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Things to do with kids - in South West of Western Australia

2012-01-06T16:47:00.002+08:00

Okay, I like staying in The Yallingup, Dunsborough, maragaret River, Balingyup, Nannup, Pemberton Area. So here is my list of places that are family/child friendly - dining or just family days out.
Dining and kids
Wills Domain - http://www.willsdomain.com.au/
Playground
Laurance Wines - http://www.laurancewines.com.au/index.php
Playground
Duckstein - http://www.duckstein.com.au/index.php/margaret_river
Playground
Briarose Estate - http://www.margaretriver.com/accom_result1/briarose-estate/
Playground
Bootleg Brewer - http://www.bootlegbrewery.com.au/default.aspx
Playground
Bush Shack Brewery - http://www.bushshackbrewery.com.au/default.htm
Playground
Cape Mentelle - http://www.capementelle.com.au/
Playground
Colonial Brewing Co - http://www.colonialbrewingco.com.au/brewery
Playground
Goanna Gallery - http://www.goannacafe.com.au/goanna-gallery/
small play area
Cowarmarup Brewery - http://www.cowaramupbrewing.com.au/family-fun.html
Playground
Millers Ice-Creamery - http://www.millersmargaretriver.com.au/view/home/
playground
Simmos Ice-Cream - http://www.simmos.com.au/
Playground
3 Bears Pub, Cnr Seymour Boulevard & Caves Road, Dunsborough
Playground. $2 kids showbags.

Just playgrounds
Apple Fun Park (Donnybrook) http://www.crendon.com.au/apple_funpark.htm
Pemberton Town centre playground - http://acoffeeinthepark.com/pemberton-town-centre

Other kid stuff
Sunflowers animal farm - http://www.sunflowersfarm.com/
The mythic mazes - http://www.mythicmazes.com.au/
The Yallingup maze - http://yallingupmaze.com.au/
Quindalup Fauna Park - 962 Caves Rd, Quindalup WA 6281, Australia
Ph: (08) 9755 3933
Country Life Farm - http://www.countrylifefarm.com.au/Country_Life_Farm/Page_One.html
A Maze'n Margaret River - http://www.amazenmargaretriver.com.au/
Gabriel Chocolate - http://www.gabrielchocolate.com.au/
Boranup Forest Maze - http://www.margaretriver.com/accom_result1/boranup-forest-maze/
Metricup Bird Park - http://www.womo.com.au/reviews/Metricup-Bird-Park-Margaret-River/
Naturaliste Reptile Park - http://www.naturalistereptilepark.com.au/

Child Friendly Dining in Perth

2012-01-06T15:51:00.001+08:00

Here is a go to list of places that you can eat out with your kids and they have some sort of entertainment for kids.

Venue: Brooklands Tavern
Location: Huntingdale/Southern River
Child Friendly Attributes: new indoor playground. $2 kids showbags.

Venue: 3 Bears Pub
Location: Dunsborough
Child Friendly Attributes: Playground. $2 kids showbags.

Venue: Eden Hill Bar & Bistro
Location: Morley Drive, Eden Hill
Child Friendly Attributes: Childrens play area. Free video games.

Venue: Red Rock Noodle Bar & Restaurant
Locations: Mt Lawley, Claremont, Applecross, Vic Park
Child Friendly Attributes: Have an indoor kids entertainment section - games and such.

Cater4Kids - group move from pub to pub providing childrens entertainment, like face painting and crafts.
Pubs involved (check their website http://www.cater4kids.com.au/index.asp?laCode=ENGAU - for which nights) are;
The Saint George (aka The Saint) Innaloo
The Glengarry Tavern - Duncraig
The Left Bank - Fremantle
The Whistling Kite - Secret Harbour
The Oxford Hotel - Leederville
The Balmoral - East Victoria Park
The Iris Bar and Restaurant - Jandakot
Paddy Malones - Joondalup
Captain Stirling - nedlands
Bentley Hotel - Bentley
The Northwood Alehouse - Mirrabooka
The Gate bar and Bistro - Success
Byford Tavern - Byford

Venue: The Laughin' Barrel

Location: The Swan Valley

Website: http://www.thelaughinbarrel.com.au/
Child Friendly attributes: A large fenced outdoor playground near a patio with a few tables for adults to sit and enjoy their meal. Also they do a meal where the kids go and make their own pizza, they roll out the dough, put their toppings on and then the chef cooks it

Venue: Siennas
Location: Leederville
Child Friendly attributes: An indoor kids playground.

Venue: Eaton Tavern
Location: Eaton, Bunbury
Child Friendly Attributes:
Good food, lots of room, outdoor play equipment where you can eat at the restruant and watch your kids play.

Venue: The Grove Grill
Location: Wattle Grove
Child friendly attributes: Outdoor, fenced playground with tables nearby for adults to see them clearly.
Con: The playground only has "mood" lighting so early dinners are best but you can still see sufficiently if you stay later.

Venue: Ninniku Jip
Location: Victoria Park
Child friendly attributes: Indoor playground.

Venue: Portofino's Cafe
Location: Quinns
Child friendly attributes: Outdoor playground under sails
Open during the day until 4.30/5pm

Venue: Salt on the beach (cafe side)
Location: East Fremantle

Website: http://onthebeach.net.au/
Child friendly attributes: Outdoor playground plus free kids entertainment on fridays from 5.30 - 7.30pm from Feb-Oct and on thursdays, same time, from Nov-Jan.

Venue: Gloria Jeans
Location: top floor of Myer, Morley Galleria
Child Friendly Attributes: cubby house and kids play area with lots of toys, near tables. Also very spacious so lots of room for kids to run around.

Venue: The Yallingup Maze
Location: Caves Road, Yallingup
Awesome outdoor play area and deck, massive grassed area with free balls/kites etc. Inside, there are all sorts of little puzzles on the tables for the kids to play with.
Staff very accommodating to make meals "kid friendly".

Venue: Stringbark Tavern
Location: Wanneroo
Child Friendly Attributes: Large playground within the venue. $2 showbags. Kids eat free on Tuesdays.

Venue: Piccos Kitchen
Location: Peninisula Road/Tranby Road Maylands
Child Friendly Attributes: It is quite small but has some toys and a blackboard - great for tea/coffee for you and a friend and the kids, but not for a big group. Nice food but a bit exxy.

Venue: Bindoon bakehouse
Location: Bindoon

they have a lovely toy kitchen with kitchen utensils and coloured dough for the kids to play with, a blackboard etc. Also the yummiest cakes!

Venue: Fired Cafe
Location: Joondalup
Childrens activities: Ceramic painting
Website: http://www.firedcafe.com.au/
Con: Can be expensive.

Venue: Ceramica Cafe
Location: Clarkson
Childrens Activities: Ceramic Painting
Website: http://www.cafeceramica.com.au/

Venue: Portofinos
Location: Mindarie
Childrens Activities: large outdoor fully fenced playground. Free colouring sheets and pencils
Website: http://www.portofinos.com.au/

Venue: Dome Cafe
Location: Mindarie
Childrens Activities: Enclosed childrens playground. Free colouring in and pencils.

Venue: Outback Jacks
Location: Fremantle
Childrens Activities: Kid’s rooms are fitted with toys like Playstations, TV’s and Colouring Books.
Website: http://www.outbackjacks.com.au/
Kids eat free Tuesdays and Wednesdays 5-7pm.

Venue: The Boat
Location: Mindarie
Childrens Activities: Tuesdays and Thursdays 5.30pm - 8.30pm
Two trained staff members entertain the kids. Activities they can choose from include books & puzzles, Nintendo games, arts, crafts and more.
Website: http://www.theboat.com.au/whats_on_events

Venue: The Chocolate Factory

Location: Swan Valley
Has colouring / activity sheets and pencils for kids
Has large grassed area with bats and balls for the kids to run around and play.
Great chocolate fondue and of course free chocie sampling

Venue: Koorong Bookshop / Pages Cafe

Location: Mt Lawley

Has a childrens enclosed playground.

Venue: Sticky Beaks Playground Cafe

Location: Kings Park Road, Kings Park

Large playground (not enclosed)

Venue: Mount Helena Tavern (nb: has a creek and supervision is required)

Location: 900 Keane St, Mount Helena

Website: http://www.mounthelenatavern.com.au/

Sunday session they have a bouncy castle for the kids.
Sunday buffet breakfast kids eat free.
Any other day Kids eat free (daily 12 -2 ) - 2 kids per one adult ordering a main meal. 10 years and under.

Venue: Gloucester Park

Location: 4 Nelson Crescent, East Perth

Website: http://www.gloucesterpark.com.au/gloucester-park/

"Gloucester Park in East Perth fires up on Friday nights with harness racing and offers a free creche for three to 13-year olds with toys, activities and movies from 6.15pm-10.15pm (phone (08) 9325 6662 to reserve a place). There are three restaurants overlooking the track and over summer there's children's entertainment in the form of bouncy castles, rides and face painting. The free red CAT bus will take you to the main gate on Nelson Crescent and admission is $10 for adults, $5 for concessions and accompanied under-16s enter free."

Family Days out - Perth

2012-01-04T15:06:00.003+08:00

I am going to do some posts on my blog about where to dine with kids, and one with where families can go out together. Mainly because I keep losing my list, so I need someone easier to find it :p
So, here is Family Days out in Perth (a couple are kids entertainment/holiday occupiers)

The Maze
Scitech
AQWA
Perth Museum
Swan Valley Cuddly Animal Farm
Whiteman Park
Coventry Square markets
Boshack
Piney Lakes
Mandurah Dolphin Tours
Fremantle Arts Centre
Lake Leschenaultia
Landsdale Farm School
Whats2Eat
Pioneer Park in Mount Helena
Noble Falls
Walyunga National Park
John Forrest National Park

or
Gloucester Park
"Gloucester Park in East Perth fires up on Friday nights with harness racing and offers a free creche for three to 13-year olds with toys, activities and movies from 6.15pm-10.15pm (phone (08) 9325 6662 to reserve a place). There are three restaurants overlooking the track and over summer there's children's entertainment in the form of bouncy castles, rides and face painting. The free red CAT bus will take you to the main gate on Nelson Crescent and admission is $10 for adults, $5 for concessions and accompanied under-16s enter free."

Homeopathy

2011-12-31T10:20:00.001+08:00

Because we all know it is a bug bear of mine.

This is an excellent link for describing exactly what is Homeopathy
http://darryl-cunningham.blogspot.com/2010/06/homeopathy.html

List of scientifically controlled double blind studies which have conclusively demonstrated the efficacy of homeopathy

Just coz

2011-12-28T00:54:00.004+08:00

Snowmen and Gardens

2011-12-23T13:33:00.000+08:00

So, today has been taken up so far with making marshmellow snowmen gifts. I swear all the kids at the Christmas party are going to be so fed to the gills with sugar!

Instructions for Marshmallow Snowmen is HERE

My corn and zucchini patch at my mothers house.

She has heaps of these vicious bastard plants. They are called the "Crown of Thorns".

Meanwhile, back at home one of the various projects has been to try and rid ourselves of pigeons. 3 kilos of poisoned feed hasn't seemed to have done anything to the bastards, so have reverted to deterring them from my garden. So far this used disc mobile has been working. (used discs and fishing wire).

My little patch of tomatoes, basil and garlic.

My mum lost a few Rhubarb this year, but the lone survivor is doing fantastically.

And then there is my little Angel. I lost my son, Byron, nearly 9 years ago. We buried him here and this is his memorial statue. My poor little boy was the same size as this cherub, so it seemed fitting when I saw it to get it to mark his grave.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-22T22:12:00.000+08:00

And Christmas is nearly here already!
My how this year has bloody flown.
Anyway, I have been stuck in the repeating tasks of Christmas crafts with the kids - usual of Santa heads, Bells, ornaments, xmas stocking decorating, cookies and little houses (photos of them below).

Soooo, rest of this update, is - shock horror - a photo update!

Their relatively new cubby and the outdoor Xmas tree (aka Loquat that suddenly died on me)

Fake gingerbread houses. Look at my cooking blog on how to make the "Ungingerbread House"

All wrapped up and ready to give away. There are going to be 8 kids at the Christmas party this year, so my boys and I made enough for all the kids!

For the place settings at the Christmas party, I thought I it would be 'cute' this year to make up bags of Reindeer Noses.

One of the painting projects for the cubby. We had some left over Bouganvillea wood, so painting it seemed like a good idea.

More painted wood for the cubby decoration.

We took all the kids down to a life size snow dome.

Quickie photo update

2011-11-19T13:58:00.000+08:00

Spiderwebs in the morning

All I can show you of one of the recent birthday parties.

OMG, Master C just loved this Perth Royal Show slide!

The boys just LOVED the Dinosaur petting zoo at the Perth Royal Show.

?Ladybird Poppy from my garden.

The kids really enjoyed playing in the creek at the Helena Valley "Whim" Festival.

Ta-dah! I made the Snake cake as requested by my eldest for his birthday. I did an awesome job of it too!

Random

2011-08-12T13:31:00.000+08:00

Ladies!

2011-08-11T13:47:00.000+08:00

Molly & CWM Goch!

Where oh where do I get good chooks from?
What are the best layers?
I have heard the Isa ones stop laying after 5 years or so ... is that true?

What are the lovely spotty ones? I want pretty ones that lay :p

nb: probably wont be getting them before dec/jan ... just doing homework.

2011-08-10T16:35:00.000+08:00

Anti Genetically Modified Foods?

Go to MADGE

True

2011-08-03T18:12:00.000+08:00

Someone has this as their Sig. It cracks me up because it is so true :p

Juicing and Pigeons (nb: NOT Pigeon Juice)

2011-06-16T12:38:00.000+08:00

I don't think this brand even exists any more, but it is the BEST JUICER EVER!

