Belated New Year's post and a round up of 2009!

Happy New Year to you all!  What a busy year it’s been for BoyWonder and me. While not technically in the last 12 months, I’ve included some photos our honeymoon in Koh Chang, Thailand. We had an amazing time relaxing, swimming under waterfalls and even riding elephants!

BoyWonder has been working extremely hard, and coming home to renovate the house which is slowly coming together. He has done a spectacular job: replumbing downstairs, sanding and varnishing the Victorian floorboards, installing new plumbing for the soon-to-be completed ensuite upstairs, cutting a trench through cement for the new waste, putting up a stud wall, not to mention the lighter touches of painting etc... The electrics have now been rewired and the ensuite should be installed soon. The dark plywood panelling has been removed, and most of the rooms replastered. Installing a loft ladder in the master bedroom created some amusement when he almost got himself stuck in the loft and I had to cut through the ceiling plasterboard to rescue him!


I have continued my Bachelor of Counselling studies, and have been pleased with the marks I've been getting. It’s been difficult to fit in with the hours I was doing at work; but I've transferred departments and changed roles early in the New Year, which should result in a better work-life balance (so far, so good!).  Mostly I'm looking forward to having lunch breaks again so I can get to the gym. Unfortunately last year, I put my back out, and after an MRI, spinal injections and regular physio, it is now getting much better.   As well as this blog and BookCrossing, I am starting a book-club with a friend (the first meeting is on Wednesday this week, and we're discussing "The 19th Wife"), and hope to return to regular indoor rock-climbing after a number of years hiatus; all whilst continuing study of course. There’s no rest for the wicked after all.


The garden has come along in leaps and bounds. With annual bulbs of tulips and irises flowering in the spring, an abundance of herbs such as rosemary, mint, parsley and lavender; the veggie garden was prolific, supplying much of our fruit and vegetable needs with everything from tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, potatoes, garlic, blueberries, strawberries, spring onions, red onions, chillies, capsicum, snow peas, rhubarb and asparagus. The garden created the perfect back-drop for a couple of get-togethers with friends: an early summer barbeque and a White Party for BoyWonder's birthday. This year the plan is to continue the White Party theme with a White Christmas-in-July.



We were lucky enough to see Tina Turner in concert at the beginning of the year; but were disappointed not to get the opportunity to use our Michael Jackson tickets.  I was also lucky enough to see Take That and am now anticipating Bon Jovi in concert.


We have had some good news in the extended family with BoyWonder's youngest sister, (pictured!), winning many horse-jumping, dressage and cross-country competitions; and I became a Great-Aunt!  BoyWonder's Uncle, Aunt and Cousins also visited from Australia, so I got to meet them for the first time. We were also lucky enough to have a visits from some of my best friends, thoughtfully spread throughout the year so I didn't miss anyone for too long!


Our cats, Lulu and Hermes continue to be spoilt rotten.  They love exploring the garden, especially now they have more freedom with the cat-flaps BoyWonder installed. Though they are really not enjoying the snow this winter and would like us to do something about the temperature!  Over the summer we put up our inflatable pool, and while Lulu didn’t mind doing a few laps, Hermes is most definitely a land-lubber!





Creation in the kitchen has also continued, though this is far more BoyWonder's forte. More unusual meats such as Guinea Fowl, Rabbit and Venison have been experimented with, to great success. And espumas (culinary foams) are likely to be the latest addition to the plates he will be serving up in 2010.


We discovered the secret supper movement in the middle of 2010. This is where people who enjoy cooking open up their homes (for a suggested “donation”) to complete strangers for a dining experience. It differs from a restaurant as you sit communally with the other diners, so we got to meet interesting people over good food whilst also having the voyeuristic pleasure of poking around someone’s home. While there were only a handful of the supper clubs at the beginning of 2009, loads have sprung up in the final months of the year; we’ve only tried three so far, so there are plenty more to explore, and perhaps when the house is finished…

Early in the year we holidayed in the Cotswolds, setting up camp by a trout farm, spending time exploring the area and catching up with family and friends. It was lovely and relaxing, which we definitely didn’t have enough of in 2009 - fingers crossed for more travel and R&R in 2010!

We are looking forward to 2010 and wish you and your family a year filled with love, laughter, health and prosperity.

Cheers, KangaRue xoxo

Gotta love the irony of eating Reindeer on Christmas Day!

I've had a fun Christmas season this year.  Whilst not as manic as previous years, there have been good friends and fun nights for which I'm very thankful.

