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Hello Good Lifers, I hope you all enjoyed New Year's Eve and my warmest good wishes for the year ahead!

I celebrated with a number of old friends, several of whom would be known to listeners of The Good Life. Hosts were Rodney Swart, Events Manager of Yarra Winery Estate (sponsors for my program) and John Coleman, Reiki specialist, and another friend Tony Carroll. Guests included singer/author Christie Heart, owners/chef of Yarra Ranges Estate Anton Kirchmair and wife Anna and also mandala artist and teacher Leonie Williams - so there was a bit of "shop talk"! Sadly, apart from the obligatory Auld Lang Syne at
midnight we didn't coax any songs from Christie!

This is a difficult time of year to coax guests onto the program so last week was devoted to chat and music... I was hoping listeners would call in! Perhaps tomorrow? I'd be delighted!

We do have a studio guest tomorrow and one of my favourites.. Pauline Leonard. Pauline specialises in Italian cooking and hosts classes, conducts tours to Italian, runs workshops at the Victoria Market and in the Yarra Valley, as well as being involved in Allan Campion's foodie projects so I am hoping she will tell us about all these tomorrow. If you have any problems with your own Italian cooking, please phone in and ask for Pauline's advice. 5968 2727 between 3.30 and 4.30! I still find gnocchi very tricky to make successfully!

A reminder that Yarra Ranges Estate will host a large display at the Bridal Expo to be held at Dockland Stadium next Sunday 8th January. I hope to have more details to pass on tomorrow!

I am hating this hot weather and bed and a book sounds most appealing! Hope you'll be listening to The Good Life tomorrow when I'll rely on John Weeks to look after all those buttons and knobs and to provide good conversation! Thanks, John!

Again, very best wishes for a spectacular 2012!

Ann Creber

MY BOOK FAVOURITES FOR 2011…… Ann Creber

Last year there was one outstanding book for me… it was Fiona MacGregor’s Indelible Ink and I still vividly remember characters and situations. This year I have enjoyed a number of books and it is particularly pleasing to see the number of young Australian women writers whose work I have enjoyed.

The two books I found most memorable this year have been by young Melbourne women, Meg Mundell’s BLACK GLASS and Melanie Joosten’s THE BERLIN SYNDROME.

I feel all the books listed would offer good holiday reading, and I suggest you visit your local bookshop (if you can find one!) or library.

I don’t really like “romance” and find it particularly irritating when it is intertwined with crime! I don’t “do” fantasy, vampires or sci-fi, so apologies to any listeners who feel neglected because of this!

Click HERE to view Ann's Book Favourites for 2011

THE GOOD LIFE - 8 DECEMBER 2011

Hello Good Lifers,

I was startled yesterday to believe, for a moment, it was actually Christmas Day! I had gone down to feed the alpacas when suddenly there was a screeching crescendo of white cocky shrieks and, to my amazement, a large antlered deer came racing along a narrow path followed closely by a smaller hornless partner! My big cream poodle, Georgia, and I just stood open-mouthed.. she was too startled even to bark or give chase. The big male was not wearing a red nose, so I realised that neither sleigh nor red-suited old man was likely to appear! Of course I know the deer visit us... my trodden and chomped vegetables are proof.. but it is unusual to see them at such close range.

The ensuing frenzy that is Christmas is alarmingly close and I seem to be even less prepared than usual to cope. No doubt we will get through, but already next year is showing signs of being busy. I have two Library events to present early in the year, a segment on food styling in a new food series hosted by Radio National to be recorded after Christmas, a book review session for ABC Overnights this week and I have been asked to teach VCAL students again next year.

This has been a busy week with an Open Mic night at Kelly's (more of that later), a night at Paris Cat Jazz Bar to hear Hetty Kate, VCAL Christmas party at Morrison House, a tango performance tomorrow and a film preview Monday night after my program!

Last Monday's program was not too demanding, with only one interview and an hour of music and chat with the wonderful Alex Legg. My interview was with author/publisher John Kerr, who has written a book entitled A Pack of Bloody Animals. It recounts, in graphic detail, the dark story of underworld characters whose names are familiar to most of us and of police whose interrogation methods are less than gentle. It follows the events leading up to and following the Walsh Street murders of two young police officers,
which led to a trial and a surprise finding of "Not Guilty".

Most of us are sheltered from the realities of these "other lives" and I think a book such as this serves to educate us. It does demonstrate how children born into criminal families tend to follow the pattern of familiar behaviour I recommend it for an interesting, if shocking, read.

A PACK OF BLOODY ANIMALS by JOHN KERR

Scotsman Alex Legg came to Australia in 2003 after living and performing for many years in Europe and London. After starting as an apprentice in the printing industry, he realised that his true love was music so he left his job and set about building his musical career, which he has done most successfully. He appears in a number of different venues, but is a regular at Burrinja and every Wednesday night hosts Open Mic at Kelly's, corner Mt Dandenong Tourist Road and Ridge Road. Check out his website for more detailed information.

