Bagpipes and the blue rinse set....

So off I went tonight to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Australia. Oh yes, you heard that right...me at the Military Tattoo!

Now before I divulge a secret love of tartan and that ear piercing sound that only an old skin bag which is blown into can make and I should mention my grandfather (on my father's side) did actually play the bagpipes I believe, but I was more coerced than jumping for joy at being a ticket holder. I went so my Mother could go....she who is an avid watcher of Tattoo on telly and who would love to go in person in Edinburgh, but for now the Sydney Football Stadium had to suffice.

So how was it? I've never seen a more orderly crowd, nor one containing that many blue rinses. The announcer pre show did a shout out of people...I think half of Queensland's retirees were there. Oh and did I mention it started to rain? Thankfully I look fabulous in a plastic poncho. My verdict = more bagpipes next time, I didn't leave with ringing in my ears, obviously an epic fail. AC/DC (my next big concert) I better be thunder struck.

On ruralising 'River Cottage' style

I've got it bad. All this work at home by myself has me dipping into other obsessions, namely kitchen gardens. I'm currently planning away when I can next attack the very small yard out the back of the terrace and put in my summer/autumn plantings, a task spurred on by too much watching of River Cottage and The Wild Gourmets, both on the ABC and then streaming some episodes online as er, a reward and much needed study breaks.

I do have a history of kitchen gardens in the family, my mother's father was a keen gardener with a small plot in their inner city backyard as she grew up. His father and mother up near Mudgee in the northern part of the Central West (makes sense oui?) also had kitchen gardens, with orchards on neighbour's property over the hill. What I long for is one of those glorious French or English kitchen gardens, with rolling hills and pastures in the background...(kind of Central West but more green, less bush!). Lush woodlands, forest foraging, otters (yes I'll stop now!)...ahhh yes too much River Cottage for me.