I decided it was time to get back to juicing! I have a new juicer. It is SHIT! So, I dug out my dads old juicer that still works as good as new - even though it is about 35yrs old now.
I have been doing blends like
Apple and carrot
Apple, carrot and strawberry
Apple, carrot, strawberry, plum and beetroot.
etc.

Can I just say, that if you drink the juice of a whole Beetroot, it is true that you pee and poop pink for 24hrs!!!!
Ahahahahahahahahaahahaha

Anyway, I love fresh vegetable juice. And I need it as I am not a huge fan of actually eating vegetables (unless they are in a soup or roasted).

Scarecrow

Now, the area I live in seems to be infested with flying rats (aka pigeons). I flipping HATE them. I am a stones throw away from calling in pest control to posion them all. I open my garage and they come inside and gah, just PISS.ME.OFF!
So, the boys (knowing how I feel) decided to make me a scarecrow to scare them away (bless). The above picture is the final result. It so doesn't work at all, but it is the thought that counts.
I had to have a good old laugh as well when the following converstaion happened...

Nonna "What are you doing there?"
Eldest "We are making a scarecrow!"
Nonna "What for?"
Eldest "To shoo away all the bloody flying rats!"
At which point Nonna looks at me and says, I wonder where he got that from?!

Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Seriously?

2011-06-09T21:46:00.000+08:00

Woman sues ex-fiance after falling while peeing from his verandah

What kind of foul bitch urinates from a verandah?!

{quote}Her statement of claim says that her injuries while urinating were "a danger which could have been avoided with reasonable care on behalf of the defendant''.{quote}
It was a danger that could have been avoided if she, I dunno, used a TOILET!!!!

Jesus, I don't know why I am shocked at the actions of supposed humans any more.

Surgery

2011-06-07T14:28:00.000+08:00

Well, that all went well :)
Nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. Basically they went in and shaved some bone (so it doesn't 'catch'), removed a patch of calcification on the supraspinatus tendon, cut a ligament (so it will become longer) and excised the bursa (to remove the bursitis).
I cannot tell you how nice it is to not wake up in pain every day! Am generally feeling a lot 'nicer' because I don't have this awful 'white noise' of pain in the background all the time anymore. Well, so far. Touch wood it stays this way!
But man, the nurses really were a bunch of total cunts. I discharged myself at midnight that night! No way do I put up with sub par care and loud, mouthy, rude nurses. Complaint has been filed.

2011-05-31T12:43:00.000+08:00

Creative Macaron! from Diary of a Ladybird (see link below)

That is it! I am inspired! My husband loves Macarons and he found this website in his trawling
http://diaryofaladybird.blogspot.com/2010/06/little-macs-cheeseburger-macaroons.html

I am going to give them a whirl in a couple of weeks. I will probably do a chocolate buttercream "patty" though instead of using a chocolate biscuit. I think it would achieve the same look, but probably taste a heap nicer - also having a nicer texture to combine with the macarons.
Or I might do a Cayenne Chocolate Ganache filling. I can pipe out "patties" onto baking paper and put it in the fridge to set in order to achieve similar 'patty' look.

Great Adverts

2011-05-30T21:07:00.000+08:00

Today I have spent some time thinking about cool ads that I have seen.

A fair while ago (like a few years back) I remember seeing a bunch of adverts from Nat Geo kids that really struck a chord with me. I think they captured the essence of adventure about being a child. When you are little, ever slight hill looks like Mt Everest. The scale of things to kids is massive (as they also don't have the comparison). Anyway, I can't really vocalise what exactly I mean tonight. My brain feels all jumbled in the lead up to my next operation (later this week). So, I will just show you guys the ads instead. Click on the pictures for the full size (because the writing is small).

The adverts are all done by
Agency: FoxP2 Advertising, Cape Town, South Africa
Creative Directors: Andrew Whitehouse, Justin Gomes, Noel Cottrell
Art Director: Andrew Whitehouse
Copywriter: Justin Gomes

Last one to the top...

Ready or not...

Marco Polo

Are we there yet?

Art Classes

2011-05-26T14:47:00.000+08:00

It's a "Salmon Fish"

My pre-primary lad has recently started doing art classes after school (I tried being a soccer mum, but I just couldn't cope).
I must say that I am absolutely thrilled with it. He loves art and the teacher he has knows how to keep him in line (she is very strict!). He started this fish on his first lesson and finished it up on his second lesson. The lesson here was to learn blending of colours (in between drying he did crayon rubbings of the backs of leaves ... the kiddie version of 'do you want to come back to my place and see my etchings?' LMAO).
I know I am totally a boastful mother, but I think he has a real knack.

NHMRC likely to declare homeopathy unethical

2011-05-22T10:06:00.003+08:00

Reading Australian Doctor (April 29 2011 edition) I see the article

NHMRC likely to declare homeopathy unethical by Paul Smith. Below are some excerpts.

"Health insurers will be under pressure to pull the plug on funding quack remedies, with Australia’s leading medical research council expected to declare homeopathy "unethical"."

“There is sufficient scientific evidence to conclude that homeopathy is no more efficacious than placebo. Homeopathy, while not harmful in its own right, may pose a risk to patients if safe and efficacious conventional treatments are rejected or delayed in favour of homeopathic treatments.”

"If the public statement is formally adopted by the council, the major health insurers – Medibank Private, HCF, NIB and MBF – will have to justify why it is using taxpayers’ money to fund “unethical” homeopathic treatments."*

*All four insurers, which receive a substantial portion of the $3 billion annual private health insurance rebates paid by the Commonwealth, offer their members funding for homeopathy. MBF also pays for iridology and reflexology.

According to the confidential documents obtained by Australian Doctor, the draft says: “NHMRC’s position is that it is unethical for health practitioners to treat patients using homeopathy, for the reason that homeopathy – as a medicine or procedure – has been shown not to be efficacious.”

Well, I for one am EXTREMELY happy about this. :)

Anyway, for those confused about Homeopathy, here is an explanation on

How does Homeopathy work?

Things...

2011-05-20T10:14:00.000+08:00

Things are pretty up and down at the moment. We recently received some news that put us into a bit of shock. There are good moments and bad moments and a lot of uncertainty.
Trying to keep the house running as smoothly as possible and keep some 'normality' for all of us.

Sooo, this week has involved Mr Carnivore learning how to make Greek Rice Salad (yummy), Art classes for Mr Fussy (the improvement by just the end of the first class was amazing!), the boys started their swimming lessons and loved it - only tantrums were when we had to leave, Gaaaah! For craft this week we made bangles out of coloured dough and bake set/dried them out to make them hard. And today Mr Carnivore and I are making a chocolate devil food cake :)
Then kids will help me make a Beef Vermicelli salad for dinner (if it turns out nice I will post recipe at my food blog in the next few days).

In between it all I have been feeding my ipad gaming addiction. Between Angry Birds (HD, Seasons and Rio), Zombie Farm, Plants vs Zombies and Mortal Kombat it is a wonder that I get anything done!

My Zombie Farm :)

Botox Mum

2011-05-18T08:44:00.001+08:00

Well, at least there is some common sense somewhere in the world.

Kerry Campbell loses custody of 8-year-old daughter she injected with Botox

I can't believe that it took authorities so long to protect that child though! Kerry Campbell has been giving interviews and has been "out" for at least a few months about giving her 8yr old daughter botox injections.

I have mixed feelings about this whole thing though. Yes, the child will be better off, but the child must be hurting right now.

Firstly, you have a mother injecting toxins into her childs face. One slip or something wrong with the batch and the child would face permanent facial disfigurment (in form of paralysis).

Then, you have an obviously ignorant mother (to the dangers of botox), but now you have a child that does not understand why she was taken away from her mother. The child will probably also probably face a lifetime of body dysmorphic issues because of the mothers actions (ie. She was not beautiful enough as she was).

At the end of the day though, I am saddened by how much publicity this woman has received over the last few months. I am saddened because for every 9 people that saw the atrocity in her actions, there was probably one parent who thought it was a brilliant idea and why not try it.

:(

I would like to know though ... Why is it a CPS worthy event to remove a child from care for receiving injections for aesthetic reasons, yet many parents are allowed to remove their sons foreskins for purely aesthetic reasons ("because it looks nicer" "to look like daddy") and no-one bats an eyelid!

Lake Leschenaultia, CWM Goch & Babies!

2011-05-15T22:41:00.000+08:00

Wow, what a wonderful day!
Today we headed out to Lake Leschenaultia. Was a mainly overcast day, but that can be just brilliant for a picnic because not too many other people go out for a picnic in the threat of rain!
Turned out that there was a "festival" on at the Lake. We hadn't seen any advertising about it in our web trawls searching where to go for a picnic. I felt bad for the event as it was a pretty crap turn out. About 30 people? not including the volunteers (which looked like equal number). BUT they did have free face painting and bouncy castle so all the kids (mine and my nieces) were very happy!
We were the first of our party to arrive and we managed to nab an excellent table hutchy thing by the water and away from the band set up.
Was a gorgeous day and wonderful to spend time with family :)
Here is a photo from Lake Leschenaultia.

As you can see, the water level was a bit low, but the water quality seems pretty good (especially after the recent scare) and it is crystal clear - if freezing cold!

Anyway, on the way home we decided to take a detour and drop in on the most lovely CWM Goch. Oh my that woman has done wonderful things to her garden! And I don't think she realises how much of an inspiration she is from all the hard work she does!
All the kids had a good run around while I was walking around in awe of all the yummy fruit and veg (read her post on Food Forest concept) and the lovely ponds ... and well just all of it is so lovely and I am so completely JEALOUS!!!
I am also now completely hooked on Lemonade lemons!!!! and I have some gorgeous ?golden nugget pumpkins to add to tomorrow nights casserole! nom nom.

All the Lemonade Lemons that I have left :( And the Golden Nugget Pumpkins.

My kids had their first Ferret Introduction

And they had a play with a Doggie.

Then we headed off home where we unloaded the car and I took off to see The Crone and meet her gorgeous new bubba! Oh my he is just a little bundle of perfection! I got a wonderful cuddle until he wanted some more boob action (men! pfft! lol) and had a lovely catch up with Crone until I had to head home to get some dinner!

I realised today how much I miss my friends. Friends who understand you and know you and not judge you, but take you as you are.
I am lucky, not only in knowing that people out there like this exist, but to also be able to call them friends :)

Today has been a wonderful day!

Restock!

2011-05-14T13:26:00.003+08:00

Have restocked kids crafty bits. They have a new Craft tub filled with all sorts of crafty bits from stick on diamontes to shredded cellophane. Have also gotten them a new big play dough tub filled with all sorts of shape cutters, coloured dough, presses etc.
Bought a tea set for my daughter. I noticed at my second sons cooking classes the other day that she was happy to sit for the duration of the lesson having a tea party with herself. It has turned out to be a huge hit. The 3 of them sit around having impromptu tea parties or picnics in various places around the house. Very cute!

On another note, I have become slightly obsessed of late with "Born this way" by Lady Gaga. Now I can't stand her herself. I find the whole package rather contrived. But her team up with Zombie Boy and her matching costume has really been floating my boat. I just love the imagery of it. It probably also helps that my husband and I are a tad Zombie obsessed, lol

Zombie Boy - His are tattoos (actually all over body tattoo). Gaga made up to look the same.

The Bolt Report: all Bolt, no report

2011-05-09T10:34:00.004+08:00

The Bolt Report: all Bolt, no report

"It is named for Bolt, hosted by Bolt, and dominated by the Boltian worldview. It featured white middle-aged men talking about Boltian fundamentals - namely, the great climate change con and those refugees taking over the country - with a surfing Afghan refugee beamed in to be scolded for high unemployment among his compatriots."

LOL. I usually hate SMH reporting, but I am loving Tim Dick. He lets rip!

I didn't end up watching the show. I just could not bring myself to watch it. I could think of a thousand things that I would rather do on a Sunday morning than listen to Andrew Bolt, ie.
1. Pluck nose hairs
2. Wax armpits
3. Attempt a home ritual self circumcision of myself
4. Masturbate with a cheesegrater
5. Slam my breasts in a car door
....etc. I think you get the idea ;)

Photo update

2011-05-07T16:09:00.000+08:00

Found some more photos of our jaunts to AQWA and Noble Falls

Touch Pool at AQWA

Coral Reef Tank (outdoors) at AQWA

Stingray Bay - at AQWA

Part of the Marina at Hilarys

Noble Falls

Andrew Bolt and why I am scared he is now on TV ...

2011-05-06T20:34:00.004+08:00

Artwork by Fiona Katauskas, to be found at newmatilda.com/

I am scared because of all the ignorant masses that watch the old idiot box and take this kind of 'journalism' as fact. Or worse, use it as validation of their own ignorant ideals. He is on TV, he must be right! right?
Wrong.
The upside is ... who the fuck watches TV on a Sunday morning?

Andrew Bolt has a long history that any of you can google at your leisure.
Just have a read of these articles and see what you think ...
Bolts good job for Gina
Gina Rineheart buys into Channel 10
Bolt from the Blue

All of the following have been said about Andrew Bolt.

“He is utterly undeserving of any platform to spread such ignorant bile."

"Could Andrew Bolt possibly be any more of a lowlife scumbag?"

"I once called Andrew Bolt a worthless bloodclot, for which I must apologise. To bloodclots everywhere. For Bolt however, there is only scorn, slight regard and contempt."

"Melbourne’s village idiot"

"I think Bolt is a strategically shaved, wind up dummy,"

"…a shameless gutter partisan. You are a Blot on the media in this country."

"We need to stand up to scum like Bolt and call them for what they are – bottom feeding parasites that trade on fear and prejudice to line their own pockets."

