past times

This just landed in my in-box, and I'm not happy about it. Yes, I remember Chachi - and would prefer that he stayed that way, back in the past, without his far-too-open-necked shirt, sleezoid expression and protestations about how long he can go without sex.

Scott Baio might be 45 and single, but I wish he'd do so off my television set {particularly as I now know that he wasn't particularly single at the time. Ahhh, reality television - taking a wide berth of definitions...}

After a scorcher of a day yesterday it's cool and grey - yep, nothing like consistency! I had to do a lot of watering yesterday to soothe my poor drooping plants - the trees by the pool were particularly unhappy with the 38 degree temperatures and hot, lashing winds.

I did find the process quite meditative though. As a non-meditator I find it hard to switch off. Scarily, television is my meditation... But even that's not working. I found myself drifting off and eye-rolling last night in my favourite show - The Rachel Zoe project. At the end, when she was dizzy and nauseous? Um, did anyone recommend that she actually ate something? Crazy.

What do you do to chill out and switch off?

life lessons

Well, just as I'm over my hump of stress, come two great pieces of writing to cheer me. The first was over at girlwithasatchel, the second found on facebook.

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:



1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

serenity now

I had a blissful few weeks of being chilled after our gorgeous holiday - but I knew it'd have to end. Today I've got bucketloads to do - and quite possibly nowhere near the amount of time I need to do it in...

It's been like this for a while now, and I've been coasting, but today, oh no, today my body's not letting me coast.

It's decided to stress.

So, I'm going to take some deep breaths, ignore the non-essentials, and just get in and do what needs to be done.

See this chick in the pic? That'll be me, chilled, calm and with a rather fab set of red lips...

detox duty

Well, it was a rather fabulous weekend, but boy, do I feel the need for some detoxing...

Salad, seafood and plenty of water are on the menu this week. Along with bucketloads of water, daily walks and the odd swim.

It's gorgeous and summery outside today so I imagine I'll pick up my gal from school and she'll come home and go straight out and dive in the pool. I'll head out shortly to restock my paltry pantry and make sure there's some yummy summer fruits on offer for her after-school snacks...

blood and guts trifle

Well, the blood and guts trifle for the halloween party was pretty yummy, so I thought I'd share the recipe.

First of all I poached about 8 halved white nectarines {skin on, seeds intact} in a sugar syrup with rose syrup added {no measurements here, I just covered the nectarines with water in the frying pan, added about 1/4 cup of sugar and then a good slurp of Molin rose syrup}. I poached them for ten minutes skin side down, and then turned them over.

When I took them out the skin peeled away beautifully and the seeds popped out. I then added some vodka and a vanilla pod to the poaching liquid and reduced it till I had about a cup of thick, jelly-like syrup.

Then I made some vanilla custard {from a packet, next time I'll just buy a carton!} and toasted some flaked almonds.

In a large bowl I added sliced mini jam sponge rolls {I sliced them into 1.5cm slices}, then moistened them with syrup and an extra sloosh of vodka. Then I diced the nectarines, added a layer, then tossed over a handful of crumbled, frozen raspberries {for the blood clot effect}. Then a layer of custard went on, and some toasted almonds. This was repeated and I topped it all with a fat layer of whipped cream. Sprinkled over the top were more crumbled raspberries and toasted almonds. Finally, I drizzled some rose syrup over the top.

Sadly the phone in my battery died before I could take a pic, but it did look rather pretty. I think I'll be making this again, and renaming it the more appealing Raspberry and Nectarine trifle...

halloween scene

Just thought I'd share a pic of me and the gal ready to hit the halloween party last night. We had an absolute ball. My lil snakes were quite the success - it did help that I already have medusa-like hair to start with!

mini ha ha

We're off to a school trivia night tonight, amazingly, my first-ever trivia experience. I'm beside myself, as I have a head full of trivia that I'm dying to share. But, you watch, tonight, I'll know nothing... Will still have fun though!

For our table of ten I'm taking some nibblies to share. Red wine and crispy pancetta risotto balls {make risotto in the usual manner, then pop them in mini muffin tins and bake for 15 minutes or so till the tops are crispy} and mini steak sarnies {with caramelised red onions, garlic mayo and a sirloin sliced into rounds and served on sourdough baguette}.

Yum.

puppy love

I've always been a cat person. I don't know if it's because my starsign's Leo, or if it's just something that happened, but dogs and me, well, we never really got each other.

