People | Anna Buckley's Blog

September 12, 2015

The surprisingly gorgeous North Fork, Greenport and Shelter Island (part 2).

Our trip continues and we eventually reach Greenport, at the top end of the North Fork. From there we take the Ferry to Shelter Island. I look out across the water, see a yacht and am instantly reminded of my own sailing adventure a few weeks back. I contemplate how nice it would be to do a bit of sailing in this part of the world.

Jane tells me Shelter Island was named because it was used as a haven for boats during the hurricane season. It’s still a safe place during the stormy season, Jane’s friend had called only a few days ago to say they were moored there during a particularly rough night.

I was curious to see what this safe haven actually looked like. Read the rest of this entry »

4 Comments

July 11, 2015

Lebanese Flatbread Crisps and an Easy Mezze Platter

Last week I told you about the Middle Eastern feast and the Turkish butcher shop. This week I wanted to share with you the tricks behind putting together a very easy Mezze Platter. This requires a quick visit to Melbourne’s Arabic precinct and the The A1 Lebanese Bakery, Sydney Road, Brunswick, just a few doors up. Read the rest of this entry »

17 Comments

June 6, 2015

Bush walks, baked pears and…’Breaking Bad’?

Kristin and I have been friends since our daughters were babies. The girls attended the same crèche. Kristin and I would often share an evening meal after a hectic day at work. She’d ring and say “I’ll pick up a roast chicken, you pick up the girls” We’d eat together and discuss which of the dramas of the day almost sent us over the edge….

Zoom forward a million years later and our lives have taken very different paths. Read the rest of this entry »

13 Comments

May 30, 2015

What’s the most surprising birthday gift you’ve received?

This year I had a brilliant birthday and thought I’d share with you some of the treats I received. My friends and family know I love things that are small, practical, can be shared, consumed or are an experience that cannot be wrapped…

I woke up Saturday morning and my husband handed me a little white box. Inside were a pair of gorgeous black teardrop pearl earrings.

Something small.

He’d chosen well, he knows my taste… he knows me better than anybody. Read the rest of this entry »

8 Comments

May 16, 2015

Potato Kibbi and Finding a New Culinary Mojo.

Don’t you get sick of cooking the same old thing? What does it take to get out of your culinary comfort zone? It was a dinner party, one of the guests couldn’t eat dairy and it threw me. Butter, cream, milk and maybe eggs…suddenly all the dishes I’d been thinking about were off the list. Read the rest of this entry »

7 Comments

May 9, 2015

A Letter to my Darling Mum

I was asked to give a talk. Not so much a speech but to read a letter. It was to be a fundraiser afternoon tea hosted by Maree and Sophie at the gorgeous upstairs atelier of Beautiful Room. I was a bit lost for words, what would I write a letter about and to whom? Read the rest of this entry »

28 Comments

April 4, 2015

The city was pissing me off…

Last Friday I’d woken up in one of those moods, an inexplicable melancholia I just couldn’t shake. A walk to the Victoria Markets, via Smith Street, buy food for the weekend…that should clear my head. Read the rest of this entry »

6 Comments

March 28, 2015

When life imitates art…

Writing is a very solitary pursuit. I needed to get out of my office. Chrissy Butcher (left) of Hair Romance (and Mr and Mrs Romance), Rachel Devine of Sesame Ellis and Carly Jacobs (right) of Smaggle were holding a workshop ‘Little Blog Big’ on how to ramp up your blog. Read the rest of this entry »

14 Comments

March 17, 2015

One Pot Wonder…Spicy Chicken and Chorizo.

I have just finished reading a post by blogger Carly Jacobs at Smaggle about getting organised and getting a routine. This is something I can relate to. As a writer it would be easy to fill my day doing research, emailing, writing my blog, cleaning the house, cooking, etc, etc. All valid things but a complete distraction from the task at hand…writing the next bloody book! Setting a routine is THE most important thing to keep me on track. Read the rest of this entry »

13 Comments

March 16, 2015

Vanuatu, Port Vila and the destruction of Cyclone Pam

My heart goes out to the people of Vanuatu. I woke on Sunday morning to hear the shocking news that Vanuatu and in particular Port Vila had been hit by a massive cyclone. Read the rest of this entry »

Category: People