I see the Moon....

What a spectacular sight...the moon is huge tonight. Perfect in fact.

After a glorious day we are treated to an incredibly clear sky highlighting the moon.

It never ceases to amaze me that from here on this side of the moon, we see the rabbit, but when I'm home in the UK , we see the face.

Whoo....maybe I've indulged in a little too much red wine with dinner....

I often look at the moon and reflect on whether my family on the other side of the world are looking too.....sigh

"Come and get your fresh Figs...."

Just a quick gloat today, because I've made a discovery.

My fig tree has produced fruit and no-one is more surprised than me.

Who would have believed it? This was only a cutting a few months back and has shot up virtually before our eyes. Its good to know that I've still got my green fingers.
I have never tried to grow one before and I have to confess, I've never eaten figs either.... :-0

I know, where have I been?
Well, most of the time in places where figs weren't available, so I suppose its not all my fault

Now I need to find something special to do with them once they are ready.

How exciting....

Hopefully the possums won't find them first.

Melbourne from above...

What a view.... Melbourne from above...










I have been wanting to take photo's from my 'OH' office window since we arrived in Melbourne.


And finally I made it. Well, with the aid of a very fast lift....right to the 39th floor!


These photo's were taken behind glass obviously although when I mentioned could I open a window for the shoot - the look I got was priceless.....I was joking!

I have to admit I did feel a little woozey looking straight down.

You can hardly make out the little ants down there....all busy going about their business


I just wonder how do the office staff stay focused when there's a view like this?
Heaven help the boring presentation when your up against this kind of distraction.
Not that that is the case with my 'OH' - I know they are all riveted to his every word ;-)

Chocolate and Cognac Cake

Wow...I think I've found my perfect chocolate cake.

It's elegant, indulgent and perfect for the 'chocoholic'. Yes, that's me - I confess.
This cake rises like a souffle, since that's really what it is....

It would be perfect for Easter.

Remember the quality of chocolate you use is directly proportional to the quality of the cake. The rule also applies to cognac.

Recipe below....

The smell of the cognac wafting through the kitchen was so powerful, but there again it was mid morning on a Sunday. When my other half entered the kitchen, he raised an eyebrow, but then noticed thankfully that the aroma was coming from a measuring jug and not a glass.

I loved the pattern of the cream mixing with the chocolate ingredients...

I have to admit I didn't do the test of placing the stiffened egg white bowl over my head, as with many cooking demonstrations, to prove the whites are whisked enough.

I've never had the nerve to try that.

The smell at this stage was unbelievable...

I placed a little crème fraiche to accompany the lovely chocolate gooeyness


Chocolate and Cognac Cake - serves 8 (or 12, or 1 depending on your willpower and willingness to share!)


400g good-quality dark chocolate
6 eggs, separated
150g caster sugar
100ml good-quality cognac
300ml pure cream
cocoa powder or icing sugar, to serve


Preheat the oven to 175C. Cut a piece of greaseproof paper to fit a 20cm round cake tin, with a double layer for the side and a single layer for the base. Spray the tin with cooking oil and fit the greaseproof paper snugly.

Melt the chocolate in a stainless-steel bowl set over a saucepan of hot water. Don't let the water boil, as you can scald the chocolate. Remove the chocolate from the heat and let it return to room temperature.

In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks and 100g sugar until pale and creamy. Add the cognac and continue to beat until well combined. Add the chocolate and stir until completely incorporated, then slowly stir in half the cream. Set aside.

Whip the remaining cream until soft peaks form. Set aside. Whisk the egg whites in a very clean bowl. When soft peaks form, slowly add the remaining sugar and whip until very firm. Fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture. Fold in the egg whites.

Pour the cake mixture into the prepared cake tin, place the tin in a baking tray and add enough hot water to come 2.5 cm up the side of the tin. Bake for 45 minutes.

Turn down the oven to 150C and bake for a further 45 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave the cake in the oven for 40 minutes, then remove to a cake rack. Cut around the edge of the tin and turn it onto a plate - the cake should slide out easily. Sprinkle with cocoa powder or icing sugar. To slice the cake, use a knife dipped in hot water and clean the knife after each cut.

