Kryptonite for vegetarians

Last weekend I’m pretty sure I stumbled across the kryptonite for vegetarians when I set off on a casual shopping expedition with four friends.

thanks to Martin Cathrae

It just so happened that the group consisted of a meal lover, a vegetarian and a vegan, sounds a bit like a pizza order doesn’t it? I won’t divulge my food penchant, well a girl’s got to keep some mystery about her doesn’t she, or so they used to say in the days of hooped skirts and handkerchiefs.

After an hour of window shopping we ventured out of the soulless concrete shopping centre box and back into daylight. Two steps into the car park and my friends came to a stop. They even stopped talking, which usually only happens after the insertion of some sort of substance or liquid, usually the latter.

Maybe it was the glare of the real light, as apposed to the artificial florescent lighting we’d been trapped in for hours, but their eyes widened and moistened….tears?

True it was a lovely winter’s day, but we’d had a few of them this year, so nice as it was, I didn’t think the blue sky warranted tears of joy.

Looking a little closer I noticed their nostrils flaring in an attempt to take in more and more air. Not wanting to miss out I inhaled. The wind had changed, now blowing directly towards us and on that wind a smell that was…. intoxicating.



When we’d arrived at 9am we’d parked downwind from the hardware store. Given the preponderance of DIY renovation show on television at the moment, you’d be forgiven for thinking we were being seduced by the heady promise of colour charts and paint pots.

Sadly no it was far more basic than that. We were in the direct path of the community sausage sizzle, this time raising funds for the WA Migraine Association.

thanks to Jo Peattie

Fearing a relapse, particularly by my vegan friend who’d only recently denounced meat, I quickly turned the group around and propelled them towards the safety of the vegetarian’s car. I knew we’d be safe in there.

Only last week a cat had been trapped inside the car overnight and the resulting odour was so intense that even after a weeks cleaning and three bottles of Chanel's finest we still had to drive around with all the windows down.

On the silent ride home I was left pondering

1. I can understand the reaction of the meat lover, but what about the vegetarian and vegan? Was it simply the recollection of childhood memories, when eating involved inhaling anything put in front of you without needing to contemplate the dietary or political ramifications of each morsel. Or was it simply the irresistible smell of fried onions?
2. One thing to be thankful for is that the smell of blistering sausages oozing fat, doesn’t trigger migraine attacks, or there would have been a lot of very disappointed shoppers that day.

Australia's productivity dip due to Cadel Evans Tour de France champion

After three weeks of late night trips to the fridge and copious cups of coffee, Western Australians can finally go to bed before 1am. Oh and I guess Cadel Evans can relax too.  

thanks to kdt

Many of us have watched Cadel come agonizingly close to the Tour de France title in previous years, and so it was a truly beautiful sight to see him humbly accepting the accolades this year.

second last stage

The Australian flag flying superman-like behind him was very appropriate given how he'd ridden.

No, he didn’t ride the entire race like that, but it certainly was a super human effort.

Actually that would be fun though wouldn’t it? Someone riding the Tour with their country’s flag flying behind them, racing up the side of the pack, perhaps with their older brother standing up on the back of the bike, wielding a sword and yelling ‘charge’, but I digress…again.

Cadel’s determination to keep going this year, especially during the periods of no support, was edge of your seat viewing. All the officials were saying he’d arrived with a different mental attitude this year, and so it seemed.

thanks to Petit Brun

To see him jumping over speed humps during the second last stage of the race, it looked like he was just out having fun on his mountain bike on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Reminiscent of his world championship mountain biking days perhaps. Meanwhile we were watching with fingers crossed yelling ‘what are you thinking Cadel, calm down?’

thanks to siobh.ie

Every time I see the pack racing to the finish, bodies jarring over the cobbled streets of Paris I ponder about the sadistic nature of the race directors. How the skinny bike tyres manage to slide over those stones is beyond me. This year Cadel’s herculean effort also left me pondering….

1. You’ve got to love a sport that demands its competitors travel at 40+km/hour, down hill, then asks them to twist their arm around their back, take out some food and consume it, all the while amongst a pack of 100 other riders going the same speed. Madness!
2. Having listened to Cadel’s humble and moving speech about the recent loss of his long term coach, Aldo Sassi, it had me pondering once again about whether great loss puts life and hardship into perspective. Does it compel people to push beyond their boundaries, ignore the fear, and go for their dreams regardless of the consequences? Perhaps Aldo was the silent tenth member of the team that made the difference this year.
3. The performance also reminded me that achievers seem to know when to be part of a team and work together, but also when they need to break away and go it alone.
4. Can any man, ever, carry off the lycra look? No seriously, what do you reckon, would the likes of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Callan Mulvey or any of the Twilight boys be able to carry it off?

