Newspaper article

The local paper took my photo last week for this article. It was a freezing morning on our back deck and took ages.  When I said to the photographer that it must be fun doing his job and meeting lots of interesting people he rather glumly said "no"!!

Baked rice for dinner

We are having baked rice for dinner. I am using Josef Chromy verjus from Tassie to flavour it. It is really the best one I have tried. Sorry Maggie Beer!

Delicious dinner at Ouzeri

We had a lovely dinner at Ouzeri in West End last night. We had tried to go to the local pub but it was full of happy British and Irish Lions supporters- some in kilts. Sadly they had no room for us!   So we took a drive to West End and stumbled upon Ouzeri. There was a table for 20 set up next to our wee table in the corner but fortunately we are quick eaters - plus they were keen for us to free up the table- so we were in and out in an hour.  We were very pleasantly surprised; this was not the usual stodgy unimaginative Greek food you can come across so often.  We had an eggplant dip which was tiny and well flavoured dices of the vegetable with thin and delicious pieces of pita bread.  Mr Pickings had moussaka which he said was excellent and the potatoes were beautifully flavoured. I had calamari and succulent small pieces of octopus with a garlicky cucumber dip and Greek salad. The place was packed and had a fantastic atmosphere; and prices are very reasonable. As Mr Pickings said- it reminded him of the Plaka in Athens in a good way!  Hop along readers!

Photo for the local paper

Today I had my photo taken (and re taken) for the local paper.  Not my fave experience I must say:)   And it was a freezing morning out on the back deck.  It is Winter Solstice after all and Mother Nature wanted us to know it.  A cheeky butcherbird decided to join us and sat on the rail the entire time.

me at the dilmah high tea challenge Brisbane

here is the link to the official page of the Dilmah High Tea Challenge held in Brisbane on friday 14 june 2013.   this is the photo of me taken by their photographer (she made us all look good!), and of my tea challenge setting.

Delicious cup of tea

Had a lovely cup of tea today with MayKing tea. 

Tea ceremony at scrumptious reads

Making tea with May King at scrumptious reads in the Valley.     

What a fabulous time we had with May King enjoying her truly delightful tea ceremony.   She is a very calming soul;  even my 20 year old nephew said he found it relaxing and enjoyable.  The sun was streaming in the windows at Scrumptious Reads- very pleasant on a cool Brisbane day- giving it all a relaxed and calming ambience.  We tried several different teas with May King, including my favourite Relaxing Night which had a wonderful aroma of roses  (one of my fave flavours in anything).   We sat with May King for about 2 hours just soaking up the sun and the atmosphere and the teas!  I highly recommend going to one of her delightful tea ceremonies if you get the chance.  Check out her Facebook page under Mayking Tea.