00

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!

2008-10-05T14:06:00.008+11:00

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

2008-10-04T08:06:00.006+10:00

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.

2008-10-03T08:19:00.008+10:00

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...

2008-10-02T13:25:00.006+10:00

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...

2008-10-02T00:01:00.012+10:00

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...

2008-09-30T10:14:00.005+10:00

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

2008-09-28T20:59:00.007+10:00

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

2008-09-10T12:21:00.000+10:00

"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

2008-08-31T18:56:00.001+10:00

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...

2008-08-09T21:22:00.004+10:00

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.

2008-07-29T18:47:00.024+10:00

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!

2008-07-20T12:56:00.003+10:00

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!

2008-06-02T15:42:00.000+10:00

"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

2008-04-25T20:32:00.009+10:00

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!

2008-04-21T10:24:00.015+10:00

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

Turning thirty...

2008-04-17T23:15:00.005+10:00

I recently turned thirty, but I have been putting off writing anything about it because I have been off my blog! But here are a few thoughts: -

Things I have learned on my journey to thirty...

- There will always be empty bottles in the bathroom

- Help won't come unless you ask for it, ever!
I remember at around 21 or 22 telling those around me that nothing that bad had ever happened to me, it's true I could have been smug. I had spoken too soon - there were some big changes to come. With those changes came some terrible loneliness, mainly because I couldn't articulate what sort of help I needed!

- When it feels like things are going wrong, try and walk a mile in someone else's shoes.
It's surprising how many of us forget to think about what it would actually be like to be somebody else. As I have grown, I have realised we are all here, trying the very best we can. Most of us have only the best of intentions, and very few of us actually take glee in hearing of another's misfortunes. That can be hard to remember...but...

- I actually have less stuff now than I have ever had before.
It's funny, thinking about all the stuff I used to have. I used to have tonnes of it! I finally got it down to one ute load, two moves ago. And I have never been happier. I can find things, I hold only onto the best I have, and I honestly believe I am one of the luckiest people ever!

- Men, when asked to clean, will clean floors first, always!

- Things change, and when they do, they change really quickly.
Think Joan Didion and The Year of Magical Thinking.

- I believe I have aged quickly in the last three years, but have also gained wisdom.
Much of it's been tough, particularly the 2 years after the assault. Basically, I am sick of tiptoeing around the actual impact this has had on my life. I look in the mirror and it's quite plain I am no longer as young nor naive, and much of my sparkle had disappeared. All of this had the potential to destroy me, and a day hasn't passed where it hasn't shadowed me, even briefly. But I feel so much joy now the matter has passed and I realise it's in my power to get on with my life. Not withstanding a bad nightmare here and there...

- I have been skinny skinny and much too comfy curvy in my twenties.
And you can be skinny and anxious and chubby and happy... I don't think weight has much to do with it... but I simply refuse to look back on my life when I'm older and think I have dieted for 20 or something years... I have never said no to a good meal...

- The 'creative' friends you make often end up crazy and mean.
I have had so many faaabulous friends. They have been hilarious, unpredictable and full of endless ideas and opinions. Then often, they treated me just as badly as I saw them treat their other friends, and I was often left feeling shocked, sorry and full of questions. Do I sound bitter? Well the good news is I don't actually feel that bad about it, but remembering, yes, it raises my ire and I wish to warn others! Well, these days my friends seem to be much more stable, as I am, and they are very nice people.

- It's easy to lose the ones you love when you or they work too much.
This includes talking constantly about work, being 'absent' even though you are in the room, and bringing work home is a routine, not an exception. Mostly boring!

- I don't smoke anymore, but I used to really like it.
Lots and lots and I smoked many many packs! I smoked before work, between courses, in front of my parents (eventually) and basically, when I was given any excuse!! These days even if I light up when drunk I almost vomit. This would be very hard for people around me to believe... but it's true and it makes me happy!

-Envy is a waste of time and energy
I know, it's so simple, I know, but it's worth saying. I've worked with enough wealthy have-it-all 20 somethings to know much of it is to look good, not be good. Or it is brought on by wealthy or well-connected parents. To me it seems to be a knot that gets tighter and tighter then becomes difficult to undo. Read Affluenza or Richistan and get on with it.

- I'm 30 and I don't have a permanent job.
As a child of baby boomers, this probably causes me the most anxiety in my life. I simply try and not look too far into the future... and in reality, I have been in permanent contract work of some type for 5 years this October! That's not to say I'd like a bit of job security as I look to the future... and it's so hard to make plans when you have no idea where you'll be in 12 months time...

- Love and listening is the best support you can give.
Thanks Mark, my mio bello (yes I know it's bad Italian grammar.) And thanks friends and family, I'm glad to have made it. There have been a few times I almost didn't and I don't say it lightly. Shit happens.

My direction from here is I'm still trying to create a small and perfect life, I feel much more with it these days and I have gotten much better at taking life one moment at a time.

There is only 24 hours in a day and I like to live and breathe all I can of it... thanks for playing your part in getting me to thirty.

Laura xx

PS This last year hs been the best of my life!

2008-03-02T18:33:00.000+11:00

"Make the future better by making the most of the past." Goethe

Willing AND Able !

2008-02-02T22:29:00.000+11:00

Today Mark went to and bought us a 'splitter' which now means we have a computer network in our house and we can both use our computers at the same time! Exciting!

Guess I'll have no excuses to avoid work now... geez x

Killer Recipe No. III

2008-02-01T16:52:00.000+11:00

God, these little babies are as close as you will get to a creme brulee-type crust on top without much effort at all! Go forth and create!

