Wednesday, July 06, 2016

REACHING THE HEIGHTS...TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE – HIVE NO IDEA!



The Ronettes
Audrey Hepburn (of course) in the role of "Holly Golightly"
Dusty Springfield
Lee in the role of Me in 1963

When I was younger than I am these days, nights and years I was taller than I presently am.  Back then my head was further from the ground than it is now. It is true what the invisible, always-vocal “they” say...one’s height does lessen somewhat with age.  Lots of things lessen with age; height being one of them.  I used to tip the tape measure at a fraction below 5ft 9 inches (175cm).   I don’t go to such lengths nowadays.  

Yesterday, when I was young, beehive hairdos were the fashion.  My hair was at a length conducive to the” do”.  Naturally, I teased, preened (not pruned) until my hairdo reached great heights. A neat French roll at the back of my head completed the elegant look.  Gossamer hair spray kept every strand in check.  The makers of Gossamer hair spray must have made a fortune.

No movement above the nape of my neck and my forehead was detected; none was possible. The completed “do” was harder than a hard hat.  The strike-prone, militant, out-of-control union mob, the CFMEU wouldn’t have had reason to call a strike. With my immovable beehive I would’ve been allowed on any work site, no questions asked. Stiletto-heeled shoes added to “the look”.  

Beehive hairdos, tight skirts and lofty heels were in vogue.   

Now that I do the maths, once the hairdo and the high-heeled shoes were added to my natural height, my height would’ve extended to over six feet tall! I suppose that would’ve been enough to scare more than a few would-be, ever-hopeful Lotharios away. Don Juan and Casanova would’ve headed for the hills in fear, too.  I didn’t need my eagle-eyed, ever-vigilant older brother keeping watch after all! 

Through mutual friends and the Internet an old friend from the early to mid-Sixties tracked me down three or so years ago   It was then, after the passing of so many years and a lifetime of experiences, he finally gained the courage to admit that back in the days of our glory years he’d thought I wasn’t interested in him because of his height.
He was, and still is, I imagine, shorter than me.   

While assuring him his height had nothing to do with my fickle heart I hoped I wasn’t hurting his sensitivities. The thought had never crossed my mind. A friend was all I ever wanted him to be.  We were friends back then and since reconnecting we’ve strengthened and built on that earlier friendship – without the need of Gossamer hair spray.   I do tease him at times, though.

I explained to him back in the early Sixties I’d been more interested in the height of the waves at Laguna and Granite Bays than the height of Gympie boys.  

Even if I was a fearsome Amazonian sight striding along in my stilettos with teased hair piled high in a beehive he had no cause for despair or built-up shoes.  

His was only a youthful passing infatuation. His heart and hopes weren’t shattered and crushed.  He eventually married a lovely lass who was, and still is, a little shorter than him. 

10th June, 2016 Margaret Vinci Heldt, the hairstylist who created the beehive hairdo in 1960, passed away.

Adopted by the likes of the girl group, The Ronnettes, and, of course, Audrey Hepburn’s memorable Holly Golightly in the unforgettable “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, the legendary style soon hit the heights of fame. Even Dusty Springfield grabbed hold of it and sang with it.

Unintentionally, the highest beehive I ever sported gave Mt. Everest a run for its money. 

In 1967 Mackay’s Stefan Salon was to blame.  It was in the early days at the beginning of Stefan’s stake in the hairdressing market.  I think Mackay was the third in the chain of salons he eventually opened throughout Queensland and New South Wales.  

Nowadays there are approximately 50 Stefan salons gracing the land and shopping centres.

