On a budget? Of course, everybody is hoarding their money like greedy squirrels collecting nuts for the winter.

But that doesn't mean we can't spend a little? Splurge just once in a while? Decorate the house a bit? Give a gift without breaking a sweat?

How about gifts under $10. That's $10 AUD, not USD, which means its even cheaper due to the exchange rate. Let's celebrate these gorgeous gifts and leave the recession blues behind!!

Magnetic Memo Board Calendar - $9.95*

I love this. It's so simple, yet so practical. Large enough to display your favourite photos and important notes to remember...

Like "Exercise Today - No excuses!"

Soft Family Training Set - $9.95*

I don't quite know why this is called a "Soft Family Training Set". Perhaps it's for soft families...

I would definitely be using the hand weights for my 1-2km walks. I do like the idea of a skipping rope for extra cardio...

Saturday Night Live DVD Box Set $9.95*

If I watch another news bulletin about recession/depression/house prices/banks etc I will throw the damn telly out the window.

I don't know about you but I need more than ever to laugh right now...

Although the way things are going it might be a maniacal cackle rather than a demure giggle...

Buddha Figurine Outdoor Indoor - $7.95*

What do you do when the stock market has gone southwards, the news reports disaster after disaster, and people are starting to fray at the edges? You could go postal but...

Perhaps what we really need is to turn off our fraught brains and reflect...

Turn off the TV, cancel your newspaper subscription, stop watching the stock market on the internet and sit quietly in the garden. How would Buddha approach the current economic crisis? This can be the contemplation for the day...

technorati tags: frugal shopping gifts under $10 special deals


You might also be interested in this offer, it seems that the guys at SurveyDollar are now paying people to take surveys. They are offering two special free bonuses including a copy of "Project Payday" and if you sign up now you can get instant unlimited access to a list of paid survey companies.

Strange things are afoot at the Circle K...

There are some changes going on at Entrecard, least of which is the "above the fold" rule.

The rule was proposed that if your Entrecard widget does not appear above the fold (that is, without needing to scroll down at all), your account would then be in violation.

Thankfully, the rule has been amended to the "one page scroll" rule.  This means that you are in compliance if your Entrecard widget appears after one page scroll.  I'm not sure what effect the "above the fold" line would have created had they not amended it to a more sensible criterion.

I have a feeling some will be leaving after the recent changes are implemented.  I'm not sure that I am absolutely comfortable with a "dob in a fellow blogger" Gestapo-type system of reward. Get someone reported and get credits!  Get someone deleted and get thousands of credits!!  It's not good mojo, good karma or good Feng Shui for that matter, it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

The system will be converting to a real cash economy - I will be interested to see how this turns out.  You basically exchange your credits for cash and begin to sell ads on your widget. As I understand it, Entrecard will then pay you to buy your credits back.  You can also sell credits through your dashboard.  Hmm.  Clear as mud.   I would like to learn more and see how this will actually work.

It will be interesting to find out what others think about these changes at Entrecard.

technorati tags: entrecard rules change TOS blogging

I've always found that stainless steel is a great medium for utensils and save hours of washing time. It makes sense that stainless steel would apply itself to other regions of the house other than the kitchen.

The garden is the perfect place to install stainless steel objects as they will not rust. Some people like the rust effect in a garden. I am not one of those people. Rust-free, low maintenance and attractive, the silver matching well with the green of the garden.

On the indoor front (did I just mix metaphors there?), you can incorporate stainless steel objects to offer an artistic and whimsical touch to your home furnishings.

Such as these dramatic candle holders and wine rack:

I've also found a great way to mess with people's heads while decorating your house:

Put this stainless steel sign in your kitchen or living room...

And this beautiful stainless steel ashtray underneath it!

Silly? Yes? Hours of fun? Probably!

...or is that just me? Hmmm...

But sensibly, there are some significant savings to be had on the site at present (up to 15%), so it is worth checking out for a bit of a browse!

technorati tags: stainless steel decoration utensils

I am so impressed with myself...

You know it's weird. I can run a blog, make a reasonable amount of cash, etc. etc. yet I can't seem to successfully sell an item on Ebay.

