Elevenses: Tagged...I'm " IT"

I haven't played Tiggy since my early school days and the last time I referred to elevenses was when reading Paddington Bear, but I've unwittingly been "tagged" by Chic at Any Age  in a game of Elevenses. Do I play or spoil the fun of the other participants and withdraw from this unexpected challenge?

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What are my options at this late hour of the night? The Husband is asleep on the couch; the ironing basket is perennially full; the Offspring are off doing their own thing; there is a pile of work on my desk waiting to be finished; I'm not a fan of the television and my brain is too tired to conjugate French verbs.
Can one concurrently play tiggy and drink a glass of wine? I'm about to find out.

Firstly, the Tiggy rules

Rule 1. Disclose 11 random things about myself. Tricky.

Rule 2. Respond to 11 questions from the person who tags me.Very tricky.

Rule 3. Pose 11 of my own questions then try to tag someone else. Could blow a fuse here because:

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a) many of the questions I would like to ask have been used by recent participants and

b) not sure who wants to play.

Let's give it a go - the game starts NOW. 

11 random things about myself (Remember some things are best kept secret!)

1. Biggest shortcoming is that I find it difficult to say “no” – even to myself!
2. I relish the company of creative people. They feed my soul. 
3. Music is my sixth sense. Without it I’m not truly living, but I also appreciate silence.
4. A major failing - I didn’t have the courage to go with my passions and be true to myself when younger.
5. A late maturer - I was in my thirties when, I truly grasped the fact that processions and wealth don’t create happiness, they just make your misery more comfortable - my parents were right yet again!
6. Irritated by parents who pander to  their progeny and live vicariously through them. Unconditionally loving a child does not involve incessant indulgence and an inability to set boundaries and say "no".
7. I revere the intricacies and wonder of nature and the strength of family and community.
8. Most valued gift – love of family and friends.
9. Intolerant of religious and political zealots. Nutters with a cause are extremely dangerous.
10. Don’t own a car –prefer to walk or drive Roger, my husband’s beloved Land Rover. 
11. My fantasy; David Suzuki rules the world - fully clothed, but without the tights, the cape and his underpants worn as an outer garment.

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And "no", I don't have hairy armpits, prickly legs and a propensity to demonstrate and chain myself to trees, but I respect the fact that we only have one finite world, for which it has taken millions of years to perfect the balance of nature. 
Responses to the 11 questions posed by Chic at Any Age 
1. What makes you blog? 
I love to jot down my thoughts and had a propensity to do so on scraps of paper. Blogging gave me a platform to record my ramblings  - it's easier to locate my computer than random pieces of paper. What sustains my blogging are the community of interesting and inspiring people I've met as well as the friendships I've forged through my blog.

2. What beliefs sustain you?  
The philosophy of Buddha and the 10 commandments are a good guiding lights, which is not to discount the teachings of other religions. But I'm most comforted by the belief that, in general, individuals are inherently good.  I strongly believe that healthy communities enable the best to be brought out in people. 

3. What is the biggest risk you have taken? 
Buying my first property (on my own) at the age of 24. It was the  mid 1970's and the bank claimed that I was the first single female to whom the company had ever given a home loan.
Second biggest risk was buying a house in France, sight unseen!

4. What does getting older mean for you? 
Getting older means getting closer to the end of life’s conveyor belt (with a wiser head on my shoulders). I'm hoping like crazy, that the speed of this contraption slows downs rather than accelerates as I inch closer to the end! 


5. How do you best relax? 

Relaxation is best achieved by a fusion of music, meditation and walking.(Still convinced that I'm a middle aged hippy?)

6. What is your favourite outfit?  
There isn't one! I favour comfort and natural fibres over synthetics- which extends to my undergarments. (Poor Mr R!). Prefer classic pieces to fashion, love ballet pumps (with almost anything) and can't go past a well cut pair of jeans. But I feel my best when wearing heals and an elegantly cut dress or suit - natural fibres of course. And I couldn't live without my leather gloves in the cooler weather.

7. What is a colour you love/hate and why?
My favourite colour depends on time and place. Am I wearing it, painting it on a wall, covering my chairs, wrapping a present, buying clothing for someone else or for me? At this age and stage of my life, the basics in my wardrobe are black, which I accessorise with colour.
 