As per Wikipedia - some data for those not familiar with the name and man who is “Stefan”.....Stefan Ackerie (born 1941), usually known by the mononym Stefan, is a businessman and hairdresser from Brisbane, Australia. He owns a chain of approximately fifty hairdressing salons throughout Queensland and New South Wales, as well as the Brisbane restaurant Jo Jo's, a large thematic restaurant and bar located above the Queen Street Mall and Stefan's boating world in Coomera on the Gold Coast. Stefan's Brisbane headquarters is located in South Brisbane, underneath the Skyneedle, a prominent landmark which Stefan bought in order to prevent it being moved overseas after World Expo '88. The company is also known to be planning expansion into Hong Kong. In 2013 Stefan was presented a Queensland Greats Award from the Queensland Government. Stefan was a finalist in the 2004 Australian of the Year awards. He is also a keen power boat racer and holds the record for the fastest crossing of Bass Strait.

The young female hairdresser who got her hands on my hair was on a roll.
It was my brother’s wedding day. I’d flown north to Mackay from Brisbane to be bridesmaid at his wedding. 

Other than dismantle the monolith created by the over-zealous stylist I did everything I could to lower the height of my hair.  I considered standing on my head to squash it down.  I managed to flatten it a bit without having to go to such extremes.

I hit the roof, but I ducked low when leaving the salon so I wouldn’t hit the ceiling as I exited!

Duck Breasts with Red Wine & Honey Sauce: Preheat oven 200C. Score the fat of 4 duck breasts in criss-cross pattern; season with salt and pepper. Heat pan(no oil) over med-heat; when hot place duck, fat side down. Cook 4mins; turn to flesh side; cook 3mins. Remove; place duck on rack in baking tray; bake 12-15mins. Take 1tbs fat from pan; store rest for later use. Place pan on med-heat; add 2 chopped garlic cloves, segments from 2 mandarins and 2tbs honey; cook 2mins until simmering. Deglaze pan with 250ml red wine; add 1tbs mandarin zest; reduce liquid by half; add 250ml orange juice; reduce by half.  Serve sauce with duck breasts.

Honey Glazed Scallops: Combine 1-1/2tbs tamari soy, 1-1/2tbs honey, 1tbs grainy Dijon mustard, 1/2tbs seasoned rice vinegar and 1/4tsp crushed chilli flakes.  Heat 1tbs x-virgin olive oil in pan over med-high heat. Cook 500g scallops in single layer, flipping once, until golden, 2-3mins per side; set aside; keep warm. Reduce heat to medium; slowly add honey mixture; simmer briefly until thickened; return scallops; toss gently to glaze; serve sprinkled with sesame seeds.

 Chocolate Pistachio Honeycomb: In saucepan melt 2tbs white sugar and 2tbs golden syrup over a low heat; bring to boil until the liquid is light caramel colour. Be careful and keep a close eye on it. Remove pan from heat; add 1tsp baking soda, whisking to ensure there are no lumps of soda; it will froth. Pour mixture onto baking tray lined with baking paper; cool. Melt 75g dark chocolate; pour over the set and cooled honeycomb. Sprinkle 1tbs chopped pistachio nuts onto the still melted chocolate. Once set, break into pieces, eat and enjoy


42 comments:

  1. Your dishes are tempting as usual.

    I hope your neighbors share, nothing tastes as good as freshly grown.

    Have a blessed week.

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    1. I should read all my emails before I answer.

      The dogs and cats here have a working relationship. It is Bonnie's job to try to play and it's the cats job to avoid it at all costs. I have seen them sit in a line daring Bonnie to break through.

      Lil is a short haired Border Collie and is a great all around farm dog. Her years are short as are mine but we still manage to have good times together.

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    2. Sometimes they do, Gail...not often...and I don't encroach. They sell most of what they grow at the local Sunday market that sells locally-grown produce to all and sundry. There are a lot of roadside stalls here on the mountain where people sell what they grow...all at very good prices.

      Your animals are lovely...and it is clearly obvious they are happy animals.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  2. I've never been a fan of the beehive hairdo, mostly because I prefer hair that moves freely. I love the feel of the wind in my hair. In high school there was a girl in our age group who came to school each day with her hair in the currently favoured "flip" style I think it was called, where the ends of the teased not-so-high hair were flipped up in a curl; anyway she must have used nearly a full can of gossamer each morning because that hair never budged an inch. Some of the girls laughed behind their hands and said it was a plastic wig, Lego style.

