Toss Up

It's a toss up in more than one sense of the word, the political debate or Masterchef finale. The pollies had the sense to move the debate one hour before the most anticipated TV show of the year. Even if a million tuned in to watch the debate I expect there was a mass turn off for the post mortem.

Now I say 'debate'. We all know that does not happen any more between politicians. They are so scared of putting a foot wrong they mouth platitudes, mild vision statements or in the case of Tony Abbot, the opposition leader, slag the government at every opportunity playing fast and loose with the truth and churning out bags of hyperbole. This is a man who by his own admission sometimes does not tell the truth.

There were more words said about boats of refugees than old people and aged care. Come to think of it NOTHING was discussed about that. Not a hot issue obviously. Schools and health care were brushed over lightly. In short it was a nothing event with no one coming out on top. Oh dear. I'd been hoping for more from Julia Gillard, the new PM. We go to the polls on Aug 21. After last night's performance a lot of people will be wondering which way to jump. In other words it's a toss up.

The really important thing is that ADAM won Masterchef. I think I will buy his cookbook when it is published. He is imaginative and skilfull and favours Asian dishes. The good thing is that the 20 year old runner up, Callum received an offer to cook on one of the panelist's kitchens (The Press Club) with $10,000 to help with expenses of the move to Melbourne.

A major problem. How to deal with the withdrawal symptoms now that the program is over!
One thing will help; planning my forthcoming trips. See the new travel blog for details.
http://travelswithpauline.blogspot.com
Bearing in mind it is a work in progress at present.

"THEY WEAR NAPPIES GRANDMA!"

This is what Annika whispered in my ear as we passed the 'pokies' section of St. George Leagues Club this week. She'd seen a program on TV about people who are so loath to leave the poker machines for ANYTHING they wet their knickers rather than go to the toilet. Trust her to remember that one. She's now putting toilet tissue in her undies in case she drips!!!!

Off to Disney on Ice later today.

disability student

As promised Annika and I stayed home on Wednesday. Given that I'd stressed my back exercising too vigorously at aqua on Monday, in an attempt to keep warm in the too cold water, I was glad to take it easy. Annika asked whether I wanted to be the teacher or the student. I don't know why she asked. She ALWAYS wants to be the teacher. So I asked if I could be the disability student lying on the couch. "Of course grandma." So I did my times tables and wrote my story lying on my back. She marshalled the remaining six students, planned school excursions, gave us recesses and gold stars.

I took her home in the evening and had dinner with the Hewers. "Ooh, my favourite dinner," says Mathew hoeing in with gusto, spaghetti flying everywhere. That boy loves his food. I love his enthusiasm. I think he was born with a pogo stick up his bum, he jumps up and down so fast and so constantly he makes your head spin.

I'm at Skye's house today. The parents have bought two new peices of equipment for her, a travel cot that looks like something you would take up Mount Everest, an all enclosed pop up affair in black. I call it 'base camp'. She's going to have great fun with that when she's two. The other is a high chair that looks like a step ladder, it has no tray but can be set close to a normal dining table. She christened it this morning, little head bobbing back and forth, a big grin on her face. Pictures to come. Now she has somewhere to eat her rice cereal in. She had her first taste yesterday, did quite well. That's another kid who loves her food, any way it comes.

No rain for once. I look forward to taking her for a ride in the pram this afternoon.

I wore the kid out

That's what Annika was complaining about last night. "Grandma we've done too much!' How do you think the 70 year old felt?

We left the house about 10 am, started off with aqua aerobics, one hour, then a ride in Kit's sports car with me following behind in the budget vehicle. Lunch at the bistro at St George League's Club then a trip to Cape Solander to see migrating whales making their way up the coast. With the help of Ed's binoculars we saw two of them and a pod of frisky dophins. It was a beautiful afternoon, the ocean a millpond and good visibility. On the way back Kit directed us to Dijon's, a catering outlet with all kinds of foodstuffs in bulk, all kinds of flours I'd never heard of, and other products from Tibet, Pakistan and other far flung places. Maxine (daughter) I think you would like this place.

We got home about 5pm, The kid kept visiting the toilet, on account of the over eating! Dinner was a very simple affair. Then the whining started, 'Grandma we've done too much today.'

Today we saw Toy Story 3 and came home to play schools. She's much happier especially since I promised to go nowhere tomorrow!

A visit to Lindt's chocolate cafe

As Annika says, 'it's like a dream'

more food news

In the coldest week of the year I tried two new recipes, Bobotie, a sort of South African version of Moussaka which I used to cook years ago in South Africa. We all cleaned our plates with that one. We followed it up with Stephanie Alexander's version of treacle sponge (actually made with golden syrup)which also turned out well. She uses lemon juice with the syrup which I liked, it cuts through the sweetness of the syrup.

I also made a frittata, using winter vegetables pre roasted in the oven. I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't a glorified omelette. Nevertheless I enjoyed it

A friend at aqua aerobics gave me two recipes yesterday, one for a a sausage casserole which I'll be trrying soon, and a scone recipe that uses lemonade as the raising agent. Thanks to Masterchef, I now know that scones should be placed touching one another on the baking tray. A bit like people you can't rise to the occasion in isolation, you need others to help you along!

Annika is with me this week. I'm going dizzy playing Pictureka. She's so good at it she's contriving to lose to give me a chance to win. Oh the ignominy, the shame!!!!

We're going on the train to the city today where I'm going to introduce her to the delights of the Lindt chocolate shop, their macaroons and strawberries with dipping chocolate, yum!

Thanks for the early morning phone call Joan, always a delight to catch up with you. Where would I be without my very dear friends? I'd be like those unrisen scones, hard with not much life in me.