This cake will last for three days (if your lucky) covered, outside the fridge. Don't refrigerate it: it will set like a brick!

I'd love to hear what you think about the recipe....it was one of Neil Perry's
http://www.lifestylefood.com.au/chefs/neilperry/

I'm off now to have a little piece with my cuppa....after typing all this I'm drooling....
anyway, I have to before its all gone!

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival

Melbournians are besotted by food all year round, but the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival sees this obsession hit fever pitch during March.
It's now in its 19th year, and features more than 250 events and attracts the world's best and brightest food and wine personalities, both home-grown and from across the globe.
It runs from 4th - 14th March so unfortunately that's it for this year, but there's always next year to plan.

Thousands of food fanatics from Australia and around the world gather in restaurants, cafes, bars, laneways and on rooftops.

On Sunday, my other half and I went to sample some of the worlds culinary delights from Africa, Asia, and Europe to South America, and of course, Australia.

Nothing beats the smell, taste and sounds of food on the streets.

We went wondering through the crowds observing and smelling the wonders of multicultural unique experiences, before making our food selections.
This was the tricky part....how to taste and try so many varieties of tantalising taste bud treats.

This lemonade slushies stand had a constant queue - just perfect to refresh the taste buds on a hot afternoon.

I watched in awe as this chef perfected his four huge paella pans.

And what better to go with the paella than a glass of Sangria.

This stall was like a party all on its own...they certainly added atmosphere to the proceedings.

And talking of atmosphere....to accompany your food and drink selection, making the event even more delicious with the sounds of world music and entertainment.

I definitely will be planning the events earlier for next year. It really does take some homework to maximise this spectacular gastronomic alfresco prestigious calendar event.

But so worthwhile....make sure you highlight your calender.

You'll not be disappointed there's something for everyone's taste!

http://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/festival-events/browse-events

Pooches in Paradise

Muffin is in her element at the moment, due to Zac coming to stay for a holiday.
There's been high jinx, lots of playing, walks and a couple of fracas, which I suppose is to be expected when you're a Diva and used to having almost everything your way.

Straight after breakfast play started early this morning, but then I suppose you have to make the most of every minute.

Such fun trying to gain the upper hand....but what can you do with behaviour like this?

(Little Minx)

Then its off for the daily constitution...a good long walk with lots to see, sniff and squirt! But not necessarily in that order.
Wait for me....

Nothing goes unchecked...you just never know what's out there?

Then Muffy spots an ideal location for a sit and contemplation.

"Come on Zac join me and lets talk...."

Off again....

Freshly cut grass, sun, the great outdoors...ahh this is the life....come on Zac, leave that - this is sheer bliss

"Whoops I kind of got carried away....wait for me..."

And now for a quick snooze before the next episode of fun, or better still dinner.....

That is if she'll let me?

Hot Air Ballooning

It was a beautiful autumnal start to the day today.

When I opened the blinds, there silently moving across the sky overhead was a hot air balloon.
It was the type of morning that would be great for a hot air balloon ride, either over the city of Melbourne or the Yarra Valley.

There are often quite a few balloons moving across the sky at that time of the day, that could easily be missed, if you weren't looking. According to a neighbour one even had to make a quick landing in the nearby Oval once - thankfully I wasn't involved. But they managed to take off again and carried on with their journey - with a whoosh from the burners - so majestic, slowly rising up, up and away.....

I wish I could tell you that I've done this first hand, but then I'd be telling a little porky pie (little white lie).

But it is on my list of things to do....

The early start of 4.30am doesn't put me off and the beautiful sunrises are certainly an incentive with a champagne breakfast to complete a fantastic trip, certainly appeals.

I'm just a little unsure about that extremely small basket!

But I can appreciate that it is truly an experience not to be missed. Maybe if I start with the champagne first - that might work....hic, hic!

These photo's were taken by my friend, who had a great time and recommends anyone to have a go....me included.
Don't worry if I do actually make it up there, I'll certainly post my own pics.
Trust me you'll hear about it. (Probably hearing the screams upon landing too).

Chocolate and Vanilla Marble Cake...

