8:30PM FEELING LIKE 2:00AM

By the end of the day today I was totally starving and I got the C2 bus home from Oxford Circus like greased lightening cause I knew what I had in the fridge. As you can see in the picture above, here is the leftover's from the lunch on Sunday I made that I was bragging about. Everything on the plate tasted even better after a day to marinade in the own juices and I fried the pork again and hot it was EVEN better. I think it would be great hot with puy lentils etc. Will definitely make that again.



On the way to Ladurée the other day, I saw Barbara Windsor get out of a taxi and I swear she had a chicken head! It was really good. She was also wearing mega heels and in all light coloured clothing. What a woman. Later that afternoon I saw that REALLY tall guy from The Office with his short girlf walking down Wardour Street. Hmmm... when was that? Thursday maybe on my way to the George and Dragon to the launch party for Paul Gorman's / Nigel Waymouth's / Granny Takes A Trip / The Look Presents t-shirt range for TOPMAN. Yerrr I know - TOPSHOP - totally against everything I believe in. However what I can appreciate is the history of the British fashion retail and design industry being visited by Paul Gorman which is what I grew up revering reading i-D and The Face back in 1988 in Tasmania thinking "OMG I CAN'T WAIT TO GO TO LONDON!!!" LOLZ. Apparently the rain was so heavy the roof leaked at Mum's all over my old magazine collection. FUCK.



Here I am looking a total babe as per usual in a t-shirt I wouldn't normally wear because I made the decision a while ago to stop dressing like a man but this picture shows that my lipstick is looking pretty hot. Probably I was pretty pissed by this stage from drinking Koko Kanu and Coke. I mean Max and I were topless in the George changing from our regular clothes into the t-shirts from The Look Presents range. If you want to check them all out though, look here. Some of the designs are actually reproductions of the original Granny Takes A Trip store front back in the 60's [like the one I had on]. You didn't know that Granny Takes A Trip was a shop back then? Ohh... God... where do I begin? Not even worth it...



So, mega day today back at work. Feeling hyped but can't believe how tired I am so early. I'm looking forward to getting paid. I want to go to a restaurant The Cardinal visited with her family recently:





Nearly as good as the instrumental to Hairbraider by my main man Kelz!

xx Lektrogirl

SUNDAY LUNCH

laptop_lunchbox 2007.01.04, originally uploaded by amanky.

Well I have to admit that my Sunday feast looked nothing like this but I forgot to take pictures. What a loser! But it looked so amazing. Then we ate it.

I made:

Slow cooked shredded pork belly with wine with chicory and cornichons.
Carrot, cumin and harrisa dip.
Potato dauphinoise.
Norwegian cucumber & dill salad [The Cardinal's recipe]
Plus there was like olives, bread, cheese, anchovies etc.

I'm so sad there were no pictures cause it really was a sight to behold. And I was told that it was an excellent lunch. Thank god.

Here is the Cucumber Salad recipe that I made which The Cardinal confirms is similar enough to hers. Only we both only make about a quarter of it.

Cucumber Dill Salad

4 large cucumbers
1 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
salt and black pepper, to taste
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced and broken into rings
3 tbs. fresh dill, finely chopped

- Wash the cucumbers and partially remove their peel in lengthwise strips, using either a vegetable peeler or the tines of a fork. Make sure to leave a bit of dark green skin between each stripe.

- Thinly slice each cucumber. Place the slices in a large non-metal bowl and pour on the cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir or toss the mixture gently until the sugar is dissolved.

- Add the onion slices and fresh dill, then toss well to combine. Let the mixture marinate for at least half an hour before serving.

- It's best to serve any leftovers at room temperature. So refrigerate any remains, but let the seasoning be enhanced by a little time on the table before dining.

Hopefully it looks a bit like this:

I LOVE COOKING.

I feel like this today!



xx Lektrogirl

MY CREW

Poodles!, originally uploaded by Tri_Poodle.

How we roll on the regular.

I'm going toot, toot, beep, beep, pulling up on them wheels now
All black on black body got it shining much like a seal now
Got them cars in my garage no less than a mill now
Kells about to take the bar and set it real high
Double take Double take when I roll up to the club
Playas they plays us when I walk up in the club
I got them shades on doing about 75
Just call it speed racer cause I'm rolling in that marc 5
Yall niggas aint fucking with me and I put a mill on it
Niggas and Bitches they lie but home boy them stacks don't
R&B Boss hustling like Rick Ross
Man my flow is so raw niggas don't piss me off
I'm a playa homie and that's a well known factor
Plus the wheels on the coupe got lookin like a tractor
Take my ice hold it up
Then my city toss it up
Chi-town summer time Kells got traffic backed up

I'm totally HTML HML right now working on two websites. One has a problem with ONE image. The other problem is that there are more changes than necessary.



