I found out on the weekend that my dad has been given 2 months to live.
He has had 5 major heart attacks, throat cancer, an aneurysm in his aorta that required him to have his entire aorta replaced.
He has chronic emphysema and heart failure. He has been in hospital twice this year alone with pneumonia and another 4 times because he can no longer breathe without an oxygen machine.
He has spent the last 60 years smoking a packet a day.
Seriously, If you smoke, you are a fucking IDIOT and I hope that your loved ones don't have to watch you die the most slow and painful death I have ever seen.
08 November 2010
03 November 2010
Crown Street Cooks
Tom and I have promised ourselves that we would not buy any more cookbooks. We have a bookshelf full of cookbooks that we love, but it got to a point a few months ago when we both thought.. this is getting a little ridiculous.. there are only so many meals you can make in one lifetime!
However, I might have to make an exception for this cookbook that came out last week, because Crown Street Public School was my primary school and this book looks great.. full of simple, yummy, family recipes.
Crown Street Public was an awesome primary school. The whole school did half an hour of Tai Chi every morning before class started. Of course, at the time it was the most embarrassing thing ever, but now I think its totally cool.
20 odd years ago Surry Hills was no where near as trendy as it is today, but it was still a very cool place to grow up.
My dad had this huge warehouse on Campbell Street, that was just behind Crown Street Public School. My dad is an architect and the warehouse was his office, but being a typical Dutchman (who can't live without his morning coffee or three) he decided to put a coffee machine and some big tables in the front of the warehouse, so that when clients came in they could all sit down and look over the plans with a real cup of coffee.
The only entrance to the warehouse was a huge roller shutter with no sign. One day a guy who was walking past popped his head in to ask if it was a cafe.. my dad said no, but come in anyway because he makes a pretty damn good cup of coffee. (If you knew my dad, that would not seem weird at all).
To cut a long story short, 6 months later my dad had given up architecture all together and was running a cafe full time that saw 3000 people through the doors every week. All the drawing boards had been replaced with tables. A kitchen had been built and a pool table added. My dad parked his 2 vintage 1969 convertibles in the back of the warehouse and there was live jazz most nights. . and so Sanctuary Studio Cafe was born!
I would walk down every afternoon after school and I have such great memories of hanging out there all afternoon, playing pool and taking orders. It really was the best thing ever because my dad had no intention at all of opening a cafe.. it just happened and he went along with it.
Unfortunately, just before the Sydney 2000 Olympics the whole block- 4 huge warehouses were all bought and pulled down to make way for 800 hideous apartments (no offence if you live at 186 Campbell Street, Surry Hills) and that was the end of an era.
My dad spent some time looking for a new venue, but never managed to find a place that was just right.. and warehouses like that just don't exist anymore.
So my dad went back into architecture. But still to this day, almost anywhere my dad goes, he will have someone stop and ask "where is the new sanctuary?"
However, I might have to make an exception for this cookbook that came out last week, because Crown Street Public School was my primary school and this book looks great.. full of simple, yummy, family recipes.
Crown Street Public was an awesome primary school. The whole school did half an hour of Tai Chi every morning before class started. Of course, at the time it was the most embarrassing thing ever, but now I think its totally cool.
20 odd years ago Surry Hills was no where near as trendy as it is today, but it was still a very cool place to grow up.
My dad had this huge warehouse on Campbell Street, that was just behind Crown Street Public School. My dad is an architect and the warehouse was his office, but being a typical Dutchman (who can't live without his morning coffee or three) he decided to put a coffee machine and some big tables in the front of the warehouse, so that when clients came in they could all sit down and look over the plans with a real cup of coffee.
The only entrance to the warehouse was a huge roller shutter with no sign. One day a guy who was walking past popped his head in to ask if it was a cafe.. my dad said no, but come in anyway because he makes a pretty damn good cup of coffee. (If you knew my dad, that would not seem weird at all).
To cut a long story short, 6 months later my dad had given up architecture all together and was running a cafe full time that saw 3000 people through the doors every week. All the drawing boards had been replaced with tables. A kitchen had been built and a pool table added. My dad parked his 2 vintage 1969 convertibles in the back of the warehouse and there was live jazz most nights. . and so Sanctuary Studio Cafe was born!
