Lights, Camera, Oils!

Our computer problems have been ironed out (thanks to hubby). Yaay!! The slow computer is no longer slow and my internet is no longer cutting out! Next thing on the agenda... maybe later, maybe on the weekend is to upload the many photo's I have on my camera!

Last night I was pleasantly surprised to find hubby had subscribed to my YouTube video's. In the past, I used to show him my completed video's, but he decided to become a member himself. Not only that, but he posted his first video! Who'd have thunk it?!! Not only that, but it was a cooking video!! Pork Stir-fry! Had my girl in stitches.. she thought it was quite amusing! I did too! I found myself writing down cooking critique... wanting to correct him and show him how to make the stir-fry better next time..but I decided to zip-it! When I became aware of his YT subscription I thought he was doing it to be on-the-ball with my movie making. Or is it maybe he just had an "Iain Hewittson" moment? Or rather, in all fairness to my hubby (there are no parallels between him & Iain let me tell you), I should say "Jamie Oliver" moment!? I'm glad I did feature in the video though (by way of a quick zoom to one of our wedding photo's where he declared words to the effect of "and the stir-fry is best shared with someone... when you know you are loved" (zooms in on stickers I gave him that state "you are loved"). He better not be trying to poach my YT subscribers (hehe)..or get any cooking groupies... "Oooh.. a man who cooks.. and loves his wife.."= chick magnet stuff. I found the last shot in the video quite funny... where he zoomed in on some beautiful fresh herbs and then declared he forgot to add them. The video is nearly 10min's long (error #1... -grin-)... so I don't know if any of you would take the time to watch it. But I need permission first before I post it.. even though the video IS publicly "out there"! Watch this space! ;-) Not the space below.. Not Kim! I know she has a 6-pack, don't rub it in! Even hubby commented on that last week... (though according to him he isn't into "athletic types". He's safe with me then... ) 8-/

Tonight is Biggest Loser night.. (note new host above: Alison Sweeney) and the routine now is hubby comes over for the 2hrs of viewing but we have dinner first. Last week he treated us to takeaway. The week before I made salmon with a crust.. baked sweet potato, couscous and green salad. Today I'm doing a WW recipe.. Creamy bacon, pumpkin & rocket pasta. It's only 4 points a serve so I'd like to serve it with another bit of fish with another crust! Why not? We don't eat it often enough. I have about 5 kinds of dukkah and rubs since attending the annual Werribee harvest picnic on Sunday.. so I'll buy some fish this afternoon and start rubbing! The Lighthouse Olive oil I bought.. (I'll post pic's soon) is superb. I tried many on Sunday.. and decided Lighthouse had the best. THEN we went to watch Tobie Puttock (above) and his chef mate Glenn Flood from Fifteen restaurant & foundation-- do a cooking demo! And THEY used the very same Lighthouse oil! My foodie palate was affirmed. I was boosted. At the end of the demo I went up and asked Glenn a question (I think hubby filmed that??) -and then my girl and I hoed-into some of what the chef's prepared during the demo.. which involved fresh blue swimmer crab and a salmon fillet. I bought 500ml of the crimson label Lighthouse oil..and *bonus* when I run out.. the Lighthouse olive groves are only half an hour from my place & they've just opened a cafe too. Speaking of "Fifteen"... I have to get there for a meal one day soon!

Not succeeding at the cruel-to-be-kind thing...

I am so over my cat right now. Poor thing seemed to have an eye irritation a number of days ago, which led to stuff coming out of one eye, which led to a swollen eye and a half-closed eye! After ringing around to vets for quotes I found a "Mobile" vet was my cheapest option. Just aswell.. our adopted adult female cat won't even allow us to pick her up for more than a second. To get her into the car? No way. Her previous owner was barely able to get her into a cat transportation cage.

Anyway, turns out that a scratch in her eye is infected. After the vet administered some ointment into her eye, I saw a big improvement a few hours later. I had to apply the stuff at least once more last night. I think I tried three times and three times I got fur. Followed by my cat licking it off. I have photographed my scratched left arm (from trying to catch her for the vet yesterday) - but I cannot upload photo's at the moment (-to do with computer and cable problems..) so I can't even share the food festival pics yet.

This morning I thought I'd just use a towel straight off.. plonked on her back, scoop her up like a baby and subdue her sharp claws and smear the ointment in her eyes. Yeah, right! As soon as the towel touched her.. she did a death-roll like crocodiles do when being captured. However Phoebe did it 10 times faster.. with all of her claws out.. and yes, I was scratched again on the same arm.. even with the towel. The more we try to put ointment into her eyes, the more she stays away from us and the more distrusting she is. She wasn't 100% trusting before! Not even 75%! So what am I to do?? The ointment needs to go in 2 to 3 times a day and she's not even using her litterbox now (I know she's waiting for me to leave the house)! Can you get fully loaded tranquiliser guns on eBay? Will I need a thicker towel, my long oven-mitts and my daughter to grab her bottom half as I deal with her top half?

