An Unfortunate Encounter - Bad Service

One of the writing exercises of the playwriting group I attend was to write a quick 10 minute monologue based on one of two themes; 'Knife Fight' or 'Bad Service'. 

Unlike a previous topic where nothing had sprung to mind, here I was instantly reminded of my delightful experiences with a tour guide in St Paul's. As a tour guide her job revolved around customer service, otherwise no one would have been on her tours, and yet as someone who was not a customer but was still affected by her service, I was immensely displeased. And so in my response to her actions, I felt justified. 

I doubt there are many who did what I did, but I'm sure there are many who would have been as irritated. This is just the well structured verbalisation of that irritation. 

Beach Shack Renovation Four

My aunt then decided that since the new furniture (and antique fridge (which weighed a tonne and was difficult to move)) was scratching the floors and lifting the grey paint, in the communal kitchen/living room we needed a new floor covering. Something like laminate floor boards.
A more sensible (cheaper) suggestion of lino was made and as lino now comes in a range of styles and patterns we were able to find one that suited the style and colour scheme of the room.

So one bright Sunday morning my uncle and I got to work installing it. When it's substantially larger than the room in all directions and tears easily, we made the executive decision to remove the 'key decision makers' from the visual vicinity so we could lay it in peace and do what was necessary to squeeze it into the corners and remove the excess. The last thing we needed was them pointing out where it was ripping, stressing if a rip got too close to the important bit...

Cape Naturaliste

Bunker Beach

The beauty of the South-West is something of which I am always aware, and yet I find myself undertaking very few opportunities to actually head down and enjoy it.

Caramelised Onion and Cheese Muffins

As is only to be expected, the original recipe has been adapted... more than once

Originally there were just caramelised onion muffins.
Then they became caramelised onion and cheese muffins.
Today, they transformed again into chutney and cheese muffins.

So here goes...

Reproducing a Plum and Star Anise Jam (and Fruit Leather)

Somewhere, somehow we ended up with a jar of plum jam in our pantry. It was beautiful, rich and with the surprise ingredient of star anise.
And unfortunately there was only one jar and we had no idea where it came from.
You see, the problem is that Dad occasionally buys jars of interesting jam at fêtes and rota-marts, and various family and friends make preserves of their own and gift jars at Christmas or whenever we run out of a necessary product.

So when I saw a cheap box of plums, I decided the easiest way to get more plum and Star anise jam was simply to make it.

That and fruit leather. After all, I did have about 8 kg of plums to pit and dice.