A few of my favourite things

I know this post is going to make me look shallow, so let me set things straight before I even start. There is nothing I love more in this world than my family, and especially my nieces and nephew. I would sacrifice my life if it meant saving even one of them.

So now that I've got that out of the way, lets get on with it. This post is about the material things that I love in life and some of the things I have missed most in the last three months. Or, just things that put a smile on my face.

1. My kick-ass plasma TV - Panasonic 42" Viera. For those of you who know me really well, you would know that I don't actually watch a lot of tele, in fact I can go days without even turning it on. But when I do watch it, I now REALLY enjoy it because of this beauty. And don't worry I did my research before purchasing, and I KNOW that plasmas consume far more power than LCDs, but I also am very very good at conserving power. My last electricity bill was $99.00 for the quarter. I chose viewing pleasure over the logistical stuff, because a tele is afterall about entertainment.


2. My Bose Sound dock - Such a sleek looking, powerful yet simple music system. It docks my iPod(s) and off I go. God I love technology, no need to change CDs ever again. And the sound, oh the sound... Now, there is a new version out, it is better because the cord can be disconnected so that the system is portable. I obviously want one but have no excuse to buy it yet.


3. My mattress - Sealy Posturepedic. You will have a mattress for at least 10 years if not more. You will use that mattress nearly every single night of those 10 years. So why oh why, would anyone skimp on something so important. My mattress cost $1,100 back in 2000 I think (on sale from $1,500), so if I have it for 10 years, then it has only cost me just over $100 per year. There are 365 days in a year, so what, it's costing me .30 cents per night? And the sleep I get in my own bed is nothing like what I get in other beds. And sleep is oh so precious.

4. My MacBook - I probably spend more time in front of my laptop than anything else. I love the internet, it has to be one of the top inventions in the world ever. Surely? I can while away hours and hours. It is an enabler for so many things, my favourite being able to keep in touch with friends, not to mention shopping from the comfort of my own home, as well as having a wealth of knowledge at my fingertips.

5. My iPods - I have three. My first was the first generation iPhoto, then I upgraded to the generation 5 (I think), as well as owning a shuffle. And yes, I actually do use all three. I love my music, it is the one thing I could not live without. In fact I would give up my kick-ass plasma before I gave up music. I wouldn't even have to think about it.

6. My CD rack/case - I had this specially made. I designed it, I haven't seen one like it before or since. It is a thing of beauty. My only regret is that I didn't get it made out of Jarrah or some other hard wood - but I didn't know it would turn out so great. It is beautiful.


7. My juicer - I truly believe that this juicer (and my use of it) has made a massive difference to my health. In fact, my lack of juices over the last three months have probably contributed to me being ill this week. Prior to this illness I had not been really sick for about three years (i.e. since I bought the juicer). No word of a lie. You can't actually eat all the fruit and veg that you can juice and drink. I reckon there are a few of you that might be cynical about this, but, whatever.


8. My car - Mazda 3 zoom zoom zoom. It is beautiful, it is quiet, it is smooth, it is sturdy. I don't actually believe in spending a lot of money on cars for many many reasons, but mainly because, they have one purpose - to get you from a to b, and also, because the second you drive out of the car yard, the value drops like a ton of bricks. No other big ticket item you purchase will de-value as quickly as a car. But, having spent a little bit more on this car than I normally would, I suspect I will never go back to buying a "$19,999" car again.

9. My camera/lens - Canon 400D and EFS 17-55, 2.8. Whilst I am dearly attached to my camera, you have no idea how much I love this lens. Because it has an aperture of 2.8, the photos I can now get in low-light conditions make it worth the money I spent on this lens (don't ask). And it shits all over the 17-85 I used to have, and I actually don't miss the extra zoom that lens allowed me.


10. My knives - Wusthof Classic. No kitchen should be without at least one decent knife. When I purchased mine back in 1996, I purchased a whole set and I have since added to the set and I regularly use every single one. But if you can only afford one knife, then you need the classic 'cooks knife'. I don't know which brands are best because I am no expert, but once again, never ever skimp on something so important because if you spend any time in the kitchen, a good knife will actually make your life a lot easier.


These are a few of my favourite things.

Ahh Sydney!

Coming up to the end of my stay in sunny Canberra, we (me, Lisa, Frank, Pooja and Gus) decided to go to Sydney for the weekend... to immerse ourselves in each other's company so to speak.

