It’s that time again — time for Su’s virtual afternoon tea. Once a month, Su at Zimmerbitch hosts afternoon tea in the blogosphere and we are all invited. You can bring something to share or just go along for a chat. I am also combining my visit to Su’s with my (early) Friday song day. My Friday song day happens each Friday (except when I post on Thursday night), and is where I pick a piece of music that reflects my mood or the times, to share with you.

I’m a bit late (again) so I’m feeling flustered. Kind of got my dates wrong. However, Su is a most convivial host so I am sure she won’t mind. I love Su’s virtual afternoon teas because it is a great opportunity to ramble on. I’m not talking about walking, but there’s an idea. I’m talking free flowing conversation, a few good laughs, serious talk, recipe sharing, show-and-tell, and a virtual hug.

Speaking of food, I went to the Asian supermarket recently. The supermarket is normally quite busy with shoppers, but perhaps because there are few international students as a result of Covid, it was strangely deserted. I got some yummy pickled vegetables which I thought we could have for afternoon tea. I just popped them in the microwave with some avocado and cheese, and zap. A taste sensation. The chillies in it were enough to have me stripping off my winter layers. Shortly after that, I read that pickled vegetables may be carcinogenic to humans. So are very hot drinks. Just kill me now. Anyway, I don’t want to put you off.

There is something about blogs and afternoon tea with friends that lends itself to public confessions – you know, because you’re in the company of friends. It assuages the guilt. “Righto, here’s a coffee and cake. Do you need a wine? Say two Hail Marys when you get home, and all is forgiven.” So, I’ll have you know that I got two air-conditioners installed yesterday. My environmental ideals have taken a scorching lately. Geez. I can’t put up with another summer of 40c+ degree temperatures and lung-killing bushfire smoke. It is a lot of money to spend for something I hope never to use, but, you know, I like to be prepared. That reminds me, I bought too many face masks. I was so panicked about the rise in Covid-19 cases just outside of Canberra, that I just kept buying them. I regretted it, but I couldn’t help myself. It was either that or eat a lot of chocolate.

According to Queensland officialdom (Queensland is a state of Australia), Canberra is a designated Covid hotspot even though we have no active infections and have had no new infections for over 30 days. Apparently those dirty, dirty New South Welshman (residents of a state where corona virus infections are growing) keep travelling to Canberra to catch a plane to Queensland, and thus infecting Queenslanders. Yeah, so although we’ve been virus free for a month, Canberrans feel like they have a V on their back. Maybe those masks will come in handy after all.

Anyway, the nice young electrician, Vincent, had lovely long locks. I couldn’t remember his name at first, but then I thought that his mother must have been an artist or something, and named her son after a famous Vincent. I didn’t forget his name after that. Vincent also installed a new electrical switchboard for us so we wouldn’t blow a fuse every time we got hot. Now the fuse for the oven keeps tripping so I guess we’ll be seeing Vincent again. Fortunately, I made this low carb, gluten free chocolate zucchini cake before the new electrical switchboard was installed. Delicious. Don’t look at the photo too long otherwise it will make you seasick because none of it is in focus. I used the food setting on my phone. At least the cake was a winner.

I had to quickly photograph it before it was all eaten. Maybe next time I’ll remove it from the cake rack and baking paper before serving. In this virtual world, I can offer you a piece from the side that didn’t burn. Tuns out my life is scorching in more ways than one. Anyway anyway, in my imagination, the burnt side only looks that colour because that is where the chocolate has concentrated. I was kind of hoping I could make another cake before Su’s afternoon tea but the air-conditioning, the bung switchboard and my mask shopping interfered with those plans.

(Background conversation hums) “What about the Friday song?” I hear you ask. Thanks for asking. I have to admit, it is much jauntier than I am feeling at the moment, but I am sure I will feel much cheerier when I visit Su. Hope she has saved me a seat.

You guessed it, right?

Anyway, I had better run. Take care everyone. Stay sane, stay safe and be kind.

Kind Regards.
Tracy.

PS. I’m also joining in with the Ragtag Daily Prompt – Harvest, because I picked a song. Good enough.

37 thoughts on “Take A Seat”

    1. Yep, I think everyone should just stay where they are for the time being. It is ridiculous to have people moving around the country for non-essential and non-compassionate reasons. I haven’t gone solar yet. Various reasons. Thought I would write a post about it. The ACT has already hit its 100% renewable energy target I think. The government wants people still on gas to transfer to electricity now.

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  3. Dr Hook?! Oh, it has been way too long! Great minds, Tracy. I made zucchini cake yesterday! The recipe called for baking it in a bundt pan, but that’s always tricky so I used two loaf pans, instead. Little lemon glaze on top–dessert last night and breakfast this morning. Breakfast of champions! 😀

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  4. Oh, Tracy, you sound as chaotic as me! Thank goodness there’s someone else who can’t quite get her act together at the moment! Or am I doing you a disservice? I’ll go and make a courgette (aka zucchini) cake to cheer myself up ….

