To cycle, or not to cycle... that is the question?

I must apologise that this is my inaugural post for 2011.  Uni work was nuts at the end of last year, and BoyWonder and I travelled home to Australia for a holiday in November (future blog posts on that later).  Before then, I was cycling to work three or four times a week.  Off on holiday we went - where we walked, swam and snorkelled in the sunshine.  And then returned to freezing temperatures back in London, only for it to snow a couple of days later.  It was a bit of a shock to say the least, but not more than the surprise I got the following week... at the hospital... when I found out I was 7-weeks pregnant.  It was good news - I was expecting the doctor to tell me something was wrong, but it was a surprise, albeit a pleasant - nay - a big, exciting and joyous one!

So, I will catch up over the next few weeks on the load of foodie and travel blogposts I have planned, but for now, back to the cycling...

Obviously I wasn't going to cycle to work in the ice and snow - I wouldn't have done this without being pregnant, it just been too dangerous.  But seeing as I am pregnant, the risk of falling/sliding/stacking was just too great.  And while the weather is hardly balmy yet (!), it is getting less cold, and the ice and snow is gone.  I've passed the 12-week mark, the doc has said I can exercise, I've kept up with my yoga and pilates... so I was contemplating getting back into my cycle-to-work (somewhat encouraged by the general crapness and unpleasantness of my public transport commute...).

But a couple of the pregnancy sites and books have said it isn't a good idea incase I fall off (but it's OK to cycle on an exercise bike... dullsville).  But one book has said it is good - keeps the hips moving and my growing weight will be supported.  My boss - who was lovely and very excited when I told him my news - freaked today when I told him I was going to start cycling again.  Now, I must point out that I have never fallen off my bike before.

I miss my bike, I miss the general well-being and relaxation I feel when I've cycled.

With such mixed responses so far, I am be keen to find out if there are any other Mum's out there who continued to cycle - or anyone else who has any thoughts?


Cheers, KangaRue

Vamping up Halloween

I love Halloween - any excuse to get dressed up in fancy dress is a good one, but unfortunately I'm to busy with uni work to get all dressed up this year.  However there is a SilverLining... tonight I have achieved something I've always wanted to do - carve my very first Halloween pumpkin.

I'm also a huge vampire fan(g), so here is my pumpkin unlit:

And in all its glory...

And from a slightly different angle.

Please let me know what you think.

Cheers, KangaRue

Masterful Offerings

I love Masterchef, but most especially I love Masterchef Australia - not only because I long to see my hometown in the background.  I enjoy cooking and eating good food, so luckily I married BoyWonder who is an imaginative and skilled cook.

The past weekend we were watching the latest season of Masterchef Australia, which is currently screening in the UK.  Inspired by Matt Moran of Aria Restaurant, BoyWonder made the Gnocchi in Burnt Butter from part of the celebrity chef challenge recipe.  He'll have to make it again, as I completely forgot to take any photos, but it was mighty delicious!

He followed it up with a blueberry meringue pie with blueberries from our own bushes.  There's also a rhubarb and apple lattice tart, again with rhubarb from our garden.  Photos were taken with my phone, so apologies for the quality.

So no one was more surprised than me when I arrived home quite late this weekday evening, thinking I was going to have a quick thrown together dinner, only to be banished from the kitchen.

And this is what arrived on my plate...

OMG, it was the Eggnet with Pork, Prawn, Beansprouts & Cucumber Relish from Martin Boetz of Longrain Restaurant's celebrity chef challenge in Season 1!  A slight amendment to the recipe as we had scallops in the fridge rather than prawns (shucks!), and he also added shaved waterchestnuts and bamboo shoots.  Absolutely delicious layers of flavour with lots of umami, freshness and utter, utter yumminess.

I'm typing this as we're watching another episode, and Alvin's Drunken Chicken with Bruised Salad is getting accolades, so I'll keep my fingers crossed and keep you posted!

Cheers, KangaRue

PS.  We keep debating which is the not-to-miss restaurant in Sydney... Aria, Longrain, Rockpool, Red Lantern... the list goes on.  Which would you pick, or do you have another suggestion?

Neighbourly Nuptials

Boy Wonder and I were lucky enough to be invited by our neighbours (Mr & Mrs N) to their son's wedding last weekend.  As our first Indian wedding, we were excited to look forward to a traditional Sikh ceremony.  But unlike Western weddings, this wasn't going to just be an event over in one day, but it lasts about a week!  We were invited to party with them on both Thursday and Friday nights before the big day on Saturday.

The thing that struck me the most was how colourful the clothes of the women were - bright jewel colours adorned the room.  There is a lot of singing and drumming.  This is Mrs N on the drum to kick start the celebrations on Thursday night.

Thursday night was Mendhi night.  These are the henna decorations that are worn on hands and/or feet to unite in the celebrations for the bride and groom.  I'd never seen mendhi applied before, and the two girls that came to do it worked so quickly.  I chose to have the designs drawn on both my hands.  The henna comes out very dark and is initially raised on the skin while it dries; as it does so, it stains the skin in a reddish brown.  The girls spritzed glitter onto the designs to match each persons outfit which was a really nice touch.  Here's mine...

