The Custard Square of Destiny

One of the great things about New Zealand is the ubiquitous custard square, which can be found in almost any bakery.  It is one of my favourite foods in the world, a delicious combination of yummy, gooey custard, flaky pastry and icing.  I cannot help eating them although I have had some bad ones since I returned to New Zealand.  Sometimes the custard has the texture of tofu and a pretty rank flavour.  The worst example was from a bakery in Matamata- I only ate half of it.  The custard square I bought yesterday from the Bakehouse Cafe in Kumeu was quite good, although a little the worse for wear after I dropped the bag holding it-

According to Wikipedia the custard square is known by other names in various countries, such as Mille-feuille, Napoleon, vanilla slice, cream slice and custard slice.  But, as Shakespeare said:

 "What's in a name? that which we call a rose
  By any other name would smell as sweet,..."

I made lunch today for Nikki, Olly, Graeme and Celia.  Admittedly Mum and Dad assisted to some degree.  It was a very pleasant and relaxed afternoon.  It was rather odd getting together on a working day.  But quite satisfying as well.

On Friday I went to the Mt Eden pool for a swim with Anna-Lisa.  We finished watching the "Sex and the City" movie.  It was good and kept up the tension right till the end. 

I had lunch with Nana last Wednesday, with Aunty Lois and Kevin last Friday, with Kim on Saturday and with Aunty Margaret on Tuesday.  My life is a social whirl, it really is.

I met Nikki and Olly in town on Saturday afternoon.  They had arrived in NZ from the UK the day before so were still jet-lagged.  We explored some of the pubs of Auckland and had dinner at the fantastic Food Alley.  Olly was keen to see a band.  We ended up at Live Bar.  Jet lag caught up though and we only saw the earliest band, which was playing some form of heavy metal (I am sure that it can be better categorised but it was beyond me).  Probably not the best musical option in all the circumstances.

Keeping it real

I have been able to catch up with a few friends over the last week or two, now that I have my own car.  I had a lovely meal at Mary Joy's Saturday week ago with a few of her friends.  My first proper outing since I got back.  Last Sunday Brian and I went and saw the latest Bruce Willis action film, "Surrogates".  No, it had nothing to do with babies.  It was a fairly standard thriller of the out of control futuristic technology and evil futuristic mega corporation genre (think "Robo Cop", "Minority Report").  Also, why is the last guy on earth always a really smart scientist ("The Quiet Earth", "I am Legend")?  What if it was Trev from Palmerston North who was the last representative of the human race? 

I went to the dentist of Wednesday.  I need a filling.  

I had a fun day with Anna-Lisa on Thursday at Miranda hot pools.  It was probably unecessary for me to go there as I have nothing to actually unwind from.  Still, it was good.  And Anna-Lisa makes a mean sandwich.

On Saturday I had dinner with Richard and his dad Hugh.  Hugh cooked a very nice roast and I was reacquainted (my, was that a struggle to spell) with the pleasures of whisky.  On Sunday I drove Richard down to his place in Te Puke and had a relaxing afternoon and evening there.  We discussed New Zealand television and comedy and contrasted the confidence of New Zealand culture today with the still evident "cultural cringe" we saw during our childhoods- things really have changed remarkably.  I spent a little time with Richard and Alaina and their children Cole and Silke this morning before driving back to Auckland.

I always like to do a little "pilgrimage" to Mt Maunganui when I am down Tauranga way.  This is a view of the Mount on what was an overcast and chilly spring day-