Why am I a bunny?

I created/doctored this fake "for Dummies" cover --but if you read the following text first, you will understand it better! I'm about to answer some readers queries :-)

I don't usually put comment replies in my comment section incase whoever asked a question doesn't go back! I almost never go back to where I have left comments myself. Reason being, it would take me too long to check other blogs and see if there are comments left for my comments! If I have something specific to respond to, I'll message the question-asker personally via a note on their blog or via an email if I know their address :-)

However I'll explain "Bunny" and "Bunway Airlines" for anyone landing here!

My hubby's nickname for me is "Bunny" not in English..but in my first language Hungarian - (the word for bunny is actually "Nyuszi" (pronounced "Nyoosy".. the 's' doesn't sound like a 'z' it sounds like an 's'!). If hubby refers to me doing stuff around the house he might refer to the house as my "burrow"...and he'll also use cute "hopping" references now and again too.. all tying in with me being a "bunny". If I have PMT (or PMS) he says I have "Mixo".. (short for "myxomatosis".. the rabbit sickness/virus). These are all terms of affection and only used from love. On rare occasions he'll ask me to twitch my nose or he'll twitch his so I can follow suit.

I don't get bunny references if hubby is seriously miffed with me though. He then calls me "Maria" and I know for sure that affection is out the window. I really don't like it actually when he calls me by my first name as strange as that may sound. But! I've read similar things about other couples, so I know I'm not alone. Call me darlin', sweety.. honey (or "hunnah" as we say).. & Nyuszi.. but my name? That's for people who aren't my hubby.

Re: The "Bunway Airlines" pic. It was perfect for me as I'm into all things travel and I'm a "Bunny" of course.. and yep, the ears look like wings! :-D ie. Airplane bunny!

After I created the fake "for Dummies" book cover I sent it to my hubby who emailed back and asked "Is this for real?" He thought it was such a shame that this book didn't exist as he really, really wanted to buy it! If you have any great ideas for your own Dummies book, click here! [[Twitch-Twitch]]...

'Tis the season to email me if you like...

I was going to share my computer hassles, but will spare you the details! I'm on the slooow computer at the moment.. and I'm compromising. Therefore, I can't do the post I wanted, but I am still able to do something. So! To share with you briefly...

Today.. voting day in Australia (for our federal election) - my girl and I went to a nearby primary school and they had some secondhand stalls set-up to entertain and feed the masses. Well, kind-of masses. I picked up some new beauty products.. samples mainly and some things to re-sell on eBay. Mary Kay and BVLGARI! (Bulgari).... However, my girl scored a pretty, white summer top which still had the tag on it ($29.95) - for $3 - and we picked up a secondhand game of JENGA for $2 !! Jenga has been popular when visiting my sister in Sydney. Christmas has been a tradition the last few years in Sydney too.. but this year we'll be in Ballarat with my inlaws.

Speaking of Christmas... here is my hearts desire: Those of you who read my blog and enjoy it - how would you like a Christmas card from me? I'd love to send you one! I will leave my email address as the first comment to this post. Please use it and email me your name and address details so I can mail you a Christmas card! If you're not in Australia, that's ok. No pressure though, only if you want to!

In past years I've gone to a lot of trouble with cards.. and I have some cardmaking kits here at home that I'm yet to use (they're Christmas themed). My plan is to have a family photo taken each year and use that as our "family Christmas card". I don't think it's going to happen this year (again.. as much as I enjoy making cards). So today I picked up some basic cards at the supermarket and I'd love to greet any of my loyal blog readers out there who would be willing to send me their postal address. I will not disclose your personal details to anyone or abuse your address in any way. And come to think of it.. gosh.. I'm going to give away those Christmas card making kits! Each kit makes 10 cards. I have two kits. One has silver cards with silver embellishments to stick on and the other kit has white cards with gold, red and green embellishments (beads/sequins/ribbons/punchies). I've had these kits for THREE YEARS. Time to bless someone with them!! Choose which kit you'd prefer if you have a preference and it will be first come, first blessed. I will let you all know on my sidebar under the heading "As Live As It Gets" if the kits have been snapped up. Kit recipients will be anonymous unless you agree for your name to be mentioned as a winner. Bless You!! Email me if you'd like a Christmas card!

Tag fusion - more about me.