This was a first for me today. Chocolate and Vanilla Marble Cake, but I have to confess its going to be a regular feature in my cake tin.
It's basically Madeira cake recipe that is separated into two bowls, good quality cocoa powder is folded into one and then the two mixtures are swirled gently together. It will keep for a couple of days in an airtight container or box, but can be frozen. Serve it plain or dusted with icing sugar; or if you want to be really indulgent....drizzle some hot chocolate sauce over the top.

You have to be careful when drawing the swirls that you don't overdo it because then you would lose the 'marble' effect.
I think it looks very impressive but its so easy

Yum yum...I better get out on my bike now to burn this off.

Chocolate and Vanilla Marble Cake

225g (8oz) Butter, softened

225g (8oz) Caster Sugar

4 Eggs

2 tsp Vanilla Extract

225g (8oz) Plain Flour

2 tsp Baking Powder

50ml (1 3/4 fl oz) Milk

Scant 50g (2oz) Cocoa Powder, sifted

20cm (8in0 diameter spring-form/loose-bottomed tin

Preheat the oven to 180C (350F), Gas mark 4.
Butter and flour the sides of the cake tin and line the base with greaseproof paper.

Cream the butter in a large bowl or in an electric food mixer until soft.
Add the sugar and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Whisk the eggs and vanilla extract together in a small bowl. Gradually add the eggs to the butter mixture, beating all the time. Sift in the flour and baking powder and fold in gently to mix, then add the milk and mix gently to combine.

Tip half of the cake mixture into another large bowl and, into this bowl, fold in the sifted cocoa powder.

Place the cake mixtures into the prepared tin by alternating spoonfuls of the vanilla batter with the chocolate batter, then with a skewer or similar implement, gently draw swirls through the cake mixture to 'marblise' it. Don't over mix.

Bake in the oven for 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Turn the cake out onto a wire rack and allow to cool.

This recipe came from Rachel Allen's 'Bake' and I can highly recommend you try it.

See more of Rachel's recipes http://www.rachelallen.co.uk/

Sexy Red Ruby helped me out http://neesienatters.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-sexy-is-this-aid-yep-i-thought-that.html

The wheels on the bike.....go round and round...

Now that I've felt the wind through my hair and riding at speed on my rollerblades (hardly - well downhill maybe) my other half decided last weekend to go one step further.
He bought me a new bike.

He's a real biker but not the ponytail, tats, and leather clad kind of biker....he's more of a Mamil: middle-aged man in Lycra....see link to explain this further. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10965608

I have to stress here, that as far as I am aware he hasn't taken to shaving his legs - well not yet anyway...

He actually cycles in and out of the CBD daily to work - about 32k
I'll hardly be doing that kind of mileage and I'm not too sure about the lamps that he bought at the same time either - I certainly don't have plans to cycle in the dark!

However, I did look at baskets for the front for Muffin but decided after the sales rep scrunched up his face in disgust, that if I wanted to take her with me she'd prefer to be in a backpack with eye goggles....oh I can see her now...

But I do think I'm going to be a fair weather cyclist

The fact that my other half's wheel exploded on the ride home yesterday didn't inspire me to think about travelling far.

Well, for one reason I wouldn't be able to get on the phone and have a superb rescue service like he has....namely me driving to the nearest point to rescue and collect both him and the injured bike to transport home.

What the.....?

My son called out for me to come to the window to see this thing? What the....is it?

He says before I show you I should put an age restriction on the photo...and I have to admit its not pretty and took me a while to zoom in on the focus. Well, I suppose its not pretty to me, but then someone out there, maybe namely its mother might love it? There again?

It's like something out of alien vs. predator?

I'm not sure if its his house, shell, body or what? But he's carrying it with him and he's only using his first four legs!

I had seen what I thought was a leaf on the downstairs decking the other day and thought I'd sweep it off but never got round to it. Now I know it was this creature.....
So since then, this 'leaf' has climbed up from the ground floor to the first floor and along my windows (not so clean you may notice, but then we have had the wettest summer since records began - my excuse anyway).

Sorry I digress....and here's the close up.....

My son's laughing at me, even with typing this blog I've got a crinkly nose and a grimace on my face.
Not sure if I should knock it off or track where it's heading....I need to know what he's planning, hopefully not inside whilst I'm not looking!!!!