8. Whom would you most like to interview?
Nelson Mandela – I would love to cultivate some of his faith, patience optimism and forgiveness.     

9. Who inspires you?

If I were asked WHAT inspires you, my answer would be simple - nature. 
No one person inspires me. Inspiration comes from many directions –  those who are the victims of life's challenges and tragedies yet manage to keep going and raise a smile; people who contribute positively to humanity; a person who can truly forgive when it is contrary to do so; those who give unselfishly to serve others; my parents and family…………

10. What was your most embarrassing moment?  
Most embarrassing? My teenage years had embarrassment on tap! I was far too sensitive and a perfectionist. Glad I’ve grown out of that! (Well almost....)

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11. What would you like your epitaph to be? 
"In her own way, she helped to make the world a better place".

Now to you. A voluntary invitation to play is extended to the following bloggers and also to anybody else who would like to contribute.
classic • casual • home
French Basketeer
La Pouyette
Lost in Arles
my french country home 
Paris and Beyond
PlumSiena
... meine Dinge ...
That's Not My Age
Your Eleven questions are: 

1. What is the object(s) of your desire?
2. Which is your signature song and why?
3. Your favourite quote and why?
4. If you could choose only one fashion icon throughout history, who would it be?
5. What is your one characteristic that you would rather keep hidden?
6. Identify one ritual or tradition that you couldn’t live without.
7. If there were one characteristic about people or the human race you could change, what would it be?
8. What are your passions that sustain you?
9. What is your most treasured possession – why?
10. As Sinatra sang, “Regrets, I’ve a few....” What is your greatest regret?
11. What is your greatest extravagance?

* All photos, except for the image of the water droplet, are courtesy of Goggle images. Please contact me if are the owner of one of these images so you may be acknowledged.

THE NEW BLACK

Love is the New Black

Above all 

W E A R  L O V E-

It’s more durable than denim,

more cosy than track pants,

more appealing than tuxedos,

more revealing than Speedos,

more protective than a suit of armour,

and more classy than a suit of Armani.

W E A R  L O V E-

It’s brand-less, it’s priceless!

Fits all sizes, suits all classes,

flatters any figure, matches any moment.

W E A R  L O V E-

the couture of all virtues,

the high fashion of the highly faithful:

more beautifying than Cartier,

more fragrant than Chanel,

and more the thing than any bling.

Courtesy VG mag

W E A R  L O V E-
its more fundamental than footwear,
more clarifying than eyewear,
and more undergirding than underwear.

DON'T wear jealousy and envy-

they're out of fashion man.

DON'T wear legalism and judgement-

they're so last testament.

DON'T wear vengeance & fear-

they were hung out to dry in 33AD

W E A R  L O V E-
wear it tight,
wear it every day and every night.
Wear it. Share it.
Its more becoming than the latest hairdo,
more bedazzling than a sequined tutu.

W E A R  L O V E-

like Inuits wear gloves,

like the Peace Corps wear logos of doves-

everywhere, everyday, all the way,

what more can i say than

W E A R  L O V E-
I promise you

it'll look good on you, it always does

Poem by Cameron Semmens 
(Apologies Cameron for the addition of the photos.)
Post Script: My absence from the blog world is because I've been feeling numb since last Thursday evening when an 18 year old girl,whom I've known since she was 12, was killed in a horrific local car accident. Her funeral is this coming Friday. She was passionate about life, sensible, highly principled and energetic ....... "destined to do great things". The world has lost a special person.
Sometimes life does not make any sense at all.

A French Tradition

Traditional dress of the Vaucluse region
 of Provence.

Traditions often provide a sense of place, continuity and security. They can simplify the daily rhythm, create feeling of purpose and anticipation and draw a community together. Sadly in some cultures, the practice of traditions is not always positive; traditions are used as methods of control and oppression, but such traditions are not those to which I refer.

The French tradition of attention to artistic detail – in their dress, homes, and businesses – inspires creativity which can be observed in the least expected places. For me, whimsical graffiti, that appears to be more prevalent in southern France, is particularly appealing.