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    1. I was a teenager of the early to mid-Sixties, River; and I enjoyed wearing the beehive hairdo when the occasion suited and I enjoyed wearing the fashions of the day .

      I don't believe any of my friends (or those who weren't my friends) laughed at me behind my back, because most of them, too, styled their hair that way.

      If anyone did laugh at me behind my back I couldn't have cared, anyway. That would've been their problem, not mine. I could hold my head high...and even higher when sporting a beehive hairdo
      ! ;)

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  3. I was a short person. I was five foot (and a half inch) until I was fifteen. I wanted to reach the heights of five foot two. And I did briefly. That year I grew eight inches and the following year another two. And yes, when I wore heels I was well over six foot.
    I never went down the beehive path though.

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    1. That certainly was a rush of growth, EC. Wow!

      All those years I wore high heels (I no longer do)I never thought about my height, really. I knew I was tall; I liked being tall; and in most cases I was taller than my mates, but it wasn't something that was foremost in my mind...or something that stopped me from wearing high heels, or beehive hairdos when they were in vogue. They were a bit of fun....and they were always a must for the balls.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  4. oh I remember behives but never had one and I barely made it to 5 foot 2 inches and I am probably less than that now. Ha.

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    1. Hey there, Linda. It was a bit of a stretch...but you made it! :)

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  5. I have always loved the french twist / roll on Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanys (a favorite film.)

    Love your hair in that photo!

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    1. Me, too, Lynn. And I, too, love Breakfast at Tiffany's....one of my all-time favourite movies. I have it on permanent record on one of my PVR set-ups and also on disc. I've seen it many times and will watch it again many times, no doubt. I love Audrey Hepburn...and she was just wonderful as Holly Golightly....fabulous!

      I was the grand old age of 18 years in that photo, Lynn; it was taken around March, 1963...thereabouts...thanks...and thanks for coming by. :)

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  6. Those beehive skills came in handy a little while ago, Lee. My 17 yr old grand-daughter had to have one for a school play and was despairing her hairdresser mother just wasn't getting it. If she hadn't been so desperate she wouldn't have accepted my offer to help - and was gobsmacked that I gave her the perfect beehive french roll. I think she's still trying to imagine her g'mother with that hairstyle. And I can't think of my old Aunt Dolly without seeing her consternation at the height of my heels. Those were the days, huh? Thank you for taking me there once again.

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    1. I love your tale, Pauline. It has brought a big smile to my face...absolutely wonderful! :)

      And you're are welcome at any time to come along on the ride with me....thanks for joining this one. :)

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  7. Yum yum yum. I have an idea for a Lee's cookbook.

    I am a Stefan tragic; loyal since I was 17 and earning my own $$. I swear I have probably paid for a trainee or two over the years.

    They have these stupid low to the floor reclining wash chairs in the salons these days. I came home from the hairdresser the other day having pulled the muscles across my chest to my left arm, I think getting out of the bloody thing. I have been resting and recuperating for two days .. From a haircut!! 😋

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    1. Hi Carol...that was my one and only visit to one of his salons. lol The last time I went to a hairdresser must be about 16 or 17 years ago. I cut my own hair. About 10 years ago I was trimming the ends...my hair at that stage was down to my waist, if not below it...and I just kept cutting until it is to the length that it is now...as shown in my profile pic.

      When I was a teenager in Gympie, as described above, one of my girlfriends was doing her apprenticeship at a local salon, and she used to do my hair the times I visited said salon. She had a real natural talent, knack, and eventually she ended up owning her own salon in Gympie. We're still mates. We first met in primary school; and as teenagers went to Noosa together. One of her brothers, like mine, was also a lifesaver in the Noosa Club.

      I hope you're strained muscles are soon back to being in good, pain-free working order. Rest up before school starts back again on Monday. I hope you've enjoyed your break.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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    2. Carol if you lived in the U S of A you'd have gone straight from the salon to a lawyer and sued.

