Harvesting fruits

I have started my course at CIT. The building is old and a little underfunded, but it is clean and functional and there is some great artwork on the walls by the café. Unfortunately, there is no information to credit the artists.

 

One of our first assignments involves workplace health and safety, and we have to photograph instances of signs that might mitigate risk, and then write a report. I'll spare you the report, but I'm sure you'll find the image thrilling. You're welcome. 

And just in case you think CIT students are all methodical and serious, I'd like to assure you that they haven't changed a bit from when I was last studying in a tertiary education establishment 30-odd years ago. Again, you're welcome. 

Here's another exciting instalment in the sporadic series of Nailed It in which I make food that bears very little resemblance to the image in the recipe. This week: Ombre Gratin. 

How Ombre Gratin is supposed to look

How Ombre Gratin looked

At the weekend I walked through the Pinnacle Nature Reserve with Him Outdoors, and then we called in to Rocksalt for breakfast before heading home through the streets of Hawker past affluent homes and street libraries. 

When we got home we found a fabulous offering left on our front bench for us by a friend - a bag of fresh home-grown tomatoes from their abundant produce. I have often mentioned how I would like to grow my own fruit and vegetables - it just doesn't seem to be something I can manage to do, so I am extremely grateful for this gift of garden bounty from others. 

Trees and coffee

I had lunch out and about one day during the week and I noticed this mural on the wall of the café, which I assume has something to do with the parts of a coffee machine.  

In the evening I went out to see a play and then to a bar to debrief with Design Diva and The Luminosity.

Interspersing arts and culture with exercise, I went for a run around The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, with its brand new shiny sign, and tree stumps blown over in the wind and rain. 

Friday night drinks and then a trip out to Gold Creek on Saturday for the wedding of a colleague - requested no photos as they had their own friend and professional photographer doing official images. Although it was raining, it was still a beautiful ceremony, and the bride and groom looked radiant as they exchanged their vows. We went home and toasted them with a Manhattan. 

Outside Aarwun Gallery in Gold Creek looms a litany of tinpot politicians - a rogues gallery of metal sculptures by Cowra artist Paul Woods, who has created larger-than-life facial impressions of Australia's Prime Ministers, beginning with Sire Robert Menzies and continuing right up to the current Anthony Albanese. 

Aarwun Gallery

It was with a mixture of emotions that I said a fond farewell to these two characters, Andy Ladd and Melissa Gardner, as performed for the last time by Michael Sparks and Andrea Close. Goodbye to the Canberra Rep production of Love Letters - may you be wrapped in ribbon and laid in a drawer.

Sunday Funday

I've had a busy week at work and having got out much over the recent past. Weekends with friends are the perfect anecdote to any stress in my life. How can my little heart not be gladdened when I get to go out walking with this amazing bunch of people?

The Luminosity, Purple Lady and Design Diva at The Pinnacles

 

We passed a street library on our walk - I love these and the way they share literacy in the suburbs.

I rewarded myself with a slice of cake at the end - it was made by Emma Cake, who apparently is not proud of this creation, because it is not perfect. But I liked it. It was an attempt at making Russian Buttercream. How is that different from American Buttercream, I hear you ask? It's the accent. And perhaps the politics. 

What we do in winter

So, it would seem that what 'we' do in winter is eat food, visit friends, go for walks, read books and do puzzles. Put like that, it sounds rather idyllic, I must say. Here is the photographic proof, starting with date night dinner at Turkish Delight.

Manti

Lamb Güveç

The bedside book table continues to evolve.

A trip to Sydney for a workshop saw me popping into this cafe in the morning. I liked the artwork, the coffee and the breakfast buns at Urban Piccolo in Redfern.

Lovely Bonkers' Second Born turned eighteen, which is obviously cause for celebration. And cake (made, naturally, by Emma Cake). And unicorn slippers.

Walking in the Pinnacles, we went kangaroo-spotting, but only to shoot them in camera way; not a gun way. 

The Coronation Street puzzle is two-sided: this is the black-and-white old timey side. 

Roast lamb with all the trimmings is definitely something to which to look forward all week. And 'all the trimmings' definitely means Yorkshire pudding, does it not?