Lesley Truffle - Writer

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The Cake and I

May 29, 2023 by Lesley Truffle
photo of Dolly Varden cake

  The Cake and I   Once upon a time – before the outsourcing of dogs and children’s parties – mothers and caregivers made birthday cakes themselves. But sometimes a shop bought ice-cream cake was required. Usually for girls this involved a legless doll about the size of a Barbie doll, embedded in a sturdy … [Read more…]

Posted in: Australia, books, cakes and cooking, Observations, Social Comment Tagged: Australian Women's Weekly, birthday cakes, childhood, childhood memories, children's birthday cakes, cookbooks, Lesley Truffle, Lesley Truffle Writer

The Perils of Pickup Trucks

May 18, 2023 by Lesley Truffle

  The Perils of Pickup Trucks   Somewhere tucked away in my family tree is a property developer. I’ll call him Geoff. He appeared for a few months and then disappeared. However for many years he continued to visit my mother, bearing huge boxes of chocolates and seasonal fresh flowers. Geoff invited me to lunch … [Read more…]

Posted in: Australia, Melbourne, Observations, Psychology, Social Comment Tagged: Australia, car, cars, huge cars, Lesley Truffle, Lesley Truffle Writer, massive cars, Melbourne, truckzilla, truckzillas

Autumn in the City

April 29, 2023 by Lesley Truffle

  Autumn in the City   It’s been a particularly lovely Melbourne autumn this year but now the days are getting shorter as we head into winter. Taking the city bound tram and heading off very early to work on golden autumn mornings has been quite enjoyable for the first half of the trip. But … [Read more…]

Posted in: Melbourne, Nature, Observations, Social Comment Tagged: Autumn, Autumn in Melbourne, Lesley Truffle, Lesley Truffle Writer, Melbourne, Melbourne autumn, the seasons

Hold Your Fire

April 13, 2023 by Lesley Truffle

      Hold Your Fire   Seek the company of people who, when left alone in a room with a tea cosy, will always try it on. Billy Connolly  – actor, comedian & writer.   We live in an era where it is astonishingly easy for pretty much anyone to be ‘cancelled’. Meantime many … [Read more…]

Posted in: actors, art/theatre event, artists, Mavericks & Renegades, Observations, Social Comment Tagged: 007, Babylon, Billy Connolly, Cancel culture, Eloise, Guernica, Hilary Knight, Ian Fleming, James Bond, Kay Thompson, Pablo Picasso, Philip Roth, Roald Dahl, Scotish actor

Easter in a Bottle

March 28, 2023 by Lesley Truffle

    Easter in a Bottle   Using the simplest of recipes, we have taken Nutmeg, Cinnamon, and locally produced dried Flame Seedless grapes and steeped them in our Original Gin Elixir to create Easter in a bottle. With citrus notes being the strong but subtle foundations of this Gin, they have lifted the spices … [Read more…]

Posted in: Australia, cakes and cooking, Observations, Social Comment Tagged: Easter, Easter eggs, Easter gin, Festive seasons, gin distilleries, gin distillery, Hot Cross Buns, Hot Cross Easter Buns, Lesley Truffle, Lesley Truffle Writer, Lunar New Year, traditional Easter buns

Our Lady of Paris

March 26, 2023 by Lesley Truffle

    Our Lady of Paris On the face of this ancient queen of our cathedrals, beside each wrinkle one invariably finds a scar. ‘Tempus edax, homo edacior,’ which I would be inclined to translate: ‘Time is blind, but man is senseless.’                             … [Read more…]

Posted in: architecture, City of Light, Historical, Mythology Tagged: City of Light, Emmanuel Macron, France, French, French President Macron, French writer, gargoyle, gargoyles, Lesley Truffle, Lesley Truffle Writer, Luc-Olivier Merson, Macron, Notre Dame Cathedral, Notre-Dame, Our Lady of Paris, Paris, Parisian, President Emmanuel Macron, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Victor Hugo

