Sweet treats, straight to the hips!

Lately I've been out a wee bit, which isn't great on the waist or thighs or any other body part that can suffer excess podginess. But being the "festive" season, it really can't be avoided, unless you want to look like an anti-social twat and accept that you will be beginning the new year with significantly fewer friends... unfortunately the consequences can be a little dire, particularly being in the southern hemisphere. Which means summer, which means beaches, which means more visible flesh. But hey, if you have to do it, you may as well enjoy it the hell out right? So here's a little spread of what I've been munching on during my social outings...

 Pears poached in red wine with an almond and macadamia praline...

Toasted ciabatta with chocolate and strawberries dusted with coconut - sounds strange but surprisingly delicious!

 Japanese "kaiseki" - beef wrapped around okra

 Plum wine jelly and green tea ice cream

If you need me, I'll be at the gym.

Weird but wonderful tunes

Musical genius Jonny Greenwood is back to composing for the silver screen again - exciting stuff indeed. His latest project is with previously collaborated, Paul Thomas Anderson, on his new pseudo-religious drama The Master. If his previous filmscores are anything to go by (There Will Be Blood and Norwegian Wood), there should be some pretty impressed people come release day. Personally, I don't think he needs Radiohead anymore, no need to hide behind Thom's shadow Jonny! Also collaborating for the score is Zed-U, a British jazz trio, who definitely have the right sounds for a spooky and wonderful soundtrack.

Here's a few tasters of Mr. G for the unfamiliar...

 

There Will Be Blood

Norwegian Wood

Heart. Melts.

a REAL movie marathon...

At 3pm on Saturday, I signed myself up for 24 hours of non-stop movie-watching. The annual Fatso 24 Hour Movie Marathon is in its 12th year and as a movie marathon virgin, I had no idea what to expect. Sure, I'd been warned about some batshit crazy films that I would never had heard of (or ever would have if it wasn't for said event) but just how crazy, I had not a clue!

We turned up super early to make sure we booked ourselves a sweet spot in the queue for a sweet spot in la cinema. But turned out to be a rather miniature queue of diehard fans ready to roll in with their beanbags. Definitely a crowd full of the not-so-normal, which actually made me feel a bit inferior... but knowing I had my fluffy blanket and dressing gown rolled up in my bag made me think I just might fit in, when the already-wearing-dressing-gown folks started to appear on the streets of Avondale.

So just before 3, in we went into the quirky Hollywood Cinema  and nabbed a prime spot right at the front of the second level, laid out our supplies and waited with baited breath for what would be the opening film. I was most excited about seeing Attack the Block, mostly for being the only film actually announced prior to the day... praying that it wouldn't be screened at some ungodly hour! But it came on at film #3 luckily, and it was brilliant! Alien invasion of a rough-looking South London apartment block run by a gang of pot-smoking teens. Plenty of action, a bit of gore, and some freakin' scary alien gorilla wolf motherfuckers!

I think the absolute highlight of the whole event was none other than The Eliminators. Hot scientist, mad scientist, "mandroid", neanderthals, river guide with a shitty boat, and a ninja basically sums it up. Oh and a butch lesbian. Gotta be seen to be believed, and even then, you'll be wearing that confused look of "really? that was all one movie? REALLY?" - it will basically change your life.

tracking down a copy as we speak...

Then there was about 8 films worth of haziness where you're never sure if you dreamt it or saw it, or most likely a combination of the two. Off the top of my head, there were giants, vampires, werewolves, satan, a sailing boat, lots of screaming, some rape, and people getting fed dog stew. I felt a bit fucked up by around 4am. Then sometime before lunch (I think?) came the Miami Connection. Best piece of worst acting and scriptwriting of ALL TIME. Basic premise is, boyband does battle with ninja gang because nerdiest boyband member is dating the sister of a scary dude associated with the ninja gang. There's some drugs in there somewhere also. An absolute must-see to really understand the gravity of the amazingly crappy shitness of everything that is the Miami Connection.

And finally, the closing film, Re-Animator. Much loved frankenstein-esque gore-fest that gets borderline old man creepy. But a good closer nonetheless.

Finally saw the sunlight and burnt our corneas well and truly before driving home to a much needed shower and induced coma. Guess that's one way to spend a weekend. 

Thank you Ant Timpson!

