Blogtoberfest Ends

Well I didn't manage to blog every day in October. Some days I was just too tired and other days, well, there wasn't much to say.

The weekend has flown by in a hurry. I managed a hair cut and spent hours fine-tuning the three presentations for next week in CQ.

I offered my services to assist with decorations for the school formal - a James Bond/Casino Royale theme so now I'm wracking my brain, trying to come up with something out of this world but relatively cost effective (ie cheap).

Drew worked a really busy shift at Mary's on Friday night and did his regular bottleshop gig yesterday. He spent all day today on SOR, Maths and Drama and has now gone to Sophie's tonight for a bit of Halloween fun and a break from the books.

Somehow I've lost a week this term. Of all the terms to lose a week, this is probably the worst one!! I thought Drew had 4 weeks of school left - but he's only got 3!! This coming week will be used to finalise assessment pieces, next week is exam week and the week after is filled with graduation and formal practices and the real thing/s.

Drew had his final MMR booster on Friday so all that is now finished. The visa papers for Canada are awaiting completion (also waiting on details of his guardian over there before being fully completed).

Gibbo went to Gundi yesterday to play QCC cricket and is off playing tennis tonight.

Meg went to a charity cocktail party in Tba last night with some girls from school. I was on kitten duty. And goat duty. And pig duty. Interesting. It's over 16 years since I woke up in the middle of the night to feed something helpless!

November 3 is a big day for sliprail. It marks two years since my first post. Two Years!! It feels good.

The Third Degree

Megan sent in her very last assignment ever today. In a little while we will again watch her graduate, this time with a Master of Justice (Intelligence). The paths we choose can change in the blink of an eye. She was so keen to be a journalist but then hated that first semester at Uni and switched courses in semester two...and now here she is, after five years (3 full-time, 2 external), a very relieved master of something!

Well Done Meg! My heart smiles for you! Mwah!

Three Months From Today

I shall be curled up on the floor in the foetal position, sobbing my heart out, unable to speak, overcome with sadness and grief because I will have waved/kissed/hugged/squeezed goodbye to my Drewy as he heads off on his adventure to Canada for a year. January 27, 2011.

What was I thinking when I encouraged him to head off to the other side of the world for a whole twelve months? Yes, I really want him to go and No, I don't want him to go at all.

It's going to be a long year,next year is.

A veeeerry long year.

I need a project.

A big one.

To distract me.

And no, Gibbo doesn't count as a project.

Cleaning Up; Planting New

Blogger is giving me grief again so I'm posting photos from the busy weekend in the permaculture garden. My scintillating commentary will have to wait until later.....

 

Hello Chloe

This is the extra mouth to feed that I alluded to in an earlier post. We were doing the goat/chook/garden thing yesterday afternoon when Megan heard a "miaow". She got very excited and sent Chris into the wilds of the overgrown trees and bushes in search of what was on the other end of the sound. He emerged, with this.

 Of course, there was never any question about whether we'd keep it or not (actually, it's a good thing that Gibbo didn't find it frst or there would have been quite a few questions!). It's eyes and ears are still closed, it weighs 165 grams and is fed every two hours (although it missed the 2am feed). It is being fed goats milk through a plastic syringe. It's nether regions are being stimulated to encourage weeing (otherwise they don't know how to wee??). Megan will consult further with the vet tomorrow (when she takes it to work).

Here's a couple of interesting facts to ponder. Three years ago I received a phone call from the RSPCA asking for a donation. I declined, as I felt that over the years we've done our fair share of looking after strays and blow-ins. Within a week, a dumped jack russell and three pups landed on my doorstep, courtesy of an ex-boyfriend of Megan's. We found homes for the mother and two pups; the third became Clarabelle, our fluffy friend who subsequently died with my staffy, Tilly, after they'd torn apart a very angry, hibernating brown snake.

Then, on Friday, I received a letter from "peta", asking for a donation to help animals that had been rescued from appalling conditions in puppy and kitten farms. I promptly threw it in the bin. The next day, we had an apparently abandoned newborn kitten land in our laps.

Do you see a pattern forming here?? Is the Universe trying to tell me something?

Next time, I'm donating $100. Who knows what we might end up with otherwise?

Chinese Star Jasmine

This is the best the CSJ hedge has ever looked; in fact it's so good, it's too heavy for the flimsy fence trying to hold it up. A combination of fertiliser and a whole lot of rain has really helped it along. Someone really should trim it but I kind of like the wild look (I also like it because that "someone" would have to be me).

 The honeysuckle on the archway is thick and heavy too; it's one of my favourite scents. 

 Megan's rose - Black Beauty

 Honeysuckle at the bottom of a palm tree.

 CSJ at the bottom of another palm tree.

 Pink standard roses (crooked ones) break the hedge at four points.

I did manage to have the five of us (Chris was here) picking up sticks and spreading mulch today, just for half an hour. That means I got 2 and 1/2 hours done in the garden instead of just 1/2 an hour of me on my own. Thanks for your help guys, we did good. Same again next weekend hey? Hey? Hey? Where did everybody goooooooooo??????????

One Day Last Week

It's a beautiful place to be when it rains.



Beef Panaeng

During the recent Women's forum we visited the James Street Cooking School where, in groups of five, we cooked several dishes. Once the cooking was done we were ushered downstairs for a quick drink while the staff cleared and rearranged the tables. We then sat in our groups and ate what we'd cooked.

The Beef Panaeng was really something special; one of the best foods I've ever tasted. When we've cooked something like this at home, we've gone about it totally back to front (ie oil, fry spices, fry meat, add coconut cream). We started by "cracking" the cream - cooking some of it until it "splits" (took ages), then frying the spice paste in it, adding palm sugar, fish sauce and the rest of the cream (simmer 15 minutes). The beef was cooked separately and added at the end, just before serving, garnished with chillies, thai basil and lime leaves. It was absolutely delicious and went nicely with the Lime and Lemongrass Chicken Salad, the Fish Cakes and the Duck and Onion Soup. We were advised to put a bit of everything on our plate at once instead of serving up four separate courses.

 Lime and Lemongrass Chicken Salad

 Beef Panaeng

 Fish Cakes

 Duck and Onion Soup in the bowl. My presentation leaves a little to be desired!