I bought this Philips mp3 player for around $60 a few months ago. After buying a newer and better Creative MuVo mp3 player, I decided to sell the Philips player on Ebay.

The item has now sold, and the tally is as follows:

Purchase Price: $60.00

Sell Price on Ebay: $2.99

Total Profit: -$57.01

Wow...Donald Trump, look out!!

Perhaps I should have just donated it to charity.

technorati tags: ebay selling entrepreneur donald trump

A lot of bloggers are moving their blogs from the main blog providers to become self-hosted. Sometimes a self-hosted blog with its own domain can rank higher in the search engines and open up a lot of opportunities for bloggers. I have not made the move yet, I am still deciding which web hosting service can offer me the best deal. It is a decision for the individual blogger, and there are factors to consider such as:
1. Page Rank - you will initially lose your page rank, and it will build up again over time. For many it is worth it. For my PR4 blog, I am hesitant at this stage. For others it will be an easy decision to make.
2. Alexa will need to be recalculated from scratch.
3. When you move the blog to your self-hosted domain, it will be 100% yours. Nobody can delete it for violation of terms of service and you are basically the owner with no drawbacks.
4. You will need to resubmit to Technorati - your authority will begin again. If your blog is relatively new, it is a good idea to make the move early to avoid having to build up these stats again.
5. You will need to forward all your traffic to your new address. Some people will keep their old blog running and direct all traffic to a new blog that begins where the old one left off. This has been an acceptable method of moving for some bloggers.
If you are wanting to move your current blog, continue an older blog on a new hosting service, or start a new blog altogether, you can compare the cheapest web hosting rates and features at webhostinggeeks, which has been running reviews and comparisons of webhosts since 2004.

Many of the current web hosting services are relatively cheap (ie. many are offering webhosting for around $5 or under per month) and some include unlimited lifetime domain names, which is very handy if you have the perfect domain name and don't want to ever give it up or renew after 2 years. For those who do not have a lot of site building experience, many of these companies offer email and phone support to help with set up and site maintenance. The site currently features the 2008 winner for blog hosting - Bluehost - offering $4.95 per month and free setup, domain hosting and unlimited storage. For those who have next to no web programming experience, there is a drag-and-drop site builder and 24/7 support.
The webhosts are rated by a five star system:

You can submit your own ratings of your current web host and share your experiences and information to let people know which are the most reputable and which are the webhosts to avoid. By reading others' reviews you will get a more complete picture of each webhost and the services experienced from the customer's viewpoint.

technorati tags: webhosting domain name blog self-hosting

I have been trying for quite some time to make an 3 column footer so I can tuck my buttons away neatly. Every code I have tried has failed using New Blogger. I realised that there is a much easier way of creating such a display without knowing too much about html and CSS. I created this code (it's not that difficult - just a simple table!) and I have used a variation of this code in my footer.

Here are the steps:

1. Log in to New Blogger

2. Choose "Layout"

3. Insert new widget at footer (choose "html/javascript")

4. Insert this amazing code here (heheh!):

<div align="left">
</p>
<table width="520" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr>
<td width="154">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="169">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="197">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>

5. Replace the "&nbsp" parts with whatever text, code, html - just copy your button code and paste it in.

6. Cut and paste the whole code into your footer widget and publish.

You can edit the table widths etc, if you have an html editor such as Frontpage or Dreamweaver it will be easier for you to preview the final result.

Tech Tags: footer blogger hack 3 column display table

My post on Mandee's focussed on the teen and young adult crowd. My fellow blogger and commenter Sandy rightly pointed out that it is difficult to find clothing for the more mature woman - the distinguished woman, as I like to call it. Shopping with younger relatives, being dragged into boutiques blasting incessant dance music. You know, the ones with those flimsy western doors not large enough to cover anything that matters, being served by malnourished, skimpily clad store attendants with nasal voices...it's enough to scare anyone.

As a woman becomes more distinguished, she become wiser and more particular about what works and what doesn't when it comes to fashion. Think elegant, not frumpy.


Chiffon Wrap Blouse from Kaleidoscope

Flowing lines, elegant wraps, tunics and cardigans. Some people grumble about cardigans, some people have an unnatural fear of them (Kath from Blurb from The Burbs - you know who you are!!) - however I think a good cardy has its place in society, you just have to find the right one that flatters your figure and makes you feel comfortable.



