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Post #82: One Day in September

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Footy is more than important.

It’s the morning of the Grand Final. In just a few hours, my beloved team, the Sydney Swans, will run out on to the hallowed turf of the MCG to do battle with the Hawthorn Hawks. And I am already incredibly nervous.

As I was preparing for work this morning, imagining what today might hold, my thoughts returned to one of my favourite poems of all time: Life-cycle by Bruce Dawe. There’s something noble and beautiful about the cycle of life built around football he expresses in this poem. Everything about it is perfect.

Life –cycle By Bruce Dawe
For Big Jim Phelan

When children are born in Victoria
they are wrapped in club-colours, laid in beribboned cots,
having already begun a lifetime’s barracking.

Carn, they cry, Carn … feebly at first
while parents playfully tussle with them
for possession of a rusk: Ah, he’s a little Tiger! (And they are …)

Hoisted shoulder-high at their first League game
they are like innocent monsters who have been years swimming
towards the daylight’s roaring empyrean

Until, now, hearts shrapnelled with rapture,
they break surface and are forever lost,
their minds rippling out like streamers

In the pure flood of sound, they are scarfed with light, a voice
like the voice of God booms from the stands
Ooohh you bludger and the covenant is sealed.

Hot pies and potato-crisps they will eat,
they will forswear the Demons, cling to the Saints
and behold their team going up the ladder into Heaven,

And the tides of life will be the tides of the home-team’s fortunes
– the reckless proposal after the one-point win,
the wedding and honeymoon after the grand final …

They will not grow old as those from the more northern states grow old,
for them it will always be three-quarter time
with the scores level and the wind advantage in the final term,

That passion persisting, like a race-memory, through the welter of seasons,
enabling old-timers by boundary fences to dream of resurgent lions
and centaur-figures from the past to replenish continually the present,

So that mythology may be perpetually renewed
and Chicken Smallhorn return like the maize-god
in a thousand shapes, the dancers changing

But the dance forever the same – the elderly still
loyally crying Carn … Carn … (if feebly) unto the very end,
having seen in the six-foot recruit from Eaglehawk their hope of salvation.

I love sport, Aussie Rules in particular, and all that is associated with it. There’s a culture and a vernacular specific to Aussie Rules, intertwined with a religious fervour. And I love how a few people have managed to accurately capture elements of it: the poetry of Bruce Dawe, the writings of Martin Flanagan, and the music of Paul Kelly. The game means far more to us than just something to do on a Saturday afternoon.

After the heartbreaking one-point loss in the 2006 Grand Final, I hope the universe smiles upon the Swans once again. I’ll be following the action online from my living room in San Francisco kitted out in full red-and-white regalia. Kick off is about 9:30pm SF. Let’s hope I can eat something before then!

Post #81: Organic Farmers Markets in Half Moon Bay, CA

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Half Moon Bay, CA. It’s my friend’s ‘happy place’. And after spending a whole day there, I can see why she loves it so much. It’s the perfect size for town: small enough to know all your neighbours, but big enough to have a Round Table Pizza.

Half Moon Bay is a quaint little seaside community about 45 minutes south of San Francisco. Despite being so close to a major city, it’s half a world away with a leisurely vibe and emphasis on all that is organic and slow. It’s often shrouded in fog and sometimes cut off from civilization during major rains.

We arrived at the crack of sparrows (about 10am) and spent up a storm, buying fresh produce at the organic farmers’ markets. All of the fruit was so delicious! I tried pluots for the first time and ended up buying a bunch of them. Certainly livened up our nightly fruit shake regime.

I found the colours of the produce intoxicating, and here’s a few pictures to whet your appetite for tasty, organically grown California produce available at the Half Moon Bay Farmers Market:

Crisp carrots and undressed corn.

Heirloom tomatoes are the new cherry tomatoes. Just so you know.

Beautiful, colourful heads of lettuce.

I just love the colour of radishes!

Sweet and tasty mini tomatoes

Artichokes that are too pretty to eat.

These strawberries were some of the best I’ve tasted!

Sunny sunflowers.

Flowers and veges.

Such a striking red.

Green, green veges.

Beautiful floral arrangements.

YUM!

