Sunday Run (1)

Endomondo Running Workout: "was out running 17.04 km in 1h:40m:13s using Endomondo."

If the above link works it will take you to a map generated by a free internet service (the "Endomondo") that connects with the GPS in my mobile phone to keep an automatic record of my running. I don't use it all the time - because I mainly run laps of the the local oval - but it's good for the "street" runs because otherwise I would have no real way of measuring speed & distance. You can see the odd bits of doubling back - near Tempe station because the underpass floods at high tide, and the other off the Princes Highway where we tried to take a shortcut through St. Peter's cemetery. Perhaps unsurprisingly the only way out was the way we came in. Sydney manages its old cemeteries completely differently to Melbourne. Sydney allows them to return to parkland, stonework & all. It's a - surprisingly - nice ambience.

For the rest, it's quite striking how much running you can do through parkland, even around the airport. The planes pass teeth-rattlingly close overhead; it's probably possible to count the grooves in the tyres, if they have grooves, which I guess they wouldn't, since braking is their main purpose. Next time I'm out I'll check. Council has spent/is spending a lot of money on foreshore reclamation and shared bike/pedestrian paths. I'm a bit out of sympathy with the latter, but they are better than nothing & early on Sunday there's not much sharing required.

Another benefit of running around is that I'm developing a feeling for how the area fits together, something I don't get from inside the car. I don't really have a sense of direction; Liz can visualise where she is in relation to places she knows even when she is somewhere she hasn't been before - I can't. It's all completely new to me, if it's even vaguely off the beaten track. I'm quite capable of getting lost within a kilometer of home, but all the running is starting to help me to fit it together. Soon I'll have to be 5 kms away before I'm at risk of being lost!

This isn't the most scenic run that I do (in conjunction with another serious runner who provides the navigation). There's another one along the Bardwell valley that's almost 100% bushland. The last time we ran it was after a week of heavy rain and all sorts of unexpected waterfalls had appeared. Hard work, but good for the soul. They're hard runs anyway because of the hills. I'd like to carry a camera, but it just isn't practical to run & take pictures. Mind you, the technology is getting there. I accidentally videoed my feet with my phone a month ago.

It was much better quality than you might expect. It might be possible to run with the lens pointed in the right direction and get interesting shots; if there was a burst-mode still function it would be better than video. Generally burst mode only runs to about 10-12 pictures in cheap digital cameras, but with the 1600 ASA equivalent most of them get the sharpness would probably be OK. Still, between carrying water, GPS, keys, a camera just seems like the one thing too many.

One of the reasons for carrying a camera is that there are some really unexpected pictures; for example, I rounded a corner preparatory to running down the Bardwell spur and saw what I would have sworn was an olive grove, which, given that 50% of the flora is indigenous & the other 50% Anglo parkland/flower garden, seem completely implausible while sticking out like the proverbial sore thumb. I think only a good picture could capture the incongruity of it. Anyway, it *was* an olive grove, maybe 40 trees, all around 12-15 years old judging from our backyard experience. It will be a significant harvest for whichever of the locals can be bothered. UPDATE: The olive grove was planted by the Rockdale Council, in honour of the significant connections between Rockdale residents & Greece. I tracked it down on Google Earth; there are roughly 70 trees. It's in the middle of the Silver Jubilee Park; well, they do call Philip "the Greek" so maybe that's apposite. More likely though that it's a piece of grubby land that council couldn't think of anything to do with, so regularly re-uses when memorialism strikes.

Also, once, I saw a steam train chugging its way down past Tempe station. Now, I may get back there again to photograph it - apparently it's a regular Sunday service - but equally I may not. It would have been a nice picture; planes landing in the background. Tempe station looks pretty steam age, too. The old railway bridge across the Cooks River is in good order as well.

Penultimate

On December 30th, you're between years. It's the lame duck period. Too early to fantasise about a new future, to late to avoid the fact that last NYE's future hasn't happened yet.

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Unexplored

Up a dead end side street that in 15 years I've never walked in previously is this - courtesy of a wet Boxing Day interlude and a Xmas phone - discreet and yet imposing entrance. It's the only door in 30 metres of identical brick wall. Opposite are a bakers' supplies depot, an electrician's workshop, a taxi depot and something that purports to be a gallery over a derelict garage. At the cul of the sac are two logistics depots, which along with furniture and car repair make up the majority of the local industry.

