Christmas day

No Christmas day on the beach for my sister, rain threatened and it was too far away to take the chance so we had Christmas at home with the mini Hewers and the extended family. Lots of fun, too much to eat and French champagne no less. Mathew treated us to his version of 'Jingle Bells,' head banging style, and attempted a moon walk a la Michael Jackson, hilarious!

Boxing Day is very quiet, spending most of the day trying to download video of Mathew performing...Firefox's fault I fear. It's a shame because it is so funny. I guess you'll have to wait for the DVD.

Thank goodness it's cool after the last few steamy days. On Christmas Eve, got very cranky with the heat after a trip to the Fish Market for prawns and crab legs. Canterbury pool cooled down the body and the temperament so we could go on to the next leg of shopping, trawling Campsie's Cheap shops for bargains. Did I mention my sister loves markets?

Tomorrow off to Paddy's Market (yes, another one) then Starbuck's for one of Maxine's favourite coffees and the Rocks for yet another market!!! Better get to bed early to get my strength up.

caught on camera

Had an amazing unusual experience today. Annika wanted to go to the cafe. Who was I to refuse? loving my cappuccinos and all. I put in my order, including a packet of coffee, pastries etc, paid with a $50.00 bill and fifteen cents. Enjoyed my coffee although somewhat concerned at the mess appearing on Annika's shirt from the cupcake she was eating. It had coloured balls on top which seem to be made of some dye that seriously stains clothes. Her shirt is soaking in Napisan as I write tonight. I considered asking the staff to put warning labels on them but in light of what happened later, didn't get round to it.

Went to Big W, got stung for some shorts and DVDs, opened my wallet and felt short of dough. I was looking for the $25.00 change I should have had from the coffee purchase at Gloria Jeans - couldn't find it anywhere.

I went back to the cafe and asked if they remembered giving me my change."We have video," they said, "so we can check." The screen is high on the wall in the coffee shop for all to see. The camera is positioned right over the cash register. We stood watching as slowly they backtracked to the time I was served.

Tension mounted as I came into view. Was I mistaken? Was I going to look like a stupid old woman? I was anticipating feeling like a fool. There I was handing over the $50.00 bill, scrabbling around for the change, getting my coffee card clipped and ....that was it. No change given. Full of apologies they were, full of relief I was.

I've always been in two minds about cameras everywhere although generally I've favoured them, albeit with faint disquiet about Big Brother (a la 1984) etc. but I've never seen them used this way before. I'm very glad it worked in my favour so of course I have no qualms about them now! Wasn't that weird? Has anyone else experienced this I wonder.

Turkey, dogs and alot to be thankful for

We did it at last...last Saturday, thanksgiving dinner at Maxine's. Tender succulent turkey, monumental mounds of stuffing, the ever present broccoli souffle, (with egg whites whipped to Everest proportions in Maxine's industrial strength mixer) braised greens, and a leek and onion dish to die for, creamy, cheesy and soo tasty. My mouth is watering with the memory. Well done Max, it was delicious.

Thought there were going to be three dogs boarding but there were four, generally well behaved although one of them threw up. Emo Annika cried every time one of the dogs barked which, mercifully, wasn't often. Turbo boy Mathew kept his distance but gradually managed to pat one of them before they left.

Talking about turbos, Maxine made sorbet with her Thermomix. This amazing machine makes everything from bread to pumpkin soup.

I made a pumpkin pie and so did Maxine, mixing her pastry dough in the Thermomix. I have to say it was better than mine as was the flavour of the pumpkin mixture. I'll have to re think my recipe for next year!

The weather was kind. Big meals like that don't go down too well if it is too hot but it was just right.

We have a lot to be thankful for, everyone healthy and well employed except yours truly whose research position finally petered out this year. I hardly noticed, there has been nothing doing on that front since July. Writing is my main occupation which I love even though it has not earned me one red cent. Still a short listing, a 'commended' and an article accepted for Writing News are steps in the right direction. Who knows what 2010 will bring.

My sister Maxine arrives on Sunday for an Aussie Christmas. The room is ready and so am I, yeah!!!!

award winning performance

I put in an award winning performance as Grandma this weekend. It started Friday afternoon picking up Mathew from day care early so the centre could prepare for the Christmas party later. (Okay, I fell down a little when I couldn't find Mathew's present 'from Santa' in his bag) That evening, as Santa got further down his bag of goodies with no present for Mathew it dawned on us the day care staff hadn't found it either! Fortunately the centre is a hop, skip and a jump away so Eddie hoofed it home, I warned the day care staff, and by the whiskers of Santa's beard Mathew got his present. Of course Annika put on the usual performance because she didn't get a present but a chocolate Santa from Grandma helped a little.

The next day while the parents raved at Homebake (concert) all day and into the night I was left with the terrorist and the 'Emo' as Melissa calls Annika. We went to the pool. Put the swim vest on Mathew and off he went, jumping in the pool, climbing out on his own 'I do it!!!' and jumping in again. I lost count after the first hundred. On the way out I bought us a hot dog. The terrorist dropped the bread from his so I put it in the bin. With a mouth full of bread, he screamed ALL the way home, 'I want my bread.' Years of training at Tick Tock Nursery stood me in good stead there.

Had a quiet two hours at home watching TV (what a life saver that box is sometimes) then went to Annika's school for carols in the evening. Thankfully I took my fold up director's chair. A bit boring for Mathew and I almost quit after Annika did her performance in the junior choir but she wanted to watch the fireworks. They were worth the wait. Mathew's first question when he saw them was 'Where do they come from?' His second question was 'How are they made?' I fell back on the age old, 'Ask daddy tomorrow.' Jeez where do they come up with these questions at age three?

