First produce of the season

Great excitement today as I picked my first bunch of asparagus for the year.

These are truly amazing plants, cropping for over 20 years. We have four plants in the backyard. They are so productive that by December we'll almost be sick of the taste of asparagus, but then there are so many things you can do with it - steamed, blanched, in a soup, baked in quiche or pie (it goes well with chicken), cold in salads, grilled on the BBQ.

I'll fry these in some butter and serve them with pepper and Parmesan cheese tonight.

Asian high tea (kind of)

This past weekend Tom and I went to Melbourne, which is always a nice thing to do (I still miss living there, I must admit).

We stayed with Tom's parents in East Melbourne, near to my old flat in Richmond and we had a walk around Bridge Road and down to the Gleadell Street Markets. I bought a couple of Chinese boxes that I had been eyeing off for over a year (I bought them as a birthday present to myself, with my birthday being later this week). We also saw a movie at the Palace Como and had a nice Japanese dinner at the great restaurant across the road, just like old days :)

Over the weekend we also went to the Oriental Tea House in South Yarra, which is a nice place to get a late night yum cha or practically any kind of fancy tea you might need. There were having an Oriental style high tea, in which we partook. It was basically a selection of savoury and sweet dim sum with tea. It was quite nice although somehow not quite as special as I'd hoped.

Sydney photos

Weekend in Sydney

Recently I had a few days in Sydney for work and stayed for the weekend. I decided to try afternoon tea at the Stamford Circular Quay. I kept my expectations low, given that hotel teas in Australia are often disappointing. I had planned (for some years actually) to try afternoon tea at the Harrogate Tea Room in Pyrmont, but much to my consternation I discovered they'd closed their tea shop. Vexed but not defeated, I tried the Stamford (as I happened to be staying there anyway).

I am pleased to report that it surpassed my low expectations, and was even pleasant. It is held in the very old fashioned style bar in the heritage part of the hotel (think gentleman's club - fireplace, smoky mirrors, leather chesterfields etc). The food was actually quite well chosen - the sandwiches (always a barometer for me) were interesting, and there were some little hot things too. The tea itself was quite interesting too - they use a brand called Ronnefelt, German and available only the the hospitality industry. I had oolong and it was very nice indeed. I was able to spend an hour or so there nibbling away and sipping as I read the paper by myself and I found it all very relaxing.

The next day I caught a very over to Balmain, whence I had never been before. I had planned to visit the famous Adriano Zumbo, allegedly an Australian version of Pierre Herme (apparently the former being a protege of the latter) - and having experienced one of the jaw droppingly beautiful Paris outlets of Pierre Herme, where macaroons are displayed in jewellery cases, I had been looking forward to visiting Adriano Zumbo for quite a few years (ever since I read this article). Unfortunately, when I got there I saw what looked like a Depression-ere breadline outside the store. The macaroons may be heaven-sent, and I do like a good macaroon, but I'll never know because I am not about to line up for them no matter how good.

I did however enjoy a lovely perambulation along Darling Street from Balmain to Rozelle, enjoying two flea markets and a lovely book fair on the way (plus I got a coffee and a rather good eclair from another, less popular patisserie down the road), and eventually found my way to Norton Street where I saw a film (The Farewell Affair, and quite it was too) and browsed Berkelouw's before catching the light rail back into town - the first time I had ever caught the Sydney tram. It was quite good - why they are taking so long to expand the line further west and around the CBD is anyone's guess.

All in all, a very pleasant Sydney diversion.

Darwin

Another place I visited recently for work was Darwin.

I am a bit embarrassed to admit that, like a good many Australians of my age, I have seen much more of the world than I have of my own backyard, and I had never been to the Northern Territory before this trip. I had fairly low expectations of intolerable humidity and rednecks. It was humid, and there was a bit of redneckness too, but actually it was all quite charming and overall people, whilst ocker, were very laid back and friendly. I was pleasantly surprised to say that I quite enjoyed myself.

