Sunny, Yellow Cake Day

Today I cooked a sunny, yellow "Orange Cake" - fluffy and yummy on the inside, crispy and golden on the outer crust. Iced with sweet citrus and puffs of sugar! Yum! A morning at the beach with "our nipper" at Nippers - beautiful. xo xo Pottering with my family in a tidy house after a rigorous day of house work yesterday. Aaaaahhhh.... Love this season, love this time of year.

My first, published Book Review - q.e.d.

Book Review by Tracey Mason on:

'We Have Met The Enemy -Self Control in an Age of Excess' by Daniel Akst

We all have our vices. Think not? Can't drop the habit of that extra sugar in your morning coffee? Can't ditch that monkey on your back that stops you from writing your memoir or completing the renovation of the home that you and your increasing family struggle to live around? Can't give up the wine whilst you cook the evening meal? Can't bear to go to the garage anymore for fear that the car that you have been going to do up for the last thirteen years may tumble upon you and sever one of your limbs?

This book, 'We Have Met The Enemy' helps us to define the habits, behaviours or practices that we most struggle to self-regulate. Importantly, Akst points out from the outset that our potential failings may not necessarily be overtly addictive substances such as drugs or alcohol but more commonly and perhaps more perversely, daily temptations such as: food, procrastination, work, sex, the Internet or even our relationship with our i phone, blackberry or even our television viewing consumption. It is these objects of desire that we are increasingly self-flagellating about.

Upon reading Akst's research it can be quite confronting to realise that indeed one or many of these temptations may require immediate attention, self-monitoring and self-management.

In an age of abundance, excess, morbid obesity rates and waste of global resources (in the Western world), Akst advocates the health and lifestyle benefits of curbing our enthusiasm in our bid for materialism and instant gratification.

We have veered far off course from the Stone Age, when food and family relationships represented survival and protection. In our modern age we are now thrust a limitless array of what Akst coins "super normal stimuli" in a consumerist society, whereby every item is at our disposal and marketed within an inch of its life.

Food is now glossed up, heavily styled and photographed and made to appeal to our very identity in order to provide comfort, relief or even a raise in our social standing. The food we eat can make us 'hot' or not, hip or uncool.

Does pouring our energy into acquaintances or strangers via social networking cause us to neglect our core relationships with our immediate family who require our time and nourishment the most? Are we battling a cold war of internet warfare within ourselves?

Has our resolve and ability to have a handle on the "self" in self-control caught up with the trends of superfluousness pushed our way? It certainly seems not.

The human race is poisoning itself in a bid to "live life to the fullest". And yet, it would appear that the paradox of "living life to the fullest", may very well mean trimming the fat off some of our more excessive pursuits.

It is comforting to know however, as I slog away in an essentially 9 to 5 job, earning but a humble wage, that the old adage of "the simple things in life are often the best", still rings true. Akst illustrates in no uncertain terms that wealth leads to moral decline and degradation. What caused syphillus in the Kings of old, due to over indulgence of wine, food, power and women, were foretelling omens indeed.

The fact that I read Akst's philosophies whilst on honeymoon in a 5 star resort, scratching down notes in preparation for writing this book review, kind of left a bad taste in my mouth, as I battled with my own resolve and consequently said no to dessert and my third wine, all the while being mindful that I was already full to capacity. 'We Have Met the Enemy, Self-Control in an Age of Excess', berates like a chirpy Jiminy Cricket sitting on the shoulder of your social and moral conscience of everyday living.

Indeed, it seems we have met the enemy and the enemy is us. We have perpetuated the very society that is killing us.

An insightful and at times caustic book, but not one to be packed for your honeymoon.

"Mummy, I picked you a handful of clovers".

The squidgy little paws and delighted little moon face handed me a bunch of clover. These are the simple little pleasures that make my days meaningful.

Catching the light and casting shadows on my kitchen windowsill, Lily's handful of clovers make me smile. xo

Crispy and paper thin now, I can't bear to throw them out.

They have taken up permanent residence in the natural museum that is our home.xo

Kiss

Wading through wedding photos, narrowing the field of possible enlargements!?

Each of the many million professional wedding images seem to vary by a millimetre. This one and the top one vary by a smidge of difference!

Going over the light and detail of each one is exhausting and quite hard on my eyes! I love every one of them, each for different reasons.

Writing beside a vase of Easter Daisies

The image above is of the vases of flowers that were on the tables at our wedding.

When I went shopping yesterday I bought a bunch of white, lacey, Easter Daisies to put in a vase at home, perhaps not wanting to let go of the essence of April and Easter and our wedding.

Honeymooning at home and inspired to write again...

Wrote ooooooooooooooodles today. Back to the memoir that I love. xo

Married life and the honeymoon.......wedding photos below. U may have to scroll to older posts.

Every morning I have woken up to Paul rolling over and saying "Good morning my sexy wife!"

After plunger coffee and breaky I have been going for a jog on the beach (okay, I can't jog - it's a shuffle. The Cliff Young, potato farmer variety). Paul surfs while I shuffle...