Behind the MasterChef Dalai Lama curtain

Would love to show you photos inside the Convention Centre but they weren't allowed to be used for public viewing, sorry.

Day one of three and the Dalai Lama sat crossed legged high on his golden throne, bare feet hidden underneath his robes, a red visor shading his eyes, the first session had begun. The Melbourne long weekend that followed would bring sessions on compassion, wisdom, patience, generosity, zeal, ethics and meditative concentration.

Fog on way to the venue

© The Ponder Room

His Holiness arrived on stage with no fanfare, no Australia Idol-esk…. ‘and now for the man you’ve been waiting for…’. Instead it was just a quiet walk on, and an acknowledgement of the Buddha graphic of the day. He was then helped off with his thongs and aided up six steps to the cushioned throne. 



The day clears 

© The Ponder Room



As the morning continued our brains, and notebooks began groaning under the burden of deep thought.

We were also cognizant of the need for monks to eat their main meal by midday. With no clock in sight some of us resorted to peaking at our muted mobile phones. Time counted down leaving mere minutes to midday and those of us still married to time, began to get very twitchy. Where was a large clock when you needed it?

Any moment I expected the MasterChef bomb graphic to shatter the Buddha backdrop and for George Calombaris to bounce on stage declaring......

 The chair

© The Ponder Room



‘Times up, step away from the throne’, followed by ‘look we’ve loved having you here, you’ve added so much to the day, but I’m sorry to say your journey has come to an end, there will be no mou…ssa….ka  until tomorrow, sorry’. Then perhaps challenging Oprah he’d point to the thirty monks seated on either side of His Holiness, adding ‘no moussaka for you, no moussaka for you’.

Thankfully we soon heard the quiet refrain…..‘that’s it’.....the Dalai Lamas down to earth way of signaling the end of the session. You could almost hear the clock-watchers in the audience finally exhaling. Before leaving he then turned to the monks seated on his left hand side and said ‘MasterChef’.

Confused we all turned to the stranger next to us asking, ‘did he just say MasterChef?’ While we had become accustomed to His Holiness's broken English, there were still occasions when he had to refer to the interpreter to get the point across. Perhaps we’d heard wrong.

And the winner is......

Thanks to everyone who ventured into The Ponder Room over the past six months, and a very special thank you to those of you who keep coming back, it's because of you that I keep writing and have learnt so much so far.

The prize was drawn tonight and the winner is .....Ian.

I'll get in contact with him and if he is not interested it will go to the second place person.

Now I'd better get back to writing up some of the stories waiting in my draft file.

Shaun Tan competition closing Friday 22nd

A quick reminder that the competition for a copy of the beautiful book The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan, closes on Friday 22nd July at 9pm (WA time).

To be in the running all you have to do is either become a follower of The Ponder Room, or make a comment.

Good luck

MasterChef v My Kitchen Rules at Good Wine & Food Expo

When Manu Feidel cycled into the Perth Convention Centre Celebrity Theatre on an old black bike, dressed in black trousers, a striped t shirt, beret and with a bread laden cane basket, it was fairly clear that the theatre curtain had been raised. The cheeky video before hand featuring French maids and ending with Manu trussed and stuff like a pig, showed this was no ordinary cooking demonstration.

Good Wine Food Expo

The theatre continued as he cooked three courses, interwoven with jokes, juggling and lots of cheek kissing. His muscle saffron pie with muscles described as ‘plump and juicy just like me’, looked both easy to replicate and delectable.

What followed was his mother’s recipe for witlof wrapped in ham with a cream sauce, then poached pears with ice cream and chocolate sauce. It was interesting to hear him say he no longer makes his own puff pastry, instead using a brand called Careme.  I managed to locate their stand and it certainly was light and not oily.

© The Ponder Room

Manu’s time was not without a friendly jibe at his Channel Ten mates asking, why did MasterChef ‘have to go all the way to New York, when we have a beautiful country here?’

Session over it was time for another audience participation session by Ready Steady Cook’s Alastair McCleod. The result, four audience members perched on stage ready to indulge in the dishes. Seated, it was time to welcome George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan for a celebration of the sea feast. They too started with a video, this one featuring them fishing off a boat and failing dismally, before the cameras pulled back to reveal the reality of the situation (you’ll have to go see the show sorry).

