Since we don’t live by politics alone (I sincerely hope), what did people get up to this weekend? Join in, share some tales, regulars and lurkers all!
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I’ve spent the whole weekend thinking about macaroons, sorry, macarons, and I don’t even watch MasterChef, just read about it on the intertubes. I defy anyone to think of a macaron flavour combination more disgusting, both visually and, erm, gustatorially, than raspberry, beetroot and olive. Splorf.
I’ve spent the whole weekend thinking about macaroons, sorry, macarons, and I don’t even watch MasterChef, just read about it on the intertubes. I defy anyone to think of a macaron flavour combination more disgusting, both visually and, erm, gustatorially, than raspberry, beetroot and olive. Splorf.
Macaroons. Did someone say macaroons?
Do they have olives in Balfour’s macaroons, or whatever Balfours is called these days, you know, the commercial ones you get up at the corner deli, what not?
hmmm..
A beautiful thin-pastried pizza supreme; anchovies, mussells, etc.
Much later macaroons and light coffee.
Macaroons. Did someone say macaroons?
Do they have olives in Balfour’s macaroons, or whatever Balfours is called these days, you know, the commercial ones you get up at the corner deli, what not?
hmmm..
A beautiful thin-pastried pizza supreme; anchovies, mussells, etc.
Much later macaroons and light coffee.
Collected a two-week railway pass for Japan and a ticket to the Ghibli Museum for the day after my birthday next weekend.
Re-arranged one end of the lounge-room, after buying a new phonogramme (which will let me put all my old Long Playing Records into the computer).
Watched a couple of films: Pom Poko, The Idiot and Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.
Did not think about Macaroons, or Macarons, McAronns or even Mickey Rooneys.
Collected a two-week railway pass for Japan and a ticket to the Ghibli Museum for the day after my birthday next weekend.
Re-arranged one end of the lounge-room, after buying a new phonogramme (which will let me put all my old Long Playing Records into the computer).
Watched a couple of films: Pom Poko, The Idiot and Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.
Did not think about Macaroons, or Macarons, McAronns or even Mickey Rooneys.
After reading about MasterChef macarons on Pavlov’s Cat blog the other day, I was also intrigued by them. I don’t watch MasterChef, but can’t avoid being exposed to their advertising—even my local independent supermarket stocks the magazine, and Adriano Zumba’s on the cover. I was especially interested in the macaron versus macaroon usage, and this article from Age’s Epicure covered the topic nicely. Apparently, referring to two coloured discs glued together with cream as macaroons is a no-no among purists.
I’d love to try Ladurée macarons one day (disappointingly, they refer to them as macaroons).
This will sound totally obsessional, but I wondered more about this macaron business. Here’s what Online Etymology Dictionary offers on the origin of the word. Apparently, it’s all to do with French -on endings being translated into English -oon. A bit like ballon and balloon.
Anyway, a brisk walk by the river took my mind off macarons and current affairs. I particularly needed to get the overload of current affairs out of my system. I took some photos of wattle blossoms. It’s quite chilly in Melbourne, but cold air can be quite refreshing.
I’m meeting up with a friend tonight to see Farewell at the Nova. The movie sounds pretty intense, but it’s great to have a kids free night out.
After reading about MasterChef macarons on Pavlov’s Cat blog the other day, I was also intrigued by them. I don’t watch MasterChef, but can’t avoid being exposed to their advertising—even my local independent supermarket stocks the magazine, and Adriano Zumba’s on the cover. I was especially interested in the macaron versus macaroon usage, and this article from Age’s Epicure covered the topic nicely. Apparently, referring to two coloured discs glued together with cream as macaroons is a no-no among purists.
I’d love to try Ladurée macarons one day (disappointingly, they refer to them as macaroons).
This will sound totally obsessional, but I wondered more about this macaron business. Here’s what Online Etymology Dictionary offers on the origin of the word. Apparently, it’s all to do with French -on endings being translated into English -oon. A bit like ballon and balloon.
Anyway, a brisk walk by the river took my mind off macarons and current affairs. I particularly needed to get the overload of current affairs out of my system. I took some photos of wattle blossoms. It’s quite chilly in Melbourne, but cold air can be quite refreshing.
I’m meeting up with a friend tonight to see Farewell at the Nova. The movie sounds pretty intense, but it’s great to have a kids free night out.
And pizza supremes with the savoury lot.
And pizza supremes with the savoury lot.
Survived the wild winds in Adelaide but still very chilly. More soup. Yum.. macarons but the olive or beetroot ones don’t really appeal. World Cup or sleep .. toss up.
Survived the wild winds in Adelaide but still very chilly. More soup. Yum.. macarons but the olive or beetroot ones don’t really appeal. World Cup or sleep .. toss up.
Spent the morning getting information together for a Property Management Plan which is necessary to get a Government grant as part of a drought recovery program. Why they want 5 years worth of production records and financials is beyond me and it put me in a bad mood.
Spent the afternoon planting more apricot trees. 440 down, 1,200 to go. Well, technically they are all planted but most are still in bundles in trenches with a bit of moist dirt hilled over the roots. A beautiful day, working the dirt, planting our future, watering in and listening to birds. That put me back into a good mood.