We return from the beach and I select one of my many herbal teas that I packed for the honeymoon - and I sip, slowly in the sun.

If I'm not booked in for a treatment at the Day Spa - I will read. I have had treatments 2 x days consecutively. Day 1, my treatment at Endota was called "Never, Never Land". This treatment lasts a glorious 3 hours... I was entombed in clay, wrapped in a cocoon of hot towels, lavished with a pedicure, a facial, a 1 hour massage and then a 20 minute soak in the spa surrounded by candle light. At the end of the treatment I was levitating...

I backed Day 2 up with a 1 hour massage for good measure.

Prior to my 3 hour journey into "Never, Never Land", I was asked to choose an essential oil for my treatment. I was asked to smell 3 different oils. Amy, my therapist, told me that I would sub-consciously "choose what my body needed". Amy made a point of not telling me what each fragrance was until I had chosen the scent that most appealed to me.

I chose "Breathe" - a combination of peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus and lemon. Amy thought it unusual but very positive that I chose "Breathe" over the more "sedate" scents, because so often after a wedding, women choose "Dream" or "Calm" because their bodies are begging to shut down, sleep, hibernate and recuperate...

I don't feel tired at all but rather fresh, alive and invigorated -like I want to inhale all that life and love has to offer! I know, I sound crazy!!! Crazy happy maybe....???!!!

At 5 o'clock each evening Paul and I make our way down to the 'The 3 Nippers Restaurant' at the resort and enjoy happy hour!

Being a creature of habit I have ordered the same thing every evening for dinner -scallops served on cauliflower puree for entree and then an entree serve of king prawns with avocado and tomato bruschetta for main. If I find a good thing, I like to stick to it. Paul has tried everything on the menu, be it duck or pork belly etc... I have completed every evening meal with a rich and creamy soy cappucino...

Australis Diamond Beach is half an hour from Wingham and is a secret, little patch of heaven! Our apartment is on the beach. It is tranquil, secluded and totally glassed in on one side of our bedroom - creating a spectacular wall of stars at night.

We keep ringing Lily at Nanny and Poppy's but with her cousins there, her Pony Sarah and the puppies, Lucy and Frody, she won't have a bar of us!?!

I am now off to apply some of my new "skin drink" - Bush Honey and Macadamia moisturiser and then time for a tipple of Moet and Chandon (thanks Simon & Lynelle - classy gift, I have never tried it before)! xo xo

Don't hope to poke my eyes out just yet - aaaah ..... have to go home tomorrow !!! I don't ever want to wash up or cook again!

Mum, Dad, Trude, Paul, Lily and I

The crew

Married!

Paul jumped the gun - so eager to marry Lily and I, he said "I do" before the vows

The little trio xo

Ceremony at Mum n Dad's at Cedar Party

Our Flowergirl

Lily the flowergirl riding her pony up the aisle helped by the beautiful Megan...

Dear girls from work,

No one has ever written me a song and sung it loud and proud in a restaurant full of people! Tatham - hilarious, hats off to you. I learnt a few things about myself! I never knew my derriere caused such speculation at work - particularly from other women! xo

I had the most fun, funny and perfect Hen's night!!!! Thank you little Marie for organising 35 wonderful women to come together and celebrate 'love'. Everyone was so relaxed and happy!

I was positively spoilt! My flowers, champagne, champagne flute and pink and black lingerie, boxed in tissue paper and tied with a ribbon - ahh - so romantic, sexy and beautiful!!!

I love u guys - thank you so much! This time next week I will be married! Watch this space!xo

Tracey

A word from the bride to be ...

3 weeks to go until the wedding !!!

2 weeks to go until I finish up at work !!!

I do not care if it rains, snows or sleets - I just want to be married, be wearing my wedding band, see Paul wearing his wedding band, finally be in my dress, be Mrs Mason, celebrate with family and friends, relax, have a good night and a perfect and long honeymoon.....

5 weeks off for total and utter heart stopping relaxation !!!

I cannot wait ! ! !

This is it.... !!!

At the end of every year at Kindergarten Transition, I stand behind the microphone and address the school hall, full to the brim with new and upcoming Kindy students' parents and I say in my speech:

"...in the first days and weeks of big school, your child will call upon everything that you have ever taught them..."

Now I find myself remonstrating over my own words. Eating them, actually - thinking, I have precisely 4 days to squeeze in every useful and useless piece of information that I always intended to cover, but never quite got around to! Where did those years go?!

Calmly and professionally I stand there and talk sense to frightened parents about leaving their tears at the gate (after their child has settled). How different it is sending off one of your own little lambs.

All set for a new year - just don't open the Tupperware cupboard or think about how I will get to work on time.

For the first couple of weeks of the holidays, after hosting Christmas Day, I was a dead loss. I reclined on the lounge and read - intermittendly eating, swimming at the beach, drinking, reading, snoozing, reading, eating, swimming, snoozing - ad infinitum...

Bone tired from the year behind us, I needed the rest and had no qualms about taking it. The three of us all pottered about doing our own thing and re-charged our batteries, usually within a 5 metre radius of one another. I have a feeling that regardless of the size of our house, we would all be under foot.

