What on earth is in that can to make it taste so darn good? Like the mixture of thousand island dressing and tomato sauce (or is it mayonnaise?) in McDonald's special sauce, something so simple and obvious that we have all been fooled for years? Actually I am pegging something much more sinister. Yet I am still drinking it. Perhaps it is the heat, nothing seems to be more universally refreshing on a hot day than an icy cold Coke. Classic marketing at its best, it's always summer somewhere in the world. 

For now, I know its bad but I just can't help myself. The reasoning is: one can of Coke is a much better idea than six beers, or an entire bottle of sparkling wine. 

And if anyone knows the secret ingredient in KFC please let me know. I've been dying to find out for years. I'll never tell, I promise. 

I loathe spending $3 every time I want a bunch of coriander. I should be able to grow it myself. Previous attempts do not support this statement. 

My darling housemate has greener thumbs than I, so I am following her advice with thumbs crossed. 

If all goes to plan, soon we should have parsley, flat leaf parsley, rosemary, coriander, mint, sweet basil, lemongrass and mexican chillies to experiment with. The house dog also finds the herbs rather tasty, and was told off for wrapping her chompers around the lemongrass.

More to follow if I do not kill first batch. I still smell like potting mix, despite repeated washing of self. Not pleasant. 

Other achievement today: purchasing of plane tickets to Sydney for mid next month. Am now excitedly planning where to eat while on my "in between jobs" holiday. I can see a potential need to have more than three meals a day...

However after ten years as a waitress, I am only three weeks away from my new life in the (hopefully) exciting world of corporate media. Pencil skirts, stiletto shoes and leather handbags await. And lunch breaks, oh the job of the one hour of freedom to eat, relax and run errands during business hours in an exciting concept for one who tends to work 9 hour days with no breaks, and no lunch. 

So in this blog I intend to prattle on about cooking, restaurants, cafes, leftovers and everything in between - just because I can. Although I will miss some aspects of working in hospitality, I hope that my soon to be new freedom as a customer will provide a little light entertainment for all of you out there on the world wide web. 

And if not, I am sure that my stumbling around in heels will keep all amused also. 

Cheers, and enjoy.