2005 A year in review

Who knows what the time before the SRF blog held? Those frail moments of silvery time slipped casually through the fingers of those who prefer to keep a fluxing detail-free memory. Oh sure, there were great trivia moments, movie prequal releases, BBQs, big parties, Tupperware parties, spectacular birthday picnics, the discovery of crepes, new jobs, new positions, uni graduations, endangerments and new love. But who remembers those? For the remaining members of the great Stephen Roberts Foundation, the memory of our collective consciousness starts in September 2005 with the birth of a bouncing baby blog.

Births and Deaths

It staggered into the world with a few old photos and three little rules, (one of which has been highly respected and sustained). It took a week or two (and a little homework) to work out a few kinks in the otherwise well-oiled machine of friendship and brotherly love that is the SRF, and then our little blog was purring!

Back in the early days we saw the rise and fall of three very mortal SRF institutions- Gabby’s word for the day, Gretta’s traffic report and Bryan’s cracker.
In September, our first two SRF events were philosophically opposed to one another- a sugar filled summery picnic to welcome back a story from our childish pasts and a made-of-meat Viking dinner to say goodbye to one of the dearest friends we’ve made as adults (?! post-adolescents) and issue in the winter of our discontented ladies auxiliary.

The nuggets found each other, found a dodgy new home and the ‘pie-chucker’ was born.

Nostrew kept us in the know with the Australian Idol predictions and count down as halfwit after halfwit waved goodbye to their nerry-to-be singing careers. The month wrapped up with a premature but wonderful festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ at the home of Richard, Suzy and Santa Claws.

In other births, a shiny new rock is fastened to Gretta’s finger, Francetastic pops up with news from Paris, Ronnie Johns heralds the start of my little brother’s TV career and little Xavier wriggles into Gretta’s life, another cutie nephew to love.

We lost some great things too, to the giant hall-of-fame in the sky - Maxwell Smart, Inspector Gadget, Big Kev and the ugly French dog. RIP.

The Next Three Months

October was a time for camping, car crashes and karaoke. Nick conclusively proved that high pitched whining tones can not be minimised merely by sagging on the floor under a table.

John conclusively proved that he is braver than Matt, who in turn is braver than Richard. But is Richard sneakier than all of us? (SR building singage original survaillance footage- unpublished.)

In November, Kate ‘won’ Idol, Makybe Diva won Melbourne Cup No.3 and the Socceroos qualified for the only true world sporting event (Olumpics aside). Richard got a new job, I got a filling, my Mum broke her leg and Mattess broke with tradition attending the controversial evening of prawns under the shelter of our great bridge- the stark physical divide between the House of Chicken and associated campuses and the lazy buggers on the other side. I believe it was that night that Matten got really really smashed. Anyone remember?

December brought a bevy of sensuous luxuries- cocktails, more crepes, a girls’ night, Gretta’s famed Fruit Mince Tarts. The Bron came back, Jenny went to Sweden and Richard found religion (or just a new favourite menu item). We were treated to more of the curious weekend adventures of the Fligret and the chilly northern travels of the Shohn.

And so ends the great year of 2005. It shakes our hands, takes its coat and hat, eyes off the bottle of Cab Sav it brought that was not opened, and out it goes. In its wake, another year issues in and with it the hope and fear that can only be realised by another 12 months of life for the great SRF.

Over and out.

Happy New Year!!!

Googly eye-guy dies

While money lovers the world over were mourning the death of the world's richest (and ugliest) man, others were mourning the loss of another great ugly human, Vincent Schiavelli. You probably never knew his name, but you sure as hell knew his face, it was one of the most recognisable faces in hollywood. He was in Ghost, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and so many other movies it is obvious he would do just about anything for a buck. Something I was very surprised to learn was he was also a published cookbook author. The poor morbid-looking bugger died of lung cancer the day after Christmas and will be buried in his home and birthplace, Sicily. RIP

NunBun STOLEN!!!

You may or (probably) may not know this, but there existed (and may still exist, if the theif wasn't too hungry) a CINNAMON SCROLL said to bear an exact resemblance to Mother Theresa.

Around the world last night, households froze in horror as the news spread from city to city: the fabled NunBun of Nashville, USA, had been STOLEN!

'Nun Bun' stolen from coffeehouse
The Associated PressDec. 26, 2005 07:40 AM
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Nun Bun is nowhere to be seen.When Bob Bernstein arrived at his coffeehouse to assess the scene of an early Christmas morning break-in, the one thing he noticed missing was the cinnamon bun that bears a striking likeness to Mother Teresa.Bernstein said he believes the culprit is someone angry over the shop displaying the world-famous pastry, which has been preserved with shellac. A jar of money next to the Nun Bun was not stolen.
"They went right for the bun," he said. "Unfortunately I think it's somebody who wanted to take it to destroy it."The Nun Bun gained worldwide attention in 1996 when a customer nearly took a bite of it before recognizing the revered nun in the folds of flaky pastry.The bun was featured on world news programs, "The Late Show" with David Letterman and was even mentioned on episodes of "The Nanny" and "Mad About You."The shop, Bongo Java, sold T-shirts, prayer cards and mugs with the bun's image before Mother Teresa wrote a personal letter to the coffeehouse asking the sales be stopped.

What the Bongo Java cafe of Nashville had to say about the NunBun(tm) before its theft: http://www.bongojava.com/beans.php?content=nunbun

And finally... the bun itself:

Who ate all the pies?

My childhood seems full of millions of small memories, most of them are random events, but every now and then a familiar and prominent memory comes to mind that makes me smile and think back on hot summers and school holidays and of course Christmas at the folks' place.

One of these memories is making little mince pies with Mum in the week leading up to Christmas. Flour covering the benches, sticky fruit mince on my fingers, icing sugar in my hair....I was a clean child...really I was!

This is one memory that will remain and grow in my life as I continue this tradition in my own home. I love the lead up to Christmas with all the cooking and cards and wrapping paper. I think it's just about my favourite time of year.

Thought you all might like to see this years achievement. Unfortunately we don't have wonkavision so you can't try one, but I assure you they taste as good as they look (that is if you are a normal person and like mince pies).


Note to Flit: you will have to WAIT till Christmas day....no sneaking pies when I'm not looking!