LEMON PUDDINGS

90g soft butter (must be soft!)
1 1/2 cups caster sugar
1 1/2 cups milk
3 eggs
1/2 cup of lemon juice
1/2 cup of plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder (or baking soda)

- Preheat oven to 180 degrees celcius
- Place all ingredients in a large bowl
- Using a 'Food Processor Stick / Wand' Combine all the ingredients so it forms a runny liquid
- Pour into patty cases / greased ramekins
(It would be fine to do this before guests arrive for a dinner party, then just chuck them in the oven at the last minute so they are fresh)

- Bake for 20-25min, or until puddings are really golden on top
- Take from oven and stand for 5min (they will shrink a little)
- Serve with cream or vanilla ice cream

From: The Instant Cook by Donna Hay

End of Summer

2008-01-28T15:36:00.000+11:00

On Australia Day a Cocky came to visit us on the 7th floor! Mark gave him a piece of bread.

Cocky had a nibble.

Mark and Cocky made friends pretty quickly.

We hope he comes to visit more often.

The end of Summer Holidays! It always comes too quick, and the last 10 days or so have been just blissful as I have finally relaxed properly and let my daily routine flow a bit. Let's just say I can't wait for retirement!

It's been a strange one in Sydney, with only one day over thirty degrees so far this summer, TRUE! But this has its benefits as well... less sunburn, emptier beaches, calmer tempers. In fact, here in Potts Point it is so quiet, one could imagine the whole of Sydney has up and left for a beach holiday elsewhere... more likely they are just at work!

Mark and I have been well, he has been back at work for what seems like ages and it was difficult at first, I felt so bored, and almost guilty I had this extra time! We have a swim in the pool most afternoons and enjoy reading and cooking together. Of course he was totally chuffed by the visiting cockatoo and we are still waiting for him to come back.. Hopefully soon!

Sydney seems chock full of interesting things to do right now and if anything it's just a shame they are not spread a little more evenly throughout the year so it can be more affordable! Mark and I went to The Opera House on Friday night to see Joanna Newsom play with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and I was nothing short of blown away by her talent, her ability, her looks, her accompanists... I was transported to some other place where things are so much more creative and sheltered and nicer and brighter and darker as well... but she is just one amongst a whole throng of potentially interesting artists to see in Sydney right now...

It's been a great summer, I really couldn't ask for much more right now...

So I pack my bag and head back off to work tomorrow and the funny stories will start again and my mind will become crowded once more with worries beyond choosing which book to read or how long to leave conditioner in my hair.

Tis been wonderful chaps x

I HEART: Expresso Coffee and milk blended over ice with two sugars, lychees, mangoes, making my own face scrubs, afternoon harbour breezes, resting on my special cushion and reading the paper, the kind intentions of our Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, thinking about my 30th birthday, my new satay chicken recipe!

I DON'T HEART: Forms, the various charity collectors who 'chat you up' outside Potts Point Woolworths, the idea that spiders have crawled in my window and onto my head!

How to Apologise

2008-01-24T12:43:00.000+11:00

Having a nice long holiday has given me a chance to reflect on the last few years of my life and seek out some further information in areas I'd like to grow.
It would be fair to say that I grew up in a family devoid of the ability to apologise effectively, so I'd like to learn how to say sorry properly, and also receive apologies gracefully!
I have found this passage below very helpful, and I think there are many many people out there who could make use of this advice so our world is a more peaceful place.

Adapted from: Choosing Happiness by Stephanie Dowrick

A genuine apology is a powerful thing. it affects both the person giving it and the person receiving it, making way for healing and moving on as nothing else can.
Here's how to do it.
Look at the person and say 'I am sorry to have hurt you.'

Do not convey through your body language or tone of voice that you are not really sorry; that you resent apologising, or that you may be apologising but you will soon repeat the wrong.

An apology carries weight only when it is not forces, when you believe it and you also believe you have learned something and will not do again whatever caused hurt or harm.

An apology needs to be clean, short, simple and genuine. And it needs to be supported by a change in insight and behaviour.

There may be times when someone is clearly hurt by something you have done or that they believe you have done - but you know that they misread you or your good intentions.

It may be, for example, that your best friend is hurt because when she told you about her promotion you paid very little attention and went on to talk about something else. You were careless, but not deliberately hurtful.

Breakdowns in good communication happen frequently. protesting about someone else's reaction, telling them that they 'have no reason to be hurt', getting irritated because they are hurt, is never helpful.

It is possible to say, very simply, 'I am so sorry that you are upset,' without taking pon apprpriate guilt or shame. You may also want to add 'That certainly wasn't my intention,' but the crucial point is that you acknowledge the hurt, and express your concern that they are hurt, without attacking them or going into elaborate self-justifying.

And when someone apologises to you?
Accept it gracefully and gratefully. Do not ask yourself whether you need to go on sulking for another week, or whether you can make them suffer as much as you have.

If someone is routinely apologising without changing their behaviour this is a relationship issue and needs urgent attention.

Apologies - given or received - weave their magic only when they bring a little wisdom and are accompanied by changed action as well as insight.

Reverend Run!

2008-01-24T08:41:00.000+11:00

I'm not a Christian nor do I pretend to be. But sometimes I need a little reminding about my manners and so forth...

Who better to remind me than Reverend Joseph Simmons... of Run DMC.
You can read his advice, or subscribe like I have to his 'thought of the day.'

www.revswordofwisdom.com

Peace!

I'm in the paper today!