For a breather, I managed to get down the road to my favourite French place in North London for a Croque today. At Le Péché Mignon on Ronald's Road N5 the garden conversion has taken place and it is super cute out there and a perfect place to eat and drink - if it wasn't for the agonising conversation two 'musicians' were having at a nearby table. They were talking like OTT MySpace pages for themselves and organising gigs at places where a lot of industry people go 'cause they were more important' and one was bitching out the other for having gigs of their own without the whole band. Blah blah. I shared a table with a very brainy looking bald man with freckles on his head who was doing the Guardian crossword in silence. And even though he smoked, I enjoyed his company a lot and I felt as if I was learning things about the world just by osmosis while I sat near him.



My Croque Monsieur was PERFECT and was served with Lamb's lettuce and not the Brer Rabbit lettuce I hate to much. And I think you will agree it is more obvs I'm starting to enjoy using Mrs Kipling's camera.

In BONUS ROUND news today, my 70's German jug arrived in the mail today from Sabine! Too thrilled!! I realise it isn't everyone's cup of tea, but these heavy gross glazes I love so much and remind me a lot of my mother's ceramic work from back when I was growing up. I remember being allowed to go and sit in with the big kids at the primary school at Challa Gardens when I was just in kinder while Mum gave extra classes in pottery to the kids and I felt so cool.



Not too unlike some of the ceramics I saw on the ward at the Royal Free Hospital, LOL. I love art rooms and cemeteries - they seem very homely to me cause of my mum.

xx Lektrogirl

GREAT ACCENT PRACTICE

SYDNEY FOOD

I can't wait to go here: The Giaconda Dining Room on Denmark Street. The Chef is Paul Merrony from Sydney. If someone has been there, let me know how it was! I'm DYING to know.

The menu at the moment [I picked up a card in Milkbar] reads:

Shellfish Bisque 5.00
Salad of Beetroot & Leeks Vinagrette; Goat's Curd 6.50
Pumpkin Risotto with Oregano 6.00
Boneless & Crisped Pigs Trotters; Eggs Mayonaisse 6.50

Crab Omelette; Green Salad 9.50
Crisp Roast Salmon; Deconstructed Piccalilli 11.00

Grilled Pork Chop; Risotto Milanese 11.75
Grilled Rack of Lamb [for 2 people]; Tian & Gnocchi alla Romana 24.00
Rigatoni with Braised Pork Sausages and Veal Shin with Tomatoes 9.50
Tripe Braised with Chorizo; Smoked Paprika & Butter Beans 9.50

Poached Peach; Eton Mess 6.00
Chocolate & Coffee Mousse; Caramel Sauce 4.50

I think I would have the Beetroot [and hope my friend would order the pig's trotter so I could have a taste because I'm a bit gutless and I'm not sure I would like it] then either the Crab Omelette cause I love eggs or if I was more hungry the Pork Chop and skip dessert.

Imagine the pictures I could take!!

xx Lektrogirl

£169

£169, originally uploaded by Lektrogirl.

Yeah - in lieu of posting anything for a while -and the last two posts were a bit heavy - here is one of my usual frivolous titty posts.

Yesterday I went to Harrods and went 'shopping' which is my new hobby. This Dior bra is SO HOT! I LOVE it! Although the fitting rooms in the Lingerie Department there are ice cold [I have a heart as cold as ice I heard] and I wondered if it was to make everyone's titties pert and the turn down the sweats, but then maybe the air con was just bunk.



I also went and had a very late lunch in Ladurée and earwigged on a middle aged woman take her parents out for lunch and guffawed to myself as they chattered away in French. I got to sit in the black room this time which was a first. I liked it in there. Possibly this was the best club sandwich I ever ate.



A visit to Ladurée of course is not complete without buying some macaroons - which I scoffed before going out to meet The Cardinal and the Air Commodore for drinking and fun at Cocadisco. Complexxion was DJing and I didn't know anything about him before last night other than he has something to do with my friend Manuel's label Citinite. I was pleased cause he played Destiny by Two Sisters, which is one of my super favourite 7" records that I always forget about.


Complex Simplicity

After his set he got talking and - this doesn't happen often XXCENSOREDXX. [I can't remember his exact words.] Anyway, Complexxion is JOKES. XXCENSOREDXX.

But back to matters of a more ladylike nature:



I went again to Le Péché Mignon the other day for a Croque and a coffee. The man in there remembered I wanted some chestnut paste but they had already sold out again since I had been in last. He went upstairs and got me some anyway and I am SOOOOO thankful. I also could not resist the Confiture pour Madame [rose hip jam.] The Cardinal and I keep talking about afternoon teas. I have been feeling so stink bad mood lately with bad dreams, grinding my teeth, angst and anger that a quick lunch at Le Péché Mignon was really all I needed to cheer me up. And even better news - they are opening the garden at the back of the place! I can't wait! I wish I knew their names, I can't keep saying 'the man' and 'the woman'.