"Bolt lives in a land far beyond…..contempt"

"Good stuff. Bolt is our very own Glenn Beck; an extremist who peddles hate and fear while making a motza off the back of the unhappiness and bitterness he stokes up."

"Bolt’s comments will be seen through the eyes of history in a similar vein as comments made by politicians not so long ago in support of the White Australia Policy;"

"Bolt is a Dolt."

"Bolt is a revolting coward"

"Bolt is a disgrace to this nation.”

... I'd agree

Restaurant Amuse

2011-05-06T10:18:00.003+08:00

With Mothers Day coming up again I was at a loss as to what to get my mother. She has all sorts of things already, and with Mothers Day, Xmas and her Birthday I am starting to lack on my creative gift ideas front.
So I thought, why not take her out to a lovely restaurant for dinner, just me and her.

For this I selected Restaurant Amuse. It is a known quantity. I know the food will be good, I know the drinks will be wide and varied and I know all the staff are attentive and informed.
I did not take any notes, so my memory of what some of the dishes actually contain are a bit hazy. It was only last night, but I got tucked into Apricot Bellinis and an assortment of beers followed up with PX*.

"Snacks" - Onion Rings, Avocado Puree, Lime marinated Ceviche, Labneh, Lavosh, Profiterole stuffed with pumpkin and pine nuts, and proscuitto wrapped housemade ?bread sticks

First Course - Crab, Finger lime and Sea Lettuce. Lovely, light, well balanced.

Second Course - Beetroot, Feta, Meringue and Cress on a Coffee and cocoa soil. Topped with a red wine vinegar granita.

Third Course - Ruby Snapper, Rottnest Scallop and Samphire - on pureed peas, apple and cauliflower with wakame powder. I loathe Samphire and I think the Wakame was overkill for this dish. It did taste of the sea, unfortunately it was the sea if you go swimming and get a mouthful.

Fourth Course - Pork Belly, Seasoned Squid and cucumber salad on an emulsion (can't remember what sort). Was lovely. Melt in your mouth pork belly, light and airy and very crunchy crackling, lovely spicy squid. Cucumber salad was refreshing and vaguely Japanese.

Fifth Course - Mushroom, Hollandaise and Egg Yolk. I really enjoyed this dish. There is something so yummy about runny eggs :) The mushrooms were a bit sweet for me, but went well with the whole dish. Croutons were a bit greasy, but perfect with the egg.

Sixth Course - Was supposed to be Lamb. I don't do Lamb. I said I would have the vegetarian Tagine in its place, but Carolynne (Chefs wife and co-owner) said they would do a chicken for me. Am glad I listened. It was delicious. Basically same as the lamb dish in components, but with moist tender chicken. It was a little puck of Chicken rolled in Onion Ash and served with some creamy ?cheese and eggplant sauce with broccolini tips and garlic chive.

Palate Cleanser - Hibiscus (Roselle) ?gelato in lemonade and bitters.

First Dessert - Fairy Floss covered guava gelato on a passionfruit something and then a mandarin reduction was poured over it melting the fairy floss. I had mine poured on the side so I would still have my fairy floss. Nom.

Second Dessert - Pistacchio Ice Cream (nitrogened so was creamy smooth and broken up ... kind of looks like popcorn in this picture, but looked more like Feta in the flesh), Some sort of Raspberry creamy dessert (pink puff in picture), a freese dried raspberry and a wedge of cocoa powdered chocolate creamy something or other that wqas extremely rich. Yes, I was tipsy by this point.

Petit Four - Lychee jelly (salted), Chocolate Truffle (I can honestlky say that I make better Chocolate Truffles), and little marshmallows (nom). Our table also seemed to be the only one that was sent out a bowl of fairy floss. Maybe because I told the hottie Euro Chef that served the Fairy Floss dessert how much I loved fairy floss? Lovely thought and I greatly appreciated it ... even if I had to double my diabetes medication that night, LOL.

Anyway, my Mother appeared to have a good time and it was nice to sit down with her and have no distractions from her phone, or constant visitors or from my children!

*What I actually drank - apart from the Apricot Bellinis, was
Weihenstephaner Pilsner - A traditional pilsner, with smooth bitter hops and a refreshingly crisp finish. Weihenstephaner is the brewery that is home to my favourite drop - the Heffe Weiss.
Samuel Adams Boston Lager - Full of floral, spicy hops. It has a malty sweetness which is balance by the hoppy bitterness. Yummy and one of my new favourite beers!
The Pedro Ximénez that I had was not actually written on the winelist on their website. I might have to give them a call and find out what it was. Beautiful, thick, syrupy and not sickenly sweet.

Princess Beatrice and the IUD hat

2011-05-03T17:56:00.001+08:00

Time for some lolz
There is something vaguely disturbing about both princesses wearing such vaginal/clitoral head gear.

Treacy is usually a fabulous designer. Maybe he decided to have laugh?

Eye of Sauron.

Stargate

The newest Teletubby!

Hope you enjoy the lolz. None of them were mine.

Zoo Day!

2011-05-02T14:42:00.001+08:00

Last night my eldest asked "Can we go to the Zoo tomorrow?", so why not?!
I packed them all up and stopped by to pick up some extra hands in the form of Nonna and off we went.

We had a beautiful day for it. Sunny and 25 degrees (celcius). We spent about 3 hours there, and we all could have happily stayed a lot longer. An hour was spent just between the crocodile and the reptile house. My daughter was in love with the lizards!

We had a special treat of having Trish - one of the elephants - be taken for a walk and she passed about a meter from us :)

But ask the boys what their favourite part was and one says the crocodile, and the other one says the playground!
Quite a few of the animals were oput and about today, so that made the experience more enjoyable. Though neither of the lads seem at all interested in monkeys/orangutans.

Can I just say ... Sumatran Tigers are HUGE!!!! and they are the smallest of all tigers!

Here are some crappy photos...

Snooze time

I have to admit, I am really loving these days out. Shame that school is back later on this week :(

Easter

2011-05-01T12:58:00.003+08:00

Ah, with everything that has been going on I completely forgot to do my Easter update!

Well, this year we decided to do the Easter Egg Hunt at my mothers place. Just 'family'. She has a huge garden that lends itself to adventure and exploring for kids. But first I had to set up a whole pack of citronella incense for the bloody mosquitoes! OMG, they are such a nightmare over there! I also gave the section of garden that we would be using a once over with a can of fly spray. To no avail. Most of us still received bites.*
We set out all the eggs from everyone and the kids went on the hunt. A plethora of chocolates to be had!

Then inside for the brunch. I wanted a finger food style brunch, so I got cracking. My lovely sister in law (the one married to my brother) made some minature chocolate cupcakes decorated with mini easter eggs and some minature pumpkin, feta and rosemary tarts (Nom). My mum made divine rice rissoles and zucchini slice (though she forgot to bring out the latter).
I went overboard and made;
Roast Beef, cheddar and horseraddish cream mini panninis
Smoked salmon and herbed cream cheese mini rolls
Baby BLTs
Baby Banoffee pies
Chocolate custard and cream chocolate cups

Everyone was very full. There were left overs, but not for long as visitors starting showing up later on.
The kids came home with entirely too much chocolate. So much that we ended up donating a heap of it (I let them keep one piece of chocolate from each gift giver).

So, here are some photos of the hunt and food!


Top - chocolate custard cups, Middle - smoked salmon and herbed cream cheese rolls, Bottom - roast beef, cheddar and horseradish cream.

Pumpkin tarts on left side and mini chocolate cupcakes.

Baby BLTs

The end of day, diabetes inducing, haul :)

*My husband has mentioned these big mosquito killing units they make for the American swamplands. About $800 or something, but we are seriously thinking of getting one for her place. Such a pity to have a wonderful garden and be limited in the use of it.

The best week

2011-04-30T16:59:00.003+08:00

I have had the best week that I have had in the longest time. I'm enjoying being a mum again and spending time working with the kids. For the last 10 days we have been doing all sorts of arty crafty things and cooking together, as well as trips to places like AQWA.
But I would have to say that today was by far the best day. A rare day of shopping together (all 5 of us) as a family and then having lunch before heading home to drop all the shoppinbg off, then heading out on a spontaneous afternoon picnic out at Noble Falls (not so much falls though as Western Australia seems to be in a permanent state of drought).
The kids had a ball running around and exploring and the husband and I had a ball just being out and about as a family unit.
Soooo, here are some photos from some of the crafts and cooking we have been doing ... as well as a picture from Noble Falls (the rest of the NF pictures had the kids in and I don't post identifiable photos of the kids on the internet).

Gingerbread creations - men, women, butterlies, tarantulas, cookies and batman signals.

The lead up to the falls actually had some lovely stagnant looking water in it. It must have been okay because it was teeming with tadpoles and there were ducks and other birds.

Jacksons in Highgate

2011-04-28T14:23:00.003+08:00

A couple of years ago my husband and I went to Jacksons for dinner. We had heard so many 'amazing' things about this place that we thought it was about time we checked it out.
We booked in for a degustation (with matched wines for my husband - I was pregnant at the time so no booze for me).
I was extrememly disapointed with the experience and absolutely disgusted with the email response I got from the owner when I complained.

Anyway, I typed several reviews for EatingWA being as neutral as I could about the experience whilst including all the facts. I even posted a copy of my husbands review that he did for one of his wanky wine sites. Funnily enough, EatingWA would not post the review at all. So, I will with hold my opinions on why that may be, but I have never bothered reading an EatingWA review since then (or even going to their site to be honest).

My very basic summary is that there are many superior restaurants in Perth. This one is well over rated. It wasn't until we started talking about our awful experience that we found out that many other people had, in fact, also had awful experiences there.

Sooooo .... as my own review is lost in the annals of time somewhere (translation - I didn't save a copy), I have dug out my husbands review. He writes so much better than I ever could anyway.
Here is his thoughts on the night (sans the wine comments)
==============================================

Jacksons, Ask any Perthy about Jacksons and you will hear about how its pretty much our best restaurant (ok ok some will say Star Anise with good reason) so it was with some high expectations that we booked the 7 course degustation menu for our anniversary on wednesday night.

The place.
Jacksons is kinda a hole in the wall on Beaufort Street in Highgate, on the outskirts of the popular cafes/bars and nestled between a newsagents and more florists that you can poke a stick at. The dining room is 3 tiered with the main dining area at the very front of the building then a couple of steps up to a smaller level of tables and finally more steps up to the banquet seating at the back of the restaurant adjacent to the bar and the kitchen itself.
Up the back where we were was nice and semi-quiet, no shouting needed, but others have mentioned that down the front it can get a bit raucous.
No torch needed to see your dining partners over the table cloths and comfortable seating.

The meal.
We have become a bit hooked on the whole degustation dining, lots of smaller plates with a chance to try things that we might never order from a menu.

Amuse Bouche
A sweet waffle cone filled with smoked salmon and topped with a basil and green pea 'icecream'
Novel and a great staging of flavours from the earthy peas to the sweet crunch of the waffle cone.

1st course - yabby, chicken and jellyfish cocktail
Problem number 1, first bite my wife encounters a hunk of gristle from the chicken (it was about the size of a 10cent coin), this was not the start we wanted. (nb: being pregnant, they had organised chicken only for her instead of with jellyfish in the dish)
Overall it was OK, the jellyfish was stewed in soy sauce and ginger and served on a bed of micro greens (read shredded iceberg lettuce) OK wasnt quite good enough though.

2nd course seared scallop, orange and duck cannelloni
Problem number 2, after the first dish was cleared and the second wine poured we sat at the table waiting for the next course. We sat at the table for nearly 45 minutes... When a row of dishes went past our table, clearly the dish we were waiting on, and delivered to a table that arrived 20 minutes later than us, we got worried, another set of dishes went sailing past us for some other diners and my wife saw red. We enquired where our dishes were and were promptly told that 'you have already had that course, and you wont be getting it again'
Some firm words at this point had the waitress counting forks and coming up with 1 short of a happy customer, 10 minutes later still, we get the course.
Scallop cooked exactly as it should be, some nice sauces to accompany it but the duck, while fine and tasty on its own, when paired with the orange cannelloni it was just overpowered. Expensive orange pasta then.

3rd course - suzuki seabass, oyster and champagne sauce
Great fish seabass, pity all taste in your mouth is obliterated by pungent chanterelle mushrooms that swim about in the sauce. Whole ones that make you shudder just a bit when you chew through them.
Problem number 3, first bite ended with a fish bone stuck in my mouth, my wife copped the same treatment except hers got lodged in her throat for a bit.
It's about now that we are really wondering if we should stick it out.

4th course - rabbit in prosciutto, carrot and thyme
Rabbit like duck is one of those things that when I see it on a menu, I have to try it out.
It was nice enough, the sauces once more were overwhelming the meat, but the inclusion of almost raw carrot cubes was somewhat offputting, especially when you get one on the fork at the same time as the soft meat.

5th course - main - surf n turf braised beef fingers, citrus tiger prawns
Good presentation, glossy syrupy beef strips with a single juicy prawn up top. The beef is slow braised in sweet rice wine and ginger and soy, which while it left the beef beautiful and fall apart on the plate, it cooked all the flavour of what good cuts of meat should taste like. The glaze to the beef tasted as it looked, syrupy and sticky and sharp, but once you chewed and lost that initial flavour hit, you were left with something that tasted of nothing. Could have been tofu, could have been chicken could have been lean cuisine. The prawn was nice but disappeared pretty quickly.

6th course - 1st dessert - roast peach with curried sabayon
Not bad, I am not a fruit person but this was nice to taste (2 slithers of peach only), even with the icecream dusted with indian 5 spice.

