Day 3, Level 1: Market goodies, Jimmy's sauces, eggs, and Hundertwasser

Another incredibly blustery day. The skies were weird and interesting this morning. This photo taken from the deck just after 9am. 

I headed to Matakana market around midday and the day brightened up considerably. The market was the busiest I've seen it since lockdown back at the end of March. A happy scene in all directions. People of every nationality. People taking photos in all directions. People eating and drinking and generally being merry. The blossoms are out and it was a nice vibe. 

I purchased some locally grown macadamia nuts (yum), some lemons, some eggs (more in a mo) and some of Jimmy's sauces. 

I've seen Jimmy and his sauces at the market when I've been there previously but never stopped by - he was either busy or I didn't want to get caught up in sauce talk and salesmanship (much as I love sauces)!

Today I felt the need to go see Jimmy and his sauces! There were no other people at his stall and he looked lonely, so I rocked up. I tasted all his sauces. Each variety has an "original" and a "hot" version. The original is quite hot so let's just say the hot ones are for palates that really like it hot. Some do like it hot, but not all. 

He has a good range of tastes and he was doing a special of 3 sauces for $40. I'm a sauce-a-holic and in the interest of supporting Jimmy, decided I'd get three. It was hard to decide which three. While I decided - and tasted and re-tasted - we had a chat. 

Jimmy had worked as a chef on superyachts for some years. When he returned to NZ a couple of years ago he decided he'd get into making his own sauces. And here he is! Go Jimmy!

After a happy and enlightening chat with Jimmy, I chose my sauces. 

The lack of apostrophe is annoying but it doesn't detract from nice sauces!

The middle one is a Sweet Chili sauce, hot off the press, freshly made. And selling like the proverbial hotcakes. Chili sauce is a staple ingredient in my kitchen. Tick. 

The seafood sauce is a smoky tomato blend of tangy ingredients and will go well with a lot of things, not just seafood. He assures me it's great with prawns and I believe him!

The Hawaiian sauce (he only had "hot" version left) is a pineapple, vanilla and kaffir lime blend. Nice! Tropical and sweet. Can be toned down with some yoghurt or cream if need be. 

So tonight I made a fish (snapper) salad concoction - and added Jimmy's Hawaiian sauce and a few other things as I quickly sizzled the fish. With walnuts scattered on top. I'm into walnuts at the moment. And pine nuts. And macadamia nuts. Okay, I'm into all nuts. I'm happy to own up to being a nutter!

It was a light healthy tasty meal, scoffed while watching a programme on Elton John getting a Brit Icon award (some time ago I think).  And soaking my feet in my "found again" foot spa. Nice!

Now to the eggs - I think I mentioned in an earlier post that a WOW designer who'd been living in Melbourne is now back here and she and her husband have bought a chicken/egg farm in the locale. I rocked up to the egg stall but no sign of Philippa. Introduced myself to the guy, her husband (Mark), and we struck up a conversation. He knew who I was - Philippa had alerted! She'd been at the stall but now back at said chicken/egg farm gathering more eggs! It's a new lifestyle choice for them and they, by all accounts, are loving it. And learning all about it. It's a big property, purchased online, sight unseen, from Melbourne. Brave. There are horses (came with the property - and they do ride), and I can't remember how many thousand chickens he said. They all roam free. Collecting the eggs takes about 2 hours between them. 

I said I'd take a dozen - asked him what he'd recommend. What's a good egg!? He suggested the jumbo eggs. Right, I'll take them. OMG they are HUGE! The carton requires a rubber band either end to hold them in tight! He recommends them for omelettes. I suggest they'll make the best poached eggs ever (my favourite way of eating eggs, although egg mayo in a sandwich is good too!) 

I bid Mark farewell, after happy egg chats, and assured him I'll call in en route on my way up or down from Omaha soon. He said they both had to quarantine in separate hotels as they couldn't get on the same flight from Melbourne! He said the food at his hotel was abysmal but the exercise space was good. Philippa's food was good but exercise space abysmal. I think they sound very happy to be on their lovely chicken/egg/horse farm with lots of bush and nooks and crannies they are still discovering. 