And being a total glutton, later that night The Cardinal and I went to Bodeans for dinner.


Check The Cardinal's hand - she has hand cramps from knocking one out over the size of the ribs.

I got to tell The Cardinal my story about Guy Ritchie. One time I was in there eating dinner and Guy Ritchie and his minder came in. Ritchie surveyed the menu from his seat and called out to the kitchen staff "Is this place Kosher?". Which is fucking hysterical given there is a giant neon pig in the window. Mega lolz all night about that.

xx Lektrogirl

SEX & MORNING MUSIC

So finally the sun is up and you are all probably on your way to work. I wish I could share a cup of tea with you and anyone in my back garden.



If I could could eggs like this perfectly every time I would.

I would play some music for you.



Sexual Healing - Hot 8 Brass Band




Perfect High - Peppermint Lounge


And once I had post my photos from the toilets at the George and Dragon where we will probably never meet, some guy will post comments on my Flickr and I will feel totally violated

Sex Attack - Appareil



in a way I never thought possible. But actually I have d/l quite a number of his images to Photoshop friends faces onto should I ever need to.

xx Lektrogirl

THE BEST FRIDAY

At the depths of despair - or maybe it was chronic PMT - I rang my Mutts the other night crying about everything and nothing. [It is a long story.] And like a superstar she knew just the fixer. She told me to get £20 out of her bank account and go and do something nice the next day. So obviously I went and did the best thing you could do on a Friday in London - I went to Borough Market.



Like everyone else who sees these, I am always totally captivated by them hanging there at the stall at Borough. One girl came up to me after I photographed them and asked me if I thought the stall owners should be allowed to display them there. She thought that they should be hidden. I mean - I could see what she was saying, but I didn't see it as any different to all the other meat on display all over the market [albeit without fur and cute ears] or the fish in the fabulous fish stall which is my personal favourite stall.



Granted the rabbits did stink of blood. I asked her if she was a vegetarian and she said no. She just felt that the display of rabbits was 'a little violent'. The rabbits just made me think of when I was young and we had 'pet' rabbits that were actually bought to grow for meat anyway. But my sister and I had befriended them all and been playing with them regularly taking them out of the cage and letting them run all over the garden. When I went out to the garage one day to see The G.A. almost at staggering stage from a lot of whiskey and a half skinned rabbit hanging from the corrugated iron roof I felt really awful. I asked The G.A. if I could have a go at skinning it, he said yes, I ripped off some pelt and it sounded like Velcro ripping apart. I felt even more awful. Then later at the dinner table, I felt more awful still.

Anyway back to Borough Market.


The money Mutts gave me I spent at Brindisa on tortilla and chicory salad and a coffee. All for £12.04 [including service.] I made the chicory salad for myself the next day for lunch it was so good. And the tortilla was pretty good - warm and gooey - but not as good as the tortilla from La Rosa in Madrid!

Then I went and bought a variety of snacks to be had with Prosecco while Cardinal and I prepared ourselves for Deano's birthday. Focaccia bread, beetroot hummus, fresh tomatoes, blue cheese and garlic olives. Venom also came over but he broke one of my limited edition Babycham glasses that Max gave me as a present when I still worked at the shop. I was drinking 'Rose Royals' [prosecco and French rose syrup] while Cardinal had prosecco with Bush Liqueur I brought back from Tasmania made with Pepperberries. Anyway as soon as we got to the party, and the Imodium I gave Venom to stop him pooing all over the place worked it was good times all round.

And now by Sunday morning, the misery has gone and I am much happier! Thanks Mum.

xx Lektrogirl

THE G.A. RECOMMENDS A RESTAURANT

I woke up this morning to see that The G.A. had replied to my last email. Here is what he had to say:

thanks for the email,kid. Really made my day, Yeah! Not only heard about the snow in London but they lavished extensive photos showing around the parks and suburbs of the same city. Bloody beautiful, not the shagging snow, but the memories of my childhood. the squre in which I slept is in Guildford Street just along from the end OF Doughty Street wgiis parrallel to Kings cross road. We used ro live in the top flat of 55 Doughty street. The front door used to look quite imposing if nothing else. The next street along Guildford street from DoughtyLamb's Conduit Street you turn left up to just along is/was a very aged pub called the Lamb. our old piss-up pub. Even your Granma Lidge had a few in their over the years. A bloke called Rndall Keane used to own the place. He was married to a woman called Jean, but that didn't stop the horny drunk taking a shine to our ancester. Mu used to piss him off pretty quick. I must have worked in the pub for two or three years before I joined the Guards. So I HAD MY SHARE---By the fukkin gallon. Good 'sore head days ' need I remind you? If you ever come across some dickhead who wants to take you to lunch, and he's posh enough get him to take you to 'Schmidt's resaurant in Piccadilly , or it may be Leicester squsre be in the book anyway. Eisbein und Sauercraut, with a bottle of cold white, and crusty rolls.Beadifull. I f I could have a wish Iwould take you and stuff the expense. Yer ma's going up to Sara for Tom's birthday. I think I prefer that tho having them travel down five in one car
See you, or read you in the near future I hope. Love from the old G.A.XX WHO has the pleasure of being yer Dad.