I would walk down every afternoon after school and I have such great memories of hanging out there all afternoon, playing pool and taking orders. It really was the best thing ever because my dad had no intention at all of opening a cafe.. it just happened and he went along with it.
Unfortunately, just before the Sydney 2000 Olympics the whole block- 4 huge warehouses were all bought and pulled down to make way for 800 hideous apartments (no offence if you live at 186 Campbell Street, Surry Hills) and that was the end of an era.
My dad spent some time looking for a new venue, but never managed to find a place that was just right.. and warehouses like that just don't exist anymore.
So my dad went back into architecture. But still to this day, almost anywhere my dad goes, he will have someone stop and ask "where is the new sanctuary?"
20 October 2010
The bird dress
Hello my dear readers (all two of you)! Have you missed me?
It feels like forever since my last post and I'm afraid it will be few and far between posts over the next few weeks as life and other adventures will be getting in the way.. you all know how it is!
However, I was very lucky to squeeze in a tiny amount of sewing on the weekend. Its not my usual style of fabric but I have been reading this book called Homemade living by Lotta Jansdotter (flicking through the pictures is probably a more appropriate description) and I have been feeling inspired by all the amazing, bold prints that those clever Swedish are so famous for..
So when a little Swedish meatball craving (don't ask) took Sophie and I to Ikea the other day, I was excited to find this cool monochrome bird print for next to nothing. It is exactly unlike any other fabric I own.. not pretty, not delicate, not vintage inspired, but I like it!
I decided that it would make a cool beach dress/ kaftan for Sophie, so I got to work. I couldn't find a kids kaftan pattern so I used a summer nightgown pattern, which worked fine. (No one will know she is wearing pyjamas to the beach, right?)
And although Sophie was happy to pose on the dining table for me, she did tell me that it was far too big for her and that she looked like "a flippy, floppy scarecrow"! Kids...
It feels like forever since my last post and I'm afraid it will be few and far between posts over the next few weeks as life and other adventures will be getting in the way.. you all know how it is!
However, I was very lucky to squeeze in a tiny amount of sewing on the weekend. Its not my usual style of fabric but I have been reading this book called Homemade living by Lotta Jansdotter (flicking through the pictures is probably a more appropriate description) and I have been feeling inspired by all the amazing, bold prints that those clever Swedish are so famous for..
So when a little Swedish meatball craving (don't ask) took Sophie and I to Ikea the other day, I was excited to find this cool monochrome bird print for next to nothing. It is exactly unlike any other fabric I own.. not pretty, not delicate, not vintage inspired, but I like it!
I decided that it would make a cool beach dress/ kaftan for Sophie, so I got to work. I couldn't find a kids kaftan pattern so I used a summer nightgown pattern, which worked fine. (No one will know she is wearing pyjamas to the beach, right?)
And although Sophie was happy to pose on the dining table for me, she did tell me that it was far too big for her and that she looked like "a flippy, floppy scarecrow"! Kids...
13 October 2010
Easy no-knead bread
I love making bread but it is one of those things that is always on my 'to do' list and never actually in the oven.
But when I found this NY times recipe, it looked so easy that I thought I would give it a shot..
There is nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread filling the house, and this one is actually baked in a cast iron pot, so it looks amazing when it is pulled out of the oven.. Will definitely be trying this one again.
But when I found this NY times recipe, it looked so easy that I thought I would give it a shot..
There is nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread filling the house, and this one is actually baked in a cast iron pot, so it looks amazing when it is pulled out of the oven.. Will definitely be trying this one again.
12 October 2010
Welcome back my friend
I am of course talking about my dear sewing machine that has been neglected for the last week. With all the jam making and sickness around here, I had no time (or energy) to sew.
But, before I could get back to my sewing, I decided to give my fabric cupboard a good tidy up -this was a good idea. What was not a good idea was to leave my mess on the dining room table, so when Tom got home he could see exactly how much fabric I had hidden away!
