SEAFOOD COOKING CLASS !

This was one of my Birthday presents! (Thank you Jon!) A day out at the Auckland Seafood Cooking School.
It began at 10 am and I arrived at number 22 ready to cook.



We were greeted by white-aproned staff and seated on red cushioned chairs and served with a glass of wine.
While we gathered - there were about 30 of us, the chef appeared to meet and greet us - it was Peta Mathias - and we looked at seafood recipe books on display.



Once everyone had checked in we were guided to the demonstration room, where Peta cooked the meal for us that we were going to cook for ourselves later - you can imagine the concentration.
In between cooking the 3 course meal - this was smoked oysters in batter, pesto and gruyere paste on bagels and whole salmon roasted in rock salt with herb stuffing - she regaled us with stories about her cooking travels and her views on men!
She has written the famous book 'Can We Help it if We're Fabulous?' and her recent satire 'Just in Time To Be Too Late - why Men are Like Buses' is now on my must-read list!



Once the hour demonstration was finished and we'd had question time we were ushered into the cooking room, where we were in teams with one hour to cook the same meal!
You've never seen a Team work so well! Boning the salmon, making the stuffing and creating the rock salt mound was hectic.. at the same time we were making batter and chopping vegetables, peeling asparagus and blending the soup.



I grabbed the pestle and mortar and pounded the paste, covered the salmon with salt, made stuffing and peeled and chopped until my head was in a whirl and I was ready for my next glass of wine! All the time there were sous chefs at your disposal, clearing away bowls and supplying items - cooking with no mess and an instant assisstant (my idea of heaven)



We paused to eat our starters at long tables set up for Christmas, with shining glasses and a goodie bag on each chair, of foodie items and recipes.
There were two selected wines, one for the oysters and a second white chardonnay chosen to go with the salmon. We all got quite tiddly.



Then it was back to check on the salmon, serve it out and eat with the chef who came and gave her considered opinion of our efforts. We were all quite proud of our end product (there were 5 of us - 2 sets of mums and daughters & me) except that we think the cornflour was in the soup by mistake..oh well!
What a lovely morning! She runs a cooking trip to Marrakesh next year - I'm sorely tempted!

THE VIEW !

This was the view from the balcony this morning!

WOODLANDS Historic Homestead

We were on our way up to explore Hamilton, when we came across a little brown sign saying 'Historic Homestead'. Because it was coffee time, we stopped, drove up the long gravel path, and discovered a hidden treasure! Almost "national trusty!"





It seems that, in 1864 the Crown confiscated a tract of land, and 98,000 acres of that land were bought by the Piako Swamp Company, who drained it..
By 1902 there were herds of cows and sheep and most of the land had been converted to pasture...
The land was subdivided (no-one would buy the lot for $1 an acre) and sold off...



The Homestead was built..





After WW1 it was sub-divided between the sons of the owning family..



During the Depression it became a Relief Camp for suffering families..
I like the fact that in 1941 300 Army horses were sent there to recuperate..In 1976 the property was bequeathed to the Presbyterian Church..
In 1988 15 acres were made into a 'historic site' and this is the Homestead that we visited..



The house itself is built out of kauri wood and no-one knows who the architect is..
It has a waterwheel and is a rare surviving homestead of that era - you have to remember that 125 years is HUGE here!



It's the closest to a National Trust property that we have discovered here - so we thoroughly enjoyed our visit!



The gardens had little Monet style bridges and hedged walkways, there was even a lake.





The rooms had Victorian era furniture in and the dining room was all set out for tea. There was a musty cellar and croquet lawn - must remember to bring the girls here for a picnic in the summer! Have to find a croquet set though, and dress up as Alice!





The chamber pot was a nice touch; we're talking history here!





They do weddings and parties here, it's a beautiful backdrop..scones and tea in the gardens afterwards! lots of climbing roses and manicured lawns.. then we drove on to Hamilton to explore.

ARMAGEDDON !

Sophia and her friends went off for the day to the Armageddon Expo at the Events Centre in Auckland. I wasn't quite sure what it was (doesn't sound good, does it?!) only that it involved 'dressing up' as a character and that Sophia was going as Johnny Depp (there's a surprise!)



Some of the amazing events included the biggest pillow fight ever in Auckland; 'See if Your Stomach can Handle the Eating' competitions, film screenings, zorbing in a pool a roller derby, live music and a Masquerade Ball. Sophia's friend went as Will Turner (which you can tell from the facial expression!)



Of course, there was a 'Meet The Twilight Stars' table, which proved popular!
I need to find a Team Edward T shirt for Christmas!

ST HELIER to MISSION BAY

This is probably one of my favourite walks which I've discovered this year. I drive to St Helier,which you can see is a little, palm tree lined, seaside town..





I park next to the tiny Library and walk to Mission Bay (a busy, cafe crowded, vibrant little town) which is a total contrast to St Helier..
Once there, I buy a coffee in one of the many cafes and then walk back to St Helier.







There is a boardwalk all the way along the coast and it goes much further than I've ever managed. My usual walk takes me past three coves and Kohimarama Beach (which means gathering-in-of-light) is the central one and a very quiet, sedate spot, which has the imposing yacht club.







Folk jog, cycle, walk their dogs (and cats) all the way along, and for the whole walk there is an open view of the ocean and all the activities that NZers get up to - the windsurfers, banana boats, skiers, jet boats, even The Spirit of NZ can be seen from the shore sometimes.







It's a beautiful walk and St Helier has been put on my list of quiet, scenic places I would like to live - but within a 15 minute walk of ice-cream parlours, cinema and shops, restaurants and cafes. So, civilization is just around the corner (literally)
It's interesting that St Heliers used to be a horse stud park and was called Glen Orchard - the idea was to provide a horse tram service, but that failed and it became a quiet residential area. No sign of any horses these days!
All along the path there is the ever-present view of Rangitoto, against green manicured lawns or soft white beaches.







Here are some of the photos along the way - an eclectic mixture of housing runs parallel to the coast road, some of them are like dolls' houses and others must cost millions. When I win the lottery I'll be spoiled for choice!











So...when you come to visit I'll take you on the walk!

BIRTHDAY AGAIN !

It's that time of year again! Another year older and wiser, isn't that what they say? Sadly, I was at work on my birthday this year - but my students knew (somehow) and the day was quite pleasant, with a few hugs thrown in!



The day began with a special breakfast (the girls were up at 6.30 to make it!) and present opening.. thank you everyone who remembered!



The weather was beautiful - it's the start of summer here - and the after school meeting was cancelled, so we hurried home for the birthday feast! Instead of going out for dinner the girls cooked.. creamy mushrooms in brandy, on toasted bagel with bacon and roasted vine-tomatoes.. chicken and chorizo spicy risotto .. one of my favourites.. and the piece de resistance.. homemade marbled chocolate cheesecake with coffee cream.. then a stagger to the sofa, to watch a DVD Ju sent!



Beautiful bouquets of flowers, sweet peas,roses and lilies, chocolate from England (Yay!) and so many other lovely things - I feel thoroughly spoiled! Another year to wait now..THANK YOU girls! XXXXXXXXXXX