However, the other day I was out shopping and saw my neighbour {who lives in the street behind me} on crutches. I quickly asked what happened and she'd been competing in the masters and was in the first kilometre of a 5k run when her tendon in her foot snapped. Now, me? I'd be on the ground sooking, she? Kept running and won the race and the title. She's a legend. Now her foot's been operated on, but she can't walk her dog.

He's a beautiful big, black beast. Huge, but so gentle. So I've offered to take him for a walk. You know, gets me out of the house. I took him on Wednesday, but yesterday things got frantic, husband delayed at work, child with bucketloads of homework... So I called and asked if I could walk him this morning instead.

I turned up this morning and he almost wagged his tail off in excitement, then turned, ran back and grabbed his leash in his mouth running back to me almost turning his body inside out with figure eights of delight. I snapped the lead on and took him off and just felt his joy emanating from every pore.

Now I'm in love. Luckily I've got a few more weeks to spend with this bundle of black joy. Now I understand the dog thing. I get it, cos he's got me.

foot fetish

As I'm completely obsessed with the Halloween party I'm attending on Saturday night {costume, food, drink, cosmetics...} I thought these shoes would just be smashing - should Medusa wear Valentino.

I think I'll go with green fingernails {a really pretty Chanel shade} and black toenails - and go barefoot for a real Medusa experience.

If I were wearing these for reals though, I do believe that a bright pink toenail should peep out. You?

shades of grey

Why is it that I find grey skies so romantic in Paris, I adore the shade of grey painted on almost any surface {including the exterior of my home} and yet give me grey skies in Merewether and I fall into a funk? I get myself some serious SADs when the weather's grey. I can't work properly, the house seems to fall into a slovenly state... Grrrrrrr.

I should be cheered as I just went to Spotlight and couldn't find any rubber snakes, so bought some black and some sparkly silver pipecleaners instead. I also bought some red felt to make forked tongues and red sequins for snake eyes. I've also decided on my make-up - lots and lots of green and long black lashes. As for clothes, I've ditched the idea of a toga-esque costume - too precarious. Instead, I'm going with a long black skirt that's covered in a lacy kinda detail that could conceivably look like snake scales-ish. Now, I just need one of those gold snake armbands to wind up my arm, then I'm set.

I'm going to make myself a damn fine cup of coffee, tidy my desk and then get stuck into all the work I've got due. Oh, and I'm going to make myself smile - that always takes me to a happy place.

party planning

I have a tendency to get a wee bit overexcited at the thought of events. I remember when I was growing up I was so peeved that we didn't have Halloween in Australia - seriously, what a cool idea. Now, oh yes now, Australia's cottoning on.

Stores are filled with costumes, creepy lollies {such as squishy eyeballs, and body parts!} and decorations litter the aisles of Coles.

I've yet to properly sort my costume. I had a dream the other night that I was getting ready for the party and had forgotten to buy the snakes to weave through my hair - and without the snakes, well, Medusa's just, me...

So I guess I'd best head off to Spotlight today to stock up on snakes, or at least buy some pairs of black pantihose and red sequins for eyes...

so eye see

I was just reading an hilarious post here and have finally decided to get my eyes tested. I've always had perfect vision, if anything, I'm longsighted {perfect for spotting street signs miles away - I was the original GPS}. But now, with the computer-induced headaches and eyestrain, combined with the fact that I'm holding my books progressively further from me {pretty soon I'll be propping them up at the foot of my bed}, well, it's time to get my eyes tested.

I think that secretly I've been waiting for eyewear fashion to change. Those thin glasses that've been in style for a while now look fabbo - on everyone but me. See, tiny thin glasses make round faces look even more moon-like. Not a good look.

I'll call for an appointment this week, and you watch, I'll find a divine pair of frames and sure enough, will walk out without a prescription...

wash day woes

It's still bucketing down rain today. As it was yesterday afternoon - after a threatening grey sky quelled my urge to wash all weekend.

But now I've got piles of washing. Washing to do that's overflowing in the basket, towels to wash piled by the back door, towels to put away still in the pavilion where they were dried, and clothes to put away teetering in the guest room.

Eek.

The rain's forecast to stick around through tomorrow, so I guess I'll move the clothes line further back in the pavilion so the horizontal rain won't hit it and wash that pile of towels. While my daughter's doing her homework this afternoon I'll make a start on that pile of clothes, and when I trek up to the pavilion during a break in the rain, I'll grab that other pile of towels and put them away too.