© The Ponder Room

Their main dish Millionaires Moussaka included lobster, caviar and WA truffles, something perhaps only George could afford to order at a restaurant. The onion, anchovy filo cigars or calamari and whitebait fritti misti were more in keeping with my wallet. However the oysters with black bean vinaigrette were the most interesting, especially when offered to an oyster virgin from the audience. Handing over the oyster, sans sauce, Gary stood by with the bucket. Thankfully she was a convert.

There was no mention of the rival show, instead they discussed what they’d do if they were running the country, which they are aren’t they?

© The Ponder Room

It was decided that George would look after finances, a nod to his growing restaurant empire no doubt, or as he suggested ‘the tax department’, and Matt Preston would be given the foreign affairs portfolio. Which quickly led to a playful discussion about Matt’s attempts to look slimmer, by turning sideways and playing with his shirt cuff whenever the camera was on him.

Gary shared his own frustration at the incessant..... ‘and the person leaving tonight is…..kapow…ad break’, saying it leaves his daughter yelling ‘no’, quickly followed by ‘can’t you just tell me who leaves daddy’.

Theatre over it was time to enter the assault of drunken punters in the main exhibition area, but not before pondering…

1. Would the opportunity to sample the meals ever outweigh the humiliation garnered to get the spot? For the millionaires mou  ssa   ka…..maybe ... but for a back of the room dweller like me... probably not.
2. Why were the recipes for Gary and George’s dishes available at the Woolworths Macro Wholefood stand? Isn’t Coles the main sponsor of MasterChef?
3. Remember to go to the show the next time it comes to the town, as it’s far more than a couple of blokes stirring the pot, although there’s a liberal amount of that too.

Healthy Fruity Balls hmmm??

What's a blog without a food article hey? The following post appeared on the health and wellness blog http://www.wellnesswa.com.au/ which has all kinds of information about health/beauty products and issues in WA.

While in Melbourne I attended the Mind Body Spirit Expo and was soon negotiating my way round the usual maze of crystals, lotions and psychics.

© The Ponder Room

About half way through, just as my feet were threatening divorce from my body, I stumbled across a stand for the Farmers Market at the Melbourne Showground. Okay I’ll admit the initial attraction had nothing to do with the fresh produce display, impressive though it was, no my attraction was the small group of empty plastic chairs in front of the display.

Slumping into the end seat I closed my eyes and was only vaguely aware of the demonstration taking place. But then I heard the phrase, 'fruity balls’ and visions of old Carry on Camping movies morphed with the South Park chef in my brain. 



© The Ponder Room



Opening my eyes I saw a reasonably sane middle aged woman in a deep state of rapture about her vegan fruity balls.

Health treats, hmmm, I wasn’t convinced.

More like sawdust balls I thought as I watched her roll the mixture into shape, place them on a tasting tray and send the tray off into the audience. 

With only six of us in the audience and thirty balls on the plate there was nowhere to hide. So when the tray came round I reluctantly popped a fruity ball into my mouth.

It was delicious and the perfect sweet injection to help me continue around the rest of the show. So I thought I’d bring the recipe home to WA. It’s only fair if the other states take our sporting events I’ll take their fruity balls (only joking my eastern states friends).

© The Ponder Room

½ cup of walnuts

½ cup of dates

½ cup of seeds (pumpkin, sunflower or mixed)

2 tablespoons of carob powder or cocoa powder

2 tablespoons of honey (or vegan alternative, maple syrup?)

Shredded coconut

Raisins can be substituted for the dates, but not sultanas as they are too small. Place all the ingredients in a food processor and whizz it up until it is a good texture, i.e. a crummy, sticky mixture that holds together. Take bites size pieces and roll them in the palm of your hand into a ball. Then roll and push the coconut onto the ball.

The big challenge is to stop at one. Enjoy the guilt-free sweetness.

Happy Birthday ACDC's Bon Scott RIP

Before going to the ACDC Family Jewels exhibition at the Perth Museum, I appreciated ACDC and the bands place in rock history. I’d even been known to yell out a chorus or two during my days at university, off key naturally thanks to the liquid motivation required. However I hadn’t fully appreciated them. Having been to the exhibition and learnt more about the band and the man, I can’t let the anniversary go by, so…... 

© The Ponder Room

ACDC Family Jewels exhibition

A lot of things happened this weekend, babies took their first steps, Masterchef contestants went to the USA, announcements were made about something called Carbon Tax to name a few, it was also Bon Scott’s birthday.

Born in Scotland, Bon went to primary school in little old North Fremantle, followed by high school at John Curtin SHS, before taking on the world as the charismatic lead singer of ACDC. Passing away far too young, he would have been 65 this weekend.

