PIAF - Haircuts by Children

It's time again for that month-long arts extravaganza called the Perth International Arts Festival.  Fabulous event, something for everyone, I wrote about attending the Writer's Festival portion of it last year.  And I will attend Writer's Festival events this year, but I already know what my favorite part of this year's Festival is.

Haircuts by Children.  Never mind the whiney, we-don't-overpraise-our-kids enough description of the event [e.g. "Each stylish new coiffure proves that kids are competent and creative members of society who deserve our respect."] it is just a bit of fun. The kids of Roseworth Primary School were clearly excited about a huge supply of real heads (not dolls heads) to work on and took to their duties--under watchful eyes of pros--with proper import.  My style team consisted of Skye Watson and Jack Leighton-Jones. Skye tended to the details: the welcoming chitchat ("Is this your first time here?"), the obligatory compliments (" Your hair is very soft"), confirming the order ("So, we're doing a trim, style and color. Right?")  and hairdressing insider secrets ("My mum and nanna are from Scotland, that's where I get my beautiful red hair.")  Jack has an eye for the big picture: hair never stayed on the floor for long and the clips & pins were always in order.
The choices of service were clearly displayed at every station: Trim, Style, Mohawk, Whatever?!, Colors.  Having done numerous hairshows in my life, I opted for the full complement. After Skye trimmed my hair, made the sides shorter (er, much shorter), put styling gel in, combed and pinned it into place and applied hairspray.  Jack enthusiastically sprayed on the gold glitter. I was Stylin' ! It is not exactly even, but balance & symmetry can be so overrated. Doubtless that is the reason so many hairdressers signed up for the free haircut.


Roseworth Primary School, an ethnically diverse school whose students might not otherwise have been able to attend PIAF events, is also in charge of the Children's Choice Awards. They've been shuttled to events in order to be able to judge such categories as: Best Hair, Most Enjoyable for Old People and Most Cheering Applause. Bravo, Roseworth!


Appearing Rooms.  Not wanting the party to end so soon, Kev and I walked over to one of the art installations at the Culture Centre area.  A different kind of architecture, "...jets of water shoot into the air to create 'rooms', which disappear as quickly as they emerge." Too cool. And on a hot day, the temptation to walk through walls is great indeed.
Scouts Parade.  But wait, there's more.  What is an exciting day in the City without a parade?  Don't know why  Scouts of all ages (and both genders) were marching, but I was there for the entire thing. Only my secondary Hannah Montana cam was handy, but you get the picture.  Pity you didn't get to Perth for the Festival.


 

The Summer Kitchen

   Antebellum homes and people in equatorial countries have it right: all of the cooking should be done outside.  At least in the summer, anyway.
    Our townhome has a lovely,
white new stove. But the little beauty is not only electric, the heating elements are solid. It takes forever to heat up and twice as long to cool down.  This is not ideal in a home without air-conditioning in the summer. (Or any other time if you are asking the cooks.)  So, as a matter of self-preservation and adding a touch of urban bushman, we shifted the base of culinary operations to the back yard.

  And "yard" really is the operative word here.  It is narrow and also has to function as storage area, tool shed and lanai. We try to satisfy all functions without feeling we are in a junkyard. I insist upon that.  Our herbarium is split between the front porch (where onions, basil, oregano and rocket grow) and the side path (where mint & parsley thrive and green onions, chives, garlic give their best shot.) All close enough for clipping regardless of where one cooks.

Our Summer Kitchen is pretty much outfitted the same way our camping trips are: compact essentials gleaned from endless garage sale hunts.  Our two burner gas stove, the "Walkabout" model fits two small vessels or one large skillet with paella in it.  Outdoor cooking is also handy when somebody doesn't like the smell of the lamb kidneys I made just before he made the fishy paella.  But I digress.  Our gas can, a 1.25 kg "Jackaroo" (could these names get any more Australian sounding?) is as small as they come but the size works for us when it comes to space in the backyard, in the car and the time it takes to use it up.  Those large tanks are very heavy and are capable of keeping those mansions-on-wheels  retirees drive around in operating for awhile.  

You've seen outdoor kitchens- in photographs if not in person - and may wonder if our little set-up is really convenient. To this I say: We don't live on a sprawling ranch. Second, I spent a year cooking on a single burner which used hairspray can sized bottles of gas in Korea. Call me a spoiled One Pot Wonder with two burners and no need to change the hairspray can mid-meal.   And thirdly, one can get tired of tuna fish sandwiches five nights in a row. Boiling water is truly one of God's many miracles.