Everyone had a great time, but this is the trip from my perspective:

1. Checked into the hotel in Surrey Hills dropped off our bags and headed out for a bite to eat. Who should be walking (actually staggering) into the hotel at the same time? Bugger me if it wasn't Daniel Johns. OMG. I walked straight past him, and quite frankly I am still in shock.

2. Ate at a dodgy place down the road that gave ALL 5 of us the shits the next day! Noice!

3. Woke up early the next day to head into town to get to the new Apple store by 9.00. On the way there I walked straight past Scott Hicks (director of Shine), could not believe my eyes. Then a detour to a public lavatory was in order. Next stop was the Apple store. I was in Apple heaven... sigh. And here is the impressive internal stairway:


4. Went to Myers and bought two shirts in record time (the advantage of getting to the shops early).

5. Decided to head to the rocks (by foot), so had a leisurely wander down to the harbour and briefly sat enjoying the sun, the opera house, and the bridge.


6. Got to the rocks and wandered through a favourite book store and then the markets. Came across a piece of jewellery that I had regretted not buying over a year ago now, so promptly purchased it.

7. Slowly wandered back to the CBD via George St and numerous public toilets, noting the now massive crowd in the Apple store (the early bird really does catch the worm).

8. Time for lunch and I couldn't go past the Noodle Bar in DJ's food hall. I waited in line for half an hour, but it was worth it. I ordered the Prawn Salad (hot) with coriander and lime, and a glass of Georgiana (thank you Mark!). A simply delectable meal. Then I met up with Frank and Gus.

9. Helped Gus do some retail therapy, then we both went and had massage therapy. Met up with the others and went to Max Brenner for some chocolate therapy. OMG!

10. Wandered back up Oxford St and stopped into a music store, where I found Sia's new album, which I didn't know was coming out. Go to pay for it and the staff tell me it's a brilliant album, and it's not being released in Australia for another 4 months. They had imported it. I couldn't believe my luck.

11. When we finally got peckish we headed to Leichhardt for dinner. After dinner I decided I needed to rest my body while the others explored the depths of Kings Cross.

12. This morning - woke poor Gus up so that I wouldn't eat breakfast alone again. Ate at Bills (Bill Granger's restaurant) for the best ricotta hotcakes I have ever eaten (since last time I ate at Bills).

13. On to Oxford Street for a spot of shopping. Explored one of the best bookshops in Australia (Berkelouw - set aside some time for this particular activity if you ever go). Then I bought myself a red trenchcoat that the store is sending to me in Adelaide as they didn't have the right size/colour combo for me. Can't wait to get it!

I LOVE Sydney, it is just awesome. It has so much character and personality, and so many weird people. And this weekend, was I think, the best weekend I have ever had in Sydney. I love it, I love it, I love it.

Farewell to the C'linkers

I was just cleaning up my email account when I came a cross the email I sent out to a whole stack of colleagues on the day I left Centrelink. My blog seems like a more appropriate place to store it.

Oh, and reading back on it, I wouldn't change a word.


Hi everyone,

Most of you won't know this, but after 19.5 years I am leaving Centrelink today. It has come time to call it a day and see what awaits me in the private sector.

I have a lot to be thankful to Centrelink for. But for the most part I look back and remember the people I have worked with, the laughs we've had, the friends I've made and the mentors who have guided me and helped shaped me into the person I am today.

I was recently asked on a training course to think about people who have been my mentors in my career; people that I admire for whatever reason; people that I want to be like. Some people can only name one. I have been fortunate enough to come up with 3 names of people who really have shaped my career, and to whom I owe the most gratitude. They are:

* Ros R
* Fiona M
* Paul B


To all of you, Thank You!

But there are some other people that I have worked with as colleagues who have also really left an impression on me, and whom I will think about when I'm in future jobs, because of their intelligence, integrity and the way they behave at work. Actually they all think before they speak and act too, and I really should do way more of that (I do try). They are:

* Phillip P
* Richard H
* James D


It is because of all the people named above that I now have the confidence to leave the public service with the knowledge that I can do well out there.....


To all the people I have supervised over the years. I apologise for any of my crap you had to put up with! Believe me, I know my faults! To you, I say thank you so much, because you are the ones that worked so hard for me and delivered for me. I can only hope that occasionally you were able to learn from me too as I looked on in awe of so many of you as you just continued to impress me.

