October 2012

To the Highlands II

by Amber on October 23, 2012

Nessie!

After a fabulous night in Inverness (including an entertaining chat with some other travellers who thought we were locals at the Hootananny bar) we hit the road again. However, despite creeping around the entire edge of the loch, there was no Nessie – save this fibre-glass beast. (Located right next to a portrait of Mel Gibson as William Wallace at Nessieland.)

frost2

laura

Fort Augustus

I loved everywhere we went in Scotland, but the Glen Affric nature reserve was extra special. There’s a moss there (snot-green that hangs like a beard off trees) that only thrives in the purest air. Near the car park it was just sort of hanging there, but the deeper into the hills we walked, the shaggier and healthier it got. I spent a lot of time breathing deeply and sighing contentedly while there – marveling at the Jurassic Park-like landscape. The temperature was below zero, and as you can see below, everything was encrusted with ice.

Glen Affric

frost

river

Glen Affric

From Glen Affric we rolled back across the east of Scotland, passing through rugged moors and beautiful mountain ranges, before heading back down to Edinburgh as night fell. I would love a recording of Peter, our guide, rolling the words “Forth Rail Bridge” over and over. His accent was amazing!

Valley

leaf

I’m not sure if it’s because Scotland reminds me of home, but I can’t speak highly enough of the experience. The wonderfully warm people, the glorious landscapes, and the quirky little moments we enjoyed (if you ever get the chance to drink beer made from heather and honey, do so). Having experienced winter, and now autumn, I want to go back for another season. I hope spring comes soon.

brush

Forest

light

All photographs taken on 35mm with a Canon AE-1 camera.

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To the Highlands I

by Amber on October 22, 2012

Our Scotland adventure got off to a weird start. Laura and I flew to Edinburgh on Monday night, staying for the night in a hostel. When we checked in, the lackadaisical receptionist keyed in our details, looked up, and declared me a pineapple, and Laura a mushroom. Our spirit produce? All would become clear as we got to our room, which was pizza themed. Not exactly the Gaelic experience we were expecting!

It was fine for the night though, and the next morning we were up bright and early. We jumped into our tour van, and headed towards Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument.

Stirling Castle
stone & rock

After waving at Hamish the Scottish coo, we crossed over the fault line from the low lands into the Highlands taking in the majesty of Loch Luibnaig, Loch Earn, Glen Ogle and Glen Dochart.

loch

From there we headed north to Rannoch Moor and into gorgeous Glencoe. Jagged rocks, seeping earth and high hills the colour of mustard.

Glencoe

highland mustard

icing sugar

Finally, live fish at a truck stop. No idea what kind, or where the wee fish were going, but it made my day:

Live fish

All photographs taken on 35mm with a Canon AE-1 camera.

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Broadway Market Bingo

by Amber on October 14, 2012

Yesterday, on a sunny Saturday afternoon, Jo and I had brunch at the Market Cafe on Broadway Market. The weekly market was in full swing, and we had a great view of people merrily making their way up from the canal. While sipping on grapefruit mimosas, we started playing a game of bingo… So I decided to whip up a little card for next time.

Broadway Market E8 Bingo

If you get BINGO, treat yourself to a taco from Off Broadway, and a high-five from a drunk at the Cat & Mutton. Look, you even get a free square to start!

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Dreaming of Scotland

by Amber on October 13, 2012

Next week I’m off to Scotland for a couple of days with my friend Laura. We’re flying to Edinburgh, with enough time for a pint and to rest our heads, then we’re travelling to Inverness, via Glencoe and Loch Ness. Yes, we’re going on a monster hunt!

scotland
sheep
mossy
Loch Lomond

I’ve been to Scotland once before, in 2009. It was February, and so cold the water was freezing over. These are pictures are all from The Drover’s Inn, Loch Lomond. Apparently I didn’t take a single snap in Edinburgh, so perhaps it was all a dream? I do remember it was the first place I ever saw a squirrel, and had chips ‘n’ cheese. With vinegar. Now that’s a memorable moment in a young woman’s life…

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Listening post

by Amber on October 11, 2012

Yesterday morning I walked into the studio at work, and sat down at my desk like I always do.  Current studio music makes me feel like I work in a small. seriously, flashback to the time when I worked at a nail salon when I was 16 and the perma-tanned owner played Norah Jones constantly. She thought it was soothing. Meanwhile, I developed an eye tick, and still cringe every time I hear the opening bars of Come Away With Me.

