Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Did you vindaloo?


Today was (unofficially?) 'Vindaloo Against Violence' day in Australia, a socio-political event that was first proposed online a few weeks ago. In response to a spate of apparently racially-motivated, horrible attacks on Indians in Australia, and subsequent heated debate about racism and culture, it was suggested that Australians (particularly Melbournians) could show their support for the Indian community today by eating at Indian restaurants. Of course it's terribly sad that this kind of thing should even be considered necessary, but I guess it's good to focus our energies on something positive rather than the ugly, violent elements in our society.


I like the idea of eating out as a social statement - people don't have to gather in specific, centralised locations, rally in a large crowd where emotions can become overheated, or overtly demonstrate a particular political alignment (not that there's anything wrong with peaceful group protests, the power of which was demonstrated at yesterday's rally in support of Melbourne's live music scene). I just like the idea of people being able to do something pleasurable while at the same time supporting a particular section of the local community.


We ate dinner at our local Indian restaurant, which was absolutely full to capacity (and turning away customers). The poor staff hadn't been aware of today's informal event until the restaurant was already much busier than usual. I felt a twinge of guilt as I broke my 2010 commitment to eliminating meat from my diet and ordered one meat curry (vindaloo of course!) to go with the veggie dishes, but all the food was delicious and we emerged from the restaurant feeling rather rotund and certainly sated.

.... Mmmmm! I think I'll dream of roasted cauliflower, minted yoghurt and hot/sour pickled limes tonight!


 Fellow Aussies, did you vindaloo?


(Mouthwatering food pics from here, here and here)

Sunday, February 21, 2010

It appears to be morning. Very incovenient, I agree.

Oh, I can't help but love Stephen Fry! And none will ever surpass the fabulousness that saw Messrs Fry and Laurie bring Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster to life in the most delicious way....


When in need of a giggle my beloved and I frequently turn to the Jeeves and Wooster DVD collection, pick up the Wodehouse omnibus or pop the CD of Wooster's warblings on the stereo .... ... but what did I find today?

This clock.

I say! Jolly good show, old chap! We, too, can now awake to the dulcet tones of Jeeves (voiced of course by Mr Fry), inviting us gently to arise and face the day.

 

If you're a Jeeves and Wooster fan too, you might also like these inspired pendant lights. They're slap on the button!

Apothecaries and alchemists

Looking back over my travel pics from November I was reminded of a small but interesting pharmaceutical history exhibit in Heidelberg Castle.

 

  

  

  

  

  

If you look closely at this last picture you might notice that there is a container of mummia, and the vessels on the right were used for storing human placental matter. The boxed glass ampules contain clarified human fat for injection into injured joints .... eek!


Thursday, February 18, 2010

Biomimicry - nesting

Yesterday's encounter with a wasp got me thinking about wasp and hornet nests. I found some beautiful images online* of some amazing structures:

 

  

 

  

  

  

  

 


and then I found this:

 

  

Click through to the los osos design project to see some more lovely creations inspired by nature.


* I seem to have misplaced the image source links (oops! sorry ...)

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Food snatcher

This morning in our laundry I caught a little thief at work ...  a wasp landed on our cat's bowl and made off with a piece of dry cat food. It grasped the food between its legs and flew to the windowsill, where it proceeded to roll the piece of food around, stinging it repeatedly.

 

  

I've also seen several bees, wasps and butterflies drinking at our water bowls lately....

 

When I set the bowls out in our garden I hoped they might provide water for birds, but I hadn't thought about thirsty insects! I'm glad to be helping them out in this hot weather.


... and while we're on the subject of bugs, check out this little caterpillar's Spiderman impersonation!
 




(image sources: wasp drinking, caterpillar)

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Tuesday web wanderings

I thought I'd share some lovely things that have brightened my days recently:

A nifty little zoomable map, on paper!

Breathtaking kinetic sculptures by engineer/artist, Bas Jan Ader

Lovely photographs and general chat at Marty Party

Guido Mocafico's stunningly beautiful still life photography

Emma Kelly's lively watercolours 

A good effort by a not-so-mystical cat

Plaid Stalllion's collection of 70s fashion crimes

A pretty winter cape

Practical home hints 

Melbourne elephant Dokkoon's adorable new baby, taking her first bath (almost too cute ...)

















Have a wonderful week!


Sunday, February 14, 2010

Sweetness and light

Happy Valentine's day, old stick!



















































 .... and to you, dear readers.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

.....

They say that the pain of losing someone you love eases with time.
I hope so.


















Sometimes sadness can be paralysing.

 
Image source

Friday, February 12, 2010

You stay where you belong, little lady!

 

  

 

  

  

  

  

  

 


Ugh!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Plastic fantastic

I know I'll never wear them but I love Vivienne Westwood's latest shoes:

 

  

  

  



Thank you, Janne, for pointing them out!

Now made to order!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

That's right Betty ... let the pattern tell you!

I've stepped up my sewing efforts lately, and although my Quick-Unpick has been getting a rather hefty workout, I'm determined to keep calm and carry on.

Inspiration abounds in vintage blog land.



Abundance

Our small veggie garden has gone into overdrive this summer - last week we still had several zucchinis left over for ourselves every day despite giving away over 23kg (around 40 pounds!) of zucchs. The previous weekend we gave away 18kg's worth, while also stocking our freezer with zucchini soup and making lots of zucchini pasta dishes. It's a zucchini bonanza!

 

 

Fresh tomato pasta and basil pesto were also on the menu this week - so delicious! I don't think you can ever have too much basil in the garden ....


Our neighbours' fruit trees are heavily laden too; each night we're serenaded (?!) by the chattering and squabbling of fruit bats as they feast on figs, quinces and stonefruit. It's funny ... although Gus barks at possums he doesn't make a fuss of the fruit bats in our trees, even though they're much noisier. Maybe they intimidate him - some of them have wingspans of around 70cm (35").

Oh - I just found this pic of a fruit bat (they're known in Australia as flying foxes) - what an odd, yet endearing, little face!


(pic from here)

Happy gardening, folks!

... also ...

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