8 Things About Summer

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It is the middle of summer in the Southern Hemisphere and Western Australia is at the end of a heatwave. It has been very hot and unusually humid. Summer brings its own activities and for many Australians, a ten day break between Christmas and the New Year. The school year finishes before Christmas and goes back at the beginning of February.

What does summer mean to you? What are the seasonal foods and recipes, the daily occupations, the things you do that are particularly related to the long, hot summer days?

FOODS

Stone fruit, watermelon and rock melon (cantaloupe), cherries, grapes, figs and so many salad vegetables. Masses of different tomatoes, sweet corn, cucumbers. They’re all in the shops in an array of amazing colours and aromas. We shop at a greengrocer who only has seasonal fruit, vegetables and herbs. All delicious.

Luscious seedless grapes.

2. SUMMER FLOWERS

pink roses in close up photography

Masses of roses, lilies, hydrangeas and agapanthus, but almost nothing in my garden! A recent heatwave has decimated everything except the hydrangeas although the roses are beginning to bloom again.

3. SUMMER ACTIVITIES

River picnics, going to the beach, barbecues and eating outdoors when the sea breeze comes in (aka the Fremantle Doctor) and watching the cricket. Lots of time spent reading. Walking the dog after dinner; it is still light and much cooler. Jugs of iced water with lemon or lime and maybe mint. Anything to stay cool. Many of my friends are teachers and still working. It is the Summer Holidays for them, nearly six weeks off, so lots of lunches and catching up, which I really enjoy.

4. SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT

The Fringe Festival in Perth, running from 15th January until 14th February, has attracted over 500 local and Australian acts, but travel between the states is limited due to CV-19 hot spots in other states. Some overseas acts were already here and have stayed. I’ve been to two shows so far. I’m off to another comedian this evening. Enjoy a good laugh!

The first was a British standup comedian, Gordon Southern, who was working on a cruise ship which terminated in Sydney due to CV-19 cases, so he stayed. A comedian for over 23 years, ‘Nicolation’ (pronounced Nice-o-lation) was Southern’s fast paced commentary about making the most of his year ‘stuck’ in Australia. Had a good laugh!

This was followed by ‘Brassy Broads’ which pays homage to some legendary jazz and cabaret singers. Some of the amazing women featured were Eartha Kitt, Edith Piaf, Dinah Washington and Ella Fitzgerald. Energetic, loud and very entertaining.

5. SUMMER SHOES

This summer means espadrilles, old ones and new ones. The espadrille fashion first occurred for me when I was at university and involved lacing long cotton tapes around and around our ankles and partially up our legs. The next time the fashion came around I had a beautiful pair with soft leather ties. I loved them! They were cream and went with the floaty, pale clothes of that summer. I wore them all the time and eventually the rope soles began to disintegrate so off they went!

I have bought two pairs this season, mainly because I’ve bought dresses this year. I haven’t really worn dresses for so long but bought one for a wedding. Then I bought another one and since then two more. They are cool and easy to wear. So are espadrilles.

6. SUMMER HOLIDAYS

Western Australia’s hard border fluctuates depending on CV-19 cases in the eastern states. This makes any travel plans outside W.A. risky. Australians can’t plan overseas trips either. When we return from anywhere outside our state, we need to quarantine for two weeks.

Perth across the Swan River.

This has resulted in a boom in travel within W.A. We have no travel plans for a few months but many West Australians have flocked to coastal resorts. Cafes and restaurants are full. We’re able to freely visit the cinema, Fringe Festival events and shopping centres. Social distancing is evident but not always enforced as in W.A. we have been Covid free for over 200 days.

Rottnest Island, everyones’ favourite island holiday destination.

January and February are very hot months here. Activities centre around the river, pool and the beach. Light food and casual clothes rule. Thongs (flip-flops) are popular!

AUSTRALIA DAY

Australia Day is celebrated on the 26th January every year marking the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British ships to arrive at Port Jackson in New South Wales. It’s a public holiday in Australia. Four out of five Australians consider this an important day of celebration, not just a ‘day off’. Over 16 000 immigrants choose to become new citizens on this day every year.

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10 Things to do in York, Western Australia

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York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia. It is situated on the Avon River, in the wheatbelt. York has been recognised for it’s important buildings with Historic Town Status. Established in 1835, the area was important for cattle, sheep and wheat, sandalwood harvesting and goat, pig and horse breeding. York now attracts visitors for its buildings, festivals and fairs.

It’s an easy 90 minute drive from Perth to York on good roads. The forecast temperature was 35°C so we left Louis, our dog at home and took hats. I’d made a list of things TO DO and it was easy to complete the list. York is a compact town with many interesting things to see and do with guided walking and cycling maps available at the Visitor Centre.

