52 weeks

Well now its February I decided to come clean about my new year’s resolution

Firstly I haven’t broken it!

Secondly I chose it as it specifically so I couldn’t break it. Naturally.

Thirdly it’s not shocking, dirty, drug or sex related, climbing Mt Everest or building an Ark [Jesus I tried that when i was about 8 with Lego and let me tell you it didn’t work then] nor am I trying to be more spiritual, find religion, give up a vice nor loving thy neighbour more [Even though one of the guys to our left is a bit hot I don’t thing Andy would appreciate my spying on the hot neighbour].

And the thing is that after collecting so many cookbooks over the years -16 at last count, 18 months worth of the Gourmet Traveller [ The OZ foodies bible] & a folder of cut out, scribbled on and given to – recipes, I thought it was time for action.

So my resolution was to try a new recipe per week for 2010. Period.

Criteria was simple – it must be something new I haven’t cooked before, sourced from anywhere & I must have at least 52 completed by 31st of Dec 2010. Yes I was a bit inspired by Julia & Julie but not inspired enough to do every day – Well I would if I didn’t have to work! Also these are the dry runs of what will be appearing on the menu for dinner parties at Casa del a Riversdale this year.

So here’s what I prepared [earlier] to date (with source):-

JAN
4.1 1 - Lobster Thermidor - The internet
11.1 2 - Indian Lamb kebabs - ‘Indian in 6’
18.1 3 - Lamb Kofta - The internet
25.1 4 - Pea & Prawn Linguini - ‘Gourmet Traveller Simple’

FEB
1.2 5 - Berry Trifle - A & B special [ made up this one]
8.2 6 - Tandoori Chicken - ‘Indian in 6’
15.2 7 - Dahl with Spinach - ‘Indian in 6’
21.2 8 – Spanakopita (planned) - Gourmet Traveller (march 2010)

So I think I have covered classics, Indian & Greek so far. Lobster Thermidor has indeed splendid & a marvellous start. All the Indian recipes were amazing [without burning our mouths] NB - less liquid with the Dahl, darl. I think Greek food hits the spot with my love affair with Lamb. Planning to roast a whole leg Greek style soon. μεγάλος!

I have decided that throughout the year I will be updating with my progress to date – no dear reader this is not becoming a foodie blog [There is much a rumbling with Eurovision 2010 to be had next month!] but I thought a new series just for ‘010- I will also take any suggestions or recipes sent from anyone– however nothing too unusual (I’m not eating insects, testicles etc) however would be open to different styles to push my cooking boundaries.

Email me recipes at urbanguy99@hotmail.com
[title your email recipe].

X b

You gotta have pride

So on Sunday it was pride march in Melbourne town - more of the Midsumma madness. Andy & I sent our regrets as we were gardening that day. Before you say why we were not in attendance I figured I can miss a gay march after being out of the closet for almost 20 years [this year readers] & seen a few sights in that 20 years in the community & I didn’t need to go and see more. Now don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the march with the many groups represented such as the bears nor PFLAG/dykes on bikes/gay parents/mature men nudists [wearing g’s no less – or they’ll get arrested] nor a support group for trannies of Dimboola or lesbian separatists Baptist church [Ah[Wo]men!]- Its just that they represent groups that I don’t relate to.

So it’s only apt that I was reading a blog article titled Create a Unifying Term for the Community in the Queers united blog [http://queersunited.blogspot.com ] basically calling for a united name for the GLBTIQA – Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Questioning ( I know - how the fuck did that one get in - NB some know this as Queer but in OZ its Questioning) and Asexual. Why don’t we just call it GLBTIQASupercalifragilisticexpialidociousfuckingstupidname community as the adding of the letters has become too ridiculous for...words.

Now I totally agree with one unified name for the community however where do you start? Queer on the face of it seems to fit the bill but it’s just too queer for words and too 1970’s. Same with those nicknames of ‘Nancy’ &‘Mary’ as they are old ladies names now. Faggot rhymes with maggot too much & poofs reeks of the 1960’s Carry on Films [actually I don’t mind that one really as you can make it poofie, poofta, wooly woofter, woofter & my latest poofer however even I concede that this may be a bit of a setback for the community at large]. Bent really means you're a criminal. Friends of Dorothy missed the bus ride years ago or should I say the house ride. Queen refers to her majesty [we are NOT a republic yet]. Funny, that way inclined & effeminate is just that & let’s face it gay really refers to homosexual men. Well all I have mentioned do relate to gay men as gay men even when being oppressed need to have the spotlight[s].

Maybe then it’s time we split the community into groups instead of unifying. Do lesbians & gays really need or want to share the dinner table? Do transsexuals really want asexuals sharing their upstairs/downstairs flat too? Do bisexuals want to mix with intersexes over cocktails & canapes? And where do we put the "questionables" – give them a map to Gaytown with a exit back to Normalville when they have had enough? Let alone all the others we are yet to include? In this global community is it not time that we have enough players to stand alone? You would think so if you trawl through all those specific groups in Face book - Stick to your own kind day say I ? Or Do I.

Before declaring that I’m becoming a gay separatist on the Isle of Brett the Gay Poofer Gardener bar & grill theme park I was drawn back to an Aesop tale – The Bundle of sticks from the 6th century [ taken from From http://www.bartleby.com/17/1/72.html ]

AN OLD man on the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting advice. He ordered his servants to bring in a faggot of sticks, and said to his eldest son: “Break it.” The son strained and strained, but with all his efforts was unable to break the Bundle. The other sons also tried, but none of them was successful. “Untie the faggots,” said the father, “and each of you take a stick.” When they had done so, he called out to them: “Now, break,” and each stick was easily broken. “You see my meaning,” said their father.

Interesting as it mentions ‘broken faggots’ and the moral being how united we stand but divided we fall. There is a real need for the community to still march down the street affirming our identity while accepting our diversity too.

I think we need more time on the name. Now that’s a conversation for the 21st century - Oh Boy/girl/ladyboy/unassigned !

You Tube:Girls Aloud - The Promise

Yes I know this is old. Yes I know its girls aloud and yes its bad BAD pop. But I saw it the other day and the video is so heaven - The stylists had a field day with this - ENJOY!