Tuesday, June 22, 2010

What's my name???

Holy Dooley! As much as I don't want to....I am going to have to take a little 2 week break from Blogging.

We have finally been offered a house to rent in Canberra. Thankfully it is a nice one. There were a few dramas with us missing out on rental properties because we didn't have rental references. It's a little difficult to have them when you have owned your own home for over 10 years. We were told on a couple of occasions that we "had an excellent application but we have given the property to a couple with references". It was more than a little frustrating.

Anyhow, we now have one and I am leaving our humble little home on the mountain next Thursday, 1st July and heading for our new life in the nation's capital.

In the meantime, I am awaiting tests results for Ayla whom we suspect has whooping cough....oh the joy of sleepless nights coupled with the stress of moving interstate.

I am tired....nay exhausted, I am fighting off a sore throat and I am so riddled with anxiety over everything that still needs to be done that I find myself frequently asking.....Ummmm....what's my name again?

Will fill you all in after the move!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

On Pieces of Filth

The last 2 weeks have been really hard with Steven away. I feel like I am just surviving on adrenalin.

I thought I had cured it tonight when I had a couple of friends over for a 'stitch in' downstairs. We all get the sewing machines out, the projects we're working on, a cuppa and some munchies. We chat and laugh and sew. When the girls left tonight I felt totally relaxed and ready for bed. Did a quick check on Facebook and saw that Steven was on so we had a little chat. Now I'm seriously fired up and ready for a freakin' fight! It wasn't Steven...but something happened down there tonight that has my blood BOILING!

Steven went to a training session with someone that he thought he knew. The guy treated him badly from the moment he walked in. An argument started and then the guy says blah blah blah 'and your Disabled Daughter'......please accept my apologies for what I am about to say.....

WHAT THE FUCK!!!!!!! How dare you! How dare you mention her! How dare you use her in derogatory manner! How dare you refer to her in derogatory manner! You low down piece of shit on my shoe!!!!! I cannot believe that there is this type of scum in the world that breathe my air....and Ayla's.....and pollute it with their foul and distasteful breath!

As I said....I apologise if you are offended but OMG! I needed to get that out before I went to bed.

Steven was VERY well behaved. He dropped his bagged and went at him but only belted him with words which is lucky considering the talks that were given at work today.

Nuff said.....but unfortunately, I am still steaming!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Real Food Companions


This blog is becoming a beautiful eclectic mix of everything that I love in my life. My husband, my daughter, my Mum and Dad, my little brother (I must put him in here somewhere), friends, craft, photographs, and something that is coming back into the list of priorities in my life......food. Not just any ole food that you shove in your mouth and swallow in front of the TV. I mean REAL food. Nourishing food, prepared from scratch and made with love. Consumed at the table and shared with family, friends and good conversation.

We recently had a working bee in the yard at our place, trying to get the place rent ready. A big group of friends all working and socialising in the garden. The kids running around squealing and playing, Ayla eating leaves and dirt. It was so wonderful to be surrounded by everyone. Lunch time came and I found myself sitting amongst friends, kids and adults alike, all hoeing into a beautiful nourishing lunch that I had made from scratch a few days earlier. It wasn't hard work. I cooked both meals in a slow cooker and put them back into slow cookers the morning of the working bee. We had a Vege and Chickpea Curry for the vego's and Ham and Bean soup. But the best part was the friends all sitting together, enjoying a home cooked nourishing meal. Slurping, spoons clanging against crockery, kids chittering to each other and cracking jokes, and good old fashioned conversation.

Well, this is all a very long introduction into what I really wanted to share. I was recently given a gift voucher for a book store for my birthday (Thanks Nessy!) and I raced out the very next day to purchase an amazing book. "The Real Food Companion" by Matthew Evans. SENSATIONAL! Matthew is an Australian chef, residing in Tasmania with his family. He milks his own cow each day! I would love that.

I have been reading his 'Cookbook' from cover to cover. It is seriously so much more than a cookbook. Amazing recipes from real ingredients......Yes! Explanations of Real Food, Local food, Sustainable food.....Yes, Yes and Yes! But so much more. This book has HEART. From the moment I read Matthew's prologue, I knew this would be one of my most favourite books EVER! So, I wanted to share an excerpt from his prologue with you.

"As I was finishing writing this book, I was also awaiting the birth of my first child, and realised that by the time he could read it, the world may well have changed. As I sit at my desk it looks like rain outside, but the land west of the Great Divide, over three quarters of New South Wales, is in drought. The Arctic's north-west passage is free enough of ice for the first time in recorded history for ships to pass through, and there's much debate about the Greenhouse Effect and other big questions floating around about sustainability and responsibility.

Down through the ages, through war and natural disasters, in times of peace and plenty, some things remain constant. The need to keep the family together, to bind social ties, to laugh like a crazy person at family jokes that no one else gets or to weep, bereft at the loss of a loved one or pet. It's important to live.

Into this glorious life, my child, I suggest you take a good sense of humour, a good heart and yes, as you guessed from a person of my obesession, a good knowledge of food. The how, the why, the where. In challenging times it will comfort you. In happy times it will uplift and sustain you. At all times show respect for yourself and what you put into your body and you will find strength and happiness. Dine in front of the television at your own peril. Keep your self-esteem intact and your front door open to visitors. Keep the pantry full and the larder enriched. Keep the invitations going to those who seek refuge, as well as those who come to bring joy. Be generous with the ladle and cavalier with the wine. Cook, my child, for hospitality is the glue that binds humanity together".


Dare I say that this man is my newest hero! Move over Jamie Oliver....this man is definitely on par with you in the Hero stakes!

For All the Single Parents Out There.....

For all the single parents out there.....on my knees and bowing obeisantly to all of you!!!!

Far out. I am 1 week in and I am so exhausted that I already feel run down. I have a cold, my eyes are burning they're so tired and a cup of tea along with 5 minutes on the couch has become my most favourite thing in the world....even if it's a little elusive.

Ayla is connected up to her ABR machine for the first time in 4 weeks..... you know waaaaay back when we were having a few problems with her and tiredness....well, I have only just come back to it. Life is crazy and I just have to keep reminding myself to go easy.

I was going to elaborate and give you an example of my day.....but that would be showing off! :) No, seriously, it's not something that I'm going to be able to maintain. This week I just decided that I would try to do things as they came up instead of putting them off for a day or so. By doing this, I am hoping that in a week or so, things might settle down. Will let you know how I go with that!

Steven is all hooked up with Skype and has spoken to Ayla a couple of times. It was strange because she didn't give the same reaction as she does with Grandma. She usually just giggles the whole time but you could kind of see confusion in her expression and she didn't have a lot to say. Other than that she seems ok with everything and as with most kids....completely oblivious to my crazy rushing around. So I guess everything is normal around here.

Over and out!