One of the most interesting aspects of the townsite is the hotels, homes and shops. You can drive around the streets of York and admire the architecture. Most of the houses are privately owned and many have been carefully restored and maintained.

10 Other Interesting Things to do in York

1. VISIT MT. BROWN LOOKOUT

We started at the Mt Brown Lookout to put the town into perspective. Standing here we could view the York townsite and across the Avon Valley. The lookout is a short drive from the town.

2. GALLERY 152

The York Botanic Art Prize 2020 Exhibition of the Finalists is what originally motivated us to go to York at this time of the year. Usually we’d wait for a cooler day so we could walk around the town, enjoying a slow look at the old buildings and parks, especially along the Avon River.

The Gallery has an exhibition area, a gift shop and a cafe all housed in a beautiful old building with outdoor eating areas. The York Botanic Prize, the current exhibition, featured paintings, prints, jewellery, ceramics, pencil and photographs all based on local wildflowers. There are regular exhibitions throughout the year. We enjoyed the coffee there, too, despite the slow service! I think they forgot our order.

3. THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE

The original suspension bridge crossing the Avon River was built in 1888, but was totally renovated in 1988. It’s a bit wobbly but fun to walk across.

4. THE YORK MOTOR MUSEUM

The Motor Museum, established in 1979, is in the main street. There’s so many exhibits, plan to spend quite a bit of time here. There are motor cars, motor cycles and pedal cars. See cars once owned by the rich and famous, land speed record breaking cars, vice regal cars, racing cars and old and rare cars. Knowledgeable staff, too.

5. COURTHOUSE COMPLEX

The Courthouse Complex is a collection of colonial buildings also in the main street. Construction began in 1852, prompted by the need uphold colonial law and order. See the lofty court room and the stark prison cells complete with graffiti and other archaelogical finds.

6. PENNY FARTHING SWEETS

A shop full of old fashioned sweets. Intriguing for young and old. Delicious finds. We weren’t the only adults gleefully recognizing old fashioned lollies and buying childhood favourites, too. Also in Avon Terrace, the main street.

7. THE YORK TOWN HALL

The imposing Town Hall, built in 1911 and renovated in 2000 also houses the York Visitor Centre. Here you can collect maps and local information. While you’re there, enjoy the imposing Hall. Go upstairs for the best view.

8. THE YORK RESIDENCY MUSEUM

The Residency Museum is currently closed for renovations. It is undergoing remedial works to strengthen the building and chimneys against earthquakes and other natural disasters. It is expected to be open again in July.

We have visited in the past and hope it retains many of the displays we saw and enjoyed. This included displays about the Aboriginal people in the area and interactive displays for children.

9. THE PARISH CHURCH OF HOLY TRINITY

The Holy Trinity Church of York was consecrated in 1858. The tower plus other additions to this beautiful building were added between 1891 and 1905. There’s an Alfred Pearse pipe organ and windows designed by well known West Australian artist, Robert Juniper.

Across the road is the Holy Trinity Rectory, although only the kitchen remains from the original building.

10. THE FLOUR MILL

Now housing antique shops, crafts shops and bookshops plus a gallery and cafe, the Flour Mill was built in 1892. It played an important role in a region well know for its wheat and grain exports. Milling ceased in 1967.

We ate lunch here at the Mill Cafe. There’s indoor and outdoor seating. The Visitor Centre has a list of the cafes and restaurants and their opening times. We ate here as we met my brother and sister in law for lunch and they’d eaten there before. Very generous sized meals!

Near the Suspension Bridge along the Avon River is the Avon Pioneer Park, with picnic facilities, public toilets, a barbecue area and really interesting looking play equipment. There’s easy parking available. We found parking easy everywhere we went in York.

There are many shops housed in the historic buildings along the main street, Avon Terrace. There’s intriguing antique shops and second hand shops, plus clothes, furniture and craft, a supermarket, a chemist, a Chinese restaurant, a vet and the amazingly tempting sweet shop. There’s several old hotels on street corners, many with restaurants, plus several cafes. The sporting club also has a restaurant.

The Visitor Information Centre can help with accommodation and there are many options online if you want to book somewhere to stay. Enjoy your visit!

Apparently, yesterday 21st January was Hugging Day. I think every day should be Hugging Day!

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How To Avoid Food Wastage

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Wasting food is throwing out food. Apparently, in Australia, it is estimated 330 kg per person is thrown out every year. (here) This creates two problems: firstly the wasted resources in producing the food ( water, labour picking, packing, transporting the produce, marketing and advertising, selling, money used buying it ) and secondly, landfill and the resulting methane.