Spent the morning getting information together for a Property Management Plan which is necessary to get a Government grant as part of a drought recovery program. Why they want 5 years worth of production records and financials is beyond me and it put me in a bad mood.
Spent the afternoon planting more apricot trees. 440 down, 1,200 to go. Well, technically they are all planted but most are still in bundles in trenches with a bit of moist dirt hilled over the roots. A beautiful day, working the dirt, planting our future, watering in and listening to birds. That put me back into a good mood.
Blood pressure, level of annoyance and indignation were rising because of the mis-reporting of Julia Gillard’s Lowy Institute speech so I took myself off to see the Hans Heysen exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia. Very impressive. You can almost smell the gum trees in his paintings. The exhibition closed its Canberra stint today but I understand that it will travel the road for a while yet.
Couldn’t keep away from politics so blood pressure up again after watching SMH audio “PM grilled on East Timor” http://media.smh.com.au/national/national-news Don’t know who the insolent p*ick of an interviewer is on this Brisbane Radio 4BC interview but it appears to be the basis on which the MSM launched its charge that Julia Gillard had done a back-flip on asylum seekers.
Over at The Drum, Chris Uhlmann is a bit more considered but still way off the mark in “Curiouser and curiouser: through Gillard’s looking glass”. He accuses Ms Gillard of ‘arguing that black is now white’. Really Chris. And you claim to have read the speech. Chris concludes his article thus: ‘No doubt the Government will argue that nothing changed and, again, it is all a matter of media misinterpretation. You decide.”
What do the journalists want! They now have someone who makes very clear statements and in the case of the Lowy Institute speech releases the text. The words could not be clearer. Journalists may not like what the PM said but that does not give them a licence to put words in her mouth. Mr Uhlmann, it is a no brainer that the media is engaging in deliberate mis-interpretation and doing it in a most obtuse manner.
John Hewson talks about his experience with the media when he was Opposition Leader over on Tim Dunlop’s new blog B Sides http://tjd.posterous.com / and recalls how Paul Kelly stated quite emphatically that ‘The Oz had a specific policy agenda, and if I said the right things, consistent with that agenda, I would “get a run”. If I erred, I could expect to get a drubbing.’
I think that I have earned a good glass or two of Shiraz while I watch Little Dorrit. Keep an eye out for Hans Heysen!
Blood pressure, level of annoyance and indignation were rising because of the mis-reporting of Julia Gillard’s Lowy Institute speech so I took myself off to see the Hans Heysen exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia. Very impressive. You can almost smell the gum trees in his paintings. The exhibition closed its Canberra stint today but I understand that it will travel the road for a while yet.
Couldn’t keep away from politics so blood pressure up again after watching SMH audio “PM grilled on East Timor” http://media.smh.com.au/national/national-news Don’t know who the insolent p*ick of an interviewer is on this Brisbane Radio 4BC interview but it appears to be the basis on which the MSM launched its charge that Julia Gillard had done a back-flip on asylum seekers.
Over at The Drum, Chris Uhlmann is a bit more considered but still way off the mark in “Curiouser and curiouser: through Gillard’s looking glass”. He accuses Ms Gillard of ‘arguing that black is now white’. Really Chris. And you claim to have read the speech. Chris concludes his article thus: ‘No doubt the Government will argue that nothing changed and, again, it is all a matter of media misinterpretation. You decide.”
What do the journalists want! They now have someone who makes very clear statements and in the case of the Lowy Institute speech releases the text. The words could not be clearer. Journalists may not like what the PM said but that does not give them a licence to put words in her mouth. Mr Uhlmann, it is a no brainer that the media is engaging in deliberate mis-interpretation and doing it in a most obtuse manner.
John Hewson talks about his experience with the media when he was Opposition Leader over on Tim Dunlop’s new blog B Sides http://tjd.posterous.com / and recalls how Paul Kelly stated quite emphatically that ‘The Oz had a specific policy agenda, and if I said the right things, consistent with that agenda, I would “get a run”. If I erred, I could expect to get a drubbing.’
I think that I have earned a good glass or two of Shiraz while I watch Little Dorrit. Keep an eye out for Hans Heysen!
Tosca, next time you find yourself in Adelaide, go up to Hahndorf and take the tour of the Heysen family home, The Cedars. All of it, but especially the studio, has been kept pretty much as it was when Heysen was alive and his large family lived there — the holes worn in the rug where he stood to paint, the glass cases with his painting gear and specs and sketches and notes. It’s a bit eerie and very moving.
Also, of course, the house is surrounded by the play of light on eucalypt leaves and bark that he loved so much.
Tosca, next time you find yourself in Adelaide, go up to Hahndorf and take the tour of the Heysen family home, The Cedars. All of it, but especially the studio, has been kept pretty much as it was when Heysen was alive and his large family lived there — the holes worn in the rug where he stood to paint, the glass cases with his painting gear and specs and sketches and notes. It’s a bit eerie and very moving.
Also, of course, the house is surrounded by the play of light on eucalypt leaves and bark that he loved so much.
Can I ask if anyone has watched the ABC news (probably) tonight and seen something about Congo – maybe a woman speaking in her language about fundraising?
