I can’t tell you how much I love this. It makes me smile everytime I see it. And I love the fact that nobody knows what to think of it.

Go Po crafters. You are brilliant.

Related posts:

1. More unexpected moments in street art: Craft graffiti in Pomona and Rogue Cosies in Brisbane
2. Craig’s other list: Guerrilla graffiti brings humour to the streets
3. Career Change: Designing my new brilliant career

My favourite is Rogue Cosie who has adorned the streets of Brisbane (Australia), San Francisco, Boston and New York (and I’m sure more…) with crocheted and knitted (?) delights. My favourite installations are the thanksgiving turkeys in SF and duck shawls in Boston. I like the cut of their cultural jib.

And, of course, Guardians of the Bridge is awesome for its scale and audacity.

Street art of the aerosol or crafty kind is usually found in urban areas so I was caught unawares when venturing out for my supplies to Pomona (Qld, Australia) early this morning, when I was greeted at the newsagent by this wonderful crafty rainbow newcomer.  I was so surprised to see this in sleepy ol Po that I squealed with delight.

Go the guerrilla crafters! Can’t wait to see more…

Related posts:

1. Unexpected moments in street art: So you think you can graff and manga girls
2. Brilliant! Guerrilla crafters strike again in Pomona (Qld, Australia)
3. Craig’s other list: Guerrilla graffiti brings humour to the streets

I not only love the disruptions these two pieces had in my city wanderings, but also the work is stunning.

So You Think You Can Graff, Victoria Point, Brisbane.

November 2010

Apparently, So You Think You Can Graff was a collaboration by Sofles and Mystik.

Bondage Manga Girls, Newtown, Sydney.

December 2010

Okay, I shouldn’t be surprised to find an image like this adorning a wall on a King St corner in Newtown… Newtown is the home of amazing street art, pop culture and urban dykes… but I was. Sure, pages could be written on its representation of women etc but but I just really appreciate its double-take powers…

(If you know who sprayed the manga girls, let me know so I can credit it.)

Happy wanderings…

*Yeah, yeah… I know Victoria Point is not a Brisbane suburb but for the sake of geographical clarity we will just say it is for the moment.

Related posts:

1. More unexpected moments in street art: Craft graffiti in Pomona and Rogue Cosies in Brisbane
2. Up The Coast: A history of the Sunshine Coast through photos, art, memorabilia.
3. Love is everything: Jane Siberry and the art of being human

However, last night I made a curry that tasted SO good I had to stop myself from finishing the pot, and now I’m rethinking my spice mix.

Specifically, I’ve always been a very conservative garam masala user – just a dash or quarter teaspoon added toward the end of cooking. The recipe for last night’s curry (a lamb Rogan Josh found after investigoogling) called for three (3!) teaspoons of garam masala. I’d never made a Rogan Josh before so decided to trust the web recommendation and put a whole two (yes, 2!) teaspoons in my curry. And, I put it in with the other spices at the beginning. I tell you, there was much change afoot in the C’ran Country Kitchen last night. The other thing I did differently was cook it extra long (60 to 90 minutes) with the yoghurt in.

So here be the easiest, tastiest lamb curry – inspired by the Lamb Rogan Josh at the blog, Route 79.

1 onion

2 cloves garlic

500g lamb (leftovers was my choice but you can get fancy and buy fresh) chopped into 2cm pieces (or however you prefer it)

oil

half tsp salt

1 tsp turmeric

2 tsp garam masala

2 tsp ground coriander

2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp chilli powder

1 tin tomatoes (diced)

2 tblsp yoghurt

Cooking this curry is too easy.

In a medium pot, dry fry the spices and set aside. If you’re using fresh lamb, then you probably want to brown it first. (Leftover lamb can be thrown in later). Remove browned lamb and set aside. Add a little oil, fry the onion and garlic until soft. Throw the spices back in – making sure to keep it moving so they don’t burn. When it’s all getting nice and fragrant, throw the lamb in and coat with the spice/onion mix. Throw in the chopped tomatoes. Let it cook for a couple of minutes and then add the yoghurt. Mix it all up, bring to simmer, cover and cook on low heat for 90 minutes. Be sure to check every 30 minutes and add more water if necessary. As I was using cooked lamb, I only cooked for 60 minutes or so and then let it sit for the next 30 minutes.

Taste and adjust seasoning. Throw in some chopped coriander and serve with steamed rice.

You can check out the original recipe (I’ve made a couple of changes) over at Route 79. There’s also a whole swag of other Indian recipes there that I’d love to try. Mutter Paneer? Lamb Biryani? And I’m just a tad curious about Indian style KFC!