About a third of all food produced in the world gets thrown out. This results in 8% of global greenhouse gases and costs our economy $20 million a year. We throw out 7.3 million tonnes of food a year or one in five bags of groceries. So every fifth dollar spent on food goes into the bin.

www.environment.gov.au

How do we avoid over buying food? Generally food planning or menu planning is recommended. The internet is awash with lovely looking meal planning pages and clever tips on using everything. I’ve tried to use them.They tend to be very attractive. It just doesn’t work for me. I am the planner in this household. I know what is to be used and when it needs to be used. We rarely throw out food and usually shop once a week.

My own system works because we have a stock of salmon, white fish, chicken and beef in the freezer and rotate as the mood takes us. We talk about what we’re cooking for dinner then put that to thaw in the fridge, if needed. This is supported by a weekly purchase of fruit and vegetables plus frozen vegetables, too. We go to a green grocer who only sells seasonal produce so it is well priced and fresh. We regularly eat the same sort of things for breakfast, such as fruit, yoghurt and toast, and the same sort of things for lunch, too, as well as leftovers.

We share the cooking. My husband prefers cooking steak or fish and adding vegetables. I usually get inspired after I’ve checked what needs to be used or what is available. We have a well stocked pantry and buy fresh bread every two days. I make my own rye sourdough.

I really dislike wasted food. I can turn leftovers into frittatas, souffles, pies, pasta sauces, fritters and soups. We always have eggs and stock, both frozen homemade and bought. Having fresh herbs growing in the garden adds flavour and interest. Neighbours happily share fruit from their lemon and kumquat trees and we have a lime tree.

Today I wanted to use some chicken from the freezer. I have had a post-Christmas clean out of the fridge. I like to make recipes which result in two or three meals for two people. The recipe I’ve made is loosely based on Jamie Oliver’s CHICKEN CACCIATORE. I used

2 small brown onions
1 tbspn crushed garlic
250gm smoky bacon
large sprig rosemary
650gm butternut pumpkin/squash
1 jar tomato pasta sauce
4 large chicken breasts
8 large olives

Normally I would add mushrooms but I didn’t have any. I also added 4 anchovy fillets because I usually do, but this recipe did not include them.)

METHOD

Preheat oven to 170°C/375°F. Peel the onions and cut into eight segments. Put into a hot, oven proof pan with a splash of olive oil. Add the garlic and the chopped bacon (pancetta is better, but I wanted to use up the bacon) and the chopped rosemary plus the bay leaves. Cook for about 10 minutes. Stir regularly.

Meanwhile, peel and chop the pumpkin/squash into bite sized pieces. Add the chicken to the pan and brown , turning it regularly. Add the pumpkin and the sauce. Fill the tomato pasta sauce jar ¾ with water, shake with the lid on, add to the mixture. Add more liquid (water, wine,tomato juice) if necessary. Toss in the olives.

Bring to a simmer, put the lid on and put it in the oven for an hour. Season. Remove bay leaves. Serve with vegetables, rice or bread. SERVES 6.

I’ll freeze a third of it and we’ll eat the rest for two dinners, once with bread and once with vegetables.

Some food scraps can be regrown, such as celery and bok choy, or fed to worms or the compost pile. I do not make compost, I make evil smelling muck, so sympathize if this is a problem for you, too. I do not dig scraps into the garden beds either, as this would encourage the river rats who need no encouragement.

Effectively storing all food requires preparation and organization. There’s plenty of information online about what should go in the fridge and what should go in the pantry. If it seems you wont be using what you’ve bought, freeze it or cook it and freeze it. Having a stock of frozen ready to thaw, heat and eat food is very handy for busy days. Or days when you just want to sit and read.

Avoiding single use plastics can also require some planning. Glass dishes with rubber or plastic multiple use lids are good. Some people rave about bees wax wraps. They can be added to the compost when they reach the end of their lives. I just don’t like them! The ones I tried come off in the fridge regardless of how carefully I wrapped and folded and tucked the edges under the container. I use silicone multi-use covers. I’ve been using the same ones for over two years, but they cannot be recycled. I also use hotel shower caps for bigger bowls! Just rinse and hang over a tap to dry, reuse. I like being able to easily see what is in the container.

We use this size glass dish often for cooking. Leave the leftovers to cool then add the lid and put the dish in the fridge, easy.

Silicone, stretch and seal wrappers, work really well for us. These are about two years old.

Storing leftovers so they are immediately visible when you look in the fridge is a good reminder. I know someone who has a special shelf where only leftovers can be placed. Someone else puts things needing to be used on the shelf at her eye height, right in the middle.

