Happy Australia Day!!

We were invited out to a BBQ lunch today to celebrate Australia Day with our friends Simone & Shane.


The weather was just fantastic ... warm and sunny with just the hint of a breeze.














The food was delicious too - we are so lucky to live in a country that has such a wonderful supply of top quality meat, seafood, vegetables and fruit, not to mention the best chefs and restaurants in the world to cook it all up with!










The company was good fun.  There was Mandy & David, Michelle & Greg and Caz, too.












We spent the afternoon chilling and chatting about everything, including our new toys - the iPads and iPhones and the girls introduced me to a new online scrabble game called Words with Friends.



Thank you, God, for leading my Mum & Dad to make the decision to immigrate to this wonderful country!  Thank You to, for such lovely friends to celebrate it with.

Walker & TV

I headed off to Phillip Island, yesterday afternoon to see Mum & Dad again. It seems so long since I last saw them, when we were in McCrae together!

I took some snippings from the veggie patch with me - some lettuce, beetroot leaves, spring onions, radishes, a cucumber, some snow peas and my very first (almost) ripe tomato!  The picture makes it look more like a pumpkin than a tomato, but it is still pretty big - about four inches in diameter!  It's amazing to think that just a few weeks ago (click on these coloured words to go to that post), this lovely big piece of fruit was barely the size of my little finger nail!

I arrived late in the afternoon, so we spent a couple of hours just chatting and catching up on each other's news. They have bought Dad a brand new walker in the past few days and he was keen to show it off to me. It's a really good quality one, sturdy but lightweight and able to fold up to put in the car.


Dad seems to walk so much more confidently and even a little faster when he is using his walker.  I think it gives him the security of knowing that, should he start to lose his balance, the walker is there to steady him.  Also, whenever his legs get a little tired, he can lock the breaks, turn around and sit on it for a little while.

I think the walker is just brilliant!

We chopped up the veggies and made a salad, which we had with sardines and fresh bread & butter for tea. Afterwards we went for a walk and Dad was able to show me what a great help the walker is to him.  It was a beautiful evening and we stopped to chat with many of the other residents of the retirement village where Mum and Dad live.  Muffy doesn't ride in the walker, but trots along happily beside Dad.  He just popped her into it for the sake of the photo!

It was a lovely evening for a walk and when we returned home, we opened the jar of plums in honey syrup that I had also brought with me, and had them on ice cream for dessert. This is the first time I had tasted them and they were pretty good!  They are quite spicy and reminded us of Christmas puddings.

Mum & Dad said they were delicious!

The next morning, Dad's carer Trish turned up as usual on Monday at 10:30.  So, after he was settled with her, Mum and I headed off to Wonthaggi to buy a new TV.  The "powers-that-be" in the government have decided that all TV channels will be going to HD soon, and all retired people get a free set-top box so that they can receive the signal on their old TVs properly.  But, instead of this, Mum and I decided it would be better if they got a new TV which would be the right (more rectangular) shape.

When we got to Wonthaggi and after looking around a bit, we found a really good LCD 42" screen TV at one of the big department stores and the staff brought it out to the car for us.  However, it would not fit in my tiny little boot!  So, we put the roof down and drove it home like a back-seat passenger.  HA HA!!  We laughed at the funny looks we were getting from people as we drove past them!


Once we were at home, a really lovely couple who live near Mum & Dad called Beth & Lyle came over to set it up and tune it in for us.  It was so nice of them to do this, as we would most likely have really struggled with it.

Once it was up and going, we all sat down for an iced tea (as it was a very hot day - 32 degrees C - although it was lovely and cool in Mum & Dad's house as they have refrigerated a/c).  Beth and Lyle showed Mum & Dad that they now have a staggering 59 channels to choose from!  Mum said that they might just stick to the four channels they were used to for now and then venture out to try some of the other ones a little later on.

The TV looks great in the corner of the living room and the screen is nice and big with a really good resolution.  I think Mum & Dad are going to enjoy watching it!

After everything was settled, I packed up and headed back up to Melbourne, in time to go out to choir in the evening.

