Before and After - Braidwood bargain

Did you miss me?

Stuff broke, and then it got fixed. I'm back now!

Bo Ssäm a celebration of all things pig

Pork - the most celebrated meat. And Bo Ssäm? Take said pig, coat it with brown sugar and slow roast. Then eat with a bunch of amazing pickley condiments, add sauces and wrap in rice and lettuce. Juicy oyster optional if you can make it all fit. 

Sit around a table with some great company, assemble tasty parcels of pork and wash it down with Korean beer and Shoju. 

End the meal with Crack pie (c/o momofuku milk bar ), a chocolate pretzel or two,  green tea panna cotta  and some whiskey. Fun night with new friends!

Friendship

I wrote this post in my head from Sydney to Canberra tonight, while I had a good couple of hours to think about life, death and friendship.


I would say one of my greatest strengths is that I am loyal - it's one of my biggest weaknesses too. It means I often have pretty intense expectations of my friends, and the people around me. And when I say pretty intense that might be code for maybe unrealistic or unjustified? The only person I think who can out-loyal me is the dog of the yellow house and, well, I guess he isn't a person so doesn't really count. This means the over thinker in me sometimes wonders if I put too great a value on friendships - do I expect too much from my friends, am I hanging around my friends too much, am I a loser? Don't answer any of that, unless it is flattering and reaffirming. 


But what brings me to think about all this? Today I paid my respects to a courageously brave woman, who fought a bloody good fight. I can't begin to tell you how amazing this woman was, in that she gave herself years of life - extra bonus years because she was strong and tenacious and was loved.


During the service there was a montage of wonderful photos - pictures of courtship, marriage, children, grandchildren and friends. Some of those photos came to life over a cup of tea, as I was introduced to a life long friend, a lady who featured in those photos taken all those years ago...a loyal friendship that had made their way through nearly 50 years of life by my count. And this lady, what struck me about this lady, was how she valued their friendship. I was introduced to this lady by my friend who had lost her mother, and this lady seemed glad I was there, because as she said - friends are important. 


Driving home it struck me that one day I'll be that lady, or maybe my friend will be her - either way, one of us will look back at all those memories and think about our friendship. It made me sad for the now - for the lady and my friend and for everyone who was there today. It also made me sad for the future and the thought of that day for me or for her (or for you, you, you, or you). 


At the same time it made think of all my wonderful friends, who have helped me stay sane, made me happy and stuck by me through stuff. I know which ones will be there looking at the bloody montage, and all I can say is you'd better pick good pictures.


And one day I'll be telling those who were too young to remember this day in detail, what an important thing loyalty and friendship is, and how they are lucky, because it's in their genes.

Braidwood street art

The Old Maternity Hospital - Braidwood

Fantastic old building in Braidwood with the most beautiful lino - the floral lino just like the one in my first house in Canberra. Imagine lino in the bedroom! Pretty to look at but a little cool in the winter time....


The Old Maternity Hospital houses rooms of vintage furniture and bits and pieces. Wait until you see the records upstairs!

An afternoon in Braidwood

It's nice to get out of Canberra, even if it is just for the day with my gypsy friend. A morning looking at vintage furniture and knick knacks, before a hearty lunch at the Albion Hotel Great service, with a small menu of things done well and an impressive array of cakes (which I will be returning to sample).

A walk up and down the main street bracing the winter chill, then a drive back through the countryside - catching up on the weeks just gone. A milkshake, some kitty cats in a basket, a mini dog and a set of 1960's chairs - makes for the perfect day.

2nd best Indian food in Canberra

Not everyone gets the pleasure of eating the best Indian in Canberra, but for the 2nd best go to Rama's at Pearce shops.

Impressionist view of the morning

Salvation found

Walking the dog in Narrabundah.

Donna Wilson's cheeky foxes

Have you heard of Donna Wilson? I hadn't either until I saw a cushion on the lovely SF Girl By The Bay blog. And now I had spent all morning wishing I could buy all the pretty things....especially the foxes. The foxes are the best.

I'm pretty sure it is winter?

I don't know where this year has gone...

Peach Tea - Ka Sushi Ramen

Belcompton - the end is nigh

Lunch at Lonsdale Street Roasters

Amidst the chaos of working on Top 100, was a late afternoon lunch in the sun. The Cuban, pulled pork with hot hot chilli.

Oh Japan!

Breaking dawn

Top 100 - thank you for the music

Wow, this has been fun! 

Thanks to all of you who contributed songs and stories! I really miss those emails - an amazing mix of music and words.

If you've been keeping track of the exhibition via this blog, thanks for stopping by. I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep you as entertained with my posts about life, and if not, pop by every now and then as I'll be posting my next exhibition entirely online. Otherwise, send me an email, and I'll let you know once the next one is ready to go.

So many people helped putting together the exhibition in its real life form. Supportive and encouraging colleagues, cake bakers, social media retweeters and sharers, and friends and family whose messages helped me get this over the line. There were some very timely texts and messages when it was all looking a bit impossible! Even with you scattered all over Australia and the world - it was like you were in my lounge room, drinking tea and helping me make sense of the chaos. 

Final thanks go to two friends, who, even though I was trying to undertake the most ridiculous task given the timeframe...even though I pretty much always overcommit to stuff...let me drag them into this project, with an unquestioning willingness to help. 

Yay for songs, music, art, stories and friendship.

Top 100 - Do You Realise, Flaming Lips # 100

Story by Liz 


How hard is it to choose just one song? I thought of so many songs that were the soundtrack to important/memorable/ridiculous times in my life. But I’ve arrived at this one, as it has the same impact on me as the first time I heard it. It shouldn’t be so hard to live in the moment and appreciate people while they are there and good times while they are happening. This song reminds me to do it...


Artwork by Karin