The SRF likes bicycles

As do white people in general it turns out! The bit about the ladies on european bikes certainly rings true to me!

Happy birthday Noodle

Happy birthday Shari

(Sorry, she who is not on facebook is damn hard to find a decent photo of online!)

Films of 2010

Cool Huffington Post mash up of this years films

2011 is the year that I…

did all 50 of the things every Sydney food lover should try*, in no particular order.

I know it won’t be easy - There’ll be sauce stains and hangovers, tight waistbands, greasy fingers and the occasional mysterious green bit stuck in the teeth. It will at times take me to lands unknown like ‘Kogarah’ and ‘Emu Heights’ and at others to Sydney high-temples of wait staff disdain where a sneer and a sniff is a good thing (it means you’ve been noticed). But there’ll be rich rewards too, like dark chocolate gelato, sweet-corn fritters, oysters, beer and pig in many of its post-mortem glories.

So starting in early January I’ll be putting out the call for willing and able-bellied friends to join me on my various adventures, from picnics with prawns to cluttered gluttony with chopsticks. This will be my tastiest challenge yet and I’m going to need all the support I can get.


*According to the SMH

Ledasha and friends

In googling a story that has been debunked regarding the girl named Le-A (though I heard it told with La-La and less of a Louisiana slant), I came across this helpful site.

It might be a bit late for Lucy and James, but next time why not consider Lanz or Jezika?

32 going on 13

So as most of you have heard, I’m about to shell out the price of a small car in order to look more youthful. No, not botox or a facelift. Think a little less Hollywood and a little more awkward teenager. Though not necessarily I guess. Certainly awkward anyway.



I think (read: hope) that they will be fairly discreet, the top teeth will be clear ceramic (or white, not sure, can you get clear ceramic?) and they don’t have elastics, which is a good thing since apparently they stain quite badly with red wine and coffee – not too much of a problem for your average orthodontic patient admittedly.

In case any of you have missed my almost obsessive griping about this over the last month or so and are wondering why I’m bothering with braces since my teeth are generally pretty okay, the reason is that I have one retarded tooth that never bothered coming down to push out the baby tooth. So I still have a baby tooth, which will eventually fall out. It is already wearing away and is a bit wobbly so it’s just a matter of time (or Minties) until I look like a toothless crazy woman. Unless I pay off half my orthodontist’s mortgage and get fitted with my braces. Which I will be Wednesday week.

After that, please tell me that you can hardly see them and that I don’t make your children cry with fear, even if it is a lie.

Sydney Festival 2011

Hi folks

It’s that time of year again when I go broke buying Sydney Festival tickets!



Here are my picks for January. Tickets go on sale on Monday and if you purchase in bulk you can access discounts, so let me know if you’d like to join me for any of these and I’m happy to bulk purchase and pass on the discounts. Please get back to me my Sunday afternoon (in the comments below or by email).

Sat 8 Jan
Festival First night (various venues) FREE

Mon 10 Jan
EmmyLou Harris and her Red Dirt Boys (State Theatre) $90
Country, bluegrass, folks, awesome.

Tue 11 Jan
My Bicycle Loves You (Sydney Theatre) $50
Legs on the Wall, vaudeville performance to found film footage from the 1900s

Wed 12 Jan
The John Spencer Blues Explosion (Becks Bar) $48

Thu 13 Jan
Mike Birbiglia: My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend (Seymour) $30
Regular contributor to This American Life, standup comedy

Fri 14 Jan (Midnight!)
Screening of Dracula with live score by Philip Glass (State Theatre) $60
This is going to be fabulous. Dress up as a vampire optional.

Sat 15 Jan
Los Lobos live in the Domain (FREE)
Bring a picnic and chill out to these Latin American groovers

Mon 17 Jan
John Malkovitch in Conversation (Town Hall) $45
The dude talks.

Tue 18 Jan
The Red Shoes (Seymour) $65
Acclaimed Kneehigh production based on the fairytale. Apparently lots of blood and full-on.

Wed 19 Jan
The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer (Seymour) $30

Fri 21 Jan
Screening of The Boys with music from The Necks (Sydney Uni Quad) $25

Wed 26 Jan
Food Chain (Seymour) $30
New dance theatre work about animality, human nature, sex and power.

Thu 27 Jan
7pm Gotye ($45)
9.30pm Beach House ($50)
Both at Angel Place. This is where we had our moments with The National and Grizzly Bear in past years.

Fri 28 Jan
Sufjan Stevens (SOH) $75
Anyone who saw him in 2008’s festival will testify to his brilliance.

Sat 29 Jan
The Unthanks (Spiegeltent) $45
Folk blues girls.