With John Weeks, we chatted for too long to allow time for more than two songs! Fortunately Alex did not have to rush his lovely version of "Georgia" and he also indulged us with another favourite, one of his own compositions, "Heather Brown". If you get the opportunity, I do recommend you visit a local venue to hear Alex perform.

The daughter of Alex's partner Isobel Blackthorn (who has been on our program discussing her book "Lovesick") was performing as part of a jazz duo at Kelly's last Wednesday night. Isobel kindly invited me to go with her and the two girls, who perform as Double Entendre, were startlingly good! Liz Blackthorn plays keyboard and Lindsay Deppeler sings in a bluesy/jazzy style I loved! Both girls are only 20 and still at University studying jazz/ improvisation and intend to make music their career. They give beloved old
standards, such as Summertime, a whole new interpretation and Liz also entertained with a session of boogie-woogie! Watch this talent!!

Liz also sat in on keyboard with a trio in which Luke, a personable young guitarist, sang and entertained. Liz and Lindsay will be appearing one night a week for the next four weeks
at Kelly's and also have an appearance coming up at Burrinja.. I'll keep you informed.

It was such a good night and, as a wonderful and unexpected bonus for me, Alex sang Georgia, as did the girls and another singer/guitarist Daniel, who appeared later in the night! And I didn't even ask!!!!

Thursday night was another musical evening at Paris Cat with Hetty Kate, bluesy jazz singer who has been a guest on our program. Just back from several months of visiting and performing in 13 different countries, Hetty was flying out next morning to sing in India! She has a couple of new CDs being released which of course we will play on The Good Life.

Next week's program will feature four guests sharing with us their childhood memories of Christmas, each one very different. Food writer and restaurant critic Rita Erlich will describe Christmas in an Australian/Polish Jewish household where Hanakah was also celebrated about the same time, Gabriel Gate will reminisce about life on a farm in the Loire Valley of France, Vallie Little, editor of Delicious and author of a beautiful new cookbook, will describe an English childhood Christmas in a family where both parents were food professionals. Siggy Jorgenson, son of the creator of wonderful, eccentric romantic Montsalvat will share some of his memories of Christmas in a art colony! Hope you'll be with us to share all these memories.....

I am already planning for next year's programs and during January or early February will dedicate a whole program to "on line dating services", which I find fascinating! An old friend of mine, very lonely after his partner died, has signed up with a number of them and been inundated with elderly ladies all keen to meet him. He has already had coffee or dinner with a number of them, had a few false starts (!) but is still soldiering on and has agreed to come into the studio for the program. I am hoping listeners will be prepared to call in - anonymously, of course - and share their personal good, bad and indifferent stories!

One of our favourite occasional guests is foodie Pauline Leonard, who specialises in Italian cooking, hosts tours around Italy, conducts cooking classes etc etc. Pauline has a Christmas recipe on her website this month and has generously agreed that I can pinch it to share with you! She will be with us in the studio early in the new year to tell us about her upcoming cooking classes and next year's tour. Click HERE for recipe.

A great idea for a Christmas gift would be a voucher for one of Pauline's cooking classes, some of which are now conducted in the Yarra Valley. Phone Pauline on 0417 585 533 to arrange this.

I have not forgotten my promise to provide a Recommended Book List, but it has to be in a style suitable for the ABC Overnights website and chat as well, so I will write it separately.

I hope your Christmas preparations are coming along more successfully than mine, but then of course I get diverted by doing homework for The Good Life! Thanks to John, as always, for his conversational and technical contribution to the program every week.

Best wishes to you all,
Ann

THE GOOD LIFE - 8 DECEMBER 2011

Hello Good Lifers,

As I am sure you realise, without John Weeks' technical assistance and expertise I am in limbo! John has been having computer problems over the past few weeks so no chat column!

We have all been victims of technology at 3MDR, with the station having transmission problems, John's computer giving up and my own emails going mad! Because of the uncertainty as to whether we would be broadcasting, I was hesitant to arrange too many interviews last Monday. Because of this, it was only at the last minute that I was able to source two guests for the program.

One of these was chef Ed Halmagyi (AKA Fast Ed), well known to TV audiences. I have met Ed - and enjoyed his cooking! - at several events organised by the Mushroom Growers, for which Ed is the consultant chef. More recently we connected again through the Paul Newman Charity Foundation, whose Australian Co-Ordinator Sue Home I had interviewed a week earlier. All the profits from Paul Newman products sold in Australia are donated to local charities. This year the distribution method was altered to allow ten top chefs to each
nominate a favourite charity to receive a donation of $100,000! Of course Ed was included in this illustrious group and his preferred charity Bear House ( a hospice for terminally ill children) was one of the beneficiaries.

