1) Dreaming of Dubai
A few weeks ago an email popped into my inbox inviting me on a one-week famil (media trip) to Dubai, hosted by Dubai Tourism and Emirates. My reaction went something like this: Wow. Yes. Definitely yes.
Why the invitation? Well, Emirates will begin thrice-weekly flights from Adelaide to Dubai in November, and daily flights from Adelaide from February next year. So they are keen to show Australian media and bloggers just what makes Dubai such an exciting holiday (or work) destination.
So on October 19 I’ll be flying business class to Dubai where I’ll spend a week checking out the city’s food, art and fashion (my trip happens to coincide with Dubai Fashion Week). I’m beyond excited and can’t wait to share my experience with you all so make sure you’re following me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook for updates. A big thank you to my hosts.
2) My new crush – the Nikon D600
Since November last year I’ve been shooting with a Panasonic G3, a compact micro four thirds camera, which has served me well. Now, in preparation for my upcoming trip to Dubai and various client projects, I’d been considering buying a faster lens for my G3 or upgrading my entire kit. So I chatted with multi-award winning pro photographer Grant Nowell — incidentally, a speaker at our upcoming Eat Drink Blog 3 conference — who had lots of great advice.
Grant suggested Nikon’s newly released D600, the lightest and most compact full-frame DSLR on the market today. So I did a lot of research and then had a very long play with the D600 at Camera House at the Adelaide Central Market before I decided to buy it. It’s early days yet but I am LOVING it so far. I also bought the kit lens — the 25-85mm — and the Nikon 60mm macro lens as well. My Pan G3 is now my back up.
3) Eat Drink Blog 3 photography & writing competitions
Australian food blogger? You MUST enter Eat Drink Blog 3’s photography and writing competitions.
There’s a swag of cool prizes up for grabs — including a KitchenAid Stand Mixer. a $1000 Visa card, Profiline baking sets, Dolce Gusto Melody coffee machine, and books from Harper Collins and Wakefield Press — plus you’ll be showered with glory if you win.
Both competitions close Monday October 8 so get your entries in quick.
4) Now that’s what I call a prawn cocktail!
I’ve blogged about the Spencer Gulf and West Coast Prawn Association before, when they hosted a lunch to celebrate their MSC certification of sustainability.
Now 80kg of their prawns will be used to create the Copper Coast Prawn Cocktail, Australia’s Biggest Prawn Cocktail, served during a special four-course dinner on Saturday October 6th at the Wallaroo Marina Coopers Ale House. The dinner includes matched wines selected by Barossa Valley winemaker, Mark Jamieson. Tickets fare just $45 each and can be booked via the Wallaroo Marina Coopers Ale House on Tel: 08 8823 2488.
5) I heart Kamambo
My friend, Victoria Goodyear, is an award-winning filmmaker. I was actually a runner on her very first short film, shot back in the early 2000s when we were studying together.
She’s come a long way since then though, wining Best Australian Screenwriter at the 18th World of Women (WOW) Film Festival 2012. One of her more recent short films, the incredibly powerful and touching Kamambo (Butterfly), won the Panavision Best Graduate Diploma Production 2010 at the VCA Premiere Awards, Best Film at the Melbourne International Student Film Festival 2012 and Best Film voted by Audience at Comfortable Shorts 2012 in Melbourne. It’s been a finalist at international film festivals too numerous to mention here, too.
Kamambo is playing at the Mercury Cinema in Adelaide on Saturday 13 October at 7.30pm so if you fancy yourself a cinephile you won’t want to miss this gem about Papua New Guinean refugees trying to make a better life in Australia. Check out the details here.
6) Contemplating an Archean Land
My sister in law’s mum, Alvena Hall, is a very talented textile artist. She was a 2012 Waterhouse finalist and her vase sculpture made of lace, crafted to replicate charnia fossils uncovered in the Flinders Ranges, was the exhibition’s key media image.
Alvena now has a new, joint exhibition, Contemplating an Archean Land, at the Prospect Gallery this month. Details here.
7) A Fox at the Adelaide Central Market
I had the pleasure of meeting Richard Fox, a passionate, tall and very down to earth British food waste expert, on the Tasting Australia famil (media trip) back in May.
Richard is returning to Adelaide this month to hold an industry forum and conduct some cooking demonstrations for OzHarvest. Catch Richard and OzHarvest founder Ronni Kahn as they demonstrate what to do with leftovers to make them into something worth eating on Friday 19th October at the Adelaide Central Market demonstration kitchen. Sessions run from 12pm-2pm and 6-8pm. Details here.
8) Credit must go to…
A final shout out to my family, who will be looking after my kids this month while I visit Dubai and also Melbourne next week for the ProBlogger Conference. This year has been a big year of change for all of us and I want you to know how much I appreciate your help and support. I couldn’t be doing what I do without you. Thanks and big love, always.