It's possible, due to the absence of people on a public holiday, to skulk up the driveway of one of the depots and have a look at the back. Corrugated iron is a staple of Australian rears; in these modernist times people even use them for frontages, but when Marrickville was growing up (the last half of the 19th and the first half of the 20th centuries) hiding things behind impressive brickwork was the norm. Not just a desire to impress; brickworks were a major industry in the 19th century, as evidenced by Henson Park, a former quarry recycled as a velodrome for the 1938 Empire Games. Also, I feel, by the texture of the clay about two feet down in my backyard; it could just about be used for modelling clay unwashed. Also, it's the same colour as local brick. The marble sheets have the look of a kitchen benchtop business.

But actually, not just benchtops, but art. If you had a friend who was (or yourself were) a truckdriver using the depots behind, or a bus driver working for the three coach bus line that shares the forecourt of the despatch sheds, and you were looking for an original greek sculpture, this is where you'd come. I wonder if s/he works in the pre-classical, classical, or post-classical style? Or is continuing to refine the craft, informed by the 20th century?

This is the side of the sculptor's shed. Maybe a picture is worth a thousand words, but this picture needs its sound effect; through this window is coming the sound of a piano, practised...heedlessly. A lot of mistakes, but plenty of competent passages too. Casual, bored by the long (Tuesday*) afternoon. If the window was still intact, maybe they'd know it had stopped raining?

* You need to understand public holidays in Australia. While it's true that Boxing Day was Sunday, Sunday is already a holiday. Not wanting to waste the few public holidays we have, it was moved to Tuesday.

Kitchen update

This is what $150 worth of physiotherapy looks like - plus a bit extra for paint and masking tape. More than 60 meters of masking tape went into doing this; in fact, just the masking alone took up the best part of half a day. Not being able to stand safely on the counter top (who knows how strong it is?) slowed me down a fair bit. It's a long stretch from the ladder to the top edge of the ceiling, which is about 12 ft. up.

This picture was taken immediately after all the stuff was moved back in; it may not look that tidy to anyone else, but for us this is the epitome (or apotheosis) of tidiness.

The main feature of the repaint is in fact the "feature" wall; although it's pretty un-startling compared to feature walls I have known elsewhere. Still, my thinking is that the blue has a fairly strong presence as well, so best not to overdo it. The off-white has changed from pink undertones to green/blue undertones, for obvious reasons. What else can I say? Oh yes, I filled about 20 meters worth of cracks as well. It's a complete mystery why Australian tradesmen (we've had 3 plasterers though) don't use lime mortar. It doesn't crack under small movements, so, perfect for walls on a clay footing. OK, now I know enough to insist on it, but I wasn't an expert on

renders when we moved in here.

If I knew what I needed to know to supervise the people who worked here, I wouldn't actually need any of them to work here. That seems faintly odd to me.

The cat doesn't like the new arrangement, and has decided to move into a new catcave. Perhaps it's the smell of the paint.

Just passing

Of limited interest to most, but Coffee Alchemy (see elsewhere) has just won the 2011 "God Coffee" award from one of the international coffee magazines (who knew?). They are quietly pleased with themselves, fair enough too. Since my last review the coffee probably isn't any better, but the range of coffees for tasting just increases all the time. Still with the San Emilio as my favourite.

I had a great training run Tuesday. I don't know whether the new training regime, which includes 2 days rest with a loooooonnnnngggg slow run (21.5K along the Cooks River) sandwiched between them, or just a random confluence of positive influences was responsible. Hopefully it's a promising sign for the Penrith half marathon, which is coming up in October. Weird business.

Coffee Alchemy - Single estate tasting notes

All these beans are run through a Jura C5 as a medium strength long black. Sometimes I try them with milk, sometimes not.


El Savador - San Emilio
??????
This is seriously one of the nicest coffees I've drunk. It's particularly fantastic with milk, but also excellent black. I don't know coffee tasting language, but it seems velvety, not at all bitter, rich but not extreme.

Red Icatu
I think this is a different bean from the same estate; similar but less rich in flavour. I'm not completely sure though. It's certainly from San Emilio.