Manipulation by Gaslight

February 24, 2023 by Lesley Truffle

Manipulation by Gaslight   The term ‘gaslight’ can refer to psychological manipulation. The concept was derived from a play in 1938 and later a British film titled ‘Gaslight’ in 1940. In 1944 there was also an American movie version of the same name. In the 1940 film, a husband tries to persuade his wife she … [Read more…]

Posted in: Film, films, movies, Psychology Tagged: Dr Stephanie Sarkis, Gaslight, Gaslighters, Gaslighting, personality disorders, Psychological manipulation, Stephanie Moulton Sarkis, Stephanie Sarkis

Venus in a Fur Bikini

February 19, 2023 by Lesley Truffle

Venus in a Fur Bikini    ‘My name is Raquel Welch. I am here for visual effects, and I have two of them.’   Raquel Welch came to fame after starring in One Million Years B.C. in 1966. She only had three lines in the film but her fur bikini – made from deer skin … [Read more…]

Posted in: actors, Film, films, movies, Social Comment Tagged: Beyond the Cleavage, Gore Vidal, Hannie Caulder, Hollywood, Kansas City Bomber, Myra Breckinridge, One Million Years BC, Playboy, Raquel Welch, Woman of the Year

Babylon

January 30, 2023 by Lesley Truffle

  Babylon Babylon is a test of whether or not a film can be the sum of its gorgeous pieces. A great score, a talented ensemble, and expert cinematography—all are undeniable here. And yet there are narrative elements of Babylon that feel hollow from the very beginning …                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Brian Tallerico   Babylon clocks in at … [Read more…]

Posted in: actors, art/theatre event, Film, films, Historical, movies, Social Comment Tagged: 1920's, 1930's, Babylon the movie, Brad Pitt, Damien Chazelle, Fellini, Fellini Satyricon, Hollywood, Hollywood Babylon, Jovoan Adepo, Kenneth Anger, Lesley Truffle, Lesley Truffle Writer, Li Jun Li, Manny Torres

Botticelli’s Venus

January 24, 2023 by Lesley Truffle

Botticelli’s Venus   Goddess on the mountain top Burning like a silver flame The summit of beauty and love And Venus was her name … Venus by Robbie van Leeuwen, Shocking Blue rock band.               On a recent visit to the National Gallery of Victoria I glimpsed Jeff Koon’s stainless steel version of Venus. And … [Read more…]

Posted in: art/theatre event, artists, Historical, Mythology Tagged: Birth of Venus, Botticelli, Greco-Roman mythology, Jeff Koons, Lesley Truffle, Lesley Truffle Writer, Sandro Botticelli, The Rokeby Venus, Toilet of Venus, Venus

All I want for Christmas

December 19, 2022 by Lesley Truffle

    All I want for Christmas …   ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds; … [Read more…]

Posted in: Historical, Mythology, Observations, Social Comment Tagged: All I want for Christmas is you, Ancient Celts, Ancient Mythology, Celtic, Celtic Druids, Christmas mythology, Christmas myths, Christmas rituals, Christmas traditions, historical, Ireland, Lesley Truffle, Lesley Truffle Writer, Mariah Carey, Mistletoe, Pagan, Pagan festival, Roman Christmas Myths, Saturnalia, Winter Solstice, Xmas

Capote’s Betrayal

December 9, 2022 by Lesley Truffle

    Capote’s Betrayal   ‘Imagination, of course, can open any door – turn the key and let terror walk right in.’  In Cold Blood by Truman Capote   Truman Capote is best known for his novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1958) and his narrative fiction book, In Cold Blood (1966). In Cold Blood was based … [Read more…]

Posted in: Fashion, Historical, Mavericks & Renegades, writers & creatives Tagged: America, American writer, Answered Prayers, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Capote, Gloria Guinness, Harper Lee, In Cold Blood, La Côte Basque, Lesley Truffle, Nelle Harper Lee, Pamela Harriman, Truman Capote, USA

The Uber Rich

November 23, 2022 by Lesley Truffle

    The Uber Rich   ‘I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain … Time to die.’ Actor Rutger Hauer in Blade Runner … [Read more…]

