cafe: Dux / South Perth

café: Dux, South Perth

Okay, we were there a few weeks ago... my memory has faded. Some things do stay in mind:

Our first impression is, this place is flash ! Not "flash" as in, a rat with a gold tooth. More, South Perth flash: catering to a local, well off clientele, expecting traditional good service and traditional food selection. They may offer acai and rocket but probably not.

Definitely not hipster. Very much a café for -- my opinion of -- the area.

It is very friendly, very welcoming. I have a delicious iced coffee, cake -- I can't remember what it was but I remember that it was good.

If we lived close by this could be rated three. We're not likely to be here again, so, Two out of three: we enjoyed it but are unlikely to return.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"Leaders are visionaries with a poorly developed sense of fear and no concept of the odds against them." … Robert Jarvik

===

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/ :-)

cafe: Leaf and Bean / Mt Hawthorn

café: Leaf and Bean Emporium, Mt Hawthorn

It's an awful road for traffic, we are lucky to get into a roadside parking bay. They are there, just that traffic makes it difficult to get in and out. Then we walk, looking for coffee. This looks fine, we think, We'll try it.

But is it "hipster"?

Furniture and décor are very much mix-and-not-match. The café is busy but not crowded. Staff do not look hipster, there is just one man bun and the barista has short neat hair and glasses. Customers look like locals, rather than trend setters sipping latte between gym sessions.

Come to think of it... this could be the authentic version of a friendly, comfortable café that some hipster cafes are trying to imitate.

Our slice of cake is very nice, though the lemon icing is too harsh a contrast for the fruity cake. We push aside a small fraction of the icing and enjoy the cake, one generous size slice which satisfies the two of us.

Definitely enjoyable. The location makes it unlikely we will return. Two out of three.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Leaders are visionaries with a poorly developed sense of fear and no concept of the odds against them." … Robert Jarvik

===

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/ :-)

cobra / timothy zahn

cobra

(*) see below

by timothy zahn

science fiction

copyright 1986

read in april 2019

rated 8/10: really quite good

it's quite an old book and -- thanks to the baen free library -- still easily available. free library? excellent idea.

as i start reading i think, okay, android super-soldier, not too exciting. this book is more than that. a lot more.

the story is told in a series of episodes, separated by years. (originally written as a series of short stories, perhaps?) it's easy to follow, as the same key characters flow in and out of each story. and each story covers -- develops and explores -- a unique aspect of the super-soldier theme.

this is clearly not a "modern" story yet there is nothing *embarrassingly* tied to its decade. the science may have changed, the questions and problems are still relevant. "what if" this soldier were created today? the setting may change, the problems are still worth exploring.

and then at the end, the aliens are dealt with in a way which i appreciate. i was hoping... wondering... and find that the author is already there.

good science fiction. well developed plot. generally believable solutions to still relevant problems. really quite good.

===

(*) this is book one of eight so far, according to wikipedia. i did think, while reading, that the "cobra" characters are worth more books, that there is a lot of cobra universe yet to explore. i wonder if the cobra problems also continue to develop in interesting directions? i wonder if i can get hold of another cobra novel :-?

====    Dr Nick Lethbridge  /  Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
===

"If It Ain't Broke, Break It" … Meat Loaf
===

dying for you to read my blog: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au :-)
====
   

cafe: Mr Herbert's / Doubleview

cafe: Mr Herbert's / Doubleview

Our little -- as the website says -- unassuming café. Loved by locals... Locals in tight tights, straight from the gym, perhaps :-)

A dozen customers and it's crowded. Another sign of hipster cred: we are definitely the oldest people there. By twenty years or more. On the bright side, there is a cushion to soften the milk crate that is my seat :-)

Definitely hipster. The cheerful barista has tatts and an interesting "sheep bouffant" hair style. Very limited choice of "cake", all healthy, our "fig & fennel bread" is delicious. With plenty of butter.

We sit under shade umbrellas outside -- there's very little choice -- on a perfect day for sitting outside. Watching a few dogs share the space with their owners. No trees nearby, I wonder where the dogs would pee. Then found out. I am definitely not watching, oh no, not watching the young women who had possibly just finished a session at the gym.

It's all very pleasant. Surprisingly peaceful, considering the close and crowded parking.

Rated three out of three: We would definitely visit again. With caveats: In pleasant weather. Not on a day when I want a solid sugar caramel slice. This is a café which offers and really provides a healthy -- and tasty -- approach to food.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Leaders are visionaries with a poorly developed sense of fear and no concept of the odds against them." … Robert Jarvik

===

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/ :-)

Heart-Shaped Box / Joe Hill

Heart-Shaped Box

by Joe Hill

fantasy,horror

copyright 2007

half-read in March 2019

rated 5/10: readable but only if there's nothing else

… (note re bias: I don't see much point in fantasy horror)

I have just finished an excellent book by Joe Hill. Okay, I think, let's try another. And, while I'm there, a third. Unfortunately I do not appreciate fantasy horror.

I mean, what's the point? There's a supernatural villain which can do anything, anything at all. So it sets its sights on scaring, threatening, injuring and ultimately destroying the characters. The only limit to what it can do is in the author's imagination.

For some reason I am expecting that, in the next chapter, the Blue Bird of Happiness will fly in the window and spit acid rain all over the main character. I mean, why not ?