On our way home, we stopped by the Johnston House. It’s an old ‘saltbox’ (that is, two stories at the front, one at the back) that sits in the middle of small farms. The first thing that struck me about this house was the fact that it was so isolated. And the second thing, was that it looked so out-of-place in California. These types of homes are more ‘East Coast’, than ‘West’.

Legend has it that Mr Johnston was lost at sea and Mrs Johnston spent years waiting by the second story windows, gazing out to sea in the hope that her love will return. They say that you can see the ghost of Mrs Johnston pacing past the windows on the upper level. Such a beautiful story. And such a beautiful little town.

The Johnston House. Haunted houses always need a sepia treatment, otherwise they wouldn’t be haunted.

Visit San Francisco!

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Are you going to be visiting San Francisco in the near future?
Moving here?
Lived here for the last century?

If so, you’ll need to read my list of the top 11 things you need to see if you find yourself in San Francisco for any length of time.

And a tip from the expert: no matter the time of year, BRING A JACKET!
Trust me. You’ll need it.

The iconic San Francisco skyline

Want to know about the downtown San Francisco and fascinating tidbits of information you won’t be able to find on any tour of The City? Watch this short film the American and I made called ‘The Skyscrapers of San Francisco’.

The best way to see San Francisco

The best way to see the city is on foot. See Walking California Street for a great roundup of the inner city neighbourhoods along California Street from the CBD to the Inner Richmond.

Here’s a quick guide for a bunch of really cool stuff you can do in a day around San Francisco from Time Travel and San Francisco Travel’s Top 7 Things to Do in SF.

Tight Arse?
Or a traveler on a budget?

Are you in town and can’t/are not willing to spend an arm and a leg? Check out what’s free (or cheap) happening around San Francisco and the East Bay at the site  Fun Cheap SF.

Moving to San Francisco?

Start here:  a sweeping (and hilariously correct) generalization of San Francisco neighborhoods.

The fog is a living, breathing entity in The City.

And when you get here, you’ll also find out fast that you need to know where you can satisfy your cravings for Aussie/British/Antipodean food in the Bay Area.

Post #80: Where to Find Aussie Food in the Bay Area

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Post #80: Where to Find Aussie Food in the Bay Area.

When you’re an expat, you end up craving the oddest things. And these things are usually the items that you cannot run down to the store and purchase. It requires a lot of forethought and coordination. My latest craving was for beetroot and fairy bread. Funny thing is that it’s not necessarily about consuming the item itself that stems the homesickness, it’s the connection to the past, to what is familiar and missed.

Fairy Bread

[Source: I Ate Brisbane]

After a conversation the other day with a fellow expat, I realised that I have become a relative expert on where to find Aussie (and Antipodean food) in the Bay Area. I feel that this info should really be shared with my fellow expats and locals who have international tastes, so here’s my favourite places to find the staples I adore from my ‘original’ home:

1. Australia Fair

Australia Fair is one of my favourite shops to buy sweets from, and it helps they’re only a stones-throw from my place. They sell Uggs, Drizabones and Blunnies, but they also have a selection of sweet and savory favourites from the homeland.

What’s great at Australia Fair:

  • Cherry Ripes, Flakes and Fry’s Turkish Delight ($2.50 each)
  • Uggs/Blunnies/Drizabone can come in handy for those times you need a nice ‘homegrown’ gift for friends and colleagues, but don’t have time to arrange for your Mum to send something over

Details:

1017 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94109.

2. Cost Plus World Market

Cost Plus World Market has the cheapest price hands down for Vegemite in the Bay Area. I like to get mine from the location right by the ferry in Jack London Square in Oakland. They also carry some other British/Antipodean favourites and have a great selection of interesting wine, beer and cider. A ‘happy place’ for any homesick antipodean!

Vegemite: one of the few ways I can cure homesickness. But who on earth spreads it on that thick?

[Source: Cost Plus World Market]

What’s great at Cost Plus World Market:

  • Vegemite: A smallish jar (about 220g) runs at $9
  • Marmite: A smallish jar is $6
  • Twinings English Breakfast Tea (loose 200g or 100 tea bags) : $10
  • Darrell Lea Strawberry Licorice: $3.29
  • Buderim Ginger Marmalade: $4
  • Tim Tams: $4
  • Other items of note: PG Tips, Barry’s Tea, HP Sauce, Branston Pickle, Walkers Shortbread, Cadbury Chocolate Digestives, Hobnobs, Bundaberg Ginger Beer, Patak’s Curry Sauces, Heinz Baked Beans, English Clotted Cream, Horlicks, Arnott’s Crowns.