So straight after I Googled this place Schmidt's he refers too. Unfortunately it closed in the 70's and I guess what he called Piccadilly, is Noho now.

The restaurant was at 35-37 Charlotte Street. The building there formerly housed Schmidt’s Restaurant, which had been on site since 1901, when Frederick Schmidt, an immigrant butcher from Wurtenberg opened a delicatessen. He became a British Citizen and served during the First World War as an army cook and opened a restaurant on his return. It was famous for its rude waiters and good food at cheap prices. Apparently, the Soviet spy Donald Maclean spent his last day in Britain at the restaurant before fleeing to the Soviet Union in May 1951. The restaurant closed in the 1970s.

The dates etc dont quite make sense for me in that - I just copied and paste it from this document which makes interesting reading. I also read on this website that London's German population had settled north of Oxford Street where Charlotte Street was sometimes known as 'Charlottenstrasse'.

I better think of an alternative restaurant to suggest to Pops as that one isn't open any more. He is also going to shit when I tell him that 56 Doughty Street sold for £3,000,000 last April.

Check this:
Completed in 1790, Doughty Street is an exclusive period tree lined avenue within a popular and prestigious Bloomsbury location. The Grade II listed district has witnessed a wealth of historical events and noble residents who lived or worked in the street.

Charles Dickens lived at No 48 between 1837 and 1839. Whilst living at Doughty Street he published some of his most famous works, including Oliver Twist, The Pickwick Papers and Nicholas Nickleby . During this time, Doughty Street was gated at either end, and manned by porters.

Apparently now, Artemis Hunting Ltd run an office from there - shooting holidays in Croatia! OMG! From their website:

Touch Extra
Specialist Services:

Great costumer service,the best value for money,personal eskort from UK and guiding during the shooting holidays in Croatia,enthusiasm and passion about our business.
Services Offered:

Shooting holidays in Croatia,driven boars,bears,deers ect. Accomodation,food,drink,driving from to airport in Croatia,1 year licence for shooting in Croatia,apartments on the island of Pag-Novalja.www.artemis-hunting.com
Conveniences Offered:

Money back Guarantee Price Match 24 hr opening Customer service / helpline Emergency call out

Okay, well I won't tell you what Doughty Street was like during the 1930's, I'll see if I can get The G.A. to tell us himself which will be more fun.

xx Lektrogirl

I MISS THE RESTAURANTS

In a bid to save money, I haven't been eating out as much as I used to [Like every other night of the week down to never] and I REALLY REALLY MISS IT.

Here is a list of outstanding meals from my memory:

BAR LUNA: Sitges, Spain
On a hot hot hot sunny day I ate calamari, salt and pepper mussels and patatas bravas washed down with beer with Ramiro.


BEACH BURRITO CAFE: Berwick St, London
I used to go here all the time for the chicken nachos. It has closed now and apparently moved further up the road. I didn't try out the other place.

ARBUTUS: Frith Street, London
Probably the best dinner I ever had was here. I had potted chicken liver pate, fish and then floating meringue island.

Oh God this is too painful. Yauatcha, Andrew Edmunds, Aurora [even though I had my wedding anniversary dinner in there the bad taste of that event would never taint the taste of the food], Julie's, Amuse in NY, BAR DU MARCHE I LOVE YOU AND I MISS YOU. I haven't even been to the pub at the end of the street in three months.

Today I am miserable.

xx Lektrogirl

STRESS MANAGEMENT

. . u.

u. ' . u u .

DON'T MENTION THE WAR

xx Lektrogirl

PHALLIC

Today while I was washing dishes I was thinking about guys who after you have had sex with them at some point - usually at a super casual moment - ALWAYS ask how big their penis is in comparison to other guys. Well no - they don't always ask, put this in the sentence: IF A GUY REALLY LIKES YOU, he will always ask you about his penis. If a guy has a big dick, he wants to know it is the biggest. If his dick is small, he wants to know how small. If his dick is neither big nor small he wants you to tell him it is bigger than normal. If his dick is bent, he hopes you don't notice.

The reason why I was thinking about this though was because I had been talking about Bratwurst sausages earlier that day with Abbie and Lee and was cooking some that night for dinner.


I wish my German was better than my French. But I guess everything happens for a reason. [Yes I eat this kind of food as often as possible. I could never be a Jew. Well except for the fact that my mother is also not Jewish.]


Look at this hot pig trying to seduce you into eating products made from him! Sexual! This is the bag from the German Deli down and Borough Market.

