last day ...

Don't get too excited, unfortunately is not the last day at TheSaltMinesLimited.

It's the last day of boozing for a month, so am enjoying a couple of glasses of wine while I can.



The first challenge will face me quite quickly. I am out to lunch for the best dumplings in Sydney with Heather and Not-Heather tomorrow (Not-Not-Heather has abandoned us for a couple of years in the UK) and we generally booze it up and air our grievances. I'll be chastely enjoying my tea (and, not-so-chastely, the mucho grievances).

I do, however, have a project to initially keep me occupied. Mom is off for a newer, stronger chemo treatment and I offered to supply her with some head-coverings, lest she lose her hair - so this weekend will be the making of the (plain, non-fancy, sans-sparkly - as requested) hats!

I visited my fave yarn store for supplies and was delighted to be served by this lovely blogger,who I think is the first blogger I have encountered In Real Life (except for seeing smallstakes on the bus and someone's children in Coles), although of course I made no mention of it - he's not an Imaginary Internet Friend and squeee! weird INTERNET person! is not really the look I am trying to go for. But I will say that he gives just wonderful customer service and really makes me want to spend hundreds of $ at the yarn store. You should totally go.



The first hat will be from this pattern, which has become a firm favourite! Then I'll be moving to the lace beret, not dissimilar to those I made for Joan and Smilla and which I really find fun to make.



And for dinner tonight - curry! The WCoIC project is fun, but becomes increasingly difficult as teams are eliminated.

So knittering and no wine.

For a month.

Am sure, if nothing else, the bank account will thank us.

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wcoic day nineteen: brazil

Well, given the oops last evening - you'll be aware that this should have been Monday night's dinner.

Oops.

Couscous With Chicken



Ugly as all-get-out and severely wanting in the green department.

This was very acidic and thus, being quite possibly vinegar's biggest fan, Don adored it. Me? Not so much of a fan of the vinegar, so found it a little challenging.

Things we would do next time (for Don is mad for it - perhaps we can freeze it for lunches?):
Soften onion and garlic first; then,
Brown chicken just a smidge before chucking in the other ingredients.

If you're a vinegar fan, you may find this quite delightful.

And, thankfully, now we have a brief WCoIC break, golly I'm jonesing for a curry and/or a steak!

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wcoic day eighteen: spain

This was good on a number of fronts - particularly if you've been labouring under the misapprehension that I live a perfect life filled with fluffy bunnies and ponies and kitties and where nothing ever goes wrong and everything is blissful (is only mostly blissful).

First: we screwed up nights and should have had this on Tuesday - d'oh!
Second: this dish was very, very ordinary indeed.

Carne de Vaca con Tomate



This would have been much improved with at least two hours more cooking, possibly three. Even then ... well, let us just say that this one will not be getting a repeat.

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wcoic day seventeen: mexico

Carnitas! Another of those Don recipes which are an amalgam of all manner of things which I definitely need to post.



Always wonderful!

And that sour cream ...

This time accompanied by quite delicious (and impromptu) beans from a recipe handed out at Harris Farm Markets while grocery shopping on Saturday.

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we're giving up what?

Late this morning, after the big night out with EasternSuburbsPowerDrinkersInc, Don asked my opinion re: participating in dry july (sans fundraising).

I was initially taken quite aback at the suggestion, but given our terribly drinkerly ways of late, I was dead keen to give it a bash.

It will no doubt be a challenging time, where perhaps I will knock over that jumper - but I'd suggest not holding any breath - and we may even pay off the credit card with the $$ we're not spending at the bottleshop.

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wcoic day sixteen: usa usa usa

We've rebooted for the round of 16, so we may repeat countries, but not meals.

Gumbo! A recipe of Don's devising - which I will post at some point, so that you might enjoy it too.



Also, continuing with the N'Orleans theme, Mississippi Mud pie for dessert - courtesy of the lovely Bessie and her I <3 sugar cookbook (and which she cooked her own self!).





Utterly Fantabulous!

Only one of us will be getting up at 4.30am to watch US v Ghana. I'll leave it as an exercise to the reader as to which one of us that will be.