My mission today is to tell you thirteen random things about me! I was first tagged by travelling tart 'woman-after-my-own-heart' Zanna who asked that I reveal 5 things about me that nobody knew. Then the lovely, dynamic Tina tagged me and the requirement was that I list 8 different things about me and then tag another eight people. I don't know 8 people on my blog list who haven't already been tagged. So I'll name some names at the end and if you haven't been tagged yet and would like to participate, that would be great! Rather than do two separate posts - I'm doing "tag fusion". Thirteen random things about me and my life, here we go:

*I once had a "real life" story published in "That's Life" magazine (which I haven't bought in years). Also a recipe published too. I was paid $100 for the story and $50 for the recipe.

*I feel inferior to people who have paid, day jobs (no matter what I may say/express outwardly) .

*When I had my daughter, over 12 years ago.. one particular nurse 'Elva' used to take my girl down to where the babies would be bathed and while she did her duties, she'd put my girls bassinette near the radio and my baby would apparantly sleep peacefully. I was very unwell with infection and couldn't move much at all. I couldn't even change my girls nappy, hence why the nurse helped. I was so grateful to her as a lot of the nurses were pushy & demanding. That nice, senior nurse Elva was killed less than a year later at the Port Arthur Massacre in Tasmania.

*I can drive a manual car as well as an auto..and a column gear as well as a stick-shift and I was given a surprise reward from the local govt for having a good driving record ($130 off the cost of my 10yr licence renewal -something like that).

*I've not read a single Harry Potter book and don't intend to. I fell asleep during the first movie.

*I have lost an entire audio cassette collection at once (thanks to an old boyfriend) and then an entire CD collection all at once (when I was robbed). As a result.. I struggle to spend money on music now even though I have many CD's on my wish list. My purchases are usually 2nd hand CD's from eBay or the op-shop.

*I would never do something like this now.. but once when I was poorly mistreated by an "ex"... I put teaspoons of white pepper in his lunch (which was a meal he had to reheat - like pasta or something?).. aswell as dishwashing liquid concentrate.

*I packed up my life when I was 24 and moved to London. I was back in Australia, against my will and homeless within 2 weeks of my departure.

*The longest letter I have received was about 90 pages long. The longest I've written is probably 45 pages.

*Years ago on the TV program "Hey Hey It's Saturday" I won Chook Lotto. (Frozen chickens were drawn out like a lottery). You had to send in an envelope with 4 numbers (being chicken sizes). I chose, 11, 13, 16 & 19. We were watching the TV show one Saturday night and Daryl (the host) said there were 2,000 names in their computer chosen out of 35,000 entries. For two weeks running nobody had chosen all four numbers. But then I won. I was 15 years old. So in addition to winning 7 nights on Great Keppell Island, I won the jackpot prizes that accumulated during the weeks before, being a Kenwood Stereo valued at $1700 (in 1984) and a table tennis table. My Mum and I took that 7 night holiday together in September, '84 and 3 months later she died as a result of a car accident. I really think God allowed us that time together because we used to to have strife & argue a lot. On the island we did too..but it quickly came to a big climax..(which had my mother in tears and going on a cruise by herself one day) -- but then we found peace.. we became "friends" and had a very special holiday. So for those last 3 months.. we weren't butting heads anymore.. our relationship had changed.

*I have met and chatted to Angelina Jolie for 3 or 4 min's (with no other fans around wanting her time - she was seated waiting for a plane like I was at LAX). It was in 2001, right before Tomb Raider was released. Angelina didn't have children then and was married to Billy Bob Thornton but he wasn't with her. My impressions? She was very, very nice for the lack of a better adjective. I'd completely run out of film (camera and video - but she wrote something in my travel journal. When I find it, I'll post it here for you)! For anyone that's interested, she wore a fitted white T with slacks & her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She also didn't have a scrap of make-up on but was exquisitely beautiful. Her lips didn't look as big in real life as they do in pictures and on the big screen (I make reference to this as it's the first thing people ask me usuallly)! She had a man and a woman travelling with her too (both in their 50's I'd say who were equally as friendly).

*For years I used to stay up all night and watch American NBC's "Today Show" with Matt Lauer, Katie Couric, Anne Currie and weatherman Al Roker. I loved the show and felt like they were "family". I decided one day I'd be one of the waiting public waving outside as they filmed the program. New York City itself is a dream for me...

