Cafe Volare
Michael’s coffee rules over all the rest
Baci chocolates like creamy droplets
Everyone loves a refreshing blood orange drink
With each sip it makes my heart go tink
Michael is a lovely fellow
He works hard all day long
He’s gentle and kind with an active mind
And that’s why I’ve written this song!
Cafe Volare
111 Pakington Street
Geelong West Victoria 3220
Bicycle Film Festival 2009
Calling all bicycle lovers! The Bicycle Film Festival is coming up, so hop on your bike and change your gears to fast, and get ready to go!
Melbourne Bicycle Film Festival
http://bicyclefilmfestival.com/?p=melbourne
12-29 November
Orla recommends
The Best.Friends.Forever Street Party
Perfect for families – bring your bikes for the Annual Bike Beauty Pageant!
Sunday 29th November 12-5pm
Corner Cambridge and Peel Streets, Collingwood
A Halloween special
You might think of Halloween as a time for spooks and ghouls. You might even think of it as a time for lollies. Either way you’ve been sucked in by the mutant marketers!
It is actually a time to open the gate between worlds for a peaceful time with your departed loved ones. It used to be a great bonfire, and villagers celebrated by dancing and singing around it. The jack-o-lantern is a traditional face that villages once put out of their houses as a sign of respect. You can also cast a love spell on this type of festival.
These days some kids only eat lollies and do trick or treat. The kids in the olden days roasted nuts in the fire and ate shrivelled apples. I have placed some apple and nuts in a bowl to put out tonight for any passing ghosts or spirits.
So do not thing greedily or unwillingly towards Halloween, and enjoy your time with your loved ones!
Here are some handy tips for Halloween:
- Place apples and nuts outside your door as a peace offering for the spirits
- Carve a jack-o-lantern
- Roast nuts
- Open your mind
- Deliver offerings of enjoyment to your departed loved ones
I’ve got some of these great ideas from my favourite shop in Melbourne called Spellbox.
Spellbox
17 Royal Arcade
331-339 Bourke Street Melbourne
Melbourne Victoria 3000
http://www.spellbox.com.au
What do we want!?
I went to the 350 climate action day protest on the weekend, starting at the Melbourne Museum. The message was to stop global warming by getting out of your cars and using public transport or riding or walking. We also sent a message to the companies who pollute the environment.
The hairs were standing up on my skin. I made my way through the crowd, weaving on my bike. Some passages lead to a dead end and some took you to a completely different place. The crowd parted and I saw a GINORMOUS bicycle called ‘Bikezilla’! It had seven seats and a huge atmosphere.
We got ready to go. There were about 500 bikes. Bell noises were covering the road like a cloak and people went outside their apartments to see what was going on. We took over the road. Everytime a car beeped angrily (or in support) we cheered victoriously! A man with a parrot on his shoulder joined in.
Bikezilla kept leading the crew through the City, on and on. A lady invited me to speak through the megaphone …
“What do we want?”
CLIMATE ACTION
“When do we want it?”
NOW!
I repeated the lines over and over again.
We got to the point were we hopped off our bikes and led them down the stairs to the Alexandra Gardens in Melbourne. We laid our bikes down in two rows then made a gigantic 350. We were the zero so we placed our feet on the outline. Some people stood up to do speeches and some relaxed on the grass. It all happened so quickly.
I think the global warming message will get around soon. The question is … can you support us? I’ll leave that up to you.
http://www.350.org
http://www.getup.org.au
Christmas wonders
I’d like to introduce you to Generation Wonder. This online shop is run by Mihiri and you can purchase all types of amazing treats and goodies from the site http://www.generationwonder.com.au.
There are great Christmas present ideas for kids which are all about fair trade, eco products, gifts that give back (for creative people across the world).
Much better than running around to all different toy shops before Christmas during all the madness and craziness.
Big V respects and recommends Generation Wonder !
Little Cupcakes newsflash!
…. news just in. Little Cupcakes now have a new flavour. Cherry! I’ve tried it. It was was amazing and does comes with a cherry on top. Coming in a close second to cookies ‘n cream.
Little Cupcakes
Degraves Street
Melbourne Victoria 3000
http://www.littlecupcakes.com.au/
Moo! Baa! Oink!