I’d really appreciate hearing what this was about if anyone recalls.
Can I ask if anyone has watched the ABC news (probably) tonight and seen something about Congo – maybe a woman speaking in her language about fundraising?
I’d really appreciate hearing what this was about if anyone recalls.
a ticket to the Ghibli Museum
You lucky bastard, I would *love* to go there!
If you’re watching more, don’t forget Whisper of The Heart – I only saw it this year and thought it was great.
a ticket to the Ghibli Museum
You lucky bastard, I would *love* to go there!
If you’re watching more, don’t forget Whisper of The Heart – I only saw it this year and thought it was great.
Tosca, the Sunday Mail ran a bullsh!t article on how everyone in SA is saving all their money and are really worried about their high credit card debt and are very concerned because the economy is very unstable and even though the economy is very stable they don’t think Labour’s economic management credentials are very good.
Then in the letters some ignorant clown was mouthing off about how he hates queue jumpers of any description and reserved nost of his venom for boat people who aren’t really refugees because they’re just fleeing a civil wars and they don’t count because….um nobody gets killed?
So yet another letter to the editor, which probably won’t get published, because I included the UN definition of refugees,
accused him of being colossally ignorant, furnished a list of repressive regimes and reminded the idiot of those harmless little stoushes in Rwanda, Bosnia and a few places.
Am watching Dr Who to take my mind off things.
Tosca, the Sunday Mail ran a bullsh!t article on how everyone in SA is saving all their money and are really worried about their high credit card debt and are very concerned because the economy is very unstable and even though the economy is very stable they don’t think Labour’s economic management credentials are very good.
Then in the letters some ignorant clown was mouthing off about how he hates queue jumpers of any description and reserved nost of his venom for boat people who aren’t really refugees because they’re just fleeing a civil wars and they don’t count because….um nobody gets killed?
So yet another letter to the editor, which probably won’t get published, because I included the UN definition of refugees,
accused him of being colossally ignorant, furnished a list of repressive regimes and reminded the idiot of those harmless little stoushes in Rwanda, Bosnia and a few places.
Am watching Dr Who to take my mind off things.
Tosca @8. Gillard was interviewed on Brisbane radio 4BC by Michael Smith. If you want to look after your blood pressure don’t go listening to him.
Arrogance out of all proportion to ability just about covers it and, in between, you have ghastly noisy and repetitive ads.
Tosca @8. Gillard was interviewed on Brisbane radio 4BC by Michael Smith. If you want to look after your blood pressure don’t go listening to him.
Arrogance out of all proportion to ability just about covers it and, in between, you have ghastly noisy and repetitive ads.
Know the feeling, Tosca, mine’s a Cabernet Merlot as I try to lift my mood. I’m drinking it with delicious olives from my own garden, pickled for me by Giovane and Maria my next door neighbours.
Talking of neighbours I am missing mine on the other side terribly – my daughter and her family who are in Europe for a month long holiday. Up until a few years ago I was always the one who was a continent or sometimes half a world away, which changed when I finally retired here in 2005. I don’t live in their pockets but I’d got into the habit of ending Tacker’s early morning walk by dropping in to hang out their washing for them and saying hello as the boys set off for school.
No washing now, of course, but Tacker and I with Sheba the cat check out the garden and go upstairs to feed Jacob’s fish. He(?) is thriving and swimming around cheerful as ever as I report on our regular email exchanges along with info about the garden and the weather.
It’s the weather that’s made all the difference to my mood, I think. So much rain, so longed for after endless days of bright sunshine here and cold nights too. So why do I suddenly feel flat, a bit low and suddenly lonely? Not just because the media, particularly the Oz, are as maddening as usual – Michael Kirby on Big Ideas just now made the same complaint about them as you, Tosca. We’re in good company.
The weather too is wonderful – Irish weather, all smiles and tears. Lots of low dark clouds and rain interspersed with brief breakthrough bursts of blue sky and sunshine. But there’s the problem; we’ve had to dash out for quick walks round the block when we can, no meeting with old friends at the beach and no children out on the street walking their own dogs with mums and dads. School holidays mean it’s over a week since Tacker’s little friends have been stopping by morning and evening to say hello to him at the gate.
So, it’s not really the media, certainly not the rain. Simply, it’s not having children around. Who’d have thought it!
Know the feeling, Tosca, mine’s a Cabernet Merlot as I try to lift my mood. I’m drinking it with delicious olives from my own garden, pickled for me by Giovane and Maria my next door neighbours.
Talking of neighbours I am missing mine on the other side terribly – my daughter and her family who are in Europe for a month long holiday. Up until a few years ago I was always the one who was a continent or sometimes half a world away, which changed when I finally retired here in 2005. I don’t live in their pockets but I’d got into the habit of ending Tacker’s early morning walk by dropping in to hang out their washing for them and saying hello as the boys set off for school.
No washing now, of course, but Tacker and I with Sheba the cat check out the garden and go upstairs to feed Jacob’s fish. He(?) is thriving and swimming around cheerful as ever as I report on our regular email exchanges along with info about the garden and the weather.