Ex-rehab island

Last weekend we ventured out to a tiny island just over an hour away from Auckland called Rotoroa Island. It opened itself up to the public earlier this year after being previously used as a rehab facility for alcoholics and drug addicts. Sounds a bid morbid, but the island itself is beautiful. There is next to nothing there, except a chapel, visitor's centre, a cemetery, a few baches and one family. But on a sunny day, it's quite something, being isolated on your own beach with a few native birds. It's no wonder the "inebriates" would often fall off the wagon as soon as they were returned to the mainland post-rehab...

The aptly named "Ladies Bay" adjacent to the larger "Mens Bay".

I think the highlight of the day though was seeing our last couple of friends running for the boat at exactly the moment when we slowly backed away from the dock... missed it by THAT much!

Bonjour Paris!

 
I saw the most gorgeous and rather sweet film the other day which I have been waiting with a bit of baited breath for some time. Woody Allen's latest flick Midnight in Paris was beautiful, sweet, quirky, and wonderfully original and probably one of the best advertisements for the real (and slightly underground) Paris away from all the cliche touristic aspects. The usual Allen-esque sudden plot twists for sure, but the fantasy and magic somehow seems so believable, or maybe its just a case of wanting it to be real, that you get sucked into this wonderful world of 1920's Paris - one of my favourite eras in history. The lifestyle, the romance, and the dresses! The DRESSES!!!

Just as Vicky Cristina Barcelona did for Barcelona, Midnight in Paris makes you want to be there (in the rain) as soon as the credits roll. A must see for every girl, no matter how unromantic!

Pressure's on!

So we're already into the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup this weekend! My god, it's flown by at lightning speed! There was definitley a feeling of immense tension last Sunday in NZ during the match between Argentina and the All Blacks but we pulled through. And I think it really was all thanks to this man:

After losing, what many people consider our potential RWC hero, Dan Carter, he really stepped up his game and showed us what he is really made of! His quiet confidence is well impressive I think ;)

 I think this sums up the game pretty freakin' perfectly.

All Blacks vs Wallabies this weekend... can we do it? Let's hope so!

Go All Blacks!

It's all begun! Sure, I was a little uncertain about whether our little country could cope, but all in all, it seems to be going smoothly enough. Opening night was apparantely a bit of a clusterf$%# with people overload throughout the city and on our crappy public transport. But really that was no surprise... not sure why our politicians and planners were... I, myself, completely overloaded on endless buckets of coronas, which in retrospect, is the only way to do it!

My share...

Then I went to support my "other" team play France - I think we gave them a bit of a scare to say the least.

And so nice to see some really decent support for Japan, albeit mostly with the attitude of, "anyone but the French"...

Snow times!

I've been incredibly slack lately with the blog, but it's partly due to a brain research (ski) conference and partly due to just plain old laziness. But it was all for a good cause. The annual conference is always held during peak ski season in Queenstown, for that very reason. And we luckily got some AMAZING days on the mountain. Perfect weather, powdering delicious snow and unbeatable views.

At the top of one of the lifts, they even had an "Ice Bar" which was literally a shelf of snow with drinks and snacks, manned by a lovely guy who was quite possibly stoned or drunk (or most likely both). Turned out to be an absolute lifesaver though after a few runs when our throats were dry and we needed a satisfying Snickers bar :P

To top it all off, I impulsively bought myself a new snowboard after getting snowgear envy over a friend who bought the prettiest set of ski gear. I think I now understand the whole boys and toys craziness...

But look at how pretty it is!!!

Yeah yeah!

Following on from my favourite men post, I went to see the genius of comedy, Dylan Moran last night. I was in chronic stitches the entire way through, which added to the already present abdominal (muscle) pain from partaking in a ridiculously ab-focused pilates class moments earlier. He donned his usual scruffy attire with that utterly amazing head of hair and cracked joke after hilarious joke for almost two hours. I seriously considered whether the ab workout was such a necessity after all! From killing people with a slice of turkey, to fat chavs being a collection of spheres, the comedy was completely magical, like you'd been cast by the funny spell. I just didn't want it to end, and neither did the rest of the crowd when he announced, "I'm going to go in a minute," which was immediately followed by a perfectly synchronised and genuinely dejected, "OHHHHHHHH." He is truly one of THE greatest comedians of our time.

If you get the chance to see him, don't think about it. Just GO!!!

My favourite men

I adore these men. Some for their faces. Some for their voices. Some for their talents. And some, because I just do.

Michael Caine - he's so so loveable and always outstanding. Notably, see him in Children of Men, Batman Begins/Dark Knight.

David Bowie - if I get to see him live, wearing tight tights, I will die happy. (P.S. The Labyrinth, The Prestige, nuff said)

 

Benedict Cumberbatch (and by extention, Sherlock Holmes) - his FACE!! His VOICE!!

