Sunday, October 28, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
Where We're At
We are in Brisbane for two days of budget meetings. I'm feeling the pressure but no-one else is. I wish I didn't. I wish I could also say "it's just a budget" but I can't. It makes me anxious and nervous.
Drewy is approaching the pointy end of the semester. The 2500 word essay that he wrote the weekend of my party at midnight, 3am, 4am etc produced a 7. See what you're capable of when you put your mind and body to something? Great things.
Meg is in the process of negotiating a new car deal. Exciting times for her. She will be selling the little red machine once the dint is ironed out next month.
Seven of us went out for dinner last night to a restaurant up the road from where we're staying and we took our own meat. We had two pieces of meat left over from the competition at the conference - a grass fed product (given to us by a producer who was keen for us to try his meat) and a grainfed product (one of our own) and both highly marbled. There was only enough for 4 grass fed steaks - one as an entree and three as meals (although we shared the three, making sure everyone got a good taste). The grainfed product cut up into 6 steaks. (I had to use my phone camera so some of these photos don't do justice to the meat).
The grass fed, raw.
The grainfed, raw.
The grass fed, entree.
The grass fed, cooked.
The grainfed, cooked.
The verdict?
Everyone (all managers from properties that breed/grow/feedlot wagyu) really enjoyed the flavour of the grass fed product and thought that it was equal to and, in some opinions, better than the grainfed; however, all thought that tenderness and chewability was better from the grainfed.
The vote - 3 out of 7 preferred the grass fed over the grainfed; 4 out of 7 preferred the grainfed over the grass fed.
Just for the record - I preferred the grass fed.
Drewy is approaching the pointy end of the semester. The 2500 word essay that he wrote the weekend of my party at midnight, 3am, 4am etc produced a 7. See what you're capable of when you put your mind and body to something? Great things.
Meg is in the process of negotiating a new car deal. Exciting times for her. She will be selling the little red machine once the dint is ironed out next month.
Seven of us went out for dinner last night to a restaurant up the road from where we're staying and we took our own meat. We had two pieces of meat left over from the competition at the conference - a grass fed product (given to us by a producer who was keen for us to try his meat) and a grainfed product (one of our own) and both highly marbled. There was only enough for 4 grass fed steaks - one as an entree and three as meals (although we shared the three, making sure everyone got a good taste). The grainfed product cut up into 6 steaks. (I had to use my phone camera so some of these photos don't do justice to the meat).
The grass fed, raw.
The grainfed, raw.
The grass fed, entree.
The grass fed, cooked.
The grainfed, cooked.
The verdict?
Everyone (all managers from properties that breed/grow/feedlot wagyu) really enjoyed the flavour of the grass fed product and thought that it was equal to and, in some opinions, better than the grainfed; however, all thought that tenderness and chewability was better from the grainfed.
The vote - 3 out of 7 preferred the grass fed over the grainfed; 4 out of 7 preferred the grainfed over the grass fed.
Just for the record - I preferred the grass fed.
Meg's Macarons
Meg's first batch of paid macarons came off the production line last night. Can't wait to see them iced. Check out those feet!
Monday, October 22, 2012
Result
I went back to the surgeon/specialist today for removal of the cotton wool and plug. Felt woozy when he removed it. So far, all is good. He is happy with how my ear looks; still can't drive for another week; or work (ahem); hearing will continue to improve but will come and go a bit while the ear adjusts; ok to go down the range on Thursday; a hearing test is scheduled in a month to determine progress. The tinnitus is still present but the constant sound of my pulse/blood pumping has gone. I hope it stays gone. He told me about the op and how he cut the eardrum and pulled it back to reveal the little bones. It was quite invasive really; no wonder I ended up a bit crook.
I'm starting to think about potting up a few cuttings from this garden to take to the next one. I bought some potting mix on the way home and will start with the gerbera that Jo gave me for my birthday. There's lots of bulbs I can dig up and split to take with me; aggies, iris, clivia, four o'clocks and some baby agave.