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I can never get my act together, Margaret! You keep your chaos well hidden, except for your problem with the druids.
      Please make a courgette cake for me too. It is Friday here, so that means no electrician until next week. We shall have to use the BBQ in the meantime.

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      2. Bit chilly here too, Margaret, but thankfully the oven already has a new element courtesy of the lovely Vincent. My faith in humanity has been restored! It wasn’t the switchboard after all but the oven leaking charge but we wouldn’t have known without the upgrade to the switchboard.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Dr Hook and his Medicine Show had so many hits in the 1970s, including the surprising at the time, “Little Bit More.” ‘’Wall Right In” is a happy memory of my university days. Thank you Tracy. Thought you might like to listen to a song by Rufus Wainwright, “Damsel in Distress.” In is on YouTube. Rufus has written songs for the movies “Moulin Rouge‘’ and “Shrek”! It is blueberry season and I would bring a cheese cake with a blueberry topping. After one slice I‘ll find myself falling asleep. Not very sociable for a tea party.

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    1. My mother was (probably still is) a big fan of Dr Hook and so many of my song choices reflect my early music education from my mum. 🙂
      My husband knew of Rufus Wainwright, and his sister, Martha, too. He was gaining in popularity and notoriety in the days when I was barely coping with life and children, so that era was such a blur to me. I really enjoyed Damsel in Distress. I see that it is a new release. I might check out the album too.
      Re the cheescake, you are just like Door Mouse. 🙂

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      1. Yes I am a bit of a door mouse, I understand that they spend up to seven months of the year sleeping! Lately the pandemic has me feeling like a “dour” mouse.

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  6. There is always space for you at my table Tracy (and a cuppa of course).

    I totally understand you getting air con. We have used our heat pump more for cooling than warmth in the last couple of years. I would like to live in a house that has passive heating/cooling, but I don’t and meantime, we have to be realistic.

    I made my first batch of face masks yesterday. I found that I didn’t have any thin elastic, so a certain amount of pattern modification has taken place. Oh well. I wore one last night to pick up the groceries and it was comfortable, stayed in place and covered my nose and mouth fully. I’m hoping that’s enough?

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    1. Thanks, Su. You’re always welcome here too, Wine and cheese I can manage. 😉 I’m being realistic.
      I would love passive heating and cooling too. I wonder if you can have both in the one design?
      I bought a couple of cloth masks. The fit is terrible. Serves myself right for being so lazy and not making them. I think the masks work best when everyone wears them. Hopefully masks will mandated early in NZ. I bet yours look very stylish.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Wine and cheese sounds lovely.

        I believe that passive heating/cooling can go together with the right design. I had a book out of the library about low-impact building (the name of which totally eludes me).

        So far the masks I’ve made are functional and a surprisingly good fit. I haven’t got creative — yet. But I did wake up this morning humming with ideas for embellishment.

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  7. Pingback: Virtual afternoon tea; pull up a chair | Zimmerbitch

  9. Yes, tea and treats, and long road trips, let the confessions goooo! No need to apologize for wanting creature comforts. I love my AC and pray every time it makes a clank clank noise that nothing is wrong with it. “Hang in there baby” is muttered regularly. We also got an air purifier last year for the pollution. They’re supposed to work!

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    1. Aussies got a tax cash stimulus last year because the economy was tanking even before Covid. I bought one of those portable window ACs and an air purifier with it. Then I think we got another one earlier this year. That one I spent on a small freezer for storing my lockdown food, ie. fish for my dog with special dietary requirements. So not impressed about spending my money to deal with crises that could be avoided with a little international cooperation. First world problem …
      My dishwasher is really my true love. 🙂

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  10. For us, air conditioners have become a must in summers! To think during our childhood only the rich had them! It is not about creature comfort but surviving the heat, which is actually of our making. Sigh…

    On the bright side your cake looks delish and loved the song!🙂

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  11. Your chocolate zucchini cake looks yummy – can I have a big slice, please?
    I totally get that you got yourself AC, Tracy, I’ve been thinking about that too since last summer. Luckily this year it’s just moderately hot, at least around here, the rest of Germany and Europe had it much worse. I think these awfully hot summers will be the norm from now on sadly. 🙁
    And I also get that you bought so many masks – it’s only normal wanting to be as prepared as possible. These last weeks have proven that all the travelling just made our infection numbers rise but does anyone learn from that?! Economy first it seems. Who cares if enough people will be left when it’s all over.
    Sorry – I’m in an apocalyptic mood these days! 😂

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    1. Perfectly understandable, Sarah. Who knew we humans were quite so attached to cafes and pub? No wonder many less wealthy countries are having better success containing the spread of the virus.
      I’m glad you are having a cooler summer than last year. I’m hoping for a cooler summer this year too.
      The cake was delicious, Sarah. I think I might make another one.

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