Evening silhouette

View from back yard..

Frida and her pom-pom

Christmas decorations 2

After my rant re no Christmas decorations in Oz I was pleasantly surprised to see the Riverside Centre pimped out like this today. I feel like I am being part of an american movie or something, bombastic, huge, over the top and wonderfully perfect! Christmas decorations, deers, elfs, lovely packages, bows, wrapping, glitter.... Bring it on! I am sure you'll agree Debbie!? Cant wait to see your house!!

Tree

There is a weird and wonderful tree in the old cemetary near us. I walk there sometimes when I want a shorter walk with Friedles and quite frankly sometimes I get bored of walking up and down the mountain. Oh dear, I might be punished for saying that, it's a lovely national park! Anyway, this is the tree that I wanted to show you...
It is enormous!!!! I'd love to have it decorated for Christmas, haha!

Mullet in broad daylight!

Believe it or not I have seen a guy with shortish hair , bordering on a Mullet, with asmall piece of hair (dyed blond) hanging at the back of the neck! Now this is amazing in more than one way! a. it is in the city b. it is not 1982 and c. we all have phones, tv etc everyone surely must see that the world has eveloved! 

Now I am not hving a go, I find it quite funny (although fashion faux pas) , I was transported back in time, though of my teens! Flouro clothes, shoulder pads, el Nino (might be related to the mullet, haha) , introduction of computers, walkmans, Madonna, MJ, A-ha, ET, Seinfeld, Top Gun,Pac-Man,Nintendo, legwarmers and mini skirts . Eh, all in no particular order! 

Frankly, have not seen a hairdo like this for 20 years, brought me bck in time! 

Decorations

Decorated the house a bit over the weekend. No tree this year, it would die within a week!

I used my corner decoration as a tree this year and voila – it is a Christmas tree. A few bits and bobs around the house, and hopefully soon we feel a lot more Christmasy!

Sunday

Sunday evening and we are all just chilling out after a very eventful weekend. Eventful in the sense that we have now finished the Christmas shopping for this year! (as you can imagine it was hard trying to negotiate time shopping when J is over it after about 15 minutes!)

I can’t believe it but yeeees it is all done. Every single pressie plus Christmas cards, wrapping paper, labels – the lot!!
It is exhausting and I hate crowds, but doing it now and not later on in December I think and hope is easier. Nevertheless, it is done and dusted and we can now sit back and relax.

It has been 35 degrees here today so we don’t feel so ‘Christmasy’ yet... I am trying to make it a bit more red and green in the house but really it does not feel like Christmas.... Oh and not to mention the fact that in the shops today they played Lady Gaga and Beyonce , no Rudolph or Holy Night here ! J and I came to the conclusion that in Europe they start early, in November sometime the Christmas carols start, then it is impossible to get away from them until mid January. Here – not so much!  You can if you are lucky get a carol in David Jones; the rest of the shops - nada, zip, zero. All pop, rock or radio but no carols. Not even in Woolies!!! This is unheard of in Europe; I think any grocery shop will declare 'Christmas is here' by having the carols on loud and clear from November to January.....!

I NEVER thought I’d say this but I MISS  THE CHRISTMAS CAROLS!!! I would love to hear Silent Night, O come all ye faithful, We wish you a Merry Christmas and White Christmas!!!! I even miss “ Jingle Bells” !! (which is my least favorite Christmas song!) My favorite on the other hand is The Christmas Song: Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...

I’d say bring it on!

Friday night 70's party

I never post photos of ourselves on the blog. This time I have to...

Friday night it was J's work Christmas due. Theme: 70's...

I love the 70's look! 60’s look – yes love it! 80's - not good, we can all agree on that, awful, awful, awful! If you have anything left in your wardrobe that remotely reminds you of this era – throw it out immediately! 70’s on the other hand; funky, cool and right up my alley...

I went as Janis Joplin. I made a bit of an effort but not too over the top seeing I have never met his colleagues...

On the other hand my other half thought ‘let’s go all out’ and had hired a costume. Believe it or not this was the man who greeted me when I arrived:

Very entertaining!