Along with a greater appreciation of what it took 'to get to the top if you want to rock and roll', the images, items, and interviews reminded me that behind every icon is a real person, who bounces from elation to loneliness and longing for love.

Particularly poignant was a letter written by him two years before his death. Arranging a catch up with a friend he wrote….. ‘just don’t die between now and then, I don’t fell like going to hell yet…yuk, yuk.’

Leaving the dark exhibition and returning to daylight there were half a dozen things to ponder…..

1. To remember to have a go, you never know the impossible just might happen.
2. To make the most of the life you have before last drinks are called.
3. That our heros and icons are just real people who have given it a go.
4. Thank you to the family for allowing access to this inner world
5. Thank you to Bon and the band for the immense effort, sacrifices and periods of difficulty hidden behind the highs.
6. RIP Bon, and as it says in the official website ‘always alive in the hearts of those that rock.’  Bon Scott website

Emerging Writers Festival 2011 Melbourne

Last month I managed to catch the last two days of the Emerging Writers Festival in Melbourne. 



© The Ponder Room



A lovely sunny winter afternoon with the helicopter pad beckoning, it was a shame to spend it indoors. But I’d pre-booked tickets for three afternoon sessions and with my Perth writer friends waiting for feedback, I knew I couldn’t just skive off. Having attended many writing workshops over the years, I’m pleased to say this one had a number of good features.

To begin with the sessions started at the civilized hour of 12.30pm, perfect for interstaters still operating on different time zones, or locals who had ‘networked’ a little too hard the night before.

Similarly all the sessions were held in the same building, The Wheeler Centre on Little Lonsdale Street. Clearly the organizers were cognizant of the fact that writers’ preferred mode of expending energy is taping their fingers across keyboards, rather than perfecting the 100m dash across town.



© The Ponder Room



The Wheeler Centre was very easy to find, and a short walk from the free City Loop Tram stop. Word of warning though, make sure you know whether you need the tram going clockwise or anticlockwise, otherwise you can add 20 minutes to your journey.

I arrived after a brief and somewhat unexpected tour of the Docklands, having got on the tram going in the wrong direction. Still there was enough time to check out the festival hangout Rue Bebelons. The café was positioned next to a graffiti wall reminding you you’re in Melbourne not a bohemian part of Paris.

When mundane life events surprise

Making my way around the latest expo to hit Perth it wasn’t long before I got the inevitable call.

‘Nature calling, please proceed directly to the nearest toilet. Do not stop at the hot fudge stand. Do not stray towards the massage chairs. Go directly to the nearest convenience …..and …..hurry’

As usual the call didn’t arrive until I was at the opposite end of the hall, and faced with an ocean of cranky expo attendees, all hell bent on gaining their 1cm by 1cm, free sample of cheese. 

Sidestepping prams, bored toddlers and irritated husbands I finally reached the toilets, opened the door, walked in and was immediately faced with ……



© The Ponder Room



Naturally I was left pondering….

1. How long had she been standing there waiting for someone to come in?
2. What would I find behind the cubicle door?
3. Is this one of the new CHOGM initiatives, reminiscent of the old cloakroom attendants?
4. Had she heard that the Australia’s Got Talent judges were in town, if so shouldn’t she be in the male toilets?
5. You never know when one of life’s mundane events is going to throw up a gem that will keep you smiling for days

Many Thanks Competition for The Lost Thing Book

As I said yesterday before Blogland was rudely interrupted by technology gremlins, July 22^nd marks 6 months for The Ponder Room.

I guess it’s pretty obvious that I’m kind of getting the hang of this talking thing. Walking however is still proving a little tricky  at times in Blogland, as I navigate my way through various technological obstacles that get thrown in my direction. Anyway I thought I should do something to mark the occasion.

I’ve gone against the idea of sugar laden soft drinks, or hyperactivity inducing red frogs (they’re lollies for those who don’t know and think there’s another creepy crawl to add to the list of weird animals to avoid when in Australia).

Instead I’m offering a copy of Shaun Tans novel The Lost Thing – the book behind the Oscar winning movie. It’s a beautiful book with plenty of detail to keep children and adults amused.

I decided on that as the prize as it seemed to be a popular post, beside it would be much easier to post than something from Mr Pricaso (another popular post).

I’ll be doing the time honoured pulling a name out of the hat trick at 9pm on July 22nd (Perth WA time).

To enter you just have to be a follower of The Ponder Room, or to have made a comment on the blog (if you don’t want to be a follower) by 9pm July 22^nd.

So if you aren’t a follower yet you still time, and yes it’s open to anywhere in the world as the book will be easy to post.

If you are already a follower and or have posted a comment you are already in the draw.

Good luck.