And while I am being all M&S about food, I was in Le Péché Mignon the other day - they know me know cause they saw what I wrote about their prickly lettuce and make jokes with me about it! I actually felt a bit embarrassed. I know! Me! - for a croque monsieur [obvs] and while I was there I was looking for some crème de marrons but instead I found these confitures - Les Confitures Extra de Christine Ferber - Morrello cherry or Apricot 'nougat' with Almonds, Honey, Pine Nuts and Pistachio.

Like I died and went to Heaven.

xx Lektrogirl

I BUILT A DESK

Today I was one of those people who sat in Starbucks staring into middle distance sipping on a soapy coffee wishing that I wasn't really there. However, I knew I wasn't beyond redemtion because I was on my way to Homebase to buy some wood for making my desk supports later that afternoon.

Actually it wasn't even a coffee - it was a Soy Chai Tea Latte. LOL.

This morning I woke up without a hangover but felt I deserved one. After hanging out with Max all day, talking about Pantie Wetters, Nannies, Turncoats and Dead or Alive, we went into Soho to see Pippa and Nathaniel and drink some wine. A more wine later at The Three Greyhounds [my first blush since 'The DJ Assualt Night' that I could finish] and then some Geisha Rocks at Abeno Too I was sending random texts about spiritual vibes to God only knows who.


Lovely! So pretty - like sour cherries.

Max had cooked me an Apple and Rhubarb crumble. Until then, all I had heard about Max's cooking capabilities was from his old flatmate Neil who had seen Max take the top off a yoghurt pot and that was it.

But check this out:




I am Max's fantasy girlfriend. He is always asking me if I had sex with a woman. I always get out of answering by asking him if he ever had sex with a woman.


Look at the AWESOME temperature guage on the oven! It reminds me of Gary Numan or The Buggles or something. So jealous. And such a neat crumble.


YUM. And by now, Alex T had come over to Max's too so we all sat and ate crumble together like naughty school children telling naughty jokes.


Here is Max's knicker drawer. No he isn't at all anal.

And check this garden out that Max made. It used to be just rocks and weeds and nothing. It was just nothing and it is so beautiful now.



Someone who isn't quite like Max in some ways [totally anal] but quite like Max in other ways [I think she only fancies men] is my mate Sara Manara who if I was a big licker I would fancy her because she is a good cook and likes good music. Oh - yeah I know she is with Bok Bok so no dis bruv, but your girlf is a babe. And as you know, I'm only interested in guys anyway [I'll tell the rest of my gossipy stories later! LOL and I promise I will keep your secret forever...] I was over at Bok Bok and Manara's house the other night and Manara cooked a BANGING dinner for us all. SO DELICIOUS.


And I gotta tell you, Manara's Pav was almost authentic Australian [we would probably only have raspberries OR strawberries with passionfruit and banana.] It was so awesome. I could have eaten the whole thing to myself.

Mum is sending over some old tea cups and saucers from home that I am really looking forward to receiving in the post. I am planning to have a tea party. I only have two cups right now and one teapot. And it isn't big enough.

xx Lektrogirl

COOKIN WITH COOLIO 2

ROMANTIC BANQUET

I own the most fabulous cook book that I bought in Belgium once at a second hand shop. It was like 50 euro cents. If I had a suitcase empty enough I would have bought the whole set. In the book the food has the worst pictures ever! Totally incredible. Bok Bok said it was like looking at 70's porn with hairy muff through spaghetti bolognaise and it was making him feel sick.



You might have noticed that I have been posting a lot of old scans and pictures lately. I remembered that my old old lektrogirl.com website still sits online and all the pictures and stuff are still there. Over the course of the following weeks, I will be reposting a lot of things here on my blog.

Oh god - that Gucci by Gucci ad just came on TV - the one that is all gold and swirly with girls dancing.

xx Lektrogirl

I'M TOO GOOD

The other night when Cardinal, Covvo and A Beer came over I cooked them all dinner. The dish you see above was for starters and here is the recipe. There are two reasons why I can recommend mussels as an option for dinner. 1] They are cheap - 3.99 a kilo and 2] They are super easy to cook.

MUSSELS WITH BASIL AND LEMON GRASS

1kg black mussels
1 tbs peanut [or whatever] oil
1 medium brown onion [150g of whatever onion you have] chopped finely
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
10cm stick [20g] fresh lemon grass sliced thinly
1 small fresh red chilli sliced finely
1 cup [125ml] dry white wine [that is one of those little bottles at the supermarket]
2 tbs lime juice
2 tbs fish sauce
1/2 cup loosely packed thai basil leaves [get them in China Town for 1.60 a bunch]
1/2 cup coconut milk [125ml - a half sized can or tip all a 400ml can in like I did]
another small fresh red chilli sliced finely
2 green onions [spring onions or salad onions] sliced thinly

1] Throw the mussels into the sink to give them a shock so that they all close. When you buy them they will be alive and should open and close. Scrub mussels under cold water and remove beards [the hairy parts hanging out the closed shells.]

