snap happy sunday

Every photograph I've ever seen by Tim Walker makes me smile. His eye for colour and the ridiculous takes his work into another realm. I need to do a little spring cleaning today, so I'm going to hold this pretty image in my head and whistle while I work...

here piggy piggy

Last night's dinner was beyond sublime. We chose the degustation menu at Bacchus, Newcastle's most gorgeous restaurant, and were both enraptured. We started with a seared tuna amuse bouche, moved onto a poached quail egg with mushrooms a la greche, then it was local snapper, followed by a sublime duck breast on a bed of puy lentils and lentil puree.

I was pretty sure that the meal reached its zenith at that point. Honestly, the duck breast was cooked sous vide which made it achingly tender and beautifully rare. The lentils were spicy and added the perfect accompaniment - oh, and I can't forget the duck 'oysters' {remember that scene in Amelie where the guy shows that the chicken oysters are the best part? Well, same goes for duck}. Mmmmm.

Then our palate was cleansed with pineapple sorbet with baby coriander. Mmmmmmm.

Well, so as I was sitting there, sipping wine, chatting with my beloved and feeling pretty positive that I'd reached the peak of culinary excellence the pork plate came out. Excuse me while I take a second to compose myself... Oh my. There was an amazing pile of ham hock, so exquisitely spiced and flavoured that it took my breath away, a piece of pork shoulder so rich and deep that my mouth was pretty sure it'd died and gone to heaven. Think that's the peak? No way. There was the pork pie. Good lord, the pork pie. Pastry so thin, so light and so dense with flavours encased the most delicious pork meat I've ever eaten... Divine. Accompanied by a white bean puree, white bean foam {not that silly light fluff - but light, exquisite essence of beans} and a pork scratching that snapped in my mouth and filled it with porky deliciousness. I nearly cried while eating it as it was just so damned delicious.

I can still taste it...

Then a muscat creme brulee came out and set my heart a-fluttering. Creme brulee is my favourite pudding and I was worried that the muscat would overpower the delicate custard. Which, as the chef is obviously a genius, it didn't. It enriched and infused the custard with the most extraordinary flavour - so much so that I finished every last mouthful, expecting to be rolled out.

Then, a tray of six petit fours were placed beside us. A wee chocolate truffle, a rich butterscotch caramel and a perfect lemon meringue pie. Divine.

It was a complete dining experience from the surroundings in an old theatre, exquisitely reworked as a restaurant to the professional, friendly and attentive staff.

It didn't come cheap - but it was worth every single cent.

happy weekend

With the minute-hand creeping ever-closer to champagne o'clock it really feels like the weekend doesn't it? I'd like to spend a little time tidying my study this weekend. This year I'd love to have some floor-to-ceiling bookshelves installed, but until that beloved moment arrives I might settle for a good tidy and throw out.

I've spent the day cleansing in preparation for tonight's dinner - tuna salad sandwich for lunch, a ramekin of watermelon for afternoon tea... I want myself to be prepared for a real gastronomic experience. Please let there be pork or duck on the menu - or should I go for something completely different? You know me, always up for a new experience.

How about you and what you've got on for the weekend?

wooo hue

Those who've known me for a while will realise that I love colour combos that provide a sharp contrast. Today I have deep purple toenails and scarlet fingernails - and it's making me happy. That's why I love what Lauren Conrad is wearing. For a start, that coat is quite possibly the prettiest thing I've ever seen and winter-wear in a summery hue is always a fabulous statement. When it's combined with a slash of scarlet lips it topples over into seriously delicious status. And let's not even start about the scarlet soles on those black Louboutin pumps...

Well, I had my first Alliance Francais lesson last night and let me tell you how glad I am that I went with beginners rather than continuing beginners class. I learned bucketloads in two hours - including how to break french words into syllables {after the verb!} and how to pronounce every sound. It was a mixed bag of a class - with only one annoying woman who chose to pronounce every word as the teacher was saying rather than afterwards {you know, cos she knew how...} Distracting, but I concentrated on watching the teacher's mouth and tried to block this woman out.

I feel mighty confident that my pronunciation is going to be kick-ass - now if only I can get my befuddled brain to remember new things I'll be fine.

Tonight we're off to snazzy restaurant. It keeps raining off and on so I'm a little scared to bust my Manolos out of the box. Maybe my husband can do some kind of gallant plastic carpet laying in a path to the restaurant for me...

I'll be missing Come Dine With Me tonight so I'll need to record it. If James Brown comes last I'll cry - seriously, that man needs to become my best friend stat. Love him! This weekend's stretching out without a huge amount of plans again. I'm going to get back into entertaining soon - I've got one gorgeous family I really owe an invitation to but she's such an amazing cook I need to find a menu I know will delight her... Maybe I could get out the cookbooks to search for inspiration this weekend!

dangerous curves

I really never thought I'd see the day when a curvy woman wore a Victoria Beckham design. But Jennifer Hudson not only carries this look off - she positively steals the show. I adore her high pony tail and that fringe that deserves the title of bangs. Oh, and her pumps - I do so covet...

tea time

As I'm cutting down on coffee, I'm going to be increasing my tea... The caffeine's not the issue {sleep problems? Moi?} it's more that I'm drinking too much milk with my double-shot lattes.