Needless to say I may be banned from buying any more fabric for a while!
But, before I could get back to my sewing, I decided to give my fabric cupboard a good tidy up -this was a good idea. What was not a good idea was to leave my mess on the dining room table, so when Tom got home he could see exactly how much fabric I had hidden away!
Needless to say I may be banned from buying any more fabric for a while!
11 October 2010
The cook and the chef
Anyone who knows Tom and I, knows that Tom is the master chef around here. He is just one of those people who is naturally good at cooking. He just seems to have this uncanny ability to know exactly what needs to go together to taste good!
Not only is he good at cooking, but he loves to cook. I would not be exaggerating if I was to tell you that he spends at least 3 hours in the kitchen on any given Saturday or Sunday. (during the week I do all the cooking, but the weekend is all his).
To give you an idea of the difference in our cooking style.. If I come home and find some tuna steaks in the fridge, I will make grilled tuna and steam some veggies to go with it. Dinner = done!
Tom, however, will make seared tuna with white bean puree on a bed of wilted spinach with a garlic and white wine sauce.. on a weeknight! Seriously.. the man is obsessed! One night last week I found him in the kitchen rolling out fresh pasta at 11pm!
Yesterday I woke up to find him and Sophie making eggs with fried tomatoes and wilted spinach for breakfast (okay, pretty normal). But, then at about 10am he made a dozen blueberry friands. For lunch he whipped up a grilled haloumi salad and then he got started on dinner..
This may not look like much, but it is actually a whole leg of lamb that has been slow roasted for 4 hours, then placed on a bed of seared chick peas in beef stock and covered in cous cous, apricots, sultanas and spices. Then it is cooked for another 2 hours and served with garlic yogurt and coriander.. This is Tom's idea of a casual weekend dinner!
Now, please don't think that I am complaining.. I know I am sooo lucky to have a husband that loves to cook.. but my darling, how about we just order pizza this weekend?!
Not only is he good at cooking, but he loves to cook. I would not be exaggerating if I was to tell you that he spends at least 3 hours in the kitchen on any given Saturday or Sunday. (during the week I do all the cooking, but the weekend is all his).
To give you an idea of the difference in our cooking style.. If I come home and find some tuna steaks in the fridge, I will make grilled tuna and steam some veggies to go with it. Dinner = done!
Tom, however, will make seared tuna with white bean puree on a bed of wilted spinach with a garlic and white wine sauce.. on a weeknight! Seriously.. the man is obsessed! One night last week I found him in the kitchen rolling out fresh pasta at 11pm!
Yesterday I woke up to find him and Sophie making eggs with fried tomatoes and wilted spinach for breakfast (okay, pretty normal). But, then at about 10am he made a dozen blueberry friands. For lunch he whipped up a grilled haloumi salad and then he got started on dinner..
This may not look like much, but it is actually a whole leg of lamb that has been slow roasted for 4 hours, then placed on a bed of seared chick peas in beef stock and covered in cous cous, apricots, sultanas and spices. Then it is cooked for another 2 hours and served with garlic yogurt and coriander.. This is Tom's idea of a casual weekend dinner!
Now, please don't think that I am complaining.. I know I am sooo lucky to have a husband that loves to cook.. but my darling, how about we just order pizza this weekend?!
09 October 2010
The jam session
What a busy week! I spent most of the week in bed and whenever I managed to get up, I was forced into the kitchen to keep making all the goodies I had promised to Sophie's pre-school for their spring fete. I made orange marmalade (that's what all the oranges were for) and lemon cordial..
The fete went really well, but I am now exhausted, so excuse me while I go and have a very long sit down and a cup of tea!
The fete went really well, but I am now exhausted, so excuse me while I go and have a very long sit down and a cup of tea!
05 October 2010
Lazy days..
Can you guess what I am making...
Yes, I am slaving away in the kitchen (not really) while Sophie hangs out in the washing basket..
And Tom pulls carrots up from the veggie patch..
Yes, I am slaving away in the kitchen (not really) while Sophie hangs out in the washing basket..
And Tom pulls carrots up from the veggie patch..
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