A Night at the Tennis

We went out to the tennis, this evening ... the Australian Open, having been invited by Wayne's accountant Paul and his wife, Lauren. First we had a lovely meal in the Racquet Club restaurant...

... then, we walked just a few metres over to the Rod Laver Arena to catch the Serena Williams vs Greta Arn game. Unfortunately, this was a bit of a walkover, as Williams far out-classed her opponent.

However, because there wasn't a whole lot happening on the court to catch my attention, I was able to turn my focus to all the other things that were going on, like what the ballkids were doing, how the line umpires behaved, how impressively huge the lenses were on the press photographers' cameras and how beautiful the sky looked through the open roof of the arena, as it gradually turned from day to night.

Then after only an hour, the women's game was over and then it was time for our own Lleyton Hewitt against a young Canadian called Milos Roanic. This was a completely different ballgame, to coin a phrase, as these two were extremely well matched! They went point for point and won a set each, then went to a tie-breaker in the third set, which Hewett finally won. The match was to be the best of five sets, and it was already 11pm when they started playing the fourth set so we hoped Hewett would take this one. He did it in the end, but it wasn't easy for him and it was a real "edge of your seat" game. We both had a thoroughly good time, this evening and are very grateful to the accountant's firm for taking us out.

Things To Do With Plums :: Plums in Honey Syrup

I have far too many plums off the tree and they are beginning to rot before I can do things with them.  I find this an awful shame, but have to just accept that I only have so many hours in a day and only so many jars to put them in!

Today I bottled some plums in a honey syrup.  This is a very simple recipe, but uses up quite a lot of plums, which can be kept for months and then either eaten as they are or used in a recipe.

I simply cut the plums in half and took the stones out, then packed them tightly into the 500ml jars (which I had sterilized in the water bath), adding a cinnamon stick and one-quarter of a vanilla bean pod.

Then, I dissolved 1-1/2 cups of manuka honey in 4 cups of water in a small pan on the stove, brought it to the boil and poured it into the jars of plums, leaving 2cm of space at the top.

Then, I popped the lids on and tightened them and processed the jars in the water bath for 30 minutes.  I made some covers out of another lovely "plum" fabric that I found on eBay and they were ready to put up in the pantry.

I have ordered some more jars on line today from Kitchenware Direct, because I can see the tomatoes are starting to ripen.  Uh OH!!!

Things To Do With Plums :: Chinese Plum Sauce

Having had such success with the jam, and with buckets of plums coming off the tree, my next effort was something more savoury - Chinese Plum Sauce.  I got the recipe from the Food.com website (posted by Dancer) and I will go through it step-by-step, like I did for the apricot jam, because it is a good resource for me to look back to, should I decide to make it again.

Ingredients:
8 cups of blood plums, chopped and stoned (1.6kg before chopping & stoning)
1 cup of onions, diced (I used a Spanish onion, but white ones would do)
1 cup water (I would use 1/2 cup next time)
1 teaspoon ginger root, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 cup castor sugar
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon ground coriander seeds
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon whole cloves

First, I cut up the plums and took the stones out.  This is a very "juicy" business, so it's a good idea to have an old and very absorbent table cloth or towel underneath the chopping board, as well as having paper towels on hand to mop up the juice every two or three plums.



Eight cups of chopped plums fills two large jugs.  So, knowing this, next time I won't bother with the measuring cup.



Next, I washed the jars and lids in hot, soapy water and rinsed them well.  Then I put all the jars and other equipment into the hot water bath and brought it to the boil for at least ten minutes.





Then, I put the plums, onions, garlic, ginger and water in a big pot, covered it and brought it to the boil.  Then I reduced heat and simmered until the plums and onions were very tender (about 30 minutes).  NB:  As mentioned in the ingredients section, I will reduce the water to 1/2 cup next time, as it took a long time to reduce the sauce to a good consistency, later on.


A couple of days ago, Lizzy came with me to Spotlight (she drove, of course!) to find a nice fabric for the jar covers for this sauce.  Lizzy found this lovely red and gold paisley design - SO suitable to a Chinese sauce!  While the plums & onions were cooking, I cut out all the covers.