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wcoic day fifteen: chile

Deperation drove this decision. It had to be relatively quick (Friday night driving to the 'burbs to collect Bessie) because, again, we didn't want to eat at midnight and simple, because I'm doing it solo (Don is out at an EasternSuburbsPowerDrinkersInc function) and that drive really takes it out of one.

Thus we arrived at Lentejas Con Arroz Y Chorizo.



Nigh on impossible to locate jalapenos here, so I made do with capsicum and a smidge extra cumin (thanks to INTERNET).

The lentils could have cooked a smidge longer and I could have employed a tad more spice, but it was a big hit with everyone - really I don't think anything with chorizo as an ingredient can ever be anything other than fabulous.

Bessie pointed out a couple of weeks ago that we should use the eeeeepc as a kitchen computer, rather than printing out our recipes. Knowing how transient things on INTERNET can be, I'm more of a fan of the hard copy, but tonight I gave her idea a bash.



It worked quite well indeed, but after the Joe/Frank computer disaster of June2010, I'll still be holding on to a dead-tree version of our fave recipes.

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wcoic day fourteen: japan

We know better than to attempt Japanese food at home, when we have an excellent purveyor of same nearby.


Joe/Frank surprised us all by ordering Dinner Box A. We are really delighted by J/F's enthusiasm to try all manner of food.

Don selected Dinner Box C (unpictured) - you've seen it all before.



I, unimaginatively, chose ton katsu - which is my total go-to dish. I care not if I am being predictable, it is so very yummy!

We <3 Terriyaki Japanese Fusion!

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wcoic day thirteen: ghana

Kenan



This dish made me very cross. Cross because we do not have a decently sized non-stick pan and the lack of one makes my fish cooking go straight to hell without passing go or collecting $200. Sure, it tastes fab, but looks rather less so.

Also making me very cross was the disaster which were Joe/Frank's computer issues (details of which I will not go into here, suffice to say that he lost just about everything - including an almost completed assignment due on Friday) which occurred mid-cooking.

This was lovely and simple and we all enjoyed it. I loved the cayenne rubbed into the fish - very simple and really very good.

Planning to cook again, but would try to make the sauce a little more robust, believe it would have been enhanced by a flavour which I'm struggling to put my finger on. Also, I refuse to cook any more fish until I get a large non-stick pan!

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wcoic day twelve: south korea

Bulgogi. Thanks again to the wonderful SBS food



To be honest, I was terrified of this dish.

I wasn't terrified until I found out that Don had to work late and unless we wanted to eat around midnight, I would be required to do quite a bit of prep that I am not entirely comfortable with, viz: slicing meat very thinly and using the scary, hurty food processor.

But, like the trooper I am, I overcame the obstacles and this turned out wonderfully well. Really, I knew it couldn't go wrong when I managed to score the only ripe nashi pear in Coles World Square (by golly, I loathe buying groceries after work!).

Definitely will be trying again, hopefully with some Korean soy. I subbed a combo of light and dark soy - which turned out well, but am keen to try the real thing.

This whole WCoIC project has been quite marvellous in terms of extending our foodly options - I don't think we've yet had anything we won't repeat!

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wcoic day eleven: switzerland

Alpen Magrone. Yes, SBS classifies it as Italian, but the majority of INTERNET says Swiss.



This used up the last of Don's bacon (note to self: force him to start another lot - perhaps tomorrow).

Quite, quite wonderful, but very, very rich - probably could have done with a smidge (or quite a good deal) less butter dotted on top, rather less floury potatoes and perhaps a fresh breadcrumbs topping (am such a fan of the breadcrumb and parmesan topping on most everything of this type - even if it is utterly inauthentic).

Yes, we were rocking that retro salad again (frankly, I think I have filled my quote of iceberg lettuce and raw carrot for the year).

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wcoic day ten: brazil

Chicken baked in beer!



This was very tasty indeed, but there are a few things that we would do differently for next time:

1. Mix the ingredients, rather than layer them; and
   
2. Use the cast-iron casserole dish, rather than the baking dish
   

And there will definitely be a next time.