Using Rolling Stone’s top 500 albums of all time (compiled in 2009), I’ve decided to spend the rest of the year getting a musical education, and hopefully improve the quality of my working day. I’m going to listen to every album in order, with no skipping or jumping about. To help me, I’ve finally downloaded Spotify, which I had been oddly resistant to using, but really, it’s MAGIC. (You know what else is magic? Noise-cancelling headphones – a brilliant tip I gleaned from Introverts in ad agencies: a helpful guide.)

So, counting down from 500, here are the first three.

500. OutKast, ‘Aquemini’

OutKast, 'Aquemini

My challenge got off to a strong start with OutKast’s third studio album, Aquemini. I really enjoyed this record. My top picks are the eponymous track, Synthesizer ft. George Clinton, and the hit single Rosa Parks. Hard to believe this came out in 1998! It feels so fresh, but I guess that’s OutKast for you – always riding their own wave.

499. B.B. King, ‘Live in Cook County Jail’

B.B. King - Live in Cook County Jail

1971 saw B.B. King and his guitar Lucille light up Cook County Jail (which is in Chicago as it turns out). The album is crisply recorded, and crackles with life – I love the cat calls of the prisoners. Can’t wait to give this one another whirl again soon…

498. The Stone Roses, ‘The Stone Roses’

The Stone Roses, The Stone Roses

You know what, I didn’t really care for this album at all, aside from ‘Fool’s Gold‘, but who doesn’t like that song? I’m having flashbacks to Pop Up Video and its One Hit Wonders episode.

That said, the John Squires designed cover is great! The painting is a reference to the May 1968 riots in Paris. Stone Roses lead singer Ian Brown met a Frenchman while hitchhiking. This gentleman had been in the riots, and told Ian that lemons were used as an antidote to tear gas.

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Cranberry + orange

by Amber on October 9, 2012

Cranberry and orange biscotti

I’m becoming a lot more domesticated in my advanced years! Biscotti, drizzled with milk chocolate, that I made last week for a charity bake off. While my chocolate drizzle was all over the show, and I didn’t win the Olly Murs tickets up for grabs (insert sarcastic sniff here), I was very happy with the flavour. The pairing of orange and cranberry is definitely my new jam. It’s very elegant, and feels quite right for autumn.

One day after making these, with leftover ingredients, I freestyled on a banana bread recipe – adding two handful of cranberries, orange zest, and using ricotta to replace the butter component. This twist was totally delish, as they say.

Orange and cranberry biscotti

1/2 cup softened butter
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon orange zest
2 tablespoons orange juice
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries
3/4 cup toasted and chopped almonds
Chocolate for melting (I always use buttons)

1. Preheat oven to 175 degrees °C

2. Cream together butter and sugar in a bowl. Beat in eggs. Stir in the orange zest and juice. Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon, stir into the creamed mixture; then add in the almonds and dried cranberries, making sure every piece is swamped with the cake mix.

3. On a generously floured surface, divide the dough in half. Roll each half into a log about 1 1/2 inches wide and 10 inches long. Set the rolls lengthwise on a baking sheet at least 3 inches apart, and shape.

4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the oven, until firm to the touch and slightly brown on the top.

5. Take out and cool for 10 to 15 minutes, then slice each log crosswise, at a diagonal, into 1/2 inch wide slices. Lay them cut side down on the baking tray and return to the oven for ten minutes, then turn them over and bake until golden.

6. If you are feeling fancy, wait for your biscotti to cool, then melt chocolate, and drizzle generously over the top. Put slices in the fridge to set for an hour.

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Four seasons

by Amber on October 5, 2012

I love these quirky Four Seasons spice shakers. Super clever and punny, they remind of of snow-domes, which are one my favourite things ever (the tackier the better).

Designed by Teerachai Suppametheekulwat, you can buy them online at the MoMA Store.

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