Fittingly, January 13th is Organise Your Home Day. How you do that is your own business! January 15 th is Strawberry Icecream Day, so that might be easier to celebrate.

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Do You Make New Year Resolutions and the Vikings

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The New Year has begun with far less fanfare than usual, but also with the fervent hope an effective CV-19 vaccine will become widely available.

Do you make resolutions? I asked around and most people want to lose weight, exercise more, earn more and declutter. Wistful comments, too, about traveling to see family or just traveling.

I want to lose more weight, too. Last year I lost a lot of weight but want to lose a few more kilos. My nutritionist talks about “set weight” and ignoring the number on the scale. She advises being happy with how I feel, consider my blood results and ease at buying clothes, but I’ve cruised along at this weight for a few months now. I feel ready to get going again.

Part of my plan was also getting fitter. I’ve worn a Fitbit since 2013 and increased the number of daily steps every year, plus done yoga for the last few years. Last year I added Pilates but the research suggests 3 hours of intensive exercise plus 150 minutes of gentle exercise (fast walking) a week is necessary for peak health. Bit overwhelming. Any clever ideas?

Earning more money is interesting. There’s so many sites online about saving money so maybe a balance between earning it and spending it is best. A friend of ours was bemoaning his lack of money. He was quite frank about his income so I was surprised he had no savings. We discovered he pays $130 more a month on a phone plan than he needed to ( $ 1560 saved over a year). He could save another $1200 this year by not buying a new model phone and using the existing one for another twelve months. Comparing prices and bundling the two insurance policies he has could save nearly $600. And so it went on. He was worried about spending $5 a time on coffee but meeting friends and chatting is a big part of his life. Save in other areas.

Decluttering is a bit of a challenge. I think I’m very sentimental, so keep baby teeth, old photos, loving handwritten messages, gifts from special people that I don’t really use, family pieces passed on to me and so it goes on. Do I need 23 vases? I use them for different arrangements at different times of the year. Needs more work.

So, good luck with your plans for 2021. I think many people have reassessed what really matters to them during last year and will maintain changes for a more simple, less frenetic life.

THE VIKINGS

Warriors of the North, Giants of the Sea

The Vikings: Warriors of the North, Giants of the Sea at the Maritime Museum in Fremantle, features the largest collection of authentic artifacts to come to Western Australia from Denmark. Developed by the National Museum of Denmark, this exhibition depicts the lives of the Vikings as warriors, traders, farmers, engineers, shipbuilders and seafarers.

The women are portrayed as artisans, fearsome matriarchs, warriors, traders, caretakers and explorers.

When discovered and explored, a burial site in Birka, Sweden was thought to contain the remains of a warrior, his weapons plus his two horses, one bridled for riding. Further investigations revealed the body to be a female, estimated to be 30 to 40 years old at death. Both Icelandic and Norse sagas and some medieval legends refer to shield maidens, females who wielded weapons and fought in battles.

Weapons included shields, spears, swords, axes and bows. Chain mail and helmets apparently were seldom worn.

Replica of Arabic gold dinar 800-1000 CE

Mount of Anglo-Irish origin 700-900CE

The bronze belt buckle is of Irish-Anglo origin 700-900CE

Stirrup and Bridle. These artifacts date back to the 7th century.

Intricately decorated stirrup iron. Everyday artifacts featured beautiful engraving.

This is a replica of the Cammin Casket c. 1000 CE

Gifts played an important role in trading relations between European and Scandinavian rulers. Until World War 2 this wooden box covered with thin, carved sheets of elk horn and gilt bronze bands was kept in the Cathedral of Saint John Kamién Domolski in Poland. It then disappeared. The original box was probably a diplomatic gift. The style of the box suggests it was made in the late 10th century.

The Åby Crucifix and a Victorious King

This crucifix was made about 1000 years ago from gilded copper plates on a wooden base. Christ is shown as a triumphant warrior, eyes wide open, a Viking moustache, noble robes and a crown.

Terminal from a harness bow depicting an animal head. Norway 900-1000 CE. The jewellery and every day metal pieces are intricately decorated and very beautiful. Unexpected levels of detail and fineness.

I also wandered upstairs to look at the re-enactments and other crafts associated with Viking life. The fine linens and woven wool in the costumes are apparently accurate replicas of found objects. So too were the clasps, buckles and broaches. The basket weaving, long bow and arrow activities and metal work were all interesting.

This exhibition is at the Maritime Museum in Fremantle until May.

Did you know January is BRAIN TEASER MONTH? So gather up your crosswords, codeword puzzles, sudoko, logic riddles and enjoy! All you need is a puzzle that needs some thought to solve.

