Berrima - Southern Highlands - stepped in history, crafts and cuisines

Rustic, quaint and charming small town Berrima is a different world from the affluent Bowral 20 km apart. 

         Bakeries, confectioneries and restaurants lined up from the beginning of town marked by Oxley Street


The Stone Room Tapas and Bar

Though the place was not full, the staff seemed very busy. There was probably some spillover from the award winning Eschalot Restaurant across the road which was fully booked. 

                                                   Spinach & ricotta empanadas

                                                  Mussels in garlic and white wine sauce

                                            Seafood paella - uneven and soggy at the bottom

                                         
                                     Mushroom fried with garlic - similar rendition of chopped parsley

Hungry patrons may find the wait too long to endure, as did one couple, who quietly left after 10 minutes of failing to get the wait staff's attention to take orders. 

While the food quelled hunger pangs and pleased the palate initially, it lacked the superfluous flavours of Spanish cuisine and was overly seasoned with salt. Be prepared to drink lots of water after the meal. 

Historic Buildings

On the other side of the Old Hume Highway, are the correction centre and court houses, built from sandstone in the 1800s.

Australian whistleblowing cases - more protection for the righteous who unveil irregularities

Some whistle blowing cases in Australia.

Ted Harris and Qintex
the Westpac Letters
Wilkie and the Iraq War
sanitising Australian tobacco?
the 'Dibber-Dobber' and the Transformers case
whistleblowing, the ACC and Australian oil companies
Konrad and Australian Police
One.Tel
Fraser and Camden Hospital
Kessing and Customs
McLaren and ACT Health

http://www.caslon.com.au/whistlecasesnote3.htm

Despite legislation to protection of whistleblowers, these measures are not enough to ensure adequate anonymity and immunity against the powers to be. Some rich and powerful may not follow the word of the law and rely on their influence and network to penalise those who squeal against their bosses or errant colleagues and business associates.

http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/RN/2004-05/05rn31.pdf

A brave Australian gentleman who speaks the truth against the odds

News and history can sometimes be distorted by the media and politicians to suit their purpose and agenda. Whistleblowers, truth seekers, champions of the poor have often been suppressed and wronged. I take my hat off and bow to those who have the courage to expose misinformation and wrongdoing.

One heroic gentleman is Dr Gregory Clark. He was an official assigned to work in the East Asia division of Australia's former department of external affairs. His encounters with the bureaucratic set up were both frustrating and shocking when reporting on the Sino-Indian border clashes in the 1960s. His account gives us a glimpse of how officials could disregard facts and sex up reports to toe a certain line and fit the mould of policies and mindset. It therefore comes as no surprise that intelligence failures and erroneous assessments that led to major strategic blunders, terrorist attacks, loss of lives and missed opportunities could happen.

The Cold War may be over but the same tactics seem resurface now and then, and risk misunderstandings and hostilities.

Details can be found on the redcliff website.

Ashamed of your past?

Whether we have convict, labourer, Irish, Chinese or Indian ancestors is only a point to take note of but should not greatly affect our current status and contribution to the country.

Everyone has a past. We can't depend solely on the glory of our ancestors to make us successful. The endurance of powerful families and scions are symbols of nepotism. Are these well earned or ill gotten wealth. In earthly human terms, material wealth that is not well managed will vanish in half a generation or less.

Australian history has shown that foundations for a strong nation hinge upon its people, how we give them opportunities for growth and a second chance to make good. Pine not for the transient things in life but walk tall knowing that only our good behaviour and achievements could truly define who and what we are.

- clear glass

Allah is a moon god; pagan, cultural and pre-Islamic ... Ruling Malay politicians misguided

Hopefully the strength of our institutions and the sensibility of our people will see Australia through the rough patch of intolerant attacks regardless of whether they are racially motivated or criminal in nature. Open mindedness would help to foster greater understanding among diverse cultures and keep criminal urges in check. We certainly do not want to go down the slop like the Malaysian government.

As we all know by now, the word "Allah" has been politicised by a lowly bunch of hypocritical, power hungry and scare mongering Malay Muslims (belonging to a dominant and current governing Malay political party known as UMNO in Malaysia). They refused to accept a High Court decision to allow non-Muslim viz Catholics to use the word "Allah" in their worship or in any religious publication.