This photo was taken in Oxford Street after cocktails with BoyWonder at Molton House.  I love the London Christmas lights, though not the crowds!  Glad I got the iconic taxi & bus in this shot.

I took a couple of days off work to organise the food for Christmas Day.  After visiting Neals Yard Dairy for our Christmas cheeses, I did a mammoth shop for the bulk of our food for the day - while the venison & pates were brought at Taste of Christmas (see previous post).  I spent the rest of the time baking shortbread.  Whilst shopping I took the opportunity to do some BookCrossing, dropping the first book in the oil & spice aisle, one I left in the trolley (suitably bagged to avoid the snow) and one in the coffee shop, where I enjoyed a festive hot chocolate!

Our Christmas Day started with Skype calls to our families in Australia - it was lovely to see them all and we even got to "show" them around our house!  We then kick-started the meal with smoked salmon, philly-cheese, rye bread, drizzled with lemon and cracked pepper, accompanied by the first of three bottles of Champagne for the day!  Our next course consisted of pigs in blankets accompanied by a very spicy Bloody Mary.  BoyWonder then did his amazing Champagne Prawns (accomanied by more Champagne of course!)...  Time for a nanna-nap before the "main" of saddle of venison, this stood for 12-hours in olive oil and a white peppercorn crust.

Our wine of choice for this course was Black Tempest Sparkling Shiraz which was delightful with rich blackberry & liquorice tones... a great combination.

The venison was absolutely delicious, with the "fillet" melting like butter in our mouths.  It was coated in duck-fat and basted every 5 minutes for approximately 35-40 minutes - due to the lack of fat in venison it cooks very quickly.  It sat while the jus (gravy) was made from the venison juices deglazed with brandy and white wine, mixed with stock and reduced before adding double cream... this is not a low-fat day after all!!!  Our meal was completed with roasted duck-fat potatoes that BoyWonder cooked to perfection, along with Brussel Sprouts (don't tell my Mum!), spinach, pumpkin, sweet potato and carrots.

We have yet to tackle the Christmas Pudding with a choice of Brandy Cream or Cointreau Butter nor the cheeses and pates, let alone the mince pies and shortbread... there's always tomorrow!

 

Happy Chrisnukkah to all!

 

Cheers, KangaRue

Food, wine, books, song & good friends...

Having handed in the last of my uni papers for the term - one a week early I will boast - I have breathed a sigh of relief and can now enjoy the Christmas season.

Thanks to the London Evening Standard, BoyWonder and I won tickets to Taste of Christmas, which was a lovely day out tasting food and wines, picking up a number of selections for our own Christmas feast.  Not only did I blow the top of my head off with some chilli selections (we bought some of the seeds to grow), had some great pates, we also found nice wine to enjoy at home.

To be honest, the first thing that caught my eye was the name Chat-en-Oeuf (Cat on Egg) a great play on words with Châteauneuf depicted brilliantly on their logo... the wine is actually made just outside the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region and is aged in Châteauneuf-du-Pape barrels.  While it won't be an award winner, it was a nice wine that we'll happily quaff at home.  And I'm still giggling over the logo!


Taste of Christmas also offered a great opportunity to do some BookCrossing.  Having done one wild release at a bus-stop on the way to my Osteo on Friday, I took a couple of books along with me, releasing one outside a cooking theatre and another at the dining tables.  I did this last one after enjoying a delightful pie from Roast, a great texture and taste to the meat encased in a fantastic pastry.  I was sorely tempted by the food at L'Anima but really want to go to the restaurant for the whole experience.

The evening saw me head off to see some friends perform in the London Gay Men's Chorus production of
Singderella.  The singing was absolutely superb - well done guys!  Not sure about the panto and dancing that went along with it - it just didn't compare to the standard of singing.  Having checked my diary, I'm disappointed that I can't see the carol concert the Chorus is singing in a couple of weeks, so will have to wait to the 2010 season to see the LGMC perform again.  And how pretty does Sloane Square look with the Christmas lights up...

Cheers, KangaRue

Lots going on...

Work has been insane, but I've still managed to have some fun!

