The forces of blackness assault Bill Cameron

My agent-sibling Bill Cameron once said he was psychologically scarred for life because his step-mum made him eat Vegemite as a child. (I gather she was of an antipodean disposition).

It was Bill's trauma which inspired me to take Vegemite on my trip to the US, so I was devastated when he decided not to go to Bouchercon. Two kind ladies called Carrie and Jeanette saved the day when they offered to carry Bill's jar back to Portland.

And here is the result:




I didn't mention this until now because I wanted Bill to, errr, appreciate the surprise. Thank you Carrie and Jeannette!

21 comments:

Bill Cameron said...

I'm reliving the trauma even as we speak.

Actually, I've suggested a Vegemite tasting this weekend, most as a chance to subject my children to the same trauma. They are dubious, but I intend to soldier on!

Gary Corby said...

Toast, lots of butter, and spread the black stuff *very thin*, and they might survive.

Bill Cameron said...

That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?

(Please don't let this stuff kill my children.)

Gary Corby said...

My kids have consumed their own weight in Vegemite. Yours will live to curse me.

Geoff Carter said...

As a "vegie" I feel it my duty to eat a similar preperation, "marmite"; on the plus side I suspect this is a bi-product of the brewing industry.

Tabitha Bird said...

LOL Gary. I have been reading all about your trip to the US and think you are doing a wonderful job of scaring the crap out of the Americans brave enough to try that stuff. Keep up the good work.

btw- Bill, my two year old eats it for breakfast. Your children will live to curse Gary yet! :)

Travis Erwin said...

Never had the stuff but the name alone terrifies this carnivore.

Bill Cameron said...

Tabitha, when I opened the jar in the presence of my daughter, she made a ~meep~ sound and fled the room. She's 24. You'd think she'd be up to this. My son, age 14, said, "It needs hot sauce."

Stephanie Thornton said...

Ewww... Hot sauce on Vegemite. The mind reels from the combination.

Gary Corby said...

Hot sauce on Vegemite...I'm afraid this closes off "gourmet chef" as a career option for your son, Bill.

Travis, Vegemite should be totally acceptable to you because, as Geoff correctly says, Marmite and Vegemite were both originally made from the residue at the bottom of beer barrels. Think of it as eating leftover beer.

Thanks Tabitha, I do my best. :-)

Bill Cameron said...

I cannot speak for my son's palate. He asks to put hot sauce on EVERYTHING.

Merry Monteleone said...

Why is it that the picture and name of this concoction reminds me of the "Vita-meata-vegimin" episode of I Love Lucy?

I love your blog, Gary, and am looking so forward to your novel release, but please don't ever feel the need to send me food stuffs :-)

Peter Rozovsky said...

Dang, I've long had a fascination with Vegemite. If I'd only known you had some in Indianapolis!
==============
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

Gary Corby said...

Blast, sorry Peter! I could have given you a jar. Of course that would have required me to be going round telling people I was carrying Vegemite, which would have been more than a little weird.

Hi Merry, you're far too nice a person for me to persecute. :-)

Loretta Ross said...

Have you read Terry Pratchett's The Last Continent? (This is not a non-sequitor. ;))

Gary Corby said...

I have indeed read Pratchett's The Last Continent. My favourite bit was when they meet the God Of Evolution.

I'm sure you're refering to when Rincewind invents Vegemite while trying to make beer soup. He's not that far wrong.

Sophie Littlefield said...

Good heavens, you two - love that photo of bill, though!

Gary Corby said...

Hey Sophie! If I'd thought of it I could have had a Vegemite tasting at Bouchercon, and then I'd have a photo of you tasting it too. Think yourself lucky you escaped.

Peter Rozovsky said...

Bring some Vegemite to San Francisco.

Loretta Ross said...

Yes, that's what I was referring to. :) I'm sure I missed a ton of references in that book! I didn't figure out the Waltzing Matilda references until after a young musician friend and I spent an afternoon trying to figure out the story behind Rod Stewart's take on the song.

When I got home and googled it, it turned out there wasn't a story. He wrote it after he got drunk and threw up in a strange city. Takes away a lot of the mystique . . . *sigh*

Gary Corby said...

OK Peter, I'll bring some to the next Bouchercon.

Loretta, I probably didn't get all the references either. I'll say in passing XXXX is an awful beer.