*I'm forever seaching for the "right" handbag. I only ever seem to have one at a time.. until it falls apart. If I ever spot a handbag that I think would be ideal for me.. it's usually way beyond my price range. I carry a handbag everywhere I go..so it's an important part of me. I hope one day I can find one that I love... that serves me well..but has "spunk".. and won't fall apart in two to three months (ie. tearing/zips broken etc). Sometimes if I've had more to spend on a bag.. I've not been able to find anything suitable at all.. (and/or no sales are on) and I end up compromising again because I can't continue any longer with the handbag I have. I struggle to keep my handbags clutter-free & I need to be able to fit comfortably in them: my chunky purse, a bottle of water, my mobile phone, lipstick case and other incidentals. All of that without looking like I'm about to check-in some hand luggage.

I tag: Cheryl, Lauren, Mikki, Patricia & Petra - Choose 5 or 8 random things about you/your life that nobody reading knows about! Tag others and link back to them!

As Live As It Gets

I just wanted to quickly introduce you to a new feature on my sidebar courtesy of TWITTER . I'd heard about this site.. read about it.. but couldn't make it work for ME until now. Basically, on the left under the heading "As Live As It Gets" - you'll get the most updated mutterings from me (or "twitterings" I should say). For example, this Sunday at the Werribee Harvest Picnic (where I plan to be) - if I was loving my Thai green curry I could use my mobile phone and SMS my blog the news "Loving the Thai Green Curry & the Dahl looks maaarvellous! Come on down if you're nearby". The message would instantly appear on my blog (real time). I tested it last night & I'm happy to say all systems are "go". It cost me 25 cents in SMS credit. No other charges apply. It's this feature and my "current mood" that I will be updating most frequently - so even if I haven't updated with a post on any given day, I will hopefully be here in spirit on my sidebar! Thank you Tina and Karen for nudging me Twitterward! ((Tweeeet!))

Cutting Room Floor & More...

I started this post a little while ago as the post that "had to be done". Do you have things on file that you know you'll send, publish, share, do-something-with-one-day? My stuff falls into two categories "Publish & Delete" & "Share- OK-That's-Done"!

Before I showcase my items of trivia (and the not-so-trivial), I will give you a personal update of sorts. Yesterday (edit: a couple of days ago now) I was chuffed to receive a little gift in the mail from a fellow online friend. When I saw the envelope contents I thought "it's as if she knows me"! Though of course it's the thought that counts - there's something to be said of gifts that "hit the spot". They represent a level of intimacy and a connection that only someone who knows something about you can offer. It's tangible familiarity. And heart warming :-)

Foodie paper-clips with a magnetic plate!

Above we have an example of what I use for bookmarks. Tissues! Whatever is nearby! I'd probably use water crackers if they didn't make a mess. It was suggested I could use these as recipe book markers.. I think that's a good idea and I love them!

Right now (edit: yesterday) I'm wearing a 24hr blood pressure monitor. Two days ago I'd never have thunk it. Last week, at my lady doctor (I have one of each gender) - I had my BP taken.. as a routine thing. My BP was high. I've never had high blood pressure before. 6 weeks ago, my gent doctor took my BP and it was excellent. So 'lady doctor' told me to go back in a month to see how the BP was going. Well.. as it happens I found myself at the gent GP's yesterday (for non-health examination reasons) - but asked him anyway if he could take my BP. I told him last weeks result wasn't too good with my lady GP. Well.. turns out, my BP was even higher than last week. A "not on" figure. So.. with the help of hospital connections (ie. hubby) - I was able to get a 24hr monitor immediately at the hospital across the road. My BP was higher still when it was fitted... probably the stress of learning I had high BP!

I had to cancel my last afternoon appointment which would have meant being stuck in tonnes of end-of-school day traffic and I would have passed no less than half a dozen schools on the way to my girls school to meet her teacher. I also cancelled a friend this morning who I was going to drive around to op-shops as she's car-less and looking for a bunk-bed. I am due at the hospital in 2 hours time - and I still need to go to Coles supermarket.. on a Friday, no less.

When I told hubby that the only significant thing I've done differently is started taking Polaramine antihistamines for regular hayfever.. he said "Stop taking them immediately"! He suspects that could be the reason for things not being right all of the sudden. I went from never taking antihistamines to taking them about three times a week. I'm not a pill-person either -- I always wait until I absolutely, positively need something.

Update: The monitor successfully recorded 37 BP readings in the 24hr period. My BP was even higher still at the doc's yesterday. I see him again on Monday. I have not been feeling well either. Eg. an hour on the computer and I'm ready to lie down. I'm being forced to lose weight again. It seems this is what it takes every single time for me to "get serious". I know God is there saying "well.. the choice has been yours Maria" - and that's true. I could have been goal weight by now, I know that. Both of my late parents had high blood pressure from their late 20's onwards. My grandparents mostly died from strokes and heart attacks (my Dad, a heart attack too). My parents also cooked with lard (dripping) as the "norm" you could say - so maybe I have been given an extra 10 years of BP health because my diet hasn't been so high in animal fats? I can't help thinking that if I were goal weight.. I might not be having the problem I have now.

