Team Amelia

Just a few weeks ago I was proud to participate in Team Amelia and walk for cancer and charity.  I'm sad to say that Amelia has passed away this week at the age of 20.  Soon after that event she returned to hospital, I guess she stayed strong to make this happen.  In this BLOG I recently talked about my old friend John Luani -- when I compare this to Amelia,  I actually did know her very well, and we only knew her through her parents - Pam and Craig.

I'm sure you have heard it before but when someone dies at an early age -- it is hard not to ask why?

Taking a clinical view of this Amelia had in her DNA at birth a propensity to get cancer. It sounds cruel but that is the fact and there is nothing that could be done. It was pre-determined at birth.

All of us have the same pre-determined attributes and while we can have through behaviour, attitude and habits influence this outcome.  You have to wonder what time bomb you have in your body and life?  But hey.....why sit there wondering  -- go and enjoy life !!!

Global Iconic Dishes @ Top 10 City

"Eating can be the best part of traveling, and travel authority Lonely Planet has come up with a list of the top 10 cities across the globe to enjoy iconic dishes."  

Seems I only score 6/10 !!!!  How did you go with this?


1. TAPAS IN BARCELONA, SPAIN



2. PASTA IN NAPLES, ITALY



3. DONER KEBAB IN ISTANBUL, TURKEY



4. STEAMED DUMPLINGS IN SHANGHAI, CHINA



5. FEIJOADA IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL



6. GUMBO IN NEW ORLEANS, USA



7. COUSCOUS IN CASABLANCA, MOROCCO



8. NASI GORENG IN PENANG, MALAYSIA



9. CURRY IN MUMBAI, INDIA



10. HOT DOG IN NEW YORK CITY, USA

John

I can still recall the first day that I met John, he was much larger than we were and with dark skin and curled cropped haircut -- was hard to miss.

John had an infectious smile, and was a gentle giant. There were times that he did lose his temper and you could see the rage in his eyes and it was terrifying. He was always first to say "hello, how are you?", while he was a quiet person he was never a party animal -- John always commanded respect in his own way.

Rugby was his passion and he was really good at this. His body was built to be a prop forward, it was god's will and John himself was a devout christian. You would hardly ever hear John swear, he however was very passionate when he played rugby and I do recall players from our own team being hurt by John as he flew in the rucks with his full force.

Touch Football was the safest place to play against John, however while he was a big kid - he was agile and very difficult to "tag". John had some background in Judo or Martial Arts and I only once saw him use this. That was on me...John had taken offence to me using a 'swear' word and before I knew it, he had flipped me over using technique and not brawn. Suffice to say I never used bad language around him again.

Lamingtons -- John loved these and would always say a 'touch of paradise' as it reminded him of his beloved Tonga. I was one of the lucky few who caught up with John years after we had left Newington. He was bigger and unfortunately not in the best of health -- John was always a great person who would listen and I'm sure that was an attribute in his Governor role.

Alcohol -- as I said John was never a party guy. However I do recall in the Boarding House that he created Jungle Juice using a fermented Watermelon. That was the only marginal thing I ever saw John do, amongst us he really was an angel and a large one at that !

Girls -- However John did have a pin-poster in his locker, it was I believe an African American girl. John used to smile and say "black power", look at her

John was a man with a good spirit, kind and someone that you could be around comfortably without trying him ever trying to impress you. I always imagined that I would get a chance to travel to Tonga, at some stage in my life and see John and his tribe of kids.  Unfortunately that never happened.

He was a good mate and will be missed.

Here's to you John !

Chateau Cordeillan-Bages

Last year we were hosted by Amber and Sam to Chateau Cordeillan-Bages in Paulliac in France.  It is remiss of me to be making this blog entry this late (but my memory banks still avail me of doing this).

This is part of our Bordeaux, Cognac trip that was carefully planned for my 50th Birthday by Amber and Sam.  Chateau Cordeillan-Bages was an amazing destination -- the chateau is well renown as a culinary experience with two star michellin and really superb food.

The degustation courses were all incredible, but then there was also the trolley carts -- chocolate, bread, butter (some incredible butters), dessert, then cheese trolley.   We indeed needed a trolley to roll back to our rooms. The next day's breakfast was simpler but not simple with a collection of jams and spreads that makes you want to try every single one of these.

Chateau Cordeillan-Bages is a special destination - a place that you could truly choose for you last meal on earth.  If you don't appreciate the food there, you have not simply not lived.  Amber and Sam Thanks again for an experience I can't forget !

Teamwork

I have been in many teams in my life: Rugby, Basketball, Dragon Boat and even an odd game of Soccer, Volleyball etc. The idea of teams and teamwork is important in life and we always under-estimate the value that this brings.

But today I was in a team, unlike any other I have had the privilege -- I was in a team of 670+  people in support of Team Amelia's for Mother's Day fight against cancer.

The  team raised over $20,000 and Team Amelia was the largest in Australia.  But this is not about money or being the biggest, fastest or strongest.  We were all humbled to be part of this team supporting Amelia, who is fighting cancer herself and at a tender young age. 

After the walk, Amelia and her parents Craig and Pam who we had met in Kobe, took the podium and spoke to us.  There was hardly a dry eye in the place, and we all felt very glad that we had undertaken this event.  But it was clear that this was not just an event for Amelia, it was part of her 'fight' for her life and the team that stood before her (all 600 of us) were with her in this journey.

Thanks to all that donated money to this cause -- we are indeed saving ourselves and our own families.


http://www.everydayhero.com.au/team_amelia_melbourne

Towering 10

 Recently I was featured as an Alumni of University of Technology, Sydney.  As my wife, son and daughter had all completed multiple degrees at this institution -- it was somewhat embarrassing for me having only completed a Postgraduate Software Engineering diploma.


The article was called 'Towering 10', and yes I can be described as 'tall' when I lived in Japan; but by this definition it was unusual company for me !

towering 

1. very tall; lofty

2. outstanding, as in importance or stature

3. (prenominal) very intense a towering rage

http://www.alumni.uts.edu.au/tower/002-a10/index.html

Abla's - food from the heart

We ventured down to Elgin Street to an institution named Abhla's -- has been around for 30 years and while there were many awards on the walls, this was not a place you came for the decor.  The service was bright and friendly, and they asked us would we like to start?  where there any dietary requirements etc

Then the degustation begins........the Mezze dips (wow - the Babaganous with texture and smoky flavours were amazing. Abla Amad the grand old lady herself started walking around and welcoming you into what then felt for a moment her home.  Ladies Fingers, Vine Leaves, Hummus, Falafel, Makaneek,  Kibbee, Tabouleh, her famous Chicken Almond Rice, Coffee and Baklawa.   The food goes on and on.

By the time you are ready to leave you realise that your car is parked too close and you need much more time to walk off this meal.  If I had to put this into words you feel like a well-fed Lebanese Prince and Princess.

Amazing.........and now I understand why you can't get a table and need to plan in advance.