Birds

Yesterday J saw a lonely baby chick walking up and down the road. He must have fallen out of the nest because he was on his own and lost, poor fella. When I got home in the evening I found the baby turkey chick on our driveway. He was just sitting there and when I got out of the car he moved away from me and hid the hedge... I wanted to help him but he disappeared and I had no time to try and find him... (had J’s work Christmas party last night!) and if I did what would I have done? I have no idea, but I felt so sorry for the poor chick all alone and no way of feeding himself....  Unfortunately this is not a great story where I tell you we rescued him and he got to live a happy live. Oh well, that was the plan, however this morning I found the  chick dead by one the hedges...  L I know he would have died regardless, when they fall out of the nest - that's it for them, however I still feel sorry for him!!

More birds! Got this book with most common birds in Europe. Yes, I already have some books about Australian birds ad I thought better refresh my memory on the European birds... (Yes people i know I am a nerd but I am ok with that because I also have lots of nice shoes and dresses! Haha! )

More birds again! This afternoon Frida and I found (what I believe) 2 bush curlews strolling around.  They were moving quite slowly and when we got closer they just stopped for a bit before moving... They looked really beautiful and gracious! Opposed to what I would have thought would happen – Frida was really quiet and sat down next to me and we watched them for a few minutes before moving on. Noice moment!!
(note - not my picture!)

Slackness

Friends - it has been a non eventful week!
Walks with Frida, murky weather, rain, dinner, book, bed, then it all starts over again the next day! We all have those weeks! Nothing much happens and you jst get on with things!
Tonight J's work Christmas party and tomorrow Christmas shopping.
I am looking forward to both!! I know J (although still fluey)  is dreading the shopping part ad is concentrating on tonight... :)
Be bch with update soon! Have a great Friday people! x x

Weather and illness

This is the coldest night we have had for a month - it's 26 degrees and 83% humidity. Quite windy (lovely) 34km / h.
Yes, I took this from the weather channel!!! I love the weather channel! When we lived in Sydney checking out the TWC was the first thing I did very day, even before checking the news. You get an idea of what temperature it is going to be, if it is liekly to change (and it is always) and if I need to bring umbrella, hat or both to work. Excellent!
At the moment we are pleased with the colder weather, J is home with a flu. He s not well at all and has been home from work for the first time in two years!!! Poor him! Now with the breeze and cooler weather I hope he gets a good night sleep!
Night night! x

To consider...

1 ream of paper = 6% of a tree and 5.4kg CO2 in the atmosphere

3 sheets of A4 paper = 1 litre of water

Suncreen

Forgot to mention: I was a bit late this morning and oh yeees, it was HOT up there. Sun is relentless; it is going to be a very hot and sweaty summer.... I wear sunscreen 365 days a year, even more so now that we are in QLD... My day cream has SPF 15 and for any other occasion (walking dog, running, gardening etc) I wear SPF 30. Sometimes I wonder what this is going to do to my skin... However there is no other option, oh well, there is the option to not wear sunscreen at all and look like a 90 year old in a few years. Not the option I would take... So sunscreen and hats are my best friends on sunny days...
Highly recommend Clarins Creme Solaire:

Lis got me onto it, and it works a treat. I also use Dermalogica spf 30 – very thick and 'zinky' but works well.

Morning Glory

Back from my morning walk with Frida to find man in kitchen cooking up a storm. Love late Sunday breakkies, especially when cooked for you!!!! x

New Cusions

Oh yes, it has happened again.....Despite the enormous amount of cushions we have in this house, these had to come home with me today. New Sheridan European cushions for the master bedroom. Soft, stylish and goes perfectly with the rest of the ensemble. I am thrilled!! Love them!!

Saturdays

This is the face that greets me in the morning:

This is the view that greets me on the front decking:

This is the paper that greets me in the driveway. Now tea on decking with happy dog and paper - no better way to start a Saturday!:

Effortless

I am making an effort to make the effort effortless....
One day I might just get there...

