Japanese Venison Stew

We had a piece of back saddle in the freezer from my trip down south last year - shot by Bill Henderson in Hasst - and some Sika from another friend Scotty up in the North island.

Scotty enjoys his fishing too, he smokes his own and always brings up some bottled trout when visiting, of which I  devour on classic Huntly & Palmers crackers.

Back to the stew - Gazza decided we would honour the Sika component and make a Japanese curried stew. The most popular Japanese curries are sweet, ours was the savoury type and store bought. Although it was classed as hot, it was nothing compared to an Indian hot curry. Very flavorsome though and this dish was a great success.
The recipe is for a slow cooker but can be done in the oven:

Ingredients:
1 kilo venison
2 large onions
4-5 TB olive oil or good quality cooking oil
5 carrots
5 medium red jacket potatoes
Packet of good quality japenese curry paste (not sweet)
6 cups of water - or enough to just cover ingredients in the pot or cassreole dish for oven version.

Method:
Dice the venison (not too small about one inch cubed) and onions and saute in a pan with the oil until browned.
Mix the curry to a smoothe paste (ours came in a cake) with one cup of boiling water before adding to the slow cooker - read the instructions on your packet in case differs!
Peel and chop the carrots and potatoes and add to the crockpot along with the sauteed venison and onion.

Add the remaining 5 cups of water, put the lid on and slow cook for about 6-7 hours. Dont be tempted to take the lid off for the first 4 hours of cooking the heat will instantly disappear and you don't need to stir it, just check the potatoes are done, you want them firm not turning to mush -  that's when you want to turn the slow cooker down to warm or low and prepare the rest of the meal.

For the oven version - which I haven't done so I take no responsibility for! Do all the above but gauge how much water you need. Once all your ingredients are in the casserole dish cook slowly on a low to medium heat until the potatoes are done. You may need to give it a stir every now and then, make sure its not sticking and has enough water.
If the gravy is too thin add some cornflour mixed with a little water for the last ten minutes of cooking, this applies to the slow cooker also.

We served the stew on a bed of fluffy rice, with a side dish of sauteed spinach and ginger sprinkled toasted sesame seeds and a decent dollop of Korean Kimchee (pickled cabbage)  a great condiment cutting through the richness of the stew nicely.

And don't forget the Saki !

Writers block and rescued by mum's peanut brownie recipe...

... well I could say I have writers block as I haven't really written bugger all for a while and completely lost my writers mojo.

I walk away from the computer and rub my eyes from weariness at scouring topographical maps and google earth and all the geographical details, the ridges, gullies, mountains, the many rivers and their tributaries where these hunters lived and worked, finding huts and marking their location,  writing notes on past hunters, are they still alive, phone them if they are, more notes and then to bed where I'm reading through a stack of books digesting details and relevant information. (At the mo its Archie Kitto's diaries by D. Bruce Banwell - brilliant book by the way).  

A morning of baking...necessary diversions when overwhelmed  !

So is it writers block or something else? I'm way too in tune with my creative energy to dismiss it simply as the former and know from past experience when working on an extensive and drawn out  project such as this, one has to expect some downtime; times of nil productivity, when the  batteries are recharged, when all you want to do is read books and watch DVD's on totally unrelated subjects; sit and fry ya brain on hours of bizarre and fantastic you tube videos. Bake peanut brownies, paint toe nails rainbow colours, put on bright pink gardening gloves and pull out weeds that will grow back tomorrow,
collect firewood (my favourite since we live in 11 acres of bush)
and not feel guilty when thinking I should be doing more interviews, editing, revising, transcribing...etc...etc  

Its all part of the process and one has to believe in it. The diversion into other places is necessary and valid. It affords one time to digest and reflect on a subconscious level, you may think nothings happening but by hell I can tell you it is. Theres a torrent of information  being processed and it takes time for all this data to settle into place.

So today I'm jubilant! Why? Because I feel settled and focused for the first time in months. I've resurfaced, recharged the batteries and ready to carry on with all the work in earnest.

When in doubt...doodle

Reading, Writing and Cups of Coffee...

I'm waiting on a stack of books and DVDs from the Auckland Libraries. Went online and found an extensive list of authors and a variety of interesting subjects on the deer hunting industry in New Zealand. Need to brush up on my research as I've been asked to write some articles for a NZ hunting magazine, which is great, a win win situation, I get paid for it and at the same time learn more.

Until then I'm reading Gerard Hindmarsh's Angelina a beautifully written book of real life turned into not quite fiction but a sub-genre called faction (factual but fictionalised).
It's the story of his Italian grandparents coming over from the island of Stromboli and settling on the remote D'Urville Islands in Cook Srait.   Its a nice respite from all the deer hunting books although I'm keen to get back into reading more about all that. I've requested some of Bruce Banwell's books which feature some of Frank's photos, these books are hard to find in any book shop and expensive.

Well... I have writing to get on with and another cup of coffee..more later.