Chateau Villandry

Pernes-les- Fountaines

Pernes-les- Fountaines

Pernes-les- Fountaines

Pernes-les- Fountaines

The diversity of regional traditions in France is not only respected but also encouraged. I’ve been told, by two French friends, (not a statistically significant sample size), that one reason for this is that the government hopes that such practices will give the younger generation a sense of local identity, which will encourage them not to abandon their community for life in the cities.  

Like millions of others, I love Paris, but for me, the true France lies in the countryside.

The Good Life - Inspired by Our Neighbours in France.

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The vegetable plot at our country cottage has been temporarily abandoned due to a couple of persistent rabbits and the lack of time we have spent there during the last 12 months. This hiatus won't continue indefinitely even though does fell like it has been forever since we temporally abandoned city life for the fresh air  and call of the kookaburras in the country............. Too much to do.......... so little time!

Despite the war being waged in my city garden, my quest for "the good life in the suburbs" hasn't been forsaken. In attempt to appease my desire  to become more self- sufficient, without renouncing any of the little savoir faire I possess,  this week I decided to turn my hand to cheese making, an action catalysed by having a family-run fromagerie, where fresh milk is turned into cheese, at the bottom of our sloping garden in France.  Maybe any knowledge I gain during this exercise will help me with conversation when we meet our new neighbours ? ......... Point to note: Must improve my French!
So for those of you who are on a quest for "the good life", or  are in a similar situation as moi with your new neighbours in France, here is a quick summary of the process to inspire you into action!

Step 1 - Milk was gently warmed and left standing to curdle, with the curds eventually sinking in the whey.

Step 2 - Curds and whey were separated through an old open-weave cotton cloth - substituting for a muslin cloth.


Step 3 -  Voila the fromage which is quite delish.

Post Script.
1. I won't be going into competition with our new neighbours in France!
2. A few zucchinis, a cucumber and some chard has been picked from my vegetable garden in the city, but sadly the war continues in the tomato plants, lemon tree, roses and camellias.

Possum damage to one of my beloved camellias. Will it recover?

* = Courtesy of Assentis Pasta

The Good Life?

This time of year is not a time to be declaring war, but I'm breaking with

A little visitor to my garden.

tradition. Let it be known that I'm officially at war with some cunning rats and outwardly cute, but very destructive, possums. No Christmas spirit is lingering in my soul when it comes to these destructive creatures.

Courtesy of SGA Australia

Rats are thwarting my efforts to live a greener lifestyle - the good life in the suburbs. My first harvest of pumpkins, nurtured through "fair weather and foul' were all found to be hollow when harvested - neatly eaten away with just enough flesh left on the pumpkin skins to maintain their shape and keep me blissfully ignorant of the rodent activities within ....... until I picked my bounty!  Currently the Lebanese cucumbers have teeth marks - rather big teeth marks - left in their remaining flesh, as do my zucchinis. Daily, half-eaten tomatoes appear on my lovingly tendered tomato bushes - I have yet to taste one of my home grown tomatoes this season. Score: rats, 4; city gardener, 0. 

Courtesy of http://sudoku.com.au

The lemon trees is another battlefront where the war is not proceeding in my favour. Here my enemy is  a battalion of ring-tailed possums, which devour the rind and pith of the ripening lemons, leaving the perfectly intact lemon flesh swing from the branches or scattered on the ground. Possum battalion 2 are stripping my climbing roses that once adorned the walls of the house whilst the third battalion are decimating the 50 year old camellias. Not to be outdone by the appealing looking ring-tails, the bushy tailed possums gallop over our roof top, dislodging tiles and mortar. Occasionally there is a possum war overhead, with blood curdling screams that would fuel nightmares. 

Possums have been protected in the very unnatural metropolitan landscape for many years. Catching them is illegal and they refuse to be deterred by any of the chemical weapons my well researched arsenal - cloves of garlic, camphor, quassia chips, naphthalene,  mosquito coils, blood and bone fertilizer and POSS-OFF (a natural Possum deterrent). 

Bushy tailed possum Courtesy of SGA Australia 

As a last resort an expensive, battery driven possum deterrent was recently purchased - a Christmas present to myself. However, instead of being frightened off by the strobe lights and high pitched noise of this electrical gadget, these furry blighters appear to be partying in its flashing lights, snubbing there little pink noses at me. I am ashamed to admit that once, in utter desperation, I attempted combat with a jousting stick, only to be sprayed from above, with my enemy's foul smelling urine. Score: Possums 7; me 0
Being outsmarted by such tiny creatures is battering my self-esteem, the garden is being ruined and the vegetable plot is looking very, very sad; but, I'm not willing to admit defeat and fly the white flag ...... yet!