I found some galangal rhizomes on the Green Harvest site. We used it in the Beef Penang that we made at the cooking school during the women's conference two years ago (one of the top 5 meals I've ever had). I've only ever seen it for sale in one shop at the coast so I think I'll buy some and grow my own.
It looks like we will buy half the pb herd, chosen on genetics and age. We have a buyer for the other half so the vendor should be happy. Woodlawn Wagyu, here we come. Maybe.
I'm starting to think about potting up a few cuttings from this garden to take to the next one. I bought some potting mix on the way home and will start with the gerbera that Jo gave me for my birthday. There's lots of bulbs I can dig up and split to take with me; aggies, iris, clivia, four o'clocks and some baby agave.
I found some galangal rhizomes on the Green Harvest site. We used it in the Beef Penang that we made at the cooking school during the women's conference two years ago (one of the top 5 meals I've ever had). I've only ever seen it for sale in one shop at the coast so I think I'll buy some and grow my own.
It looks like we will buy half the pb herd, chosen on genetics and age. We have a buyer for the other half so the vendor should be happy. Woodlawn Wagyu, here we come. Maybe.
Oopsie
Leaving the gym in too big a hurry, thinking about the rest of the day, turned into an expensive exercise. Lucky she's planning a new purchase.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
The Bathtub found a Friend
We picked up the bathtub and brought it home. It now sits on the front verandah, ready for some R&R (restoration and revamping).
The feet are a different colour because one side of the tub is painted black and the other side is the other colour, whatever that is. So someone only did half a job; hmm, where have I heard that before?
The bathtub found a friend and brought her home. I've hankered for a ladder for many a year now, thinking that when the time was right (ie we had a place of our own to put it), I'd find one...and there it was this morning, sitting on the truck trayback, right next to the bathtub at M&J's. How can something just fall into your lap like that without you even having to go looking - as S says, the universe sends you what you need! I've known for 15 years that one day I'd find exactly what I was looking for - and in the end, she found me - and she's absolutely perfect.
The feet are a different colour because one side of the tub is painted black and the other side is the other colour, whatever that is. So someone only did half a job; hmm, where have I heard that before?
The bathtub found a friend and brought her home. I've hankered for a ladder for many a year now, thinking that when the time was right (ie we had a place of our own to put it), I'd find one...and there it was this morning, sitting on the truck trayback, right next to the bathtub at M&J's. How can something just fall into your lap like that without you even having to go looking - as S says, the universe sends you what you need! I've known for 15 years that one day I'd find exactly what I was looking for - and in the end, she found me - and she's absolutely perfect.
I Wandered
I wandered in the vege garden this morning. It's surprisingly resilient considering I haven't planted anything yet this season. I've had good intentions and keep saying "I must do that" - am thinking of buying some heirloom seeds and "growing my own" instead of buying seedlings...but I just haven't yet. I'm searching for a brilliant tomato variety and an outstanding pumpkin and a good zucchini. I found a website called "Lost Seeds" and chose a few things; just need to get organised.
This beetroot has been there forever!
I love taking photos of tomatoes; when they're green like this, they hold such promise. I'll pick these in a day or two and let them ripen inside; otherwise they end up either with blossom end rot or being stung by insects.
It's a jungle out there in the eschallot patch. They're way oversize and overgrown but still taste great (especially in breakfast scrambled eggs)!
There's not many strawbs, but they still taste good.
This little one is so sweet. She's blind in one eye and can't quite cover all her eggs (all 7 of them)! Even though I don't breed OEG I'm going to let them hatch. More workers for the permaculture garden at the farm; there's plenty of area that needs turning over.
I fear all the worms have left home; the worm patch has been taken over by rogue pumpkin and tomato plants. I just hate to pull anything out though.
Roma tomatoes from last season's bush. Small, but still growing.