It’s the weather that’s made all the difference to my mood, I think. So much rain, so longed for after endless days of bright sunshine here and cold nights too. So why do I suddenly feel flat, a bit low and suddenly lonely? Not just because the media, particularly the Oz, are as maddening as usual – Michael Kirby on Big Ideas just now made the same complaint about them as you, Tosca. We’re in good company.
The weather too is wonderful – Irish weather, all smiles and tears. Lots of low dark clouds and rain interspersed with brief breakthrough bursts of blue sky and sunshine. But there’s the problem; we’ve had to dash out for quick walks round the block when we can, no meeting with old friends at the beach and no children out on the street walking their own dogs with mums and dads. School holidays mean it’s over a week since Tacker’s little friends have been stopping by morning and evening to say hello to him at the gate.
So, it’s not really the media, certainly not the rain. Simply, it’s not having children around. Who’d have thought it!
Macaroons. I love coconut macaroons. (PatriciaWA have you tried the hazlenut macaroons at Abhi’s? they look too dark, but they’re good)
I have very high standards when it comes to cakes – my mother, who is as old as Methuselah, is an ace cake maker. During the depression, when they had boarders living with them, and my grandmother worked, it was my mother’s job, when she got home from school, to make that evening’s desert – a cake, a pie … she made one more or less everyday. Her aunt, who made cakes for a cake shop taught her.
So, when I was living in China, a lifetime ago, I was cake deprived (Mum did send up fruit cakes). Canton only had one real, sort of, cake shop, which sold monstrous things – stuff that looked like cream was actually coloured lard. But one day I saw something new – coconut macaroons! I bought a box of 6 and took them to a friend’s place. Tea was made. I took a bite and .. delicious … except there was this long piece of string, one end still buried in the macaroon.
Chanelling my mother, I said to my friend “I’m going to take these back and get my money back”. Well, in those days the customer was not king in China – apparently no one in China ever imagined you could demand your money back. Back to the shop we went – my friend really wanted to see this – and I held up the half macaroon, dangling from the string and demanded a refund. Grudgingly they said I could have another macaroon. Nope, I demanded the refund, and, almost certainly because of the novelty of being foreigner, I got it. I may have re-introduced the concept of a refund to modern China. Of course after that I had to go to Hong Kong for macaroons.
Macaroons. I love coconut macaroons. (PatriciaWA have you tried the hazlenut macaroons at Abhi’s? they look too dark, but they’re good)
I have very high standards when it comes to cakes – my mother, who is as old as Methuselah, is an ace cake maker. During the depression, when they had boarders living with them, and my grandmother worked, it was my mother’s job, when she got home from school, to make that evening’s desert – a cake, a pie … she made one more or less everyday. Her aunt, who made cakes for a cake shop taught her.
So, when I was living in China, a lifetime ago, I was cake deprived (Mum did send up fruit cakes). Canton only had one real, sort of, cake shop, which sold monstrous things – stuff that looked like cream was actually coloured lard. But one day I saw something new – coconut macaroons! I bought a box of 6 and took them to a friend’s place. Tea was made. I took a bite and .. delicious … except there was this long piece of string, one end still buried in the macaroon.
Chanelling my mother, I said to my friend “I’m going to take these back and get my money back”. Well, in those days the customer was not king in China – apparently no one in China ever imagined you could demand your money back. Back to the shop we went – my friend really wanted to see this – and I held up the half macaroon, dangling from the string and demanded a refund. Grudgingly they said I could have another macaroon. Nope, I demanded the refund, and, almost certainly because of the novelty of being foreigner, I got it. I may have re-introduced the concept of a refund to modern China. Of course after that I had to go to Hong Kong for macaroons.
String?
One of the things I did today, in the wake of the Backyard Chainsaw Massacre a week or two ago, was a round of said back yard retrieving old and now-visible birds’ nests to leave out for the magpies to pull apart and use. (We are already into that magpie-nesting time of year where I don’t dare go outside without a hat and sunglasses on.)
It seems to be an iron rule of blackbird nest-making that you have to use at least three different colours of string, twine or coloured paper. If possible these materials must also be colour-coded to the blossoms of the plant in which they are built.
String?
One of the things I did today, in the wake of the Backyard Chainsaw Massacre a week or two ago, was a round of said back yard retrieving old and now-visible birds’ nests to leave out for the magpies to pull apart and use. (We are already into that magpie-nesting time of year where I don’t dare go outside without a hat and sunglasses on.)
It seems to be an iron rule of blackbird nest-making that you have to use at least three different colours of string, twine or coloured paper. If possible these materials must also be colour-coded to the blossoms of the plant in which they are built.
Celebrated my Dad’s 90th birthday at my sister’s yesterday, so am guessing Dad is about the same age as Russell’s mum. Kids both had roles at church this morning. Friends over for afternoon tea, and then Dr Who. Not a bad weekend!
Celebrated my Dad’s 90th birthday at my sister’s yesterday, so am guessing Dad is about the same age as Russell’s mum. Kids both had roles at church this morning. Friends over for afternoon tea, and then Dr Who. Not a bad weekend!
terangeree, you’re going to Japan! I seem to recall reading before that you used to live here – or am I wrong and this is your first time visiting?
