Melting

Copper Line @ Yahoo! Video

Both at this clip and the bloody relentless heat. How times have changed. Once on a Saturday evening we'd sit outside by the bbq and bring whatever crappy music player we had and entertain the neighbours with our music. Or we'd listen to Jukebox Saturday Night, we loved that show.

Now, I'm at the breakfast bar on my laptop, and Em is on the desk pc,both of us with duelling video clips. I actually like most of the music she likes and I suspect she does like James Taylor. After all they've all grown up with it playing in our home.


Oh no, now Phill is out on HIS laptop on the back porch with Pink singing "Fun House".

We made Thai Fish cakes. I don't have my old recipe so I Googled a few and then winged it on my own with a piece of leftover cooked salmon, and some flake we had in the freezer, with an egg, cornflour, fish sauce, green curry paste and coriander. It came together alright and smelled good when we made little cakes out of it. I made a dipping sauce which is as close as I've ever made to what we've had in Thai restaurants. Sugar, rice wine vinegar, fish sauce, chilli, cucumber and roasted finely chopped peanuts. Later on we'll bbq. Teriyaki chicken for the kids and steak for Phill and me, with more coleslaw, mixed salad and garlic bread. Paddle Pops in the freezer for dessert.

It suddenly dawned on me that now I have my laptop I never need to print out recipes off the net, I can just get them up on here in the kitchen and work from the computer. If it's a hit I'll put it in a recipe folder, if it's not, we'll just delete it. Yes I am a bit slow.

Friday!

At last! It's been a tough week with Em, can't go into details as I found out through the course of the difficulties that she doesn't like me saying too much about her on here, and I understand and will respect her feelings. Suffice to say, we may have finally found some help and support for our family to get us through these difficult times.

Thank God for my friends and family who hold us up and support and encourage us.

I am glad the week is over, I'm tired and drained. The house is finally all done and looks lovely, this place really suits us. I love that the kitchen looks out onto the living area and the computer desk etc, as I used to hate being stuck out in the kitchen cooking when the others were in other parts of the house.

We're going to have a seafood night tonight, we got some marked down but still fresh salt and pepper squid and some bbq octopus, heaps of it as it was so cheap. I got out a couple of salmon fillets for Phill and I. I don't care for the squid and octopus too much. I'll make a coleslaw and we'll have chips and garlic bread. Breaking out the deep fryer for a treat to do the chips and the squid.

Emily drove a tractor today at the ag plot! She is really enjoying that part of school. She caught a runaway chicken too, had plenty experience with that. She got two gold merit cards during the week too. (I'm allowed to brag, just not the other stuff.)

Josh is also doing well at school and enjoying it. This is such a relief after all we've been through.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Later......
11pm and all's well. Phill has gone to work for a shortish night shift, Em took herself to bed early. I got her a pink t shirt nightie and she went and had a shower and washed her hair and looked like the sweet little girl she really is. I love her so much and will NEVER give up on her. Josh stayed up a while and went to bed without protest, even brushed his teeth and went to the loo!
I'm tired but happy and optimistic.
I am realising that I have more control over how things go than I thought, and events have shown me that how I act, and react, can make a big difference to how things turn out.


On another less serious note, great news that James Taylor and Carole King will tour here next year. I missed the opportunity of seeing him last time in 2003, I'd even had a ticket bought for me (which I repaid), but couldn't go since the kids were so little and Phill had been made redundant and spent most of that year working in Sydney. I've made several truly wonderful friends through the online tribute site to him, so I'm bloody going to go and as we decided here tonight, I'll go on my own, what an adventure for me! All by myself on the train to Sydney, and staying in a posh hotel near the venue. As my friend said, why do these tickets go on sale right before Christmas? Well I'll only have to pay for one ticket, and I can pay for the hotel later. And it will be SO worth it. I get the train trip for free since Phill worked on the sparks in Sydney. We get free first class train travel for life, and we should make more use of it.

So when the kids were going "oh why can't we go?" we traded this for the idea of another Sydney trip for the whole family where we'll do things we all like. Luna Park, the museums, the ferries, the zoo perhaps, and I might be able to trick them into the NSW Art Gallery. God I spent many Sundays in that place at certain times in my life.