7th course - 2nd dessert - rich chocolate tart raspberry and orange sorbet
I know it was probably good chocolate, but it's a tart, like you see at coffee club. The sorbets had a great flavour , nice and citrusy - but as a dish they didn't help. The high cocoa content of the tart made for a very dry mouth feel. The sorbets came in with a good flavour burst but didn't help with your mouth feeling dryer than a nun's funcooker (30 Rock anyone?) I am sure the matched wine was meant to do this, but my wife wasnt drinking and I couldn't stand it (not being into dessert wines), so we were both left reaching for the water glass.

We had been really looking forward to this meal, an affirmation that Perth has some truly good chefs doing creative food, but this really left us flat. $420 flat to be exact.

A follow up email to the restaurant yielded a reply that spoke of how no one else had that experience but they would strive so that other diners would have a good time. They didnt address any of the issues we had directly.

Now I know others have been there and raved about their experience, my brother in-law loves the place, admittedly they have all had the a la carte and not the degustation menu.

I wanted to love this place, in the end I wish we had of booked a table back at Restaurant Amuse, or even Nine instead.
I actually wished we had of been dining with others so that I could confirm that it wasnt 'just us' I wondered if I wasnt 'getting it', too many KFC burgers in a past life etc.

No BYO, extensive wine list, decent glasses from a range of manufacturers.

Oh, the house made bread rolls were nice.

The Silver Spoon

2011-04-15T10:56:00.000+08:00

The Silver Spoon
691 Albany Highway, Perth Western Australia

I had heard about this place on the internet, so I shunted off an email to some lovely friends and we decided to go and check it out on one of their event nights. The one that we selected was the Jim Barry Wine tasting night - selected for the convenience of the day rather than that particular winemaker.

All in all we had a brilliant night, but there were hiccups. I'll get to those later.
We had loads of fun predominantly in the catching up with our dining companions. And I do really appreciate people that know me for me and can have fun with that :)
I also do really like getting tipsy and making de funz.

Okay, onto the restaurant. Well, I decided to listen to my husbands navigating. We knew it was on Albany Highway. Husband decided to use the GPS in his phone to navigate. Anyway, the street before the restaurant it tells us to turn right and then next left and then left again ... taking us back to 20m from where we turned off. He was not impressed when I said we could have gone the 20m and still come to the same round about. Teehee. Anyway, could not figure out why GPS gave those directions at all unless it was directing us to the car park at the rear.

We enter the restaurant and I can't see our friends (I am blind as a bat without glasses, and of course I never wear them - unless driving). Turns out they have done this set dinner on 2 long tables and we had 2 sets wedged in amongst everyone.
Not. Happy. Jan.
I get claustrophobic. It doesn't make me sit and rock back and forth. I get aggressive. Very. I don't like packed things. I put up with a packed Tim Ho Wan because it was Tim Ho Wan and because, whilst packed, we still had our own table.
Anyway, it was quickly rectified. I spoke with the Maitre'D (who turned out to be the very young owner of the restaurant, Steve) and we received a table of 4 for ourselves. Bliss.
The next real hiccup was the time it took to get anything. The blurb on the website said to be there at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Our friends got there at 7pm expecting there to be some sort of talk about the wines before the meal. We arrived just before 7.30pm as our sitter couldn't come before 7pm.

Our Amuse Bouche arrived at 8pm. Our 1st course at 8.30pm. Our 2nd course at 9pm and our cheese plate at around 9.30pm (I was well and truly tipsy by then so didn't note the time).
It was just too long.
We did all agree though that we liked the place enough to give it another chance, but not on an 'event' night.

So, what did we have?

Amuse Bouche - White Vegetable Soup with truffle oil. Lovely flavours. If I had to pick it would be that it needed to be that it was a lovely creamy texture and then you had small lumps - like you would if something was pureed incorrectly.

1st Course - Seared Scallops, confit pork, cauliflower, pomegranate, mint and squid ink. Scallops were perfection. The confit was not hat I was expecting. They were lovely flavour but the outside of the disk was quite dry leading into a very small area of moist pork. The salad portion was lovely and original.

2nd Course - Roast Beef fillet, parmesan gnocchi, exotic mushrooms, spinach and bone marrow jus. The meat was lovely. For me it was perfectly rare. 2 on our table had more medium-rare, but I was very happy with my piece. Very tender and tasty. The spinach was just spinach and the mushrooms were lovely, but I prefer it when they say the type of mushroom not just call them "exotic". I was not overly impressed with the gnocchi. I am of Italian stock. I have had mind blowing gnocchi. I am hard to impress.

2nd Course Sides - Roast duck fat potatoes. How can you go wrong? you can't!

Cheese Plate - Isigny St Mere Camembert with quince, muscatels, lavosh, pear and walnuts. Meh, I like to end dinner with sweets. It was an ordinary assortment of cheese that was too stinky for me, muscatels that had hard pips inside. The Lavosh and quince went down well though.

And of course there was lots of booze. All of it drinkable, none of it particular striking to me. I love rich berry flavours and/or some sweetness. I didn't find that in any of these. But you can probably see why I was a bit intoxicated by the end of the night, lol.

TFIF

2011-04-08T16:03:00.002+08:00

Pata Negra

2011-04-01T20:18:00.002+08:00

Today we had a lovely lunch at Pata Negra. 26 Stirling Highway Nedlands, Western Australia. It is a Spanish Tapas restaurant, and for what they do, they are good at it.
I wouldn't say that it was fabulous enough to warrant a repeat visit, but we are glad we went.When they update their online menu, I will put the correct names of dishes on the pics (my Spanish is crap)

The restaurant innards - dark and very 60/70's feel with loads of vinyl and brown glass.

For our drinks we selected the Rosito d'ivori beer. Nice and light and wheaty.

Here we have walnut 3yr old dried ham (Jamon). The pig is only ever fed walnuts. The flesh was surprisingly tender and very walnuty. In the background we had bread with a dried broadbean puree with cucumber, radish and spring onions. The flavour was just divine.

My favourite dish, though at $8 a pop I thought it was pretty steep. Seared scallop with ?capsicum jam on a bed of pureed white beans.

I wasn't sure what to make of this. It was smoked octopus, and I love octopus, but it tasted like salami to me.

Oxtail empanadilla with a sweet tomato puree. The puree made this dish. Without it, it would have been so so.

Seared Tiger Prawns with chimichurro.Was a balanced dish.

This si the dish we were both looking forward to. What a huge disappointment! Billed as pata Negra fabada - confit of duck with white beans, cured ham and chorizo we were expecting a flavour punch. Ba-bow. What we got were pieces of dried out and flavourless duck in a flavourless dish. We *think* the issue might have been that this dish needs a while to cook, and we got it for lunch, when it probably would have been able to develop its flavours (and the meat might have come away from the bone) by the dinner time covers.

YUM. Spanish donut, with Pedro Ximénez and raisin icecream. Donuts were light and fluffy and tasty. The rest was just too heavy after the meal we had.

Now this was a total winner! Chocolate tart with mandarin icecream and dates. Perfectly balanced, nice and light (despite being choclate pastry) and the flavours worked really well off each other.

Hong Kong - Quarterdeck

2011-03-20T22:10:00.000+08:00

Going through some photos, I realised there is a heap I haven't gotten to about Hong Kong.
So, tonight it is about Quarterdeck!
Quarterdeck is located in Ocean Terminal in Kowloon.
I would say the food is pretty basic, but I did order 'au naturel'. We had wonderful service and had a pretty spectacular table. What was so good about this, for me, was that day I was so craving seafood. I was chomping at the bit to have some! After a shopping stint down that end of the terminal (designer kids area) I really needed to sit down. Hubby still doesn't know how much I spent shopping there. Ssssshhh.

So, here are the pictures.

Quarterdeck is just to the right of the boat pictured here.


And there you see the tip of the bow out the window. Along with possibly the best lemon, lime and bitters I have ever had!

Mixed seafood platter; crayfish, smoked salmon, mussels, clams and some sort of sea snail thing. Sauces were (weirdly) tomato sauce and the mustard coloured one was a ?mayonaise made with cray heads.

Close up of the snail thing, sans shell. No idea what it was, saw a few stuck on pilons in the harbour. Tasted good though.

Time, she a flying by again!

2011-03-04T17:00:00.001+08:00

Wow, haven't been here for a bit.
Have been busy between having knees operated on for the patellofemoral realignment (one in July 2010, and the other in Feb just gone).
Throw in my first ever life threatening allergy - most likely culprit was a medicine - off to be tested soon, and shoulder problems (being 'sorted out' in 2 weeks time) and you have the makings of one woman that feels like she is 80yrs old instead of the late 30's that she is.
Pity party in full swing.
Can't get into the garden and it is driving me insane. I haven't been able to kneel in 8 mths. 8 mths! I need to get the gardener out again, the weeds are out of control. The Perth heat, sun and lack of water (had operation of a particularly hot week in Feb) ensured that half of the front garden turned its toes up and I lost a heap of veg :(

Climate Change

2011-02-07T22:02:00.000+08:00

Hong Kong - Tim Ho Wan

2010-12-28T11:33:00.001+08:00

There are a heap of fabulous restaurants in Hong Kong. But if you are looking for good (1 Michelin Star) and cheap, you can't go past Tim Ho Wan.
The original restaurant in Mong Kok (Shop 8, 2-20 Kwong Wa St) is tiny! And I do mean tiny. It is akin to a shoe box. This is a photo of the outside

And yes, that is the queue to get in.

I couldn't take any photos inside, because there was no arm room to do much of anything (I am a very large westerner, not a small asian). This place is renowned as the cheapest Michelin star restaurant in the world. They are not joking. 3 of us were stuffed full for $120HKD - approximately $16AUD. For ALL of us. Not per person.
The highlight was definetly the baked BBQ pork buns. I could have eaten them till the cows came home. We kicked ourselves for not listening to the Euro outside who told us to order 4 serves of them. They are made from a sweet fried dough of 'pineapple buns'. Delicious!
You have to place your orders outside. You get a list in either chinese or english. You tick your boxes, and then as they call your table, you hand over your order. Be sure that when you get there, you get a table number as soon as you are there. We went at the right time and only had to wait for about 1/2 hr before getting a table. The larger your group, you will probably have to wait longer. Also with odd numbers.
This is not a place to go for a slow relaxing meal. You eat and then you get the fuck out. If you take too long, people start to frown at you.

The good news is that Tim Ho Wan has now opened a second restaurant in Sham Shui Po (G/F 9-11 Fuk Wing Street) and the restaurant there seats 150 diners.

Xmas

2010-12-27T11:21:00.001+08:00

Okay, just a basic photo post...
These are the appetisers that I made for Xmas eve

My secret sauce - Kecap Manis, Sesmae oil, toasted sesame seeds, frsh ginger, spring onion, mirin etc.

My Sashimi Tuna and avocado ceviche (lime marinated) spoons.

Sashimi Salmon spoons.

Prawn appetisers with lemon and dill sour cream mayonaise.

Smoked Salmon with fresh dill on a chive and cream cheese spread on fresh French stick.

Chocolate boxes for guests - White choc rum ball, dark choc rum ball, peanut butter cream, cherry brandy cream, ginger brandy cream, honey caramel, and plum pudding ball.


Xmas day left overs lunch. Only new dish is the eggs - made with lemon and dill sauce mixed with egg yolk, piped back in to egg whites and topped with caviar.

Glad it is over with for another year. I think I am going to save the 'foodie' stuff for dinner parties with friends and people who will actually eat it, or at least try it.

Busy Busy

2010-12-23T20:28:00.001+08:00

I have been making chocolates galore!
I did up some chocolate gift boxes, and will be doing some more (with more choccies in them).

Here we have a Chocolate Rum Ball, a Honey Caramel center, a Ginger & Brandy Cream center, a Cherry & Brandy Cream center and a Plum Pudding Ball. The new boxes will also have a Dark Chocolate and Salted Caramel filling along with White Rum Balls. Most of the recipes are over at my cooking blog. The chocolate filling recipes I will put up in the new year!

All wrapped up!

Chocolate Rum Balls, and White Chocolate Rum Balls (their center is white as well).

Hong Kong - The Langham

2010-12-22T13:36:00.001+08:00

Okay, so I am finally getting around to starting the food posts about Honkers.

People crap on all the time about how you should 'do high tea at The Peninsula', but really that is more about the name these days than anything else.
I really wanted to go to The Langham (8 Peking Road, Tsimshatsui). Oh man, am I so glad that we did!
We sauntered into The Langham - after our pedicures and massages around the corner.
"Tiffin Tea" is served in the Palm Court between 3-5pm daily. Currently it costs $298HK (about $35AUD) for 2 people. Plus 10% service charge of course ~rolls eyes~ I have a beef over service charges, but that is for another post.
nb: There are a couple of other options ie "Tiffin for Prince and Princess" which are $88HKD per person, and a selection of cocktails and mocktails to suit. Damn I love Bellinis!

Anyway, We had a selection of "The Sleeping Beauty" or "Beauty and the Beast". Sleeping beauty was all whites and blondes so I had to go for beauty and the Beast as that was all dark chocolates, lol.

Here we have Manjari chocolate dome, Black forest crystal and vanilla bavarois cream with crispy brownie.

This level had Dark and white chocolate Mille feuille (my favourite from the selection), Chocolate banana baked tart, Chocolate cupcake with valrhone frosting and gold leaf, Praline rice crispy and Raisin scones (preserves, clotted cream and butter served on separate plate).


Okay, I got stuck in before I took a close up of this level, lol. On it was Honey cured ham and mascarpone roulade, truffled organic cream egg with mustard cres, Smoked salmon and cucumber ribbons, peppered roast beef with onion relish and arugula, poached salmon and saffron quiche..