Guatamala - Huehuetenango injenta


This is another good coffee, more vigorous, almost like a dark chocolate, although again. not bitter. I haven't tried it with milk, but I suspect it might not work quite so well. (It doesn't) For me this coffee is best after cereal - seems to bring out the flavour, although that's puzzling in a way because the dominant after-taste of cereal is milk, but I can't get the same effect by milking the coffee; as a standalone or with bread it doesn't work quite so well.

Sumatra - Blve Batak?/Balak?


Kind of a blurred taste, then the next two mouthfuls were a bit thin, but finally ended up with quite a rich & fulfilling mouth feel. (I've decided to make up my own language). Sadly, not enough to take home & try with milk. I'm increasingly of the opinion that coffee tastes in its context. With a crusty bread roll it tastes different than with a croissant, etc. etc. Obvious you may say, but often overlooked I feel.

Ethiopia Sidarra - Haile Selassie


I haven't tried this yet, but one thing I can say is that it smells like no other coffee I have ever smelt. Can something smell dry & dusty? This does, like summer soil. Turned out to taste pretty good, as a black coffee only. It didn't taste nice with milk at all.

Kenya - Oreti


This was an OK coffee that didn't particularly distinguish itself in any direction. Pleasant, but not outstanding. As exemplified by the fact that I didn't bother to blog it until after it ran out, and now I can't remember anything particular to say about it. Oh, except it was good with yeasty white bread.

Ethiopia - Nigus(s)e Lemma
 What I think of as "typical African" taste, thin, with the impact on rear sides of tongue. Fantastic bouquet in the beans, strongly floral/grassy, but not coming through to the brew.

Tanzania - Ruvuma AAA
Has an "African finish", a little bitter, which is OK, it's not at all unpleasant, and not present while drinking. The beans have a chocolatey smell, a little dry. Pleasant to drink black or with milk. Perhaps a little undistinguished in flavour, but not bad. About on a par in the mouth with the Guatamala above, only better with milk. Certainly nicer than the Ethiopian & Kenyan.

Panama - Paso Ancho
Another OK, but not outstanding bean. A little bitter, not too much. Nice aroma as a bean, but not following through to the mouth.

Brasil Moreninha Formosa
Great aroma, the chocolate drifts in towards the end. Nice to drink, not bitter. Not an overwhelming flavour; good with milk.

Mexico - Oaxaca Organic
I thought this had a kind of egg-y smell, not unpleasant. Then I thought of pipe tobacco. A pleasant drink, particularly good as the first coffee of the day; not because of the caffeine content, just because it seemed to deal with the "morning mouth" syndrome particularly well.

Costa Rica Garanbito (honey cured)
Not a bad breakfast coffee; the honey is a long way back in the flavour, but it's noticeable. For my money, better as a black than white coffee base.

Columbia - Naryano? 
I forgot to make a note while I was still drinking it, and now I can't remember: I guess we could assume that means it wasn't outstanding in any particular direction.

Guatemala - Finca Ceylan y Anexos
Most noticeable about this coffee is that it packs a killer caffeine punch; no way can I drink 3 a day & even 2 is beginning to seem risky. As to flavour, it's a bit earthy/dry, lacking in aromatics. Not so great with milk. A coffee to wake up to, but not one to savour with a croissant.

Winter sun

 There's no particular reason to post these pictures, but it was the first day after about two weeks solid of rain & I like the cold clear wet feel of those days. Also, staying inside would probably have meant writing an essay.

This is (in) the backup frog pond. We had so much rain last year that one of the frog families relocated to this old milk crate, and we've kept it going as a pond even through the dries of summer. Whatever this stuff is called, it grows like a weed in water.

 It just hasn't been a success, this maple. It look good about twice a year, once in Spring when the leaves are brand new, and once in autumn, when the brown edges are forgiveable.

In those moments though, it's quite something.

This actually self-seeded from the other fern tree which we planted on purpose. Now it's nearly caught up and provides perfect shade in summer. In winter, it's part of a conspiracy to keep the washing from drying.

And as you can see, it's got no plans to stop growing just yet. The washing line will be relocated this summer.





This camellia is part of the original imagined Himalayan rain forest section of the garden, but the canopy tee next door was cut down a long time ago & so it generally dries out too quickly. But after weeks of solid rain, it exactly matches the original specification.










First blue sky in a fortnight. And in fact, this tree is borrowed from the neighbours. I can see it from the window in front of my desk.