After the plums & onions had become nice and soft, I strained them.  I did this in two stages, first through a colander to get out all the bigger lumps, and then through a strainer.  It seems like twice the work, but it made the strainer part a lot quicker and easier.



Then I returned the sauce to the stove in a clean pan and added the sugar, vinegar, coriander seeds, salt, cinnamon and cayenne pepper.  I put the lid on and brought it to the boil and then reduced the heat to a high simmer with the lid off until it has reduced to about half its volume and the consistency of apple sauce (about 45 minutes to 1 hour).  If I had used half the water, as I intend to next time, this will have taken quite a bit less time, I imagine.

Then, using sterile tongs, I took all the jars, lids, ladel and funnel out of the hot water bath and stood them on clean paper towel.  I realised, then that the red, wide-mouthed funnel that I had used for the jams would not fit into these smaller jars and had to quickly sterilize a smaller funnel to use.

Then it was time to start ladelling!  I love this bit!  The quantities of this recipe almost filled four of these 300ml jars.



Once the jars were filled, I put the lids on quite tight and processed three of them in the hot water bath for 30 minutes.  After I had taken them out to cool, it was fun listening for the little buttons on the lids to pop down as they vacuum-sealed.  I put the fourth jar in the fridge to use straight away.

After the jars had cooled and I had checked that they were vacuum-sealed, I put the labels, covers and ribbons on them.  I was very happy with this sauce and the next day made it again with double quantities and half the water, which worked really well.  I now have twelve jars of Chinese plum sauce - plenty for the whole year!

We will use it with all sorts of dishes.  Wayne used it to marinate some pork spare ribs the first night after I made it and the family said it was very good!  Being vegan, I didn't really want the pork myself, but I had some of the sauce on my rice and peas and really liked it too!  The next night, we had it as a dipping sauce with some home-made spring rolls and tonight we are having it on roast duck.  I think that will be enough plum sauce for one week!

Stephanie Dowrick :: Take Charge, Stay Calm

I always enjoy reading Stephanie Dowrick's life advice. I have two of her books already and plan to get her latest one, Everyday Kindness, soon. Below is a piece she wrote for her blog, today. I think it is fundamentally good and worth a read ...
1. Come into the present moment. When you panic, your thoughts break time barriers. You imagine, “This will go on forever.” Or, “Nothing will ever change.” Take as much time as is needed to move your awareness around your body, noting where you are in time and space at this very moment. Breathe slowly into the moment. I know it sounds silly. That’s good. Silly is better than panic. “Breathing slowly as I stand in the airport…I calm my body.” Or, “Breathing in through the soles of my feet, I feel more grounded.” You will actually feel some of that anxiety leave you and a greater sense of control and calm return. I promise.

2. Ask yourself: “What’s needed right now?” Or, “What would help right now?” When your primitive mind says, “Nothing”, persist. Keep asking: “What memory, what plan, what breathing, what comfort would help right now?” In very bad moments, write down the question and your answer. Keep writing until you have some clarity and less confusion and helplessness. It will also help just to remember that, “This too will pass.” At times when you can’t write, say your helpful phrase over and over like a mantra. This literally soothes. When stuck, imagine what you would say to the person you love best. Say that to your own self.

3. Use physical aids. Rescue Remedy, a glass of water, the Emotional Freedom Technique (tapping – lots on the web about this). It can help to rest your hands together with hands pointing in opposite directions, palms touching, and to breathe into your hands and push them gently but firmly together. If you are free to do so, go for a walk, run or swim. If you are having a hard time generally, take more exercise, not less. Don’t ask yourself whether you feel like it. Your feelings as well as your physical chemistry will change as you take action.

4. Be deeply sceptical about your bleak conclusions. And so, so much kinder to yourself. When we are highly anxious or in a state of panic, we are literally viewing ourselves – and our problems – from the least sophisticated, most fear-driven parts of the brain. This will always, always, always give you a grim view. Switch that off by switching on your more creative, strategic capacities. As yourself: “Who is the person who would know best about this…?” Then ask, “And what would they be most likely to do/say/think right now.” Some people are also helped by deciding what “Plan B” would be. Panicking, there is no Plan B. Thinking more creatively, a “Plan B” will always emerge. Write it down.

