Wind & Weather - and www:

If you have been wondering what happened to W....Well, here's the story. F&T is based in Sydney, Australia, and two nights ago, we had the mother and father of a storm which broke the office telephone line - and therefore, also, internet connection.

Wales, UK:

Ruthin Castle was built originally as a fortress of wood and stone around 1277, it was rebuilt and enlarged in 1296 by Reginald de Grey who was in the service of Edward I. Set in over twelve hectares of parkland on the edge of the half-timbered black and white village of Ruthin (Rhuthun, in the Welsh), in the beautiful Vale of Clwyd, the castle has come a long way in the last seven hundred years or so.

Today Ruthin Castle is taking another turn in its long history.

British Royalty has fascinated the public across the world ever since radio, film, television and the internet have brought them into our homes, and with each passing royal occasion, audiences have continued to grow.  Now royal wedding fans will be delighted to discover that they can actually stay at a 750 year old royal castle located close to the home of Prince William and his new wife HRH Princess Catherine.  Mediaeval Ruthin Castle offers guests a rare opportunity as it is the only Edward I castle in Wales where you can sleep within her famous walls.  A lucky few can even inexpensively 'buy into' the ancient castle walls and be personally linked with a unique piece of royal heritage.*

*Your Piece gives you a personal connection with royal heritage and allows you to 'own' part of the wall of Ruthin Castle and become a 'Knight of Ruthin' - a member of the elite club that has helped to conserve this ancient royal stronghold. This package includes a Certificate of Registration and a reference number to a unique piece of ancient wall and location, sketch plans of the castle and a host of legends of romance, treachery and treason plus an outline of the Castles royal heritage and  relation to the Iron Ring all beautifully presented in a souvenir keepsake or gift folder.

..... read more

To find out more about what you might expect to eat in Wales (you'll be relieved to know there's more than leeks and Welsh rarebit on offer) here's more information....

Western Australia & Wildflowers:

You can see why they call these flowers 'wild'. Step off the road, almost anywhere in Western Australia in spring and within a few metres you can encounter spider orchids, kangaroo paws, donkey orchids and cowslips. Not to mention slug orchids, bug orchids, pink bunny orchids and cat's paws. There's a whole zoo out here, it seems.

The best time for wildflowers is from mid-September through October - Western Australia's bush comes alive, and you don't have to go far to see it.

Kings Park overlooking the Swan River and Perth, the capital, and covering over 400 hectares, still has some virgin bush and walking tracks as well as a ten hectare botanical garden. The Kings Park and Botanic Garden Wildflower Festival is held during September each year. It showcases WA's spectacular wildflowers with display gardens, demonstrations, workshops, live entertainment, art and craft and fun for the whole family

WA has around 12,000 species of wildflowers - more than any other state in Australia - and each year hundreds of thousands of visitors go bush to see what the fuss is all about. They are never disappointed. Read more....

Wagyu beef: 

Wagyu means, literally, 'Japanese cow' and refers to several breeds of cattle genetically predisposed to intense marbling and to producing a high percentage of oleaginous unsaturated fat.

The meat from wagyu cattle is known worldwide for its marbling characteristics, increased eating quality through a naturally enhanced flavor, tenderness and juiciness, and a high market value. In several areas of Japan, beef is shipped with area names.

Highly prized for their rich flavor, these cattle produce arguably the finest beef in the world. These different breeds produce beef that range from expensive (by any measure) to extremely expensive. It is also bred and raised in Australia.

Wagyu cattle's genetic predisposition yields a beef that contains a higher percentage of omega-3and omega-6 fatty acids than typical beef. The increased marbling also improves the ratio of monounsaturated fats to saturated fats. ....read more

(meat pic: Jac Wagyu)

Wasabi:

(pic: Wikimedia Commons)

This rather unattractive-looking pale green root is a member of the Brassicaceae family, which includes cabbages, horseradish, and mustard. It is also called Japanese horseradish, although it is not actually from the horseradish species of plants. Wasabi paste is a common condiment used with Japanese dishes.

It is used as a condiment and has an extremely strong flavor. Its hotness is more akin to that of a hot mustard than that of the capsaicin in a chili pepper, producing vapours that stimulate the nasal passages more than the tongue. The plant grows naturally along stream beds in mountain river valleys in Japan and is now cultivated in other countries, including Australia. .....read more

Walnuts:

Walnuts (the name translates 'foreign nut') are the fruit of a tree which is a member of the same family as the peach and olive. They were once believed to be 'brain food' because of the shape of the kernel.

Walnuts contain protein and are one of the most nutrient-dense food sources of ALA, an essential omega-3 fatty acid. They are a good source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and have no cholesterol.

Did you know?

Crushed walnut shells are sometimes used commercially for soaking up oil leaks in oil drilling operations.

... read more interesting facts about walnuts.

Watermelon:

Watermelon contains cucurbocitrin, a drug that lowers blood pressure and also calms us. While we always thought it was the beach and the sunshine, maybe that large wedge of watermelon we ate for lunch also added to the relaxed feel of 'those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer'!

Yet watermelon can also be used in other ways. It makes a great addition to fruit salad, either in balls or chunks, although it spoils quickly so add it last. Try pureeing it for a cool summer drink, or freeze it for a cool, sugar-free sorbet.

Even though the sweetness makes watermelon seem an indulgence it provides only 100kJ per 100g, actually less than grapefruit. It is also high in vitamin C and its water content makes it more filling than many other fruits. It brilliant colour makes it a pretty accent for salads and cheese platters, or the fruit itself can be hollowed out and filled with fruits or fruit salad.

Summer is its season and a whole watermelon will store well at room temperature for several days. Once cut it should be covered and refrigerated and used as soon as possible. To find a good one, look for a firm unblemished rind and knock firmly with the knuckles. A good ripe melon should sound hollow.