Ed, a father of young children himself, spoke quite emotionally about his involvement with this charity and of the benefits they would enjoy from the generous donation. If you would like to know more about the Paul Newman Foundation, check it out on <newmansown.org.au>

On a lighter note, we chatted about his recently published cookbook I confessed that I had seriously doubted that the recipes could be prepared as quickly as Ed promised, but after testing a couple I realized that it is essential to closely follow his step-by-step preparation instructions - and it works!

MEALS IN 10 MINUTES Fast Ed (Halmagyi)

I was invited by Christie, Heart, talented local singer and now author as well, to share in an afternoon to launch a new CD featuring local female performers and Strong Strong Woman. It was held at Bricey's Inn in Mooroolbark and we were entertained by several of the women featured on the CD, including Christie herself, and it was a terrific afternoon. Part proceeds from the CD will assist the worthy efforts of WIN (Women In Need) a group dedicated to assisting women who need a helping hand. The CD and the event was
organised by local musician Jacqui Walker (formerly a presenter with 3MDR) and if you would to know more about the project or to buy a copy of the CD, you can contact Jacqui. Listeners had a chance to hear a couple of tracks on Monday's program.

Another CD dedicated to the cause of violence against women has also been produced and this features the modern sounds of rap and hip-hop. To celebrate the annual project directed to the prevention of violence towards women, this CD features 16 songs all performed by young people of both sexes and is entitled '16 Songs for 16 Days'. Our guest was Katie MacNamara, who is one of the featured artists and who also works with women at risk. The CD is beng officially launched in Fed Square Friday 8th December at 2 p.m. or for more information about acquiring your own copy contact Jacqui on (oops, sorry can't locate that) You can contact The W.I.N. Foundation at www.winaustralia.org.au

I also went to the launch of Isobel Blackthorn's book Lovesick at Burrinja last Friday. Isobel's readings from the book were interspersed by music of the era about which she was writing and this was provided by The Mullets,a somewhat startling local trio! NOT wearing his Mullet wig, I hope, their"lead" Alex Legg will be my guest in the studio next Monday and will chat about his life in general and his music in particular, as well as performing for us. I am a big fan of the versatile Alex, so am looking forward to his visit between 4 - 5 p.m.

I'll also be speaking with a young musician named Emily Davis and playing some tracks from her new CD entitled 'Undone'. Emily's last current Melbourne performance will be at The Wesley Anne in High Street, Northcote on December 23rd and she will tell us about this when we chat.

My third guest for Monday will be author/publisher John Kerr, who has written his somewhat controversial version of the Walsh Street murders in a book entitled A Pack of Bloody Animals. It provides a revealing picture of the private lives of some of Melbourne's most notorious criminals and also provides detailed description of the police interviews conducted after the tragic killings. I am still reading the book (I was lured away by a new hard copy crime novel by Patricia Cornwell) so am withholding judgment as to whether or not he has convinced me of the innocence of two of the accused.

In addition to buzzing between music venues, I have seen two film previews this week. The first was the eagerly awaited (by little people!) 'Happy Feet Two' and it was charming, with the most amazing special 3D effects! Robin Williams, plays the main Emperor penguin character, Mumble, and was here for the premiere. I fell in love with Eric, the baby penguin who yearns to fly. Other well-known actors provide the character and voices for a number of other featured animal personalities. With an amazing number of characters including penguins, seals, sea lions, sea eagles and even a couple of likeable krill, this should be a winner for kids over the holidays. It will be released on December 26th.

HAPPY FEET TWO

'New Year's Eve, featuring a host of well-known faces (can't always place the name!) is American schmaltz at its best. It is set in New York on New Year's Eve 2012 and is based around the legendary dropping of the giant ball at midnight (about which I knew nothing, I must confess)! A string of stories is quite cleverly and intricately woven around various characters and part of the fun is anticipating the final outcome of some of these threads.

To name just a few of the characters, these include Sarah Jessica Parker, Bon Jovi, Hilary Swank, Halle Berry, Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfieffer (sp?) and of course there is the American message of love, goodwill, family values and happy endings! Featuring a cast with ages ranging between newly-born babies (literally!) to greybeards, there is something in for every one - except perhaps the true cynic! I thoroughly enjoyed it and after sharing glass of wine in a little bar after the show, my friend Trish and I agreed it was "a nice night out"! It was shown at the Crown Village Cinema and will be released, one would expect, just before New Year!

Hope you'll be listening on Monday and can share Alex Legg's great music!

As always, my thanks to John.. without whom everything grinds to a halt!

Best regards, Ann

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John Weeks
Spectrum FM Radio - Australia
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Co-Producer of the upcoming Australian movie The Julian Paradox
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