I spent today watching Deadwood and preparing lectures. This combination of unpaid preparation work and exposure to the vile underbelly of the American frontier means it’s almost physically impossible for me to write or speak more than one word without using the c-word. Applaud my restraint, team LP!
terangeree, you’re going to Japan! I seem to recall reading before that you used to live here – or am I wrong and this is your first time visiting?
I spent today watching Deadwood and preparing lectures. This combination of unpaid preparation work and exposure to the vile underbelly of the American frontier means it’s almost physically impossible for me to write or speak more than one word without using the c-word. Applaud my restraint, team LP!
Pavlov’s Cat, I find that moving calmly, talking to the maggies, and offering food, all prevent attacks. You just have to convince them that you’re a friend, but possibly nesting season isn’t the best time of year to try!
Pavlov’s Cat, I find that moving calmly, talking to the maggies, and offering food, all prevent attacks. You just have to convince them that you’re a friend, but possibly nesting season isn’t the best time of year to try!
Russell,
I love the Chinese cakes, well more pastries I suppose, with the red bean, taro or lotus bean filling. Mmmmm.
Russell,
I love the Chinese cakes, well more pastries I suppose, with the red bean, taro or lotus bean filling. Mmmmm.
Little Dorrit
How splendid a production — how telling a tale.
Little Dorrit
How splendid a production — how telling a tale.
sg, I have found that hooplehead is an acceptable substitute, very much in keeping with the Deadwood theme!
sg, I have found that hooplehead is an acceptable substitute, very much in keeping with the Deadwood theme!
true patrickg, but I doubt I could say “hooplehead” without surrounding it with f- and c-words (at least two of the latter, and one of the former), and probably fitting in a couple of other bodily-function references too. The language is truly shocking.
I’m only on season 1 but so far the absence of decent female characters is pretty telling. “Historical realism” it may be, but politically rewarding it ain’t.
Damn good so far nonetheless.
true patrickg, but I doubt I could say “hooplehead” without surrounding it with f- and c-words (at least two of the latter, and one of the former), and probably fitting in a couple of other bodily-function references too. The language is truly shocking.
I’m only on season 1 but so far the absence of decent female characters is pretty telling. “Historical realism” it may be, but politically rewarding it ain’t.
Damn good so far nonetheless.
sg:
No, I’ve only ever lived in Brisbane (but spent 10 months in Townsville and two months in Melbourne) — just seem to travel to Japan fairly frequently lately (next week will be the sixth trip since April 2009).
Among other things, I’m trying to figure out just what it is that the talking escalators are saying.
sg:
No, I’ve only ever lived in Brisbane (but spent 10 months in Townsville and two months in Melbourne) — just seem to travel to Japan fairly frequently lately (next week will be the sixth trip since April 2009).
Among other things, I’m trying to figure out just what it is that the talking escalators are saying.
haha!
Everything here talks!
I haven’t been to the Ghibli museum but I hear it’s very good. Since I’m living down south, I’m hoping to visit the forest that inspired Princess Mononoke in the next year or two. I doubt it will compare to Kaori forests in NZ though…
haha!
Everything here talks!
I haven’t been to the Ghibli museum but I hear it’s very good. Since I’m living down south, I’m hoping to visit the forest that inspired Princess Mononoke in the next year or two. I doubt it will compare to Kaori forests in NZ though…
“Russell,
I love the Chinese cakes”
Helen, I knew you and I had nothing in common. Red Beans and cakes do not go together. Vanilla beans and cakes do.
Little Dorrit?? Another reminder of life in China. Books in English were hard to come by in the old PRC, and for some inscrutable reason, one of the books you could buy was Little Dorrit. I like Dickens. I’ve read a lot of Dickens. I hated Little Dorrit and every night ended up with me chucking the volume across the room. But desperate for English, the next night I would fish the bloody thing out from behind the chair or under the table and subject myself to another miserable episode. Not Recommended.
“Russell,
I love the Chinese cakes”
Helen, I knew you and I had nothing in common. Red Beans and cakes do not go together. Vanilla beans and cakes do.
Little Dorrit?? Another reminder of life in China. Books in English were hard to come by in the old PRC, and for some inscrutable reason, one of the books you could buy was Little Dorrit. I like Dickens. I’ve read a lot of Dickens. I hated Little Dorrit and every night ended up with me chucking the volume across the room. But desperate for English, the next night I would fish the bloody thing out from behind the chair or under the table and subject myself to another miserable episode. Not Recommended.
Including the toilets, sg.
My beautiful Japanese friend who’s teaching beautiful Japanese to Bengalis at the moment (in Bengal, which is probably a good place to find Bengalis) suggested that I go to Yakushima on this trip, but as I was planning on seeing the bullfighting on Shikoku, Yakushima might have to wait until another time…
I took my mum to the Ghibli museum last May. It really is very, very good.
Including the toilets, sg.
My beautiful Japanese friend who’s teaching beautiful Japanese to Bengalis at the moment (in Bengal, which is probably a good place to find Bengalis) suggested that I go to Yakushima on this trip, but as I was planning on seeing the bullfighting on Shikoku, Yakushima might have to wait until another time…
I took my mum to the Ghibli museum last May. It really is very, very good.