This beetroot has been there forever!
I love taking photos of tomatoes; when they're green like this, they hold such promise. I'll pick these in a day or two and let them ripen inside; otherwise they end up either with blossom end rot or being stung by insects.
It's a jungle out there in the eschallot patch. They're way oversize and overgrown but still taste great (especially in breakfast scrambled eggs)!
There's not many strawbs, but they still taste good.
This little one is so sweet. She's blind in one eye and can't quite cover all her eggs (all 7 of them)! Even though I don't breed OEG I'm going to let them hatch. More workers for the permaculture garden at the farm; there's plenty of area that needs turning over.
I fear all the worms have left home; the worm patch has been taken over by rogue pumpkin and tomato plants. I just hate to pull anything out though.
Roma tomatoes from last season's bush. Small, but still growing.
More of Meg's Creations
Meg went to a birthday party today for a 1 year old! She took 19 of these miniatures.
Turns Out....
I'm not Wonder Woman after all!! I proceeded to go downhill Thursday and then had a long and unsettled night I'd rather forget. Friday found me looking and feeling particularly scrawny; being very thin I can tell when I've lost a kilo or two. The best way to describe it is feeling like a coat hanger - wiry, all angles and clothes hang off you. I started to feel a bit better on Friday afternoon, evidenced by having enough physical energy to make a very small batch of strawberry jam and enough mental energy to check my work emails. Plus, I started to get bored with lying in/on the bed/couch, reading - a sure sign of recovery. As it turns out, the world kept turning, the sky didn't fall and the company didn't shut down so obviously I can afford to take a few days off without worry!!
Yesterday I had one of those self nurturing days where I went into slow mode and felt like the day lasted forever. I updated our budget, worked out whether we can afford to buy the 40hd herd of ptic purebreds (now we have to decide if that's the road we want to wander down), did some washing, filed the last few months worth of personal paperwork and cooked dinner for 3. Gibbo played cricket in the revamped competition - in an attempt to encourage more players (and preserve the 4 teams they currently have) the association made a decision to move the comp from all day Sunday games to half day Saturday games. He left home just before 12 and was back by 4.30 with a win and 2 catches. I think the new format will work well - the men still get to play cricket but it interferes less with family life. Then he and Jamie went to the farm to finally fix the windmill and Jamie came for dinner.
We watched the Wallabies draw with NZ. Gibbo declined two recently offered invitations to attend corporate boxes on the night. He picked me flowers from Jamie's garden.
Today we're going to Twba to pick up the bathtub and see Meg. Tomorrow we go back to the surgeon to have the cotton wool plug removed and see how much I can hear and get permission (or not) to travel down the range on Thursday for two days of livestock budget input with the new system that we had a glimpse of last Monday.
Yesterday I had one of those self nurturing days where I went into slow mode and felt like the day lasted forever. I updated our budget, worked out whether we can afford to buy the 40hd herd of ptic purebreds (now we have to decide if that's the road we want to wander down), did some washing, filed the last few months worth of personal paperwork and cooked dinner for 3. Gibbo played cricket in the revamped competition - in an attempt to encourage more players (and preserve the 4 teams they currently have) the association made a decision to move the comp from all day Sunday games to half day Saturday games. He left home just before 12 and was back by 4.30 with a win and 2 catches. I think the new format will work well - the men still get to play cricket but it interferes less with family life. Then he and Jamie went to the farm to finally fix the windmill and Jamie came for dinner.
We watched the Wallabies draw with NZ. Gibbo declined two recently offered invitations to attend corporate boxes on the night. He picked me flowers from Jamie's garden.