Herbs

Have a selection of herbs in (many) pots at the back of the house. They are thriving and are providing us with all sorts of herbs, sallad, rocket, etc. I thought I had quite a lot and was quite pleased with mine until I watched Jamie Oliver at Home the other night. Oh dear, I loved it – now that is the kind of garden I would like to have. Yes, I know he has a full time gardener and all of that.... (and prob have very little use of the garden for most of the year considering the weather) However, it just looked fabulous! If I had his garden I'd spend all day in it!
I now have herb envy and need to go to Bunnings and get more pots and herbs. Seeing everything grows so quickly here, there really is no excuse - I am doing it!

Lucky Peanut

Menus

There are weeks when noone comes to visit! This week we have 2 dinners planned, have  to start planning menus tomorrow!
Just finished watching 2 episodes of Jamie at Home, I'm inspired!

The walk this evening offered views over BrisVegas and a very happy dog:







The ultimate burger

Yesterday arvo, whilst I had a cheeky afternoon nana nap, J put together this marvellous burger dough from Jamie O: 
(we did not do the chips)

Then, after gym and walks with Frida he got to work; check out these marvellous burgers on the barbie:

 

Ah, and forgot to tell you I whipped up a quick burger bun dough before I went to the gym.... Exactly 2 h later this came out of the oven:  

Preparations:

The result; The Ultimate Burger with red onion, rocket, grated cheese and tomatoes:  

Do I have to tell you it was fabulous? Seriously, it was the ULTIMATE burger!!

Gym

Went to the gym and ran like a furious bull!
Feel better or it!

Inside Out

Like a faithful friend Inside Out appears in my post box once a month. Pure bliss!

I then spend hours dreaming of  new renovations, buying houses in Toscana and decorating it with very cool couches and rugs. I nick ideas, new color schemes and get inspiration to all sorts of new changes in the house. This subscription is not a cost, it is an investment.

And come summer, seriously can't think of any better way of spending a lazy afternoon.

Cake

There is 1/2 a cake left from Thursday night.... I am tempted to dig in!!!!

Who is Kurt Wallander?

Recently we saw the documentary "Who is Kurt Wallander".  In this documentary John Harvey discusses Wallander with Henning Mankell and other authors. He examines Wallander and reveals the hidden (as he puts it) 'angst' affecting today’s Sweden.  It tries to understand what Hennings characters say about Sweden and how his books inform the rest of the world about the country.Interesting programme - I highly recommend it!
As you might know I am a big fan of Kurt Wallander. Or shall I say of Henning Mankell.

I was not always into crime fiction. (however I was always into true crime!) I liked it, but I was only flirting with this genre – until Pippi sent me the Stieg Larsson series. From then on I have been married to the crime genre. Yes people I do read lots of other books, I am just less pretentious these days and I am happy to admit that I like relaxing with a crime novel every once in a while. It is fiction, it is exciting, it has unexpected solutions, it is easy. (read lazy afternoons in the shade reading and sipping cordial  with ice)

Why do I love the Wallander series? Wallander is an ordinary man, he eats, sleeps, is tired, makes mistake. He is not a 'hero', he is just a man who does not always love his job, but it's his calling so he must keep on doing it. I also love the way Makell describes the surroundings, Skane, the crime scenes, the political climate at the time. It is almost a bit weird to read these books now since it is such a long time since I lived there, I know it all so well, but not as I used to. He has a way of describing things in a way that you can relate to.   

I have read all the books in the Wallander series and most his other books. If you have not, please plunge in; start with "Faceless Killers" then you will be hooked. J is currently readin it and is liking it a lot!

Another note: Henning seems to be living frugally (despite his wealth) and offer a lot of charity. In this programme he says: ‘I do not understand greed’. This is a very enviable outlook on life. Me like.

 

Yesterday

Last night we had Paul and Claire over for dindins.
I served the worst hummus I have ever made and the best chocolate cake ever made. Note that I have made hummus about 450 times so it should be perfected by now... Hm, apparently not....
The choc cake I have previously made about 15 times and yeeees, it is getting better all the time. Nothing for the faint-hearted however; it has 250gr butter, 450gr chocolate, 2 cups sugar, cocoa etcetcetc.  Choc cake must be eaten with vanilla ice cream and is consequently very bad for waistline but ohoh so delicious!
Now if you think we're some kind of weirdos that serve our guests hummus and choc cake for dinner you are wrong!
Main course; J served a beautiful Asian style salmon with caramelized onions, rice and blanched baby spinache.... YUM!!
Sorry have no piccies of this event – I was distracted! Next time, promise!
Have a great start of the weekend all!x x

Long day

Very long day today, I feel 250 years old right now and must soon find the bed. 

