focus_winetime
with Steve Attkins from Great Lakes Paddocks
watch.
ANOMALISA (MA) Monday 9th May, 7pm.
FORCE OF DESTINY (MA) Monday 23rd May, 6:50pm. Fay’s Twin Cinema.
T WINE AND TRAVEL WHENEVER YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL, TAKE IT! THE MEMORIES AND EXPERIENCES REMAIN WITH YOU FOR AS LONG AS YOU ARE ABLE TO REMEMBER, AND MANY REMAIN AS VIVID AS IF THEY WERE YESTERDAY.
aree Film Society next screens Anomalisa (MA) at 7pm Monday 9th May at Fay’s director Paul Cox’s Force of Destiny (MA). Robert Twin Cinema. Michael Stone, husband, fa(David Wenham) is a renowned sculptor who lives ther and respected author of How May I Help You alone. His family is stunned when Robert is diagHelp Them? is a man crippled by the mundanity nosed with cancer of the liver and six months to of his life. On a speaking trip to Cincinnati he live. In the process of physical decline and mental checks into the Fregoli Hotel. There, he is amazed turmoil, Robert meets Maya (Shahana Goswami), to discover a possible escape from his desperaan Indian marine biologist who comes from a tion in the form of an unassuming Akron baked different world, a different reality. goods sales rep, Lisa, who may or may not be Tickets are $16. For more information, call 6552 the love of his life. Then at 6:50pm Monday 23rd 3476 or visit www.tareefilmsociety.org.au May is Australian focus_inseason with Horticulturalist Neville Donovan - Greenpatch Organic Seeds
O
ne such memory for us is a trip trance of Taittinger, which was a magnificent in the ‘80s to Reims in France. wooden door, and rung the bell. The door was We were living in London at promptly opened by a lady who - before we the time and had an introcould utter a word - looked us up and down duction to Taittinger Chamand exclaimed: “We are closed today, as we pagne House, which we were super excited are expecting a private party ... “ and she about. At that time we had been wine lovers proceeded to the close the door on us. We for many years but were not particularly looked at each other, knowing that this magexperienced or knowledgeable nificent champagne house had been with our champagnes, but informed we were coming, and at we were keen to learn most thought we might get a and to experience the private tasting. We rung the We had a prihistorical catacombs of vate showing in doorbell again, and the same onechampagne that we’d lady reappeared, looked at us the theatre, onethe one tastings with , heard of. more intently this time and er champagne mak e As many Austraasked, “... Attkins party?” th personal tour of lians did in the ‘80s, So, did we feel special or ta underground ca we donned the back what! They had closed the combs ... ” pack, jumped on a flight place for the day to show the to Paris from London then “Attkins party” their operation. hopped a train to Reims and Needless to say, we got the royal found ourselves a room to stay in treatment, even though we were hardly for a couple of nights. dressed for such an occasion. We had a priTaittinger had been notified that we vate showing in the theatre, one-one-one tastwere coming, and an appointment had been ings with the champagne maker, personal tour made for us at 10am on a Tuesday morning. of the underground catacombs and joined That morning we put on our cleanest travelin the “riddling” - this is the manual process ling clothes and wandered the streets of Reims used to bring the sediment to the neck of the until we found the much needed patisserie for bottle in preparation for removal. our “pain au chocolat” (chocolate croissant) Fortunately the tour guide was a bit of a and black coffee prior to heading to one of traveller herself, so we had a lot in common the world’s most exclusive champagne houses and had a great day in her company, which at that time - Taittinger. We were very excited followed on with an evening meal together. and understood the prestige of Taittinger and So that amazing experience has been with had expectations of joining a large group tour us for nearly thirty years, and Taittinger has of the facility. been our favourite champagne ever since. At 10am we brushed the crumbs from MOTHER’S DAY BACK PADDOCK MUSIC, our faces and clothing, rose up from the SUNDAY MAY 8TH with THE TRAPPS, SOAR pavement where we had enjoyed “le petite and ALYSE GRAY. dejeuner” (breakfast) and headed to the enTICKETS $15 - Under 13 FREE.
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manning-great lakes focus.
Dragon Fruit
WH
AT ’ S I N
SPECTACULAR DRAGON FRUIT! YOU MAY HAVE SEEN OR TASTED THIS UNUSUAL TROPICAL FRUIT, ALSO CALLED PITAYA, WHICH GROWS TO THE LIKES OF AN OVERSIZED DARK RED OR YELLOW EGG ON THE OUTSIDE, ADORNED WITH FRILLS WITH EITHER DARK RED OR WHITE SWEET FLESH INSIDE.
A
s an epiphytic plant, it climbs the trees of the South American jungle. The long, green, fleshy leaves easily attach themselves to a tree. The large funnel shaped cream flowers are spectacular when they open in the evening and close by early morning. The flower is pollinated by moths in the evening and bees early in the morning. A small brush can also be used for hand pollination. Fruit development is quick, maturing within 6 - 8 weeks from pollination. Flesh is eaten fresh, refreshingly juicy with a firm jelly consistency. Varieties available are white, red and yellow. Dragon fruit is usually grown in the northern regions, in tropical or subtropical climates. They can be grown successfully on the Mid-North Coast. Choose a sunny position that faces north-west with protection from the south. A well drained mounded soil with added
sand will help keep the roots free of excess moisture and encourage better flowering in the warmer months. Add composted animal manure, compost or organic fertilizer in spring. The plants enjoy a deep watering during dry periods plus a thick mulch to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Dragon fruit requires a strong structural frame which allows the stems and fruit to hang down. A two metre high solid timber post is ideal, with a strong circular metal or timber frame at the top to 1 metre wide. The fungal disease leaf spot could be a problem during the cool, damp months. This damages the leaf with round orange spots. This disease can be minimised by watering the plant from below. Look out for snails and slugs, which can be controlled with ducks and chooks, beer traps, coffee grounds or pet friendly snail pellets. Happy growing!