UNDATED
Trocadero Dance Palace (either 19/20/22 Jan) $45
Awesome 50s jive dancing in the Town Hall – frock up!

cx

Yep, I’m back

A colleague of mine has just rushed off to a client meeting she made secretly and for a time that no one else could make so that she could do it by herself. She has just called me from the company’s lobby to ask who she is actually meant to be meeting with, can I check her outlook calendar? It does not show a name. Can I check the client database? She has forgotten to add him in. Can I check the rest of that company's correspondence records? She has not entered anything about the meeting or indeed any correspondence with that company this year. She is already 5 minutes late so she will just go to the counter and act dumb. Horrified by this thought, I get her to hang on while I trawl her inbox, find an email and give her the name of this poor guy. And after a brief internal struggle, I even gave her the detail that she is actually 55 minutes early for the agreed meeting time.

Taking. Deep. Breaths.

Time for Ocean Swimming

Get your budgie smugglers and don't forget your goggles it time for a dip.

Bondi to Bronte - 5th December 10am

we call COCKTAILS!

Let's get good-looking on Saturday November 13 and buy ourselves a drink.

Happy Birthday Gretta!

Throw Your Arms Around Me

Happy Birthday Jenny!

Happy Birthday Mattwa!

Churrasco

What : Brazilian BBQ
Where: HOC
When : 2pm, 25th September 2010
Bring: Something to drink

Pimp my ride

How much of a good idea is this!



Via Sydney Cycle Chic.

SPRING!

I'll admit I've been tempted in the past

but to actually go through with it seems pretty mean.

Swans in the Finals

Swans vs. Carlton for the first round of the finals. Sunday the 5th at 2:40pm @ANZ stadium. Shooting for the $45 tickets.

Let me know if you're in asap as tickets go on sale tuesday at noon. don't want to miss out!

Geography lesson

So in the past, there may have been a bit of swagger about glamorous Pacific work trips where I breakfast by the pool with honeymooners and tidy my notes at happy hour from a sunlounge on the beach, but even my travel agent gave me a blank look when I mentioned my next destination. So it looks like I’ll be a long way from the cabana bar this time.

What you don't really need to know about Tarawa Atoll

This Micronesian island in Kiribati (pronounced Kiri-bass) is home to approximately 40,000 people on just 15.76 square kms of sandy coral mass.

The International Date Line does a big dogleg to keep the island nation on our side of time, despite it’s being due south of Hawaii.

Over 30% of our Cost of Living basket is unavailable. I’ll be pricing 85 items at just 7 outlets, including the garage and the post office. There is no pharmacy on Tarawa.

Expats on Tarawa receive the same ‘hardship’ premium as those in Addis Ababa, Port Moresby, Harare and Kolkata. While personal security scores fairly low (ie, low level of risk) just about everything else we assess is near the maximum. Except air pollution.

They get two planes a week, which is how I'll be getting in and out, overnighting in Nadi each way.

There is one hotel, the government run Otintaai hotel, described independently as “hopelessly dilapidated” where the “reception looked as though it had been the scene of a gunbattle”. This is where I’ll be enjoying 5 night’s sleep and many meals of fish.



Or maybe I’ll take a sleeping bag and a box of muesli bars down to the Parliament building instead:

Tourists sites are limited to a scattering of old Japanese artillery, relics from a famously bloody US victory in WWII.

An American journalist won the 1944 Pulitzer prize for this photo of the aftermath:

Although Lonely Planet doesn’t cover Tarawa, Wikitravel recommends "The Sex Lives of Cannibals" by J Maarten Troost for pre-travel reading.

Despite the lack of Pina Coladas, I think Tarawa shall make a refreshing change from the office.

Happy Birthday John!

Do you really need to buy this book? You gotta ask yourself one question: Are you going to be ready when the sh*t goes down? Here is a quick checklist:

1. Have you dug up your wife's rose garden and built a fallout shelter, equipped with a prison where you can lock up annoying family members?

2. Have you mapped out an escape route to your safe zone?

3. Is there a vehicle of death sitting in your garage?

4. Have you filled your go bag with all the needed instruments, including waterproof matches, postapocalyptic goggles, and at least one sexual party favor?

5. Have you learned how to milk various types of animals, including a giraffe?

As you can see, you need this book more than you even know. Without it, you're roadkill. Lucky for you, Forrest Griffin is the perfect apocalyptic chaperon. When he was in the womb, his mother had visions that the world would soon crumble, and Forrest would be the messiah of all mankind. He learned of these "visions" at the age of ten, and although they led him to believe that his mom had just been watching Mad Max and eating bad Mexican food, nevertheless he began his postapocalyptic training—a part of which involved his becoming a proud member of the Webelos, which is just one step below Boy Scout. And you know what the Boy Scout motto is. (Well, I hope you do, because Forrest doesn't have a clue). Another part involved hoarding ketchup packets, which he sucked down in the darkness of his room while listening to Nine Inch Nails. Hey, don't judge . . . hoarders are survivors. Just look at squirrels, they have been around longer than sharks.