As for the teetering piles of unwashed in the bedroom? I'll save them for sunny wednesday... I'm nothing if not an optimist...

monday's menu

For the first time, in what must be about a month, I've written up my weekly menu. I must have been out of practice, because it took me nearly 10 minutes - but it's done now, so here's what we'll be eating this week:

Monday: Meatloaf and veg {rainy and miserable today - I need comforting!}

Tuesday: St Tropez Chicken and salad

Wednesday: Steak and salad

Thursday: fish and salad

Friday: school trivia night - lots of yummy nibbles

Saturday: Halloween party so I'm taking red devil cupcakes and blood and guts trifle

Sunday: Roast dinner - lamb or pork - whatever tickles my fancy on Saturday.

Now I just need to shop. My migraine hangover's abated well enough so that I can drive. I'll call at the butcher before picking up my gal, buying the meat for tonight and chicken for tomorrow night so I can marinate it in a bottle of rosé, herbs and honey {mmmmmmmmmmmmmm} and then we'll dash to the fruit and veg shop up the road on the way home. Tonight I feel like Curly Kale - but I've yet to see that in Aus, so I'll have to satisfy myself with a big lump of steamed garlic spinach, green beans and almonds and, of course, mashed potato {I'll bake the potatoes and scoop out their mushy insides}.

What's on your table this week?

sleepy head

I dragged myself out of bed at 11.30 this morning. No, not a bad case of mondayitis - just a migraine. Sigh.

Thankfully I'm feeling much better now - just woozy and with the typical 'migraine hangover' - you know, cos the migraine itself isn't bad enough...

That's not my Laura Ashley bedroom in the pic - beautiful though isn't it? I think I need to find some wall space for that dove grey wallpaper. Surely I've got a little space to fill somewhere.

all the fun of the fair

We're off to the fete at my daughter's school today. I'm not wearing a pair of slinky black pants a la Sandy {where did she fit her internal organs?} but I have made my black cat cookies.

I'm just waiting for the last batch of icing to set then we'll wander down and spend some cash.

Love a fair.

moody blues

I'm pretty sure that it would be impossible to be unhappy if you had this room to walk into every day. How seriously sumptuous is it?

I feel that way at the moment when I walk into my front garden. Roses are blooming all over the place, the grass is verdant green, trees are covered with leaves, and other plants are bursting into bloom.

Glorious stuff.

I also got stuck in and cleaned my study yesterday, which, embarrassingly, took very little time. I grabbed a box for recycling and threw most of the stuff in there, made other one-sided paper into a nifty little notepad, unpacked the piles of mail I had waiting, and tidied mags onto shelves. Now the room's looking far more workable - and I've got heaps more done.

There's still plenty to do around the house, but by making two rooms habitable {study and kitchen} it's all much more attainable. It's kind of like breaking weight loss into easily achievable goals - rather than looking at the scary big picture!

It's a gorgeous day today, and soon I'm going out with the girls for a quick dip. The water temperature is a balmy 26 degrees, so I'm going to get my swim on.

Happy days.

on a roll

So, it's the pupil-free day and I have two gals just begging to be entertained. How to do it? Why baking of course. There's a fair at the school on Sunday so I'll get them gals busy baking sugar cookies. We bought a cute black cat cookie cutter on hols so think we'll make kitties with sugar cookie dough and ice them with black icing {yep, I do have every colour in the food colouring range in my pantry...}

We've delved into Nigella and found a recipe that makes 50 - 60 cookies. Perfect.

I believe that a spot of baking, followed by a swim, followed by a bit of telly and chatting will make for happy girls - and will hopefully allow me to finish off all my work.

Wish me luck!

school daze

I have a child who just loooooooooves school. When she's sick she'll insist that she's just fine and can make it through the day. School holidays {despite how many fun activities I plan} are the bane of her life. On the last day of school she'll stomp out the gate wearing both her cranky pants and her angry eyes.

So of course she was delighted this week to return to school. Beside herself with joy - until the note came home yesterday reminding us of the Pupil-Free-Day tomorrow.

Uh oh.

Luckily I'd organised a whole-day playdate AND sleepover with her bestie, which I thought would cure her ills. We'd take in a movie, maybe go ten-pin bowling, hopefully it'd be hot enough for them to swim...

So last night, as I'm putting her to bed, Miss-nearly-10 grumps, "Why does it have to be a pupil-free day tomorrow?" and I responded, "Oh well, at least you get to spend the day with Hollie..." to which she harrumped, "I wouldn't care if I got to spend the day with Santa Claus!"

Bless.

Nothing's better than school for my gal.