2] Ditch any mussels that have not closed at all after you have run cold water on them or have cracked shells. They are no good.

3] Heat the oil in a wok or big frypan [or whatever you have got - you need a lid for it big enough that is all.] Stir fry the brown onion, garlic, lemon grass and chopped chilli till it becomes soft and is fragrant. It is better to do this over a pretty low heat so the onion doesn't brown, but as it is known in the business 'sweats'.

4] Add wine, juice and sauce and bring to the boil [turn up the heat a bit!] Add the mussels and turn the heat down again. Simmer the mussels in the pan with the lid on until the mussels open. The majority of mussels should open after about 5-7 minutes.

5] While you are waiting for 5-7 minutes to pass, shred half the basil leaves with your fingers.

6] Add the shredded leaved and coconut milk to the pan and stirfry until heated through. Fish out any mussels that aren't open, throw them away - they are no good.

7] Serve the mussels into a bowl for each person. 1 kg is enough for 3 or four people as a starter or as a main dish enough for 2. Sprinkle with slicked chilli, green onion and remaining basil leaves.

Let me know how you get on!

xx Lektrogirl

MY SUNDAY LUNCH

From Tasmania, Jansz Sparkling Pink!



Smoked duck breast with capers and sauerkraut. I'll order anything on the menu that comes with sauerkraut. Except pigs weird parts. Unless they are minced into a sausage.



Crab, Fennel and Watercress salad.

I'm so glad I didn't get the roast pork belly. It had hairs on it still in the crackling which grossed me out. And my friend was going on about his recent trip to Hong Kong and all the pig skin he ate. Which made me feel all wrong on the inside. Anyway the food was nice but I didn't really enjoy myself this afternoon until I got cracking in the kitchen:



I mean, you can see how crooked the door is and the filler isn't finished yet either BUT I DID THAT. I recycled a cabinet I ripped out from another part of the kitchen and put it back here, cutting it down, to cover under the sink.

All the things that are annoying me in my house I'm just getting rid of them all. Gone, gone, gone. And gone for good.

xx Lektrogirl

WHAT A FABULOUS HOLIDAY

In between the usual DIY - I just took off the kitchen door [my trail of change is spreading further through the house] and scrabbling on the floor painting skirting boards - I learnt you can check webcams on Google maps.

I really want to go here on my holiday...



Well that is how it looks today. Here is the link to the live webcam page. Check back in a week or two to see how it looks then.



But even I was sent there by someone else on holiday, I would still be a very happy girl. Last night with Cardinal and Pickles, I went round to Venom's house for dinner. I made the starter, Venom did the mains and Cardinal took care of dessert.


I made a selection of 'Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls'. Basically it was the same concept with various fillings cause as I learnt Jews don't eat prawns cause they are pigs of the ocean and eat shit etc.


This is Venom's dish. It was delicious. Oh and I forgot to photograph the salsa he made for nibbles - it was one of the best I ate.


This is Cardinal's Cheesecake. She makes the best cakes ever on earth - except for the ones my Mum makes. This cheesecake was perfect in every way. Except the little crack on the side. But we ate the evidence.

I have a hilarious video of Venom telling a story about the girl who gave him the best blow jobs ever that involves some dating website pre Friendster but I have been banned from allowing it to ever surface on the internet. I was watching it this morning in anticipation of YouTubing it laughing my head off, but that was previous to the email ban I received. Boo hoo.

We also briefly discussed the Hamas controlling the Gaza Strip - I watched that show the other night 'Inside the Hamas' and I found it really interesting. Not cause I was anyone's side - just that I am totally pig ignorant about political issues and at last I finally understood a little bit about the different crews battling it out on the Gaza strip. In my brief synopsis of the show which ended with "And now the Hamas are just in there hitting people with big sticks. It seems wrong." Pickles just looked at me and said I should have a political column in a newspaper.

In other news, Fat Pat 'Tops Drop' is the most played track on my iTunes.

xx Lektrogirl

A NICHE DISTRACTION

So I just ate a muffin with the Confiture de Châtaigne I brought back from Paris ages ago from the little place at the back of the market who's name I forget right now quite shittily. Châtaigne are sweet chestnuts. I just had an online conversation with Deano about The Wombles and did they eat chestnuts. I felt really guilty for getting him involved in such a twee and ridiculous conversation when I don't care so much anyway. The confiture however - is INCREDIBLE.

We also had a brief conversation about T2 - he sent me the link for this:

I don't think he will be spinning it any time soon. Nor me. I liked Heartbroken.

