It was a grey day - and a farewell

It was a cold and grey Saturday afternoon - we headed out for a walk along the ridge when there was a glimpse of blue sky and spotted a wild surf as we looked over Balmoral. 

Very unusual so we headed down to get a closer look. No swimming today.

The tumultuous surf and grey sky echoed our mood.

Summer appears to be over. It's time for M to head back to the farm.

 As always it's a sad day - so we need some comfort food. 

We have a shoulder of lamb in the oven - champagne on ice, and a Chateauneuf du Pape to follow

As is our tradition - a favourite meal to end the last 5 months in Sydney together (any excuse!)

On the up side, only 4 and a bit weeks until I am back on the farm.

Autumn lunch

Our good friends J and W's home is a beautiful property on Coolangatta Mountain near Berry, 

2 and 1/2 hours drive south of Sydney.

With the recent rain it was brilliantly lush and verdant - can you believe only a month earlier it was a dry, brown landscape?

We have spent many relaxing weekends here over the years and we always enjoy fabulous food and wine, overlooking this stunning panorama.

Their outdoor living room has been the scene of many a raucous dinner with course after course served from the wood-fired oven.

Last weekend was no exception.

Saturday night, we ate tapas style from the oven- a melted greek cheese with roasted red pepper,  chorizo and potatoes, skewered quails wrapped in proscuitto with braised fennel and leek. 

You will just have to imagine how these dishes looked - it was all hands on and no time to take photos.

Next morning after a walk we were ready to prepare the next meal. 

The Chinese style pulled pork neck was in the wood fired oven early to cook slowly for 4 hours.

The pork had been marinated in hoisin sauce, soy, rice wine, ginger, honey and five spice.

J and I pottered leisurely around the kitchen, catching up, chatting about food, recipes, health, travel and life. As we have done so many times before.

The pork was pulled out of the oven to rest, butternut pumpkin roasted and a fennel salad with mint. coriander and chilli tossed.

Wine poured.

Time to eat!

A late lunch in the autumn sun, overlooking the farm, with great friends, food and wine.

Nothing better!

Country Trader

There is no better way to spend a grey Saturday afternoon than wandering around

  The Country Trader, in Waterloo, Sydney.

My love of french antiques can only be sated by immersing myself from time to time in these beautiful rooms, where tantalising vignettes of decorative items are surrounded by authentic French furniture. 

The price tags are mostly way out of my league - but it is a very satisfying experience and less tempting to purchase than if they were closer to what I could afford -  if that makes sense.

Three times around the store I was still finding items I hadn't seen before.

M would love these I know.

This collection of Portugese green majolica (not antique)  reminded me of my growing collection on the farm.  This is great value and I use it all the time. 

There is even a pic of a piece on my blog header.

Not sure this would be comfortable for TV watching

Another pretty display.

My living room?

For our farm patio perhaps?  Pity I can't freight it!

This armoire would go beautifully in our farmhouse dining room - including the champagne of course.

Have always loved blue and white pottery.

Thou shalt not covet...

But I can look, can't I?

A blog hiatus

Did you notice that Farmlife Citylife has been on hold for the last 8 weeks?

Real life just got in the way.

A family trip mid January to Waikehe Island in New Zealand to celebrate my sister A's significant birthday was eventful. 

She had to fly back to Australia with my nephew L - who was extremely ill - before the party started.   

We celebrated somewhat flatly without her.

L's subsequent hospitalisation has been of course very worrying. 

On the work front,  this is always a very busy time in the lead-up to the event I manage - this year particularly so. I seemed to have been hunched over my computer and phone for 12 hours a day since New Year. 

No time or desire to blog.

The good news is L is on the road to recovery after surgery and six weeks in hospital.

It has been a long road for him - but it has been a joy to see him getting stronger in the last week particularly. I am in awe of this gorgeous young man who has managed to keep his good nature and  humour intact throughout some very stressful and painful times.

Work-wise the awards event went very well. Have had some great feedback- which makes it worthwhile.

In any case I  have finally been able to think about something else, catching up on sleep and with friends, sorting my business admin out, thinking about new projects, walking, doing yoga, reading, watching TV, cooking again and letting the tension of the last couple of months ebb out of my body.

Am looking forward to being  a blogger again! 

Sing the truth

Still thinking about the Sydney Festival concert in the Domain last night -   Sing the Truth  

It's been a while since we have ventured into the crowds of these concerts unless I had VIP ticket, by chance.

I don't know if it is middle age but we have spent a lot time in the past thinking that going to one of these concerts may be difficult.

It wasn't.  It was fabulous.

The heat had broken unexpectedly in the afternoon and it was cool - which also one of the barriers we had about going to one of these concerts. Along with crowds, finding somewhere to sit parking, sitting on the ground....
What has happened to us?

What got us there was Lizz Wright - one of my favourite singers. Listen to her voice and lyrics of Speak Your Heart - you will be hearing it at my funeral.



She didn't sing that song last night - but what a night. 

She performed with Angélique Kidjo and Dianne Reeves, singing classics mixed up with a beat of Africa.  

For a while it looked as though they had missed engaging the Sydney summer crowd,  by being a bit too serious and more used to a smaller crowd, but by the end of the night we were on our feet dancing  to the beat of Africa. 

And Sydney in Summer.  Wonderful.  I can feel my dancing muscles again.

PS We booked our parking on line.

Iced wine, summer and Happy New Year

Last night we had dinner down at the beach.

It had been a hot and sunny day, and finally looked like it might be a good night for a swim and a  picnic.

Made a thai beef salad and took a bottle of Bandol rose that M wanted to try.

Along with this wine gadget - a frozen icicle to drop into the bottle to keep your wine chilled. 

 It is such an obvious and good idea. 

Who thinks of these things?

It worked - we sat and enjoyed our chilled wine and salad until dusk.

Happy New Year! I hope 2013 is good to you, your family and friends.

We have a special dinner for two planned at home - but I  don't think we will even make it to midnight this year.  

We will be sharing a bottle of champagne though. 

Enjoy your celebrations wherever you are.  Would love to hear what you got up to.

Scenes from our country Christmas

We experienced all sorts of weather during our stay in Armidale, the highlight being the rain we got on Christmas Eve and night.

After a lazy Christmas, by Boxing Day we were ready to get out for a long walk.  We thought that after the rain the Dangar Falls would be gushing and so they were. 

We woke this wallaby and her joey from their slumbers - they didn't seem to mind and let me get up close to take a photo. 

A walk around A&R's property in the afternoon

Photo by Liam Nethery

Hens rounded up for the night at the Chook Hilton.

Strawberries in December 

 A local beer - Dobson's New England Pale Ale had to be sampled.

Before another delicious meal

M's Moroccan lamb, A's peach and buffalo mozarella salad with pomegranate and R's flat breads

What was I doing you may ask while they were preparing this repast- trying to write a Christmas post!

Headed home the next day - with a stop half way at Gloucester for a hamburger.

For my north American readers - note the beet(root).  This is the classic Australian version. 

Fresh and juicy, messy to eat - but fantastic.

We had a wonderful, relaxing country Christmas - I hope you did too.