This photo (from the internet, not from my camera) comes from the Crocosauraus Cove tourist attraction in the middle of town. As I only had a small amount of time to sightsee (I was there for work after all), I asked the locals for advice on what to see and they recommended this place and the NT Museum and Gallery. They were good recommendations. The gallery/museum is very good and its highlight is a large exhibit on Cyclone Tracey including a terrifying darkroom with surround-sound effects of what the cyclone was like.

As for the 'cove' , it was much better than I thought. It has enclosures for a number of large, retired crocodiles, many of whom had been relocated as a result of having become too aggressive in their old age at other tourist parks. There are also a large number of hatchlings and juveniles there too (I'm not sure what happens to them as they grow, but suspect the handbags in the gift shop have something to do with it), and there is a very good reptile house where I spent quite a bit of time. There is also a lot of information about crocodilians and even a film on Darwin's history. I learnt a lot about the Indigenous people of Darwin, who apparently were welcoming of white settlers and had a very different relationship with Europeans than was the case in most other parts of the country.

But the highlight of the place is this glass enclosure where you can see the crocodiles from every angle and, for an exorbitant additional fee, you can be lowered into their enclosures to have a close encounter with them. Several rather gung-ho blokes did this during my visit. They were very disappointed to find that none of the 5 crocs were remotely interested in them - they would not move or even look at the so-called 'cage of death'. They did not respond to noises, splashing or any other desperate attempts for attention. It was all rather amusing.

Broken Hill

And now, for the belated start to my promised travelogue.

I was in Broken Hill for the first time a couple of months ago. I was there on a work assignment and had no idea what to expect of the place, my impressions of it basically formed by having seen 'Wake in Fright' and knowing that it was the birthplace of BHP.

From Canberra, it took me 3 flights in tiny aircraft via Sydney and Dubbo to get to Broken Hill. I was fascinated as I flew further over the Far West to see the land changing to that distinctive orange-red colour, and the huge expanses of land with long, straight roads on them. There had been much rain in the area before I was there and we flew over the Menindee lakes, which was quite fascinating. As we approached Broken Hill I look down at the red earth and saw the shadow of the plan and was reminded of the opening sequences from the TV show 'The Flying Doctors'. I thought of an article I had read some years ago about a German man who had watched that show in Germany and decided not only to study medicine as a result of being inspired by that show, but also ended up migrating to Australia and working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service! Imagine my surprise when I arrived at the quaint, security unconscious Broken Hill Airport to find on display out front the carcass of the aeroplane that was used in the TV show - I had forgotten that it was actually filmed in Broken Hill.

My immediate impressions of the place were that it was actually very fascinating - that red dirt, and that attractive desert tundra sort of green-grey plant that grows everywhere; the beauty of the grand old buildings contrasted with the fascinating ugliness of the old mine that dominates the centre of town, actually bisecting it; and of course the very friendly people.

I was there for one night and spent most of my time working, but after work I went for a swim in one of the best swimming pools I have seen (and one of the cheapest - only $2 for a swim in the desert! - and again the friendliness; I had forgotten my swimmers so they found a pair in the lost property for me to wear...). At night I went to the very nice Broken Earth restaurant, located on top of the old mine and with spectacular sunset views all over town. Later I had a drink at one oif the very many large pubs in town and chatted with some of the amiable locals.

The next day after work on my way home I was able to check out South Broken Hill with its beautifully preserved main street including intact 1950s shops and milk bar.

It was a great place to visit and I would hope to go back some day.

Rue McClanahan dies

And then there was one – Betty White is the last remaining Golden Girl with the death of the fabulous Rue McClanahan.

Blanche was my favourite Golden Girl , and Rue McClannahan so clearly loved playing the part, often saying of the part for which she was most famous ‘People always ask me if I’m like Blanche, and I tell them that Blanche was a vain, self-absorbed mankiller from Atlanta, and I’m not from Atlanta.’

Last year I read Rue’s autobiography, and thoroughly enjoyed it – the title alone (My First Five Husbands) tells you that you are going to be in for a great read, and that is what it is. She writes with frankness and candour as though she’s chatting with a girlfriend and even rates her (many) lovers on an excitement scale.

Here is a classic Blanche moment from The Golden Girls: