Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Friday, 7 October 2011
Lunch time with the girls - Cafe Sopra
Seeing as Aunty Dob is here for a few days we may as well make the most of it and go somewhere decent for lunch. Sopra isn't far from work, for me, and not far from home for the girls. A convenient walk it is but I'd even take a long bus ride to eat here. Always so fresh and delicious. My sweet tooth craves the merengata (formerly known as the Eton Mess) - chantilly cream, meringue and strawberries. Georgia now has the taste for it and I have had to learn to share. Funny what you discover when you do research. Apparently the meringue was invented by an Italian chef in the Swiss village of Meiringen. Interestingly the meringue in the form of pavlova is the Australian, and NZ, national dessert. This merengata is essentially a smashed pavlova. I love pav.
Saturday, 30 July 2011
A new Nixon - Say hello to Lucas
Georgia has a new cousin. Yesterday, 10 months to the day after Georgy came into the world Lucas Nixon popped out. A reasonably weighted 3470 grams. Lucas is the first Nixon cousin for Georgia and yet another boy cousin joining the the 3 Garoni boys and the Pace boy.
Congratulations Gerard and Jasmine.
Georgia was a bit over it after a while but she was happy to meet the baby
Lucas Oliver Nixon. 1 day old.
Congratulations Gerard and Jasmine.
Georgia was a bit over it after a while but she was happy to meet the baby
Lucas Oliver Nixon. 1 day old.
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Monday, 4 April 2011
Arrivederci Casa della famiglia Nixon in North Nowra
Goodbye to the Nixon family home in North Nowra.
As of today the Nixon's no longer have a presence in Nowra. After almost 30 years of living on the South Coast mum and dad have sold up an moved to Melbourne. Today the contracts were exchanged and the ol' hacienda is no more (as far as we are concerned). Ma and Pop didn't muck around as far as moving goes either. They were in Melbourne yesterday and the truckload of possessions that didn't get sold on eBay, in the garage sale or given away to charity will follow in a couple of days.
Yep, it sold.
For me and my newish family our little holiday home on the South Coast is no more. Dammit, but we'll have to rent somewhere to get away now. Otherwise there'll be no more summer getaways to the beach and no more chillaxing in front of an open fire in the winter. The beach will always be there but god knows where we'll find an open fire to canoodle in front of again. Travelling down the coast and renting for weekends and holidays won't be as onerous as it sounds because we still travel to Myrtleford every so often to do the food and wine trails they have down there now. The old house in Barwidgee Creek even burnt down a couple of years ago so we can't even go down to see that, but we still go.
Ah the fire place. Will miss that.
We moved to Nowra from Myrtleford in Victoria almost 30 years ago. I remember the day exactly because it was my birthday - the 17th December 1981. We'd celebrated my birthday the night before and then saddled up the next day for the long drive to Nowra. Quite a change for a 17 year old - moving from a very small rural country town in the bush where we didn't even live in town to a bigger coastal city. 3,000 people to 30,000. It was like moving to the big smoke. I didn't want to go at first. I had friends and a life in Victoria. In 1982 I'd have to start my final year of high school in a totally different environment to before. In a word it was shit. It was a huge adjustment. But adjust I and we did. For the first year or two though I would've moved back to Victoria if I could. Eventually I finished school and ended up working in Sydney. Now there is very little chance I'd move back to Victoria.
Barry and Marg. Off to the old people's home. Kidding.
Nowra and the Shoalhaven became home. We'd go home on weekends and holidays and after 30 years you get to know a place. Up until last weekend we still came home for weekends. Not as often as in the 80s and some of the 90s but it was still coming home when we could. Nowra finally got some decent fish'n'chips this year for chrisakes. At least we were lucky enough to bring Georgia here the once last week. Poor old Copernicus loved the place as much as any cat could. Unfortunately for him though it almost killed once or twice. It will be kind of weird not having a home away from Sydney any more. But home is wherever the family is and Ma and Pop are in Melbourne now and I have my own little family here in Sydney. As far as the siblings go, Gerard and Jasmine are still here in Sydney, Moira is in Melbourne with her boys and Ben is with Sonja way way off over in Munich, Germany.
Adios 7 Nunkeri Place North Nowra.
After reading over all this again and looking at the pictures I'm pretty bummed. I tell myself when push comes to shove though it was just a place. Filled with memories but just a place. We have to move on. Mum and dad certainly have. They're looking forward to their next stage of life in Melbourne, and they have no regrets. So why should I be so maudlin? I'll miss the place. Like I miss the house at Barwidgee Creek and before that our very first home at Kancoona. Funny thing is I don't miss any of the flats and houses we rented or shared in Sydney. They were pretty cool but I guess they weren't home. Home is where you lay you roots and I suppose and family has much to do with that.