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If you’ve been looking for a job recently, you’ll know that relying on the newspapers or job sites for finding out about job opportunities doesn’t turn up many “woo hoo” jobs. At the other end, if you’ve ever looked for staff, you’ll know that advertising can be costly and often, unproductive. So how do you tap into something that everyone acknowledges is hidden? 

It’s all about connections. At the moment we are inundated with new ways to connect with others. Word of mouth, or buzz, is just a Facebook or Twitter update away. But is anyone using this new accessibility to connection to match those who need staff with those who need work?

A philanthropic venture called Karmic Leads is giving job hunters and employers an alternative place to connect. And it’s not just a service to hook you up with “jobs” but includes matching for mentoring, speaking, and board positions. 

I love this idea. It’s sort of like a Craigslist for work and it goes beyond the “9to5, full-time, employee” work model. 

I have no idea how they are making money from it – as it is apparently a no-cost service – but I assume it is being approached with long-term goals. While the site doesn’t mention any other services, I would imagine that reciprocity would be at work.  Those who use the job connections service would be likely to pay-it-forward by perhaps using one of the parent company’s other services. There are lots of possibilities to make this one work, if only for the database and connections it makes for Karmic Leads. 

I’m not aware of any similar local sites but it would be a very timely business opportunity for someone who likes to connect with others. And it would get us a step closer to making the real job market visible. 

I wonder if I know anyone who would be up for the job?

:: Thanks to Triple Pundit for the lead. ::

Related posts:

1. Dismantle the Job Network
2. True stories from the Job Network
3. Career Change: Designing my new brilliant career

I love this.

I am such a sucker for caravans and mobile homes. There’s something about the economic use of space that makes me revere them as an artform. Really, how do they cram so much function into so little space?

Okay, usually, it comes at the expense of beauty, but as the Airstream trailers and many of the caravans from the 50s and 60s attest, the compact mobile home can be a fine thing to gaze upon. Ahh, Airstream dreams of lazing about in an autumnal wood knowing that I am safe from becoming the local bears’ dinner thanks to my two-wheeled silver castle…

Back in reality-town, I’ve been pretty underwhelmed by caravans of the last twenty years and have often wondered what it would be like to retire to one of those over-50s parks filled with green-living, architecturally-designed “relocatable” homes. Well, it seems the future is now. 

Sustain Design Practice in Canada, is promoting their sustainable MiniHome and it’s just gorgeous. It’s all angles, hidden compartments and eco-friendly products. I love the one with the garden on the roof.

What I love most is that the turnkey homes start at CAD$110K (about CAD $200 to $300 per square foot), which makes a sustainable home only a trailer park away.

Related posts:

1. Seven ways to create a sustainable business

What a great idea!

Linking is the bread n butter of blogging. It’s not only how you get new readers/visitors but also gives some feedback on what works and what doesn’t.

So, I’d like to say thank you to the following blogs who linked to weston culture last month. 

Neatorama

Dark Roasted Blend

Stop the world Mummy, I want to get off…

Appreciate you stopping by!

Related posts:

1. About
2. Do It Yourself! Setting up a blog

Caro and I had our 14^th anniversary yesterday and decided to celebrate by doing what we do best: Nothing.

But not just regular old Nothing. We chose Nothing in a Beautiful Place. And not just regular old Nothing in a Beautiful Place, but Nothing in a Beautiful Place on a Glorious Day.

Yep, we slothed out in Noosa.

Noosa Headland

We’ve lived in the Noosa area for almost six years and, I have to admit, I have become a bit blasé about how special the region is. While we initially lived down by the beach at Peregian and could enjoy the daily beach stroll, we now live up in the mountains and beach trips are less frequent.

Noosa is a resort town. There are times when it’s just best to stay away (read: school holidays) and times when you can have the beach almost to yourself. Yesterday was one of the latter.

I have a soft spot in my heart for the Main Beach at Noosa. When you leave the ostentatious hubbub of Hastings Street, take off your thongs and scrunch your way down to the water, a social equalisation takes place. Most people on the beach seem to be from elsewhere (or just have never been in the Queensland sun before). They’re there in their newly-bought bathers, tempting the sun-gods with their pale skin and often introducing their city offspring to the joy of crashing waves and soft white sand.

Perhaps this surge of oneness with my beach bumbling brothers and sisters is due to the sound. All those waves creating a white noise that short circuits the chattering brain. Maybe it’s the sun replenishing long lost Vitamin D; a sensation that awakens skin receptors shut down through lack of use and makes me remember that I’m not a mind attached to a computer. I have a physical body that can also experience the world.

Whatever it is, I love it.

Noosa is a unique beach to visit. While many know it for its upmarket beachside shopping precinct of Hastings Street, the Main Beach is top and tailed by natural beauty. To the south, the headland is a National Park, and to the north, the haven of Noosa Woods creates a green oasis out of what is ostensibly the main car park.