It says in the description for 'Gonna Be Mine' that the two girls, Addictive are 20 and 21. I don't believe it. One of them looks as old as me. The one with the silver boob tube. The thing I like about this kind of music is that 1] it is a distraction from wanting to go back to the kitchen and eat another muffin and 2] it kind of reminds me of 2Unlimited except for 2008 - like after it got rung through the drawers of like 50 Cent after he sweated it out on stage doing 'In Da Club' or something. I remember when Pure Groove was the UK Garage shop in North London instead of the white leather belt hipster zone that is is today and being on a train with EDMX and Nick from Rephlex making jokes about speed garage. If I was still in pleasant conversation with Nick, that must have been years ago. [Long before I claimed the mechanicals due to me from the company which didn't go as smoothly as I had hoped.]

See another 5 minutes have passed and I didn't eat more confiture.


Here is another blast from the past. Nervous Stephen gave this to me for my birthday one year. Well from the message on the back I guess he missed my birthday by a week. I found this and decided to put it on the wall again. I used to date Stephen you know [also a long time ago].


This picture is another birthday picture. I picked it up in Hamburg last time I was there and I will frame it and put it somewhere in the house. I used to have a framed mirror printed with Rocky on it above the toilet but it used to put all the guys off peeing so I had to move it. I won't put this in the loo OR in the bedroom I guess.


Behind this postcard is part of a Paperrad silkscreen that is meant to be cut into business cards for some art fair in Miami. I love it so much cause Dracula is on his lap top. That is the best part. The postcard in front is the best postcard and piece of New Media Art ever. I bought it on Tottenham Court Road.

Of all the more interesting things I could post on Gumtree, I was considering posting a wanted ad for a 160cm square piece of vintage floor vinyl or set of Dalsouple rubber tiles. [That is only 5 tiles!] It is for my bathroom. If anyone has anything like that, let me know. Or if you have a link to a website for a dealer specialising in vintage floor vinyl please give it up!

xx Lektrogirl

A FOOD DREAM

I didn't dream about food last night, but rather the start of a relationship with in inappropriate man. However while painting over the weekend, I did spend a lot of time thinking about restaurants I have eaten at around the world. One of my top dinners was at this place in New York called Doyers. It is a Vietnamese restaurant on the edge of Chinatown. In fact, down a side street, round a smaller street off that and then down an alleyway. It isn't the most pleasant looking area and the streets, after a busy day of market trading were really stinky. Standing at the top of the stair case, I did have second thoughts about going into this basement restaurant cause I really had no clue what it would be like and with jet lag I wasn't feeling super brave.

BUT WOW I WAS SO GLAD I MADE IT! There are 100's of items on the menu - so what to choose?! There was mountainous plate after plate of food going past us to the tables of other diners and I was trying to match up what I saw with the menu in front of me. I was there with Paul - he tried to order the Vietnamese vegetarian crepes but we were there late and they wouldn't turn the griddle on. Instead we tried the fried Spring Rolls that came with a salad and massive garnish of mint. I had a green papaya and shrimp salad - shredded papaya and halved shrimps topped with mint, coriander and peanuts - enough for three as a starter. We drank beer and Vietnamese coffee and moved onto tasting a Vietnamese sour soup. It is a thin vegetable soup with tamarind, pineapple, bean sprouts, tomato and oriental mushrooms. I ordered tender diced beef, stir fried with onion and served tons of watercress. The beef came with a special dipping sauce made of lemon and pepper. Even though I was already stuffed full it was one of those dishes where I couldn't stop picking at the plate. We had way too much food but all of it was so fresh and clean tasting. Our whole bill came to $30 and was worth every cent.

If you like Vietnamese food go here. If you like adventures go here. If you want an I LOVE NY tshirt get at fake one from the depths of Chinatown for $3 - don't get sucked in and buy one from Little Italy, just one block away- they are $14.99 there and then you can spend the money you save on an extra course at Doyers.

Oh and here's a map cause you are gonna need it.


DOYERS VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT 11 Doyers Street (Chinatown), Manhattan, NY 10013 +1 (212) 693-0725

xx Lektrogirl

MAKE MINE MEAT

Today I got sunburnt stringing up lights in the greengage and apple trees in the front garden. It was 27 degrees today with a really hot wind. I forgot about a hot wind and hot sun together. Pretty awesome. But I have pink arms now and pink cheeks. I'm going to be all freckly when I get back to London. Hopefully I will meet a man one day who thinks that is cute on someone my age. Anyway - the Christmas lights are now growing and nearly finished. I have some rope lights to put up and some more fairy lights for the front window. I was going to put the rope lights around the front door but their lead is too thick and I can't close the door properly. So that scuppered that plan. However Hobart is still the kind of place you can leave doors and windows open when you pop down to the road to pick up the papers from your neighbours house...

Apparently this evening there is going to be electrical storms. Bring it on! We have a corrugated iron roof so it will sound amazing.


