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George is still sick. While my virus stayed mostly in my head, his is sitting in his lungs. Poor fellow. We’ve now started him on antibiotics. *sigh*
I have been working with the Parents to redesign their kitchen. It is tiny and outdated with absolutely no sense of ergonomics nor logic. It defies my reason. I’ve put together a design that The Parents like and we have spent the past two days visiting the kitchen design stores locally to pick out the elements and ask for price quotes. We have a couple of them coming over tomorrow to spec out the place.
Saturday night, Belinda took George and I to a tea house in Chatswood. Rather upscale and trendy neighbourhood with lots of overpriced shops. The tea house was a Taiwanese style with lots of pearl teas and milk. I ordered a pot of Jasmine Pearl tea (as in the leaves being rolled into the shape of a ball) but it seems they only use the flat leaves. Perhaps I am spoiled, but I think the Pearl type has a better and much more delicate flavour. Another rather disconcerting aspect was in the serving. They brought me a tray with a pot and a cup. I poured my first cup and took my time drinking it. I love to sip and savour my teas. Well, by the time I poured the second cup, I noticed how much darker the tea was. I peeked under the lid and discovered they leave the leaves in the pot. Gadzooks! I asked the waiter why and he said so they could continue to refill the pot up to three times for free. This makes sense, but by the last cup of the pot, it is so bitter and far too strong. Note to self: when ordering tea out, ask for a second, empty pot to pour the steeped tea into while I’m drinking it.
I have noticed that most Asians just leave the leaves in the pot. Even at restaurants. Interesting cultural difference. This merely underscores the necessity to make a beautiful little tea nook in my future home. I have a list of tea houses in the area, so I haven’t given up hope yet. Oh, but how lovely it would be to just hop on my bike and pedal down to Savouré for exquisite tea and lovely company. *sigh* I do so miss home.
On a brighter note, Belinda gave me a tea set that she picked up on discount. It has a little plastic tray, four ceramic Chinese style cups and a pot with a bit of a dribbly spout. It is white with black and red Conji painted on it. It’s quite cute and helps make my tea drinking here much better. I had bought a French press to make the tea but I had nothing to pour it in once it was steeped. Thank goodness for Belinda’s bargain hunting. I have been looking at teapots since I arrived but I haven’t found that perfect one yet, and I do so hate to buy something and have it not be exactly what I want. I’m rather stubborn like that. I’d much rather do without than buy what I don’t want.
On Sunday morning, The Family went to Dim Sum Brunch. [Dim Sum is a Chinese custom where the family goes to sit and drink and appreciate the tea together while servers push carts about laden with little sweets and savouries to eat that complement the tea.] We went to the local R.S.L. Club. This is the Retired Servicemen’s League which is equivalent to a Veteran’s club, only this is really posh and upscale. These R.S.L.’s are open to the entire community and are a focal point for area activities. This one has Bocce lawns, gambling areas, an aviary and dance hall. It looks like a nice place to belong. The restaurant at the top had an amazing view. I believe this is a Sunday tradition for them so I’ll be experiencing this regularly. The food looked pretty good. I only had a couple of vegetarian choices. One of the servers went out of her way to go to the kitchen and have them make a steamed vegetarian dish for me. Unfortunately, it was laced with cinnamon. Oh, bane of my existence! I guess I should explain to the newer readers that don’t know me well how I am anaphylactically allergic to cinnamon. Always have been. It just always seems like every time I order something vegetarian, they either make it really spicy to compensate for the lack of meat, or they smother it in cinnamon. Either way, it’s good to always pack some nuts in my bag. Just in case.
Sunday afternoon, we bought a big beanbag and some throw pillows. I believe George is even napping in the beanbag as we speak. Finally, some soft things in the house! Yeah! I’m such a pillow person and there are no soft, cushy surfaces in the house. Their couches are made of some fake vinyl that is all cracked and torn with hard wooden armrests. Even the two throw pillows are made of hard, cracked vinyl. Now we have a light sea green beanbag and two purple pillows. It’s a start.