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The Week After Christmas

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entertaining

Our son’s diabolical rum balls. You shouldn’t drive after you’ve eaten three of these!

Fruit pudding, so rich, so delicious.

We’ve enjoyed the company of close family and friends. We had a much smaller than usual gathering on Christmas Day. It is summer and hot here, so easy food is best. My Mother and son have been staying, so lots of people dropping in.

reading

We’re keen readers and have each enjoyed a pile of new books as Christmas gifts. Since early childhood the post Christmas Days, when I have savoured the stack of unread books waiting for me, has been a special time. A pile of unread books, waiting, is such a treat! There is a calm , uncommitted time before the New Year, so time to relax. We read so much as a family that we generally get books from the library but also find books we want to own, to refer to again or to share. Here are three I’ve just read.

A Year at the Château by Dick and Angel Strawbridge is a written account month by month about their first year at the 19th century Château de-la-Motte Hussan. It is very closely related to the television series called Escape to the Château. The energy, determination and ingenuity of this couple is amazing. Set in the context of a decrepit, huge house with two children under two years of age and no electricity and only one tap with running water, it is amazing what they achieve in a year.

Pre CV-19 the Strawbridges were offering gourmet weekends and grand weekend weddings at their château. I’d really like to stay there to spend a week in Angel’s attic, working with her and using all her craft equipment to print tiles and fabrics and recycle old pieces! My idea of bliss.

Patchwork A Life Amongst Clothes by Claire Wilcox is a unique memoir written by a curator of fashion at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Her own story is beautifully stitched into the treasures of the museum and the fabrics, buttons, stitching and designs of the collection. She marvels at the lives lived by previous owners of the textiles and writes about her own clothes, her family when she was growing up and her marriage and three children.

These are short, individual stories, prompted by random daily experiences that are related to her work. Her knowledge of clothing since the sixteenth century makes each chapter intriguing and interesting. These are not really stories about modern designers, although the works of a few are described whilst the designers remain nameless, but really the author focuses on the people who might have owned each artifact and their lives.

Easy to read, thought provoking and relevant in a time when so many of us are eschewing fast fashion and seeking natural fabrics and long lasting pieces of clothing.

Tamsin Westhope’s “Diary of a Modern Country Gardener Secrets for Every Season, Straight from the Potting Shed” is written about her family garden at Stockton Bury Gardens in Herefordshire. So the seasons are the opposite to what is happening in Australia.

I started reading from the beginning but then started jumping from month to month, enjoying the stories of a fifth generation gardener and also her hints for success. Her humour and sometimes droll comments keep this diary fresh and very readable. One of her claims will interest my Mother, the The Determined Snail Hunter. Westhorpe says a snail will breed four times a year and lay as many as 350 eggs a year. Kill them immediately is her advice.

Westhope’s four acre garden, open to the public at certain times of the year, is within a working farm which has been in her family for over 100 years. So her gardening activities are very different from mine in a tiny, private garden at the front and back of our house, overflowing a bit onto the verge, too. Despite the differences in size, I found many gardening tips I could apply to my own garden. A great book for dipping into for advice or just to enjoy the photos.

eating

The main overseas market for our crayfish/lobster have been disrupted, so here in Western Australia we’re enjoying very, very affordable seafood.

Delicious cassata, eaten with or without the fruit pudding.

Post Christmas meals means leftovers presented in less and less inventive ways! The best bit was four crayfish/lobsters, steamed and served with garlic butter. Still eating the ham and some turkey breast.

The masses of cooking just before the big day means we have good supplies of shortbread, chocolates, rum balls and fruit mince pies. Also lots of cherries. Delicious.

picking

The garden is a mass of roses and agapanthus. The alstromerias have given up in the heat, so I’ll wait for them to really die back before cleaning up the bed ready to improve the soil. I use bentonite, slow release fertiliser and then pea straw.

watching

Source sbs.com.au

We finally listened to the recommendations of so many people and have started watching the Danish thriller DNA. Yes, it’s great.

Photo Channel 5

I am also totally addicted to Our Yorkshire Farm. This is the story of hill farmers in Yorkshire. Their 2000 acre farm looks lovely in summer and very harsh in winter. Amanda, a shepherdess and Clive have nine children and this is a record of their seasonal activities on their mainly sheep farm. They have some cattle and horses, too. Hard work but really interesting although sometimes repetitive.

As this difficult year finishes and we’re all hoping for a CV-19 vaccine and economic stability it will be interesting to reflect on permanent changes as a result of restrictions. Will people continue to work from home, eschew large crowds, use hand gel frequently? Time will tell.

WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY,

HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

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