Life's Funny Like That

I think it's important to recognize that we are all entitled to our "Dark Moments". I spent some time today in one. Sometimes life feels bleak, especially as I reflected on all that has NOT gone my way lately:

Item #1: A grand total of only 2 days relief teaching work in the last two weeks.
Item #2: Being overcharged for theatre tickets.
Item #3: Losing a Thumb Drive with 6 years of lesson plans on it.
Item #4: Pulling a muscle in my neck and spending my grocery money on Massage Therapy.
Item #5: Going on not one, but TWO tragic dates--- one with a guy who can't smile for longer than 3 seconds at a time, and the other with a guy who is planning a documentary on perineal piercings.(!!?)
Item #6: Applying for Arts Grants for a project I want to direct, and knowing there's no chance in hell that I'll get the funding because I'm a citizen in limbo: an Off-shore Canadian, and an Overseas International in Australia.

So when a call from the Melbourne Theatre Company came out of the blue, inviting me to Assistant Direct on an upcoming show, you just know I've got to listen to the Universe and recognize opportunities when they are presented to me.
I'll weigh my options carefully, remembering that...

This is one of the reasons why I want to stay in Australia.
There is nothing wrong with feeding myself on my Line of Credit for 6 weeks instead of banking the teaching work I could be getting.

You are never more alive than when you are taking risks.

Tastes Like Gold

For a mere $12.50, I have invested in some imported Canadian Maple Syrup. Pancakes never tasted so decadent!

Waiting for trams...

A little bit of architectural lighting never hurts, especially when you have to wait for a tram in the city at night. This is on the corner of Bourke and Swanston.

Lolly of the Week

Lolly: (noun). candy; sweet

The Australian obsession with all things milky includes lollies! These are Milk Bottles, gummy lollies that taste like sweet milk. Surprisingly not gross! Addictive, in fact.

Winter Scent

Today I ran through windy winter parks and smelled the Coconut Palms.

Random Melbs

Melbourne Town Hall Public Toilets. Most beautiful in the city!

Terrace Houses often have names. This one is just down the street from us. Somedays I feel like I'm a resident of Ethelville.

True.

Worst Pick-up Line Ever

Me: I can't decide what my favourite Australian dessert is: Pavlova or Sticky Date Pudding...
Unidentified Man: I'd like to taste your Sticky Date Pudding!
Me: Not likely.And here's a real Aussie recipe!
Enjoy the random metric measurements. They shit me all the time and I have to look up the Imperial measures online!

DATE AND BANANA PUDDING WITH BUTTERSCOTCH SAUCE

180g dried dates, pitted and chopped
1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
75g butter, softened
150g brown sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 eggs
180g self-raising flour
2 medium ripe bananas
3 tablespoons of pecans, chopped - optional

Butterscotch Sauce

200ml cream
½ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
50g butter, chopped

Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line 2 super big muffin pans.
Place dates in a saucepan with 180ml of water. Bring to the boil, remove from heat and add the bicarbonate of soda. Set aside for 10 minutes to cool.
Cream butter and sugar in large bowl using an electric mixer or food mixer. Add vanilla and add the eggs one at a time, ensuring it is well incorporated.
Add date mixture and bananas. Fold through the flour and divide amongst prepared tins.
Bake for around 25-30 or until cooked through and tested with a skewer/knife.
For the sauce, add all ingredients into a small saucepan. Stir over moderate heat until butter is melted and everything comes together. Allow to cool slightly before using.
To serve, invert a pudding onto a plate, whack on a big dollop of cream or ice-cream and douse the pudding in the sauce. Sprinkle pecan nuts on top if that's what you like. Ta-dah!

Winter in Lorne

It's clear, sunny and cold here in Lorne. I've done a few days work down here this week. It's school holidays, and there's no teaching work in the city until next week.

Yes, the mercury is predicted to dip to 2 degrees overnight, and there are Frost Warnings in place for the state of Victoria. Aussies are beginning to get fully excited about "going to the snow" at Mt. Hotham or Mt. Buller. The other night, Matt, Jas, Alex and I watched snowboarding videos, and as we sit here tonight watching Tour de France coverage, adds on TV herald Christmas in July events. Funny, eh?

I am used to the winters here, I think, but it's still weird for me to think about it being winter in July and August. Someone asked me today if I was going to enjoy "an open fire in a fireplace" tonight. I had to laugh. It's just not an image that conjures Australia for me.

Happy Canada Day!

I hope everyone back home is enjoying themselves appropriately today with backyard BBQs, picnics, fireworks and other assorted activities. Drink a Canadian beer for me!

I celebrated Canada Day here with Sheila and Sue and Finn. We met at IKEA for a shopping trip and had the fabulous $3 breakfast to start off the day. Sheila and Sue zeroed in on all the bargains and I bought a floor lamp.

Finn and Sue at breakfast.
Family Portrait in front of a row of Svelge lamps
How cute is Finn?!