Rillettes to Ring in the New Year

Plans to spend the last few days of 2011 at our country cottage were thwarted by the forecast of high temperatures, hoovering around 40 ⁰C, and hot northerly winds which carry allergens that have our eyes running, noses blocked and sinuses very painful despite taking antihistamines. Mr R is already suffering from hayfever, but it is always much worse north of the Great Dividing range where the cottage to situated. Our main purpose for visiting the cottage was to give it some much needed attention. After the recent wet Spring and summer rains, the grass and shrubbery around the house has gone berserk, hiding the house facade - so much so that our country neighbour contacted us to let us know about this uncharacteristic (for Summer) state of affairs. The weather forecast for next weekend suggests that the conditions will be far more conducive for working in the garden.

So here we sat, in Melbourne, on New Year's eve. It was only the day prior to this when I turned my mind to preparing and shopping for the event.  I had a desire to herald in 2012 eating rillettes and sipping champagne. There already was champagne in the fridge (rather a permanent fixture). However, I had to purchase the ingredients for the rillettes and cook it tout de suite so it had time to rest and infuse its delicate flavours throughout this piquant dish.


Scents and tastes can evoke strong memories. For many Francophiles, the perfume of summer lavender says "Provence" but not for me! This fragrance always reminds me of my grandparents and great aunts. Every time a  closet door was opened, a waft of lavender scent tickled my nose. So comforting.

Rillette on my tongue transposes me to lazy days in the Val de Loire, meandering down country roads, exploring chateaux, sitting in the garden shade, sipping wine, eating rillettes on delicious, fresh bread, whilst listening to the call of doves and watching the sun gradually fade, as if on its own giant  dimmer switch. Francophile heaven.

So to celebrate the promise of a new year - with a little bit France thrown in - here is my much used, pork rillettes  recipe.*  Easy to prepare and oh so miam, miam!          

Recipe: Pork Rillettes

Ingredients (metric measures)

• 750 g pork belly or neck with the rind and bones removed
• 150 g pork back fat (do not reduce the fat......time to forget the cholesterol and calories)
• 100 ml dry white wine (I prefer riesling)
• 3 lightly crushed juniper berries
• 1 teaspoon of sea salt
• 2 teaspoons of dried thyme
• half teaspoon of  ground nutmeg
• quarter teaspoon of allspice
• a pinch of ground cloves
• I large crushed garlic clove

This is best cooked in a heavy cast iron casserole dish such. I use  French enamelled one which is parfait.

Instructions

• Preheat the oven at 140 ⁰C = 275 ⁰F                    
• Cut the pork and the fat into short stripes and place them in the cast iron casserole dish.
• Mix all of the other ingredients with the pork.
• Seal the casserole dish with foil before placing the casserole lid on top of the foil.
• Bake for 4 hours by which time the meat should be soft and surrounded by fat.
• Place a sieve over a bowl, then tip the cooked contents of the casserole into the sieve.
• Shred the pork. (This may be done using 2 forks.)
• Season if necessary.
• Place the meat into a 3 cup terrine or casserole dish and let cool.
• Strain the hot fat through a very fine sieve or damp muslin.
• Pour the pork fat over the cold meat. If the fat has solidified, it will needed to be melted first.
• Cover and refrigerate for up to one week.
• Serve at room temperature ............Bon appétit! 

I raise my champagne glass to you for a healthy and happy 2012 ............ Santé


*FromThe Food of France, a Journey for Food Lovers.            

Joyeux Noël

Merry Christmas and best wishes for a peaceful, prosperous and happy 2012.

                                                                   

 Joyeux Noël et une très bonne année 2012. 

Que cette année vous apporte, à vous et à votre famille, bonheur et prospérité.


Signing off until the New Year
Bisous.

Time for .....

Christmas is a time to focus on people, not on presents.

A time for giving thanks and for offering forgiveness. 

A time of love. 

A time to enjoy the sanctuary of old traditions and perhaps create some new ones.

A time  to celebrate a conglomeration of the ridiculous, bad taste, creativity and good design.

