Wuthering Heights

I do not understand why the world is so enamoured by the love story of Heathcliff and Cathy.  

L. O. V. E.   LOVE?  

Surely not!

The story itself was not my cup of tea, but the writing was fine . . .  Although it does pale in comparison to Miss Emily's wonderful sister's scribblings {Is that a fair thing to say?  Perhaps not!  I wouldn't say it, if she was alive to hear it . . .  "WHY CAN'T YOU BE MORE LIKE YOUR SISTER" - Yuck!}

To the story...

What a loathesome, dark, inbred and irredeemable set of characters...  I only endured them because I knew, that by doing so, would make the reading of Stella Gibbons',  'Cold Comfort Farm' all the more sweeter!

I thank the gods that I live in a time and within a culture of wealth, information and freedom!

This is what Goodreads had to say...

Published a year before her death at the age of thirty, Emily Brontë's only novel is set in the wild, bleak Yorkshire Moors. Depicting the relationship of Cathy and Heathcliff, Wuthering Heights creates a world of its own, conceived with an instinct for poetry and for the dark depths of human psychology. 

I have read some of the reviews on Goodreads and the key words that surface time and time again are passion, romance and obsession . . .  

Now then . . .  I am one, who is prone to melancholy and I love a striking read that runs deep, but how on earth do people genuinely argue that this story is romantic and impassioned {okay . . . a little impassioned}?  

Heathcliff, is most certainly not a hero of any description.  Nor is he the devil incarnate.  He is nothing more than an oppressed and later oppressive bastard who was too ignorant and disinclined to grow as an individual, thereby inhibiting his and everyone's lives around him.  

In short, it is my feeling that Wuthering Heights is certainly not a love story, nor is it a romantic representaion of the bleak, windy moors of Yorkshire, England.  Wuthering Heights is a story of abuse, indulgence and revenge - and yea gods, Heathcliff does manage to carve out quite a vengeful life.  

And it is for this that I would like to remember Heathcliff . . . 

A little tyke who was loved then abused and later didn't get what he wanted, consequently he invested in a life of revenge that he saw to its end.  For that, I respect Heathcliff, but I certainly do not want him, nor those pathetic characters in my life any longer!

Home CINEMA for Foodies

Our home entertainment system is comprised of a you-beaut Samsung Plasma TV with a Boxee that communicates with our computer's hard-drives.  No local TV in this apartment {thank the gods}.  

Perusing our 'Cinema' folder, I see that I have collected enough Foodie Movies that I figured it was time to group them.  Admittedly there are several other movies floating around our hard-drives that contain wonderful foodie moments, but the films below are quite specifically related to food and/or wine.  Admittedly it is a work in progress!  

If you click on the images, it will link you directly to its Youtube preview . . .

    

 

 

     

     

H E L P   M E   O U T . . .  

What do YOU think is missing from my folder?  

Suggestions welcome :)

Chocolate Memory

A fun little game to make for the kids or for adults, as I have done, is a version of 'Memory' using chocolate coins and some fancy paper.  I put this together for my girlfriend Leah, who hosted our girls night in this week.

YOU WILL NEED

Golden Chocolate Coins   Ï Various Patterned Papers   Ï Glue Stick   Ï 1 1/4in Scalloped Hole Punch {or scissors will suffice}

I've made two versions already . . .  The first was not ideal as the paper consisted of pictures of fruit that I cut from larger sheets.  As a result the images within the little circles were difficult to distinguish and identify.  The cherries and tomatoes were too similar as were the kiwi fruit and green apple.  The trick is to use patterned paper that is quite distinctive.

Ï The making of, is quite easy, so I'll let the photos do the talking . . .

I'm thinking that this game can be made a little more grown-up if presented in a fancy package :) 

If I was making it for a kiddlywink, I'd be inclined to put it in a cloth pouch or even a gift bag of some sort. I came across this idea through a fellow blogger, who is very sweet and very clever: Scrumdillydo

BBQ with the Girls

There is a gaggle of giggling girdies that I enjoy frequent get-togethers with.  We gossip, we catch-up, we read the cards and we eat and drink.  I hadn't seen some of my girlfriends since before Christmas *gasp*.  Everyone had begun work @ new schools and were fully immersed in their new positions.  However, these days it would seem that everything is beginning to calm down and we're all coming out of hibernation.  So our weekly round-up has kicked off and unfortunately, I missed the 1st week @ Ciara's ;(

The 2nd week was mine to host - so the lassies joined the Mr and I for a BBQ.  

  

It shames me to admit, but a day disappeared from my week {where the bloody hell did it go?} and as a result I was running around like a headless chook.  So to help my cause, I attempted to set things up to make everyone happy and comfortable in anticipation of my regular absence from the room. The lovelies entered our home {1st time for most} and were offered an Australian / Italian bastardised version of a Kir Royale.  

Kir Bastardo

YOU WILL NEED 

Dodgy IKEA Champagne Flutes   Ï Hibiscus Syrup with Hibiscus Flower Buds   Ï Prosecco  

Ï    Fish out an Hibiscus Flower and gently place it into a champagne flute.  Add a shot of the Hibiscus Syrup.  Top up with bubbles.  Ooh and aah because you've never had bubbles with a flower in it before.

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ALERT ! ! !  NOT AT ALL RELEVANT TO THIS POST . . .  

Whilst writing this, I am listening to a song that has a wicked funny filmclip.  It contains some of the best choreography that I've ever seen nerds pull off . . .
OK Go - Here it Goes Again

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Once everyone was in, and the tour was over, I served up Soup Shots with a glass of wine.  It was a Cauliflower Soup that I had made a week or so ago and was frozen into individual serves.  Ever since last month's Wine Dinner @ The Club, I've been thinking about soup in an espresso cup + I've always wanted to own some Arabic Tea glasses, so the idea of the shots kinda came from a combination of the two.  

On the table, there was a potato salad inspired by an episode of Jamie in OLIVER'S TWIST and some cos lettuce with feta and soy-roasted seeds.  Although I don't recall explaining that the trick was to add the feta & seeds @ will and dress with the balsamic glaze - The headless chook rears it ugly head!

On the BBQ were Chickpea Patties and Vegie Skewers which had not been seasoned and oiled - bugger!  I will make the patties again and freeze a quantity for future barbies - they take me back to my university days . . . 

For dessert, I baked a Date Cake prior to my day @ The Library and I whizzed by the Co-operative on the way home for some vanilla ice-cream.  Regrettably I didn't pick up some soft light-brown sugar and as a result the butterscotch sauce was very dark and very sugary indeed as I only had demerara on hand.

For drinkies, we quaffed Sauvignon Blancs from India, California and South Africa followed by some tasty reds from Argentina and Chile.  I do recall that the Madeira made an appearance with some dark chocolate.

As a side note, Catriona produced a copy of next week's Abu Dhabi Weekly, in which her article From Abu Dhabi With Love features my mates Cheralyn and Mo.