Martin Freeman - was Tim, and now Watson, and later Bilbo Baggins.


Simon Pegg - funny as hell (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead). Combine him with...

Nick Frost - funnier than hell. This is true bromance.

Johnny Depp - my teenage love, as cliche as it is, he's still one of the best character actors out there.

Danny Boyle - he makes awesome movies. Period. I think three have made "my" list.

John Murphy - he makes awesome soundtracks (often for Danny Boyles' awesome movies).

 

Colin Firth - any girl that says she isn't in love with him is either a) lying, or b) bats for the other team.

 
Gordon Ramsey - he swears, he yells, and he cooks.

Dylan Moran - so funny and so Irish. Oh and the hair.

 

Bill Bailey - multi-talented funny (-looking) man.

Alan Rickman - how could you not love him. And that voice. AND he's Snape!

Freddie Mercury - I wish I was born a decade earlier, for so many reasons.

Julian Casablancas - the VOICE. And just him.

Salvador Dali - so beautifully twisted, and he has an AMAZING moe!

Kurosawa Akira - best filmmaker of all time???

Murakami Haruki - I've mentioned this guy previously, but I think it's safe to say he's an absolute genius in my mind.

Ricky Gervais - he's such a dick. Thank god he's funny.

Cillian Murphy - beautiful and talented. What more do you need?

 

Noel Fielding - so lovely. Him and his hair. (The Mighty Boosh is legendary)

Hmmm this turned into a rather long list... how greedy of me! xx

I guess this is why they call it therapy

For the first time in my life, I completely maxed out my credit card to the point that it declined (twice!!) when I tried to purchase last minute duty free on my way home. And there I was thinking that my bank had cancelled my card because of my excessive card-swiping! But I think it was worth it. A few crazy purchases probably, but the wardrobe is definitely looking more rainbowy for it. Check it out :)

Not entirely sure why, but in one store (i.d.s), I got completely obsessed with this mustardy yellow colour and ended up buying an entire outfit in this colour (not that I plan to wear it all at once!).

Then came the colourful pants! I think I've definitely got more adventurous in recent years with colour. Left and right are Zara, the middle, Sass & Bide.

Love. Love. Love.

The Rain in Spain...

 Streets of Barcelona and Gaudi's beautiful Sagrada Familia

Since I've been harping on almost exclusively about films lately, I thought I'd do something a bit different. One of my other loves is food and cooking, but lately I've been a bit on the slack side (with that all-too-common excuse of "I'm too busy") and haven't been cooking a whole lot. I eat almost everything (minus coriander, bananas and chicken; the latter due to an episode of Dominos' "funky chicken") and will probably try (almost) everything once - although the whole eating insects business has always puzzled me somewhat.

 Barcelona market

So anywho, I thought I'd share with you all, one of my staple dishes that is pretty much foolproof and also originates from one of my favourite countries to visit (and plus I've just started taking Spanish lessons so I'm channelling some Spanishness). Its a one pan wonder that's perfect when you have lots of mouths to feed and it always looks spectacular with its vibrant colours.

 Valencia - the birthplace of the paella

Seafood Paella

Ingredients
2 cups arborio rice
1 onion
3 cloves garlic
4 chorizo sausages
200g diced chicken/pork/lamb (any meat really)
100g prawns
12 mussels
2 tomatoes
1 spring onion
1 pepper (any colour, but brighter the better)
1/2 cup peas
2 tbsp olive oil
4 cups chicken stock
2 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp thyme
1/2 tsp saffron
1 bunch parsely
1 lime

1. If you have a paella pan then great, but I use a big deep frying pan and that still works fine. Finely chop the onion and garlic and fry off in a pan with olive oil until it slightly colours. Add the chorizo and diced meat, season and brown.
2. Add the rice dry along with the paprika, thyme salt and pepper, and fry until the rice starts to pop a bit. I cook the rice for ages, I find it gives the rice more bite when its cooked.
3. Add the stock - it should cover the contents of the pan completely. If it starts to look dry, you can add more water/stock as you go. Add the saffron and give it gentle stir and cover until the water is absorbed.
4. Once the rice looks cooked, lay the mussels on top of the rice. I usually put them in a circular pattern fanned out, so it looks like a big flower. Covered, they should take about 10 minutes. Halfway through scatter the prawns, chopped tomatoes, peas and spring onion all over and cover until the prawns are cooked.
5. Serve in the pan sprinkled with load of chopped parsely and a few wedges of lime.

 

 Buen Provecho!