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  8. Finally got round to catching up with your latest post. I even turned the TV off so I could concentrate. I liked the elegant beehive look and I think that more women should sport it today. When a woman has a beehive, it must be okay to call her "honeybunch".

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    1. Hey...great to have you back, Yorkie, Honeybun...I'll always have your back!! ;)

      Yep...the beehive hairdo was an elegant do.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  9. No bee hives in my past Lee, though of course I wore my hair long like most young girls.

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    1. You're no doubt younger than I am, Helsie...and you missed out on the craze of those fun years of the Sixties. :)

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  10. Hi mate, just popping in. Sandie (Chatty Crone) told me about you. I am an Ozzie and live in QLD. Sandie thought we may know one another... NO... so that's how I am here.. I used to blog a lot, but these days I am too busy with family and writing books.. ANYHOW... just letting you know. Ozzies stick together and when I lived in Tennessee, I missed my mad friends, until I found one a few miles away. Blessings.

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    1. Hey there Crystal Mary...I think we may have visited each other's blogs quite some time ago. I have friends who life in Rainbow Beach...and they have done for quite a number of years now. They retired to there. We all grew up together in Gympie...just up the road a bit from you! :)

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  11. Hair today and gone tomorrow...

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    1. No...I still have my hair, Mr. Ad-Man...just a bit shorter these days...but I still have hair! So there!

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  12. HeHe! those hairdo's...
    I do believe I had one of those way back too!
    Said hello to Cardwell, and blew kisses across the sea for you..

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    1. Ahhh....thanks for doing that, Margaret! I hope you're having a wonderful trip. :)

      And thanks for popping in. :)

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  13. I love that picture of Audrey Hepburn! One of the most beautiful women who ever lived.

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    1. She certainly was, Keith. She was and still is one of my all-time favourites. She was beautiful inside and out.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  14. The famous beehive 'do. I never got to experience it. :D

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    1. You would have to be an oldie like me to have done so, Lux! lol

      Thanks for dropping by. :)

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  15. As a teenager of the 60s I, of course remember all that plus those skirts with layers and layers of underskirt.

    When I came to the Outer Hebrides over four decades ago my medical records show that I was 5'10½". Now I'm under 5' 9¼". We really do lose height as our spines compress.

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    1. Hey Graham...

      The full skirts with all the heavily starched and roped petticoats were popular here in the mid-Fifties, Graham. I was still too young when they were in fashion and I told myself when I "grew-up" I'd get myself a few...but, of course, by the time I reached my teens they'd gone out of fashion...so I never did wear them.

      'Tis true...we're a shrinking breed!! Thanks for coming by. :)

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    2. Gosh was it the fifties? Well I was born in 1944 so I suppose the later fifties would have been about right.

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    3. You and I were both born in the same year, Graham...the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month was the day of my grand entrance. :)

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  16. I remember the beehive days but I never had enough hair.

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    1. Hi Diane...nice to see you...welcome to my blog. Thanks for coming by...do come again. :)

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  17. I was in highschool in the sixties, had the "flip" and teased until my hair resembled a football helmet. When I went to college, things changed, no teasing, long hair curled on giant curlers. Oh those days.

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    1. Boy! In those days we teased our hair far more than we teased the boys! lol

      All in the name of fashion...all in the name of youth and fun.

      Thanks for coming by, Susan. :)

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  18. In the 50s, my sister wore fake pearls and the ends of her hair in a tight "hotdog" roll, along with bobby socks rolled down. Then in MY day, thank gawd the height was not required. My hair was always baby fine and useless, so it worked perfectly in the straight style to my waist, butterfly shirts and bell bottoms. Now I have no waist and practically no hair. lol

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    1. Hahahahaha, Dana! None of us are what we were - so you're not Robinson Crusoe! lol

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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    2. I forgot to add that the only bell bottom I have now is the one I sit on.

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    3. Hahaha...that's okay...as long as it doesn't ring every time you sit down! ;)

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