I love Sundays

From the 'I've been telling you this for years" file

From the New York Times: "Without the bitterness produced by hot water, cold-brewed coffee [has] hints of chocolate, even caramel. I dropped my sugar packet — no need for it. The best brews hardly need cream." About twice a week I grind up some beans to make a few days' supply in my Bodum french press. The first day I add a dash of hot water from the kettle and top the plunger up with ice cubes. The flavours develop as it sits in the fridge (a rich coffee taste with no bitterness) and the knowledge that there's always a chilled coffee ready helps get me out of bed. I drink it even in winter. The only drawback is it spoils you: espresso bar coffees at work just don't satisfy and you quickly lose your appreciation for heated milk.

Try it -- you'll thank me!

What we did yesterday

How the opposition reported it: Fairfax managers run gauntlet of strikers.

Lex in Sydney

Spent a quick hour over lunch today with Lex, which only reminded me how much I miss having her around. The clever cookie has just jetted back from NYC to spend 10 days at Varuna to workshop her upcoming novel with editors from HarperCollins. If one of the definitions of happiness is knowing what you want to do and being damn good at doing it, then she's one happy lassie. Lex is a superachiever alright, and although I always feel inadequate around her (I'm not so definite about what I want to do when I grow up) she's also inspirational. Nowadays she has to inspire me from afar.

Being a Muslim

Here's a preview of my latest project, you lucky devils. Going live tonight as part of a five-day series running in the Sydney Morning Herald titled "Islam in Australia". I was lucky enough to interview four terrific Muslims about their faith, and the misconceptions people have about their community. Here's hoping it goes some way towards building tolerance and harmony.

See the multimedia here.

Poker night

(Gerard's in his Michigan shirt...)