Huts

Last week I bought the book Huts by Mark Pickering subtitle - Untold Stories from Back Country New Zealand. Have to admit haven't hardly touched it, its next on the pile though. Looks good, nice layout and great pics.

I'm still reading Gordon Roberts about to get stuck into High Country Four Seasons which has been sitting on the bedside table for a month now, gets dusted along with the ornaments once a week, has become part of the furniture. Got a friendly reminder from the library yesterday, so renewed it for another month.

Been a rollercoaster ride for the start of the year. Made redundant from my job of five years last day was on the 27th January and as one door closes another opens. Start a new job this week so very happy about that. My hours will still afford me precious writing time and some space to meet up with friends that I havent seen for awhile.

I decided to have a two week hiatus from the Frank book and edit another story I wrote last year. Completely different genre, a novel length manuscript of around 60,000 words. So I've been hammering the keyboard, and got a good first draft finished today for some writing colleagues to critique.
There is a connection as there's a Frank character in the story. I enjoy writing fiction based on family, and friends and even people I don't particulary like, writing them into solid and believable characters. I observe a lot and take mental notes and or write down keywords in notes on my iphone - all to draw from later. Sometimes a person or something someone says can be the germ that starts the story. Doesn't have to be much only inspiring in some way and the story grows from there.

I now have two unpublished novels, the other has been doing the rounds with publishers for a year now; however more and more these days I'm beginning to look at self publishing for this particular genre. There are some pretty awesome success stories of people self publishing, uploading their work to Amazon or Kindle books for example, so I need to look into that, could be the way to go.

Its back to transcribing interviews from this week and searching the land for any more of Frank's photos and stories. And can't wait to start the Hut book. Leave you with a photo of a hut somewhere in the south island I think. If you know where it is let me know... and here's two of my favourite hut links:
http://www.fishnhunt.co.nz/forum/YaBB.cgi?action=print;num=1163108251
http://www.remotehuts.co.nz/

Received this e mail today from Kevin Whitelaw...thanks Kevin.

Hi Louise,  The hut you seek clarification on is in the upper Esk Valley, Canterbury. Early N.Z.F.S. hut a classic really and seldom visited owing to the station and its isolated site. Andersons Hut was constructed I think 1956 making it one of the first Forestry huts. Place to be on a beaut kiwi night when about to look for a deer. Cheers and warm wishes  Kevin.   

Gordon Roberts Wildlife Photographer

The last few weeks I've been looking through Gordon Roberts books, the New Zealand wildlife photographer. His quote on Frank being the inspiration for taking up photography is in my first post. In both books Game Animals of New Zealand and High Country Four Seasons Gordon mentions Frank in the introduction. 
I've interviewd Gordon, he's a wealth of knowledge, very passionate about the project and one of my key people for answering any questions I may have  on the finer aspects of being a hunter turned wildlife photographer.

In the introduction for Game Animals Gordon writes  how he spent a winter's night in the Hunter Valley with Frank and Wattie Cameron. At that time he was early on in his hunting career and hunting professionally for the New Zealand Forestry Service. That night in the hut a discussion started on stalking and photographing wild animals. Gordon maintained all one needed to be a good photographer was to be a good hunter, Frank and Wattie weren't in agreement on this. Camera skills and other attributes came into it.
Gordon soon realised all this with his early years photographing wild animals, but he persevered and also got a lucky break when he was employed as a guide for John Johns the NZFS senior photographer.
He told me his hunting skills and knowledge of tahr country helped him to get the job and working with John set him on the path that led to a successful career as a wildlife photographer. He also said he never forgot that night in the hut with Frank and Wattie and the lively discussion they shared.

I especially love the photos of the tahr in Game Animals, I love all the photos! But my favourite is a shot on page 111 of a bull tahr. He's a very handsome specimen, and is looking directly into the camera, his thick coat swirls about his chest and a ridge of bristly hair sits up on his back, maybe these are indicators that he's clocked Gordon?
The captured movement of the coat adds a dramatic contrast to his fixed gaze and the craggy rock face setting. Its a sublime photo and I find myself turning to that page often to study it and immerse myself in the various textures and atmosphere.

So right now I'm fascinated with these animals, especially after some You Tube searches watching them run up and down unbelievably steep  mountain sides with ease. They are true masters and mistresses - love the nannies too - of their lofty domain. 

Gordon says photographing tahr is the most demanding due to their challenging alpine habitat and he decided some years ago to focus on these animals. (P8 introduction Game Animals).
The last section of the book shows this commitment to securing stunning shots of tahr in some unbelievably difficult situations and locations. Viewing these fine photographs with many shots showing heads turned to the click of the camera or the animals displaying a posture that indicates they are sensing something just beyond the bush line. I feel as if I'm right there trying hard not to be heard or scented. Stunning.

I borrowed both books from the library, so if you want to see these great photos and haven't they shouldnt be hard to find.

