No Rhubarb?!

Sometimes it takes a while to work out what to bake for the day. Sometimes you flick through recipe books, reach for some in season magazines and ask people for ideas.

And other times, you just know exactly what you want to bake. We had mother's day dinner at Ash and Sean's house and I knew the perfect thing to bring on a wet, no grip on the roads day. Driving in the rain is not fun. I get that I'm warm and cosy in my car and it beats taking public transport for over an hour any day. But driving in the rain sucks. Anyway, getting back on track, I absolutely knew for certain that what we needed on a day just like this was a warm rhubarb crumble with a generous spoonful of vanilla ice cream. Yum.

Hoarding and Clutter

There comes a time in a girl's life when she needs to de-clutter. When she says ok, that's it. Time to let go of the drawing you made in grade five. Time to let go of the stamps still stuck on those envelopes that will never be soaked and put into the stamp album. Time to let go of that pile of receipts that are in different languages from overseas.

I have a problem which I am going to classify as genetic. My grandmother is pretty terrific. This amazing woman will never want to retire from her job as a translator. She has achieved so much and is currently president of a welfare association for Vietnamese women. I recently wrote an article for university about her and I was so proud of all of her achievements. She writes things down and keeps all of her notes. She records down every single little detail, like what she has eaten for her meals and what time she has visitors or arrives home. She also keeps all of her notes. Along with piles of clothes and magazines and trinkets from her past. She can't let go, she won't let go of them. She is still amazing though.

My Love Affair with Melbourne

Let me tell you what I love about Melbourne.

I love the weather. I love how it can go from hot to cold and then cold to hot in an instant. Something that can change so instantly and so thoroughly must be some sort of magic. That cool change on a summer's day at the beach. Or that random warm, bright day in a week of rain and umbrellas.

I love the cafes and restaurants. So many to choose from! If I were an avid coffee drinker I'm sure I would love the coffee too. But the food. The range of breakfast dishes, from Eggs Benedict to Roast Pork Baguette and so, so many choices. A range of cultures to choose from including Vietnamese Pho on Victoria Street, Spanish Tapas at Movida and Korean BBQ in China Town.

I love the streets and roads people walk up and down to do their shopping. I love the relaxed pace people use to browse shop windows, and how the shopping strips are crowded with smiling people on sunny days.

Raspberry Mascarpone Layer Cake

A tram conductor approached me the other day.

"Where are you headed? What tram are you waiting for?" Unmistakably Irish.

"109 Boxhill," I politely replied.

"Oh I think you just missed one. Here's the Hoddle street Tram! How far are you going?"

"To Victoria Street."

"Oh well then I guess you will have to wait for the 109 then."

"Yes, that's fine, I don't mind," I smile back, well at least I think I've smiled back. I really don't remember or maybe I wasn't aware of how I looked.

The tram assistant mutters something I didn't quite catch.

"Sorry, what was that?" I inquire, still politely.

"I said you don't need to be dead to be stiff!!" he says, with complete and determined eye contact.

Oops. His intensity, combined with my social awkwardness makes me laugh, and that seems to illicit a smile out of him too.

We start talking about my background.

"Were you born in Australia? It sounds like it, that means you're more Australian than I am!

"How long have you been in Australia?"

"Forty-two years."

"Oh, well thats longer than I've been alive!"