I'll definitely go see it soon. And look forward to a great creative chat with Philippa - her WOW designs are amazing and she's won a prize! So good to know she's now living nearby and yet another creative soul in my midst. They seem to be popping into my world at a great rate of knots these days. Perfect. 

Oh - here are the poached eggs I made for brunch today. I think tomorrow's poached eggs will be better, fresher, bigger and no doubt tastier. 

After the market I called into the sports bar/TAB to watch a few races. A few friends had horses racing. The usual local crew showed up - Steve and Jimmy and a few others. Kevin wasn't there. It's school holidays and he's probably doing kid things as he has school-age kids. His wife isn't into racing. .

A few people I hadn't met before joined in. Soon enough, it was a full-on social occasion and the bar was buzzing. I couldn't leave!

We had a lot of fun, put on some joint bets (almost won!), had a beer, and lots of good chat. Such a diverse bunch, from all walks of life. Doesn't matter what we do or what we've done, where we live or what we did yesterday (although in quieter moments we do chat about all that). Main thing, there's a common love of racing. Joie de vivre shines forth in an egalitarian way. I like it. 

Brett's at home playing golf today and playing in a tournament tomorrow. And I'm in Matakana talking racing and meeting zany creative people at every corner. We're doing what we love. Some people may find this odd, but truly, what's not to love about doing what you love!? No way am I sitting at home all weekend while he plays golf all weekend. I'll be up at the beach thanks very much! And if he wants to play golf, he can. I have no issue with that. 

Life is for living! And then you die.

Oh - and the day passed by with no hope of getting my inks out. Maybe tomorrow ... except I have two meetings jacked up. Maybe Monday then ... except I have a heap of work to do. Maybe Sunday midnight. Oh - just whenever, that's fine!

It's still howling an absolute gale outside. Not letting up at all. 

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Hundertwasser ...

I first saw Hundertwasserhaus (a quirky residential apartment building) in Vienna in the late 1980s not long after it was completed. I was blown away. It was unconventional, colourful and playful - and it incorporated nature. Rooftop gardens, green bits hanging out. It was utterly unique and everything that is beautiful in a building. His style is similar to Gaudi. But quite different. I was beyond captivated. Hundertwasser was ingrained in my brain. 

Hundertwasser moved to NZ in the 90s and designed the iconic Kawakawa Public Toilets. There's not a lot else in Kawakawa but people stop and are amazed with this toilet building! Soon, people will be able to enjoy a bigger better bolder and much more fabulous building of his design in Whangarei. (more below)

Hundertwasser lived in the Whangarei area until his death at sea on the QE2 ship in 2000 at the age of 71. A big loss. He's buried in NZ. 

What a fascinating man. He called himself an "architecture doctor" - starting off remodelling buildings. And then creating the most exceptional ones of his own. 

He'd designed a building for Whangarei before his death, and after he died, plans moved ahead to build it. But the locals didn't want it to be built. Well, they didn't want local funding going towards it, and fought against it. Thankfully those who fought to have it built won out, with various funding components and huge fundraising drives - then the ignorant moaners couldn't complain. 

The building is well on its way to fruition. I'll be there as soon as it is complete. 

He'd also designed other buildings for other cities in NZ but I doubt they will get built. I'd like to think they might, one day. But ...

The sad thing is very few in NZ appreciated who he was or what he'd done. Another example of Kiwi ignoramus. Sigh. I guess I was lucky to have seen his work in early days. He has buildings all around the world that are huge tourist attractions. But if I'd never known who he was and this Whangarei building was mooted - I'd be in the "Hell Yeah, get it built" camp at the very first glance. Why would you not build an exceptional thing like this!?!? 

As I say, thankfully those locals who did know him did understand. And pushed. And pushed. For two decades. Now some incredible artisans are doing all the beautiful tiling and mosaics to bring his vision to reality. I can't wait to see it!

And I suggest it will become a huge global tourist attraction - when people can eventually travel here without restriction. 

I really think this is going to become one of the most special and iconic buildings in New Zealand into the future. Here's a photo of the concept. 

Hundertwasser - he was way before his time. He was innovative, he was an original greenie, he was caring, he was humble, he was clever, he was far-sighted. We need more Hundertwassers in this world.