Posted in: actors, current news, Mavericks & Renegades, Observations Tagged: American billionaires, American movie, Blade Runner, Dexter, Elon Musk, Harrison Ford, intergalactic colonies, intergalactic travel, Sci-Fi movie, Tesla, Tesla comany, Tesla Inc., USA

The Black Eyed Blonde

November 16, 2022 by Lesley Truffle

  The Black Eyed Blonde   It seemed like a nice neighbourhood to have bad habits in. Raymond Chandler from The Big Sleep 1939.   I’ve been reading a Philip Marlowe detective novel that was not written by American author/screenwriter Raymond Chandler (1988-1959). I found the novel The Black Eyed Blonde engaging but somewhat disconcerting. … [Read more…]

Posted in: actors, books, films, movies, writers & creatives Tagged: American movies, American writer, Benjamin Black, detective film noir, film noir, Hollywood, Humphrey Bogart, John Banville, Lauren Bacall, Lesley Truffle, Lesley Truffle Writer, Morlowe, Philip Marlowe, Playback, private detective, Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep, The Black Eyed Blonde, The Long Goodbye, USA

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

October 21, 2022 by Lesley Truffle
Audrey Hepburn photo from film 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'

  Breakfast at Tiffany’s   All his prayers in the past had been simple concrete requests: God, give me a bicycle, a knife with seven blades, a box of oil paints. Only how, how, could you say something so indefinite, so meaningless as this: God, let me be loved. Other Voices by Truman Capote.   … [Read more…]

Posted in: actors, books, Film, films, Historical, Social Comment Tagged: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Capote, Capote novel, Capote novella, Holly Golightly, Hollywood, Hollywood actress, Hollywood legend, Hollywood Movie, M, Truman Capote

Colette

October 13, 2022 by Lesley Truffle

    Colette ‘People who are perfectly sane and happy don’t make good literature, alas.’                                                                                     Colette 1873-1954   Every so often I sneak back to classic literature for a brain clean. It’s wonderful to go back and savour books I really love. This time around I’m on a Colette reading jag. Colette was born … [Read more…]

Posted in: actors, art/theatre event, books, Historical, Mavericks & Renegades, writers & creatives Tagged: Chéri, Colette, France, French writer, Léa de Lonval, Lesley Truffle, Lesley Truffle Writer, Paris, Parisian, Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette

The Night They Invented Champagne

September 25, 2022 by Lesley Truffle

  The Night They Invented Champagne   ‘Remember gentlemen, it’s not just France we are fighting for, it’s Champagne!’ Winston Churchill rallying the British during World War II.   When I was a child, my mother used to indulge in a champagne while playing vintage movie songs. Waltzing around the dining table she’d sing along … [Read more…]

Posted in: Australia, Champagne, Historical Tagged: Australian winemakers, champagne, French champagne, sparkling wine, Tasmanian Champagne, Tasmanian wine makers

Just Breathe

September 22, 2022 by Lesley Truffle

Just Breathe   During the pandemic shutdowns many of us dreamt of whispering trees and rustlings in the grass. City parks, bayside beaches and even narrow nature strips were heaving with citizens doing their allocated exercise time. Outdoor personal trainers became astonishingly popular. Some joggers – who were used to having the green spaces to … [Read more…]

Posted in: Australia, Nature, Observations, Psychology, Wilderness Areas Tagged: Australia World Heritage, Dorrigo rainforest, Forest Bathing, forests, health, mindfulness, relaxation, Shrinrin-Yoku, wellbeing, World Heritage

Sailor’s Superstitions

August 26, 2022 by Lesley Truffle

Sailor’s Superstitions   ‘I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.’   Louisa May Alcott ‘The sea finds out everything you did wrong.’ Francis Stokes   I’ve always been fascinated by the tradition of breaking a bottle of champagne over the bow of a ship being launched. It must be … [Read more…]

Posted in: animals, Historical, Mavericks & Renegades, Observations, Sailing Tagged: boats, Ernest Shackleton, Frank Hurley, Henry 'Chippy' McNeish, Henry McNeish, maritime superstition, maritime superstitions, Mrs Chippy, Perce Blackbarow, sailing ships, sailor's superstitions, sailors, ship's figureheads, ships