So now mid-morning and mid-afternoon are tea time. I'm going to use one of my pretty antique tea cups and saucers and make a damned fine cup of tea to enjoy. I'm pretty sure that with my collection I won't be drinking from the same cup twice for a few months...

je parle francais

Tonight's the start of my French lessons at Alliance Francais - guess how excited I am?!?!? Exactement! I hope my brain's ready for this - it's been slumbering the last few days. Each morning I'm waking more groggy than the day before. I'm blaming staying up late to watch Come Down With Me on Lifestyle +2 {how do I love that show... And how do I love James Brown - gorgeous man that he is - and he's decorating his home 1930s Paris Burlesque tonight, be still my heart}.

I have been walking each evening which is my saviour. So many times I've felt too tired, or too busy, but I'm putting my health first and making sure that I take 30 minutes a day for a walk. I'm also cutting my coffee consumption down to two cups a day {eek - at least they're both double shots - shhhhh}.

Hopefully this French course will be just the exercise my brain needs. I can't abide Cryptic Crosswords and can't even begin to understand what Sudoko's all about so using my brain to learn a language could be just what it needs.

Okay, time to do a phone interview - and then I'll need to paint my nails in readiness for my class. Chanel red? Oui!

snap happy

I've always had a love for photography - so much so that my major at Uni was actually photography {with a minor in journalism...} However, three years of bickering lecturers with their own agendas almost put me off photography for life. Now, I'm keen to get behind the lens again.

With a long-ish OS trip planned next year I'm keen to get the shots I want - so a bit of research was in order. Luckily one of my friends is an exceptionally talented photographer who's sharing his skills over here.

One article I found particularly relevant was about getting up close to your subject - I'm always far too tentative and tend to stand so far back and pretend I'm not shooting the subject - and end up with a whole lot of superfluous background with a dim spec of a subject in the distance.

If you're interested in photography {and I know so many of you are} check out photographyfortravellers.com - it's mighty inspirational...

order in the house

When you work from home the toughest thing is ignoring the state of the house and settling in to do work without distractions. Ordinarily I can achieve that, but today, erk. I can hear next door's cleaner working away getting their house all clean and shiny and even though I'm locked in the study I can feel how messy my own house is. Hubby's working on a project so has piles of paper around the living room, rainy days have meant the washing's in teetering mountain-like structures and too much relaxing on the weekend means that stuff that needed to get done just didn't.

So rather than sitting here letting it bug me, I'm going to get up and put in 55 minutes-worth of serious cleaning and tidying. Then I can sit down and revel in my clean workspace and get stuff done.

lookin' good

This gal's red carpet looks having me going "Sqeeeeeee!" with Glee {and seriously kicking myself for missing that show - which I'd love - because it's on free-to-air which I always forget about - must rectify that NOW}.

Anyhow, I adored Lea Michele in a plunging emerald green frock at the Golden Globes {and was seriously concerned as to whether her hollywood tape would hold out - it did} - but now she's upped it a notch and is wearing FEATHERS. I love me a fluffy frock. I have naught outfits containing feathers in my wardrobe, but in my imagination there are tons.

This, I'm loving. Seriously my fave Grammy frock.

in the swim

It's the school swimming carnival today an even I used to love, but my daughter tends to loathe. The competitive gene seems to have skipped a generation where my gal is concerned - or maybe it was the Montessori pre-schooling combined with being an only child that does it. But anyway, despite years of swimming lessons and the fact that she'll happily swim for hours in our pool she's not quite sure if she wants to enter any races.

So I'm off to do some gentle encouraging so that she at least has a go at backstroke - and maybe her age race. Surely she will - if only to show off her snazzy polka-dotted swimsuit {blue - not that one above that I really, really, really need!}.

PS: TV-wise I'm not sure what I'm thinking of the contestants on this week's Come Dine With Me {aside from James Brown who I luuurve!}. Oh, and we taped My Kitchen Rules last night as I was busy flinging my poor old body around a netball court {feeling very sore and on the verge of death today - but we won!}.

food of angels

Taking a bite of an angel food cupcake is like nibbling on a cloud. These pure-white pretties were flecked with vanilla beans and topped with a wee bit of buttercream icing were rather sublime. I'd love to make little butterfly cakes next time with whipped cream and butterfly wings made from strawberries. Cuteness!

