Monday 14 September 2009
Saturday 31 January 2009
Unfinished Sympathy
There's one song I want played when I die. I want my coffin to burn to this song. It's "Unfinished Sympathy" by Massive Attack. I love this song so much. I remember first hearing this song when I was a kid and not understanding it, not recognising the sheer beauty of the work involved and it was only years later that I realised that people still played this song at parties and in pubs and clubs and bars and no one questioned the validity of the song. It's timeless. It's one of those strangely timeless, ageless works of music that defy logic and explanation as to why they're so revered. Everything about it - the strings, the electronic beats, the searingly beautiful vocals - is perfection. I don't care if the song has an Elgar sample - the fact that someone sampled Elgar and made it work so beautifully on a totally different level and with a totally different theme is incredible. I don't care if they used a Paul Simon song for the percussion. It works. It sears. It tears through all the crap and it punches you in the face. And it'll be around long after I'm dead.
It is, literally, a work of modern art. And it's unsurpassed. No one has ever covered it and done it justice. No one will.
It is, literally, a work of modern art. And it's unsurpassed. No one has ever covered it and done it justice. No one will.
Thursday 22 January 2009
Wolffe
For the past couple of days, I've been playing Host. For the past couple of days, I've been playing host to...well I don't know how to describe him. Big Bad is the phrase I often use to describe this guy, but he's not bad, far from it. He's bad for your reputation, but he's not bad in the strictest sense of the word. I'd forgotten how deep his voice is, how wickedly funny his laugh is. I mean, shit, seven years since we last saw each other and it was almost as if I never left. Christ.
I hate the fact that he's got someone waiting back home for him. I hate the fact that he's heading home at the end of the month and I hate the fact that I can't go with him because I would. In a heartbeat. And yes, I know he's got someone, but lying side-by-side on my bed after I whipped his arse at Monopoly...my god. I wanted to lose myself in him. I wanted to just tell him "Just do whatever you want because I'm not going to fight you this time." He still wears the same fucking aftershave, fuck me. He's older, I'm older, I'm more responsible, he's grown up a little. But he's still my Wolffe, he's still the guy I fell head over heels for and my God, listening to him laughing at the television...I dunno. Watching him move...dear god, he doesn't walk, he prowls. He's feline. He's everything I could possibly want in someone, he's everything and I hate, oh how I hate the guy who is waiting for him back in Auckland. I've never met you, but I hate you. I often say jealousy is like guilt, a petty waste of emotion but my God, I can't stop feeling anger towards this guy for being with the only guy I still smile about when I think of him.
He says that he's planning on leaving New Zealand mid-year to head up to Britain again. Apparently the work situation there is pretty dire. God, I hope he does and I hope he leaves the new guy at home. I didn't realise what I missed about him until I realised this evening that the food I was making - the same stuff I love making - was stuff he had shown me how to make. Sweet potato soup. Lamingtons. Christ, two things I just make because I *like* them and I had forgotten it was him who had shown me how to make them. Fuck, fuck, fuck fuck fuck and yes, I'd love it if he would. It's everything. Seeing him come out of the shower this morning and towelling himself off. I mean, christ, he's certainly been working out and I just wanted to run in there and just run off with that towel. Fuuuuuuuuuuuck.
Ah well. I need to win the lottery sometime soon!
I hate the fact that he's got someone waiting back home for him. I hate the fact that he's heading home at the end of the month and I hate the fact that I can't go with him because I would. In a heartbeat. And yes, I know he's got someone, but lying side-by-side on my bed after I whipped his arse at Monopoly...my god. I wanted to lose myself in him. I wanted to just tell him "Just do whatever you want because I'm not going to fight you this time." He still wears the same fucking aftershave, fuck me. He's older, I'm older, I'm more responsible, he's grown up a little. But he's still my Wolffe, he's still the guy I fell head over heels for and my God, listening to him laughing at the television...I dunno. Watching him move...dear god, he doesn't walk, he prowls. He's feline. He's everything I could possibly want in someone, he's everything and I hate, oh how I hate the guy who is waiting for him back in Auckland. I've never met you, but I hate you. I often say jealousy is like guilt, a petty waste of emotion but my God, I can't stop feeling anger towards this guy for being with the only guy I still smile about when I think of him.