From the Port Augusta office, to Adelaide Call, SSG, UA (and Payment Cycles), CEPS, Edge and finally Refresh 7.1. I feel truly blessed to have had such a career and to have learnt so much and have had so many amazing colleagues. What a lucky girl I have been to have worked with you all.

Lastly, to all the wonderful friends I have made, people who welcomed me into their homes and all the good times we've had both at work or out at play. You know who you are and you know I think the world of you.

This is weird ! ! !

But at least the place will be a lot quieter now.......

Nina

Angels of truth

A night or two ago I had a dream, and of course I can't remember the dream. But, I remember me saying some words in that dream, and then making myself repeat those words over and over again because I knew the words were important and that I had to remember them when I awoke.

Upon waking the next morning, I remembered the course of events and slowly the words came back to me. I wrote them down the minute I 'had' them again. Since then, they have pretty much haunted me. (Although they probably mean nothing at all.)

So this post is really just a place holder for those words.

"Grant me the angels of truth for now I have seen what they offer".

Otherwise interpreted as; "Let me see the truth in all things ... now I have seen the truth in some things."

I hope my head clears of this rubbish soon. Or on the other hand, that I am enlightened soon. Geez deep or what!

Risotto with Pumpkin, Baby Spinach and Danish Feta

Despite being of Italian descent, I never grew up on risotto. It just wasn't a dish mum ever cooked, maybe risotto is more a northern Italian dish or something. Mum does make a rice dish that is quite soggy, but it is also very bland, and I've never liked it. Maybe that is the Calabrese risotto. I don't know.

I finally tasted Risotto for the first time a few years ago (yes I am a late bloomer). Eventually I tried making it for myself and have since attempted a number of different combinations of ingredients. When I first tried it, I used David Herbert's recipe out of his Perfect Recipes book. (If you're a regular to this site, you will know that I've used his recipes before.)

Tonight, I think I made my best ever risotto so far. Whilst I have used the same combination of ingredients before, tonight it all just seemed to fall into place. Even if I do say so myself.

I no longer use a recipe to make risotto, but my guess is that this is not too far from when I first tried David's recipe. And I also know that Lili (mia bella cugina) does her risotto completely different to me, so there is probably hundreds of different variations on the same theme.

Oh, and once again, I've got no idea about measurements, it's all just guesswork:

Arborio rice (a cup and half will serve two/three)
About a cup of good white wine (tonight I used a more expensive Cape Mentelle Sauv Blanc Semillon blend - maybe that is the key, if you won't drink it, don't cook with it)
Parmesan cheese
Stock (tonight I used chicken stock, but vegetable stock will do)
Olive oil
Onion
Baby spinach
Pumpkin (chopped into small pieces and roasted)
Danish feta

Heat the stock in a saucepan and then reduce the heat to low for the process.

In another saucepan heat the olive oil and add the chopped onion and stir until the onion softens. Add the rice and make sure you coat all the rice in the oil. Add the wine.

I am sure you know this, but you have to stir risotto... constantly. Stir until most of the wine has absorbed. Add some stock (about 1/2 a cup), keep stirring, again, until the stock has been absorbed. Keep stirring and adding stock until the rice is almost ready.

Add the baby spinach and continue the stock/stir process until the rice is fully cooked and all the stock absorbed. Stir in the roasted pumpkin, grated parmesan and feta cheese.

Take it off the heat, and let it sit for a bit.

Enjoy.


Sorry I don't have a photo - it's all gone!

Pearce Vietnamese Restaurant

If I don't have the Saigon Restaurant in Pearce listed on my things I like about Canberra, it's because it belongs on the list of "things I LOVE about Canberra". The food is just so good and cheap. The food is the closest I've tasted to what I got when I travelled in Vietnam. And the rice paper rolls are simply the best you will find in Canberra (I think) - if anyone knows of other good Vietnamese Restaurants in Canberra, please comment and let me know, because I'm willing to be proven wrong.

Now, don't expect much in the way of silver service (or any service for that matter); decor or comforts like heating in winter. But really I couldn't give a flying fuck about any of that, as long as the food is good.

Frustrating Frank, Licentious Lisa, Pushy Pooja and me (Nasty Nina) decided to go there last night on a whim after we hadn't been there since about June last year and it was just as good as I remember. The prices had gone up, but really, it was about time.


Satay Lamb


Caramelised Chicken


Mixed vegetables with fried crispy noodles


Frank with his black eye.