I know you will all fall down with shock at the appearance of SALAD! Don had a hankering for a very retro salad as accompaniment. I absolutely am not a fan of carrot, nor iceberg lettuce if I'm to be honest and I fear as a retro salad it was sadly lacking in pineapple, chunks of cheese and perhaps the odd orange slice.

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wcoic day nine: the netherlands

Back on track with the fabulously named Lamsbout in Karnemelk.

Lamb? Buttermilk? We were intrigued! It couldn't be bad, but could it actually be good?


Oh my wordy, lordy yes, it could be very, very good indeed.

Another really very easy (although does need a good deal of time) dish we'll be having again. We served it with very fat fettucini and a good dollop of that wonderful sour cream. Next time I think we'd probably go a more robust creamy, alfredo-style sauce.

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simple delights

Thus far, it has been a fairly sedate but quite satisfying weekend. Yesterday we were out and about in the neighbourhood making the very deliberate decision to leave GerryScotti at home. We often used to walk about together, and it was nice to reclaim some of that, rather than rushing about in the car.

While out, I spied an irresistible pair of boots which, being irresistable, I was forced to buy.

I've never really been a shoe person as I do have such a difficult time finding shoes that I like, that work with my life-style (such as it is), that are comfortable and that actually fit me (I'm in a sort of horrid no-man's land of 8.5-9.5). Boots are particularly difficult, because all that running has given my quite fabulously well-defined, but rather large, calf muscles - when boots fit, I do try to add them to the meagre collection.

This morning we were down in the garage grabbing some moving boxes to deliver to Joan (who is moving to more salubrious accommodations) and I spied a broken box. "Ah ha!" I thought, "I can do something with this!" And I set about constructing cardboard tubes to keep my boots standing up while in the cupboard, because the floppy boots were very dissatisfying and are prone to get squished under other stuff - our wardrobe is quite large, but shared between the three of us.


Before I put them away. The new pair is the grey on the left.

The whole effect was ridiculously pleasing and makes me want to drag out my other pairs of boots from the garage and make tubes for them too.

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wcoic day eight: vietnam

Joe/Frank safely ensconced at pater's, we thought it appropriate to indulge in a Date Night!

Where could we go but Saigon Saigon? The scene of the first date, all those years ago. Fortunately, after a great number of hiccoughs (including the horrible stint featuring nephew with a newly minted Business Degree and Big Ideas), it seems to have settled back to the steller food and really fabulous service.

Note the red cast to all the snaps for extra! romance!


Vietnamese pancake - utterly fabulous and a dish we invariably order. Is just fab!


Sizzling beef. We covet one of those adorable but ouchy cow plates for ourselves.


Pork Chop salad. Somewhat underwhelming, the pork was wonderful, but the salad ... well, I question the authenticity of carrot, tomato and cucumber.

"Wait! What!?" you say, "just where is Vietnam in the World Cup draw?!"

Well, mad props to you for your knowing skills ... they aren't.

We had intended Germerman¹ and there was a whole "should I book?", "no, it will be fine", "you think so? you're sure I shouldn't book?", "no, it'll be okay" discussion.

We rocked up and it was over an hour wait for a table, but our First Date location could take us immediately.

Serendipity?


¹shout out to my second fave Steve Martin move: Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

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wcoic day seven: mexico

So far I think we've been the kiss of death with every team we've picked.

Tonight was both Mexico night and grocery shopping night (which tends to waver between Wednesday and Thursday evenings - depending on level of enthusiasm/availability).

Before setting out, we had fully intended to swing by Newtown post-shopping and acquire our meal from the fabulous Guzman y Gomez.

In reality post-shopping, we thought, meh - the horror of fighting traffic and attempting to find a parking spot (roughly the same distance away as our haus), we'll just settle for Lenard's (warning: site has turbo-annoying sound) chicken enchiladas - which are about as Mexican as me, but still mucho yum!



Note to self: photograph quickly, lest sour cream melt unattractively all over the enchiladas.

Note to you: if you can get you hands on Barambah Organics Sour Cream, do so - truly, you have never tasted sour cream so good.