2008-01-18T13:31:00.000+11:00

Today I had my first ever letter published in The Sydney Morning Herald.

http://www.smh.com.au/letters/index.html?page=3

Sydney Festival

2008-01-14T11:22:00.000+11:00

It's mid January, and if you're not relaxing on some fine sunny shore, The Sydney Festival can be your saving grace! Mark and I purchased tickets way back and have been lucky enough to see some great performances so far, if only we had the moneybags to attend a few more gigs!

First we went to The Spiegeltent to see La Clique. Oh, how lucky we were! The whole season sold out at two shows a day, with tickets selling on Ebay for three times what they are worth!

The Spiegeltent itself is a wonder to visit, wood and stained glass all around, almost if you have stepped into an old-fashioned jewellery box. And the delights once inside...

This picture speaks for itself. This is the wonderful David O'Mer. His bathtub act, well... it's just one of the sexiest things...
Watch his performance here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Lrg4wV-Uqo
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=7280970

This is Yulia, she does wonderful things with hoops!

Then last Saturday the 12th January 2008 we went to The State Theatre to see Sufjan Stevens. I'm not an expert at writing reviews, but I know I enjoyed the show, particularly in these unique surroundings.

There were lots of visuals and Sufjan arrived on stage with a 10 piece? band, which nicely rounded out the sound with brass and woodwind. The crowd was very well-behaved, which I think confused him at times!

However, I did become increasingly annoyed at the people sitting around me taking pictures of the show! When you turn a camera on in the dark, it becomes very distracting! It gives the area that mobile phone-like glow: and when a quiet song is being played and the artist (YES, Artist) is attempting to connect somewhat with the audience, it becomes infuriating! Stop it, stop it! Just enjoy the moment, and forget about the shaky, over-exposed shots you are taking that your friends aren't even interested in seeing anyway. grrr.

Sufjan was also supported by a new York act called My Brightest Diamond which I really enjoyed. A voice like Jeff Buckley, loose stage moves, and she sits at a piano like Tori Amos! She also plays in Sufjan's band so that's a bit of trivia for you...

Next is Joanna Newsom in two weeks at The Sydney Opera House... another treat!

Visit Potts Point!

2008-01-08T16:14:00.001+11:00

This is pretty much the view from my lounge room window. yes, this is my moment to brag!

I thought I should get together some information about my local area... it wouldn't take a whole day to get around Potts Point, but there sure are some interesting places to see, eat and stay! Here are a few things to get started:

PLACES TO VISIT

I was going to do this myself but there is an awesome website called Urban Walkabout with local shops and nice things to see! Here is the link to Potts Point:
http://urbanwalkabout.com/pottspoint/

PLACE TO STAY - Budget

The Maisonette Hotel

This is clean looking, quiet and accessible hotel on the trendiest street in Potts Point! Lately they have been selling rooms from just A$85, which is actually cheaper than Formulae1... I think some of their rooms have a kitchen too.

PLACE TO STAY - Luxury

That would be Simpsons of Potts Point!

I haven't stayed here because I live across the street. What I do know is that it is quiet and the architecture is beautiful! I often see people eating their breakfast through the window as I walk past and I drift off into holiday mode!

FREE ACCOMMODATION

Yes, true! There is a very trendy little hotel up the street called Regents Court. They offer residencies to artists and writers for 3-5 weeks each... and you get to stay in the hotel for free! I keep bothering my friends who think they are 'not good enough' but I would just go for it and not worry about it. A free holiday in Sydney, the only rule being some creative output!

For details go to: http://regentscourt.com.au/residency/information/

Finally, a special mention to a very special shop - it's out of the way off Macleay Street, but it's up there with the best, especially for ogling and inspiration. Today I walked in and they were trying to work out the way to display stuffed peacocks! It's called Becker Minty.
http://www.beckerminty.com/

Rwandan Coffee Club

2008-01-08T09:56:00.000+11:00

I'm pretty sure I first saw this on TV sometime before Christmas...

Rwanda has had lots of troubles, in 1994 over 1 million Rwandans were killed in 100 days.

A Rwandan Refugee Support Group has been formed in Southern Tasmania, Australia to assist a small community of Rwandan genocide survivors to build a sustainable community.

And so began The Rwandan Coffee Club!

Read the remarkable stories of these survivors, and buy some fair trade coffee and tea, it's actually cheaper than the supermarket!

http://www.rwandancoffeeclub.org/coffee.html

Want $25k?

2008-01-07T10:12:00.000+11:00

I was sitting in a cafe in Canberra recently where I spotted a postcard...

The Churchill Memorial Trust offers annual fellowships to Australian Citizens of about $25,000 each! They award about 120 fellowships per year.

You don't need qualifications, and merit of your proposed project and a desire to report your findings back to the Australian community is the only requirements. It can be on any subject... exciting...

Each fellowship includes international travel and a living allowance... from looking at previous winners one can see that a whole cross section of the Australian community has been successful at obtaining these fellowships, not just academics and/or high flyers!

Click below for further info, applications close on the 29th February, 2008.
http://www.churchilltrust.com.au/index.php

Four generations of Colgates...

2007-12-26T20:03:00.000+11:00

This Christmas we got the special family photo - four generations!

Standing: Kathryn Naylor holding baby Lily, Laura Richards, Marcia Richards.
Sitting: Jessie Colgate
The next step... the family tree! A project for 08?

Buon Natale...

2007-12-22T18:41:00.000+11:00

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays! Here's some news and musings...

2007, a vintage year. It certainly did not start with much promise. I was all strung out still dealing with my assault and I got robbed three times. Fighting flatmates, casual romance and a double-dinged car. But slowly it has improved, I've managed to turn a few corners, and enjoy myself along the way!