He says that he's planning on leaving New Zealand mid-year to head up to Britain again. Apparently the work situation there is pretty dire. God, I hope he does and I hope he leaves the new guy at home. I didn't realise what I missed about him until I realised this evening that the food I was making - the same stuff I love making - was stuff he had shown me how to make. Sweet potato soup. Lamingtons. Christ, two things I just make because I *like* them and I had forgotten it was him who had shown me how to make them. Fuck, fuck, fuck fuck fuck and yes, I'd love it if he would. It's everything. Seeing him come out of the shower this morning and towelling himself off. I mean, christ, he's certainly been working out and I just wanted to run in there and just run off with that towel. Fuuuuuuuuuuuck.
Ah well. I need to win the lottery sometime soon!
Monday 12 January 2009
Fuck off and die.
If there's one thing I hate, it's being ill. I noticed on Saturday evening that my head felt...warm? Fuzzy?...and then on Sunday I woke up and felt like someone had punched me through the back of the skull and had massaged my brain to goo. This morning? I feel loathsome. I managed to get up, get into the shower and then my legs just felt like they were going to give way. I *hate* being unwell. I feel so damned guilty phoning in sick, I feel so damned pathetic.
Well, nothing else for it. I'm currently tucked up in bed, laptop on lap (thank God for wi-fi) and I'm contemplating having some soup for lunch. I fucking hate this country and I hate the illnesses that sweep up around winter. Die off, the lot of you!
I demand sympathy!
Well, nothing else for it. I'm currently tucked up in bed, laptop on lap (thank God for wi-fi) and I'm contemplating having some soup for lunch. I fucking hate this country and I hate the illnesses that sweep up around winter. Die off, the lot of you!
I demand sympathy!
Sunday 11 January 2009
Laksa Lemak
Okay. This is a soup recipe from Malaysia and it's divine. It's spicy, so watch yourself Maureen!
To make...
You'll need...
675g of small clams
800ml of coconut milk
50g of ikan bilis (dried anchovies)
900ml of water
115g of finely chopped shallots
4 garlic cloves, chopped
6 macadamia nuts or blanched almonds, chopped - go for the almonds if you're concerned about the fat content of the macadamias...
3 lemongrass stalks, roots trimmed
90ml of sunflower oil
1cm cube of shrimp paste
25g of mild curry powder
Couple of curry leaves
2-3 aubergines, trimmed. If you want an exact measurement, the recipe calls for 675g.
675g of peeled prawns
10ml of sugar
1 head of Chinese leaves, thinly sliced
115g of beansprouts, washed
2 spring onions, chopped
50g of crispy fried onions
115g of firm tofu
675g of mixed noodles, failing that, udon.
Prawn crackers to serve!
To make it, you need to...
1. Scrub your clams (ooh err!) and then put into a large pan with at least a centimetre of water. Bring to the boil, cover and then steam your clams for three to four minutes until the clams have opened. Drain and discard unopened clams. Make the coconut milk up to 1.2 litres with water. Put the anchovies in a pan and add the measured amount of water. Bring to the boil and simmer for twenty minutes.
2. Meanwhile, put the shallots, garlic and nuts into a mortar (or a grinder/food processor), cut off the lower five centimetres of the lemongrass, chop finely and add to the mortar (or grinder/processor). Pound it, baby, to paste.
3. Heat the oil in a large heavy pan, add the shallot paste and fry until the mixture is aromatic. Bruise the remaining lemongrass and add to the pan. Toss over the heat to release the flavour from the lemongrass. Mix the shrimp paste with the curry powder to a paste with some of the coconut milk, add to the pan and toss the mixture over heat for a minute, stiring constantly and keeping the heat low. Add the curry leaves and the remaining coconut milk.
4. Strain the stock into a pan and discard the anchovies. Bring to the boil and add your aubergines. Cook for ten minutes or until tender and the skins come off easily. Lift out of the stock, peel and cut into thick strips.
5. Arrange the aubergines on a serving platter. Sprinkle the prawns with sugar, add to the stock and cook for 2-4 minutes until they turn pink. Remove and arrange next to your aubergines. Add the Chinese leaves, the beansprouts, spring onions and crispy onions to the platter along with the clams.
6. Gradually stir the remaining anchovy stock into the pan of soup and bring to the boil. Rinse the tofu in boiling water, cool slightly and squeeze to remove excess oil. Cut each piece in half and add to the soup. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer.
7. Cook your noodles according to the packet instructions, drain and pile into a dish. Remove the curry leaves and lemongrass from the soup. Place the noodles, soup and platter of seafood and vegetables on the table with the prawn crackers and allow your guests to help themselves!