Well, Allah existed in pre-Islamic times and was a pagan and cultural moon god in central Asia.

Only the insecure and ignorant would whip up a frenzy over "Allah". That there is such a controversy arising shows the shallow understanding of Malay leaders over Muslim culture and the clear distinction between Arab culture and Muslim theology.

"Confident people do not get confused" -- says Marina Mahathir.

Malaysia is not really the modern and moderate Islamic what it makes out to be. Is this a harbinger to a Nazist Malaysia? Though East Malaysian churches were eventually allowed to use "Allah" for God, many states in West Malaysia tightened the ban the "misuse" of Islamic terms.

- c.g.

Nostalgic taste and smell of childhood

You would have thought that some things from childhood vanished from the face of the earth along with the ravages of time. Modern living is always chasing something new and hip. Yet some things which bring back fond memories are making a comeback. Simply nostalgic!

They are very special lozenges that will always stick in my mind ... Hacks and Lackerol treats from dad when he worked or studied late in our old hometown. He bought different candies at the small Indian run store by the road on his way home.


I remember an elderly lady was searching for these logenzes at the local grocery store a couple of years ago but she was sorely disappointed, though she half anticipated they were not in stock.


Bitter sweet but not as strong as it used to be, probably because with age, our tastebuds have become less sensitive compared to that of a child.






Cleaning linen without using harmful chemicals were a thing of the past. Your wonder how mom and granny did most of the washing by hand. Never had I expected that these light brown and almost odourless laundry soap bars are still available in the supermarket.

- Copyright Reserved

An educational tour - learn Australian history and politcs on a cold weekend in Canberra

A rainy weekend in Canberra

It was an unusually cold, wet and windy spring weekend. Poor visibility shrouded the land axis from Parliament House to Mount Ainslie.

Parliament House

Canberra is the aboriginal word for "meeting place", a compromise sought to break the stalemate over whether Sydney or Melbourne should be the capital city.

The marble depicted the early European migrants - white from Italy, pink from Portugal, black from Belgium

The Senate (pink) and House of Representatives (grey).

The priceless Magna Carta written during the 13th century in England.

War Memorial

Serious historians and weapons buffs could practically spend a whole day exploring the artefacts. What lessons can be learnt from the tour? Of war and peace, alliances, patriotism, bravery, folly, flawed strategies, loneliness, life and death.

- Copyright Reserved

Museum - nostalgic stuff and memories of pioneer Australian mining towns

Gold mining equipment and tools - the beginning of migrant settlement after penal colony was established.


Later years, a pretty sophisticated cash register.

A dentist surgery in the old days


The homely feeling

lace and embriodery

Baby prams, walkers and high chairs

The 1900s and post-war tech revolution - television, gramaphones, recorders, players - ancestors of current day hi-fi audio visual systems.

ANZAC Day - Lest we forget - in memory of

Burwood Memorial : in memory of those who sacrificed for the country. Most of the war heroes fought in wars of other countries, not in Australian territory.

ANZAC Biscuits

Makes 25

60 g butter
1 tbsp golden syrup
2 tsp water
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ cup rolled oats
½ cup desiccated coconut
½ cup plain flour, sifted
½ cup brown sugar

Preheat oven to 160 C.
Heat the buter and syrup in a saucepan over low heat until the butter is melted. Then add water and set aside.

Combine remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl. Then pour the warm butter mixture over and stir to combine.

Line 1 large or 2 small baking trays with baking paper. Roll level tablespoons of mixture into balls and place on the tray about 5 cm apart. Flatten slightly with a fork.

Bake for 12 mins or until golden brown.

Remove from the oven and leave the biscuits on the tray for a further 5 mins. Then allow to cool on a wire rack.
Store in an airtight container.

Recipe by Guillaume Brahimi, published in the GW Living of SMH

Queen of the skies

Aviation pioneer Nancy-Bird Walton has died aged 93 at Mosman, NSW. As a child she dreamed of flying. As an adult she inspired a nation. She had added commercial work to her health and safety missions, recruited and trained women pilots during world war two and founded the Women's Pilot Association.