Take a train!

Well almost, perhaps a car first and a membership to a photographic club and the outing just might include a train. Now why on earth am I writing about trains? Maybe it is because of the up and coming festive season. And maybe the orders for Tommy the Tank Engine ( perhaps the steam engine) have been made and the grandparent has come home from the shops yesterday arms full of different versions. And that made me think of the only print that the family took back to Switzerland...the one of Tommy the Tank Engine... as shot in Whiteman's Park on one of our club outings. Ruben should be happy with that picture as at 3 years he is still fascinated by trains such as Tommy. Even if he loves the goats at the pumpkin farm.

 These pictures are perhaps of the 'OLD' Subiaco station in the western suburbs...no longer 'OLD' as the word implies. But nevertheless the train driver has to step outside for some 'fresh' air at some time.

Still reading books on Travel?

Well not exactly but these novels do take you to sites of the USA you have never visited before. Or I haven't visited before. But I have to be honest I am also a lover of history. And E.L.Doctorow knows a lot of history...his research must take months. It makes me wonder just how many people helped him to write about America delving into so much social history beginning in late 1885?
I recall how one late Australian author, Bryce Courtney, was rumoured to have over 100 researchers to help him write his many books. Both writers have death in common now yet I can't imagine E.L.Doctorow being driven to his final hours in a rush to finish one of his books.

If you click onto the photographs the writing will enlarge.

Never have I had so many surprises or should I say questions answered simply by reading a novel.

"The success of the Manhatten subway had created a demand for a line to Brooklyn....the construction of tunnel under the EAST river from Brooklyn to the Battery...the digging chamber filled with compressed air pumped in from the surface....the work was dangerous...the 'Sandhogs' were considered heroes...subject to horrible destinies during blowouts...."

Or on the political side, "The news of Teddy Roosevelt, the great conservationist, who on his African Safari...had bagged 17 lions,11 elephants, 21 rhinos, 8 hippos, 9 giraffes, 47 gazelles, 29 zebras and kudu, wildebeest, impala, eland, waterbuck, wart hog and bushbuck beyond number." Useful information one could easily throw into a conversation at any dinner party. Agreed?

Many other characters of the time were introduced to the reader also including Houdini, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Emma Goldman, the anarchist revolutionary and many others. Not to mention the reader's opportunity to discover detailed American landscapes, tourist get-aways and bus and transport routes as well as histories of members of the film world of California. Well worth reading seeing Qantas is advertising double frequent flyer points for any bookings to America. But not for us...we are off to Europe!

Away With the Fairies!!

Well maybe for some, for others, not so airy fairy!!
You might think I'm a fan of dogs or their photographs...on book covers...well maybe. But this one I couldn't resist. No matter what was in the book it did qualify as a traveller's journal...well almost! The story does take us across America and for some it could take one into the next dimension to meet HIM who is always there in some minds. But there was a catch which I didn't see until after I had read the book.

 The story was entertaining to a certain degree and not that unusual however the fact that GOD featured did alert me at some stage. Did you see the catch? Yes the publisher! A Novel way to introduce religion to the reader. And coming from America it wasn't exactly a surprise! But it all ends well and why wouldn't it with the direct contact Rufus had with his GOD!

Is it time?

Yes I can't hold back anymore. My coughing (ouch) and sneezing (ouch) has stopped but my rib pain is still there. Can't wait for it to disappear too. I have had a personal physician beside me all this time...no not what you are thinking...this one is white with brownish ears, long hair yet shaven for his visit and a black wet nose. His tummy is always available to scratch and was that the magic that drove away the demons of the perpetual sniffle? Perhaps! Anyway it worked!
And while I was down in the doldrums I thought I would send my latest book to Fremantle Press and see what they say. Well surprise, surprise...they are considering!! At least they are doing that. As my friend so politely expressed "You've come a long way just to achieve that". Have I REALLY?
Anyway I am waiting...waiting...waiting as we authors tend to do!
So try this physician on for the winter sniffles! Unfortunately he'll be going home in a couple of days but I wanted to share my photos of Auster with you before he goes

.No there is no photo of myself surrounded by tissues...not the most interesting and yes I'll have to change the year to 2015 when I get a moment...well before we take off into the wild and cold weather of Switzerland to celebrate Christmas with the rellies. Can't wait!

Last and final cookbook entry! I promise!

But no one could resist loving this cook book! Just the cover is so colourful and unusual!
And just because I have included a photograph of Queensland beaches doesn't mean that the other States do not have beaches and sights of equal attraction.

If only Amazon would allow me to write where I wanted to do then this could be quite an interesting Blog entry but........one can't
have everything... one can wish but...

No I am not about to include any recipes from the camel train of the far north. This is Broome and I could be talking about the crocodiles which every now and then find their way to this beach to scare the locals. But....

Down south is the description of Busselton...the longest pier in the southern hemisphere but also some of the best eating places and wineries to satisfy any palette.

 I think seafood does dominate the many kitchens seeing most Australians live on the coastal edge of Australia. Yet now and then beef steak does want to be acknowledged as the best
meat. How would we know?...The best is exported!

Aha! I've been given the chance to comment!
Yes one photo and recipe per State should show you just what I am writing about. Please don't think that I have run out of cook books...I haven't but I've decided that enough is enough! I'm bored and so must you be but...nevertheless...it takes a lot to beat the colours of Australia and the food combinations. And the bonus is if you click on and enlarge the photo you may pick up a recipe you like.

Two books to go!

Yes this is one of them. And seeing I suggested it had something to do with my country of birth It hasn't really but I wonder why the site attracted me? Yes where I actually went to see not whether there would be cookbook for sale or something nice to eat no I knew I had to see as I have done elsewhere in the world to be astounded by what was done to the Jewish people during WWII. Of course I was born in Bavaria after the war but that doesn't stop me searching each city for the Jewish Museum. And this one in Sydney's Darlinghurst I can thoroughly recommend. That's strange you might say for a German to seek out some place like this. Well its not so hard to understand. I spent many years in Bondi where I made many Jewish friends and enjoyed their cooking. So much so that I asked did they have a cookbook for sale and they certainly did. I not only love their intelligence and sense of humour but that's another story...if there had been a book of jokes for sale, I would have bought that too.

 If you look closely you'll see photos of some
contributors involved. Yes each person submitted
a favourite recipe. And some of the people taking part had earned some notoriety in the Australian society. Despite now living overseas they wanted to have their recipe and story included.






If you enlarge the picture you might recognise the famous pianist family of the Helfgotts.

 No matter where they called home and you'll recognise a few places most people loved to be included. This made for a very thick book with a huge range of tastes.



My favourite, as I love duck, and so easy to make a success of...your friends will be impressed!

And lentils not very exciting for some people
but nevertheless cheap and healthy.