Still annoyed that I lost the bet to nana, so today I have tried out a new gym, only 5on from here. I am really surprised and very happy with it. Big, new and in great condition! I have a 7 day free pass and if I like it after that I will sign up! Can't wait to try the spinning and bodypump there! Come on fat cells - the war is oooon!!!! 

I also realise I have forgotten to tell you about my new runners! The last 5 years I have been running in either asics or mizuno. Mizuno is the shoe that fits my foot best of the 2 mentioned and I love that shoe!

Now it was time for a new pair so off I went to the proper runner shop. (Where else, I don’t like it when you go somewhere and they just sell you a shoe! They must be fitted!) They made me walk and run inside and outside the shop and after trying out many many pairs, it was down to a pair of nike and a pair of asics. You’d think I’d go for the asics but no, I actually went for the nikes. They were so comfortable (and good looking!) I had to have them!!!! After a couple of weeks running on them – I still love them!! I am very happy with them and highly recommend these cuties!!  

  

Dinner tonight

After a 40 minute run I am now planning dinner for le soir! I think it will be San Choy Bau, it’s nice and it is easy to do. Has been a long and very hot day so easy is good today....  

I am also considering a fun run this Sunday; just to make up for me loosing the bet to nana! I will have a chat to j tonight and see if I can talk him into it too....  

Missed deadline

Nanapants and I had a deadline. That's right - past tense... By Friday last week we should both have signed up for a new sport activity. Anything... Yoga, tennis, gym, dragon boats... Whatever we wanted....

Nana met the deadline and joined her local gym in Coogee - well done nana!!!

Now I have a confession to make - I did not!  

Worse is; I don't have an excuse really, apart from this one: I run, I walk, I do yoga.

I do this every day...!  

Oh yes, I realise I have to do more; that was the whole idea with this deadline.... I just don't know what... !

So yes I failed to meet this deadline and dear Nana, I owe you dinner! (eh or shall I (in these healthy times) say I owe you a wheatgrass shot?!)  :)

Lavender

The lavender at the back of the house looks pretty happy...

Recycling

Tonight we are recycling the lamb. Lovely lamb ragu tonight, recycled but oh so nice!

Look up!

Most of us just walk through life looking down. You might recognise this: running late for work, walking to a meeting, in the office, shopping for groceries, going home... etc etc. I guess we all get caught in what they call everyday chores. We run around trying to get everything done, in a short space of time, seldom taking the time to stop and think.
I am the first one to put my hand up for this.... However very now and then, lately more often than ever, I take time to look up. See the sky. Reflect on life. It is a fabulous way to start the day, and something that I hope do more of from now on. Look up friends, watch the sky and your day will be different!  
I know, it is a tad hippie, but hey, whatever works to calm down a stressed mind!  

Lamb dinner

Fantastic dinner tonight. We are big fans of Jamie Oliver in this house, go figure with J in the house! :)
Tonight we added another recipe to the long list of sucessful dishes we have cooked from Jamie's dinners 'the essential family cookbook'.

Yesterday I marinated a butterflied leg of lamb in this:

1 large bunch mint, roughly chopped
1 large bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled
500 grams natural yogurt
1/2 (400 gram) can chickpeas, drained and mashed
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 lemon, juiced

I am lazy – I love the food processor and cannot live without it! I put all of the above into the food processor and whizzed away. Then scored the lamb on both sides and put in glad zip lock back with the marinade. Marinated for 30 hours.

Tonight I added the following on a tray

Baby carrots
Quartered red onions
Baby turnips
Butternut squash, cut into chunks
1/2 can chick peas, drained
Ground cumin (2 teaspoons)  
Olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Then take the lamb out of marinade and put on oven rack over the tray. Cook in oven for 1h...