As of today the Nixon's no longer have a presence in Nowra. After almost 30 years of living on the South Coast mum and dad have sold up an moved to Melbourne. Today the contracts were exchanged and the ol' hacienda is no more (as far as we are concerned). Ma and Pop didn't muck around as far as moving goes either. They were in Melbourne yesterday and the truckload of possessions that didn't get sold on eBay, in the garage sale or given away to charity will follow in a couple of days.
Yep, it sold.
For me and my newish family our little holiday home on the South Coast is no more. Dammit, but we'll have to rent somewhere to get away now. Otherwise there'll be no more summer getaways to the beach and no more chillaxing in front of an open fire in the winter. The beach will always be there but god knows where we'll find an open fire to canoodle in front of again. Travelling down the coast and renting for weekends and holidays won't be as onerous as it sounds because we still travel to Myrtleford every so often to do the food and wine trails they have down there now. The old house in Barwidgee Creek even burnt down a couple of years ago so we can't even go down to see that, but we still go.
Ah the fire place. Will miss that.
We moved to Nowra from Myrtleford in Victoria almost 30 years ago. I remember the day exactly because it was my birthday - the 17th December 1981. We'd celebrated my birthday the night before and then saddled up the next day for the long drive to Nowra. Quite a change for a 17 year old - moving from a very small rural country town in the bush where we didn't even live in town to a bigger coastal city. 3,000 people to 30,000. It was like moving to the big smoke. I didn't want to go at first. I had friends and a life in Victoria. In 1982 I'd have to start my final year of high school in a totally different environment to before. In a word it was shit. It was a huge adjustment. But adjust I and we did. For the first year or two though I would've moved back to Victoria if I could. Eventually I finished school and ended up working in Sydney. Now there is very little chance I'd move back to Victoria.
Barry and Marg. Off to the old people's home. Kidding.
Nowra and the Shoalhaven became home. We'd go home on weekends and holidays and after 30 years you get to know a place. Up until last weekend we still came home for weekends. Not as often as in the 80s and some of the 90s but it was still coming home when we could. Nowra finally got some decent fish'n'chips this year for chrisakes. At least we were lucky enough to bring Georgia here the once last week. Poor old Copernicus loved the place as much as any cat could. Unfortunately for him though it almost killed once or twice. It will be kind of weird not having a home away from Sydney any more. But home is wherever the family is and Ma and Pop are in Melbourne now and I have my own little family here in Sydney. As far as the siblings go, Gerard and Jasmine are still here in Sydney, Moira is in Melbourne with her boys and Ben is with Sonja way way off over in Munich, Germany.
Adios 7 Nunkeri Place North Nowra.
After reading over all this again and looking at the pictures I'm pretty bummed. I tell myself when push comes to shove though it was just a place. Filled with memories but just a place. We have to move on. Mum and dad certainly have. They're looking forward to their next stage of life in Melbourne, and they have no regrets. So why should I be so maudlin? I'll miss the place. Like I miss the house at Barwidgee Creek and before that our very first home at Kancoona. Funny thing is I don't miss any of the flats and houses we rented or shared in Sydney. They were pretty cool but I guess they weren't home. Home is where you lay you roots and I suppose and family has much to do with that.
Saturday, 2 October 2010
Grand Final Replay day... and Moira's birthday at Restaurant Jacques Reymond
Because of the draw between the Magpies and the Saints in last week's Grand Final we have a replay this week. The AFL has changed the rules for the replay so that there will be extra time at the end of the game in case of another draw. No such luck though. The Pies flogged the Saints.
Collingwood 16.12.108 defeated St. Kilda 7.10.52
I thought it was all over at quarter time. There's an old adage says everyone's favourite team is whoever they barrack for or whoever is playing the Collingwood Magpies. We're all losers today. I reckon there'll be 50,000 new Magpie supporters in 9 months time.
What better way to get over a big footy loss than a party. My little sis, Moira, is celebrating her 40th birthday today and she has organised a party for her closest friends and family (that were able to make the trip - sorry Ben and Sonja) at Restaurant Jacques Reymond.
We, me Michelle and Moira, sussed out Jacques a few months ago and had one of the better meals we've ever had. We new we'd be in good hands if Moira booked Jacques' for he birthday and we were.
Dob and Lan
Is it time to dance yet?
Who the hell invited the bloke with the camera?
Anthony and Trish
Speech - thanks for coming and leave your money on the fridge.
Marg, Moira and Lan.
Jasmine, Gerard, Anthony and Trish
Pop and Ma
Me, Michelle (and yet to be named 28 week old bun in the oven) and Nick.
Two tastes of scallops with seasonal flavours, a cerviche with swede, artichoke chips and lemon myrtle, seared scallops with beetroot, apple and cider emulsion.
Delice soufflé of cottage cheese and aged comté, a stinging nettle and watercress sauce.