5. Pray. This is not for everyone but it helps me. I simply ask the angelic forces to be with me, to surround me, to support me. I see my way into this prayer by using my imagination to visualise angels (in whatever form) and then allow myself to be in their presence. Sometimes I hand over whatever is causing me most distress. It helps so much not to feel alone.

6. Ask for help. Accept help. You needn’t go into how bad you’ve been feeling. In fact, don’t. Just say, “It would really help me today if you could…” Or, “This seems to be a hard day and it would make such a difference if you…” When there is no one to help, stay with your own inner resources. Ask yourself: “What decision would a really calm person make to help them through the next five minutes?” You will be surprised how much you already know.

7. NEVER tell yourself what an idiot you are, how hopeless, doomed, etc etc. If you tap (EFT), you might use a phrase like, “Even though I call myself an idiot, I thoroughly and completely accept myself.” At other times, you can simply say, “I thoroughly and completely accept myself.” Going to war against yourself adds to panic. It does not relieve it. Making peace with yourself brings greater calm.

8. Limit whatever will exhaust you. We all get far more anxious when we are exhausted. Get as much physical exercise as is humanly possible. Also get as much rest as your circumstances allow. Let your standards re everything else drop. Even the essentials can sometimes wait. Oh, but eat well. Eat lots of protein and fresh vegetables and delicious fruit. Do not drink any alcohol. I write about all this in Everyday Kindness.

9. Limit the triggers for panic. Keep every event, outing or occasion as simple as possible. Think about what “Go with the flow” might mean today. Welcome stimulation and positive company. They are great distractors. Hard to chat, laugh and talk – and panic successfully at the same time. Taking care of other people can be exhausting. It can also be a wonderful distraction from ourselves. Oh, and assume in any social situation that other people are far more concerned about how they are being judged than they are about judging or criticising you. And if they do judge you harshly? Sorry: their horrible problem (for having such a mean view), NOT yours. If someone close to you increases your anxiety, you must place limits: “Not now. It would be very bad timing for me.” Walk away, disengage.

10. Write lists. They do help you to see what you have done as well as what needs to be done. Strike through all the “unnecessaries”. Add some things that are just for fun, stimulation, pleasure. Don’t panic about what you will forget. Most things don’t matter. You can limit panic about the things that do matter by writing short lists or creating memory prompts (“Yes, door locked, 1,2,3.”). Limit what you could lose: credit cards, money, phone etc etc. Create check lists and checking habits that are simple and reassuring. (“Yes, phone; yes, wallet; yes, baby’s things.”) Give yourself credit for everything that goes well. Write down every day at least THREE things that went well in your day. Pat your back. And end your day with at least five minutes of slow breathing: Breathing in I know that I am calm. Breathing out…I am peaceful and content.

Oh, and please remember:  Every day, a new beginning.  God bless.

Neighbour's Flood

Lizzy took Jarrah for a walk, early this afternoon and she called me from half-way up our road to let me know that it looked like a water main had burst and there was lots of water pouring down into the property of Graeme & Jill, the people across the road from us.  So, I went up to have a look at it and she was right, so I gave the water company a call and ran to Graeme & Jill's house to see if they knew that torrents of water were flowing down the hill and potentially into their house.  But they weren't home!!

I tried to call Graeme's mobile, but it was going straight through to his voicemail.  I left a message but didn't have Jill's mobile number, so then I called the State Emergency Service and let them know that we needed assistance.  But they said unless they had the permission of the property owners, they would not be able to come onto the property to help.  They said they would call the local CFA crew and get them to come as soon as possible anyway, just in case I got through to Graeme or Jill.


Then I called Peter & Ruth, the other neighbours two doors up and thankfully they were both home and came across in boots and with spades.  Peter dug another channel for the water that was torrenting out of the burst main, which directed it around the house, and used some concrete blocks to build a dam across the original course that the water was taking.

These photos were taken long after the flood had subsided.