Today we're going to Twba to pick up the bathtub and see Meg. Tomorrow we go back to the surgeon to have the cotton wool plug removed and see how much I can hear and get permission (or not) to travel down the range on Thursday for two days of livestock budget input with the new system that we had a glimpse of last Monday.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Post Op
We worked a couple of hours Tuesday morning then headed to Twba where we went to the TC to collect some gear we'd tendered on (wheelbarrow, leaf blower and more tools). I bought a silky oak vege rack that I intend attaching Sylvia's big marble cutting board to. I'll probably put castors on the bottom and use it in the kitchen, not necessarily as a vege rack. It will be useful for other things. Pic to come. I also bid on Chair 2 but it didn't come to pass.
We then went to meet with B from SA; he and Gibbo had lunch while I wandered around trying not to think about food. Eventually I booked in to the hospital and was whisked away to day surgery where I went through a progression of steps that finally saw me on a trolley then into the op theatre. Lucky I had a bike magazine with me; there was a lot of waiting around. Next thing I knew someone was yelling at me to wake up and I opened my eyes and there was Gibbo hovering over me. He'd seen them taking me somewhere on the trolley and he asked, "where are you taking her"? So he came back to the room with me. With otosclerosis, the stapes bone stops vibrating and sound can't get through - so it is replaced with a prosthesis. I have the little bone that R cut out.
Everything went very well. I have a big wad of cotton wool in my ear which will stay for a week. A slightly longer prosthesis was used because of my height (not sure what the correlation is there). Because my inner ear has been messed with, my balance is extremely affected; I feel like Drew did last Friday night. Meg visited and wanted to know, "is dis where da party is"? She and Gibbo went off for dinner at Sizzler.
I slept on and off, woken every two hours for obs. At 2.30 I couldn't go back to sleep so read for a while. Breakfast came at 7, 24 hours after I'd last eaten.
RG came and filled me in on how it all went. He had managed to see Gibbo in the waiting room after the op so that was good. G came not long after and I got changed rather clumsily. I needed a wheelchair to leave the place! G was looking forward to this part. He put me in the lift and spun me 'round to face the doors; parked me outside to take a pic for the kids beside the "patient drop off zone" sign, practically ran me down a little incline with me pleading "don't let me go", then across the rough grass to the kerb where I pleaded again, this time to be let out! The car was parked on the other side of the street but I didn't want to go across in the chair. He left me clinging to a power pole and took the chair back inside then guided me across the road. I hadn't been sitting in the car for more than a minute (while he sent the kids the photo he'd just taken) when I had the overwhelming urge to bring up my breakfast and the antibiotic, nausea and headache tablets I'd only just taken 10 minutes before.
After that was over we went to Meg's to try out the bathtub and find a bucket which thankfully I didn't need.
We picked up Coco on the way home and after distributing some photos from the wag conference I spent the afternoon in bed and slept until 6.30 when I got up and had y-bone and veges for dinner then brought it all straight back up again. Because I'd been asleep for half the day I then spent half the night awake, reading.
Now it's mid-afternoon Thursday and I've been sleeping and reading and catching up on blogs. I'll know on Monday when I visit the specialist just how successful the op was and how my hearing is. With the big wad of cotton wool in my ear I can't really tell much.
We then went to meet with B from SA; he and Gibbo had lunch while I wandered around trying not to think about food. Eventually I booked in to the hospital and was whisked away to day surgery where I went through a progression of steps that finally saw me on a trolley then into the op theatre. Lucky I had a bike magazine with me; there was a lot of waiting around. Next thing I knew someone was yelling at me to wake up and I opened my eyes and there was Gibbo hovering over me. He'd seen them taking me somewhere on the trolley and he asked, "where are you taking her"? So he came back to the room with me. With otosclerosis, the stapes bone stops vibrating and sound can't get through - so it is replaced with a prosthesis. I have the little bone that R cut out.
Everything went very well. I have a big wad of cotton wool in my ear which will stay for a week. A slightly longer prosthesis was used because of my height (not sure what the correlation is there). Because my inner ear has been messed with, my balance is extremely affected; I feel like Drew did last Friday night. Meg visited and wanted to know, "is dis where da party is"? She and Gibbo went off for dinner at Sizzler.