Delicious, promise!!!

Now my friends I have to go and watch 60 minutes on la television! A Demain!!

Sunshine coast

Spent the day at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast. Fantastic day!  Walks, swims, beautiful views and least but not last a very happy dog on our hands... 
We are all sun kissed and tired after a day out...

Crazy sleeping arrangement

Before and After

This is what happend when you have a late breakkie instead of walking your dog. Lesson learnt!
High energy dog and lazy mornings do not mix...

You've Been A Friend To Me

Luke is here for business and came around for a huge brunch this morning. Bacon, beans, eggs, toast etc etc. Yum!
He did not come empty handed, he knows how much I loved the Bare Bones concert a few months ago so he brought me this CD - Happy Days!  Thank you Luke, you're a star!
Must say this was one of the big surprises this year. I did not expect the acoustic guitar and the piano - it was fabulous.
Listen and enjoy!
Let's make a night to remember
Bare Bones Preview

Spider and tick...

Yesterday 2 things happened that has never happened before..

a.      A spider on the inside of my cap. Walking the dog in the mountain as I do every day. Halfway along I spot a black thing inside my cap looking up under my sunnies – take cap off and yes, inside the visor is a spider!!! Ahhh!  I would have liked it if my reaction was more Crocodile Dundee than it was. I am afraid I was a total girl about it and threw the cap in the grass and removed myself from it. Then carefully proceeded by kicking the cap  until spider left the premises. If anyone saw me they woudl have laughed, it looked like I was protecting myself from a hungry lion or somthing... I am not fond of spiders...

b.     When we got home from walk I noticed something on Frida’s snout. There is was – a paralysis tick. I have actually never seen one ‘live’, this was Frida’s first tick. It was like smaller version of Mr Potatohead, with legs all over her. She was burrowing herself into the snout, with all her legs crawling in the air!!!!  Creepy! I could not get her out, so we had to go to the vet and get it out, they said we caught it on time, so she should not get paralysed, but we have to keep an eye on her for the next 48 h... Yikes!  

Possums

Before we moved to Brisbane, possums were these cute little animals that you, if you are lucky, see when you go camping in the wild. Shy animals that occasionally appear at night whilst you are sitting by the campfire... Sounds lovely doesn't it?

Oh well since we moved here they have quickly gone from 'cute' to 'vermin'. We are not fans anymore - the war is on!

They exist in abundance in this town and it is a problem for lots of people (that has not cut down all trees around their house, or have no power lines going into it....)

They keep us up at night as they come onto the roof via the trees. The bad (or good part, depending on how many nights you have been sleepless) is that you are not allowed to kill them, hurt them or even catch them and remove them from the area. If you get a possum expert in they can catch them but only to release them with 25 meters of the house. What's the point of this one wonders, they will only find their way back in!!!  

Now this house had a hole in the roof so Mr and Mrs possum moved in and made babies. The babies then played hide and seek in there and mama and papa possum went out to hunt for food and came back to dinner parties. You et the picture - we could not sleep! Not only did this keep us awake, it is not healthy for the house. Hence we got a 'possum man ' in. He made sure all possums were out of the cavity and closed the holes up. Done deal one would think hey?

Now we have the poor possum family knocking on their old door all night. Seriously, it sounds like someone in prison rattling the cell door trying to get out... There is nothing we can do about this, we just have to hope that they give up or find another home....

I actually feel sorry for them. I know I should not seeing just how many times they have been inconsiderate and not been quiet after 10 pm!. However, I kind of understand – imagine you coming home to find your front door bolted!  

The dinner table

At the end of the week I usually buy flowers. It brightens up the house and my mood!

This week I got some pink lilies. The lily is my favourite flower and I love, love, love the smell... 

Too many?

Is there such a thing as too many throws? Not sure there is... I have a gazillion of them and yet somehow they find their way into the house....

One must upgrade, change, look at new ways of decorating – evolve!!!

This is my latest find :

This is not what I would usually go for but I am trying to create a bit of a country feel and look for the library. A cosy place to sit and rug up!!!!