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wcoic day six: spain

A chance to give our favourite paella recipe a whirl!
I made the sofrito the evening before and Don did the actual crafting of the dish. This made for a quick and easy week-night meal, rather than something that takes quite a good, long time.



Delish as ever! Really, the prep of the sofrito the night before was genius - had ample time for long, slow cooking (1.5 hours rather than the suggested 45 minutes), which really enhanced the flavours.

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wcoic day five: portugal

First day back to work after the long weekend and it was take-away.

Nandos! Chicken, chippies and spicy rice.

We could have chosen Oporto, as we have two roughly the same distance away, but:

1. I think Oporto has become way too commercial and bland and burger-focussed
   
2. I was really pleasantly surprised with the smoky, more complex flavour of Nandos.

See, we have such mad skills that we can go for the easy option and still be international!

And, yes HB - we're turning back into What are Don and Carol eating? Promise more content (like Clive Cussler!) at some point.

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wcoic day four: italia!

Due to popular demand from Don and Joe/Frank (and Bessie, who was displeased to miss out on a great deal of it) we went Italian for Giorno Quattro!

We started out with pizza for lunch, prepared by Bessie and Joe/Frank and aided by the 57 types of salami that reside in the smallgoods drawer of our refrigerator.


By Golly! I love teenagers and their independent ways!

Then on to Il Lebbio, which, for people who have not been playing along, is an invention of ours - named for the place we stayed in Toscana (I wanted something a smidge more complex, but was overruled). We took the leftover crusty loaf from last evening and Joe/Frank made bruschetta and garlic bread (all by his own self!).



Afterward ... tiramisu. Bessie found this recipe on INTERNET. We worked on it during the afternoon and split it in two - Bessie took half home (other-fam are also doing the whole WCoIC exercise), only fair as they donated half the eggs. By Golly! it was delish. Heartily recommend!


Should have dusted with chocolate, but really didn't need it. So! very! good!

4 for 4 (although could be considered somewhat of a cop-out, given that we weren't trying terribly many new things).

But you should definitely try that tiramisu. And I should work up some recipe for the Il Lebbio, rather than scribbled notes.

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wcoic day three: serbia

Really, there was nothing for it but Serbian Baked Beans. Especially as we had some of Don's bacon in the freezer. I never really understood the whole INTERNET bacon love until my fabulous husband made his own.

Again, I was really nervous about this - it seemed like it was doomed. The beans were supposed to cook for 30-60 minutes, I just happened to check them after 20 minutes and they were almost falling to bits. I was also slightly worried at the simplicity of ingredients, I would have expected tomatoes or something.

I really shouldn't have worried.



They were magnificent - very, very hearty and comforty (so hearty we were fortunate not to have planned dessert) and served with a crusty loaf.

A brilliant, inexpensive winter meal that we'll be repeating.

3 for 3! Can the luck hold out?

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killer bees

I'd like the World Cup games, except for the vuvuthingy (surely I the only one who thinks that sounds like a euphemism?), which cuts through every other sound in existence and makes me want to shove a skewer through my eardrums and get all stabby on any South African in the vicinity.

Here's me on Saturday night with enormous headphones trying to unsuccessfully escape the interminable buzzing by rocking out in the bathroom with Does it offend you, yeah massively cranked up on the iphone ...



Note the quite burnded, but still very elegant, fingies.
You may also note the haircut which I'm really quite pleased with.

Quite possibly the worst World Cup ever - except for the food, which has been really very good indeed.

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wcoic day two: england

Joe/Frank chose this one: Beef Wellington with potatoes roasted in duck fat and greens.

The recipe called for packaged puff pastry. Being a foodie wanker, I've always, always made my own from scratch and had tossed around the idea of doing so for this exercise, but Don convinced me that I should save myself the hours and hours of rolling and folding and give pampas a go.

The prep involved drama and panic of masterchef proportions! After several timing issues, burned fingies (boiling water from gravy splashed all over my hand) and, we thought, over-boiled potatoes. We were prepared for a very ordinary meal indeed.



How wrong we were - this was spectacularly good. Yes, would have been slightly improved by using my pastry, but the flavours were just magnificent. And the potatoes (despite the concern of being too soft) ended up being absolutely perfect.

