Ful medames

We make ful medames at home every weekend, and often during the week too. It's delicious, healthy and cheap, and good for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It has that staple quality where you really can't get sick of it. I love it. It's one

Whitehorse at Mamma Chen's

5 July 2025 in Melbourne, with Kuntsquad, Strawberry Fist Cake, Beanflipper, Resistance, Blowhole, ADHD, Y Not, Knife and Wot Rot. It's time for a punk show. Punk and metal really, although judging from the sartorial settings on the day it was definitely a punk show. Mamma Chen'

Cloud practice

A thing that bugs me about a lot of watercolour video tutorials is they only show the part where the brush hits the paper. That leaves more than half of the process out and too many unanswered questions, like what colours did they use, and how much water? What does

Zining the past

I have several shoeboxes full of photos, letters, cards and the like that I've kept for nearly my entire life. The letters and cards all were given to me, including birthday cards beginning at age six (I was given five of the same card, clearly the only option

Oyster farms

I mentioned in an earlier post that I would be taking a watercolour class soon. I'm now part-way through the seven week class. During the last fortnight or so I have settled on a theme, which is posts in water with a one point perspective (vanishing to a

Knight of Wands

Lottie, 15 September 2010 - 11 May 2025 The day after I picked up the eight-week-old pointer puppy from Brisbane airport, the Mackay-based breeder laughed at me over the phone. "You're going to have fun with this one." She meant it as a warning. Lottie was

Zoobombs at Kindred Bandroom

1 June 2025 in Melbourne, supported by Rocket Science. Tucked deep up the back of Yarraville is an industrial area, copious roadworks and Kindred Studios and Bandroom. It's been years since I was last at this great little venue and I wish more bands I am interested in

Ducks' bums

When the vibes are off, it's more important than ever to remember: ducks' bums.

Birthday at the zoo

For the second year in a row I spent my birthday at Melbourne Zoo. It's just about the perfect day out when one also has evening plans: cute and weird animals to look at, fresh air, and not taxing on one's energy for socialising. Adrian gave

Fungus heaven

Yesterday I took a drive out to Mount Macedon to investigate the possible existence of weird fruiting fungi. I can now confirm it exists. It was a much-needed trip, a distraction from the very recent passing of our beloved Lottie and to make good use of my last week of

Open Studio - Watercolour development plan

I completely forgot to mention I have started a new watercolour course. I am doing Open Studio Watercolour at The Art Room (TAR), which is for people who have progressed beyond beginner and want to focus on things like composition, creative goals, colour theory and so forth. It goes for

An interregnum and a slice

It's been a little while between posts but fear not. As per my previous posts (hehe) I've been on leave from work and preoccupied with bulk cinemagoing. I'm only one-and-a-bit weeks into my three weeks off and it already feels like a huge mental