I had a few un-iced cupcakes leftover from the party so they're in the freezer awaiting a reinvention as raspberry and pink champagne jelly trifle. I really shouldn't keep them waiting too long should I?

mmmmmmm marc

Some designers I just adore: crazy Karl, John Galiano, Tom Ford... and Marc Jacobs. Their individual style infuses the pieces they create with a something that just brings out the covetous gene in my body. Like these pretty Marc Jacobs shoes. Look at 'em. How cute is that heel and the two-toned bow? With another designer this could have been heavy-handed or twee - but Mr Jacobs and his magic touch have created a positively drool-worthy shoes that really should be living in my closet.

Now, what are your plans for this week? I'm easing into it after a lovely relaxing, yet productive, weekend. On friday night the boy and I are out to dinner at a restaurant I've been dying to frock up for - Bacchus. Oh, it's lush alright.

I also want to send out love and hugs to Megs who's due to have a wee babe tomorrow. Naughty blogger wouldn't let me comment on her blog - so here's my best wishes here. Good luck for tomorrow and can't wait to hear all about your bundle of joy.

simply sunday

The last two nights we've had torrential downpours while we've slept - which means that today, a mild, sunny 25 degrees, is the perfect gardening day. We're going to top up some soil in the planter boxes out by the pool, mulch and fertilise.

What have you got planned for this summery sunday?

you may kiss the bride

Chanel Neon Baroque collection? Oh I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, I DO!

pink of perfection

Have a glorious weekend and make sure you do something today that makes you smile.

bonjour mon petit chou

Guess what? I've just enrolled in my Beginner's French lesson at the Alliance Francais and je suis un peu ecstatic! Even though I studied French for two years at school {read: stared out the window thinking how much I hated my teacher and asking if yoplait really was french for yoghurt...} and am able to speak the basics I decided to go with the beginner's class rather than continuing beginners so that I get it right from the start.

Now you know I'm going to go all frocked up in black and white stripes and red-lipsticked to the first night don't you and everyone there will find me tres tragique... Don't care - too excited. Now, pass me the baguettes, the rillettes, the cornichon, the radishes and the champagne - there's celebrating to be done!

happy friday

Well, it's the end of the first week back at school - and normality has returned. This weekend we've got nothing planned - not a thing. We'll just potter about and get stuff done - whatever stuff needs to get done. There will be swimming, there will be walking, sadly there will also be school book covering {inventor of contact: I do not heart you}...

And tonight there will be champagne drinking while the sun goes down. Oh my, yes indeed...

safe-keeping

One of my worst habits is putting things in an odd spot. You know, I'll come in, fling the keys on the {un-made} bed and then, when I attempt to go out will fluff around trying to find them {funnily enough I always look on the key-hanger in the kitchen first - but never put the damned things on there first...}. So, just now, I was searching for my daughter's Smiggle calculator as she needs one to take to school. Didn't find it but I did find around 45 pencil cases, 25 erasers, 15 pencil sharpeners, enough textas to deck out the entire school - and her 2007 Santa photo.

I'm trying to get all her santa photos together so I can arrange them all from her first when she was nearly one, till the modern day. So at Christmas I found all but 2007 and 2003 and displayed them proudly along the sideboard. Then, I gathered them all up and put them in a safe place. Now, I've just gone to put the 2007 photo with all the rest - and am damned if I can find the stupid safe place.

I know it's not behind the jar of nutella in between the lasagne noodles and coriander and lime microwave rice - mainly because I found a packet of AAA batteries there. Perfect spot for them really - not in the drawer a mere few steps away where I keep batteries and rechargers. Nope, that'd be stupid because if robbers came in they'd be able to steal all my batteries because they were in such a damned obvious spot.

So, from today I'm finding a perfect spot for everything and NO MATTER WHAT I'm putting whatever it is wherever it belongs. Pinky swear!

edge of normality

Back to school today and how blissful that is. I've loved the school holidays, but am so thankful to return to reality. I like having my days laid out in an orderly manner.

One very excited child packed her bag for school this morning. I was tres organised and had servings of home-made pikelets ready to go in the freezer {we made Nigella's american breakfast pancakes on Tuesday and with the leftovers I made a week's worth of pikelets - too easy} and last night I made a batch of mini quiches {potato and chorizo - as per my gal's request}. When the requisite first day of hairstyle was done {high plaits were called for "as neat as school photo day" was the request} one shiny shoed and beaming gal trotted off to school.

Bless.

So I've got a story to work on, a desktop on my computer to clean up and coffee to be consumed. Tonight we're having panko/gremolata crumbed pork cutlets for dinner and I'm already salivating. They're dead easy - chop flat-leaf parsley, the zest of one lemon and a garlic clove or two together to make gremolata and then mix that with equal parts of panko breadcrumbs. Dip pork cutlets {smooshed with a meat mallet - or rolling pin in my case - so they're thin enough to cook through evenly} in beaten egg that's been seasoned with salt and pepper then press the panko gremolata mix into them evenly. Shallow fry in olive oil and butter mix until golden brown {finish off in a 180 degree oven for five mins if you're not sure about their doneness}. Serve to a fawning audience with a red cabbage and almond coleslaw {yoghurt, garlic and lemon dressing - yum}.