Just bringing you up to date with the ‘happenings’ over the last fortnight. On Wednesday July 15th we had an earthquake! I know New Zealand is prone to them but this was quite a big one, even by our standards. It hit at 9.22pm and was 7.8. It was Fiordland’s biggest quake biggest for 80 years. The epicentre was located in Dusky Sound at the south-west corner of the South Island. I was drying my hair at the time in the kitchen…hairdryer in my ear, when I heard my youngest daughter Lucy shouting out “Mum, Mum, earthquake!!!”…I switched off the dryer and poked my head around into the living room to see the central light fitting swinging to and fro from the ceiling. It was a long smooth quake, not a jolter. I reminded my daughter about standing in the doorway it we got another one. Back in 1986 I had been at the epic centre of a very powerful earthquake when I lived in the Bay of Plenty, North Island of New Zealand. The house was a shambles, heaps of damage and months of disruption followed…getting water from a tanker, cracks in the roads, chimney demolished etc… to name a few. Fortunately this time no damage. We have had a cold winter this year and a few mornings have seen the city’s roads and paths resembling ice-rinks. The gritter lorries do what they can but Dunedin is a hilly place (the steepest street in the world is a few streets away from me)…so not the best territory for ice. There are signs of spring coming, tulip leaves and crocus leaves are starting to break through the soil and the local ducks that visit the garden are starting to find partners and getting quite territorial. The first rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’ (pink) is out in bloom in the garden and the camellia’s are in bud. I made some Anzac Biscuits in the week. It was so nippy temperature wise I thought putting the oven on to bake something would warm things up…it did. It filled the kitchen with a great aroma. I list the recipe below; if you like biscuits/cookies which are better than that store bought ones. I also took one of my paintings in to a local exhibition which is starting next week, painted another picture ‘Tallulah with Tulips’ and wrote a poem: ‘Just Before Midnight’. A couple of week’s ago I was fingering my way through some shelves of old secondhand books and found a treasure...a small volume of poems by Dylan Thomas. He turned words into magic for me…painted pictures so vivid in my mind that I could sketch them. Each night before I give way to sleep I hear the last bus come by in the street outside and this was the inspiration for this poem. Just Before Midnight The street lamps shone On wet pavements Along the street. Gentle rain Refreshed the foot paths Washing away the week’s grime. The last bus could be heard. As it came nearer, A golden glow, Gliding ghost-like, Empty, Except for the driver. There were no passengers Waiting tonight. Bus stops were the only solitary figures, Vertical soldiers standing in line Along the road. They stood patiently, Waiting to be inspected By the lone bus. In the distance cats wailed Like colic babies. Gurgling drains Sung their late night lullabies. Sleepy-eyed mothers in fleecy robes Comforted and pacified Winceyetted bundles On shoulders and breasts. Clocks ticked in bedrooms, Floor board creaked, As duck slippered feet Hurried to the smallest rooms. Forgotten nappies flapped On twirling clotheslines Waving to a misty moon That couldn’t see. The night blanket Had covered the houses The only reality Were the dreams Inside children’s heads As they rested Under homemade quilts Made by short sighted Silver-haired Grandmothers Wearing floral aprons Sucking mints Who were no longer here. ~ Anni I continue to hack away at old magazines and add odds and ends to my visual diary/inspirational scrapbook. It is a great way of keeping together ideas for future paintings. Not only photos and pictures but also pop down in writing anything that I find of interest…odd song lyrics, a line from a poem that inspires me…the name of a book or film that I hope to view/read. I have always been keen on making notes, but notes made on odd pieces of paper are doomed…keep them together in ONE place. So when you feel inspired to paint, you know where they are. Anyway enough prattling for me…I am off for a hot cup of tea and a piece of lavender biscotti. Hi to all my Painters Online friends, have a beautiful creative week ahead wherever you are. Fond regards ~ Anni Giant Anzac biscuits Makes : 8 Ingredients • 1 cup plain flour • 1 cup rolled oats • 1 cup desiccated coconut • 3/4 cup brown sugar • 125g butter, chopped • 2 tablespoons golden syrup • 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda Method 1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line 2 baking trays with non-stick baking paper. Sift flour into a large bowl. Stir in oats, coconut and sugar. 2. Place butter and golden syrup in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir until melted. Remove from heat. Combine bicarbonate of soda and 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl. Stir into golden syrup mixture (mixture might become frothy). Add immediately to flour mixture and stir until well combined. 3. Roll mixture, 1/4 cup at a time, into balls. Place 4 biscuits on each baking tray. Flatten to about 12cm (diameter) round, allowing room for biscuits to spread. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, swapping trays after 10 minutes, or until biscuits are golden. Allow biscuits to cool completely on trays. Serve. Notes & tips • You can store Anzac biscuits in an airtight container for up to 3 days. • These are crisp Anzac biscuits. If you prefer them chewy, flatten biscuits to 10cm (diameter) rounds and reduce cooking time by 1 to 2 minutes.