Firstly, there was the opening night of The Parlour the first of half a dozen new restaurants/nightspots sorely needed in Canary Wharf.  I met two couples, Caroline and David, Joanne and Darren before BoyWonder turned up.  It was very loud, but the free drinks and occasional canapes sweetened the mood!  It's very different - read more funky - from any of the current venues, so very welcome.  Lunch a week or so later with the girls from the office lead to mixed reviews - my confit duck was great, as were the veggie lasagnas - though the risotto was a miss.
Next I went to visit my lovely and talented friend Patrick - hairdresser to the stars - and me of course!  So I started that Friday as a blonde, but ended up a red-head; with a dose of purple thrown into the back for good measure.  We went for drinks afterwards at our club Molton House which is a high-fashion bar with a good wine list (the South African pinotage-viogner blend was lovely) - I'm looking forward to going back for cocktails and to try out the restaurant... and when work gets less nuts, to go for a boogie in the nightclub.

Last night BoyWonder and I met up with half of the Parlour Pals again to check out Lower East, another new opening at Canary Wharf.  The plan was to have dinner there, then head to Mile End to introduce them to a great East End pub, but we never made it.  Dinner was good, with some mixed results.  Good cocktails, wine, organic oysters, crab cakes and venison; but overcooked, under-seasoned steak and tasteless half-pint of prawns let it down... the friendly service may be its saving grace.

While I was there I also managed to do a Wild BookCrossing Release.  Leaving the book behind at the bar stool, was easy - and it wasn't there when I checked later, so fingers crossed that some kind soul found it, will post it's find online and I'll get to know about its travels.  I've also done a couple of "Controlled Releases" and Exchanges so once those have come to fruition there will be more news.

Other than that, I spent today shopping for an angle-grinder and blade with BoyWonder - tres excitement... then we went to the garden centre to appease me... when did we become middle aged?!  Study tomorrow...

Cheers, KangaRue

Let me introduce you to my lovely shop boy, George...

There is a shop on the end of my street, yes, a actual corner store, where I can grab the newspaper and a pint of milk on the weekend.  But the best thing about it is the sunny smile (and occasional cuddle) I get from the shop boy, George.

So, for my latest BookCrossing, I let him into my secret as he was uploading my monthly tube pass, and he happily posed for a photo.  Here he is...

Cheers, KangaRue

Fingers crossed...

A friend dropped around a stack of books last night, so I went through to sort out the ones I've not yet read, and the ones ready for BookCrossing.


So off I went today to do the lastest two "wild releases", the first in a bathroom at work and the second was at my physio therapist... fingers crossed they get logged on my "bookshelf".  I'll keep you posted!

Cheers, KangaRue

Canary Wharf, blinkers on - will anyone discover my BookCrossing?!

Ooh, how exciting!  After a ridiculously long day at work, pain shooting through my back, I got a total blast out of doing my first BookCrossing wild release.

I've known about BookCrossing for years, but was finally inspired to get involved after reading one of Tattooed Mummy's tweets.  The idea behind BookCrossing, is you set books free to have adventures of their own, it's earth-friendly, allows a unique way to share books and clear shelves.  Released books have a code that finders can enter on the web so its journey can be tracked.

So, I dug out my copy of "He's Just Not That Into You" by Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo, the same writers that bought us THAT scene in Sex and City, which was a complete eye opener to me!  Amusing, provocative and occasional just a little bit painful (when you see yourself reflected in the characters), it helped me to realise not to waste my time on men who aren't worth it - leaving me open to the possibility of meeting a good one... enter BoyWonder!

Canary Wharf seemed the perfect place as it's filled with lots of great single girls (I know a lot of them, and I was one of them!) who have dated lots of really crappy men.  So platform level on the Jubilee line, I left the book at the bottom of the escalators.  Before my train arrived I surreptitiously watched loads of people pass it by, so I'm wondering if anyone can get beyond the Canary Wharf blinkers to see it and pick it up. The gauntlet has been thrown! 

I've got a stack more books boxed in the attic, so will dig them out and look forward to having my books discovered, read, reviewed and hopefully travelling the world!

Cheers, KangaRue

Lots of projects on the go

Well, I've been working on this cork table for months, and though it's a little bit further on from this photo, it's still not finished!  A lot of the wine we've had recently has been screw-topped which is not helping...  Once the top is covered I'm also going to go around the edge too.

I've also been working on decoupaging a pair of shoes and a canvas... I'm collecting vintage pin-up and burlesque pics, and I'm cutting around them, but waiting until I'm sure I've enough before I start glueing.

The two pairs leg-warmers and snoods I made from a couple of old jumpers have added to my holiday deeds.  Oh, and I joined http://www.bookcrossing.com/mybookshelf/KangaRue-SL - so once I get the boxes down out of the attic I'll be leaving "deposits" all over town!

Cheers, KangaRue