I have been working with the Parents to redesign their kitchen. It is tiny and outdated with absolutely no sense of ergonomics nor logic. It defies my reason. I’ve put together a design that The Parents like and we have spent the past two days visiting the kitchen design stores locally to pick out the elements and ask for price quotes. We have a couple of them coming over tomorrow to spec out the place.
Saturday night, Belinda took George and I to a tea house in Chatswood. Rather upscale and trendy neighbourhood with lots of overpriced shops. The tea house was a Taiwanese style with lots of pearl teas and milk. I ordered a pot of Jasmine Pearl tea (as in the leaves being rolled into the shape of a ball) but it seems they only use the flat leaves. Perhaps I am spoiled, but I think the Pearl type has a better and much more delicate flavour. Another rather disconcerting aspect was in the serving. They brought me a tray with a pot and a cup. I poured my first cup and took my time drinking it. I love to sip and savour my teas. Well, by the time I poured the second cup, I noticed how much darker the tea was. I peeked under the lid and discovered they leave the leaves in the pot. Gadzooks! I asked the waiter why and he said so they could continue to refill the pot up to three times for free. This makes sense, but by the last cup of the pot, it is so bitter and far too strong. Note to self: when ordering tea out, ask for a second, empty pot to pour the steeped tea into while I’m drinking it.
I have noticed that most Asians just leave the leaves in the pot. Even at restaurants. Interesting cultural difference. This merely underscores the necessity to make a beautiful little tea nook in my future home. I have a list of tea houses in the area, so I haven’t given up hope yet. Oh, but how lovely it would be to just hop on my bike and pedal down to Savouré for exquisite tea and lovely company. *sigh* I do so miss home.
On a brighter note, Belinda gave me a tea set that she picked up on discount. It has a little plastic tray, four ceramic Chinese style cups and a pot with a bit of a dribbly spout. It is white with black and red Conji painted on it. It’s quite cute and helps make my tea drinking here much better. I had bought a French press to make the tea but I had nothing to pour it in once it was steeped. Thank goodness for Belinda’s bargain hunting. I have been looking at teapots since I arrived but I haven’t found that perfect one yet, and I do so hate to buy something and have it not be exactly what I want. I’m rather stubborn like that. I’d much rather do without than buy what I don’t want.
On Sunday morning, The Family went to Dim Sum Brunch. [Dim Sum is a Chinese custom where the family goes to sit and drink and appreciate the tea together while servers push carts about laden with little sweets and savouries to eat that complement the tea.] We went to the local R.S.L. Club. This is the Retired Servicemen’s League which is equivalent to a Veteran’s club, only this is really posh and upscale. These R.S.L.’s are open to the entire community and are a focal point for area activities. This one has Bocce lawns, gambling areas, an aviary and dance hall. It looks like a nice place to belong. The restaurant at the top had an amazing view. I believe this is a Sunday tradition for them so I’ll be experiencing this regularly. The food looked pretty good. I only had a couple of vegetarian choices. One of the servers went out of her way to go to the kitchen and have them make a steamed vegetarian dish for me. Unfortunately, it was laced with cinnamon. Oh, bane of my existence! I guess I should explain to the newer readers that don’t know me well how I am anaphylactically allergic to cinnamon. Always have been. It just always seems like every time I order something vegetarian, they either make it really spicy to compensate for the lack of meat, or they smother it in cinnamon. Either way, it’s good to always pack some nuts in my bag. Just in case.
Sunday afternoon, we bought a big beanbag and some throw pillows. I believe George is even napping in the beanbag as we speak. Finally, some soft things in the house! Yeah! I’m such a pillow person and there are no soft, cushy surfaces in the house. Their couches are made of some fake vinyl that is all cracked and torn with hard wooden armrests. Even the two throw pillows are made of hard, cracked vinyl. Now we have a light sea green beanbag and two purple pillows. It’s a start.