Long Cardigan



Jacquard Cardigan

Don't let anybody tell you that you cannot dress in a way that makes you feel special. If you've got it, flaunt it, whatever your age. Sophia Loren, Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, these women know how to look elegant and alluring at the same time. You will know intuitively if an outfit is right for you. If it is too tight, gaudy or uncomfortable or shows too much skin for your liking, then it is probably worth a miss.



Chiffon Printed Skirt

Note the use of black with the patterned skirt as the focus of the outfit. It can be a good idea to feature a single piece in this way, without allowing things to get busy or clash.



Very Wide Leg Trousers



Evening Trousers

The worst thing is to think that none of the clothes you see in the stores are for you. Start building up your wardrobe from the basics with some pants, tunics and tops and before you know it you will find your own individual style.

Remember, when shopping online, always check the country of origin and make sure you convert the currency and more importantly, sizes before buying.

technorati tags: fashion clothing shopping mature distinguished woman elegant stylish

Sometimes I need a bit of inspiration when shopping. I have had quite a dry spell recently and now I realise it's time to shop. Anyway, it's the global economic crisis thingy and we all need to spend money to keep things afloat. Well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have been building up my cookware collection for some time now. I still need a number of items to complete the collection so using a shopping search engine I will be hunting for bargains on food processors - perfect for making home made hummus and olive tapenade (yum!).

I also need some whitegoods -I like those washing machines that can be installed in the kitchen so you can put in a load of washing and take them out when you've finished cooking a meal. Also, I have an unnatural fear of laundromats so that would be perfect. I especially like this GE massive capacity front load washer - I intend to own a lot of clothes!

High on my list is a vaccum cleaner, a hand mixer and some outdoor plates for picnics. There are some great specials on at the moment so it's a good time to buy and save some dollars!

technorati tags: shopping washing machine food processor kitchen appliances

I have been thinking lately that it might be fun to do a giveaway, so this is the first official contest for SaveSaveSave.

By the way, this is the easiest contest in the world to enter. All you need to do is enter your email address in the "subscribe to SaveSaveSave" box and click "Subscribe Me!". You will be automatically entered in the SaveSaveSave Macy's giveaway contest in which the lucky winner receives a $20 Macy's card for use throughout Macy's stores or online.

technorati tags: macys giveaway gift card contest free win


You might also be interested in this offer, it seems that the guys at MyShoppingJobs.com are now paying people to go shopping and giving away a bunch of free stuff as well. The Free E-Guide "Get Your Purchases Free" is now available for download.

The great digital television revolution. Ah, the choice, the channels, the unending variety. Or so we thought. This morning Ten HD presented Round 1 of the Accenture Match Play Golf Championship.

Tiger's comeback after months of injury was much anticipated. The coverage began at 6am. The excitement of seeing Tiger back in action and playing against Brendan Jones from Australia was a recipe for a brilliant morning's viewing.

And then... outrage. The coverage of play was cut short to make way for the highly time-sensitive (note sarcasm) "David and Kim" morning show.

The same bloody mind numbing and banal David and Kim morning show that is being shown on the other Ten Digital channels. Obviously Ten HD found it imperative that it be shown on Ten HD just to make sure that nobody misses the extremely missable David and Kim show. All us golf tragics were expecting full coverage - many other groups were set to come through, including little known (note sarcasm again) players such as Ernie Els. It was not that the official coverage had finished, it's just that Ten HD decided not to show it anymore. Surely, Ten HD you can spare one little channel to see the coverage through to its conclusion.

Important note: I have discovered that the coverage begins again at 4:30pm today, which is a welcome relief. Hopefully this coverage includes the wrap up as well.

It's truly amazing that we are getting 15 new channels this year, unfortunately it seems that some of the content has so far been duplicated. With any luck, this will be sorted out throughout 2009.

technorati tags: Ten HD Nine HD Seven HD Digital HD Digital TV 15 new channels 2009 Accenture Match Play Golf Championship Tiger Woods

In these tough economic times, we tend to shrink back from spending. It's understandable, but perhaps there is some hope. You've heard of bailouts and stimulus packages, well this is a wardrobe bailout. We must not let this financial crisis affect our sense of style. On the 30th of January, 2009, Mandee launched a brand new store complete with full sized runway to create a fully interactive fashion / shopping experience. To celebrate the opening, and their 60th anniversary, Mandee are offering a special discount code to use when purchasing from their online store.