I LOVED (I hear that 'hearting' is so yesterday)
- Meeting my boyfriend Mark. The most pleasant surprise life has had in store for me as yet. Goes without saying.. I wont make you sick by telling you anything more about how in love with him I am!
- Becoming an Aunty. I'm quite used to being called Aunty now, and I love it. My niece Lily is for certain both the best looking and smartest child in the world!
- Taking life more slowly. There seriously is not enough hours in the day to be superwoman, so overall I have downsized my life in the last year. Nothing personal, just wanted to feel good about fulfilling a few wishes rather than being half-way good at a whole lotta things! I really don't feel sorry for people that are 'too busy' because I have discovered a whole lot of it is self created. hmmph!
- That Kevin Rudd is now our Prime Minister! I'll remember exactly where I was when I heard the news break once and for all (A Chinese restaurant in Byron Bay, an Asian lady looked at me across the room and pumped the air with her fist!)

IT SURPRISED ME
- That I used the internet to find boyfriend mentioned above.
- That my parents have finally announced their separation, after 30 years of ill communication, awkward silences and lack of common interest. They may change their minds again, but whatever they think is best makes me happy enough!
- That I moved to the Eastern Suburbs! Potts Point is truly a beautiful place to live, but I admit I thought I'd be an inner westie forever. Bet I end up moving back there if rents keep raising at these rates though...
- That I gave up smoking. Twas true that I was smoking up to a pack a day. Just too sad on the inside, these last few years have pushed me through alot of nonsense. Then Winter came, and smoking was banned in pubs, and I gave up! Hooray...

I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT
- My teaching career. I really have been blessed to fall on my feet and have such terrific opportunity at my Primary School. No thanks to the actual NSW Department of Education though. It's such a shame that a bureaucracy can fuck up such a great profession! I'll stick with it though and attempt to develop myself further... study more.... really make a career for myself
- The weight I have put on since the assault. It's like a nice cushiony pillow, but I know it was all done in a time of terrible uncertainty and sadness. Maybe this year I'll start to whittle away at it a bit!
- Australia's ongoing obsession with real estate and a mortgage at all costs, all I can say is I am glad I haven't bought in as yet.

I'M HOPING
- That I might make a trip overseas this year, possibly to New York with Mark to visit his brother, who lives there. I'm still in debt but this may be an opportunity that i can't pass up! Stay tuned...
- That I have another year of relative stability ahead. Yawn... I must be turning 30 soon...

I hope that 2007 has brought you love, light, fulfilled wishes, and further promises. Merry Christmas, hope you can take some time to relax and count your blessings.

Lots of love always, Laura xx

Andrea Wohl Keefe: Artist

2007-12-21T12:01:00.000+11:00

I found this artist, she is called Andrea Wohl Keefe.

I really like her work.

http://www.andreawohl.com/

Adopt an Elephant

2007-12-20T20:37:00.000+11:00

I have been watching Elephant Diaries on the ABC every Thursday, something I look forward to immensely every week!

I have an amazing respect for this project and hope to adopt an elephant shortly - it costs a mere US$50 per year and there are a whole range of benefits that come along with adoption - most of all, feeling good!!

http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/index.asp

The elephants are traumatised orphans that are rehabilitated to go back into the wild, at their own pace. I have so much admiration for the heart and soul of this program and wanted to share. Click above for more...

THE Mobile Phone Holder...

2007-12-17T16:57:00.000+11:00

I hate cords...

Especially mobile phone recharger cords...
Flying everywhere, around the kitchen, the lounge, it just looks messy!

Then I found this:

Ta Da!

Problem solved for $11. Shame I bought only one, and in Newcastle. I should have bought a whole load of 'em for Christmas presents. Anyways! You can buy them online here:
http://www.driinn.com/index.php

Book Covers of the Year

2007-12-12T13:54:00.000+11:00

Wow, a webpage of some really pretty-lookin covers, and hopefully some good reads too.

http://nytimesbooks.blogspot.com/search/label/favorites%20of%202007

Good to consider for Christmas stockings! I remember buying a book called 'What should I do with my life?' for my uncle Jim a few years back at Christmas, and he was terribly offended. A year later, he actually read it, and thanked me!

Christmas Shopping

2007-12-11T12:07:00.000+11:00

I could go on and on about this but here are a few sites that have really saved my bacon:

http://www.etsy.com/
Goes without saying - this website is a gateway to all things original and reasonably priced.
http://www.madeit.com.au/default.asp
Another independent gem, representing clever design and original ideas.
http://www.ikea.com/au/en/preindex.html
Get the ideas before you join the crowd - ikea really do have incredible prices, this is the place to go if you need a large quantity of small gifts.

And... make your own Christmas wishlist online - http://www.hintdropper.com/home.jsp Great for hinting to those whose gifts often fall into the 'not quite right category.' Love you mum and dad!

It's a teacher's life...

2007-11-30T14:55:00.000+11:00

Well here we are in the last term of the Australian school year... I thought I'd share with you my top ten moments in teaching for 2007 (no particular order..)

1. Having a student make her dad drive her back to school (over 100km) for one of my classes.
2. A student making and presenting me with an oil painting she made, for me! And it looks good!
3. Getting a big clap at assembly for my WaterWise mural project.
4. Teaching a student called Rong.
5. Getting given a jar of placenta cream for Christmas from an Asian student. Yes, placenta.
6. Emails from parents impressed with my teaching,
7. Birthday cake, almost every week there is at least one birthday cake.
8. My workmate Moya, as (one of my bosses) Maureen says 'a living angel.'
9. Having my bag and piles of stuff carried around by eager little helpers everytime we have to move somewhere.
10. Smiling faces, every day.

