Mrs and I tried lab grown fois gras quail, apparently the first in Australia. Amazing to be able to buy this in a restaurant, after hearing about it year after year.

It was certainly meaty, a flavour you simply don't get with any meat-free chicken, really pungent and distinct (not that I've ever had dead quail).

A place called Bottarga in Brighton, Melbourne. Wasn't cheap, but I'd pay top dollar to support the transition.

Pieces required. Three books from a thrift store ($6) pretty books are everywhere it seems! Australian lamp fitting with switch from AliExpress ($11), 3w LED bulb from AliExpress ($14).

Things I needed to buy: 40mm drill bit to drill through the books to fit the lamp socket ($12). Clamps to hold the books down during surgery ($20 for two).

Things I already had: PVA glue to attach the books together and seal the pages. Drill and 8mm drill bit, to feed the wire though and out the back of the bottom book. Soldering iron, I had to break open the light switch and snip the wires off to feed JUST the power cable through the drill hole I'd made (power plug too big)

I'm no DIY expert, and this was a fairly easy project. No major hurdles, and it looks great on my homemade ladder shelf.

Was originally with AAMI, and noticed they had quietly dropped my covered rate to $7,500. If I was willing to pay more, I could be insured for $10,500 max. This is for a 2008 top spec Nissan 350z, which you couldn't look at for anything less than $17,000. My premiums for comprehensive were about to go up to $141 a month (despite being with them for 5 years with no claims) so I checked with Shannons, and they covered to $20,000 for $146 a month. Always pays to check how much you're covered, as if my car was written off, I'd be getting less than half it's worth. Outrageous.