The recipe does state you can substitute the clams for mussels if you can't get your paws on clams. And remember - discard ALL clams/mussels that do not open in the cooking process!
To make...
You'll need...
675g of small clams
800ml of coconut milk
50g of ikan bilis (dried anchovies)
900ml of water
115g of finely chopped shallots
4 garlic cloves, chopped
6 macadamia nuts or blanched almonds, chopped - go for the almonds if you're concerned about the fat content of the macadamias...
3 lemongrass stalks, roots trimmed
90ml of sunflower oil
1cm cube of shrimp paste
25g of mild curry powder
Couple of curry leaves
2-3 aubergines, trimmed. If you want an exact measurement, the recipe calls for 675g.
675g of peeled prawns
10ml of sugar
1 head of Chinese leaves, thinly sliced
115g of beansprouts, washed
2 spring onions, chopped
50g of crispy fried onions
115g of firm tofu
675g of mixed noodles, failing that, udon.
Prawn crackers to serve!
To make it, you need to...
1. Scrub your clams (ooh err!) and then put into a large pan with at least a centimetre of water. Bring to the boil, cover and then steam your clams for three to four minutes until the clams have opened. Drain and discard unopened clams. Make the coconut milk up to 1.2 litres with water. Put the anchovies in a pan and add the measured amount of water. Bring to the boil and simmer for twenty minutes.
2. Meanwhile, put the shallots, garlic and nuts into a mortar (or a grinder/food processor), cut off the lower five centimetres of the lemongrass, chop finely and add to the mortar (or grinder/processor). Pound it, baby, to paste.
3. Heat the oil in a large heavy pan, add the shallot paste and fry until the mixture is aromatic. Bruise the remaining lemongrass and add to the pan. Toss over the heat to release the flavour from the lemongrass. Mix the shrimp paste with the curry powder to a paste with some of the coconut milk, add to the pan and toss the mixture over heat for a minute, stiring constantly and keeping the heat low. Add the curry leaves and the remaining coconut milk.
4. Strain the stock into a pan and discard the anchovies. Bring to the boil and add your aubergines. Cook for ten minutes or until tender and the skins come off easily. Lift out of the stock, peel and cut into thick strips.
5. Arrange the aubergines on a serving platter. Sprinkle the prawns with sugar, add to the stock and cook for 2-4 minutes until they turn pink. Remove and arrange next to your aubergines. Add the Chinese leaves, the beansprouts, spring onions and crispy onions to the platter along with the clams.
6. Gradually stir the remaining anchovy stock into the pan of soup and bring to the boil. Rinse the tofu in boiling water, cool slightly and squeeze to remove excess oil. Cut each piece in half and add to the soup. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer.
7. Cook your noodles according to the packet instructions, drain and pile into a dish. Remove the curry leaves and lemongrass from the soup. Place the noodles, soup and platter of seafood and vegetables on the table with the prawn crackers and allow your guests to help themselves!
The recipe does state you can substitute the clams for mussels if you can't get your paws on clams. And remember - discard ALL clams/mussels that do not open in the cooking process!
Sunday
The bread turned out pretty damned good, if I don't mind saying so myself. I think the next time I make it, I'm going to actually roll the dough out and cut into chunks rather than pull what I thought were handfuls of dough off each time. Either I misjudged, or I have magically shrinking and expanding hands. Hmm.
Good god, it's Monday tomorrow. Last week in work until I go on holiday and quite frankly, I'm not exactly thrilled about this last week because, hey, I just want to go on holiday, lie in bed, watch telly and that's that. That's the thrilling extent of my life, my darlings, I go to work and I come home and I go to bed. Hardly surprising, really, given that I get paid a shit wage and I work shit hours. Seriously, shitty hours. Ah well.
But, hey, at least I get a long-lie tomorrow morning. In for half eleven, back out for nine. Shiiit.
Good god, it's Monday tomorrow. Last week in work until I go on holiday and quite frankly, I'm not exactly thrilled about this last week because, hey, I just want to go on holiday, lie in bed, watch telly and that's that. That's the thrilling extent of my life, my darlings, I go to work and I come home and I go to bed. Hardly surprising, really, given that I get paid a shit wage and I work shit hours. Seriously, shitty hours. Ah well.
But, hey, at least I get a long-lie tomorrow morning. In for half eleven, back out for nine. Shiiit.
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