If you want to survive the end of the world, and then avoid ending up in a government holding pen suffering from a bunch of diseases and listening to crying babies, you've got some skills to master. But don't worry—Forrest has you covered. From spotting the signs of the global downfall, to alienating your loved onesnow so they don't come looking for you after, to hot-wiring a car to starting a religion in your own image, he provides you with all the hot knowledge you need to survive the downfall of civilization. Simply put, this is the most important book about the apocalypse that you will ever read by a UFC fighter from Georgia.

http://www.forrestgriffin.net/news/?jid=60

Something is wrong here

Sydney Latin American Film Festival

Hi chaps. I thought that some of you, especially those who have recently returned from the area in question, may be interested in seeing some films as part of the Sydney Latin American Film Festival.

I've browsed through the program and I'm interested in these flicks -- let me know if you'd like to join me.

CHASING CHE
Fri 3 Sept 5.15pm Dendy Opera Quays
Documentary abouy a four-year odyssey through Latin America and Europe following the legacy of Che Guevara.

COOKING UP DREAMS
Sun 5 Sept 1.45pm Dendy Opera Quays
A 'foodie' film about Peruvian cuisine.

THE GENERAL
Sun 5 Sept 8pm Dendy Opera Quays
Doco by the daughter of a revolutionary general who became Mexico's president, but was exiled as a dictator. She examines her father's legacy on Mexico as well as his story.

CROSSING
Tue 7 Sept 8.15pm Dendy Opera Quays
Madcap border crossing road movie about two Mexican no-hopers trying to cross the border to the US.

cx

Austro-Chicagoan Dance Party

Roller derby tix

As alluded to here and here, there is some roller derby action coming up!



Conveniently it is at the Horden right after the AFL (below) so couldn't be easier.

Tix are $20, doors open at 5.30 pm, 7th August.

I'll be buying tickets probably this weekend so let me know if you're in.

Iron Designer

This event sounds fun -- combining two of my favourite things: Iron Chef (love that show) and design.



IRON DESIGNER
6 August, Friday, 6pm for 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Powerhouse Museum, Coles Theatre and Foyer
Cost: $30 adults / $26 powerhouse members or students or groups of 8 or more.

With a nod to the legendary Japanese cooking show, Iron Designer introduces a cast of design disciples who battle head-to-head on stage for the coveted crown. This live, action-packed event reveals the intricate thoughts and visual approach of architects and designers.

In this live, stage event hosted by ABC media presenter Robbie Buck, a cast of designers go head-to-head to create a piece of work in the space of 20 minutes. Teams from design outfits including: Frost Design, Digital Eskimo, Blue Sky Design Group, Sixty40, 4Design, PIDCOCK Architecture + Sustainablity, UTS School of Design and Tribe Studio will compete for the coveted crown.

Iron Designer reveals the way designers think and how they translate that thought process into something tangible. The night is run in two rounds with four teams competing per round. The winners of each round then play off for the Iron Designer crown as the night’s thrilling grand final. Iron Designer is produced by Melbourne’s Studio Binocular.

Who's in?

There are also heaps of other great events on as part of the annual SYDNEY DESIGN FESTIVAL.

cx

One for the birds

As requested by Jenny and Carmel

Who: Swans v Hawks
What: A possible entrée to Roller Derby
Where: SCG
When: Saturday August 7 at 2:10pm (all done in time for Roller Derby next door at the Hordern.)
Why: Carmel’s new scarf needs its cherry popped
Also why: This’ll be the fourth to last game of the 2010 season but with Swans sitting at 6th on the table, some finals might be in store! Hawthorn are currently in 7th and last time they played each other (back in May), though they stayed neck and neck through all 4 quarters, Hawthorn were up 2 points by the final siren.
How: Lemme know if you're keen
How much: $20

Things that excite me

So there is a film about friendface coming out and here is the trailer


And here is the song in full which i feel is amazing - you may disagree

Election Party!

Happy birthday mama!

Hello fellow losers Sydney-bound SRFians.

To alleviate the bitter taste of holiday jealously, nothing beats filling your mouth with delicious, stodgy, heart-stopping foods. For a bit of international flavour, I was thinking of taking a look at the www.winterfestival.com.au and maybe washing down some grostel with a few mugs of glühwein after work this Friday night. Anyone else interested?

Small Child Bangs Drums

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULES!!!

Hope your day is enjoyable and not filled with too much work xx

The Great Beef Gumboot Off

Infected by Masterchef-fever, two teams of intrepid wannabe chefs (with floating entree-creator Shari as moral support) embarked on the Great Beef Wellington-off last weekend. Or in Australian, Beef Gumboot.

