Life

Why choose a living fence when you can put in a plastic wonder in a few ...

The first vegetarian I ever met was Sid Pearson. We were Boy Scouts together and one day, as we tramped to an autumn campsite, Sid suddenly dropped his pack and darted into the woods to reappear moments later with a fungus called dead badger's finger.

really enjoy the informality that creeps into mealtimes about now. Now is the time I like to get down my oldest kitchen implement and in a very relaxed way, start cooking.

One of my favourite times is on Christmas Day when, with the lunch prepared and cooking and before the guests arrive, I can sit down and relax for a time with a Christmassy drink, while Donna and I open our presents.

In this column, I offer something more practical at this busy time by sharing my list for a cook's carefree Christmas catering.

For well over a month now in shops and on television, in newspapers, magazines and junk mail I have been exhorted to get my act together for Christmas. Here we are less than a month away and I am still not ready for it.

If you're thinking of taking a holiday this festive season with the family, here are a few quick tips about how you can make the holiday time as stress-free as possible.

I still like the idea of carving at the Christmas table; I think it adds to the sense of occasion with everybody there and waiting to enjoy the meal together.

Sometimes when I see those little jars and packets of dull and dusty dried herbs, like parsley flakes and basil, dill and chives, rubbed sage and mint or the little plastic packs of fresh herbs in the shops, I wonder why more people don't grow their own.

I hadn't really dedicated much time to stop and think about how youth were affected by the recession, until I got an e-mail from a magazine in Sydney, asking what I thought on the matter.