Memories

As you know I've been sorting and clearing things  out.  In the 1980s I was very interested in food and dinner parties and had a huge stash of Vogue Entertaining magazines.  I finally let go of them this year.  This is one of the covers that always sticks with me - so dramatic.

I was blown away by the concept of squid ink colouring food, and it was on my "must eat" list.  A few years ago I finally got to have this dish in a restaurant on the Gold Coast.
I also dreamed of eating in "name" restaurants, and have done so a few times (never did get to Berowra Waters though).  One place I will not forget is Nautilus.  I was staying in a backpackers place in Port Douglas, but put on my least-creased outfit to eat at the restaurant owned by Mogens Bay Esbensen.  I couldn't get over eating in the open on a balmy night surrounded by the tropical scents and sounds.   Just like the picture in the magazine...

Decluttering

My magazines went from occupying this whole bookshelf

to taking up only a little shelf space here...

Lots of Reading

A few years ago I met with a young Hungarian woman for lessons to improve my language.  She's now living back in Hungary.  Last year I sent her a children's book I knew she wanted that she couldn't get there.  The book did a round the world trip back to my place, so I sent it off again - with the correct address this time.  She got it a couple of months ago, and as a thank you surprised me with a package of Hungarian magazines!!

I'm pretty slow, but there are plenty of pictures, and I can work out most things.  You'll notice a title that is unlikely to EVER be adopted by an Aussie mag lol