It would be very foolish not to acknowledge that this year has been a pretty amazing one for me, so much has happened: my house was on the Design Files, I did a class at the Agrarian kitchen, went to Europe and had a fantastic holiday, had a memorable 30th birthday with my friends, started Island Menu with Sam, loved Ozmas, went to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, improved my cooking skills and most definitely had fun and lots of good times, which is what I wanted most of all and what I hope 2012 will be full of. So I hope everyone has a wonderful evening tonight, thank you so much for reading my little blog and have a wonderful new year.
Every year of blogging I have written a bit of a music review of what I have loved and listened to over the last 12 months. It’s for my own self indulgence as much as anything else and has been an interesting one to go back to.
I have always had the intention of getting one new album every month of the year (same with books to read) and you would think that would be easy…. it’s only 12. But somehow it doesn’t quite work out like that, more concentrated effort definitely required next year because to me there is nothing better than discovering something that takes you somewhere completely different.
So the list for this year, in no particular order…..
Bon Iver - Bon Iver I resisted buying this album for a little while but then I saw the film clip for Holocene, and thought it was an incredibly beautiful song and that the album could only be good, and it is. I also love the tracks Wash and Perth.
Seabear - We Built a Fire I bought this album at the Keflavik airport in Reykjavik after hearing a bit of it on the plane getting there. I really love it, it's a nice quiet album in places and a bit more upbeat in others. I think it's nice to go somewhere and pick up new music, that was kinda exciting.
Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two Another album I bought while in Europe, not that I needed to, I was just so keen to get a copy after waiting so long. I saw them live many many years ago and love their sense of humour and well, they are pretty awesome. My favourite track is Don't Play no Game that I can't Win which features Santigold, also the best film clip....if you like yeti's and assassins, which apparently I do.
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Ok not an album that came out this year but still, friends played it at Ozmas and I loved it and have listened to it heavily since. Power is my song for running to, you know at that bit where you really want to stop but know you should keep going, I put this song on the ipod and get an extra boost. Also Lost in the World.
Kanye West and Jay Z Watch the Throne Since I liked the Kanye album so much I brought this one when it came out and it has a few gems on there: No Church in the Wild, Lift Off and That's My Bitch.
Bjork - Biophilia Manual Edition Live from Manchester Well I am Bjork mad, so of course I ordered the Manual Edition, which was definitely worth it, the live from Manchester disc is fantastic and I still really really want to see her live at some point, I don't know how I have missed out. My favourite track from this album is Mutual Core which builds up to this awesome eruption of beats and vocals and she sings "You didn't know I had it in me". Very good. Also very good is Moon and Virus.
Soley - We Sink Another Icelandic singer (I definitely seem to have a genre) she has a lovely voice and the songs are sweet too.
Radiohead - The King of Limbs TKOL! I waited so long for for this to come out and seeing Thom Yorke dance to Lotus Flower ...seriously cool! I like how they seem to be using the beats these days in tracks like Bloom and Lotus Flower(check out the Glastonbury version too), and while I didn't love it as much as In Rainbows, it's definitely good, maybe just too short?
Wilco - The Whole Love I love love the track Art of Almost it got a bit of a bashing on my ipod this year and one of those songs I always listened to walking to work.
More recently I've been listening to: the Black Keys, Real Estate, and Jonsi's soundtrack for We Brought a Zoo hmm definitely need to branch out a little after seeing that list! Any suggestions??
Just a quick post to say merry christmas, I hope everyone has a wonderful break and a happy time with friends and family! I'm currently waiting for my last cooking job for the day to come out of the oven so I can go enjoy the amazing warm day we are having and possibly have a glass of champagne in the sunshine. Hobart is never this good weather wise at christmas so it's quite exciting!
I am one of those terrible people who sees lots of things for myself when I am supposed to be gift buying for everyone else. Mostly it’s just a matter of ‘ooh I like that’ and then forget completely. But I succumbed and ordered these tea towels from the new Gorman & Castle collaboration, I’ve always wanted one of Rachael Castle’s lovely artworks but they sell out so fast, plus I am a bit of a tea towel nut so it’s the perfect combination.
I also love the ‘put the love in the coconut' pillowcases perfect with those dotty sheets……!
Some christmas cheer arrived a few days early on my doorstep in the form of a box of a dozen bottles from Logan Wines based in Orange in NSW, a place I haven't been to but am now intrigued to visit. I was absolutely floored to receive such a fantastic gift and it all looks so amazing! I know you shouldn’t judge wine on a label and packaging alone (and I have no doubt the wine is fantastic) but this really is quite wonderful. Everything is done to perfection and I love the photographs in the little booklet.
life has been crazy busy mostly with pre-christmas gatherings and cooking which I do enjoy very much. However I'm hoping things will slow down a bit so I can start to relax a little and get ready for the holidays!
Earlier today I had this moment where I realised how close to the end of the year it is and how much I still have to do (or mostly cook!)! I’m definitely hanging out for the break, but at the same time excited about things that are planned for the next few weeks, including an Island Menu pre-christmas party with friends. Tonight I’m going to try making my caramels (fingers crossed!) so that I can put them in some home-made crackers, complete with bad jokes and paper hats. It’s definitely the little crafty things I love most about this time of year.
Pics are random from the weekend: Some seriously bright pink geraniums from my mum’s garden and some baked peaches with cinnamon and brown sugar for my porridge (bad but good, had just been to the gym so I figured I could justify that).
So a rather random collection of interior shots that I love right now: that pink couch is sublime, I would love a black and white zig zag rug, the Jardan dining chairs are awesome and that blanket in the last shot..!
Other random thoughts this friday: * Has any one ever made salted caramels before? Are they tricky? I think they could be a good christmas sweet for giving. * The new Gourmet Traveller is a good read, nice articles about Reykjavik and Portland (Oregon). * I need to start my christmas shopping but keep getting way laid by seeing things I myself like, oh yes and really don't need! * I got my first lot of cherries for the season!