Hotel Ghosts

August 18, 2022 by Lesley Truffle

Hotel Ghosts For the last few days I’ve been doing a road trip around South Tasmania, while staying in a lovely hotel in Hobart’s wharf area. The area is rumoured to be fantastically ghost ridden. About 150 years ago the area around the wharf was known as Wapping. Folk who lived here worked in the … [Read more…]

Posted in: Australia, Historical, Mavericks & Renegades, Social Comment Tagged: Australia, ghosts, historical, Hobart, Hobart Town, Hobart wharf, MACQ Hotel Hobart, Mr Thomas Dewhurst Jennings, Thomas Jennings

Turn on, tune in, drop out

July 28, 2022 by Lesley Truffle

    ‘I am 100 percent in favor of the intelligent use of drugs, and 1,000 percent against the thoughtless use of them, whether caffeine or LSD. And drugs are not central to my life.’     Timothy Leary, American Psychologist 1920-1996   Drugs have a tendency to become fashionable and then fall from favour. In … [Read more…]

Posted in: artists, Fashion, Mavericks & Renegades, Observations, Psychology Tagged: Dr Sigmund Freud, drugs, Elvis, Elvis Presley, Freud, Leary, LSD, magic mushrooms, Presley, Richard Nixon, Sigmund Freud, Timothy Leary

Hollywood Dame Zsa Zsa Gabor

July 14, 2022 by Lesley Truffle
Portrait Zsa Zsa Gabor

  Hollywood Dame – Zsa Zsa Gabor   ‘A man in love is incomplete until he has married. Then he’s finished.’                                                       Zsa Zsa Gabor   In the fifties and sixties, Zsa Zsa Gabor became more famous for playing herself than the films, stage shows and television shows she appeared in. Born in Budapest and … [Read more…]

Posted in: actors, Film, Historical, Mavericks & Renegades, movies Tagged: actress, America, Conrad Hilton, Hollywood legend, Lesley Truffle, Lesley Truffle Writer, marriage, Sári Gábor, USA, Zsa Zsa, Zsa Zsa Gabor

Ayesha the Wonder Dog

June 29, 2022 by Lesley Truffle

 Ayesha the Wonder Dog   ‘Draw your chair up close to the edge of the precipice and I’ll tell you a story’                                                                              Scott Fitzgerald The Crack-Up   When I was a kid we had a dog named Ayesha. She was  a Corgi with oversized ears, big personality and great intelligence. Ayesha had a male … [Read more…]

Posted in: animals, Australia, Melbourne, Observations Tagged: childhood, childhood memories, childhood pets, dogs, local dogs, neighbourhood dogs

Marriage is the Tomb of Love

June 26, 2022 by Lesley Truffle

Marriage is the tomb of love   ‘The company … was far more likely to give pleasure than one made up of persons of quality, where gaiety freezes in the chill of etiquette.’ Casanova describing an evening spent with a group of actors.   Having just finished editing my fiction manuscript I’m taking some  time … [Read more…]

Posted in: books, Historical, Mavericks & Renegades, Social Comment, Travel Tagged: 18th century Europe, Brunelleschi, Casanova, Chevalier de Seingalt, Giacomo Casanova, History of My Life, Lesley Truffle, Lesley Truffle Writer

Freud’s Cigar

May 18, 2022 by Lesley Truffle

Freud’s Cigar ‘Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.’ Dr Sigmund Freud 1856 -1939. Freud was a heavy cigar smoker and supposedly said, ‘Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar’. Many of his theories relate to uncontrolled libido and wild sexual impulses. Accordingly, his statement probably means a phallic-shaped object such as a cigar, doesn’t … [Read more…]

Posted in: Historical, Mavericks & Renegades, Psychology, Social Comment Tagged: Carl Jung, Dr Sigmund Freud, Freud, Freud's cigar, Lesley Truffle, Lesley Truffle Writer, psychoanalysis, Psychology, pyschotherapy, Sigmund Freud, The Scandalous Life of Sasha Torte
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Recent Posts

  • The Cake and I
  • The Perils of Pickup Trucks
  • Autumn in the City
  • Hold Your Fire
  • Easter in a Bottle

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