Week #2 Update

The 2012 bucket list didn't know what hit it this week. I've been more productive than Campbell Newman at a press conference. Except with slightly more hair and slightly less ego. And I also have a first name and last name, not two last names. And nobody pronounces my name "Hello Hamilton" in Seinfeld style like they do with "Hello Newman." Anyhoo....

Re: Bucket List item #1, I have commenced reading another book on my bedside table - "Political and Business One-Liners" which by book standards is right up my alley - humorous but more importantly, able to be broken down one line at a time. I'm also confident they will never make a movie out of this book so therefore, reading this is not duplicated effort. Angela inscribed the front very thoughtfully, possibly to make me read the damn thing rather than re-gift it!

Unfortunately I did not add to Bucket List item #3 this week due to Ramon's over-active social life and Jono's under-active masculinity. Although game on tomorrow at UQ. I did however unexpectedly chip away further at Bucket List item #7 thanks to GO's decision to break it's usual Saturday night pattern and air something that may be of interest to human beings. National Lampoon's Vacation in fact. Funnier than Animal House? YES. Funny enough to be on the Top 20 funniest of all time list? NO. You can't deny the all star cast though - Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, John Candy, Randy Quaid, Jane Krakowski and Eugene Levy are all funny SOB's in isolation. More funny is that this movie will probably always be remembered for "Girl in the Ferrari" Christie Brinkley and the question that will probably never be answered - Billy Joel... how did you manage that? SBS also aired a movie with Scarlett Johansen and Penelope Cruz kissing. So National Lampoon's Vacation can't even claim "best moment of the night" status. Tom Cruise FYI - That's a real reason to jump on Oprah's couch. 

Most progress this week was certainly made in the culinary field, with Bucket List item #9 (Take a cooking class) officially crossed off the list and therefore becomes the very first fully achieved 2012 Bucket List project. Melanie Townsend is a marvel and a magician: through her cooking school Vanilla Zulu she managed to gather a bunch of guys with less skills in the kitchen than Mel Gibson has in anger management and create a truly gourmet feast. The "Men Behaving Badly" menu (not named after Mel Gibson) commenced with Double Decker rosemary, rock salt and bocconcini focaccia, then moved through Haloumi, asparagus and proscuitto parcels to a main of Fragrant Moroccan baked fish with caramelised lime and to finish Brulee flavoured semi-fredo with nutted caramel shards. Nom nom nom.

Did I love it? I kinda did. Through some basic cooking tasks at the beginning Mel managed to break down the barriers and nervousness in the group and everyone bonded quickly. We learnt some skills, shared our meals and a few beers (except Theo who's back on the "Don't Eat or Drink Anything I May Vaguely Enjoy" diet) and had plenty of laughs. More importantly, I put my new skills into practice this afternoon by throwing together some double decker bread and haloumi, asparagus and proscuitto parcels for great friends and willing guinea pigs, Trent and Carly. I even used the bonus lesson - garlic and rosemary stuffed brie as a dip served with the bread. Calorie count: unspecified. Use it or lose right? That's also my theory on Qantas Club, red wine and penises incidentally.

My culinary adventure also included a chow-down on a food I had not ever consumed before - chermoula - so Bucket List item #5 also got a look-in. Anyway, I highly recommend Vanilla Zulu to and cooking chumps that want to be chefing champs. Modesty was always my strong suit. Well one of hundreds of strong suits...

Until next week...