The hospitality was incredible.  Everyone kept trying to feed me!  The homemade food was delicious.  The aubergine curry Mrs N made on the night was my favourite.  Though most guests were vegetarian, they also made a chicken dish just for me, which was incredibly thoughtful.  I'm glad to have tried it as it was melt in the mouth delicious. 

There was a chickpea curry on the Friday night that was also gorgeous!  Everything was home made on these days - even the chapatis.  And there was a gorgeous sweet, which I later found out was Gulab Jamun, made with milk powder and sweetened with a sugar syrup and a hint of rosewater - not only was this served on both nights, but Mrs N insisted I take a box full home with me - yum!

The singing and dancing continued.  While the songs were sung in Punjabi by the older women, I was told they were rather raunchy... and a further elaboration of this made me view the arm gestures and banging of a large stick in a whole different light!

The younger girls danced around, a few of them dressed up as men, turning their scarves into turbans, while one of the aunts was the demure bride.  The dancing continued.  And it's still only the Thursday night!

Friday night rocked around.  Tonight was the N family's chance to celebrate the groom. 

There was more ceremony with the sisters dressed in white and Mrs N arriving with ceremonial vessels on their heads topped with candles.  These vessels were then passed between family and friends.  I'm not sure of the symbolism, but it was obvious that everyone was taking part in congratulating the groom on his forthcoming nuptials.

The groom was in great spirits - he barely left the dance-floor!

Saturday came around far too quickly!  With the ceremonies starting at 9am, it was an early start to the day after two late nights out.  We headed to the temple, where the families met outside to exchange gifts of sweets as part of an engagement ceremony.  We then moved inside for tea and refreshments of samosas and pakoras, which was a different start for breakfast than I was used to but tasty.

I'd chosen to get a traditional salwar kameez for the day, which I really enjoyed wearing, and I think was appreciated.  This is a long top, with trousers and a scarf that can be used to cover the head in temple.

Shoes off and we headed into the actual temple.  The traditional bridal colour for Indian weddings is red.  So the groom and male family members were in red turbans or head coverings.  Both men and women are require to have their heads covered in the temple. 

There were various Gurus who lead the ceremony at different points.  The holy book was kept under a covered canopy with a Guru sweeping a feathered fan across it regularly.

The bride arrived, accompanied by her brothers and cousins.  Her dress was incredibly elaborate, and looked like it could weigh a tonne!  Apparently it can weigh 10-20 kilos, which must be exhausting. 

Both the bride and groom looked a little nervous, which is unsurprising given that they were being watched by about 400 of their nearest and dearest.  

The bride is led around the canopied area by her family, and on the fourth time the couple are married. 

Time to head to the ceremony, where the numbers grew to between 700 and 800 people.  And it got even more glamorous, with the suite lit in pink and chandelier-style centerpieces.  The bride and groom arrived looking much more relaxed.  They fed each other cake and the families fed them cake too, which was surprisingly touching (though not the most photogenic, so I've left those shots out!).

They shared their first dance, then the dancing started, interspersed with dinner... and more dancing!

What a sensational experience, shared with lovely people.

Cheers, KangaRue

My Eclectic Cycle to Work

About a month ago I started cycling to work in an effort to get fit, from Woolwich to Canary Wharf.  The added benefit of it being a great form of relaxation is only heightened by those days I have to contend with public transport and the masses that push, shove and often stink amongst it!

Some days are a struggle, but some times when I have awoken early enough, it's lovely to take a gentle cycle and admire the views - ranging from the mundane to the architecturally stunning and the just plain bizarre.

Early on my cycle takes me through Royal Arsenal Riverside, with it's beautiful old buildings and the canons...

And then I go past this art installation.  To be honest I'm not really sure what it's about, or even that it's called, but it's an intriguing piece we've lovingly named The Zombies...  this would be the bizarre part!

So off I go to catch the Woolwich Free Ferry which transports cars, trucks, a growing number of cyclists and a few pedestrians directly across the Thames.  I pass the Thames Barrier along the way which is an impressive site - even more so when the sun shines and it glints silver.  That's my destination, Canary Wharf, in the background on the right.

There is a beautiful old pub that has been closed down.  I love the tower with it's cosmic depictions.  Hopefully it will be reopened and restored one day soon.

I keep going past a few factories and at the start of the bike path come across the Brick Lane Music Hall.  In an old church.  Which is not on Brick Lane.  But it's a beautiful building and the mural on the side is lovely.  My goal is to go and see a production here this year - it's crying out for a visit to a panto at Christmas don't you think?

 Along the bike path, dodging oblivious pedestrians, I go past a beautiful garden that leads to the Thames Barrier.  There's a great cafe in the park next to the garden too.  This was just a bare plot a few years ago, so I love what they've done with it.

Amongst the residential blocks, are the Tate & Lyle warehouses and factories.  I love the giant Golden Syrup jar on the side of one of their buildings...

Not much further to go now, and the view changes to the O2 (originally known as the Millenium Dome)... which I'm pretty sure falls under the bizarre category.  It's a striking building though and it's difficult to understand quite how huge it is until you're standing in it's cavernous space.

Obviously the reverse views on the way home.  Impressive and diverse views that I hope I never get jaded looking at.

So what do you think about the views on my commute to work?

Please vote for my photos on Mesomo.

Cheers, KangaRue