For a 20% discount on all purchases, enter the code: BAILOUT at checkout.

The following comes from the official press release:

New Mandee Store hits the runway with Grand Opening.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Totowa, NJ 1/24/2009 Mandee is proud to announce the opening of their new flagship location in Clifton, NJ. Mandee, a women's clothing chain primarily targeting the teenage and young adult market, is unveiling a fresh look in its Grand Opening of a 7,000 square foot store. Tricarico Architecture and Design PC headed up the project, creating an interactive experience that allows customers to feel as though they have stepped into their own fashion show, including a full size runway in the store.

This new concept is a key part of Mandee's long-term strategic plan, which aims to incorporate the Fashion Runway theme into every location. They wanted to create a fun and sexy atmosphere utilizing a runway format and graphics to preview the latest in fashion styles. From the fixtures to the color palette to the lighting, the Mandee 'runway store' is designed to make the customer feel like a true 'fashionista.'

And the time couldn't be better for the grand opening, as Mandee celebrates their 60th anniversary of bringing trendy fashion to consumers at affordable prices. Mandee was founded by 3 brothers 60 years ago on Brooklyn's Brighton Beach Boulevard. They knew the importance of building a brand long before people started writing books on the subject. Nothing was more important than getting the hottest fashion and the proper fit and delivering it to the customer at a great price. The new store is located on Route 3 in Clifton.
It is scheduled to open January 30, 2009.

The store will be offering for a limited time $7 flat rate shipping for ups ground domestic deliveries.

Mandee is geared towards a teen and young adult market so if you know of anyone who may benefit from this discount, please feel free to pass it on.

technorati tags: mandee mandee's coupon code discount wardrobe bailout

These gorgeous emery pincushions are hand made by dottyral.

Egg - Sunny Side Up!


Peas - for the raw food enthusiast!


Please don't write in or contact the RSPCA, this is not a voodoo bunny, I repeat, no black magic here!! According to dottyral, it is in fact receiving acupuncture and requires regular treatment. No bunnies were harmed in the making of this pincushion.

Strawberry - Good enough to eat!

The emery inside the pincushions serves to sharpen the pins so they never get blunt. They are made from felt material and since they are hand made, each one is different!

technorati tags: sewing pincushions emery cute design dottyral hand made

Q: What to get for the geek who has everything?

A: Giant earbud speakers!!














This concept is very Escher. Or Dali. Or both. Whatever the origin, they would look great on your desk and could be useful during late night drinking sessions to confuse people ie. "go get my headphones". Fun and hilarity will ensue. All we need now is a giant iPod.


What's that, you say? There is such a thing?

The giant Google Earth iPod. Now, where do we plug them in?



But this was just an April Fool's joke created by Apple - there was no bet between Steve Jobs and Kerry Packer ... it's actually a Western Australian tailings storage facility. Perhaps iPod's are actually made out of tailings...

Maybe I can make a giant Steve Jobs that can be seen from space... but then I'd have to make a giant Bill Gates as well. But I'd have to use Microsoft Virtual Earth... In fact, we could take up the entire earth with advertising space... Dang this, I'm off to design my own system: LJP Earth. Advertising starts at Google dollars...

technorati tags: giant ipod bud earphone speaker google earth giant ipod steve jobs bill gatesmicrosoft virtual earth

Congratulations to Laura Davies, who won her second Australian Open this week. She is a deserving champion and her swing has to be seen to be believed. Many of the commentators have all but written off the more experienced players, expecting the younger players to automatically win because of their age. Wrong!! You cannot write off players like Laura Davies or Karrie Webb, and you certainly cannot underestimate their ability, creativity and ingenuity to recover and mount a winning charge.

Karrie Webb was visibly disappointed with her performance but she is still Australia's best golfer and no doubt we will see her winning again in no time. She was gracious enough to give me her autograph, even though she probably would rather have been somewhere private to reflect after the game.

