just because i haven't written a list in ages...

Watching: I think I've mentioned this before but every Saturday night the Maori channel show a great indie' film.

Rabbit Proof Fence stood out recently, extraordinary subject matter...the English in Australia used to forcibly take the children of mixed race couples (white and aborigine) and put them into camps. They were denied any contact with their families and eventually released into servitude. This is the true story of three little girls who escaped the camp and walked hundreds and hundreds of kilometers home to their mothers.

A fabulous film that shocked and inspired.

I spent a very enjoyable evening with girlfriends watching Julie & Julia . I actually enjoyed the film more than I did the book, now that doesn't happen very often! Although Julie Powell is a very engaging character, all through the book I had a the persistent, nagging thought that I'd much rather be reading about Julia Child. The film split the difference beautifully and there was more than enough Julia time. What a woman!

I'm not much of a TV watcher but Nurse Jackie has caught my attention and I now look forward to a weekly dose of strange medical action. Loving Edie Falco's pixie cut too.

Reading: The Memory Keepers Daughter was gobbled up in one sitting; a sad story of discrimination, family dynamics and secrets. Some good strong charaters though, I enjoyed this very much.

I'm not much of a one for chick lit but in a recent 'sitting in the car waiting for basketball practise to finish' episode and with the only choice of reading matter being a leaflet concerning prostate cancer and my daughters book, I chose the latter.

It was about a Shopaholic and I am loathe to admit I can't really remember much else, however, I thoroughly enjoyed it whilst I was reading it...how weird is that? I'd class this as mental candy floss, sweet, insubstantial and only good in really small doses.

Does everybody have a friend that always seems to read the best books, cook the best cakes or find the best treasure? I do and she recently recommended The Surgeon of Crowthorne, a tale of murder, madness and the Oxford English Dictionary. It's a fabulous book and I have learnt at least seven new mouthwatering words that I am desperate to slip into a conversation.

Eating: Paella, bowls and bowls of steaming, ricey goodness. Recently some friendly Mexicans returned to their sunny casa and left me with the entire contents of their fridge and pantry. What fun I've had with boxes and bags of incomprehensible foodstuffs. There have been a few hiccups...never overcook an octopus, it tastes literally like a Dunlop tyre...but the mad abandon with which I've thrown in the contents of all sorts of herby, spicy, garlicy, limey, salty jars and bottles has resulted in some gorgeous one pot wonders. The queen of which has most definitely been Paella.