It's been a short year! It's gone fast... but it's been great.

Monthly Drop In

2007-11-16T11:57:00.000+11:00

(A piecemeal family: Mark, Lily and I at my Nan's 80th last weekend)

Hello! From the seventh floor!

So much has been going on this past month it almost feels like nothing at all has happened... if you know what I mean?

Mark and I decided to move house again, and quickly! Within one month of having a chat to our 'concierge' (read: lady that minds front desk) she came back to us with an offer: a one bedroom apartment in our block, on the seventh floor, with a full view of Sydney City's skyline and The Domain, with a peek of water too (good for pisceans like me!) So suddenly we were moving again, and now we are starting to settle once more, hopefully for a comfortable period of time.

Our new place is nestled amongst the tops of Moreton Bay Fig Trees, and our neighbours are Paul Keating (ex Prime Minister, directly opposite, yes, I ahem, can actually see into his bedroom when the light is on!) and Russell Crowe (well, we can see his place on the Wharf.) It is extremely quiet and we live behind big gates, I now understand how easy it is to isolate one's self in the Eastern Suburbs and go completely batty!

So this month we have been heaving boxes, disconnecting and reconnecting, rearranging, purchasing. For relaxation I have become addicted to looking at American homewares websites and dreaming of the perfect lounge-rug-coffee table combination. Yep, age sure is getting to me!

Mark and I went and saw the brilliant movie 'Control' a few Wednesdays ago which is all about Ian Curtis and Joy Division. It is one of the most beautifully shot films I have seen in recent memory and I recommend it... it sort of resonates in your brain for days afterwards!

Also saw The Assassination of Jesse James, I loved it but Mark thought it was terrible... I'm happy to side with Margaret Pomeranz on this one and say you get lost in the plot and feel of the film and it's glorious! but anyways.

The seasons of Christmas parties are upon us, but for teachers they are thin on the ground. Mark is off on boats, eating at fancy restaurants etc. etc. and of course there is the Christmas bonus, but nothing for me, at least I get to see all the fireworks from the windows, but overall I'm pleased to report I will be getting through Christmas relatively hangover free. It's never too late to turn a new leaf!! (And I'm still not smoking... it's been over 6 months now!)

Also looking for a new job for next year, not happy, but dealing with it by working hard for what is left of my year... something should come up... I hope! Rather than haul you through the boring details on this issue, I instead offer a quote on how I feel from my mate Bec Olive's Phd proposal:
"A beholder who lacks the specific codes feels lost in a chaos of sounds and rhythms, colours and lines, without rhyme or reason" (Bourdieu, 1984: 2).

Hope your season is not too silly, and thinking of you all!

Lots of Love, until the New Year, Laura x

I HEART: Christmas beetles, Christmas bush, giant zucchinis from Byron Bay, indoor plants, honey candles, southerly breezes late at night, Sydney Festival (coming up!), My Nana Richards, seeing the harbour from my shower, Laser Hair Removal - yes it works, chuck those razors out! http://www.hairfree.com.au/

I DON'T HEART: My cheap black thongs from Target that I keep slipping over in, storing books, changing address again, lack of airconditioning in my car.

Make a chocolate bouquet!

2007-11-15T10:59:00.000+11:00

Christmas is coming...

My sis and I will be making one of these for the centrepiece of the Christmas table, crafty and fun!

Here is a step by step guide...

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Chocolate-Bouquet

Freecycle today!

2007-11-04T12:58:00.000+11:00

I am moving house again next week, and as usual there will be stuff to keep, and stuff to THROW OUT.

Well, my days of throwing things out are numbered, because of freecycling!

You put your things on this website to give away for FREE! And whoever wants the bookcase, or mattress, or broken desk will come along and pick it up.. and you can also search for free furniture of your own!

http://www.freecycle.org.au/

Thank god for all of this environmental consciousness flying about right now... xx

Cousin Tammie's Kitchen Tea

2007-10-29T21:28:00.000+11:00

The Richards family headed over to Burraneer Bay for Tammie's Bridal Shower!

I have hardly seen Tammy since this photo was taken, it's great for the family to get together and celebrate!

My Nan Richards and sister Kathryn was there.

And I wore a new dress, which was ahem, a little 'booby.'

A male belly dancer showed up!

He was pretty flashy!

He danced with the bride to be...

And everyone applauded!

Then he asked my mum to dance...

And my sister too!

Aunty Kim gave it all she had! Here she does a move from the film Cabaret...

Afterwards we headed over to the dessert table for all manner of delicious food.

We ate more and more, we were heaving with food!

And of course there was CAKE! (Spelling, whoops!)

We really enjoyed our day...

And wish Tammie the very best for her wedding!

We will see her again on her big day this coming Saturday!

A weekend in Newcastle

2007-10-22T16:32:00.001+10:00

I love getting out of Sydney for lots of reasons, but one of the best reasons is when my friends ask me away for a birthday celebration! And last weekend it was my best mate Katie's #!st birthday. We had alot of fun.

Katie and her husband Charley have just bought a house, and it was fantastic to see the family settled in their new nest. I could only imagine having access to that sort of space, after living in a studio for almost 6 months!

When we arrived we got into the food and cake almost immediately. Amanda had whipped up this fabulous confection earlier in the morning!

Katie blows out the candles (don't count!)

Charley and Sanne wait to be fed...

