The making of a cook extraordinaire

It was the mid-80s and I had just returned to Perth after a holiday in Singapore and Bangkok.

Aimee was in her early teens then. Her dad met me at the airport and as soon as I walked through the front door, I was greeted by the aromas of a freshly cooked meal.

I made a beeline for the kitchen and there on the breakfast bar were three Thai dishes and a note that said dessert was in the fridge and that she and her brother were spending the night at their mates' homes so that we could have "quality time together".

The meal was superb (and I learnt that she had made it a point of cooking some pretty special meals for her dad while I was away).

This is, and always has been, the essence of Aimee.

She will fuss and fret to put together something special (be it a gift, a simple meal or an extravaganza) for people she loves but never ever makes a big deal of it.

She has almost mastered the knack of turning the mundane into the magical in the kitchen and I am so proud of her.

It's 00.35am in Dubai and my book is calling. More tomorrow on how Aimee turned my 50th birthday into a celebration of womanhood.

In the meantime, if you really need a caterer in Perth who puts her all into her work, contact Aimee on email on aimee.nivatvongs@hotmail.com or drop me a comment.

You will be in for a real treat.

Fanning the Flames of Her Passion

Once upon a time, just about a full score years ago, a little girl went up to her mother and said, "I want to make a caike (sic)".

Really? said her mum. So off they went to Coles supermarket in their suburb of Forrestfield, Western Australia, to get a box of Betty Crocker cake mix.

So easy. Add an egg and water (cannot remember if it called for oil) and voila! Aimee had made her first cake.

A week or so later, this growing beauty, who for the life of her could not keep her room clean but was delightful in every other way, decided she wanted to make another "caike".

Well, mum did not mind buying another box of Betty Crocker but somehow sensed that this impulse to bake would actually lead to bigger and more delectable degustation delights.

So, she told Aimee that if she really wanted to bake, she would have to learn - and do it - from scratch and by hand.

The very first caike that Aimee made was a Frangipani cake and it turned out perfectly.

..... Tune in tomorrow for the sequel... but if you are looking for a first-rate caterer in Perth, look no further than Aimee....

James Boag's Premium, the glass blower from the pure waters of Tasmania

Aaah, a picture that is worth more than a thousand words (really like this), filmed in the beautiful scenery that is Tasmania and its pure waters that are being credited for producing some truly wonderful drinkable stuff ...

The campaign featuring 'Russell Falls' builds on the original 'Pure Waters' concept, this time focusing on the unique effect the waters have on draught beer, namely James Boag.

Just a bit of trivia - the first Pure Waters campaign was launched in 2009 and was a huge success. It helps though that James Boag is rather moreish as a thirst quencher!

Determined to Give You Expert Advice

Whether you are a potential property investor, first-home buyer or would-be renovator, this Commonwealth Bank-sponsored series of videos gives you loads of helpful tips and advice from people in the know.

Here, you will meet Michael who is thinking of investing in property, Nathan who must be quite excited about the thought of owning his first home and Naomi who wants to renovate. The experts range from a money magazine editor to a real estate agent to a mobile lender to a property investment solicitor to a builder and more.

Of course, each and every case is different so it is always best to carefully consider one's own circumstances and if in doubt, seek expert advice from a neutral party.

Adjustment Bureau

There is just something about Matt Damon that makes him soooo watchable. I cannot remember the number of times I've watched, and continued to enjoy, the Bourne movies (simply because they keep replaying them on Thai cable).

In The Adjustment Bureau - yet another action-packed thriller written for the screen and directed by George Nolfi (writer of Ocean's Twelve, co-writer of The Bourne Ultimatum - Damon somehow gets a peek at his future and decides it is not what he wants. To get what he does want, ambitious US politician David Norris has a quest that takes place in the hustle and bustle of New York.

Will Norris get to control his destiny, thwart the men of the Adjustment Bureau and win the woman he loves? Well, you will just have to watch The Adjustment Bureau to find out, won't you.