Why does this particular ghost torment with freezing and fire ? After all, the haunt began with suicide by slashing of the wrists. Why not create a suitable revenge theme and haunt with a slow death of a thousand cuts ?

The ghost is evil but understandable, it was his daughter driven to suicide. I can't particularly sympathise with the main character, he is the one who drove the girl to suicide. That leaves the current girlfriend as a sweet but brainless object as sympathy as she is tormented by ghostly "friendly fire".

Okay, if you enjoy fantasy horror, this book is well written. Slow buildup to inescapable horror, possibly leading to a vaguely logical final bid for safety. If that is your thing, add a few points to my rating.

Or go off and read Joe Hill's better -- vaguely SF -- book. It has a plot, a point and a solid basis of "fact" upon which all the horror is logically constructed.

Half way, I stop reading. I will not even open the third book.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Leaders are visionaries with a poorly developed sense of fear and no concept of the odds against them." … Robert Jarvik

===

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/ :-)

cafe: Freddie Strudels / Perth

cafe: Freddie Strudels, Perth

We're organising printing of a running shirt. Exit the print shop -- and see a small cafe next door. Cafe? Coffee? Just what we need :-)

Strudels? This is a small, neat, modern cafe run by Asians. Three more Asians relaxing, snacking, by the front window. Strudels?! With us, the cafe is now half full. We order coffees and the smallest "cake", a custard horn or somesuch name.

Out back is the kitchen. We guess that that is the source of strudels and other traditional European delights. (Yes, Asian cook.) The cafe, we decide, is just to round out a food catering business.

Cheerful, friendly service. We are offered a free biscuit, fresh from the oven. Very nice. Our custard horn arrives.

It is delicious! Fresh crispy pastry, crumbles as we bite it. Aaahhhh... Mmmmm... Wow :-) Absolutely delicious.

We can buy a custard horn at our local fresh food market. A horn which tastes okay. A horn which is baked to be stored, delivered, displayed, eaten within a day or three. Designed to not shatter during delivery.

The Freddie custard horn is designed -- baked -- to be eaten soon. Within hours. Fresh, delicious, melt in the mouth  delicious. Can I say it again? Delicious:-)

I hope that we will be back. It's nowhere near our usual haunts. We hope that we will be back. Perhaps to buy a Freddie actual Strudel. I'm already looking forward to it.

Three out of three: we enjoyed the visit, we hope to be back

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22feb20: We go back.

This time, it's deliberate. We're looking for a coffee outing, we select Freddie Strudels. Drive past a couple of better-known names, they are too crowded and... we're just not interested.

Friendly and cheerful waiter. Coffee: strong, delicious. Shared apple strudel: absolutely delicious, crisp sweet pastry, just enough apple and custard(?) filling, yummm :-)

Still rated as 3 out of three: worth visiting again.

Oh, and they sell just a few jars of honey. An uncle's hobby, we're told. I buy a jar... rather expensive but... I'm always looking for crystallised honey, it stays on the bread. I doubt that it was deliberate, I buy the one jar of honey which has crystallised.

====    Dr Nick Lethbridge  /  Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
===

"I think and think, for months, for years. Ninety-nine times the conclusion is false. The hundredth time I am right." … Einstein
===

dying for you to read my blog: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au :-)
====
   

soldier / julie kagawa

soldier

(talon saga 3)

by julie kagawa

chicklit, subadult, fantasy

copyright 2016

read in march 2019

rated 8/10: really quite good

06jun24:

I read this again, having forgotten most of it. And I enjoyed it again.

But that ending...

Disaster, yes. But...how else to move forward?

The hero and heroine have declared their eternal and mutual love -- what a mistake. It's like saying, well, nothing worse can happen. Ha!

[spoiler ahead] I still need to read the next book but -- the final ending -- leaves room for a new (and just as challenging) love interest. Bring it on :-)

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07jun24: Oh, almost forgot: The publisher is "Harlequin Teen" -- and the story is definitely what I class as "subadult" -- teen, in fact.

There is a surprising amount of strong violence.  Even more threats of violence. (it's a war of extermination between dragons and humans) But the plot is straightforward -- not simple but the most complex threat is of betrayal. And the plans are simple and amazingly successful. Exciting and good fun, in fact.

Also: I must read up on the real Chicago Library.  This book finds something amazing underneath it. And the same Library played a significant role in a book in a separate series. It must be an interesting building :-) 

the heroine is torn between two lovers, it takes her half of book to say, i love you. then it takes another half to say it again. aaahhh shucks.

she is young, beautiful, heroic, torn by guilt for having to kick baddie butt. one hero spends a lot of time raking his fingers through his artfully tangled hair. the other is reserved, cool, smouldering beneath the surface. both are incredibly loyal, incredibly tough. what's not to like?

in fact, i like it all :-)

after heroic plans, life threatening adventures and gosh that was lucky escapes, the heroic group wins through... or do they?

right near the end is something that surprises -- shocks -- me. i am devestated. did that really happen?!  i need to search the web for a hint, did that really happen?

ridiculous! this is lightweight chicklit for teenage girls, with dragons. absolute fluff. read, smile, forget... wrong. i care for the characters, i support their aims. i need to know if that disaster is real... or not.

and that's how good this book is.

i must get the next in the continuing series.

====    Dr Nick Lethbridge  /  Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
===

"I think and think, for months, for years. Ninety-nine times the conclusion is false. The hundredth time I am right." … Einstein
===

dying for you to read my blog: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au :-)
====