A time for laughter and joy. 

And for some, a time of fierce competition and one-upmanship ……….  so exhausting!

So what do you do if the Christmas spirit doesn’t grab you …….  you’ve burnt the turkey ……. forgotten to heat  the plumb pudding …….  you’re seated next to a dreaded in-law  …….  or just think it’s all bah and humbug?
Just go with the flow.

Courtesy of Oslo Davis & The Age

Enjoy the spirit of Christmas and the pleasure of others who are in the festive mood. There should be no “have to” or guilt at this time of year. 

I love Christmas …... for many reasons.

May the peace and joy of Christmas be with you and your family in 2012.
 

Christmas Carols

Christmas carols are embraced with fervor in the Land Downunder, despite their occasional inappropriateness!

Courtesy of Andrew Weldon and The Age

Currently the temperature in Melbourne is hovering around 30 ⁰ C

Joyeux Noël 

That's Life

There has been a general malaise on my blog due to the editorial censorship of Mr R. Posts have been written but decreed too serious or too humdrum - a reflection of the current state of proceedings.

The Block Arcade, Melbourne

Christmas preparations have been smooth and uneventful. All presents have been purchased, the family decorated the tree without debate and my contribution to the cooking of the Christmas feast is under control. 

The only adrenalin rushes I've had of late are when, white knuckled and teeth clenched, I've raced other cars for a rare, vacant parking space - with varying degrees of success. Respectable women and the lingering smell of burning rubber is not an association that one would usually make! ………But it is the silly season! 

For a bit of light relief from the pre Christmas preparations I suppose I could contemplate being naughty, which would please Mr. R and save Santa a trip……if only I had some energy left by the end of the day!

It seems that everyone is getting into tattoos......Not me!
Cartoon - courtesy of Oslo Davis & The Age

Wand in Hand.....

We won't be sleeping in this
room for quite some time!

For the uninitiated to the Harry Potter world, seeing me  gesticulate madly with a wand in hand while chanting accio, accio accio will have little meaning. This incantation, which can be used over long distances,  is a summoning charm that supposedly sends any object (or hopefully, Mr M, my man on the ground in France) directly to the spell-caster.....Desperate times lead to desperate measures! 

Mr M has had the keys to my property for 12 months now, and also a contract to project manage its renovations. Nothing has happened. Not one nail removed, not one door rehung, not a floor repaired, not a spouting replaced, not  a tile inserted , no utilities connected not a ditch dug. Not even a single quote for works has been sent in my direction. 

My Man on the Ground has become increasingly invisible, and when (after months of effort) he is located, he is  progressively more creative with his excuses. 

His Houdini act has sorely tested my patience and the patience of others ........3 sets of keys have supposedly been sent to Switzerland and Australia on 3 different occasions but have never arrived, (until recently when one set  turned up in Switzerland), meeting times at My French Folly with my representative, (a girlfriend who was holidaying in France) were organized then cancelled, which definitely didn't add to her positive holiday experience or my confidence in Mr M, ........the list goes on.........and on........and on.

Just as a generous friend, who has renovated in France, starts to pen a terse letter with heavy legal overtones to the possessor of the keys to my house, he surfaces via email......His  olive branch! 

After 12 months of hopes being raised then dashed, I think that a whole dammed olive tree would have been more appropriate!

Apparently my house has " fallen through the cracks" due to the unforeseen, rapid expansion of his business, coupled with staffing problems!  Perhaps he should invest in a a few "how to " books......... Good Business Communication for Dummies or How to Efficiently Run a Business for Dummies. And concurrently, I should purchase How not to Lose Your Retirement Savings In a Global Recession for Dummies. 

I've started to think that my cup is half empty instead of being half full...... and it is all my own doing!

Pinocchio
Original art by Enrico Mazzanti

Keep climbing to the grenier

Post script: Just as Mr M started to dash my faith in others, 2 wonderful people with houses in France.....you know who you are.....have restored it, with offers of help. Now hopefully Mr M will help to maintain it, by keeping to his word and revised renovation schedule.

Corridor to the bedrooms -first floor

Advantage 1

Mid-life has its advantages - one of which is that I tend to assume less when communicating with others. 

"Assuming in communication is misunderstanding waiting to happen."