But it had risen up to the door stops and was threatening to go inside by this stage, so Ruth and I grabbed some brooms and started sweeping away from the house.

Finally the water company's truck arrived and they switched off the mains pipe.  This was only just in time, as Ruth and I were losing the battle to keep the water from entering the house.  The water company's men got to work digging holes and fixing the pipe, while Peter, Ruth and I continued to sweep water away and mop up around the house.       I sent Graeme a text message to say that everything was under control now and that no water seemed to have got in.  I'm not sure when he will get that message.  The CFA hadn't turned up during the hour since I had called, so I called the State Emergency Service again to say that the water company had turned off the pipe and we had dealt with the flood, so there really wasn't any point them coming now.   I have also left a note on Graeme & Jill's front door for when they get home to give me a call.  Otherwise they will come home and see the wet all around their house and their garden half washed-away and wonder what on earth has happened!   **sigh** Just another day!!

 

 

 

 

Veggie Patch :: Update

I am so delighted to be finally harvesting lovely fresh, home-grown produce from my garden!  The snow peas are proilific, as are the radishes.














The tomatoes are have grown to almost my height (all of 5 foot!) and are producing plenty of fruit, although none of it is showing any sign of ripening as yet.

This looks like a jumbled mess, but it's actually thee rows of
iceberg lettuces, interspersed with radishes.

The lettuces are very big and have started to set nice tight hearts inside all those floppy outside leaves.  I pluck a few juicy green leaves now and then to throw into our salads for dinner or lunch.



The cucumbers are coming along fantastically and are starting to weave their way up the 45 degree terrace that Wayne built for them. 

Underneath, hanging vertically are lots of lovely baby lebanese cucumbers!

The beetroot have come on so well that they can afford to lose a few baby leaves for our salads, too even though the beets themselves are not yet big enough to dig up.

The broccoli are getting bigger every day and I have managed to keep the grubs from eating them up by using a bio-insecticide called Dipel, which is a bacteria that affects the grubs but not other animals or humans.  However, I haven't yet seen any flower heads coming up.

The one and only eggplant has put out one single fruit, which looks beautiful, but lonely.  So, I have bought and planted another grafted eggplant to be its buddy, as well as eight baby Lebanese eggplants.  Hopefully all this company will encourage it to produce more fruit, showing off to its new neighbours!

Just to make sure, I sprinkled a line of Epsom Salts (magnesium sulfate) around all the eggplants.  This was recommended by quite a few commenters on the Gardenate website, when some gardeners complained that their eggplants were flowering profusely but not setting much fruit.  It will be interesting to see what effect it has.

The spring onions are coming along nicely, but were being extremely untidy - falling about the place like drunken sailors.  So, I put stakes in and tied them up to them.  Now they are nice and tidy, standing in formation like soldiers.

The pumpkin have gone absolutely crazy and were pushing right the way through the lettuces, radishes and cucumbers.  So, I have taken each trailer and gently lifted it over the wall of the veggie patch and told it it will have to continue growing "on the outside" now.  They looked very sad this morning, with all their leaves facing down, but this afternoon they had got over their disappointment and their leaves were facing up to the sun again.

The pumpkins are full of male flowers at the moment, but I did notice one female flower bud starting near the end of one of the plants. 



This photo has been classified by the ACB as R-Rated

When she is a little older and opens up, I will perform a marriage ceremony between her and one of the male flowers.  Unfortunately, this means the death of the male flower, as I will have to pluck it, strip its petals and rub its stamen into the middle of the female flower, but the sacrifice should be worth it!  No pain, no gain, honey!

The little celery plants have been doing very little for the past few weeks.  But, all of a sudden this week, they have realised that they should be doing something worthwhile and have begun growing.  AT LAST!!!

Considering how well they had all been behaving, I decided to reward the veggies with a delicious dose of PowerFeed for Veggies.  As I sprinkled this beautiful brown liquid from the watering can onto the plants, I was sure I could hear them sighing, sitting back and enjoying it ... something like how we might enjoy a lovely cab sav.

So, all in all, the veggie patch is coming along fantastically!