Returned from NZ, and my 6 y.o. daughter and I went letterboxing for the Greens in our area. She loved it, and it was just the elixir I needed to get the putrid stench of Gillabbotism out of my nose.
Australian politics is rank and totally immature, again. Gimme NZ anyday.
Returned from NZ, and my 6 y.o. daughter and I went letterboxing for the Greens in our area. She loved it, and it was just the elixir I needed to get the putrid stench of Gillabbotism out of my nose.
Australian politics is rank and totally immature, again. Gimme NZ anyday.
Lefty E – I hope you didn’t talk to anyone. In The West Australian we had a long article from a reporter who followed the Member for Canning around as he door-knocked. The reporter said that half the people had no interest whatsoever in politics and the other half only wanted to talk about asylum seekers.
Than again, I guess you don’t live in outer suburbia?
Lefty E – I hope you didn’t talk to anyone. In The West Australian we had a long article from a reporter who followed the Member for Canning around as he door-knocked. The reporter said that half the people had no interest whatsoever in politics and the other half only wanted to talk about asylum seekers.
Than again, I guess you don’t live in outer suburbia?
Pavlov’s Cat @ 9 thanks for the link to The Cedars. Found out from there that Hans Heysen Exhibition goes next to Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane from 31 July 2010 – 24 October 2010 and ends its tour at Newcastle Region Art Gallery, Newcastle from 19 November 2010 – 30 January 2011.
Jane says @ 12 Hope that your letter jumps the queue to get published.
Ann of Brisbane @ 13 re Michael Smith of Brisbane radio 4BC. “Arrogance out of all proportion to ability” – well put.
Patricia WA @ 14 hope that the Cabernet Merlot with olives has lifted your mood. BTW I always enjoy your poems.
Pavlov’s Cat @ 9 thanks for the link to The Cedars. Found out from there that Hans Heysen Exhibition goes next to Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane from 31 July 2010 – 24 October 2010 and ends its tour at Newcastle Region Art Gallery, Newcastle from 19 November 2010 – 30 January 2011.
Jane says @ 12 Hope that your letter jumps the queue to get published.
Ann of Brisbane @ 13 re Michael Smith of Brisbane radio 4BC. “Arrogance out of all proportion to ability” – well put.
Patricia WA @ 14 hope that the Cabernet Merlot with olives has lifted your mood. BTW I always enjoy your poems.
Watching the Tour De France. Cadel Evans is in the lead!!
Watching the Tour De France. Cadel Evans is in the lead!!
Little Dorrit – I’ve never read the book, but I’m enjoying the TV adaptation. I obviously have a weak spot for Dickensian grotesques, and this production is not wallowing in Dickens’ sentimentality, of which I expect that the book might contain rather more.
Totally enjoyed the Doctor Who season finale.
Little Dorrit – I’ve never read the book, but I’m enjoying the TV adaptation. I obviously have a weak spot for Dickensian grotesques, and this production is not wallowing in Dickens’ sentimentality, of which I expect that the book might contain rather more.
Totally enjoyed the Doctor Who season finale.
Spent most of the day taking notes from various secondary sources on the American Revolution. A few more weeks and I’ll have finished all my reading on the 1775-1776 siege of Boston and can begin writing the two chapters on it. – Have to buy a few more books yet – There are 2 in the post – begun the plan for the first chapter on the siege. Its good to be that far advanced with it.
Read a chapter of a history some one I know is writing and am currently engaged in an e-mail cyber-war with him as a result. The stuff is terrible. One chapter was journalism, not history, and the other was so bloody awful that if a second year uni student had submitted it to me as an essay they would have got between 5 and 7 out of 20. Told him to go away and read some books on the practice of history. Insults is flying. I hope it doesn’t ruin our friendship.
Watched Dr, Who. Magnificently mythic and fairy tale-like. A masterpiece this timew round IMHO. Enjoyed Little Dorrit.
Spent most of the day taking notes from various secondary sources on the American Revolution. A few more weeks and I’ll have finished all my reading on the 1775-1776 siege of Boston and can begin writing the two chapters on it. – Have to buy a few more books yet – There are 2 in the post – begun the plan for the first chapter on the siege. Its good to be that far advanced with it.
Read a chapter of a history some one I know is writing and am currently engaged in an e-mail cyber-war with him as a result. The stuff is terrible. One chapter was journalism, not history, and the other was so bloody awful that if a second year uni student had submitted it to me as an essay they would have got between 5 and 7 out of 20. Told him to go away and read some books on the practice of history. Insults is flying. I hope it doesn’t ruin our friendship.
Watched Dr, Who. Magnificently mythic and fairy tale-like. A masterpiece this timew round IMHO. Enjoyed Little Dorrit.
So, sports fans, was Spain’s victory considered a satisfying ending to the World Cup? Was it expected, or an upset? Did some other team get robbed?
I saw a big chunk of the Germany-Uruguay game and it seemed pretty good. Two of the goals I thought were scored in a pretty ingenious fashion.
Overall was this World Cup one of the greats, or about average, or sub par?
So, sports fans, was Spain’s victory considered a satisfying ending to the World Cup? Was it expected, or an upset? Did some other team get robbed?