Dark and white chocolate Mille feuille (my favourite from the selection), Chocolate banana baked tart, Chocolate cupcake with valrhone frosting and gold leaf, Praline rice crispy.

And just a general view of "Palm Court"

Along with the food, came a great selection of Teas (black, green, flavoured, fruit and herbal) and coffee.

All in all, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND a visit to The Langham for high tea. The Hotel itself houses a few michelin star restaurants - which I could not convince any of my travel companions to go to :(

"Tiffin Tea" was just divine. It was exquisite, well presented, good service, nice ambience and, best of all, GREAT value for money!

Christmas Eve

2010-12-20T15:30:00.003+08:00

So, I *finally* finished the gifts in jars place settings. I changed the ribbon on the brownie jars as I think these look more "Christmasy".
I used pre bought tags, that we printed up the instructions on sticky labels and whacked them on.

I also got around to making the Christmas Pudding Balls - recipe on my cooking blog HERE

For Appetisers, I have changed my mind again. I will now be doing

Fresh Prawn with Lemon Dill dipping sauce. ^ This, obviously, isn't it, but I like the presentation so will be 'borrowing' the idea.


Sahimi tuna with Mango Spoons (not cups as above). I will also be getitng a nice dark red tuna.

You can get the recipe above over at The Recipe Diva

Tuna sashimi and Avocado Ceviche - I will be putting it in a chinese spoon.

Nine Fine Food

2010-12-16T14:44:00.003+08:00

Firstly, I have realised that I need a better camera (or to convince my husband to take his when we go out). So, apologies for crap photos, only so much I can do with a crap camera.

Nine Fine Food (229 Bulwer Street Northbridge) has to be one of the favourite local restaurants for myself and my husband. Hey, we loved it so much, we had our wedding there almost 4 years ago!
Anyway, we roped my husbands lovely sister into babysitting and we went for a revisit. We only get to go here a few times a year, so we 'make the most of it' when we do go.
Unfortunately it was Munekes (owner/Chef) night off so that was a bit of a shame as we love a good natter :)

Starters were a 'gift' from the Chef. This was seared prawn and pork with pineapple served with "violet" sauce. Violet sauce is a reduction of red wine, lime and mirin.

For Entree we had a share plate labelled "Zensu" which was composed of Oyster & Uni, Spicy tuna sashimi, Spiced beef, pork sui-gyoza, and agedashu tofu 'nine style'. Nom. Spiced beef and Oyster & Uni definite favourites here.

First Course - I selected the Kinoco Caviar Pasta. This was tobico and masago caviar with angel hair pasta with mushrooms in a sake rice wine cream sauce. OMG NOM. I am STILL thinking of this dish!

First Course - my husband selected the Sashimi 'nine style' platter. I have had this many times and it is always fabulous!

Main Course - My husband selected the Violet Duck. This was a section of braised duck served with a peach and pear salad with a red wine, lime and mirin reduction. He said the duck was cooked exceptionally.

Main Course - for me. I went with a standard favourite. Duck with scallops. Roast duck breast sliced and served with seared scallops and lotus root on top of a chilli seaweed salad. Unfortunately, my scallops were raw in the middle, so I sent them back. The duck was cooked perfectly.

And, because we are greedy, we always get a side of deep fried Spider Crabs (soft shell). These ones were so tasty and hot (fresh from fryer) and one day I will, I WILL get that caviar cream sauce recipe off you Muneki!

Here are my replacement scallops. Served with chilli (the red one) and plum miso (the yellow one) sauces. Nom.

And of course, what is any gratuitous meal without decadent desserts? We had Kuro Goma (Black sesame) gelato with a Wasabi Chocolate Mousse.

All off it washed down with a satisfactory bottle of 2003 Bolly.

Restaurant Amuse

2010-12-12T15:28:00.002+08:00

So, last night we went to Restaurant Amuse again. Beautiful as always.
Our overall discusion on the food left us with Chef Hadleigh Troy still doing it well, however, he seems to be playing it a lot 'safer' than when we were there last (about 18 months ago). Gone were the bizarro out there combos - like the deconstructed caesar salad where the lettuce was a cos jus. So, there were absolutely no misses on the night. Unfortunately, it also felt like there were no real revelations (and wit), like previous dishes such as the salted peanut gelato with beer sorbet and minature pretzels dish. I did have a few favourite dishes from the night (see below). The wine and cocktail list is amazing - as usual. The staff are all well versed in foods and drinks, which just adds to the pleasure of the evening.

The Amuse Bouche - Jamon wrapped melon, ceviche on a paper thin cracker like concoction, salted crisps, proscuitto wrapped bread stick and a sesame and something house made stick. The dips were a type of Dukkah and cream mix and one that was an aioli like substance (can you tell I wasn't really listening?)

1st Course - one of my favourites - Tomato, tomato consome, tomato sorbet, condensed watermelon and goats cheese

Course 2 - another favourite of the night - Beetroot, goats cheese, with coffee and cocoa soil.

Course 3 - Kingfish, lemon aspen and red currants.


Course 4 - I am sure they said Barramundi, but the menu says Snapper. Snapper, peas and asparagusin a lemon butter foam.


Course 5 - another favourite - Pork belly, pork crackle soil, seared scallop with pineapple and a cauliflower puree.

Course 6 - Tagine of prawns, zucchini, shallots and eggplant with couscous. I ate it before I remembered to take a photo. oOps.

Palate Cleanser - Lychee sorbet and a sour citric custard base.

Course 7 - his was a really cute idea but, to be honest, it didn't need the blood orange reduction. Strawberries and mascarpone covered with 'fairy' floss.

And this is it after the blood orange reduction was added :(

Course 8 - I actually really liked this and the interplay it had. Blueberries (4 ways), white chocolate and fennel. There was a blueberry toffee shard, a blueberry ?jam log, blueberry soil and I still can't figure what the other one was (note - I was a tad inebriated by this stage). It was served on top of a fennel mousse that was so delicate in flavour, along with white chocolate soil and white chocolate gelato (Nitrogen - hence it looking like feta and the smoke)

And then we finally had coffee (or, in my case, hot chocolate) along with petit fours. The petit fours were not relevatory(like they have been at, say, Rockpool). We had a marshmallow, a chocolate truffle and a finacier. The financier was excellently made having just the right amount of flavour and moistness. For those that haven't had one, it is a tiny bit like a friand, it is a well known type of French teacake.

Birthdays and crap

2010-12-11T10:06:00.000+08:00

I have had a full on few weeks since getting back from Honkers. My youngests sons birthday, my birthday, food poisoning/gastro (I was the only one in the house to get it so am leaning toward food poisoning).
14 days to christmas and I still haven't done the Xmas Cookie Jars yet.
Actually, there are a heap of things I have to do and I don't want to do half of them :(

Hopefully I can get my butt into gear and finish off my posts on Hong Kong (the next one is food!)

Hong Kong - Funny signs

2010-11-29T23:06:00.000+08:00

Just a quicky post as I seem to have developed Gastro and feel like crap.
So, the amusing signs ... I only took a couple of pictures of amusing signs. There were a lot more, trust me.

Wanko is every where!

Cockeye Model Dancers - I'd pay to see that!

Fook's Diamond - I would too honey if I could.

Hong Kong - Where to shop; part 2 Shopping Malls

2010-11-28T20:07:00.003+08:00

I didn't get to as many shopping centres this time around. And the ones I did were a bit more on the upper end of the scale :)

Firstly,

Harbour City (near Star Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui)
The place is HUGE! But if you are into designer gear, particularly designer children and baby gear (authentic), it is AWESOME. And yes, I did indulge and got some great deals. Particularly a very nice Christian Dior dress for my daughter at half off. God I just love designer sales, and with the exchange rate I got it for a song. Below are some photos from the Ocean Terminal entry side and some of the shops ... and the amazing view from the malls windows.

As you can see, all the Xmas decorarions are up!

With views like this, I don't get much shopping done.

We also did IFC Mall. Not too far from the Star Ferry Terminal on Hong Kong Island side. We didn't have much time here as we decided to jump a cab and head off to Stanley Markets. Trouble with shopping with other people and they aren't into the same things as yourself.

Anyway, this mall is all about Luxury.

Langham Place Shopping Mall, Mong Kok

15 Storeys of shopping and worth checking out while you are in Mong Kok at the Ladies markets.

Photos below are all from the mall there

The One is a new Japanese style shopping mall that opened up whilst we were there. It is on Nathan Road in TST (Tsim Sha Tsui). TST is becoming (I found) very heavily influenced by Japanese. Of course it is still full of Pakistani men that harrass you at every turn for "copy watch" "designer bag" "suit" etc And even, on one lucky occasion "Hashish" ~eye roll~

Anyway, "The One" is big and beautiful. Photos below are from there.

And Silvercord Shopping Mall. I can't find a link for the mall itself, but found THIS one that you can use to have a perve as I didn't take any photos there.

I liked this place. Discount and seconds for some designer labels. You have to check carefully as most of them are seconds for a reason. Great place to get really cheap cosmetics and perfume.

We went to a few other malls, but nothing really worth noting.

The following is a list of ones that I have been to in the past, or ones that I really really wanted to get to - but was unable to due to my travelling partners :(

If you need more malls, you can find a list HERE (5 pages)

Hong Kong - Where to shop; part 1 Markets

2010-11-27T17:09:00.001+08:00

One thing you learn in China/Hong Kong - they all bullshit. They will all tell you it is real, it authentic, it is famous brand, it is popular, it is well made, it is cheap etc. 8/10 I would say it is not what they say it is. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of reputable dealers - but you will rarely (if ever) find the 'real deal' on a street stall. Even the shops can be dubious, but that is for another post.
Just be prepared, know what you are looking for, do your homework, or if all else fails, take someone that knows their shit. You might think you can spot fake leather, but you would be surprised. Can you tell turquoise from marble imitation? can you tell real jade from fake jade?
Just be prepared and you should be right :)

Tai Yuen Street, Wan Chai

Hong Kong is renowned for several street markets. I will start with the more popular and well known ones...

Ladies Market
Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon (MTR Mongkok Station Exit E2)
Time open: noon – 11:30pm
A lot of the stalls here can be repetitive, but if you know how to bargain you WILL get a deal. See the end of this post on my tips for bargaining. Main items on sale are bags, accessories and women's clothing. Men's and children's clothing and toys is also on offer, but the predominant thing here seems to be bags atm.

Temple Street Night Market
Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon (MTR Jordan Station Exit A. Turn right into Jordan Road, then right into Temple Street - it is signposted)
Time open: 4pm - midnight
Once again, a lot of repetitive stalls. Similar items on sale as at Ladies Market - throw in some adult lingerie and mens decorative posing pouches and away you go! Lots of cheap eats at the start of the market. Nothing mind blowing, but good standard cheap fare.

Stanley Road Markets
Stanley Market Road, Stanley, Hong Kong Island (MTR Hong Kong Station Exit D and take bus 6, 6A, 6X, 66 or 260 from Exchange Square Bus terminus, Central). Or, for around $100-120HKD take a taxi directly from central.
Time open: 10:30am – 6:30pm
I would say there are a better variety of stalls here than at some of the other markets. They are not too keen on the bargaining here, and it does feel like the vendors have closed ranks a bit. They can be difficult to bargain with at times. Main things for sale are jewelry, kids clothes, kids costumes, Chinese artwork, silk collectibles and curios, as well as larger-sized clothing. There is a large sized footwear store here called Alibabas, it is down the little alley (in middle) that runs down to the waterfront. The waterfront has been developed beautifuly here, so be sure that you do not bypass it. There are a few stalls down there as well, but the jetty now is home to 4 large restaurants, plus the waterfront is littered with small cafes that have beautiful views.

Jardines Crescent Markets
Jardine's Crescent, Causway Bay, Hong Kong Island (MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit F)
Time open: 11am – 9:30pm
I actually didn't get a chance to make it here, but it is supposedly good for inexpensive clothing, accessories and domestic goods.

Tai Yuen Street Markets
Tai Yuen Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island (MTR Wan Chai Station Exit A3)
Time Open: 7am - 7pm
I found this one great for kids toys. I managed to get my kids a heap of Godzilla and godzilla related toys really cheap.

Cat Street Markets (Cat Street)
Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
(MTR Central Exit D2 and turn right to Theatre Lane. Walk along Queen's Road Central towards The Centre. Then take the Central - Mid-Levels Escalator to Hollywood Road.)
Time open: 11am - 6pm
(Cat Street/Upper Lascar Road) Wonderful little flea market lining an antiques specialities street. I didn't get here this time, but I thoroughly enjoyed this last visit. Specialities are jade, silk products, embroideries and wooden handicraft items. Take someone with you that knows their stuff !

You can find further details about street markets HERE . Check all the categories, not just street markets, because they have them filed under what they mainly sell. Ones I would classify as street markets are not on their stree markets list.
Above I have only mentioned ones that I have personally found interesting, or ones that I would have liked to have gone to.

Bargaining
My rule of thumb is to always start offering less than half - usually around 30-40% of what the vendor is asking. I almost never pay over 50% of what they have asked for.
What you have to remember - and actually DO!
* Be prepared to walk away! there is a very good chance that there are at least 20 other stalls selling the exact same thing you are looking at. And the further/deeper you go into the market, the cheaper you will get it!
* Never bother with the first stalls you encounter - all the tourists hit those first, so they are always harder to bargain with.
* Once again, walk away! Some stalls you don't even have to try bargaining with they just drop drop drop. Like one stall I was looking at a necklace, I wasn't particularly interested in it so I went to walk away. The woman dropped the price 200HKD in the beat of 3 seconds just to get me to buy something.
* Know what it is worth! Don't just think you are getting a bargain, KNOW that you are!
* Have a cheap show purse. This is what I do. I put 100-200HKD in it and I keep the rest of the $$ in another purse in my bra. If I am having trouble beating something down, I will open my "show" purse and show them and say "I am sorry, this is all that I have". It has only failed me once - and she was a hard assed bitch.
* Always always be polite. You may be bargaining like hell, but it is never any excuse to be mean or rude.
* Try and learn basic terms in their language before you go on holidays. A little does really mean a lot. Be it "how much is that?" (phonetic pron: gay doh chin) or even a simple thank you (phonetic pron: shay shay). Be sure you get it right though. Hong Kong is mainly English speaking, but their main language is Cantonese. If you go across the border into mainland China for shopping (ie Shenzen) their main language is Mandarin.

