Istanbul

I sell carpets at the Grand Bazaar

I sell bread from out the back of my van

Here's hoping that you've enjoyed a small sampling of life in Istanbul.

Now that I've finally recovered from the worst case of jet - lag ..ever, from tomorrow it's back to reporting on my daily life in Sydney. 

Istanbul

There are more.....TO COME

More images of Istanbul

In Istanbul's case a picture paints a thousand words....

The best of Istanbul

It's an awesome city - a pictorial insight into the intigue that is Istanbul

The week in retrospect

Tuesday 13 July 2010

Hooray - bud burst is a happening thing in Sydney's CBD. Those bleak towers of financial industry are shedding their winter image and taking on a softer look. Here's the visual proof....

No, it's not Paris in the picture but a quiet, if that's possible, corner of the city. If you're looking for this fruit stand you'll find it on the corner of Bligh and Hunter Streets.

The reason for my not often taken trip to the city is explained in this video. I'm new to this feature on my camera so please hang-in there as I promise to improve.

After the dentist and before the Optometrist (a bodily day) I stopped off for coffee at Due Mondi on the first floor of Chifley Plaza. I was stunned to discover that my usual soy cap was only $3.40; a much better deal than I get in the suburbs. Check out this sophisticated environment where the 'suits' that start work at 7.30am, drop in for a mid morning break. Certainly 'designer' sophistication, with style

Wednesday 14 July 2010 - Bastille Day (1789)

I celebrated in advance this year . The chef and owner of La Gerbe d'Or, a French Ppatisserie at Five Ways Paddington is "bowing out "after 27 years of 4am starts.The chef and owner of Laon the Sunday before Bastille Day he serves uwith french bread and a glass of red.

It's been his annual tradition to produce a big bowl of warm pork cassolette served with french bread and a glass of red, on the Sunday before Bastille Day.

A couple of the younger set enjoying the day

an older group which includes the chef

and  (hopefully) a video of the colourful scene (sorry but it doesn't appear to be a happening thing)....................................................

Thursday 15 July 2010

Woollahra Library - Double Bay A very pleasant harbour side setting next door to the Woollahra Council Chambers. This is where I went tonight for a Writers and Readers evening, to hear author, Alex Miller, discussing his novel, Lovesong. It has been shortlisted for the 2010 Miles Franklin Award. He is already a two -time winner of the Award so his own stakes are set high. Today  Lovesong was also shortlisted for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards 2010.

Alex Miller

The son of a "story teller" Miller calls himself a writer, not a story teller. His subject matter just "comes" to him and is based on personal experiences and on situations he has encountered.  Surely what the reader picks up on initially and becomes engaged with is the story line?
Miller has a Melbournian, literary aloofness.
His monotone style of delivery is hypnotic, his wit acerbic. He shoots for reaction. I left feeling that if this book was written by this pseudo 'grumpy' man, then it wasn't for me. The readers in the room felt otherwise - guess they're the ones that count.

Woollahra Council Chambers

Clothes lines for summer

I walked back via Double Bay for a spot of window shopping. Looks as if the waisted dress with a slight bell shape to the skirt is here for summer.

Friday 16 July 2010

You are what you eat.
If you eat what the master chefs cook every day you'll be contravening the laws of good nutrition. Too much fat and too many carbohydrates do not a healthy body make.
Fat gives flavour but it also contributes to hardening of the arteries and high cholesterol.
Here's a virtually fat free breakfast suggestion for you .

Rolled Oats served with Rice Milk, Organic Berry Yogurt, fresh cherries (high in antioxidants), sliced bananas, a black coffee (to kick start your day) and a glass of water. This will see you through until well after 1:00pm without the need to 'naughty' snack.

A healthy lunch today at 'Yen for Viet', a Vietnamese Restaurant in Marrickville.
Egg plant and minced pork, steamed whole Snapper rice rolls with asian greens, noodles, raw carrot and steamed rice.
I juxtaposed lunch with dinner today finishing the day with an avocado, tomato, cucumber and feta cheese sandwich on full grain bread and a pear to finish off with.

PS. I have a major in Nutrition so am suitably qualified to dish-up dietary advice

Where to next ?

A sunset salute to this gorgeous city

Sydney at sunset

more of the same

I took a stroll around the streets of my local area today and stumbled upon Donna Hay's (of magazine and Master Chef fame), Corner Store. Pretty to look at, but with prices that rule out those on a modest budget, me, the impoverished writer, included. I did however pay, somewhat begrudgingly, $1 for a small organic tomato at the market in Bondi Junction today. At least I could justify that my purchase would equate to a good daily dose of vitamin C.

Donna Hay's Corner Store

As of next week this blog will be  moving from a daily diary to a weekly comment on just what it is that people 'do' and 'see' in Sydney. You can expect the week's round-up of the highlights and the lowlights.


Where are these people going?

and what do these people do outside of the place they call home?

Watch this space...................................

Marmalade, babies, brides, and the book

12 hours of fasting; no big deal when it's overnight, and a full blood count later I treated myself to a strong black coffee, rye bread toast and the best marmalade in town. To me discernable texture in a food product is a must. I like to see what I'm eating and identify the individual flavours, whether it be in a complex stew or just a simple marmalade.
So what was so great about this particular marmalade? - large identifiable chunks of orange skin set in a rich jelly like syrup. You won't find this in the shops; it was made on the premises by the owner who comes from Israel. It's a secret recipe but I could pick a hint of Rosewater in the syrup. Currently I'm reading a book that makes several references to the foods of the east - pommegranates, dates, apricots  used in both sweet and savoury dishes. Rosewater and Soda Bread by Marsha Mehran (recipes included) tells the story of three Iranian sisters who open a cafe in a quaint Irish town. Ironically I was born in Ireland yet have always felt a real affinity with all things that have a connection to the old Spice Route. No wonder then that I'm becoming a modern day Marco Polo in my choice of pending and future travel destinations.

Down to earth with things for little people - there's a business in Bondi Junction that captures a baby's hands and /or feet for posterity. The baby equivalent of the Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame. What fun to surprise a Godson on his 21st birthday with a mould of his once tiny fingers and toes.

Ten tiny toes

Just down Oxford Street, on the corner of Leswell Street, the Sydney Wedding Registry has opened a 'viewing' and 'list' store. Takes the angst out of what to buy
for a wedding present. At least you know you're safe if the bride and groom have
already given it their tick of approval.

Sydney Wedding Registry

Politics is all in the timing - across to the Stanton Library in North Sydney to hear the political commentator, Annabelle Crabb discuss her new book. Rise of the Ruddbot: Observations from the Gallery, a collection of writings from the last few years. Crabbe was satiracally underwhelming, a diluted version of her usual self. Politically expedient, she took no prisoners. If I want to know what's in the book I'll have to buy it and read it.

Stanton Library from the outside looking in