I saw a big chunk of the Germany-Uruguay game and it seemed pretty good. Two of the goals I thought were scored in a pretty ingenious fashion.
Overall was this World Cup one of the greats, or about average, or sub par?
j-p-z @ 34,
It was expected. The psychic octopus, who apparently has never been wrong, predicted it.
j-p-z @ 34,
It was expected. The psychic octopus, who apparently has never been wrong, predicted it.
Made a kickarse beef goulash with buttered egg noodles and steamed brussels sprouts, and had the ex over for the first time since the Split was made final, to celebrate Stevie Nicks’ birthday.
It was very pleasant. Pretty fucking weird still, but I spose it always will be.
*which I’m now about to wrap in pastry for Goulash II! The Sequel!
Made a kickarse beef goulash with buttered egg noodles and steamed brussels sprouts, and had the ex over for the first time since the Split was made final, to celebrate Stevie Nicks’ birthday.
It was very pleasant. Pretty fucking weird still, but I spose it always will be.
*which I’m now about to wrap in pastry for Goulash II! The Sequel!
For really lazy cooks may I recommend Congolais instead of coconut macaroons? Couldn’t be simpler- whisk egg whites and sugar in a pan over heat, dump in coconut then put spoonfuls on a tray and bake in the oven. They are soft in the middle but I prefer them that way.
For really lazy cooks may I recommend Congolais instead of coconut macaroons? Couldn’t be simpler- whisk egg whites and sugar in a pan over heat, dump in coconut then put spoonfuls on a tray and bake in the oven. They are soft in the middle but I prefer them that way.
Japerz:
It was a good World Cup, but not IMHO a great one. A great world cup must have:
>Giant-killing. Archetype: Cameroon, Italia ’90.
Through a combination of unusual style, little known players, luck, momentum and bandwagonesque underdog support, a team has a “fairytale” World Cup.
In this one, the closest we had were the PDRK and New Zealand. Two more odious nations could hardly be found to get behind (or “root for”, as you might have it – raising the idea that one might simultaneously ‘get behind’ and ‘root for’ something – but I’m sure we’ve been through this).
>Host nation success. Archetype: England ’66.
A ‘developing’ soccer nation/region rises to unprecedented heights due to home support, home grounds, dodgy refereeing decisions and so on.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who REALLY wanted SA to get out of the group stage, and the rest of Africa bar Ghana were pretty disappointing.
>A deserving victor. Archetype: Mexico ’86
When God Himself intervenes on a team’s behalf, who are we to say the result was unjust?
Here we had a team who are probably the best in the world at the moment – best collection of individuals and best team – but didn’t play as well as either Brazil or Germany over the whole gig. I think it would have been ‘better for football’ if either of them had won – Brazil because it’s always good to remind the rest of the world that love of the game and flair are important, and Germany because for the first time in ages they were playing entertaining, positive football.
/2c
Japerz:
It was a good World Cup, but not IMHO a great one. A great world cup must have:
>Giant-killing. Archetype: Cameroon, Italia ’90.
Through a combination of unusual style, little known players, luck, momentum and bandwagonesque underdog support, a team has a “fairytale” World Cup.
In this one, the closest we had were the PDRK and New Zealand. Two more odious nations could hardly be found to get behind (or “root for”, as you might have it – raising the idea that one might simultaneously ‘get behind’ and ‘root for’ something – but I’m sure we’ve been through this).
>Host nation success. Archetype: England ’66.
A ‘developing’ soccer nation/region rises to unprecedented heights due to home support, home grounds, dodgy refereeing decisions and so on.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who REALLY wanted SA to get out of the group stage, and the rest of Africa bar Ghana were pretty disappointing.
>A deserving victor. Archetype: Mexico ’86
When God Himself intervenes on a team’s behalf, who are we to say the result was unjust?
Here we had a team who are probably the best in the world at the moment – best collection of individuals and best team – but didn’t play as well as either Brazil or Germany over the whole gig. I think it would have been ‘better for football’ if either of them had won – Brazil because it’s always good to remind the rest of the world that love of the game and flair are important, and Germany because for the first time in ages they were playing entertaining, positive football.
/2c
Very good Su – even lazier people can Google the full, elaborate recipe and print it out for their mother to make. She seems to favour something she calls “Chinese Chews” at the moment, and it’s time to move on.
Very good Su – even lazier people can Google the full, elaborate recipe and print it out for their mother to make. She seems to favour something she calls “Chinese Chews” at the moment, and it’s time to move on.
Dude, by “pretty fucking weird” I take it you mean the idea of having dinner guests over to celebrate Stevie Nicks’ birthday!?
Happy Nicksday, anyway
Dude, by “pretty fucking weird” I take it you mean the idea of having dinner guests over to celebrate Stevie Nicks’ birthday!?
Happy Nicksday, anyway
And what was the octopus’s given name PB?
And what was the octopus’s given name PB?
Paul. I suppose he has a garden.
Paul. I suppose he has a garden.
Apparently this is likely to be Paul the Octopus’ last world cup as he is already 2 1/2 and octopii generally only live to three years. So even if they did release him as PETA have been calling for, it would be a pretty short lived (sorry) experience for him.
