Happiness is a full kitchen sink...

The other day One looked at the kitchen and realised that a kitchen bench full of dirty dishes and empty glasses is indeed one of One's favourite sights.

Not because One draws any delight from washing dishes (hence the dishwasher) but a bench full of dishes represents a lot of full bellies and a couple of hours (at least) of time with good friends.

These dishes were left after a lazy Sunday brekkie at aflatofonesown which thanks to Fluff was complete with bubbles.

Pies Glorious Pies

A few weekends ago, it was a stormy day and One was holed up in aflatofonesown having been to the farmers markets that morning. There's nothing quite like comfort food of a rainy day and so One decided to make some pies.

Not just any pies, but Maggie Beer's Chicken & Mushroom pies (well without the mushrooms anyway). The recipe comes from Maggie's Table, a bargain book One picked up at a Pop Up Book shop not far from the ivory tower.

Anwway, during the course of the morning a couple of callers to aflatofonesown were talked into staying for lunch.

The pastry is a sour cream pastry which was absolutely delicious, the filling was chicken, leek, corn and peas in a white sauce that wasn't too heavy. Perfect for a warm Sunday lunch.

2 cakes, one weekend

These are two cakes One made last April/May.

The first was for 'the mini' as she is affectionately known who, as the cake would tend to suggest, was turning 1. Don't think for a moment the location of the different coloured smarties occurred by accident, it was a thoroughly thought out selection so that there were no double ups on the colours.


The second was for fab flatmate who was turning the big 30, but had never had a cake from the Woman's Weekly Kids Birthday Cake Book (the original, not the latest re-invention which much like Cambridge is a pale imitation of the real thing). Upon hearing this, one declared that FF must have a cake of her own from the book and Lilly Ladybug was selected.


Why won't people have more babies so One can make more fun cakes?!

Love Sydney

The love is for many reasons, but also party for the unexpected that is always found when on foot in Sydney.

A few months ago SO and One headed to Sydney for Em's Baby Shower, which was full of delights.

After hours of gluttony and gossip, One, the SO and MJ decided to wander back to Surry Hills 90210 when we came across something One doesn't believe One would see in Perth, mainly because Perth isn't a pedestrian friendly city.

It tasted so good but now One can't sleep...

Picture this: The SO headed off to regional WA to visit some sites and One headed into the Office to get on top of a couple of things. One then headed home via the supermarket to pick up some bits and pieces for an afternoon of napping, cooking and reading.

On the menu foodwise was a cheats chicken satay, hard core beef massaman recipe (it takes 3 days) and some fish burgers for during the week. Book on hand for breaks was Lonely Planet Scandinavia. Of course, there was also a nap given it was a leisurely Sunday afternoon.

The afternoon blended into evening and before One knew it, it was dinner time with the delicious smelling satay winning the race to the plate. Delicious.

Fast forward 2 hours, One is laying in bed (having decided to get an early night and hopping off to bed at 9.30) and is unable to sleep. Unusual, usually head hits the pillow and One is out. What is going on? Maybe the nap has given One extra stamina? Surely not, this is not normal, OK, lets have a drink and back to bed.

Sleep still not forthcoming.

What could it possibly be? Was it coffee, no, last caffeine intake was at 9.30am. What has one eaten? Cheats (box) chicken satay. One slowly comes to the horrible realisation, surely not, what self respecting gourmet sauce range uses MSG?

Yep, One has been dosed up with MSG and so will now spend the night fighting to get to sleep and tomorrow feeling like One has consumed a cask of cheap red wine...

The Suite Shenton Park Gets it so Wrong while Must gets it SO right

Dear Management at The Suite,

Some of your service staff are not the friendliest people in the world.

Best,

One

o o o O O O o o o

Dear Management at Must Highgate,

Your staff rock, are friendly, are knowledgeable and helpful.

Best,

One

o o o O O O o o o

OK, where did those letters come from? Well, One and the SO popped in to one of Perth's new "Melbourne style" bars, The Suite on Nicholson Road in Shenton Park for a celebratory drink. The SO had just received a great promotion and it was time for bubbles. Bubbles (French of course) were purchased and it was time to drink them. The Suite was packed and One was on the look out for movement at one of the clusters of couches.

Movement, a group gathers their things, One pounces Friday night style and scores the Couch.

Cue Bitchy Blonde waitress:

BBW: 'Did You know there is a waiting list'
One [shocked]: 'Excuse me'
BBW: 'Did You know there is a waiting list'
One: 'No, I'm sorry I didn't'
BBW: 'There is a waiting list, people are waiting'
One: 'Obviously had I known there was a waiting list I would have waited'
BBW: 'humph' [storms off]

Had there not been a bottle of Laurent Perrier to drink, One would have left at that. And do you think that BBW asked if One would like to go on the waiting list? No, she certainly did not. BBW just stormed off, leaving One to find another (and more helpful) member of staff to put One's name on the all important waiting list.

Fast forward 30 minutes, One and the SO arrive at Must, the bistro isn't too full, the bar is packed but there's a high table. Two glasses of bubbles come quickly, One thinks, well maybe there is room in the bistro. One asks the Lovely Bistro Lady if there is room for a cheeky 2 for dinner. LBL says that she is just working out capacity and asks where One is standing, pointing to the SO, LBL says well you get back to your bubbles and I'll let you know but worst case I can do the bistro menu at your table. Perfect!

So lessons for The Suite, be a bit sweeter in your delivery...

Misty morning but no misty head

One awoke this morning without a misty head for hte first time in the past couple of weeks. One was finally waking up in One's own bed and finally not waking up to an alarm.

It has been a hectic fortnight with a planned trip to Sydney and an emergency dash to Melbourne for work which has kept One on the go go go.

But One did wake to a misty morning, it was beautiful looking out the living room window to a soft sea of white hovering just above the rooflines in the leafy western suburbs. It was so quiet as if everyone had stayed in their slumber with the blanket of mist keeping them tucked right in.

Pottering around aflatofonesown for the first time this month was a great start to the day, uggs were on and One was warm. Then it was out into the fresh air at the Subi Farmers' Markets to do the groceries. the SFM may just be One's favourite market thus far (3 and counting have been trialled), they are more urban than the Freo version and a bit more rustic than the Claremont ones.

As the day progressed, the mist lifted and it was a beautiful sunny clear day with just some touches of cloud off on the horizon. One picked up One's glasses from the optometrists and can now see far and wide without squinting, spent some time in the office (productive but not necessarily enjoyable of a weekend), caught up with Chookie for a coffee in Shenton Park and did a spot of present shopping in Subi.

All round quite a fun day.