True to the show: product placement

Recipes were laminated, girls pitched against boys, Jenny's kitchen was commandeered and beers were opened in readiness.

Chopping herbs

Team Boy got off to a good start, barricading themselves in the kitchen while the girls loitered in the bedroom talking tactics, but we were soon neck and neck.

Beef Wellington is a pretty convoluted recipe so we began by dividing up the tasks and preparing the different elements: crepes, mushroom pate thingo, seared beef etc.

Team Girl crepes

Team Boy crepes

Mushrooms in a blender

Meanwhile some of us chipped in to help Shari make some delicious chorizo and potato bombas. YUM.

Hiding the chorizo in the potato

Mmmm... Bombas

Replenishing our energy with Bombas

After pausing for our starter we got on with the task of assembling the Beef Wellington. First the seared beef was basted with mustard. Then it was wrapped in the mushroom layer encased in proscutio.

Sarah places the beef on its bed of mushrooms

Encasing it in crepes

"What shall we do?" "I dunno, let's copy the girls." (Note product placement of Handee Ultra in the foreground)

After popping it in and out of the freezer, wrapping it in crepes, pastry and making a little 'valve' for the top, they were ready to go into the oven.

Before cooking. The lopsided cut of beef on the left is Team Girl

Fresh out of the oven. YUM!

It looks just like it did on the telly!

It was about 11.30pm at this stage so we were pretty hungry. We'd also neglected to find an impartial judge to decide on the winner, so instead we each had a slice of the boys' and the girls' beef wellington. To be totally honest with you, they were both delicious, and we were too full of pride in our achievements to declare an overall winner.

Team Boy on the left, Team Girl on the right. Both delicious.

Not to do things by halves, the girls also prepared dessert: chocolate cake with raspberry coulis, whipped cream and raspberries dipped in melted chocolate.

Dessert

V glad we made the effort

Roll on the next SRF Masterchef challenge!

cx

There's nothing like Australia

Lots of mumblings afoot about whether the new overseas Tourism Australia ad captures the essence of the country. What do you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpn6ijA8rrY&feature=player_embedded

Warning: tone-deaf singers involved.

Here are some of the responses so far:

http://mumbrella.com.au/tourism-australia-finally-reveals-its-new-all-singing-ad-26950

cx

I guess it shouldn't

but this makes me giggle, albeit guiltily.

Continuation…

When we last left the Beef Wellington-off discussion:

We had set the date – June 5.
We had a show of hands – Jenny, Mattwa, John, Shari, Noodle & I.
We had one no – Jeff.
One maybe – Nicolai
and the offer of three kitchens – Jenny, Margaret & Renae.

As it stands, the only oven-offer/attendee match is Jenny, making it a little awkward if we choose a Carlingford or Zetland venue. With a little over a week to go, I figure we better get cracking on the last of the whos, the where and finally, the how.

We need Nicolai to confirm or deny us his presence and any other contestants to come forward. STAT.

(500) Days of Summer - Thriller Version

Introducing Lil Whipit and friends

If hot* girls in short skirts and fishnets and names like Bitchy'n'Scratchy, FiFi La Gore, Apollonia Thunderpussy, and Missy Biff sounds like your kind of sport, then let me introduce to you... The Sydney City Assassins Roller Derby League!



After an exhilarating introduction to this most fun and random of sports last Saturday, the Assassins gained a handful of new fans, and Renaezor Blade Batty gained a new favourite sport.

The next bout (that we will actually be in the country for) is Saturday 7th August, which gives you plenty of time to clear your calendars. It will be at the Horden, tix will need to be pre-bought (last Saturday was a complete sell-out) for about $20, and red and black will need to be worn. A reminder call will be made when it is time to buy tickets, but I now consider this to be the official SRF sport of choice (we may even mount a team!**), so you don't want to miss it!

* By hot, I basically mean wearing short skirts and fishnets.
** Extremely unlikely but hey, if the Ladies Auxiliary approves it...

Let's Paint

A bit of painting inspiration for Jenny...

http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=uPpMWaSPt-s

cx

Eurovision

Yay! It's Eurovision time SRFers where we celebrate the cultural heritage of the Continent that gave us Shakespeare, Dumas, Molière, Mozart, Chopin, Handel, Coward, Abba, the Trannie from Israel(insert argument about Euro TV vs the physical land mass) and this small Norwegian lad who can play the fiddle on his knees while other men do the "sexy tiger" round him.


Carmel is hosting this years awesomeness so bring a Plate some Euro Booze and some sort of National Allegiance - final list of countries competing will be available on Saturday

7.00pm Sunday
5 Miller St Bondi

Hello Oslo this in Nicosia calling.....