I’m right in the middle of the Collingwood Animal Farm. I had just entered the ivy covered gateway. It is quite noisy, but the cafe treats are distracting me from all of that. There are some toy animals that I like to collect in a glass cabinet at the front counter. I choose a donkey, a humble animal I like.
I dawdle back to the table and choose my breakfast … eggs with mushrooms, baked beans and spinach ON TOAST! Poached eggs are my favourite.
Meanwhile I decide to pay a visit to the goats. I cautiously wade through the mud, for once before I had carelessly slipped in the mud and landed in the poo which is not very graceful! I chase them, hug them, speak with and sing to them, until Mum tracks me down in the field. I walk dreamily back to the cafe.
My meal has been served. I gooey volcanic yolk eruption was coming! As the fork pierces the white, the yolk lava runs out …
“Hey Orla, how are you liking it?”
I wake from my trance. The mushrooms are juicy and mouthwatering and the baked beans are spectacular.
After all this …. it was time to go. I miss the quack of the ducks, the snort of the pigs. But I’m making a pact I will come back, and I am certain!
PS Come, sit closer, I’ll tell you a secret. Sometimes I get to collect the chicken eggs at the farm!
Collingwood Animal Farm
St Helliers Street
Abbotsford Victoria 3067
The Farm Cafe website
PJs? Check!
This was the day. We’d been talking about the sleepover for ages and Grace, Harriet, Maddy and I were longing to try out the dinner and games we could play at Grace’s house.
The girls were already there, jumping and clapping and dancing about. When I arrived we started the raffle! Maddy’s turn was first. She picked out the word ‘computer’. We raced downstairs to the office . Grace and I took turns on the laptop, searching for spooky games.
Then it was my turn for the raffle. I picked out ‘eat’! So again, we went downstairs, this time to the dining room. We set up a restaurant called ‘Moustache Cafe’! Of course, before any cook begins her duty she must have a resfreshing glass of ginger beer. After the glass I helped Grace make nachos with cheese (I’m not a great fan of cheese, but the girls enjoyed it!). We also made fruit kebabs and a lolly mix (which didn’t take too much effort!).
The girls thanked us gleefully.
We then did races, and an obstacle course and bubble tiggy. The games were grouse, and we got medals from Grace.
After all that fun, Elisa – Grace’s gorgeous Mum – made us pizza which we decorated with stuffed olives, grated carrot and tomato paste. We enjoyed watching Shrek, a movie we all know, and blew up the inflatable cushions. We also told spooky stories and snuggled up peacefully . Goodnight girls! Lights out!
Ode to udon
Kenzan, Kenzan, lots of sushi
Kenzan, Kenzan, your soup is slooshy
Udon is the best of all
Eat ‘em up before they fall
Kenzan, Kenzan, goes to waste
If you have to leave in haste
Kenzan, Kenzan, edamame
Turn my napkin into origami
Kenzan, Kenzan, soy sauce
Do you want some? Of course!
Kenzan, Kenzan, great tea
It is super-duper, believe me
Kenzan is the best, the best
Out of all of the rest!
Kenzan
GPO
Corner Elizabeth and Bourke Street Mall
Melbourne Victoria 3000
Wooden Spoon wanderings
“Mum, what do you fancy for dinner tonight?”
“Oh, just tofu, touch of noodles, you now, bean shoots”
“Tell you what Mum, I know exactly the spot where you can get all the ingredients like that”
“Is it Wabi Sabi Salon”
“Yes, but no”
“Chocolate Buddha”
“Yes, but no”
“What is it there!”
“You’ll see”
“It’s a freezing night Orla, how long to walk?”
“Just down the street, right there, look to the right next to a clothes store, then you’ll see … cross the road”
“So it’s that one called Wood Spoon Kitchen”
“Hallelujah!”
“Hmmm, I want the Vegetarian Miso Soup”
“I want the Vegetarian Goma Udon Noodles”
“Mum, want some tempura avocado or the okonomiyaki?”
“I think I want both!”
“Look here comes the udon and miso”
“Mum, this is delicious!”
“How many times have I told you … DONTSPEAKWITHYOURMOUTHFULL!”
“I absolutely love the tofu”
“That’s better … I do to!”
“Oh, that was so filling”
“Come on Orla, home time”
“Mum, I’ve got a stitch”
“What a night!”
Wood Spoon Cafe
88 Smith Street
Collingwood Victoria
03 9416 0588