Edit: My GP found that Polaramine (antihistamine) does have warnings re: causing "hypertension" and "cardiovascular disease". It seems I might have had an underlying BP issue..that had not surfaced yet. A month of regular antihistamines, a high salt diet, stress and no weight loss.. has probably led to this. I'm concerned about the thought of going onto BP medication. I don't want to, but I'm wondering how many days or weeks of good habits will bring it down naturally? I'm not looking to stop the good habits - I don't want to have high BP day-in, day-out indefinitely.. so I wonder which way would be the best to go?

Anyway... I have been cutting out salt big-time and peeing lots.. and I can see the scales at home have already dropped.. so there goes some water weight. I'm inspired by before/after stories where people with chronic high BP have been able to get off medication and enjoy healthy BP because of their healthy lifestyles! The song from Deborah Harry (Blondie) where she goes "one way.. or another... I'm gonna find ya.. I'm gonna getcha, getcha, getcha, getcha.. one way.. or another". That comes to mind. Knowing the right thing to do. And what's required? Obedience! Otherwise your bad choices catch up with you. But I'm thankful for grace. Another chance to turn it all around. Praise God! I have been back on track since Thursday.

Onto my cutting room floor archives!

This was preparations for one of my WW lunches with friends. Moroccan Chickpea & Vegetable Tagine.. something like that. I can see eggplant and green beans and sweet potato and onions and chickpea's and tinned tomatoes and Ainsley's lovely couscous. It was nice. Finished dish with pine nuts on top in pic underneath.

I sometimes turn my camera on and find pic's my daughter has taken without me knowing! She made pancakes during "Food Tech" at school. So.. she made them at home too. (And again today too, come to think of it.. nope I didn't have any.. just one bite ..ok, no more)! Except I gave her plain flour instead of self-raising by mistake! She photographed this pancake making journey without me knowing! Copying her Mama!


"Resting" the mixture I can see.

Crepe's actually.. and Phoebe.

Her nail-polished toes and fingers (which ended up as the background on her mobile phone)! I bought her the phone as her very first camp this year was interstate... to ADELAIDE!

If I aspire to have anyone's body-shape it's Jennifer's. Anytime I watch 'Friends' or anything she's in, I just get distracted and imagine my body the same as hers. I feel as if it's attainable.. so I try and use the power of visualising.. seeing it in my mind before I actually 'see' it if you know what I mean? And I likee what I see in my mind.. so I should just go for it. I may not get as thin though. I don't aspire to be in the 50's.. I'm sure she's not in the 60's? (kg zone)?

Here's Joyce Meyer, a Christian preacher who I love. I really enjoy her practical teachings that pertain to everyday life. Also here I have my current mobile phone.. my Nokia 6101.

Here we have a picture of a picture (rhubarb and lemon friands) - which I plan to make one day when hubby buys the almond meal. I think they'd be delicious. And then we have a bunch of boxes. Weight Watchers boxes and products I have tried. I thought I'd write reviews on all of them, one by one or two by two... but it didn't happen and the boxes are gone now. They occupied so much space.. I was tired of box avalanches everytime I went into 'the office'..and I moved house.. so...! Bah-bye!

I don't know what the bunny's are about.. I think I randomly came across this item in an image search. Bunnies sitting under a Sakura tree - are they playing instruments or eating? Not sure. Hubby's nickname for me in Hungarian is "bunny".. you probably all know that by now.. so hence, the "bunny" search. Beside the rabbits is a drink I'd like to try one day.. hailing from Brazil.. called.. a "Caipirinha". It's made with granulated sugar, limes and rocket-fuelesque "Cachaca" (pronounced KA SHA SA). Cachaca is made from sugarcane juice and is the most popular drink in Brazil. 43% alcohol. You muddle it all together using what looks like a wooden pestle and pour it into a glass filled with lots of ice. I saw it on a "Two Fat Ladies" episode! Hic!

More file pic's.. I changed the writing on the kitty picture..but the original had similar intent!

More surprise photo's on my camera! My girl photographing her food! And no..this isn't what I normally give her. Hubby bought her a Hungry Jacks dinner last week and WOW.. she had a triple cheeseburger. 17 points by the way. She barely got through it as it was part of a meal.


The chocolate drying on a batch of Florentine's I did last week for "afters" (after the WW lunch).. my girl polished the WHOLE LOT off the next day.. if you can believe that. I need to make another batch. And we have water and green-looking fluid.. all coming from a water-pump that died (refer to earlier posts)!