That is about it. If I remember anything else, I will come and update, or if you have tips of your own, please comment!

Hong Kong

2010-11-27T13:36:00.000+08:00

Well, I am back after 8 days of Hong Kong solid shopping :)

Completely knackered.

I will do a few posts on Hong Kong - in parts.
Where to Shop - Markets, or higher end. As well as a good tailor and jeweler (tailors and jewellers are everywhere in Honkers but these two that I will recommend are good and trustworthy).
Where to eat - Cheap and good. Higher end and good. Middle range and consistent.
Things to do - okay, so the ONLY thing I did other than shop was go to Ocean Park for the day, so this post will be about Ocean Park.
Funny Signs - what is a post on any part of Asia if you do not include any Engrish?!
Basic customs - What to do or say, even where to stand :)

I will start doing these posts in the next few days, once I finally unpack everything.

Gifts in Jars - again

2010-11-14T21:53:00.003+08:00

Okay, I am being super organised and have started making gifts in jars.

I have done half of the Christmas eve ones (the brownies in jars - see recipe a few posts back)), and I have done up some gift jars for my eldests kindy friends and kindy teacher.

I still have to print out the instructions for the jars. Am planning on doing them onto a gold (gold gold, not yellow) star so it will probably be on a white circle, lol.

Brownies - Not *too* different from the inspiration

Xmas Eve place setting gifts - Luckily I found some gold satin
and some burgundy and red ribbons with gold stars on
them laying around the house.

Kindy Kids gift jars - red, green and white Jelly beans or red, green and white M&Ms. The Green and white M&Ms are choc mint. The red M&Ms are actually Jaffas.

One Kindy Teacher is getting a brownie jar, the other will be getting a christmas cookie jar :)

Christmas

2010-11-08T17:33:00.004+08:00

Just because I want to go completely overboard!

I am pretty sure I am going to do a version of cake pops for xmas for the kids - but instead of cake, I am just going to do chocolate truffles as it is easier. Bakerella did some beautiful ones.

I also want to do mini apples. BUT, do I do the caramel apples from Meet me in the kitchen ?

or I could do the mini caramel apples at From glitter to gumdrops ?

OR should I do the mini chocolate apples from Zuppas ?

Which would you do?

I will be doing the appetisers for Xmas Eve dinner. So I think I have decided to do this

^Bread, Smoked Salmon, Salmon Roe, tiny bit of spanish onion and a shave of truffle (olive pictured but that is too phallic). Parsley to garnish

^Bread, Camembert, grapes and parsley to garnish.

^bread, ham and cucumber.

^bread, prawn, slice of lemon and aioli.

Update II

2010-11-08T17:10:00.002+08:00

Well. I made my daughters birthday cake, and I don't think it looked *too* different to the inspiration cake. I was pretty over the restaurant bringing it out in the plastic box I brought it in. I thought (as they were charging 'cakeage') that they would at least put it onto a plate and bring it out ready to sing happy birthday to. Fuckers.

^The cake.

^The sorting of M&M colours and sizes. Fun. Not.

^Christmas place settings for the kids. One christmas cup, one Daryl Lea chcocolate pop, a Daryl Lea candy cane, a Christmas tree lollipop, a box of smarties and a freddo frog.

^Then wrapped them in either red or clear cellophane and green and gold curly ribbon.

Simple, but better than shitty crackers!

Update I

2010-11-08T17:03:00.001+08:00

Okay, going to be a long photo update in a couple of parts.

Firstly, bag to the Dragon party! I finally got the pics off my camera and found some stuff!

^ The loot bags. Pretty boring. I also added in some bubbles and a box of smarties.

^Another photo of the cake. I 'jazzed' it up with a couple of Gronckle figurines

^After everyone had left the water police whacked on the sirens and pulled up a boat

at the bottom of the yard. Excitement for the boys!

Gifts in Jars

2010-11-05T10:29:00.005+08:00

I am finding this concept fascinating! So watch out people come Xmas!
I have done 2 posts over at my cooking blog Cathode Cook

I have a recipe over there for buttered brazil nuts, so I am going to do a few jars of them up for the Xmas table.
Anyway, found another few links for ideas of what to put in jars
Gifts in Jars

Jar Mixes

More gifts in jars

Jar packing tutorial

7 great edible gifts in jars
The trick is going to be making them as appealing and attractive as they will be yummy!

ETA, just found place to buy them all from too! MASON JARS (eta the postage worked out to not be feasible for me on this one. Have since found a few places in Perth, if you are interested, leave a message and I will give their details).

On another note ... I can't believe my daughter is going to be 1yr old very soon!
I am going to make this one for her birthday cake :)

Also, The Maylands Street Festival is on this Sunday! If you are in Perth, come on down! especially if you have kids!!! There is a massive art and craft marquee with loads of free and even some fancy stuff for the kids and something for the adults to do as well! Loads of FREE rides and entertainment!!!

Some links for Christmas Craft ideas
http://www.craftelf.com/craft_elf_holiday_Christmas.htm

http://www.craftelf.com/Christmas_Gumdrop_Christmas_tree_craft.htm <- looks easy as!

http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/articles/home-made-christmas-gifts

Christmas cookie jars

OMG, I think I am actually getting excited about Christmas for the first time in donkeys years!

Okay...

2010-10-31T20:33:00.002+08:00

Firstly, Flytraps! I love them!
This one I put up just over a week ago at my house.

Now, for the party! Obviously I am not going to put pictures of the kids up here, so here are some pictures of the cake! Not exactly what I wanted, but close enough that I didn't care. It tasted delicious! She said it was just chocolate mud cake, but it tasted a bit alcohol like. Gods I hope not as it was for kids! Anyway...

I have other photos from the day, but they are on the other camera and god knows when I will get around to getting the photos off that one, lol.

Dragon Party & Gardening

2010-10-30T13:43:00.000+08:00

I am going to do a huge post with photos about the Dragon Party for the young master and the gardening that I am finally getting onto at my place (as I have neglected it for the last few months while I have been doing my mothers) ... so, yeah. Just not today :p

Tired and sore

2010-10-13T23:47:00.000+08:00

So, I can do a Fairy garden and not feel a thing. But I do hanging baskets and one section of garden today that is 1.5mx5m and I am aching all over!
Admittedly I did have to climb over a hip high fence about 20 times though!
Am cleaning out parts of my mums gardens.
Today was all the hanging baskets surrounding the house (cleaning them up, replacing dead plants, hanging new baskets etc). And that garden bed was where I was putting a heap of miscellaneous pot plants that were littering the verandah. I just need to mulch it - so I will get my Uncle to do that when he comes over next :p

I managed to stockpile a host of empty pots all in the one area, not just whereever they lay throughout the garden. It generally looks quite a bit tidier! She'll probably kill me when she sees it. lol.

I didn't take a before shot (forgot), and I won't post an after shot till the mulch is on.

Dragon Egg Disaster! & bloody ducks

2010-10-02T12:34:00.003+08:00

So, I am doing the final layer of the dragon eggs and the bloody things all collapsed in on themselves!

The birthday is just around the corner, so I am now off to frantactly search ebay, oztion and gumtree! Gaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh

edited to add ... I was sitting here searching for egg replacements (yay, found & bought some!) when I noticed the ducks had come right up to the back door. So I trotted out there to give them some chook pellets, and then discovered that one of the bastards had taken a dump at the back door. Not. Happy.

The eggs I found are 9cm long and have a dinosaur inside. Not really what I wanted, but kids will no doubt love them.

Habitable Planet Found

2010-10-01T07:51:00.000+08:00

Well, they have finally found a habitable planet! I don't know about you, but I find that news extremely interesting.
"After years of saying habitable exoplanets are just around the corner, planet hunters have finally found one. Gliese 581g is the first planet found to lie squarely in its star’s habitable zone, where the conditions are right for liquid water.

“The threshold has now been crossed,” said astronomer R. Paul Butler of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, one of the planet’s discoverers, in a press briefing Sept. 29. “The data says this planet is at the right distance for liquid water, and the right mass to hold on to a substantial atmosphere.”
The discovery is both “incremental and monumental,” comments exoplanet expert Sara Seager of MIT, who was not involved in the new study. When a recent study predicted the first habitable world should show up by next May, Seager rightly said the real answer was more like “any day now.”
“We’ve found smaller and smaller planets that got closer and closer to the habitable zone,” she said. “But this is the first that’s in the habitable zone.”
"
You can read the rest of the article over here
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/09/real-habitable-exoplanet/

Updatish

2010-09-30T22:41:00.002+08:00

A few posts back I mentioned that I had been to a chocolate therapy class. Well, I finally had some time to make some chocolates, yay.
So, here are my Chill Chocolates - the raw chocolate recipe with a dash of Cayenne added. I also made some Goji Berry chocolates and some Cacao Nib Chocolate..but they all looked the same on the outside so I didn't bother to take a pic.

^ Cayenne Chocolate

^ Chocolate Truffles - recipe at my cooking blog

Recently, I also got around to doing the edging on the Fairy Garden and planting some more flowers.

And below we have a photo of one of the new visitors. We have 3 ducks that like to hang out around the Fairy Garden (who can blame them?!). They take turns in coming up, one set come up as a pair, and the fellow pictured here likes to come up by its lonesome. So, pretty much, there is at least one duck hanging around at any time. I ended up going and getting chook laying pellets to feed to them. It is the new ritual with the kids to go out and feed the ducks a few times a day.

Plastic Bags & recycling

2010-09-24T10:14:00.000+08:00

Firstly - I recommend going to The Green and Plastic Bag Conspiracy and having a read! It is an old post, but says it all without me having to regurgitate, and I could never say it as well as he does anyway.

I'd also recommend a read of Will My Plastic Bag Still Be Here in 2507?

Also, from choice online - Are polypropylene bags really greener?

And, lastly ... Paper Bags vs Plastic & Myth: Biodegradable Bags are the Solution

So, now you know the reason why I don't buy recycling bags from coles or other places - and only use them if they have been gifted to me.

Chocolate Therapy

2010-09-18T20:22:00.001+08:00

So, today I had my "Chocolate Therapy" class.
As soon as I walked in, I said to myself...I bet they're from Fremantle. Bing. Correct.
There is a type from Fremantle, and you would either get it without me having to explain, or you won't - so I won't bother.

Anyway, the couple have a business called Roar Superfoods. All in all a good premise. They source the best quality superfoods, you buy :)
All in all - interesting, though they need to check up some medical facts. If I hear one more time that sugar makes people hyperactive I am going to scream. THERE ARE A TONNE OF STUDIES DISPROVING THAT FOLKS! oO, and they were totally cheesy in teaching style, but that is okay.

I digress. We learned about the history of the Cacao beans and history of Chocolate in general. Why adding milk and sugarcane to chocolate detracts from the beneficial qualities of choclate. We sampled some "Modern Mayan" Cacao drink, and loads of chocolate that they made - with cacao tips, goji berries, almonds, plain etc. They don't cook their chocolate at all (hence the raw in Roar), just melt it at temp to melt cocoa butter (about 31C). I plan to temper my chocolate because the readiness at which it melted completely pissed me off.

So, here are the 2 recipes that I was given today.
Basic Chocolate (makes approximately 25 chocolates)
Ingredients
3 Tablespoons of Dark Agave Syrup
80g Cacao Butter - chopped into small pieces. (I have one from wild harvested from Peru)
55g Cacao Powder - sifted. (I have 2 types,from Peru and Equador)
Method
1.Bring 2cm depth water in a small saucepan to boil.
2.Sit a glass jug/bowl on the saucepan (nb: water should not be touching the jug/bowl).
3.Place cacao butter in the bowl and then turn the heat off. Allow to completely melt.
4.Add agave syrup, mix WELL ro warm through.
5.Mix in the cacao powder1/3 at a time, blend well - by hand.
6.At this point, you would add in any ingredients that you wish to add to the chocolate ie nuts or dried fruit or spices.
7.Remove the jug/bowl and wipe all the water/condensation from the exterior of the container.
8.Carefully pour into chocolate molds and gently shake the molds to settle the chocolate.
9.Place in freezer for approximately 30 minutes or in the fridge for one hour to set.
10.When set, twist the mold to loosen the chocolate. remove from mold.
nb: Will keep refrigerated for up to one month. Will melt at room temp.

Mayan Chocolate Drink (makes approximately 4 serves)
Ingredients
1 cup raw organic Cacao Powder
Cayenne pepper - to taste
1/2-1 teaspoon raw Vanilla Powder
4 tablespoons Dark Agave Syrup
4 cups of warmed Almond Milk (recipe below)
Cinnamon and/or nutmeg to taste
Method
Mix all ingredients in the blender and serve.

Almond Milk (makes 1 litre / 4 cups)
Soak 3/4 cup of raw almonds overnight.
Strain and rinse almonds.
Blend almonds with 4 cups of filtered water.
Put through a fine strainer or a nutmilk bag (cheesecloth).

Store in the fridge (3 days max).

Time Flies

2010-09-14T23:45:00.000+08:00

WOW, was just having a look through old posts and I can't believe that it is nearly 2.5 years since I put all the fruit trees and veg in.
Here is a mini update/reminisce

From this

To this

From this

To this

Yes, I know I need to do a good weeding, lol.