Quakes, Word Counts and Happy New Year

I was in Christchurch for the two big earthquakes on December 23rd. The 5.8 and the 6, very frightening and unsettling for everyone, especailly how they just kept on coming, it was a fitful sleep that night, and the next.
Mum's house was built in the late 1950s, with a weatherboard exterior and since the first big one on September 04, 2010 it's stood strong with no major damage. The old chimney was removed last year in fear of it toppling, apart from that the old gal's looking after me mum. 

I spent a week there and besides the big quakes I experienced well over 50 "daily energy releases" as they are so named on : www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz. This is a University of Canterbury website with up to the minute data and animated quake maps. Check it out if you're interested.

All this jiggling about didn't upset my appetite. Had a fantastic sunny Christmas day out on mum's back lawn eating and drinking and eating and more eating and drinking...okay you get the picture.

I'd asked mum to write out some memories from her childhood days particularly anything relating to the boys. She recalls stories of Frank and George making their own bows and arrows and shanghais. They caught birds and rabbits and went eeling down in the creek by the house.
The older brothers teaching them hunting skills also, and many days spent trekking over the King Country hills near their home.

Some of the other stories that are emerging from my interviews and from studying the photographs illustrate how all the brothers showed great skills in the wilderness (I know I've already stated this previously) and how climbing, surviving and hunting came naturally to them - aside from growing up rurally and being exposed to these outdoor environments early in life there's also the fact that they were predisposed to being adept in these situations.  I believe from past generations, its in the genes. They were newly migrated family and the brothers, particularly, Vic, Frank and George left home and gravitated to the South Island mountains to hunt professionally into a similar situation to the mountainous terrain of inland Croatia where the family came from.

My grandparents moved to NZ in the early 1930s. The eldest brothers and one sister: Joc, Al, Vic and Mary were born in Croatia. My mum Helena was the first born here in 1933, then Frank in 1934, George 1935, and Margaret was the last born in I think 1937. I'm looking forward to finding out more about the Erceg's and their origins back in the old country regarding all of this.

Other news: I visited Jack Wildermoth while in Chritchurch. He's now in a rest home. His memory is failing him but those stories from the past are still there. He's tall and trim with thick brushed back hair set into place with - maybe he uses good ol fashioned Brylcreem, probably has all his life. He would've cut a fine figure in suit in his day, you can still see that in the way he carries himself, the way he sits and holds his head. It makes me think about how fit these guys were and some like Jack, continued to look after themselves all though life.
I asked him if he suffered from many aches and pains, a little he said. I can't thank him enough for his time and sharing, and his great sense of humour. I enjoyed our time together, it was very special. Bless you Jack.

Transcriptions of the interviews are going well. 20.000 words and counting. Will keep you informed of progress and Happy New Year to you all, hope 2012 is a good one.

All clagged in...

The Waitakere Ranges are situated on the west coast of the Auckland region. That's where I live, on 4.7 hectares of tranquil native bush. Most of the property is part of the QE11 Protected Open Space Covenant scheme. The QE11 National Trust helps private landowners in New Zealand protect significant natural and cultural features on their land through these open space covenants.

Our property consists mainly of kauri and rimu, with manuka, punga, niku and various native ferns. The mahoe's shedding leaves are aptly called "fairy wings" as they disintegrate on the forest floor leaving a fine lace skeleton and are fun to gather and spray different colours for craft type projects.

Anyhow, the last week there's been a lot of clagg around here, the bush has been dripping constantly, the chooks are huddling under the house and the cats are bored being inside all day.

Clagg, now there's a good South Westland word to add to your vocabulary. I'd never heard it until I met Chris Brown, my traveling companion from Westport to Haast. ( See earlier posts).
As we drove through Hokitika down to Haast, Chris kept saying , 'looks good now but it could clagg in at any time; glad we didn't fly down.'
The next day he looked to the hills and confirmed, 'yep its clagging alright.'  The day after, Tuesday, while walking around Jackson Bay Chris looked back to the mouth of the Arawhata River now hidden in a heavy mist, and he searched the horizon saying, 'its difinitley clagged in.'

Ian Rendell from Haast General Store and local historian said 'its all claggy' it in a fine Scottish accent on our way up the cattle road alongside the Jackson River. Mike Bennet never said it while I was interviewing him, he would probably say it in a Shakespearean dramatic type way, draw out each part of the word c-l-a-g-g in a rich tone.

I did a quick google and clagg is possibly derived from klagg a Danish or Scandinavian word that was also in use in the north of England and translates as: dirty, muddy, sticky, clinging as mud; that sort of thing. In South Westland's context its when the weather closes in.

Maybe it came to our shores from the settlers at Jackson Bay? Whom were a mixture including many non English speaking people from parts of Europe (cited from The Encyclopedia of NZ website) including Italian and German immigrants.
Well, where ever it came from and how it got here... its an interesting word. Another word I heard a lot down south is the synonym for goodbye - cheerio or just cheery. I think I'll be using it, it has a lovely old fashioned warm scones just out of the oven sincerity to it.
So then...cheerio !

All clagged in at Jackson Bay the mouth to the Arawhata River lost in the soup. South Westland October 2011