Beautiful Jeb keeps us all company.

After lunch (and a few glasses of wine,) Jess brought out the watermelon that he had prepared a day earlier (by pouring vodka into it!)

Jess is proud of his work.

Shortly after that the vodka watermelon started making Amanda laugh like a crazy pirate!

Mark and Jeb held onto each other for dear life!

After lunch we went for a walk and took in the sights of Newcastle.... and to get the watermelon out of our system.

And I met this crazy man who runs the local 'bike library' which I thought was a great idea, until he invited me on a nude bikeride!

The next day after a big night on the watermelon, we met up again and headed to Stickyrice Thai for a lunch special.

Sanne gives us the finger.

Jebediah Mozart Miyagi: a grand old man.

And of all things, we ended up at a Lucien Freud exhibition after lunch, which was very un-Newcastle like! Sanne has recently taken to pointing things out to everyone, here she points at a fountain with Newcastle City in the background. Cute!

And we ended up in Darby Street for coffee, a perfect end to a perfect weekend!

Cousin Tammie's Hens Day!

2007-10-13T20:49:00.000+10:00

Kathryn, Mum and I headed to King Street Wharf today for my (second) cousin Tammie's Hens Day! She is having a big fat Greek Wedding shortly and we were glad to join in the celebrations. We had High Tea at Loft Bar, which had a lovely view and nice comfy seats.

The best part of the day for me was actually seeing Tammie, as we haven't spoken for years! She's all grown up and so beautiful, it was lovely to see her again.

The blushing bride-to-be, Miss Tammie Hunt.

Laura, Tammie, Kathryn...

Mum and Aunty Kim.

It's hard to get them to stop laughing to take a decent photo!

Thanks to Maid of Honor Nicole Arena for organising the day. I believe the group were last spotted heading towards home nightclub with a Hire-a-Hunk trailing close behind...

Next the Kitchen Tea, then the big day! Expect more photos...

A holiday in Currarong

2007-10-11T18:07:00.000+10:00

Ever heard of Currarong? We hadn't either! I booked a bargain a few months back so Mark and I could go relax down the coast for a few days... and it was so good, we wish we had stayed longer!

This is beautiful Currarong. It is about 20mins drive south of Nowra, about 3 hours from Sydney. It is right out on a headland, near Jervis Bay. That means that it is a quiet place and there are not too many tourists passing through!

This is the beautiful house we stayed in. It had two bedrooms, a killer kitchen and a hammock to hang out the front! Click here for further information...

This is the sign out the front of the house, just incase you were wondering.

And this was the sign across the road from our house... interesting!

A photo of the loungeroom, we spent alot of time here, Mark finally beat me at scrabble! The doors opened out to the verandah where there were glimpses of the ocean (and views of the nosey neighbours checking out who had come to stay!)

We spent alot of time walking around, checking out the clear water and beautiful shells, rocks, flora and fauna. If only it were 5 degrees warmer, we would have been swimming!

We made friends with the local wildlife...

And there were beautiful views to be had everywhere!

Yes, the water is MEANT to be brown, it's from the surrounding tea trees.

Not long after taking this photo from the wreck of the SS Merimbula, Mark and I got terribly lost on a headland and momentary panic ensued!

Of all places to get lost, we got lost in Abraham's Bosom Reserve!

As you may notice, we were not exactly prepared for getting lost.

One pair of sunglasses and 500ml of water between us. We survived and eventually returned back to the village sunburnt and scratched.

It was also our 6 month anniversary when we were in Currarong, so I made Mark this tart to celebrate. (Jamie Oliver, The Naked Chef, it tastes very rich!)

My mio bello.

Despite enjoying our trip immensely, Nowra and surrounds sure has its strange elements! Someone had built this house in the middle of a field, as you may gather, this house is not entirely the best design for the Australian landscape.

There was also this strange bell tower next to the strange house.

And strange creatures that we have never seen before!

We had the most relaxing getaway and would recommend a visit to Currarong to anybody. This place is a gem!

Killer Recipe No. II

2007-10-04T17:04:00.001+10:00

Here is my mum's Spaghetti Bolognaise recipe. She has been cooking it forever! I have kept a copy inside a kitchen cupboard in every house I have lived in, now I thought I'd make it electronic. This is a very easy recipe!

500g mince steak
1 tabspn oil
1 med onion chopped
1 clove garlic crushed
2x 140g tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 tablespoon sugar
125g mushrooms
1 beef stock cube
1 cup water
1 cup red wine
grated carrot & chopped celery if you have any

Heat oil & fry onion, garlic & mince.
Add tomato paste & remaining ingredients.
Cover & simmer 30mins. (Or longer if you have the time.)

Thanks Mum! xxx

Take Out Tees

2007-10-02T08:54:00.000+10:00

Ok, a shopping secret revealed...

This company does customised American Apparel underwear... they'll write whatever you like on the undies in rhinestones, a favourite gift for the bride-to-be!

They are about A$27 delivered to Australia... I'll see if I can get my mate Amanda to model hers so I can get a photo.

In the meantime, I keep losing the web address so I'm putting it here for safe keeping.

http://www.takeouttees.com/

Navy Open Day

2007-10-01T12:03:00.000+10:00

Some of you know that I live right near Garden Island, Sydney's inner-city Naval Base. Well, next week they are having an open day. I think that's pretty exciting because it's usually a big NO to visitors for security and terror reasons. Anyways, they are opening the gates on Saturday 6th October, 2007. I'm gonna see me some big ships!

Click here for details...