I slept on and off, woken every two hours for obs. At 2.30 I couldn't go back to sleep so read for a while. Breakfast came at 7, 24 hours after I'd last eaten.
RG came and filled me in on how it all went. He had managed to see Gibbo in the waiting room after the op so that was good. G came not long after and I got changed rather clumsily. I needed a wheelchair to leave the place! G was looking forward to this part. He put me in the lift and spun me 'round to face the doors; parked me outside to take a pic for the kids beside the "patient drop off zone" sign, practically ran me down a little incline with me pleading "don't let me go", then across the rough grass to the kerb where I pleaded again, this time to be let out! The car was parked on the other side of the street but I didn't want to go across in the chair. He left me clinging to a power pole and took the chair back inside then guided me across the road. I hadn't been sitting in the car for more than a minute (while he sent the kids the photo he'd just taken) when I had the overwhelming urge to bring up my breakfast and the antibiotic, nausea and headache tablets I'd only just taken 10 minutes before.
We picked up Coco on the way home and after distributing some photos from the wag conference I spent the afternoon in bed and slept until 6.30 when I got up and had y-bone and veges for dinner then brought it all straight back up again. Because I'd been asleep for half the day I then spent half the night awake, reading.
Now it's mid-afternoon Thursday and I've been sleeping and reading and catching up on blogs. I'll know on Monday when I visit the specialist just how successful the op was and how my hearing is. With the big wad of cotton wool in my ear I can't really tell much.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Caught Up
Caught up with Drewy for lunch. He was feeling the after effects of a very big weekend doing college type activities that most mothers don't want to know about (but are glad it wasn't their son who was chosen). I gathered it was big when I saw this message on fb - "does anyone have my phone, wallet and id"? Someone found his phone; security had his wallet and id. Apparently it was the "best weekend of college ever". I shudder to think what went on in the bits I didn't hear about.
Another Wrap
Another year, another conference. Busy, successful, some very nice food.
Friday afternoon golf; Friday night cocktail party.
Saturday forum; Saturday night gala dinner with meat for entree and main supplied by us - thai beef salad using ms 9 followed by a 7/8 striploin with vine ripened toms, baby carrots, green asparagus, potato gratin and red wine jus. The slide show was popular, with 110 slides showcasing what goes on in the company wagyu world.
A "guess the marble score and rank them" competition drew 95 entries. It wasn't easy - only 3 people got the highest score of 6/8.
Sunday saw two sessions - one on grading and the other on using secondary cuts. Both involved cooking demonstrations.
Following the demos, there were awards; an inaugural branded beef competition. Medals were awarded for reaching a certain standard.
We left the coast mid afternoon and headed to Bris where we had a dinner meeting with a customer. This morning we had an early breakfast with ts then I spent a couple of hours being shown the new budget program. We had a quick lunch with Drew and finally arrived home at 5pm.
Off to have my ear op tomorrow. Am hoping to be telling everyone to STOP YELLING in the next week or so!!
Friday afternoon golf; Friday night cocktail party.
Saturday forum; Saturday night gala dinner with meat for entree and main supplied by us - thai beef salad using ms 9 followed by a 7/8 striploin with vine ripened toms, baby carrots, green asparagus, potato gratin and red wine jus. The slide show was popular, with 110 slides showcasing what goes on in the company wagyu world.
Sunday saw two sessions - one on grading and the other on using secondary cuts. Both involved cooking demonstrations.
Following the demos, there were awards; an inaugural branded beef competition. Medals were awarded for reaching a certain standard.
We left the coast mid afternoon and headed to Bris where we had a dinner meeting with a customer. This morning we had an early breakfast with ts then I spent a couple of hours being shown the new budget program. We had a quick lunch with Drew and finally arrived home at 5pm.
Off to have my ear op tomorrow. Am hoping to be telling everyone to STOP YELLING in the next week or so!!
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