During the presentation, I was glad to discover that all proceeds from the Australian Open ticket sales will go straight to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal. The haze from the fires was still visible throughout the tournament. It was a proud moment and I commend the organisers of the event for their generosity.

A small but important note to the Australian Open organisers: Please set up the will call office/tent at the MAIN entrance to the golf club. This will ensure that people can actually find the entrance and get in. It would also help if the attendant at the main gate had a clue where the other entrances were located so he doesn't send people off in the wrong direction, down the wrong street and headed for nowhere.



Were it not for the extremely kind guy in Car Park B who gave us a lift after we had been walking for at least ten minutes in the wrong direction in hot sun, we would not have found the entrance, which was a poorly marked, unlabeled side street leading to a long dirt road between a football oval and a primary school, at least a couple of kilometres walk from the front entrance. How anyone expected people to find this secret hollow is beyond me. Thank you Car Park B guy, you know who you are and you are a legend.

I received a great lesson from one of the Golf Pros from Drummond and found out much about my swing and the appropriate clubs to use. I didn't realise the importance of club fitting and consultation.

When I swung a hybrid Callaway Diablo for the first time, I realised what I could actually achieve with the right equipment. I was suddenly hitting the ball further than I have ever done in my life. I have always been curious about hybrids for some time, now I realise why they are so popular. It's simple - they are so easy to hit. I also discovered that because of my height and strength, I should not be using standard womens' clubs. Instead I fall in between the male and female clubs categories and I need taller clubs to make them easier for me to hit. I now realise that many of my clubs are probably too short for me. But I can't complain, I got them for $5-$15 each!

I will be shopping for new additions to my set, including the new tour Callaway x-22 and possibly one of the new Diablo drivers. The prices are reasonable at the moment - they can be found for $80-$100 each (excluding the driver!) on sale. I will be checking Drummond Golf and House of Golf for new specials and be sure to check the "Hot Specials" page for new deals this week.

technorati tags: Laura Davies Australian Open 2009 Karrie Webb golf callaway diablo x22

The Red Cross Bushfire Appeal urgently needs blood donations to assist the burns victims injured in the terrible fires throughout Victoria.

If you are between the ages of 16-71 and weigh over 45 kilos, you may be able to donate blood. The process of giving blood takes from 5-10 minutes, not including time for filling out a questionnaire and recovery time.

Please check the Red Cross Blood Service site for further conditions. If you need more information on eligibility, check the FAQ section or take their quick quiz.

technorati tags: give blood donate blood red cross bushfire victoria appeal 2009

Victoria's bushfires have been all over the news but we cannot begin to understand what these people are going through. If you feel the desire to help (as many Australians do!) please donate to the Red Cross Bushfires Appeal 2009. Please be wary of email scams masquerading as this legitimate charity organisation.

According to the Red Cross website:

• Australian Red Cross DOES NOT send unsolicited email to the public requesting donations.
• If you receive an unsolicited email alleging to be on behalf of Red Cross or collecting for Red Cross, immediately delete the message and do not forward or otherwise circulate it.
• Do not respond to these messages or provide any personal details to unsolicited email that you may receive.
• Only make an online donation to an Australian Red Cross Appeal at www.redcross.org.au.

Go to the official Red Cross Website to donate or call 1800 811 700

Please do not call 000 if you are worried about relatives / loved ones. The information line for the Country Fire Authority Victoria is 1800 240 667. Please do not visit the areas just to drive by and look. You will be in the way. Firefighters and investigators need to do their job without interference and the people of these devastated areas need to be left respectfully to grieve and rebuild their lives. Please do not donate clothing or other items to the Red Cross at this time - a cash donation is the most effective way to help during this appeal.

technorati tags: red cross bushfire victoria appeal country fire authority CFA
Photo credit: Shanghai Daily.com

Maybe it was because I was feeling patriotic after Australia Day. Maybe it was because the camera was handy. Or maybe there are some signs you come across that are just too silly to ignore...

Australians all let us rejoice for we are young and free,
With golden soil and wealth for toil...




