A tea-ribute to Lady Grey

Drinking tea is a very British pass time.  When I think of tea and Britain I always recollect a great scene from Guy Ritchie’s cult classic Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.  It went as follows:

Eddie: The entire British empire was built on cups of tea…

Bacon: Yeah, and look what happened to that.

Eddie: … And if you think I’m going to war without one, mate, you’re mistaken.

A bloodless victory

I'm a little bit ashamed, but I have to admit that while walking through the aisles of our local green grocer last weekend I was guilty of releasing an excited, childish squeal of delight.  You might wonder what made me react in such a manner.  Well, you see, what was just a normal Saturday afternoon grocery shop was transformed when I set eyes upon a table of plump blood oranges.

Blood oranges are notoriously hard to grow, requiring dry, hot summers and cold winters.  According to Red Belly Citrus, a local producer of blood oranges with orchards in the Riverina region of New South Wales, they need to be grown in a location that will provide temperatures that are almost freezing at night and very high temperatures throughout the day.

They also have a relatively small season, running from August to October.  This, combined with the limited number of producers in Australia, means that there's only a very small window to enjoy this extraordinarily, exotic-looking fruit.

Seasonally classic

Old Hollywood, the grand old dame, an era with gilded golden edges, imbued with an elegance and class that no longer exists.  The time glows like the youthful face of Marilyn Monroe (who, I learned recently, achieved the look by maintaining a fine coating of facial hair which reflected light making her appear luminescent).

On a chill winter or autumn afternoon there are few things better than curling up and watching your favourite film for the hundredth time.  I have watched many of them from the comfort of my couch on my reasonably sized television on such afternoons (and evenings, and even not so chill days, and often not just limited to winter and autumn…).

But, finally, thanks to Dendy, I’m going to get the chance to see these films on the big screen.  The cinema has just finished it’s Autumn Allure season classic films, with the winter season Winter Wonderland to commence on 4 June. 

M and I saw three movies from the first program (M may have seen 4, but it doesn’t count because this isn’t his blog!).  There is something special about seeing old films on the big screen akin to meeting an old friend for the first time.   Despite it being the umpteenth time I’ve seen some of these films, on the big screen it was a completely different experience.

Isla in Casablanca appears more vulnerable, her love for Victor more evident, her longing for redemption from Rick more palpable.  Rick on the other seems less smooth, more barbarous but no less magnetic.  Like the layers of its characters the movie charms more on the big screen, offering up more secrets, hinting more obviously at motivations, long seeded regrets and resentments.  It is, in essence, more beautiful and complex.

Celebrating 100 songs and 100 stories

This week a very talented friend of mine (who lives over at the little yellow house in the U) opened an exhibition.   For her exhibition, 100 Songs and 100 stories, she’s taken songs that mean something to someone, and the stories associated with that song, and turned them into art.

They’re beautiful, meaningful moments, captured lovingly.  Some are sad, others funny, they’re about love, loss and sometimes tragedy – just like the very songs that are the background to these human stories.  Just like the songs and stories are varied, so is the art, tenderly created using mixed media.

I even am lucky enough to have a song represented (Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps, by Doris Day) and so can now admit to being someone's muse!  Here's a sneaky shot taken on my iPhone (which does no justice to the picture of prettiness that it truly is):

For those of you in Canberra, I encourage you to visit the exhibition, which is being held at the M16 Artspace until 27 May 2012.  Others, who aren't lucky enough to be in Canberra to visit the exhibition, can listen to the songs, read the stories and admire the art on her blog here.

Lava-ing my lava rock

I am a lucky girl.  But ssshhh don’t tell anyone I admitted it.   

You see, when we were in Malang, Indonesia we stayed in this beautiful hotel, the Tugu Malang Hotel.  It was part museum, part resort.   In the Lonely Planet guide for Indonesia it is actually listed as one of the sights in Malang.  A truly beautiful hotel, each of the rooms is decked out in antiques that are from the owner’s collection.  It’s rich, elegant and decadent.  Opulent is a fitting adjective in this instance.  It groans beneath the weight of its treasures, about to burst at the seams.

At the main road entrance to the restaurant is a lovely little store.  Glass cabinets flank an antique cash register; little gems of prettiness nestle on red velvet, twinkling invitingly at you.  And then, as I ran my finger over the keys of the cash register, they caught my eye.  Jet black, bold, symmetrical, unique.  I longed for them.  But we were on holidays, surviving on a budget and I realised – sometimes you don’t get what you want.

 The antique cash register

Quality over quantity

I know, I know, Easter was over a week ago, and I'm probably a little bit late inviting you all to be jealous of my chocolate-goodness, but never late than never.

It’s true what they say: less is more, particularly when it comes to good quality chocolate.

We spent this Easter in Melbourne this year, and were lucky enough to uncover this gem while wandering through South Yarra and Chapel Street:  Ganache Chocolate.

M and I decided to spoil each other, by buying each other a chocolate bunny.  As a lover of rich, dark chocolate M bought me the 75 per cent dark chocolate Swiss Bunny and how could I resist getting him the milk and white chocolate Bunny in an egg? (By the way: I do realise that bunnies do not emerge from eggs, but it was still super cute!)

To me, good chocolate is about striking that perfect balance between flavour and texture.  I love dark chocolate for its stronger, less sweet flavour, and the ganache dark chocolate bunny epitomises these qualities.

I highly recommend that the next time you’re in Melbourne you visit Ganache, you will not be able to resist the temptation of buying beautiful handmade pralines or some textural and eye catching chocolate bars – we didn’t, and I suggest everyone try the fig and almond milk chocolate bar. Yum!

A Second New Year

Imagine it: mid April in Thailand.  It's hot, humid with temperatures pushing an average of 31°C, the hottest month in Thailand.

But back to the picture I'm trying to draw you: the streets are teeming with people, water is being flung from buses by the bucket load, people are spraying each other with water guns, people are drenching passers by.  You wonder, what is going on? Well, it's Songkran or Thai New Year.

There is obvious symbolism associated with the use of so much water.  In particular, to cleanse the the bad away and start the year afresh (but it's probably also a reprieve from the heat!).

Being in Australia you don't have to miss the fun.  While we might not have the usual three day celebration (Songkran is celebrated from 13 to 15 April) we do get a one day special: Wat Dhammadaro the Thai Buddhist temple in Canberra holds celebrations each year.  It includes cultural shows and a food fair.  All are welcome and entry is free.

When:   Sunday 15 April 2012, 10:00am to 3:00pm

Where:  Wat Dhammadaro, 80 Archibald Street, Lyneham, ACT

Given the weather in Canberra, water fights are not guaranteed!

Sensational sampler of Spicks and Specks

Tomorrow night M and I are off to the Spicks and Specks Spectacular when they visit Canberra.

The idea that Spicks and Specks won't be returning to our screens in 2012 is devastating, like losing a close family member.  I'm going to especially miss the drunk-aunt-at-the-family-dinner Denise Scott, and hearing Adam Hills saying "Thanks for watching Spicks and Specks, my name's Adam Hills, good night Australia".

There have been some amazing moments over the years, and I'm feeling particularly sentimental, so I thought I might share a sample of some of my favourite moments over the years.

Since I started by mentioning Denise Scott, here's a clip of her in an episode with Jordie Lane (who is also her son).

One of my favourite games on the show has always been 'substitute'.  It requires a member of the team singing a song using the words from a book or text, and their team needs to identify the song that they're trying to sing.  The first time I saw Megan Washington do this on the show I got all spine tingly.  Watch this and you'll see why.