The following day it was off to IKEA with the whole family. Now IKEA tries hard but Mathew needs a play station every 10 yards not every 100. Get on it IKEA! He resorted to playing with the fire hydrant. Did I mention he loves wheels? We duly noted the aisle number etc of our shelves and, after lunch (meatballs of course) headed for the warehouse to pick them up. I swear NONE of the pieces were in the appointed place. It took us half an hour to find what we'd ordered. Naturally the kids were not taking kindly to this exercise.

Ed had purchased so much there was no room for the kids in the car so they came home with me. The first half hour passed quietly with 'Rory' playing on TV. Then the terrorist got going. Pulled off one of the eyepieces of a pair of old binoculars I'd set aside for the kids, with his teeth!
Discovered where I kept the hammer but I got to him before real damage done. Tried his best with the cricket bat but I rescued that too. I found him in my office with a digital videotape in his mouth. Fortunately I'd transferred it to the computer last week.

Ed showed up, put up my shelves bless him. I took an Immigran for the migraine I knew I was going to have and sank exhausted in my recliner after they left. Tried to watch TV but the eyes kept closing. Went to bed very early. Do I hear the cheers? Worth at least a silver I think!!!

another dusty day

Another dusty morning, only grey with a touch of lilac rather than blood red like before. Didn't stop me from aqua aerobics. I haven't been all week because no car and other commitments. I needed the exercise.

My car is a big bottomed gal and now her backside is all shiny and new. Now...if only I could get the rest of her as sleek and spotless. There are a few other bumps and scrapes that have been hanging around for a few years.

Had a great library meeting on Saturday spruiking Better than Chocolate with three of my writing buddies. Sold a good number of books so life still flickers in it.

Am going to audition for reading for the blind next week. It is a community organisation where volunteers read the news on the radio for sight impaired people. Watch this space....

Will have a break from writing and concentrate on movie making. Got a few projects to complete, and it's a nice change from writing. Christmas parties start week after next so creativity time is limited until well into January, plus the heat saps one's energy. I think it is going to cool down tomorrow and rain....nice, unlike the torrents falling in the UK yesterday.

All Australian eyes will be on the Opposition party next week, with the prospect of blood on the floor, and a new leader, all because they don't want to sanction an emissions trading scheme. Stupid!!

waiting for the southerly

We're on 40 degrees. The meteorologists have promised a southerly buster this evening. I can't wait. I've blown (literally) one month's electricity bill on my little power-guzzling fan to keep me sane today. Have watched TV, done NY Times crosswords, napped and read my book, Vikram Seth's memoir Two Lives which I'm enjoying very much.

Yesterday the kiddywinks came over while the parents frolicked. We had an hour in the park between 5 and 6pm. Thought the activity would de-energise Mathew. WRONG. He is a constantly moving turbo. I had to have a cold shower after they left. Annika's pretty smile now has a gap in it and, by the way she kept trying to excavate the next tooth out with one of my Stimudents the gap will be very big very soon.

My car is being repaired after backing into a concrete pillar on Aug 26. I remember the date because it was Krista's birthday. I am without it for a week. Thank heavens for the subsidised transport ticket. I can go anywhere in Sydney on that. It just takes so much time and planning. But the metroline website is very helpful in that regard.

Time is not a problem. After hanging out for some more work with the Suicide Study I learned this week that it is no more. I am not going to rush around looking for something else however. I seem to be managing, and writing keeps me occupied. I'm just getting to the final year in S. Africa, hope to get that done tomorrow. I would have done some today but it's too hot!!!!

We are following the progress of conjoined twins who were separated in a marathon operation in Melbourne last week. Apparently the little girls are both awake now, and the MRIs of the brains look okay. It will be a surgical miracle if they've succeeded. I hope so.

Our prime minister apologised to the 'forgotten children,' those sent to childrens' homes, hundreds of them from England, to endure hardship and abuse. I understand Gordon Brown is going to do the same next year. Why does that man seem to be always behind the eight ball?

Thanks to the Women's Weekly cook book, I finally succeeded in making fish cakes, something I've lost the knack of over the years. Also found a new sausage outlet thanks to my friend Kit. I agree with her they are better than DJ's. They take longer to cook because they are so tightly packed with meat.

It's going to be salad tonight. Too hot for anything else. Come on Southerly buster start blowing!!!

Not much to report this week, things rather sedate. A lot of writing going on. I even gave up going to writing group to concentrate on it. 60,000 words and I haven't left South Africa yet. I have come to the difficult years in S. A. and it's sometimes difficult to write. Some of the old feelings of bitterness resurface, not attractive and no one's going to enjoy reading it if I give full rein. So I won't.

I've been helped by letters my sister Maxine found and gave me last year. What a gold mine for chronology and getting the facts right. What is interesting is what I did NOT report in those letters. The month before I left John I'm reporting everything is hunky dory! Airmail letters over thousands of miles are not conducive to letting it all hang out. Besides she was busy enough without my worries.

Kit and I are going to the cricket today, NSW vs Tasmania (I think) We have high hopes for our state side this season. It is a one-dayer so we know the results by the end of the day unlike the test match that starts on Tuesday. Might go to that one day next week too. The weather forecast is good but must remember the old slip, slop, slap, in other words, shirt, sunscreen, and hat.

I made spinach feta triangles for the first time. Only I didn't make triangles and I didn't use Filo pastry. I used frozen sheets of puff pastry, one on which I slapped the mixture, and one to cover it. Thank you Betty for the idea. It was delicious but I was eating the damn stuff all week. One thing I discovered, spinach is a great aperient. I feel sooo clean inside!!!!