Amazing the things you find when you buy sushi. This was parked out the front of a sushi shop we go to. Cool looking bike but I think I'd be embarrased to ride it. I don't like drawing attention to myself in public you see..and the bike would get some looks.. yeah?


Thanks for sticking through this long post! We are heading out with hubby to see 'Fred Claus'!

How about some Muppets to finish with? There's some relevance I promise! Though this is a 'cutting room floor' post.. - the 'wild card' of all posts, I don't need to justify the music do I? :-) Coming soon to the <---LEFT will be a "Fred Claus" review!

Fish & Pumps

Today's WW lunch: Fish and potato salad to put it simply! But the cookbook description would be: Salmon fillet with green bean and potato salad from the WW book 'Simply Swap' 2007.

It was a nice change to have some fish for lunch - I actually missed it! But, I'm really craving oysters to be honest! I will have to get myself half a dozen very soon! I think shellfish in general.. yeah.. I want shellfish! Our local Sheraton hotel has a $70 all you can eat Seafood buffet on Saturday nights with unlimited prawns and oysters..and other delights.. including non-seafood wonders too --and yes, dessert! I've been once before, it was heavenly. Beautiful views too by the bay.

In other news.. I had my car's radiator fixed last week - and today - I learned my water pump had gone too. Not only that, but I discovered my car is also unregistered (as of yesterday)! Neither hubby or I received anything in the mail about renewing.. so it must have been lost in the mail. Hubby has bought me another water pump (around $80) and installed it himself. How could he have done that if he was working a 12 hour shift? It just so happens, hospital patient numbers fell significantly and they sent him home early today! (He's a critical care nurse in a coronary care ward). I can't afford to pay my rego until Tuesday so I'm not supposed to drive the car until then. I have a few commitments that require driving too!

Since I wrote the above... a couple of hours have elapsed and I can say that hubby will be giving me a cheque for the rego so I can pay it tomorrow and I will repay the money on Tuesday. He offered it.. so it's all done, how blessed & praise God!

Look what Cheryl made!

Cheryl (Church friend and now WW buddy) and I have started a "Parenting pre-adolescents" course. 2.5 hrs, Tuesday nights for 4 weeks. Tonight is "Night 2"!

Cheryl has been brave enough to take us on tonight for a meal before we head out to to the class. Last week was the Chicken Terikaki with cashews and rice above.. (which my girl ate every morsel of.. Normally she struggles and neglects any Asian stirfry dish I make.. and I've been dishing them up for years)! The hospitality we receive is very much valued - so Cheryl if you're reading this **Hugs** & **Good Job** and **Many Thanks** for feeding our faces!

I was reading this morning in Acts 16: 13-15 about the woman Lydia (a new Christian) and how she hosted Paul and Silus in her home. She was a busy, merchant woman who could have seen their presence as an inconvenience or disruption. But she urged Paul and Silus to stay until they agreed! Now that would have made me feel welcome. I love it when people do that for me.. so that's why I know how important it is for me to never discount the blessing of hospitality I can offer others - though I'm no seasoned expert or anything. I cook for my family, so why not for others? When people have been treated to a meal with you, they will, to some degree actually leave "more whole" than when they came. Feeding someone adds more to them than food in their belly's. It benefits them socially and often spiritually no matter what their belief's are. That's what Cheryl did when she shared her family meal with my girl and I. And that's why.. despite finances or any potential negative 'head space' I may be in, I push through and commit to hosting a Weight Watchers lunch on Wednesdays fortnightly. And I almost cringe when I write about it because I'm loathe to big-note myself in any way, that's SO not my intention. There are three of us maximum so far and sometimes it's just two of us having lunch. My friends have insisted they contribute a few dollars each meal to help me -which enables me to try different recipes on them from our WW cookbooks. It makes it interesting for all of us to try something new.

Some Wednesdays it could be the easiest thing to cancel and get out of it for whatever reasons (nothing to do with the company) -but after the ladies leave (or lady, depending on if I have a 'quorum'!) - Wow.. my life has been made the richer too. I really feel blessed to have sat and broken bread with someone (minus the bread usually)! You chat.. you share.. you talk about something or you talk about nothing.. you eat.. it's cathartic.. it's from God. I encourage any of you reading.. try it.. invite someone over. Even if you make exactly what you'd normally be eating.. even if you've never heard of Nigella Lawson let alone know how to make her Ham in Coca Cola or Lokshen pudding (two recipes I'm bursting to try by the way...!!). Even if you don't have much money! Make Tomato and Red Lentil soup, I'll give you the 'serves 4' recipe if you like! A sandwich. Cheese, crackers and a cuppa. People love to be invited.. and usually love to eat too. Shared food. Share you!