We'll definitely be having this again.



We finished up with bread and butter pudding, we'd been planning a steamed treacle pudding, but after the kitchen dramas, need something we could mindlessly prepare and we can and do b&b pud in our sleep(s).


Burnded fingies.

So far two for two with wcoic. Can we keep it up?


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wcoic day one: south africa

First evening of our World Cup of International Cuisine kicked off, naturally, with a South African dish.


Spicy Durban Curry.

We'd spied these Something South African sauces at Harris Farm markets several weeks ago and were slightly intrigued. Obviously not intrigued enough to purchase any - being the foodie wankers that we are, we totally sneer at packaged sauces. But the World Cup of Food gave us the perfect excuse to try one out.

We had no great expectations of this at all, other than to cross South Africa from the list, but ... it was really, really, really very good and so simple.



The only way it could have been improved was with the addition of some fresh naan bread.

We'll be acquiring some more and keeping in the cupboard for perfect emergency dinners. Brown your meat (we chose chicken thigh fillets), cover in sauce and chuck in the oven in a casserole dish for 45 minutes.

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i have a pretty good memory too

So, those ten things ...

I'll admit that this was incredibly challenging because of the aforesaid yeah, but ...'s

Outside (quite the hardest part):

1. I have a quite magnificent back. And waist (from the back). Seriously. Everyone (who has seen it) says it is my best feature. I should make Don take a photo and dazzle you all with it.
   
2. Despite all the kidlets, the rack is still in good order and impressive.
   
3. I have an amazingly adorable little toes.
   
4. I have long and elegant fingies (this is for my lovely husband, who adores them).
   
5. I have very, very good skin. I don't know what I have done to deserve it, but it is bright and clean and blemish-free
   

Inside (now that I'm coming to write it, this is equally as difficult and has taken much longer than the physical):

1. I'm wicked-smart: I can turn my hand to anything I have a mind to - knitting, interlectual pursuits, sewing, accounting, building, analysis, baking - I'm your woman.
   
2. I'm stubborn and tenacious: I will follow anything through 'til the bitter end, despite any obstacles thrown at me.
   
3. I try very hard to be a good mother: I have very wonderful babies, so must be doing something right.
   
4. I'm an engaging correspondent: otherwise the whole seven of you wouldn't still be here reading this dross, would you?
   
5. I know stuff: I want to know everything! And my goodness, if anyone asks me a question (am the go-to girl for all manner of non-sequitorial difficult questions at the Salt Mines), I'll find the answer, or die trying. Mostly I'll find the answer.
   

Also, I will reiterate that this was really very difficult. I think it says a great deal about how we are socialised to self-deprecate and I would very much recommend that you undertake the exercise, if for nothing other than the whole being confronted with yourself thing.

Also, while I'm talking myself up, I'm a pretty stellar dancer.

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only ten?

I really adore the style blog of this quite fabulous and gorgeous girly and I found this post really intriguing.

I've been mulling this over since it popped up in the reader. Could I come up with ten things (five inside, five outside) that I love about me?

It was quite easy to arrive at 10(thousand) things that I don't love about me, but love!? I'd think of something and then "oh, but ... "

Oh but ... I will post my list tomorrow.

And I challenge you to a similar mental exercise ... knock yourselves out with paroxysms of self-doubt and angst!

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lessons

I'm amazingly productive when my husband works late and I decide to stay away from INTERNET.

This article (and the associated ones) really resonated with me, so I'm trying to spend less time in front of The Machine (yes, I've said that weekly for the past year or so). Today was a start.

Sure, the productivity was handwashing and cleaning and watering the plants, but it is stuff I won't have to do on the weekend - when hopefully we can get on to that gosh-darn sweater - damn that v-neckline and its scarifying effect.

But I will conquer it! Oh yes, I will conquer it.

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NewNeighbours moved into the hideously overpriced downstairs flat over the weekend and parked a giant van in the "parking spot" (which is not really a parking spot at all, but which some dude in another block has appropriated for himself: ParkingDude) opposite our garage - which would have made it impossible to get GerryScotti out of the garage if BuffNeighbour downstairs was parked there.