Apparently this is likely to be Paul the Octopus’ last world cup as he is already 2 1/2 and octopii generally only live to three years. So even if they did release him as PETA have been calling for, it would be a pretty short lived (sorry) experience for him.
Robbing PETA to play with Paul?
Robbing PETA to play with Paul?
“And what was the octopus’s given name PB?”
Prosecutersfallacy.
“Dude, by “pretty fucking weird” I take it you mean the idea of having dinner guests over to celebrate Stevie Nicks’ birthday!?”
I have a cat naming system, and it FUCKING WORKS, okay?
“And what was the octopus’s given name PB?”
Prosecutersfallacy.
“Dude, by “pretty fucking weird” I take it you mean the idea of having dinner guests over to celebrate Stevie Nicks’ birthday!?”
I have a cat naming system, and it FUCKING WORKS, okay?
I’m not sure anyone was dissing your cat naming system FDB, I quite like it actually. Our system was to name pets after historical and mythical figures – Persphone, Aphrodite, Cleopatra, Dido, Nefertiti, Attila (the Hun-gry) but that came a buster when we adopted Garfunkel (Art Garfunkel is hardly history, yet) and went completely to hell when we named the chooks (Madge, Beryl and Sarah Jenny).
I thought Helen was thinking having a dinner party for a cat’s birthday was a little unusual. I wondered if having the former MsFDB over was weird because she went away afterwards instead of staying like she would have pre-breakup.
I’m not sure anyone was dissing your cat naming system FDB, I quite like it actually. Our system was to name pets after historical and mythical figures – Persphone, Aphrodite, Cleopatra, Dido, Nefertiti, Attila (the Hun-gry) but that came a buster when we adopted Garfunkel (Art Garfunkel is hardly history, yet) and went completely to hell when we named the chooks (Madge, Beryl and Sarah Jenny).
I thought Helen was thinking having a dinner party for a cat’s birthday was a little unusual. I wondered if having the former MsFDB over was weird because she went away afterwards instead of staying like she would have pre-breakup.
Beryl is an excellent name for a chook. I once knew someone whose had two chooks called Beryl and Beryl.
Beryl is an excellent name for a chook. I once knew someone whose had two chooks called Beryl and Beryl.
*who had*
Goingtobednow
*who had*
Goingtobednow
No, I forgot the cat’s name was Stevie Nicks and I had visions of FDB/ex celebrating the birthday of the hippy-dippy Fleetwood Mac one!
No, I forgot the cat’s name was Stevie Nicks and I had visions of FDB/ex celebrating the birthday of the hippy-dippy Fleetwood Mac one!
@ Helen, you just never know with these musician types though.
@ Helen, you just never know with these musician types though.
Well I’m glad we cleared it all up anyway.
Well I’m glad we cleared it all up anyway.
I once had a fish named Socrates. He was a deep sinker.
I once had a fish named Socrates. He was a deep sinker.
Nice one Paul. In an article on Backyard Chooks I read about two named Hen Solo and Princess Layer. For our next chooks I’m thinking Eunice, Betty, Pearl and Gertie. Of course I will immediately be overruled by the children, who want to name them after their friends, but that’s parenthood for you.
Nice one Paul. In an article on Backyard Chooks I read about two named Hen Solo and Princess Layer. For our next chooks I’m thinking Eunice, Betty, Pearl and Gertie. Of course I will immediately be overruled by the children, who want to name them after their friends, but that’s parenthood for you.
My brother once had a cat called ‘Fuckrat’ because that’s what it did.
And if I ever owned a racehorse, I’d call it ‘Whiskas’ as a performance incentive measure.
My brother once had a cat called ‘Fuckrat’ because that’s what it did.
And if I ever owned a racehorse, I’d call it ‘Whiskas’ as a performance incentive measure.
Best horse names courtesy of Roy and HG – the renowned Rooting King and its less renowned stablemate Bludging Slug.
Best horse names courtesy of Roy and HG – the renowned Rooting King and its less renowned stablemate Bludging Slug.
Goodness. Were the Chinese involved?
Goodness. Were the Chinese involved?
At last … definitive proof: The word of god is injurious to your health
A court-ordered study has found that electromagnetic waves beamed by Vatican Radio leave residents living near the station’s antennas at a higher risk of cancer, Italian media said Wednesday.
“There has been an important, coherent and meaningful correlation between exposure to Vatican Radio’s structures and the risk of leukaemia and lymphoma in children,” the report said, according to the daily La Stampa.
The report also warned of “important risks” of dying of cancer for people who had resided at least 10 years within a nine-kilometre (5.5-mile) radius of the radio’s giant antenna towers near Cesano, some 20 kilometres north of Rome.
The radio’s director, Federico Lombardi, disputed the report, saying: “Vatican Radio is astonished to hear the news on the results of the study
You’d think the chap upstairs would have tipped them off, or at least whispered in papa’s ear. So much for infallibility.
I love this bit:
A 2001 investigation by Italy’s environment ministry showed that magnetic fields in the area were six times more powerful than allowed, while Rome’s Lazio region estimated that the rate of deaths from leukaemia among children in the Cesano area was three times higher than in adjoining areas.
God needs a strong signal obviously, and like the Catholic church, he’s into tough love.
This just in: