Fun - Canberra International Film Festival

Hey you. Yeah, you. Do you like movies? Well, if you do, (and you should), International Film Festivals are fantastic venues to tickle that collective fancy of movie goers from the young to the old. Granted the metropolis of Canberra has yet to ping the radar of the Hollywood elite, a ripple is well established in this the 15th year of the Canberra International Film Festival (CIFF). Local girl Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, The Kids Are All Right, Jane Eyre & Restless) will be gracing us with her presence - so that should be a treat!

We've signed our names on the dotted line this year so as to embrace the deals that come with membership like free popcorn, free lunch, free boat, etc. Just kidding, the perks are as follows:

a) More than 40% Discount on CIFF Tickets;
b) Access to Opening Night + VIP Party;
c) Free Screening Wednesday 12 October HIGHER GROUND with CIFF Director Simon Weaving;
d) Free Screening Thursday 10 November THE FORGIVENESS OF BLOOD as well as announcement of 2011 CIFF Audience Award; and
e) 6 Free Screenings throughout the year

Say what, 6 free screenings throughout the year?! Yes please!

Additional to the 6 free movies, and in association with point a) above, we are watching 6 movies at a discounted rate. As we have not yet seen the 6 movies in question, the only information I can provide is the titles of said movies:

- Take Shelter, Sidewalls, King of Devil's Island, I am Slave, Perfect Sense & Bobby Fischer Against the World

Also, the closing night has a movie from Canada starring Australia's golden girl Olivia Newton-John, "Score - an Ice Hockey Musical". I've seen hockey games before, and I have heard songs be sung. Nice work Canada. Nice work at exposing Canberra to real hockey (albeit with song). Ouch, take that Canberra Knights...

Check the link.

http://www.canberrafilmfestival.com.au/

Once we have seen some movies, we will provide detailed reviews!!

p.s. - We watched an interesting Australian drama the other day (we've been watching a lot of Australian movies lately actually), The Last Train To Freo - worth a watch.

Food - for thought, Chomsky

Feed your brain.

http://www.chomsky.info/

Food - MANGO Milkshake

If one is lucky enough to live in the tropics, one has the privilege of enjoying 'magnificent mangoes' whence they are in season. If one is fortunate enough to live in a non tropical part of the world (Hello! Canada, eh?), seasonal fruits equate to 'age appropriate apples' or 'gullible grapes' or even more delicious, the 'pathetic pear'. Don't get me wrong, I like those fruits. But mangoes are gold. Made out of actual gold!! Honest!



Anyhow, we make mango milkshakes as a tasty summertime treat. The recipe is easy enough - mangoes, milk, honey. Done and done. Also, a blender is useful. Also, an understanding of how to remove the mango from the skin is vital!!



Makes 2 glasses of mango milkshake
1 ripe mango
2 tablespoons honey
1.5 cups milk

Once mixed, the mango, milk and honey combine to form one of the sweetest drinks this side of the Mississippi.



I usually struggle to sip this drink - often it is chugged. Oh so good though. Wow. Canada may have apple cider (yum by the way!), but Australia has a very good fruit called the mango that rivals anything under the sun.

Bon appétit!