I was totally stressing about it and Don wasn't much further down the stress level - I think we were ramping each other up (What if there is no-one there to move the van when we need to get out? What if we have to get Joe/Frank to an appointment? What if I have to pick up Bessie? ). I hate confrontation because most people are complete and utter jerks, so I was anxious. So very anxious.

Arrived home today and van wasn't there. Hurrah!

In the midst of haus-werk, heard yelling from CrazyLadyOfTheNotes downstairs and saw NewNeighbour was in CLOTN's spot unloading aforesaid van. I Desperately needed to make bin visit (I avoid CrazyLadyOfTheNotes as much as I can, lest she bail me up and rant of NSW Government Departments, but it was a bin emergency), so headed out and encountered new neighbour, smiled and said hello. He responded with, "finally, a welcoming face!" and asked me all about CrazyLadyOfTheNotes, told me his van had broken down and that he'd parked there until his mechanic could order a part - and was really just quite lovely. Then he regaled me with the problems he'd had with the ParkingDude, who had apparently been quite shrieky and called the cops on him(!) - "why, didn't he just call me? I would have explained!". Then apparently ParkingDude had threatened the vehicle ("nice van ... parked out in the open and all ...").

I advised that we and BuffNeighbour were all of the opinion that it wasn't actually a spot at all and that ParkingDude was totally squatting, and suspect revenge in the form of investigating the DA and involving the body corporate might happen in the not too distant future.

And me, I (and Don) need to examine why I (we) think everyone is unreasonable and fighty.

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relief. blessed relief.

Remember that $250 DJs voucher to celebrate 5 years of enslavement in Salt Mines Limited (the employer formerly known as Marie Celeste)? The one that I was planning to swap with Joan for her Myer voucher?

Joan decided not to swap - primarily because she had spent most of hers already. So I was stuck with it.

Fast-forward a couple of weeks: everyone at Salt Mines Limited was raving about the bargains to be had in The Sales, and, hoping inspiration would hit, I went back on Thursday. Inspiration didn't hit. I just ended up stressed and anxious¹.

Today, however, I managed to spend it all and more. How, you ask? Why on my lovely husband of course!

The lovely Don is fortunate in the extreme - every day is casual Friday at EasternSuburbsPowerDrinkersInc (he thinks it fortunate, I'd quite loathe it). As a consequence, he wears jeans quite a lot. On Friday, one of the pairs experienced an unfortunate crotchal-splitting accident and, what with winter and and the accompanyning comfort foods, another pair was becoming just a smidge tight, he was in the market for replacements.

So many bargains! So many jeans! In the face of all of this I told Don I would really quite like to gift him with my voucher because he is quite smashing and wonderful and all manner of other good things. (I'll wait while you're done with the gagging). We bought 3 pairs and a rather nice coat/jacket and could have bought more. If you're a boy (Flashman? James?), you should totally get down there and take advantage.

And I cannot even convey the joy I felt at not having the pressure to spend anymore!

I'd planned, while we happened to be in the vicinity, after the DJs visit, to drop in to Lincraft who are having an awesome sale on Simplicity patterns. I wanted to stock up in the event that I lose my mind and decide to spontaneously sew something incredibly complex. But then, while walking down Market Street, I told Don that because he was quite smashing and wonderful and all manner of other good things, that I'd do it during the week and that we could go home. (okay, gag break).

We hit the homestead and I needed to dash out and pick up some dry-cleaning and return Bessie's borrowings to the library. And make a wee visit to St Vinnies. All the fam have been culling various items and there is a large "Vinnies" bag located next to our front door - I drop as much as I can carry down to the charity bin when passing by. Because Don is quite smashing and wonderful and all manner of other good things, I did not make him come with me (gb).

By golly, I *heart* Vinnies. Last time I was there, I scored a Diane Von Furstenburg pure silk dress for $7.00 (OMGWTFBBQ!1!). The DvF was one of the garments I was collecting from the drycleaner today (needed to purge that gods-awful thrift store stench).



Today, I spent about an hour there. I firmly believe that because I was paying it forward (there were some really-quite-expensive items in my donation bag) The Universe rewarded me with 50% off everything!