The ocean, flounder and oysters, fresh wasabi warm flounder 'sashimi' with fresh grated horseradish and togarashi, a natural oyster and sea water, a warm oyster with wasabi dressing, crispy tempura of white anchovy.
The room to ourselves.
Sweet and sour pekin duck like tucupi, a spiced nougatine of flaked salt and ginger, a lemon sauce, sourness of wilted sorrel and crisp duck skin salad, four pepper squid and yoghurt.
A new taste and technique of presenting prime eye fillet of Angus beef, warm salad of seared and slow poached beef reinventing the classic beef a la ficelle, millefeuilles of potato aioli with sesame, grandmother garnish and shiitake, natural cooking juices.
Roasted snapper, espelette pimento and mustard seed butter, a white onion tart, fluffy parsnip and yabbies, textures of enoki and Australian pure virgin olive oil, a green lettuce emulsion.
Chocolate - White chocolate créme brulèe, mild spice cacao sorbet, milk chocolate millefeuilles, dark chocolate soufflé.
Spice Strawberries - Poached fresh strawberries in a port and cassis infusion of mild spices, liquorice and bourbon vanilla ice cream, chocolate mint mousse, four pepper crispy tuille.
Lan, Moira and Gab
Subtility around a Pear - Baked to order bosc pear tart, fisherman's friend and pear delicacy, pearls of pear, yoghurt and saffron sorbet.
Really?
Monica and Con
Nick and Moira
Nice strong coffee - a piccolo latte.
Petit fours.
Moira and Jacques Reymond.
Marg, Jacques and Moira
Marg, Jacques and Barry
Gabrielle and Gareth.
Ah, sweet relief.
Top people, top night, top food. I hope Jacques wasn't too upset by our mobbing him like culinary rock star (he is a culinary rock star though). I tried to restrain my fan boy squeeing.
Collingwood 16.12.108 defeated St. Kilda 7.10.52
I thought it was all over at quarter time. There's an old adage says everyone's favourite team is whoever they barrack for or whoever is playing the Collingwood Magpies. We're all losers today. I reckon there'll be 50,000 new Magpie supporters in 9 months time.
What better way to get over a big footy loss than a party. My little sis, Moira, is celebrating her 40th birthday today and she has organised a party for her closest friends and family (that were able to make the trip - sorry Ben and Sonja) at Restaurant Jacques Reymond.
We, me Michelle and Moira, sussed out Jacques a few months ago and had one of the better meals we've ever had. We new we'd be in good hands if Moira booked Jacques' for he birthday and we were.
Dob and Lan
Is it time to dance yet?
Who the hell invited the bloke with the camera?
Anthony and Trish
Speech - thanks for coming and leave your money on the fridge.
Marg, Moira and Lan.
Jasmine, Gerard, Anthony and Trish
Pop and Ma
Me, Michelle (and yet to be named 28 week old bun in the oven) and Nick.
Two tastes of scallops with seasonal flavours, a cerviche with swede, artichoke chips and lemon myrtle, seared scallops with beetroot, apple and cider emulsion.
Delice soufflé of cottage cheese and aged comté, a stinging nettle and watercress sauce.
The ocean, flounder and oysters, fresh wasabi warm flounder 'sashimi' with fresh grated horseradish and togarashi, a natural oyster and sea water, a warm oyster with wasabi dressing, crispy tempura of white anchovy.
The room to ourselves.
Sweet and sour pekin duck like tucupi, a spiced nougatine of flaked salt and ginger, a lemon sauce, sourness of wilted sorrel and crisp duck skin salad, four pepper squid and yoghurt.
A new taste and technique of presenting prime eye fillet of Angus beef, warm salad of seared and slow poached beef reinventing the classic beef a la ficelle, millefeuilles of potato aioli with sesame, grandmother garnish and shiitake, natural cooking juices.
Roasted snapper, espelette pimento and mustard seed butter, a white onion tart, fluffy parsnip and yabbies, textures of enoki and Australian pure virgin olive oil, a green lettuce emulsion.
Chocolate - White chocolate créme brulèe, mild spice cacao sorbet, milk chocolate millefeuilles, dark chocolate soufflé.
Spice Strawberries - Poached fresh strawberries in a port and cassis infusion of mild spices, liquorice and bourbon vanilla ice cream, chocolate mint mousse, four pepper crispy tuille.
Lan, Moira and Gab
Subtility around a Pear - Baked to order bosc pear tart, fisherman's friend and pear delicacy, pearls of pear, yoghurt and saffron sorbet.
Really?
Monica and Con
Nick and Moira
Nice strong coffee - a piccolo latte.
Petit fours.
Moira and Jacques Reymond.
Marg, Jacques and Moira
Marg, Jacques and Barry
Gabrielle and Gareth.
Ah, sweet relief.
Top people, top night, top food. I hope Jacques wasn't too upset by our mobbing him like culinary rock star (he is a culinary rock star though). I tried to restrain my fan boy squeeing.
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