I will finish with something from Zanna's blog. She didn't tag me, but I'm guessing she tagged me in spirit ;-) I love a bit of Q&A! Have a go too if you like! :-)

Four dishes I like to cook (Based on the fact that they're QUICK & tasty)!

Fresh Salmon Cutlets (with a spice rub and some olive oil), served with salad and a jacket potato if really hungry.
Couscous (Warm or Cold as a salad - the instant kind.. Ainsley Harriot Premium couscous is my favourite)
Tomato & Red Lentil Soup (Has onion, garlic & Moroccan spices and supposed to be served with garlic Turkish bread fingers.. it's a quick, hearty WW recipe)
A good, quick curry made with chicken breast, coriander and a quality curry paste.. served with jasmine rice, dollops of skim yoghurt and fresh coriander.

Four qualities I love in people

Sense of humour about life and themselves
If they are considerate and put themselves in someone elses shoes and don't just see the world according to "me"
Generosity . Of time.. kindness.. resources.. Sharing it around is an attractive quality
Integrity/Honesty - These go hand in hand..Following through with things spoken.. commitments made..Being honest with people despite your flaws -that's the main thing!

Four places I have been

Great Keppell Island (Far North Qld)
London, England
Seattle, Washington, USA
Yugoslavia (former)

Four things in my bedroom

A green banker's lamp (which I love)
Things to read
Tissue Box
Certificate of Baptism

Afternoon With Bobby Flynn

Because this is a foodie's blog - I MUST begin with these snacks from (gasp!) the pedestrian fast-food outlet they had at Waterfront Deakin Cafe. It's not Maggie Beer wild mushroom pate and water crackers.. I know. But it somehow 'went' with the low-alcohol, fruity 'Mon' champagne (picture of said-'Bubbly' on the video). Above we have 'Le Wedges' with 'Sour Cream du Vache' and 'Salsa Spagnola'. Below we have 40-cents-a-pop (I KNOW, cheap even for cut-up slice).. "Slice du Pepperminty".. and "Slice du Coconuts". Ohhh.. I crack myself up.

My sister saw (former Australian Idol finalist) Anthony Callea live and wasn't impressed. So I kept an open mind about Bobby... but knew he wouldn't disappoint! He's an Australian Idol finalist from last year (2006). Liked him on the telly! But as it happens, he was even better live! Mooood music.. music that isn't "noise". Music to take a bath to. Music to light candles to. Music to have a romantic dinner to. Music to "chill" to. Bobby's father's family are from Geelong. He said he hadn't been to Geelong since the mid-90's and didn't remember it being "this beautiful". A lot has changed locally so I agree with him! Today was warm and sunny.. and we were near the blue bay.. with blue skies.. and lets face it, our waterfront area is gorgeous.. so it was a Bobby Flynn CD outside too!

My little 3 minute video was made mainly for my own personal collection, as a momento of the occasion ie. no 'Hollywood' editing or anything! There is a small amount of live footage, followed by some of my own photographs (some blurry, so apologies there)! If you like Bobby and have a chance to seem him, please do!

On My Porch...

My latest YouTube video and vlog. If you have five and a half minutes. :-)

All that glitters.. by the spoonfull!

Arriving in the mail this morning was a ticket to the 2007 - 40th Gold Plate Awards Presentation Dinner. Dress: Strictly Black Tie/Formal. 6.15pm sharp, seated by 6.45pm.

It was for the West Australian awards and it was for October 29! And I don't live in Western Australia. If you guessed I have a friend in Perth, named Mikki who actually went to these awards and sent me her ticket and official 'Gold Plate Programme' - then you guessed right! She does it every year. I live vicariously through her!

I pulled out a 'Gold Plate Awards' insert from our Friday paper last week which included all the award winners from our local city area. Soooo, guess where I had lunch today? At "T-Spoon Eatery", winners of another Gold Plate Award for "Best Cafe".

Hubby and I have been driving past "T-spoon" for at least two years or more saying and/or thinking "Yep, we've got to go there one day"! But plates of gold aside.. we had a lunch planned for today anyway.. so .. as it happens.. that is where we ended up! And about time too!

But let me backtrack from today a little.

Last night I went to a parenting pre-adolescents course which will be once a week for 4 weeks. 2.5hrs duration on Tuesday nights. I went to this course with my friend Cheryl and her husband, but we had dinner at their place first. (I will post more photo's soon, including the chicken teriyaki stirfry Cheryl made)!

This morning I offered one of my veins at a pathology clinic for the purposes of routine cholesterol and sugar testing. After that I dropped my car off to have the radiator repaired. Hubby followed as he was my lift back. Next, I dropped him home in his car, he went to the gym and I went home. A couple of hours later, I picked him up and we went to lunch!