Details:

101 Clay Street Oakland, CA 94607 (right near the Alameda-Oakland-SF ferry at Jack London Square).

2552 Taylor Street, San Francisco, CA 94133 (Fisherman’s Wharf area).

My favourite tea

[Source: Cost Plus World Market]

3. SF Chinatown

This is the only entry that is a little vague, because there are a bunch of Chinese grocery stores that carry Aussie staples in Chinatown. My favourite of all of these stores is Khong Guan at the intersection of Stockton and Broadway. It’s more spacious and logically arranged than some of the other stores I’ve been to, and they have a great selection of products. Plus the cute little lady behind the counter thinks my Cantonese pronunciation is very good — golf clap for me!

The Chinese love their Milo and Ovaltine!

What’s great in Chinatown:

  • Large tins of Milo (1.5kg): $11
  • Small tins of Milo (440g): $3.25
  • Other items of note: Horlicks, Ovaltine, Ribena, Kopiko coffee flavoured lollies, Curry Sauce, Japanese Soba Noodles, Mae Ploy Sweet Chili Sauce, Ferrero Rocher, Moon Cakes.

Details:

Khong Guan, 1308-1310 Stockton (at Broadway), San Francisco, CA 94133

Wing Scene, 898 Stockton (at Clay), San Francisco, CA 94108

Khong Guan Grocery is the best place to pick up Milo in San Francisco’s Chinatown.

4. AussieProducts.com

Not having a car, I have not made it down to San Jose proper to take a peek at the Aussie Shop, but I’ve sent my expat mates down there with a shopping list for me. Apparently they have closed their physical storefront on Stevens Creek Boulevard, but they still sell everything online.

Sometimes, all you need to do is buy some overpriced Vita-Weets, slather them in butter and Vegemite, and make worms!

Thank you internets! Vita-Weet worms!

[Source: Domesblissity]

What’s great about AussieProducts.com:

  • Twisties: $4.95
  • Vitaweets: $6.95
  • Capilano Honey (340g) : $12.95
  • Tea: they have a selection of the great Aussie teas including Dilmah, Bushell’s, Lanchoo
  • Other items of note: Fantales, Aeroguard, Chicken Salt, Cottee’s Cordial, Pavlova Magic eggs, Burger Rings, Summer Rolls,  Barbecue Shapes, Jaffas, Saos, Minties, Musk Sticks, Licorice Allsorts, Weet Bix, and Butter Menthols.

Details:

AussieProducts.com

Australian beetroot kicks American beets.

5. Safeway

When I first moved to the US, my care packages from my family were always choc full of Tim Tams. In recent times, Safeway (the equivalent of Woollies) has started carrying Pepperidge Farm Tim Tams with the slogan “Australia’s favourite cookie”. The word ‘biscuit’ doesn’t have the same translation here, but the term cookie just doesn’t quite fit…  Tim Tam Slams still rule, however.

What’s great about Safeway:

  • Tim Tams are about $4 a pack
  • They have some REALLY cheap booze. I have scored 1.5L of vodka for around $10 a few times before. You’re welcome, Australia.

Details:

145 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94111

The Tim Tam Slam: our equivalent of Smores. Kinda. But not.

[Source: Valentia]

6. BevMo!

BevMo is short for Beverages and More, but most folks round these here parts call it BevMo. It’s cheap grog, and gets even better when they have their twice yearly 5c sale: buy one bottle for the stickered price, get a second for 5c. You can’t beat that!

What’s great about BevMo!:

  • Bundaberg Ginger Beer $7
  • Coopers Pale Ale $11
  • Jacob’s Creek Moscato $9

Details:

1301 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109

525 Embarcadero, Oakland, CA 94607

Bundy Ginger Beer

6. Friends

It helps to build up a network of expats in the city you live in because there’s always family/friends/people coming and going. It makes a lot of sense on numerous levels, but none more so when all of the expat women request your friend’s dad to bring a whole pile of tampons when he comes to visit! Good times.