Something in the air

2010-09-14T23:33:00.000+08:00

Well, after yesterdays endeavour, I was sure I was going to do nothing today.
Soooo, I shampood (?sp) and conditioned the leather suite, scrubbed the suede dining chairs (that was such a stupid decision to get with kids - kids that love playdoh).
I even vacumed and mopped. I so need to find a new cleaner. I can't keep this crap up.

Fairy Garden Update ... and cake.

2010-09-13T18:22:00.001+08:00

So, this is what I did today...planted some plants, arranged some gnomes and wood animals, painted a wall, paved and mulched.

From this

to this

From this

To this

So, all up it came together pretty well.

I just need some more redgum chips and some more time to paint onto the curved wall a 'fairy door' (even though it more of a gnome overload) and some flowers and mushrooms and stuff. Very happy so far, kids love it, yay. But I am totally stuffed. Straight to bed after True Blood and some work for the business association :(
Flowers planted are lavender (french white and regular avon blue), a variety of daisies - heritage, marguerite etc, everlastings, rosemary, parsley, alyssum, lobelia etc. The tree in foreground is a peach, weeping one behind cubby is a weeping mulberry.

And on to cake...
I did the kitkat cake again for my mums birthday. I'll show it in stages. Baked a round chocolate cake - devils cake made with with shaved chocolate. Iced it and then stuck kitkats around edges.

Then I put a ribbon around to support the kitkats, and filled in the top with one bag of mini M&Ms and one bag of regular M&Ms.

I have all the paper soaking ready to do the papier mache pulp. So not looking forward to next stage of the Dragon eggs...

Updatish

2010-09-04T00:22:00.000+08:00

Okay, so I finally got around to uploading the latest photos. So this is a photo update :)

Above we have the first stage of the "Dragon Eggs" for the Egg Hunt. Water balloons covered in Papier mache - layer method.

Above we have the glue that I made to stick it all together

Above we have the eggs drying. We have yet to apply the papier mache sculpting layer (pulp papier mache method). Hopefully get around to doing that next week.

And here we have the first trial at making a KitKat Cake. I had to saw the KitKats in half as they were way too long (I bought the wrong ones). But all in all an easy exercise and a tasty endeavour. Will upload pic when I do the 'real' one for mums birthday.

Carbon Trading

2010-09-02T10:00:00.001+08:00

I have been thinking a lot about Carbon Trading and Carbon Credit lately. I would be very interested in anyone elses view (if anyone reads my blog :p).

I am not in the mood to launch into one of my big rants, so at the end of day, I am not a fan. I think it does nothing to actually change the way that we live and treat the environment and I feel that it is a huge marketing scam.
I feel that all it is doing is allowing people and companies the rights to pollute.

Did you vote Greens?

2010-08-26T21:42:00.000+08:00

Sorry, I know most of my friends voted Greens (I didn't :P ) ... but this is still hell funny.

The joy of papier mache - not.

2010-08-23T22:32:00.001+08:00

Okay, so today the plan was to make at least 24 papier mache 'dragon eggs'. Just the first layer.
I set up kids with kiddy scissors and paper and a bucket while I went off to make glue. The recipe I used was
1 cup plain flour mixed into 2 cups of cold water. Whisked smooth (no lumps).
Boil a pot with 3 cups of water. When boiling, add in the flour mix and stir (I whisked) until thickened - which it did in a minute. Took off heat and put into a bowl to cool.
I go to check on kids. A total of one sheet of newspaper has been cut between them and they have decided to run off down the backyard and fob it all off.
~groan~
So, I go and blow up some water balloons. After I pop the first 3 (water balloons are not meant to be blown up), I finally get the knack and do up 28.
I take them outside and set up the 'work station', and call the eldest back to come and help. It is for his freaking party after all.
He successfully (not) does 1/4 of a balloon, decides the whole task has nads on it and disappears off to play with his brother.
Mum joins me and between us we make 27 'dragon eggs' - the last balloon popped in the sun.
They look pretty good so far, so we set them out to dry. They dry pretty well, but 2 are a bit slow as I had made them a bit thicker.
Well ... let that be a lesson to me. My youngest son decides, brilliant! I will nick a couple and peel off the paper ~grrrrr~
So, we are down to 25. I need 24, so just as well we made spares.

I will post up pictures from todays efforts ... when I cba.

Next weekend we will be doing the pulp papier mache layer (today was the strip paper layer), just to get a better shape and better structure. Then it will be painting time.

I am going to document the whole lot of it ... because even I can't believe that I am actually going to this trouble!

Really not much...

2010-08-20T09:44:00.000+08:00

I really haven't been paying much attention to the garden of late.
I had my knee operated on in July, and am only able to just start bending it now ... so I fear kneeling in the garden beds is going to still be a while away :(
I have been watching my vegies grow (snow peas, fennel bulbs, broccoli, kale etc) and feeling frustration as for every plant there appears to be a weed to match.
The side alleyway leading to my store room is looking shocking! Full of weeds between the pavers, along with a tonne of Borage. Of course the Borage didn't self sow in the bed, it did it all in between pavers. The cats have gotten in and dug out the comfrey (now a stump of a plant covered in turds).
The pears along there are still growing ... does anyone have any idea how long it takes pears to ripen? it feels like the fruit have been there for 3 months, but they are not very big.

Next door we had to remove a big mound of dirt and building materials (that was helping hold up the fence). The water corp needed access to the manhole that was conveniently located underneath it (typical). Unfortunately it has also resulted in the fence falling over further - as it was just about the only thing keeping it up. Soooooo, yet another letter to the strata manager of the units behind - this time giving them a deadline before I pursue legal action. The fence has been like this for 20 odd years. I have only been dealing with it for 2 years - as in trying to get a resolution from them. So. Damn. Frustrating!
(nb: the fence is all their fault as they altered the lay of the land and never put in a retaining wall)

Mums birthday is coming up soon. I am pretty pissed. Not at mum, but I bought her present 2 weeks ago, paid for it straight away and have just received notification that it has just been posted. Soooo, it has 2 weeks to get into my possession from Russia. It had better get here in time!
I am going to make this cake for her birthday. Pretty selfish reasons. Well, apart from me wanting to make mum a birthday cake, a) it looks like something I can manage no sweat. b) all the kids will love it. c) I will love it, though my diabetes will not.

The young master and I have been discussing his birthday plans, and this year it is all about the dragons!

So, after deciding that there is no way that I can do the cake that he wants (it's a sculptured dragon job from fondant), I am just going to outsource it. I have slowly been accumulating dragon bits and bobs for loot bags, decorations and "prizes". But the big job will start next weekend. We are inviting around 24 kids (Kindy & friends) so the young master and I will be making 24 Emu egg sized "dragon eggs" from water balloons and papier mache for the Dragon Egg Hunt.

Food Inc

2010-07-30T22:56:00.001+08:00

Has anyone else here watched the documentary Food Inc ?
Here is the quick link to the issues the movie covers

Brief spiel "Food, Inc. lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing how our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. Food, Inc. reveals surprising and often shocking truths about what we eat, how it's produced and who we have become as a nation."

I really don't know what to say. I am horrified.
I also must have been living with complete blinkers on because I had no idea how many food products that I consume contain GM ingredients!

I started to take solace in thinking, well this is all in America...it isn't.

Just a quick look at True Food Network showed the US lobbying to block GE labelling in Australia

This is the blog associated with the film...Take Part
The DVD is available to purchase at Amazon - not sure if you would have to order it in elsewhere...

Miscellaneous update

2010-04-04T20:34:00.001+08:00

So, I still haven't really done anything except plant jonquil bulbs.

Still awaiting the red delicious and pinkabelle apples to rippen, and my youngest son tucked into the golden delicious, much to the dismay of my husband (he wanted them).

The last of the tomatoes turns out was vying for the worlds smallest tomato plant label (see picture below of it's fruit size - all of them were like that). And I have just noticed that my Winter Nellis Pear Tree has 3 pears on it! so my first 'crop' of pears at this house!

^Yep, I grow them tomatoes big at my place, lol. This years crop was totally disappointing.

Below is a picture of the gum tree's (Eucalyptus ?Grandis) new up flood lighting (at mum's)

I took the photo below while waiting for my son to finish his tennis lesson. I am assuming that it is probably a vapour trail, and the airport is in the direction of the tapered end .... cool though.

Will get there eventually...waiting for Autumn!

2010-03-06T19:58:00.000+08:00

Am still not planting in the garden atm. Way too hot to try and pull it off. It's enough work trying to keep everything alive through this summer!
Have just been flicking through the photos from "the beginning" of my project and am pleased at how much it has grown. Seeing it all the time, I barely notice the difference most days.
We had a massive crop of passionfruit this year, and it is now on it second round of fruiting ... hopefully they ripen up before cool weather hits.
All my tomatoes and cucumbers are done for the year, but the capsicums and paprika are still going great guns. I'm out of parsley currently, but still have french tarragon and basil. I'm giving up on oregano. It just doesn't like me, and to be honest, I never really use it in anything anyway. So rssppttt to you oregano!

I have a whole 8 apples to harvest this year! 4 pinkabelle, 2 red delicious and 2 golden delicious. My peacharine and apricots lost all their fruit this year, so a spray with bordeaux is in store for this winter.

I think it is getting time to convert some of the nappy insides into soil wetter again. Perth soil is so sandy it totally blows!
The nappy trick is - have a bucket of water in your laundry. Every time a wet huggies comes your way, dump it in (not a poo nappy!). When it is at maximum expansion (I usually wait till 4-5 in there), I split them open and squish all the insides into the bucket. I then take it outside, dig a hole and mix it into the soil. Repeat until you have done some good square footage/or a bed. From there, prep as usual - organic matter/compost, manure mix, blood and bone, dynamic lifter, water top down ... sit for a week, plant, water, mulch, water.

I find I am missing flowers a fair bit, so I am going to be putting in more jonquil bulbs for this spring display. Just going to line edges of the driveway with them :)

My challenge this year is to grow a green zucchini! Yellow, no worries, but you think I can get a green variety to grow?

What else ....?
I made a tonne of fig jam the other week. MY Aunty had a bumper crop and (try as hard as I might) I just couldn't eat any more ... so made jam with the remaining 2 kilos.

Orange and lemon season will be upon us soon (4 orange trees and 2 lemon trees to harvest), so I will be making a huge amount of marmalades, Lemon butter and cordials. Anyone have any other ideas on what to do with citrus (that is long lasting) ?

My Place - Photo Update

2010-01-09T21:08:00.004+08:00

The Loquat tree area
I ended up getting rid of the strawberries as they didn't cascade as I would of liked. I now have Oregano, French Tarragon, Sage, Basil and Chervil growing on the "wall"

Everything has grown quite a bit.
I got rid of the baskets in this area and ended up going with 2 pears and 2 apples (for espalier), intermixed I have comfrey, borage, bergamot, paprika and cucumbers.
Along here I ended up going Blueberries with spring onions planted amongst them and growing passionfruit as a backdrop.

What it used to look like can be found HERE and HERE

Mums Garden Update Photos

2010-01-09T20:40:00.004+08:00

OKay, for the old photos look HEREThe view down back
The Fairy garden that I have slowly been working on is nearly complete. Just need to paint that curved wall behind the gnomes - is going to green with a secret door and mushrooms and stuff.

Ripped out Bouganvilleas and now have a tomatoes and berries along this wall.
Moses in the craddle
Still not too sure what to do here....

Old Harvest Photos 2009

2010-01-09T20:31:00.006+08:00

Assorted squash
Assorted chillies, fryers and paprika.
Leeks, corn, tomatoes, capsicums and spring onion
Watermelon, fryers and capsicums

Stuff

2010-01-08T23:07:00.002+08:00

Okay, I deleted a heap of stuff that I felt wasn't garden related ... and somehow also managed to delete my harvests posts ~insert pouty face here~

I am going to take a heap of photos this weekend and do a massive photo update. Everything really looks so different here now ... I can't believe it has been nearly 2 years since edibilised (is that even a word?) the garden.

Anyway .... stay tuned ... photos up within 7 days ... I promise :)

Time evaporation ......

2008-12-29T20:19:00.006+08:00

I swear the days are just zooming by!!!

Merry Xmas, Happy new years and all that!!!!!!!

So, here is another mini-photo update of ye olde veg patch .

oO, and beasties found within ...

I am pretty sure this is a sandgroper. I get a fair few of these around. I used to think they were some kind of cockroach, but the lobsterish appearance is apparently a sandgroper.

Im proud of my large yellow zucchini. Was just shy of 40cm and was very tasty : )

I have a pumpkin growing in my vertical vegie space!!!!

My Hymenocallus finally grew and flowered (I actualy have 3). aka Spiderflower, just beautiful.

I'm glad I left some artichokes go to flower, was so worth it, they are so beautiful : )

Am also letting my french fennel go for seed.

Happy New Years

Everyone!!!

Garden Update

2008-10-09T12:05:00.004+08:00

Young Master C's Veggie boxes - swiss chard and celery.

Leekage.

My first Artichoke.

I think these are sweet peas. Very pretty.

These are snow peas.

More massive broad beanage.

Mums Vegie Patch - Photo update

2008-09-07T20:59:00.003+08:00

Okay, work is FINALLY nearing completion at my mums vegie patch. Its been a lot of sifting soil, hauling soil, laying some brick paving and old roof tile edging etc ... but here is currrent status ...
Here is the big tank. Currently it is half full with cauliflower and broccoletti. To refresh your memory it used to look like THIS

Here are the 2 smaller tanks (2.5m x 1.2m) and they are planted out with celery, cos lettuce, capsicums (mixed), grape tomatoes, swiss chard, carrots (mixed heirloom) and beetroots (chioggia). It used to look like THIS

Now for some flower shots ... Above is one of the many azaleas in the garden.