In the last week of the holidays, however, I have bustled about our house like the Chatelaine of a castle! - albeit, a small castle. I have fastidiously cleaned out every conceivable cupboard space, bowl or receptacle hiding years' worth of crud. Anything that was not bolted down - went. Paul was concerned about his own tenure at one point.

My mood whilst cleaning was...well perhaps I should ask Paul and Lily because at the end of my rampage, when red-faced and puffing like a billy, I announced that I had finished the overhaul, Paul and Lily eyeballed each other and made comments to suggest that they were very pleased that in fact " The Mummy had come back!!!"

As a result I am now looking at sparkling, clean surfaces...I am subdued and surrounded by clean air and fresh focus!

"The quality of daily life is what matters, the taste of the food on the table, the light in the room, the peace and wholeness of the moment".
- Germaine Greer

Mind you, I couldn't come at the Tupperware cupboard. Nor could I encourage Paul or the wee one to assist with the plastic avalanche that greets us daily upon opening the cupboard door. I am talking about our Tupperware cupboard that is full to capacity but houses not one matching lid+container combo.

Now all I have to worry about is gearing up for the school runs in the morning and getting myself and Lily to school on time! Orchestrating school lunches, having the school casual phone and dropping my big school babe at her room each morning without invoking separation anxiety are the next issues on my agenda...

Any advice from Mums or Dads who already have little folk at big school?

My Book Club

Yesterday evening I met with my Book Club at the Observatory Hotel in Sydney. Books & Nooks booked out the presidential suite on the top floor and sat in a circle on gilded, antique chairs, drinking French Martinis and eating canapes, whilst beauty therapists from the Observatory Hotel manicured and polished our nails - (I chose a shiny, cherry red and I keep looking at it on my nails as I type)!

Oh, we also discussed the text, that we had read this month. An English lecturer convened the discussion and at times our opinions varied greatly. One lady and I(she a psychologist, who no doubt psychoanalysed me) - did not share the same opinion about one particular character in the book. Things got a bit heated, which was great - it was so good to really get into the text with someone.

Afterwards, I met my date - Paul, in the bar. At the bar, I got quite a taste for the French Martinis that had been brought around to us on silver trays at our book club meeting - so I continued drinking them throughout the evening. Note: Ask for for your French Martini shaken with fresh pineapple pieces and garnished with a big, chunk of fresh pineapple, it gives a taste of ....Bermuda? Hawaii? The Maldives? At least that's where I thought I was last night...

In the restaurant I then ordered a clear Pipi soup infused with lemongrass, ginger and God only knows what else, but it was so good, so refreshing that it tasted like the very 'broth of life' itself and I made it my business to tell the chef this exact thing. I don't, however, quite know that Yomo knew exactly where I was coming from. Yomo's broth was so nourishing - it could bring back the dead. It felt like it had cleansed my body and my soul. This man - the head chef can seriously cook. I think of my batches of blueberry muffins and Smoked Salmon Pasta and they are lame and ordinary suburban concoctions in comparison.

The rack of lamb that we ate next did not disappoint. It was encrusted in garlic and shinju mushrooms and the crust was black. Seriously if Yomo told me it were derived from boot polish, which is what it looked like, I would have continued to eat it after I took my first bite - the flavour was phenomenal and cutting the lamb was like slicing a hot knife through butter. Chewing was optional.

Paul and I returned to our room for the night to find that someone had been in our quarters! Paul initially thought it was a 'robber', however, on closer inspection the 'robber' had a fetish for classical music as well as an obsessive compulsive disorder. Classical music was playing. The quilt on our bed had been pulled down and our bed sheet neatly folded back and tucked in. They, he or she had put a bottle of water in a weird, sleeping-bag-type-holder on each of our bedside tables. They had also cleaned up my makeup that had been strewn about the marble vanity and they had also folded my nightie and placed it on the wing backed chair! The staff at the Observatory could not have been more attentive and left no stone unturned. Get thyself there!

We also had a spa before I went to my Book Club meeting and we looked at the stars on the 'ceiling' of the pool. Paul was in his element- it being a Hotel that promotes the whole Observatory/Science/Astronomy theme. Over dinner in the 'Galileo' Restaurant, Paul enlightened me on all that Galileo actually did for us in our modern age! Fascinating really...

Fashioning the wedding bouquet

Well I have just breathed in a fresh gust of wedding preparation fever! It comes and goes.

This morning as we cooled ourselves on the slip and slide in the back yard, I pottered about cutting clippings of berries and other textured greenery from our garden, fashioning my wedding bouquet.

I am not responsible for the wedding bouquet above, my florist is and she creates, rustic, just thrown together, old fashioned, freshly-picked-from-the-garden bouquets, that appear effortless but are indeed exquisite, wired, natural works of art!

Mark my words, there will be pale, apple green berries in my bouquet and lots of white, ruffled flowers intermingled with greenery.

My first wedding bouquet was a heavy and contrived orb of rose buds that lacked that simple 'posie' look and looked stilted and well...contrived.

I am confident that all will be natural and right second time round - and that includes the flowers.