Shhh! Our hidden grove in the Noosa Woods

We spent much of yesterday hidden on the beach’s edge in the Woods. The council have recently made these areas more people friendly with grassy groves and paths while keeping the dune integrity.

See. Hidden Grove. It must be true.

The bush turkeys seem to have multiplied and got a lot cheekier, gladly scavenging through your belongings while you’re nearby.

Go Speed Turkey. Go Speed Turkey. Go Speed Turkey. Go.

More shocking, when I ventured down to dip my toe into the water, was the recently-cyclone-exposed two metre rock wall along the main beach; a reminder that nature can be quite forthright in reclaiming what is hers.

Noosa Rocks. Post Cyclone Hamish.

The only thing that keeps Noosa from being the perfect beach destination is its lack of a decent fish and chip takeaway by the main beach. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes to sup chardy and scoff some beer-battered barra and chips. But when I’m at the beach I want to eat my fish and chips out of butcher’s paper, on the ground, with a fanbase of turkeys and seagulls hoping that this is their lucky day.

Yesterday was not the first time I’ve got a bit starry-eyed while strolling the Noosa shores. On a previous visit, I recall being overwhelmed by what could only be described as a feeling of bliss and well-being. That day, we had walked up into the National Park and took in the awesome spectacle of nature that is Noosa – the blue ocean, the explosive blow-hole and undeveloped coastline for as far as my eye could see.

Perhaps my love of Noosa is also compensation for how I used to feel about it.

When we visited on holiday 10 or so years ago, I hated the place. I thought it was pretentious and dull with way too many hills and backpackers. We were staying on top of the hill and didn’t have transport, so every time we went anywhere we’d have to go up and down the stairs of Noosa Hill. I’m not even sure how many steps there are – I just know that it felt like a thousand. As I wasn’t a particularly fit person then it was my own version of a Himalayan trek, but rather than trancendence, it just made me cranky. For the whole week.

And  while I’m still not be a fan of Hastings Street, I see it as the trade-off for the keeping what makes Noosa special: the beauty of its flora and fauna. If it means the developers keep out of the National Park then they can knock themselves out in Hastings Street.

The new Hastings Street.

Behold the $10 million streetscape!

(Although with the recent Hastings Street makeover of paving, plants and benches coming in at a very Hastings Street price of $10 million, you’d have to wonder if anyone could afford to construct a building there now.)

But Noosa isn’t just about Hastings Street or even the Main Beach. It’s about removing ourselves temporarily from our material world and experiencing a reverence for our natural environment. It’s about approaching the earth that sustains us with respect, and nurturing her so that we can all benefit from her rejuvenating gifts. This is why I love Noosa – and now that I think of it, why I love the girl who brought me here.

Related posts:

1. Up The Coast: A history of the Sunshine Coast through photos, art, memorabilia.
2. 6.24am Cooran Station
3. More unexpected moments in street art: Craft graffiti in Pomona and Rogue Cosies in Brisbane

The White Earth runs until 21 March 2009 at Brisbane’s LaBoite.

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Father Jack by Declan Shalvey

It may not be obvious but a little bit of Irish blood runs through the veins of westonculture. (The catholic stories should give it away…). As such it was our duty to celebrate yesterday with a little tipple. Declan Shalvey from Eclectic Micks (a collection of talented Irish comic book artists) helps us appreciate the joy and diversity of Irish culture with this homage (above) to the great Fr Jack Hackett from my favourite Irish sitcom, Father Ted. I think it’s a very realistic likeness, complete with most common phrase of the holy man. Some of the great Father Ted quotes contributed to the Eclectic Micks site:

Father Ted: Ah, Sister Assumpta!
Sister Assumpta: Hello Father!
Father Ted: Dougal, Dougal, do you remember Sister Assumpta?
Father Dougal: Er, no.
Father Ted: She was here last year! And then we stayed with her in the convent, back in Kildare. Do you remember it? Ah, you do! And then you were hit by the car when you went down to the shops for the paper. You must remember all that? And then you won a hundred pounds with your lottery card? Ah, you must remember it, Dougal!
[Dougal shakes his head]
Sister Assumpta: And weren’t you accidentally arrested for shoplifting? I remember we had to go down to the police station to get you!… And the police station went on fire? And you had to be rescued by helicopter?
Father Ted: Do you remember? You can’t remember any of that? The helicopter! When you fell out of the helicopter! Over the zoo! Do you remember the tigers?
[Dougal shakes his head some more]
Father Ted: You don’t remember? You were wearing your blue jumper.
Father Dougal: Ah, Sister Assumpta!

Oh, it makes me want to break out the DVDs and brush up on my (very poor) Irish accent. La ta ta taa de dee.

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