Above here is the fuschia.

Above is the orchid that we got naming rights over .... Pumilow Caterina...isn't it nice when flowers smile for the camera?!

Above is the last Lilac of the season.

And just thought Id put in a picture here of the Pecan Nut tree out back. We don't often get to get any because the black cockatoos raid it every season. The tree is huge, to give you an idea, where I was standing to take the photo is about 4 - 5 meters above the base of the tree - tree is at least 20 ft (the back yard is rolling terraced - its on the 3rd terrace down). Also in shot, if you can make it out, is a huge Mulberry tree (to back and left of photo) and a small grapefruit and small pear tree.

Lots of Photos - New Project

2008-08-09T22:11:00.008+08:00

Okay, where to begin....
I have convinced my mother to upgrade her side garden into a humungus vegie patch. We have always had fruit trees in there, but the old veg thing has never been our forte.
In times past this has been a pretty tropical garden, and in our childhood, it was referred to as the secret garden as no-one seemed to know it existed (probably as it is pretty much fenced in and back then we had bananas growing up to the entrance of the one side you could get in).
Anyway, gone are the rhodedendrons and tamarillos etc. (through age and plant death). Fruit wise there are still 2 big mangoes in there and around 4 avocados, an orange, a mandarin, a fig and macadamia.
So I thought I would do here a visual journey of our progress through to vegie patch galore. The pathways were laid down by my dad many many years ago, and we are retaining a lot of the trees (all the palms will eventually go), and the orchid area will stay.

We have been doing a bit of work before I remembered to bring my camera along .....

Ready for the journey?

The Mango at the entrance to the garden...she gives us big beautiful Kensington Prides (when the rats and bats dont get to them). The photo next to it is the main path into the garden.

Here is the other Kensington Pride Mango interwoven with the Macadamia tree. As CWM Goch has said, it is proably why the black parrots havent decimated the macadamia crops. They havent noticed it yet! The photo next to it is the same area but camera looking straight (not up), so you get an idea of the size. And thats one of our baby Mangoes (we have 5).

This is the other main path into the garden, runs adjacent to the other main path. Photo next to it is of one of the interconnecting "winding" paths. All the little green flecks are seedlings of miscellaneous vegies.

VEG BOX 2 & 3 On the left here we have the remains of 2 old vegie boxes that my dad made, that usually housed flowers, lol. We are in the process of dismantling them (they were made out of old jarrah floor boards), and getting the area ready for a huge vegie tank (3m x 1.5m). To the right is the Navel Orange tree. It had a severe pruning and is feeling sorry for itself. Uncle C has been busy topping the bed up with mulch and has been slowly planting it out with various things. Actually, just noticed that the 2 photos together like that give a pretty accurate interpretation of the area.

VEG BOX 1 Down here we have the lone veg box. Also in the process of being dismantled and replaced. They have lasted a long time (at least 15 years) but have started to bust now, or otherwise we would of used them to plant out. The area next to it is underneath our mandarin tree. Best tasting mandarins ever! It too has had a severe pruning and is feeling sorry for itself, but still managed to give out a bag of mandarins this year. The broadbeans dont like this spot methinks. I'll have to fish out an old photo I have of this spot, you wouldnt pick it as the same area with rhodedendrons and very tropical feel it used to have.

The orchid house. They are all pretty much starting to bust a bud at the moment. Very pretty. We picked up 2 new ones last week, but they havent made it here yet. We got naming rights on one, so it is now called Pumilow Caterina. Awww

Okay, now for some during work progress shots. After 2 hours we had dismantled VEGBOX 1, sifted all the soil - egads what a freaking nightmare that was (box was filled with some sort of rhizome grower and we had to get out every single opaque carrot like bulby thing and let me tell you, there were hundreds!). Anyway, we then flattened off where the new veg box will go, so that area is pretty much all ready. Im planning on putting in raspberries along the brick wall there.

And here are some photos of my bad, bad attempt at doing some edging to stop the soil run off when it rains. I hang my head in shame. I wil have to dig it all out and put it in like the rest of the garden, upright and overlap the roof tiles.

This weeks job is to mulch all the piles of crap that are laying around in the garden, and to sift the soil on VEG BOX 2 & 3 as one had ferns in it so the soil if full of those ball like ?tubers. Fun and games. I so cant wait until the tanks are in and ready to plant up. All my seedlings at home are begging for a new place to live.

Stage 1 and new aquisitions...

2008-07-13T17:27:00.004+08:00

Okay, here are the stage one photos of the hanging gardens, lol. I think I have said before that these will host mini cucumber varieties, grape tomato varieties and mini rockmelons.

Its coming along nicely, but the major plant out of this area and the bed underneath it will be in spring. The space is only just starting to get sun again, and is nice and sunny here in spring/summer. So, so far, I am happy with how it is looking. Mind you, I am looking at it with eyes that see the final product : ) This space here is getting there. Same scenario as the other space, it doesnt get much autumn, winter sun (if any) but is good in spring and summer. These baskets I am saving for my new purchases (see below) with the Cossack Pineapple, and the Strawberry Spinach. This is the before shot post of this space. As you can see, I am one basket liner down as yet.

My Lime and Lemon are going great (new shoots and flower buds), and the lettuce and brussels sprout are coming along nicely. Also in shot is the corn salad, red mizuna, endive and chicory ... Go the dense gardening!

Okay, for the new purchases .... hehehe.

I have a Jostaberry on the way from Diggers. This was the blurb that came with it

"If you like Blackcurrants and Gooseberries, but the small thorny shrubs aren't to your liking, then the Jostaberry is for you. This thornless hybrid has a complicated lineage including both gooseberries and currants, resulting in a handsome shrub that produces marble-sized fruits in mid summer to enjoy with blueberries, raspberries and blackberries."

And this one sounded great, as I LOVE pineapple, but begrudge paying up to $7 per pine. Seeds on their way from Cornucopia.

"Cossack Pineapple are a very easily grown, sprawling, very productive plant. It bears delicious berries that are encased in a papery husk and have a flavour reminiscent of pineapplePlants grow to 50cm but with bushy spreading lateral branches which choke out weeds. Fruit is ripe when it falls to the ground. Fruits are delicious fresh, as well as making terrific pies and jams and will ripen from mid summer until frost."

Looks like a gooseberry doen't it?!

BTW, a big thankyou to Molly for the Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe ... went down a real treat!

Mini Greenhouse

2008-07-10T19:21:00.006+08:00

Here is a photo of the 'workstation'. Not much I know, but I DO have limited space to work with.

Here is my nice hot and sweaty seed raising area (greenhouse)

Here is a photo of the first family harvest of the new vegies. In it we have endive, red mizuna, chicory, cos lettuce and broccoli flowers (coz the bastard bolted on me).

In the perpetual buying frenzy that is my life, I have also managed to obtain some seeds for this (click on photo to read about it). It was just another plant that looked too fascinating to resist. It is called a Strawbini, Strawberry Blite or Strawberry Spinach. Leaves and fruit are edible (leaves in moderation. Cornucopia has it listed on ebay.

Vertical challenge

2008-06-28T15:55:00.003+08:00

Okay, having looked at the garden and the SEVERE lack of space, I have decided to start the vertical challenge. I will have a load more wall pots to get and some trellises, but will have it all sorted by spring. So far I have managed to do a 3 tier strawberry stand - top basket is Redlands Joy Strawberry, middle one is the lovely pink flowering Fragoo Strawberry and the bottom one is Sweethearts Strawberry. The idea is to have them all cascading down and making it harder for the snails/slugs to get to and also to keep dirt off them so they are easier to wash. In theory this will end up looking fantastic! Will show pictures in spring that will hopefully back this up.

STRAWBERRY WALL

seedlings underneath are a mix of spinach, chard, chilli etc.

FRAGOO STRAWBERRY

WATCH THIS SPACE

this wall is one of the ones targetted for the challenge : )

There will eventually be a heap more of these HALF BASKETS above the new vegie bed, the idea here will be to do vine stocks like cucumber, tomatoes etc. I wont be planting anything here until spring. Anything with heavy fruit will have a lovely sling out of pantyhose made, lol.

This should be arriving this week! It is my new SEEDLING GREENHOUSE. We've bought 6 seedling trays (100 cell) to go with it, and I also have some jiffy pellets and egg cartons to go in here. I am hoping to hell that an egg carton is just as biodegradeable as a peat pot is?Diggers order should arrive next week also, so I can get my seedlings started for spring.

Garden Update

2008-06-15T13:56:00.008+08:00

Well, after hunting around to get a custom made vegie tank and being told I could, but would have to order 3 of them, I decided to fall back on the old standard and make my own from spare pavers again. The area is down the side of the house, leading to the storeroom. It is about 9m long by about 1.5m wide. The bed is only about 45cm wide and about 5m long, but have found in the past that I can actually get quite a good yield from such a small area (contrary to popular belief). I should of done before photo shot. It was such a mess here with just geraniums and vincas from where Id pulled up some pavers (it used to be paved wall to fence). Anyhow, the eldest was suitably impressed and ooed and ahhed, lol.

I also decided to trim down one of the 'flower beds' and do it as a semi vegie patch ... so in here I have planted asparagus and turnips : )
The cos lettuce is looking nice and healthy, am putting it down to the citrus fertiliser as the lime tree they are around is thriving as well and is loaded with new shoots and even a flower bud!The raddicchio hasnt had enough cold yet to turn it the colour I like, but am hoping it will get there - unless of course I am completely confusing varieties with the red leaved and white centre veined one that I love (bit bitter, bit sweet).

The romanesco broccoli has started developing a head, am surprised because everytime I have grown broccoli (or tried) it usually gets about 60cm high before it starts, and this one is barely 20cm high.

I thought Id lost my artichokes from the spotty fungus problem as one of them was covered in it, but I rubbed it off, cleared a well, and it looks okay, so far : )

Nat, I have 2 avocado seedlings if you want them. I am pretty sure they are Hass variety (but I could be wrong as I dont keep track of the Avocado varieties I eat, lol). Avocados are pretty easy to grow, and dont believe what they say (that a avocado grown from seed wont fruit) because all of mums trees are from seed and they all fruit.

My broad beans are caning along nicely. Lots of flowers, so hopefully will have a nice crop.

The manky capsicums are still growing fruit.

Consensus is that the miscellaneous seedling is a pumpkin of some sort (the other one is apparently a rockmelon). It is surrounded by brussel sprouts. I am pretty over people saying that I plant too close together. I like the look of packed vegie beds, and it hasnt seemed to of affected my yields so far.

Companion Planting

2008-06-05T20:08:00.007+08:00

Well, I put in the Turnips, Asparagus, Paprika, Orange Capsicum and Coriander today ... after evicting the azaleas, vincas and geraniums.

Found an awesome companion planting guide right here http://www.idepfoundation.org/download_files/garden_compost/Poster_GDN_Com_Plant.pdf iles/garden_compost/Poster_GDN_Com_Plant.pdf
Im printing you off a copy Nat, but you probably already have it : p

Some other mini companion charts are here
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/complant.html#chart

http://www.gardenguides.com/how-to/tipstechniques/vegetables/vcomp.asp

http://www.gardensablaze.com/Companions/CompanionYield.htm

We finally got to break in the chiminea the other night.

The bottle of verve with it was adequate,

well as much as it can be, being non-vintage ~such a wanker~.

Dying to crack open the new addition : )

Help! WTF is this ????

2008-05-30T17:45:00.010+08:00

Okay, if anyone out there can help me, it would be greatly appreciated. Firstly, I have 2 miscellaneous plants coming up, and have no idea what they are ... am assuming may be pumpkin / watermelon / rockmelon as I tend to those all those seeds in that spot ... but may of also thrown something else there ....

I also seem to have a miscellaneous fungis problem (well, am assuming it is a problem) ..... I have 2 types, first there is the spotty fungi

and then there is the fairy-floss like fungi - is this one possibly ?Pythium Blight

Ye Olde Vegie Patch

2008-05-24T17:13:00.006+08:00

As we have a small courtyard, we dont have that great a vegie patch - without measuring it, I would say it is approximately 5 meters long x 1 foot wide ...however, we are able to get a hell of a lot of capsicums, parsley, basil and tomatoes out of it come summer.

This year we have put in japanese eggplant, broadbeans, and some new basil (the old one is looking manky), and I have seeded some giant leeks, celery, italian parsley, paprika .... in one of the photos you can see the manky capsicums, but they are still producing, so what the hey!

The mushrooms are not real, they are concrete for the kids to play with. The real mushrooms are in the garage (portabello), but I havent started it off yet ... nothing to photo coz it is just a box of dirt atm.

Edible Driveway

2008-05-24T16:46:00.016+08:00

On this side we have Loquat, Feijoa (out of shot), Blueberry

(planted after pic), Blood navel orange, Kensington Pride Mango .... for under planting we have chervil, french fennel, radicchio, broccoli, romanesque broccoli, artichokes.

Im really into tree torture now : ) Here we have a golden

delicious and a pink lady on my first foray into espalier.

Wish me luck!
To the left of them is a pomegranate.
Underplanting here is some snow peas, and a Nellie kellie
passionfruit behind on the fence (planted today so not in pic).

On this side we have Meyer lemon,

West indian lime, Peacharine, Apricot,

then the apples and Pomegranate.
Underplanting here is cos lettuce, brussle sprouts, snow peas,

leeks and three miscellaneous plants which I think may be

2 varieties of pumpkin, but am not sure (I chuck seeds out

there just to see what happens), I will post some pics later

in the hope that someone may be able to identify what

exactly they are.