And in honour of the Australian Open this week...

technorati tags: silly signs funny billboards

At some time or another the time will come when you look at your old Hanimex 35mm and say "well, old buddy, I'm afraid you're obsolete." It will be a sad day, for many that day has already come. For me it came two years ago when I realised that photography and photos were changing so rapidly and that I had to keep up or get left in a big cloud of dust kicked back from the 21st century.

So then you have to go through every catalogue, megapixels screaming at you and confusion racking your tired brain. Let's face it. We could all use a little help. You need to do some heavy-duty research before purchasing a camera. 42nd Street is a digital camera store that reviews and recommends various digital cameras and helps the digital camera shopper to decipher the myriad of options available to them. With concern to safekeeping digital pictures there is a handy section on camera care, warranties and storage. Their prices are reasonable and some savings can be found on many of the models discussed on the site. The range includes cameras for the holiday snapper right up to the serious photographer.



This post brought to you by 42nd Street Photo.

And now, from the people who brought you Paris Hilton and the mankini, please welcome... Bikijeans! Or Bikini Jeans Or "Avert thine eyes because you are about to be frightened severely" These jeans were actually invented by a Japanese company that obviously thought the tacky g-string showing-over-the-low-rise abomination wasn't enough. Let's be honest here. I don't care if you're Elle Macpherson, if you wear these jeans it's going to be hideous. And here's food for thought...try sitting down in them. This would of course, introduce a new aspect to the Bikijean - the added bonus of a butt crack! This just keeps getting better and better. These jeans should come with various warnings such as: "please refrain from sneezing" "avoid any seating areas with backless chairs" "do not eat while wearing these jeans" "avoid stores with metal racks and sharp objects or you might find yourself caught in a rather embarrassing bind" Old ladies beware - you are going to get a whole lot grumpier. Actually, I'm beginning to agree with them. I am a grumpy young woman and proud of it! Now, to continue my grump... This picture above shows a very skinny model in these jeans. It doesn't show her walking, because that would be quite difficult unless you have recently had a Brazilian or don't mind flashing the 'ole sidewinders. What you see in the photograph is a myth. When you go down to the local fish and chip shop or milk bar you are almost guaranteed to be confronted daily by a Kath & Kim style frightmare. This will not end prettily. ...and you know it won't stop there. I shudder to even ask the question "what's next?" Apparently these jeans are marketed for an exclusive audience - the "very thin". Hmmm, you know what? I think someone's got a thing about seeing girls' bits. It took a bit of digging but I think I'm on to it now... Seriously, the Bikijean. Yes or No?

technorati tags: bikijeans bikini jeans japanese fashion denim

My partner told me about how amazing an eggplant parmigiana can be when cooked properly. We decided to try out a 'counter meal' as they are known in Australia - basically a pub meal. The special was eggplant parmigiana and we arrived with anticipation of a mouth watering culinary experience.

WRONG!!

When the meal arrived, we suspected something was not quite right. For a start, my partner received about 4 chips while I received a larger pile. The nearby chicken parmigianas came complete with a mountain of chips and a parmigiana large enough to be a small car's hubcap. Our meal on the other hand, was quite different. The eggplant parmigiana itself was tiny, perhaps the size of an average person's palm. Oh well, I thought, quality not quantity. After tasting the eggplant, I was literally eating my words.

The knife provided was woefully ineffective, I found myself sawing away at this strange piece of boot leather and making little progress. Perhaps a local tree lopper would have come in handy at this point. The eggplant was dry, leathery and thin. It consisted of soggy layers of "batter", eggplant with the skin left on (which had the consistency of old boot) and another layer of soggy batter.

I could not bring myself to finish the meal, instead I dissected it out of curiosity and left it for the waiter to collect. When dissected, I noted it resembled Dalek innards (Dr Who fans will know what I'm talking about!).

When cooked properly, an eggplant parmigiana is thick, juicy, trimmed of skin and crumbed and fried. This science experiment was thin, skin heavy, microwaved back to life (or perhaps the undead), possibly frozen and grilled to within an inch of its life. It is my fond hope that pub meals will include vegetarian food more regularly in their menus and employ qualified chefs who have the expertise to er... cook.

If anyone out there knows a great eggplant parmigiana recipe, please enlighten me...

technorati tags: eggplant parmigiana recipe parma pub meal old boot