Good Food Month

2007-09-28T11:49:00.000+10:00

October is good food month in Sydney! A wonderful excuse to head into the city after work for something at the night noodle markets... or maybe a cocktail and canape special at an array of lovely bars.

Clich the link below for the calendar...
http://gfm.smh.com.au/index.asp

The Wedding of Amanda and Jess

2007-09-27T20:26:00.000+10:00

The Bride and Groom... so beautiful!

Vows and flowergirls...

Even Jeb was ready for the big day!

It made me so happy... I was the person who introduced Amanda and Jess all those years ago!

With the celebrant...

True love!

Mark strikes a pose...

The Flanagan and Milne Family.

Of course I enjoyed a drink...

The day was just so beautiful for everybody.

Mandala

2007-09-26T14:29:00.000+10:00

Today I have been making Mandalas with my year 4 students. Here is a great video of Monks making a Mandala, and some interesting information as well. I hope some Mandala-making happens in Sydney soon.

http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/buddhism/the-video.cfm

This is gorgeous...

2007-09-16T16:55:00.000+10:00

It's funny how fast news travels...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEuc4DO6lJA

Monthly Drop In

2007-09-16T15:20:00.000+10:00

Sweet Jesus, another month has passed and the really busy part of the year is set in motion.. My calendar seems already full beyond my comfort zone - but lucky it is with lots of fun and interesting things to do - remind me I said this if I start acting bored or all worn out in the next few months!!

First over to the business side of things. I moved house again yesterday and hope in my heart of hearts this move lasts a little longer than the stock-standard 10 month stay I have managed in 8 years of living away from 'home.' I had a fantastic time at Denison St Newtown, and if it wasn't for the fact I have fallen in heart bursting love I would still be there. May the gods of the Inner West shoot me down but the Inner East definitely has it's pluses and so far I'm enjoying it! Particularly the palm-lined pool out the back of my new place which will be getting lots of use as it heats up in Summer, and the Coles just a block away. Just ignore the cafes and 4WD madness of nearby Challis Ave, it's for wankers. So far, no real dramas...

The Three Sisters, Katoomba

A few weeks back Mark and I went to the Blue Mountains for the weekend. It was fabulous, fabulous! Particularly the place we stayed in, Bower Studio. Won't bore you with details, but it was 5min from Katoomba, impeccably fit out and quiet quiet quiet! We will be back for Winter next year, no doubts about it.

Mark, comfy

I love my new red Wayfarers! Mark was pissed I wouldn't take them off, but then, I didn't want to squint like him!

Oh, and I need to mention quietly that I beat Mark at Scrabble. He is upset about this as he has an honors degree in English. But as you can tell from the photos, I was as proud as punch.

I didn't know Mark was taking this photo, I was still basking in my glory. I cried shortly afterwards from his teasing.

In other news my mum Marcia is in India and Nepal trekking around the mountains for the next few weeks. We recently celebrated her birthday and the whole family met up in Jannali for some Indian food. My niece Lily went along as well and behaved beautifully for the 3 hours we were there, entertaining us all and barely making a noise! We all hope she will like Indian food as much as the rest of our family.

Mum cuts her favourite cake, a rose cake!

Lily on Mark's lap.

Amongst other things I have been enjoying work and also my time away from work. I worry constantly I still have nits in my hair and also had a virus last week from one of the kids. I'm still not smoking (it must be about 5 months now!) and I actually vomited from trying to smoke a cigarette the other day after work!

School holidays in 2 weeks! This has been such a long term and it can't come fast enough. I'm back at uni studying part-time for the next 6 weeks completing my graduate certificate in Primary Literacy Education so that's injecting even more motivation into what I do. I'm so thankful for my supportive and fun work environment right now.

Alrighty, I think that's it for now. But sending my love and kisses, would love to hear of your own ups and downs. Facebook seems to neatly summarise people's lives, but I'd love to hear some details, some details!

Laura x

I HEART: Dosai, dappled sunlight, azaleas and camellias just bursting with flowers, my new underground carpark, waking up being cuddled! A boyfriend that does the washing and vacuuming, ice-cream with toasted pine nuts and fresh honey, the smell of Sydney Harbour when you get out of your car, wearing my dressing gown all day, my new red wayfarers (see above)

I DON'T HEART: Feeling sick from eating too much rocky-road, shop assistants that just are not interested, finding the time to do the tax return, touch parking your car when being watched, pocket handkerchiefs for men

SMH Good Food Guide Awards

2007-09-06T10:42:00.000+10:00

Ahh, The Sydney Morning Herald's Good Food Guide Awards! I love great food, how my belly rumbles... I always manage to lose this list throughout the year, so my blog is a great place for it!

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Tetsuya's

CITY THREE HATS
Bilson's, Claude's, est, Marque, Pier, Quay, Tetsuya's

TWO HATS
Aria, Becasse, Bentley Restaurant & Bar, Bisto Moncur, Buon Ricordo, Forty One, Guillaume at Bennelong, Icebergs Dining Room & Bar, Lucio's, Pilu at Freshwater, Restaurant Balzac, Rockpool, Sean's Panaroma, Yoshii

ONE HAT
Assiette, Astral, Azuma, Billy Kwong, Bird Cow Fish, Bistro CBD, Bistro Ortolan, Bistrode, The Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay, buzo, Catalina, Fish Face, Flying Fish, Forbes & Burton, Four in Hand Dining Room, Foveaux Restaurant + Bar, Galileo, glass, Glebe Point Diner, Grand National, il piave, Longrain, Lotus, Milsons, Oscillate Wildly, Otto, Pello, Perama, Pier Tasting Room, Restaurant Atelier, Salon Banc, Restuarant Soujourn, Sailors Thai Restaurant, The Wharf, Three Clicks West, Yings

