Mini Break

Last weekend I had a lovely mini-break as S showed me around his hometown of Adelaide.  Here are a few of the fun and quirky sights from the trip.

One of the gorgeous bridges over the Torrens.  There is loads of lovely architecture in Adelaide, particularly in the centre and I spent all weekend spotting beautiful buildings.

A fun sculpture in the middle of Rundle Mall.  That is an actual rubbish bin.  There are several pigs in the area, each one with a name, this is Oliver.

Some excellent graffiti art.

A beautiful glass bowl at the Jam Factory.  The Jam Factory is a collection of studios, galleries and a shop.  They produce glass, metal, wood, pottery, and jewellery works.

The Jam Factory was open for a special family day.  There were demonstrations, kimchi pancakes and the choir in a box.  You popped one of those cardboard coins into the slot and a great choir would sing.  It was brilliant.  S and I are still theorising on just how many people were in that box.

The South Australian Art Gallery.  A gorgeous space with fantastic art on display.

Chips with mayo at the Belgium Beer Cafe.  I just loved the paper cone the chips came in and the fact that they had little wooden stands just perfect for holding the cone and a decent serve of deliciously garlicky mayo.  Neither of us had a beer, that is cider in the background.

An empty mike just waiting for a comic.  A great night was had at the Comix Comedy Club.  I've never been to a comedy club before, we had a fantastic time, even if our proximity to the stage made us targets for comedians looking for young lovers to pick on.

The lighthouse at Port Adelaide.  It was a beautiful day, just perfect for strolling around the port.

Ancient stenciling.  We just don't have buildings this old in Canberra.  But also check out the name of the solicitor above.  Is that not a perfect name for a lawyer?

Little Red Riding Hood

When I was a child I had a book about a little girl looking out her window on a grey, rainy day.  Everything she can see is shades of grey, except in an abandoned lot across the street there is a bright flower.  She puts on her raincoat, goes out and picks the flower.  She brings it home and they set the table with all sorts of brightly coloured things with the flower in the middle and have a lovely warm dinner.

On grey wet days I often think of that story and how from a very early age it taught me to find the happy, bright things in what can be a sad grey world.

Today is a grey, wet day with showers and cold wind, but as I looked out the window I spied not a bright flower but Little Red Riding Hood.  In reality Little Red Riding Hood was probably about 80 but her jaunty bright red coat and hood against the grey day was so cheerful it made me smile instantly.

I hope you have found a bright moment in your day today!

Keeping the faith in dark times

I (like I assume pretty much everyone else) have been glued to the news over the past day watching with sickening horror the riots in London and now other parts of the UK.  The images of rioters is not something new, however they usually have a cause.  They are protesting for political change or against multinational corporations or something.  The thing which I have found so scary about the sight unfolding in the UK is the seeming lack of reason beyond a fearless defiance of authority, the opportunity for theft and enjoyment in destruction.

At times like this, thoughts immediately turn to those we know and love who live in the vicinity.  I'm pleased to say that no one I know has been directly affected, although a friend of a friend had their flat burned down and everyone seems on edge as they wait for the next night to fall.

But as always, it seems when times are dark and troubled, ordinary people emerge and do wonderful things.  I'm sure the coming days will reveal many heroic stories along the lines of the kitchen staff from the Ledbury restaurant defending their patrons with rolling pins and deep fryer baskets, but the story that really made me smile this morning was that of the Wombles.

Hundreds, if not thousands of people have turned up all over London armed not with the weapons of the night before, but with brooms to help clear the mess.  Nicknamed the Wombles, they are showing those whose businesses and homes have been damaged and destroyed that the community is behind them and ready to support them.  I think it really goes to show, that despite the terror that a relatively small group of people can inflict, what it does is inspire a community to rally together.

Sour Cream and Orange Pancakes with Blackberry Sauce

It was a grey, damp, cold Sunday morning so I decided to make a brunch filled with sunshiny flavours.

Sour cream and orange pancakes with blackberry sauce filled the house with warmth and the scents of summer, and wouldn't you know it, by the time we sat down to eat them the sun was out.  S says these are the best ever pancakes.

I am somewhat of a free form cook, so all measurements are guesstimates based on what I think I chucked in the bowl, just taste along the way to make sure the flavour balance works.

Sour Cream and Orange Pancakes
150g sour cream
3 tablespoons golden syrup
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or more if you like it)
finely grated rind of half an orange
3/4 cup self raising flour
milk

Whisk together the sour cream, golden syrup, egg, vanilla and orange zest.

Mix in flour.  The mix will now be very thick.  Add about a tablespoon at a time add the milk till it is a thick but spoonable mixture.

Melt butter in a non-stick pan over a medium heat, make sure the pan is properly heated.  Fry large spoonfuls until golden brown.  You know they are ready to flip when bubbles start appearing on the top.  This mix should make about 6 15-20cm pancakes.

Blackberry Sauce
150g frozen blackberries
tablespoon butter
juice of half an orange
2 tablespoons golden syrup

Put everything in a small pot, bring to a boil then gently simmer until the pancakes are ready.

The combination of orange and blackberry is so great you will want indecent amounts of sauce!

Snapshots of the week

Many things have been making me smile this week, here are a few snapshots:

Blackforest Log from the Flute Bakery - chocolate cake topped with morello cherries, cherry mousse and white chocolate mouse.  Accompanied by choc mint and raspberry macroons.

Washing that was dried in the sun and unseasonably (but delightfully) warm temperatures.  And yes, I do iron my pillowcases and doona cover.

Going home while the sun is up!  The days are finally long enough that I get to admire the sunset over the lake while I drive home.

The first signs of spring

Wet Paint

The building that my office is in is being painted.  Finally the hideous shades of yellow with a green trim which has always clashed with the pink and grey tiles will be gone - apparently to be replaced with shades of charcoal.  I'm hoping it is an improvement, but given that they just seem to be painting right over the old stuff without stripping it back, I think the opportunity for the green to come through again is high.

All of which means that once I step out of the office door I step into a world of wet paint.  I don't know what it is about a wet paint sign but as soon as I see it, I just want to touch the paint.  It is like when someone puts a dish on the table and says "be careful it is hot" honestly you just know half of the people at the table are going to want to poke it.

I feel a bit like a naughty child, tempted to do what is banned.  I wonder if I'm alone in this, or does everyone want to touch what they are told not to?

Wattle

In the midst of the coldest days of winter, when the fog hangs low, the frost lies thick and the night is heavy on both ends of the day, the wattle flowers.  Those luminous yellow balls of sunshine light up the cold winter landscape and you know that summer is on its way.  The sight of it glowing from the dull countryside lightens my heart as soon as I see it.