I sometimes want to take Australia out for a drink and sit her down in a quiet corner. Listen, I imagine myself saying, you are a young, vibrant woman. You have your own unique qualities. Nobody else in the world is quite like you. It makes me sad to see you copying other people – that old bint Britain and the addled tart America – copying won’t make you happy and, really, you’re doing yourself a disservice. You can’t live their lives, just as they can’t live yours. Don’t think that either of them is a good model for you to copy –just be yourself!
But of course Australia is a country of white immigrants, historically close to Britain, in the 1960s the focus seemed to shift to emulating the States with, to my mind, somewhat disastrous consequences. One can see it in the size of the houses, the extent of the sprawl and many other things. Australia always seems to be looking outward, either to other Anglo-Saxon countries or back to whatever European homeland applies. It’s too soon, I think, to see what changes large-scale Asian immigration will bring (and yes, I realise that Asian immigration began with the gold rushes), except of course in the realm of fusion food.
Mostly, I would like to point out today, one can see the shifting tides of (European) immigration – one can literally taste the homesickness – in dairy products. We have Aussie versions of cheddar (Tasty – anything but), fetta (not quite right, it melts and lacks the salty bite of the real deal), brie (not bad, but not quite the same) and ‘Greek’ yoghurt that has cream added to bump up the fat content instead of being strained (oh, Fage, how I miss you). Finally, we have the abomination known as ‘thickened cream’, single cream that has been thickened with gelatine, which crowds out the natural cream ten to one on the supermarket shelves. I spend many hours puzzling about this. Was it a refrigeration issue that led them to start messing with cream in this god-awful way? Why can’t they make decent sharp cheddar? Is the terroir unsuitable for decent cheese or is it the processing techniques that lead to the taste/texture differences? Given that we’re working with non-indigenous foods to begin with, what would a ‘genuine’ Australian cheese taste like? I’d like to taste the Tassie equivalents (NOT ersatz copy) of Stinking Bishop or a nice slab of Yarg (a cheese wrapped in eucalypt leaves? Perhaps bush tomato leaves might be a better bet).
And as for Aussie versions of pork pies and custard tarts, well, I weep at what I’ve lost. Which rather explains why these versions exist, but not why they are such miserable failures.
You’ve reminded me of a few surprises I had whilst doing the food shopping in NZ. Three types of cheese was quite a shock to me, too-not that I try as wide range of cheeses as I think you probably DID!…nice blog. Will keep reading it. The vain part of me does wonder why you suggested I read this one- but it is an interesting way of seeing Australia, a country I have only a romantic longing for, not the reality which you sometimes describe. I’m starting to tune in more to the positives of living in Cumbria-by ignoring the changeable weather and focusing on all the amazing things it has to offer us as a family. OOOH- How’s Rook? Doesn’t he start school next week? Will be thinking of him! And you of course. Will feel like you’ve reached a real milestone. Anyways, sorry, have to go. Will find time soon to email more xx take care missy xx
duuuude! I think it was the NZ knickers story that made me think of you. Do you remember? Will email you now you’re checking mail! xxx
Do I remember the NZ knickers story?……Duuuuuuuuude….I’ve still got the knickers! (they’re very hardwearing, as it happens!
) Have you got two blog addresses then? Is this one for just chit chatting on? I didn’t want to open a blog account, but as I do think I need to be more open-minded and pro-active about trying new things, I might give it a go! Am just snatching 5 minutes now to write before my folks come round. The kids haven’t seen my mum and dad in over 6 weeks, (which might not seem that long to you, but we do only live twenty miles away…) so I’m hoping my mum and dad will arrive soon so Lauren will have sufficient time to relax around them before we sit down for dinner. Seb is now a carefree one year old boy-so anyone who is new climbing apparatus goes well with him. They’re here!!!! bye for now xxxx
Tis the start of a new term tomorrow, so as per usual I’ve spent my evening planning!!! Somethings NEVER change!! Hope you got the short reply I sent you last Friday-just before my folks came round. It turned out to be a good visit. My dad doesn’t see Lauren and Seb that much, (about once every couple of months), mostly due to lots of golfing commitments. But I managed to coax them to stay long enough for him to read Lauren’s bedtime stories. He does enjoy spending time with them, but needs a bit of nudging sometimes to actually get involved! Will this email show up on your blog? Will other people be able to read it? Or can it only be read by you? I haven’t got long, but I was going to bring you up to scratch on the most important things in my life, ie. me and Mal, but I don’t want to share that with everybody! We went on holiday to Cleethorpes two weeks ago for one week. We stayed in a chalet at the Fitties, with my nanna, (who very kindly had paid for it). It was a brilliant holiday. We were 2 mins walk away from the beach and less than that from nanna’s two sisters and their grandchildren who were in a nearby chalet. The weather was FAB. It was great seeing my Aunt Jean (remember her from our wedding day? She was my nanna’s ‘plus 1′. She turned 80 during the holiday and she’s as fit as a fiddle and always smiling. Lovely!) The kids loved the sea and the sand and I LOVED going for a run along the seafront every morning, bar one. Loved the fresh air, the peace and quiet and seeing the sea. It greatly helped with me getting back on track with my training schedule to complete the Cumbrian half marathon on 7th October. Think now that I might JUST be able to do it! Hope so! Would be sooooo embarrassing crossing the finish line aboard the ‘First Aid/slow runners bus!…..but I was thinking of you during one of those runs because I remembered how you used to go running on the Isle and go for an early morning dip in the sea. I couldn’t believe I was only in Cleethorpes, but was enjoying the same kind of thing that had sounded so foreign to me when you told me when we were in Lancaster. The West coast is so cold!! Must go. Need sleep for first day back at school tomorrow. Hoping to hear from you sooon!!! Lots and lots of hugs and kisses! Take care, Manda xxx ps. Dan’s coming up on Saturday!! He’s staying at the hotel at the end of our road. Staying till Tuesday. Will be good to see him again!