I scored three quite excellent shirts, a Minette Walters book and an old-skool-monopoly set(!) all for $17. The complete set of monopoly was originally $5 - reduced to $2.50.

I was more thrilled with my Vinnies experience than I can express. I don't know what it means, other than that I experience great joy in buying clothing for under $5 and just can't take the pressure of buying things new and expensively.

Therapy? Why yes! That is why I went.

Anyway, shopping? Is fabulous! You just need to tailor the destination.

And GoodWife? I am she. I have finally realised that it is not necessarily optimal to drag my quite smashing and wonderful and all manner of other good things spouse along on every shopping expedition.



¹Why does nothing fit me properly? Why does everything I try on have a frumpifying effect? Am I just a big dork with no taste? &etc.

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wet

So that torrential rain we had today?

That was slightly less than the relentless rain we had on the first night of our last campering trip¹.

Fortunately the tent now known as the Arabian-love-tent (formerly known as super-canvas-tent) managed to be (mostly - save for the occasional/frequent drip on our foreheads in the middle of the night) water-proof.


In sunnier times (post rain)


The Arabian-love-tent & double-stretcher (post rain).

We were thinking that we'd accept the challenge of Queen's Birthday long weekend camping², but then realised that we'd have the babies with us and would need 1. additional tent, and 2. one of those pod things for the roof of GerryScotti so we might fit everyone/everything in him.

Anyway, rain - is very wet. Camping - want to get out amongst it.




¹I still bear the scars from the leech bites

²I very fondly recall camping in the mountains on the QBLW weekend when Joan was about 4. It was so cold that our cutlery and plates froze to the table and we had to crack around 1.5cm of ice from the windscreen. I have never been so cold in my life - this does not discourage me in the least.

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¡olé olé olé!

Many years ago, when the babies were very small and the World Cup was on, we decided it would be fun to try to eat meals from one of the countries who were playing each evening. We did so in a kind of ad hoc way, had a lot of fun and discovered the firm family favourite - Kerry Apple Cake in the process.

The babies have very fond memories of that time, often reminiscing about it, and now have requested that we do the same thing for this World Cup.

Except now that they are older, have ever-so-slightly more sophisticated palates and we're a wee bit more experimental, the challenge is a lot more ... ermmm ... challenging. This time there are complicated rules and charts. This time they have opinions and suggestions.

I know I was holding off on boring you all with those relentless food posts, but you'll have to put up with the World Cup foodly interlude from next week.

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slightly woeful wednesday

Today Don decide to take GerryScotti in for his regular service and work from home. Joe/Frank's regular speech therapy appointment¹ was this afternoon, so Don planned to take him there after he'd collected Gerry. This was a Good Thing because I was quite snowed under at Marie Celeste.

I received a call from Don this afternoon advising me that we had a Plumbing Emergency! The cold tap in the shower was broken beyond fixing and water was gushing everywhere (so needed to be turned off at the main - no water for us).

There was a potential emergency plumber visit! There was car collection! There was J/F's appointment at the same time as car collection!

I volunteered to collect Gez while Don ferried J/F to Balmain via taxi.

Fortunately (if you look at it from a co-ordination perspective) the plumber aspect was under control as he can't come until tomorrow morning.

I arrived at the spiritual home of GerryScotti and went to pay for his service with the credit card - declined. What?! Tried to pay with another card - declined. Oh! My! Thank goodness for my NAB visa debit which let me go temporarily into the red, else I would still be stuck there.

After all the angst, it was quite nice to get to Gez and see this on the steering wheel.



Went to collect Don and J/F from Balmain and decided that groceries be damned! We'd go out for dinner and face the hordes at Coles tomorrow night.

Dinner was Joe/Frank's first experience of Japanese and he did very well indeed. It is absolutely delightful that he is keen to try anything he is unfamiliar with! And he likes most thing he tries.

The plumber will be coming at 8am tomorrow, which will not be a minute too soon. Mainly because I am hyper-surly.

¹As with most things, it will be a long, slow haul, but am really very pleased with the therapist and how things are going.