Brunch was delicious. The coffee at Jackman and McRoss is INCREDIBLE. If only this place was in London. It would be great for a very casual date. Not for casual sex vibes BTW - but somewhere where you weren't sure what kind of shoes someone was gonna be wearing to the date and so you weren't sure if you liked them yet or not. YGM. Kind of like a "pre date see if you want to go on a date with them date". It would also be one of the places I would take Cardinal. It is 100% total girl gossip vibes place too. I got a text from her this morning saying she was having food and drinks at her house for Christmas. I was really missing her then! I really love my friends.


Later this arvo Mutts and I went to Coles and Kmart for some more lighting essentials [got a light up reindeer for $4!] and I also checked out all the knickers. Mid aisle I was all in a quandry. I mean - I buy all the fancy bras - and therefor the assumtion is I get the matching underwear. I have discussed this before on my blog - so sorry to go on - BUT now I am wondering if I am failing as a person for not having matching underwear and continuing with the mix and match style that I like. I was looking down the aisles really confused. My search to discover myself continues.

Then in Coles, I got stopped by two guys for photographing different food items in store. One had a pierced eyebrow and the other didn't. It would have been less embarrassing if Mum hadn't started going on with "She has grown up in this supermarket and I have been shopping here for 30 years" yada yada. They told me that I would have to ask the manager's permission to take pictures. Mum asked "Is the manager sitting there watching her on CCTV?" and the guy said "No the manager isn't even here." I tried to walk off into the potatoes but Mum was there telling them all about the things I take pictures of on my Flickr. Anyway here are some of the offending pictures:


Christmas Hams. Imagine the stomach cramps you would get if you totally stuffed yourself on these one after the other.


Dog Roll.


Kabana. Phallic. Amazing.

Anyway just for your information the photographing of all items in Coles is stricly prohibited. It makes me hate on Coles a little bit now. Anyway - gtg - I can overhear an interesting news piece on taxi drivers who rip off disabled kids by taking the long route home.

xx Lektrogirl

THUNDERSTORM

So this morning I've talked Mum into going to Jackman and McRoss for brunch. I really need a decent coffee. Maybe that is why I have a hideous headache today or the fact that I am getting work emails cc'd to my personal address.

Yesterday, I went round to the home to have a Christmas lunch with Dad, his friend Max and a University Student called Ian who goes round and visits Dad once a week to play Chess with him. Here is Dad at the end of the lunch with the table cloth on his head dressed as the Spirit of Christmas.

I had asked Alex T to come as well mid text chat - he was in Shoreditch House and I was on Clarendon Street - but unfortunately he couldn't make it. Ergh saying 'text chat' sounds dirty, but I mean it literally - not as in text BABE to 85678 to speak with girls ready for dogging in your area.


Then my Auntie Diane came over and with Mum, we went to this Spanish Tapas place in Battery Point. The tortilla was amazing. They had whitebait. I had prawns. They were really nice. They made me think of all the eating I did with Ramiro in Spain. The food there was SO amazing. A shame is girlfriend hates me so much cause I would love to go back there. LOL.


And while Mum ran and got me nails and ladders when required, Auntie Diane sucked on a cigarette giving directions, I climbed all over the front of the house hanging icicle lights from the shitty veranda, taping lights in the windows of the front of the house and hanging light up bells too. It was amazing. I only have used approximately 800 lights in the display so far. Well it needs some more grunt definitely in the display but no-one else in the adjacent houses has any display at all. So Clarendon Street and Tower Road - IT'S OFFICIAL!! Step up your game.

There is a lot of rain and thunder right at this very second but it is going to be 27 degrees today. I'm surprised my over cautious mother is even allowing me to be connected to the internet right now in case I get an electric shock. LOL. I'm being serious.

And OMG - went into Harris Scarf yesterday and saw a store full of the most giant, ugly, cake tin sized bras ever!! Unbelieveable.

xx Lektrogirl

POSITIVE SIDE TO H.M.L.

My plane to Australia got cancelled! H.M.L. !!! But we all have to stay in a Premier Inn til tomorrow for the next flight. Roxy said I can try and lengthen my trip if need be. So ace. Then I was at the buffet trying to gag down some food. It was really fucking bad. Manara already challenged me to take great pics for my flickr but ones of my minge don't count.

So I took one of hers instead. In the middle of me seafood rice was a screwed up tight little furry mussel I pulled out and started snapping with my camera. These two Asian dudes in plastic gloves and messy aprons came over asking me if everything was okay and if there was a problem with my food. I looked at them like they were retards and said "Have you guys heard of flickr? I'm on holiday" They apologised and left me but kept staring. I couldn't eat any more. The food was revolting. So i went up to them and showed them the picture and said "don't worry guys, this is for my friend Sara. I'm sending it to her cause it looks like her minge." The Chinese Asian knew what I meant. The Indian one didn't. LOL.

xx Lektrogirl