REGIONAL ONE HAT
Artespresso (Canberra), ashcrofts (Blackheath), Bacchus (Newcastle), Caveau (Wollongong), Courgette (Canberra), Darley's (Katoomba), dish (Byron Bay), Eschalot (Berrima), 55 on Collins (Kiama), The Journeyman (Berrima), Lolli Redini (Orange), Lochiel House (Kurrajong Heights), Neila (Cowara), No. 2 Oak St (Bellingen), The Old George & Dragon (East Maitland), Ottoman Cuisine (Canberra), Restaurant Como (Blaxland), Restaurant II (Newcastle), The River (Moruya), Rock (Pokolbin), Tonic (Millthorpe), Vulcans (Blackheath), Zest (Nelson Bay)

While I'm at it I recommend www.eatability.com.au to check on ANY restaurant before booking or visiting, the reviews are usually pretty accurate...

I'm yet to visit a three-hat restaurant but perhaps this is the year for it... but my hips aren't hopin too much!

And I'd like to add my own recommendations... Nest at Potts Point for sour-cherry toast with caramelised pears, Yellow at Potts Point for expensive baked goods and take home desserts, Dairy Bell ice cream factory in Camperdown for classic fresh goodness! And Kammadhenu in Newtown for the best goddamned Dosai in town!

Bon Appetit!

My first...

2007-08-29T14:02:00.000+10:00

Today I found my first grey hair, ever.
29 years, 5 months, 29 days, 13 hours.

!

You tried your best, Dad

2007-08-28T16:21:00.000+10:00

Down here in the Southern Hemisphere it's Father's Day this coming weekend.

Yep, all that last minute shopping for something he won't appreciate and a card that says 'World's No. 1 Dad.'

I'm afraid my Dad would hit me if I bought him a card like that. He would think I was taking the piss! I have been trying for about a week to find a card that says something like 'You tried your best, Dad,' or 'It's better if we don't spend holidays together.'

These ones suit better...

You can learn about the history of Father's Day here.

Quote of the Day

2007-08-20T21:46:00.001+10:00

"Screw ambiguity. Perversion and corruption masquerade as ambiguity. I don't trust ambiguity." - John Wayne

This photo is so beautiful...

2007-08-14T12:40:00.000+10:00

This photo is so beautiful, I just had to put it here.
From left: Peter holding Sanne, Charley, Jess, Amanda, Katie, and Libby.
"Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends." - Cindy Lew

Monthly Drop In

2007-08-13T17:27:00.000+10:00

Well, mid-month already, and time to tell you what I have been up to!
A lot of this email will be health-related, a sure sign we are all getting older, regrettably. First, the good news: I am officially an ex-smoker! I went to see my doctor two weeks ago and I told him about it, and he even changed my record. I can hardly believe it, it's been the most pleasant surprise of like, the last 10 years! So I'd like to thank cheap nicotine patches, changes in pub smoking laws, and an encouraging boyfriend. Sure, I got drunk and smoked three fags on Saturday, but that is nothing compared to the pack a day I started smoking after Christmas in 2004. What next?!
I had that flu, yeah the really bad one that has been on the news. On the second day I was actually borderline delirious and could barely get out of bed to get a glass of water. And I say it quite seriously: I had not felt that bad since April of 2000 when I was living in a tent in the snow and coughing blood. So be careful! And if you get sick, stay at home! (No doubt I got it off one of the critters at school.)
Oh and I think I'm getting nits again, so it's back to the tea tree shampoo.

Health stuff out of the way, the next news is, I am moving away from the inner west! Geez, in the last seven years I have lived in Glebe, Annandale, Stanmore and Newtown - and finally it's time to move on to the inner east, to Potts Point actually, and I'll be moving in about four weeks. It's great to put more of the past behind me, even though I have had so many fun times (and hangovers!) and have made so many great friends. I'll forward on my new address shortly, but won't be putting it in the blog.

In the world of love Mark and I are going super well, we made our first ever trip to Ikea yesterday and we didn't fight, a good sign the relationship is still healthy! We have been dreaming about holidays together and it's great news his brother is moving to New York for work shortly. Hopefully we'll get to the USA sometime in 2008, depending on my job and case, which is still up in the air. It has all been stressing me out a bit again lately but I have been trying to take it one day at a time. Just try and send some kind thoughts, if you will!

My mum is off to Nepal and India again in the coming weeks for a trek and my niece Lily is busy growing! I'm going over to see her tomorrow night, which I can't wait for, because being sick means I haven't been able to hang out with her. My dad has been hogging her lately and it's time to get some quality aunty time in.
Anyways, that's my news for now, hope I find you all well and sending light and love! Laura xx

PS Promise to get some photos etc. happening soon.

I HEART: Lunch by water that sparkles, organic pumpkin and goats cheese pizza from 'about life', Urthboy's new track 'We get around'(Sorry, keep saying I'm over hip-hop!), The Gossip's 'Standing in the way of control' (Yes, I know it's over 6 months old...) My fluff friend Phillip on facebook, double monitors on desktop computers, organic apples, ikea tea cups that stack, the Sass and Bide jeans I just got at $200 off.

I DON'T HEART: Pedestrians wearing ipods, mean-spirited people, misdirected anger, apathy, the growing number of books at Mark's place that have no shelves! The idea that I will be moving again in a few weeks, people riding Vespas in shorts and t-shirts, mould, online scrabble.