After our lovely lunch it was time to pick up my car. From there I headed out to meet a friend for a cup of tea at Darriwill Farm (a gourmet foodie shop that is now a cafe too... I LOVE that shop). I was "cafe girl" today.. or I should say "tart girl"... (cringe...read on... )!

Random Pearl Memory From Today: When hubby and I got out of the car, about to head into "T-Spoon"..there were so many cars we had to pause about a minute before we could cross the road. In the meantime I thought "Hmm.. in the past we would have held hands and crossed this road".. but I made peace with us crossing the road with our hands to ourselves. When the road was clear and we stepped out.. lo and behold, half-way across, hubby took my hand in his..and we walked hand-in-hand the 15 or 20 paces to the door.

Now for the food:

Here is the complimentary "La Madre" sourdough bread with real butter. The photograph is misleading because each piece of bread was barely the size of a deck of cards. But plenty! - No complain! We vowed next time to save our little wedge of bread to mop up the juices from our mains.
Here is hubby's Quail which was stuffed with cannelini beans, white truffle oil.. something like that! Served on a bed of rocket (like mine - I love rocket.. they had me at "rocket"). $18

I had fish of the day which was Snapper. Served with roast chats and a saffron aioli which was delicious. $16 I was tossing up between this and the Porcini Risotto. Next time I'd like to try one of their risotto's as they're kind of famous for them.

Hubby and I shared a dessert. They only had 3 offerings and this baked lemon tart was one of them, served with an orange sugar reduction. (Title photograph depicts the "after shot" of the ceramic spoon). I have no idea how much this cost. Dessert was a cherry-on-top-after-thought.

It was a lovely lunch. And between you and me.. Sssshhh.. I had another baked lemon tart for afternoon tea... while having the cup of tea with my friend at Darriwill Farm. It was HER idea.. I just agreed to go halves. It was a smaller, full-moon-shape portion. After I ate my half I was like.. "I didn't really need that". Hence, Tart Girl.

P.S. I am so grateful to Teonie for giving me her camera as a free gift. As you can see from these photo's and others, I am having a blissful time with it. Bless you T!

Career Love & BBQ food

The plan for me (after consultation with a "Job Assessor") -was that I'd enter into a career rehabilitation program in January. Or rather, would attempt to go on the waiting list as there is more demand than actual places. A five month "settle-into-my-current-life" break, followed by standing in line for career rehab.

Not too long ago I decided I didn't want to wait five months. Especially if I wait until January then struggle to be put onto a list. When would I actually work again? Mid to late 2008? Or beyond depending on whatever pathway I embarked on? Study? Brushing up of skills?

Whenever I was at Centrelink, I would ask about vacancies within the career rehab program. I'd be told "Can't even put you on a waiting list". After asking the third time and being told the same thing, I decided I'd pray about it. My heart is to "move on" - "move forward", and "no more of the same please".

When I found myself at Centrelink last Wednesday.. I asked again. I don't want to go into too much personal detail here, but this was the scenario; The Centrelink employee was on the phone to a career rehab program employee. They had my record in front of them on their screens (I could tell what was going on by listening in). Both of them thought I'd have to wait until January.

Then, something freaky happened. A bunch of dates appeared on the screen, 1st appointment dates. For me. I could pick and choose when I wanted to go in November, for my 1st career rehab appointment. Not a waiting list. The actual program. I chose Monday, November 3rd. It was locked in. The Centrelink employee didn't understand it - neither did the other person on the phone (I was told later). How? They both knew people were waiting to get on the waiting list! But I'm in! I. Am . In.

So, in brief, this is what they're about:

Our primary values as an organisation are:
-we care
-we listen
-we get it right

We are able to help you by:
-assessing your abilities and the barriers to employment
-developing with you a plan to assist you to meet your goals, and then helping you to undertake the agreed plan
-assisting you to find employment

Career-love. Help people propel themselves from where they are to somewhere new.. a place they'd much rather be.

I asked my Job Assessor a couple of months ago to give me an example of a success story linked to them. She shared the story of a guy who was an artist, but worked in a kitchen by day -and hated it! In his spare time, he painted. Through the program, they directed him to some sort of business course and now he has his own gallery, showcasing his work -and makes a living from it!

I'm hoping to go places. And be happy.

P.S. I'm putting todays BBQ food on the sidebar to the left. It was a birthday BBQ for my friend Cheryl - the food was delicious!

Notice from Foodie Wanderings

This is my latest YouTube video (37 seconds long). It's a personal notice that applies to my video channels, my blog and the blog posts I comment on.