I explored the library a little bit more today, and was like a kid in a lolly shop to see how many cookbooks and biographies they have compared to Junee. The librarian was bemused by my excitement, but she so gets it. They always get it. I got an Indian cookbook, but so many of the recipes called for like ten fresh red chillies so I thought it probably isn't for us. the Middle Eastern book is much more promising and I can see myself trying the recipes. Also got a book that Terri Irwin wrote about her late husband Steve, and "tell all" bio by Debra Byrne who was a child star here back in the day. Well at least I'm reading right? It's not Hemingway but we will be able to eat, and gossip at least.

TGIF and I am happy.

Planning for Christmas

So now we've decided to stay home I can finally start planning for Christmas, WAY later than I normally do. I am thinking of just doing a turkey breast or buffe on Christmas Day as I really do enjoy roast turkey and am reluctant to leave it out of the menu. I think I will also do Vitello Tonnato, a cold nut of veal studded with anchovies and garlic, simmered in stock and flavourings and served cold with a delicious tuna mayo. I can do that ahead of time and we can relax and enjoy that with our fresh seafood and made ahead sauces, and some luscious salads and not spend too much time in the kitchen. Weather depending we may even eat in the pergola which is now covered, absolutely smothered in vines. I will either do a Christmas trifle or a white chocolate cheesecake which I saw in a magazine today.

I still feel tired and unwell, not sure what's wrong but a good night of sleep tonight will fix me up. Doing broccoli spiked rissoles with mash, gravy and vegies tonight. We've all been eating less than ideally for health over the weekend.

I bought my overseas Christmas cards today. Next week I will go down to the little shop at the railway station and get some locally made things to send to some friends overseas as well. I hope the new company have a Christmas party this year, since our friend is now the boss I think they will. It will give us a good excuse to go stay in Junee overnight and see all our friends again. That's probably the only thing I miss about Junee, is seeing people we know out and about and having social get togethers.

It's still so hot here but to be expected for this time of year. Hope the kids don't come home too grumpy.

It was great to be able to spend some time with my sister on the weekend. She has done so much for me over the years, and it's nice to be able to give just a little back to her. She said she enjoyed it and I think she did.

So Hot

It's so hot and I can't sleep and I have heartburn, something I never get unless I'm pregnant (no I'm not). It's going to be a long hot Summer without ducted a/c. We just have an old one in the wall in here in the lounge room and unless you're sitting right under it (where I am right now) you can't really feel it.

We've decided to stay home for Christmas rather than go to Mum's. Phill's job is just too unpredictable to make any sort of long term and serious plans right now. We'll wait and see how things are after New Year and perhaps go across for a few days then. So I can finally start planning for the festive season, although it's very different for us now that Santa no longer visits. But we can still have fun.

Over the eleven or so years we've had the internet I've come across some very strange people, and the ones who infuriate me the most are those who blog, post, or email vague, hard to interpret information about themselves. I am a pretty open person and I'm honest about my life, my feelings, my joys and my sorrows and I feel like with me, it's pretty much what you see is what you get. A good part of getting older is figuring out how to filter the bullshit, and deciding not to invest any more emotional energy in a person who is unreceptive to it. Done, finished, move on.

I had a nice chat with an old friend from my Weight Watching days last night. She is on her own with four kids, I don't know how she does it, but she does it and does it pretty well. I really admire people who soldier on and make the best of a difficult situation. And talking about the Weight loss community boy are there some freaks among that lot.

I think we should have put the three seater under the a/c then I could sleep out here. I'm too tall for the two seater. I think the purchase of fans is in order this week. We have a ceiling fan in our bedroom as does Em, but ours is really noisy. Josh has a little desk fan.

Oh and to MSN users, I understand your need to be invisible, really, I do, but it still shows you logging on so we know you're there even though when we look you don't show up as being online. Just a little tip there. ;)

And what's with old classmates who want to be your friend on Facebook even though they never said "boo" to you when we were all at school together? Those too cool for school surfer boys who are now just boring and middle aged like the rest of us. LOL

Yes, yes I'm a bitch but at least I'm good at it!

Later.........

I eventually went back to bed but the heartburn got worse to the point where I was in real pain and wondered if I was having a heart attack. I got up to take some pain medication and promptly threw up but then felt better for some reason, and got a bit more fitful sleep before having to get up to get the kids ready for school.