What are the items that you have missed most from your original home?

Post #79: Happiness Summit

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Post #79: Happiness Summit.

Happiness and its pursuit seems to be preoccupying my time lately as I seek to establish a lifestyle that better suits my needs. Is it something you do as well?

Fabrice Muamba announced his retirement from professional football recently. You may remember just how shattering it was to watch a very young, super fit man die on the pitch and I imagine being dead for a few hours would severely reduce your chances of returning to the Premier League. Nevertheless, it’s great that he’s alive and well and has a chance to enjoy life. This event was a catalyst for me: it reaffirmed my commitment to try to seek out the happiness in my life for there’s no guarantee of tomorrow.

Today I listened to the first episode of Aussie singer-songwriter Clare Bowditch’s Winter Happiness Summit, a series of conversations about happiness and creativity and inspiration. Missy Higgins was her first guest, and it was a really interesting conversation, one that struck numerous cords as someone who is actively seeking happiness in my own life.

Everyone has something to tell you about these days, and Clare does have a new album coming out, but I thought the Winter Happiness Summit was a really clever way to engage with people and provide them with value for their everyday lives. What I love about Clare Bowditch is that she’s real. She’s all about human struggles, addictions, frailties, experiences. Personally, I really respond to people who explore the human condition, and those who promote acceptance and improvement. And Clare hits a home run with the Happiness Summit.

Here’s a few interesting insights I took from the first discussion with Missy Higgins:

You can’t suddenly unlock the key to happiness and just be happy in it. It’s an ongoing checking-in and tuning-in to what feels right for you.

I like this, because I’ve lost count the number of times I thought I was seeking I thought would make me happy, only to realise that what I really wanted was something different all along.

Some of the hardest conversations are with the people you know the best.

Aren’t they! But they’re also some of the most important.

Is happiness harder to come by in winter?

I think so. I have always felt the winter blues acutely. I can’t remember a winter season without experiencing (what I think is) SAD — seasonal affective disorder. If I could chase summer around the world, I would!

Searching for happiness is not self-indulgent. It’s unselfish.
“You deserve happiness. Everybody does… the world would be a must better place if everyone sought happiness, followed their heart.”

There’s always that part of my mind that reminds me that actively seeking to make myself happy is selfish and “wanky”, to use Clare’s word of choice. But I can’t see that seeking out pain, suffering and hurt is really the best use of our time here. There will always be those elements present in our lives at various stages, and I think that’s what makes the happy parts of life so much sweeter.

“Nothing you want is upstream.” — release your grip and go where the river takes you. It’s not always hard.

Clare Bowditch

[Source]

I am choosing happiness. I hope you will, too.

Sign up for Clare’s mailing list here. You’ll receive the secret code to the listen to the Winter Happiness Summit conversations in an email. I highly recommend it. Gotye will be her next guest!

Post #78: Eat Good, Feel Better, Do Best

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Post #78: Eat Good, Feel Better, Do Best.

There’s so much to say, and yet the words are not so easy to come by of late. I am trying to find my mojo again, and I hope you understand. Sometimes, I just try too hard. Maybe less is more for me right now. Or I should take one of the Mental Pod’s surveys and try to locate it again…

So I stepped away from the computer for a few hours to spend the afternoon with the Canadian, enjoying great conversation and food. The usual. She’s the right amount of engaging and supportive and I really enjoy our girls days out. Today, we focused our eating efforts on the Inner Sunset.

Healthy food, healthy you! SF Natural Grocery keeping it real.

We both had a hankering for breakfast for lunch, so we hit up a greasy spoon along the main drag. I was so hungry, I don’t even remember looking away from my plate of eggs and pancakes until I was finished! I’m all class.

No tea, only coffee at the greasy spoon. Inner Sunset, SF.

Loving the light.

Chinese donuts. The shared vice of the Canadian and her Aussie sidekick. At the Eastern Bakery, in Chinatown, SF.

Sadly, we were too busy catching up to take many photos. But we finished up back in Chinatown for the doughy goodness of a Chinese Donut and a stroll through Loehmann’s.