And to the disturbed and unpleasant commenter (whose inane comment is now deleted), I can talk about, and comment on, anything I like on my own blog. At least I don't threaten suicide and alarm the people who inexplicably care about you, then remove the posts (two of them), retract it all and say people "read too much into it." Manipulative and attention seeking, seen it all before . Comment moderation has now been enabled. And I've also seen the "I'm not blogging anymore, I'm taking my ball and going home" crap many times too. Who cares? Not the first time I have reached out the hand of friendship to a troubled soul only to have it bitten. And probably won't be the last time good hearted folk get burned by a narcissistic loser.

Here we Are in Happy Downtown Parklea

This caravan park resort type place is right on a busy main road but you'd never know it. It feels like you're in the country somewhere or by the beach. Parklea Markets, a huge market complex in Sydney is right across the road from here. Weird.

I travelled the route I knew and we got here with no drama, actually made good time after leaving Coota at 7.15am.

Julie arrived, then Ali and baby Harvey who is GORGEOUS. I know I have to say that because he's my grandson but he really is a beautiful baby. Isn't that photo a classic? I didn't realise I was hanging out, but his expression is priceless. It's strange holding your grandchild for the very first time, hard to describe, but it's a love like you feel for your own children. Only they don't keep you up all night.

Josh had a nice birthday I think. Photos later, the kids are in bed after swimming themselves tired and Em wants the laptop to listen to music to, to go to sleep.

Hope my old friends on the north coast aren't too affected by the flooding.

A Country Mile or Two

I drove 180km round trip to Wagga and back today. Can you people who live in a city imagine doing that? I never would have. And I only managed to get two things on Josh's wish list, but that's okay, I also had to pay some off the Christmas lay by. Luckily I love driving. Tomorrow it's a five or so hour drive up to Sydney. We're pretty much all packed, just wish Phill could come with us.

I can hardly wait to see little Harvey. I have the camera charged up and ready, and my laptop is charging as I type so I can send photos to Phill and here. I'm going to get some baby photos of Ali out if I get time to take up and compare to him. Would love to see baby pics of Matt too but that is not likely.

Josh is so excited about his 12th birthday tomorrow. The night/morning of his arrival was so dramatic. The midwives broke the membrane the day before but as nothing happened we came home from Camden to Kiama. About half an hour after Phill left for his night shift the labour pains started. I had to wake up my sister and Katy and Emily who were 8 and not quite two and made the frantic drive back up to Camden Hospital. In the end, it was just Josh and me and the horrible midwife but he was born at about 5.45am, weighing 11lb and 1 1/2 ounces. I will never forget when Phill finally made it to the hospital and poked his head around the door and coming in to see his first born son. I am so proud of my boy, my little star, and hope he has a wonderful birthday tomorrow. He is excited about seeing his second nephew.

We're Going to See Him

I finally talked to Ali and she wants to see us. I wasn't sure if it was possible as we're still catching up on bills from the MM nightmare, but yesterday I had a windfall and we're going up to stay in a resort where Ali and Harvey will visit. It's also Josh's 12th birthday and he's going to love the place we're staying, it has a huge lagoon style pool, a large heated spa and another separate pool as well as a games room and jumping pillow thingy. The kids will have a ball while we visit with Ali. Phill can't come unfortunately but my sister is going to come and stay with us so we can have some time together and she can see the baby.

I am so excited, can't wait to hold him. I will take loads of photos of course.

We got some lovely salmon fillets cheap and filled up the freezer with them. Tonight I am using the marinade in my Alaskan cookbook, just olive oil, garlic, Cajun seasoning and salt and pepper and lemon juice. It sounds simple but next time you want to do something with salmon try it, it really tastes great. We'll do them on the bbq with the kids' chicken kebabs. The Kikkoman Teriyaki marinade has been a great find. I had some already cut up chunks of chicken breast and just threaded them onto skewers and poured over the marinade. We'll have it with my garlic potates which are on the stove now and smell wonderful, and a big salad.

Busy day tomorrow, have to clean this house and get us packed, and wash and clean the car. Oh wait I just remembered, we're driving up to Wagga tomorrow and that can't be helped, we have to get Josh's presents that we can't get here or in Young. Oh well as long as I get us packed that's the main thing. The car is dirty though, we'll do that in the evening.

This place we are staying at has a big lodge that can hold forty people, it's really modern and well furnished and it gave me the seed of an idea. When we went down the coast for Mum's 80th a couple of years ago, we all booked into the same resort in Ulladulla and had such a great time that we all vowed we'd get together more often. I'm thinking my sister's 60th next April, or maybe just a no reason get together with anyone who wants to join in.