Almost like winter...

I know  I am kidding myself, it will never be like winter (the real deal) here. However on afternoons like this, with the clouds hanging over us, a kind of coolness in the air and darker outside, I almost get a 'wintery' feeling.  Candles lit, Indian Daal on stove and bread in oven.  Not a bad start to a cosy evening...

Eucaluptus

This morning when I walked the dog in the mountains, the smell of eucalyptus was just incredible. Last night we had a storm and lots of rain. I love it – the day after the forest is ‘clean’, comes with a fresh smell and a kind of calmness....

Morning walk

Photos from my walk with Frida this morning. Was a busy one, must have met about 25 people walking up and/or down the mountain. At 7 am on a Sunday! Go people!

 Frida looks like a vampire!!

 Bamboo!

Modern cavemen

·       6 am man wakes up, growls and scratches behind.

·       6.05am - man showers whilst female lets dog out for pee then makes coffee.

·       6.15 am - man enters kitchen, kisses woman and drinks coffee whilst watching news re Qantas on tv.

·       6.30 am - man and woman converses over breakfast.

·       6.45 man packs up car with golf clubs and gear.

·       6.55 man leaves cave for day with men hunting for the fewest number of strokes whilst discussing business, women and politics.

·       7 am woman takes dog for 70 minute walk up Mount Coot-tha national park.

·       9.30 am woman catches up on programmes recorded on Foxtel IQ.

·       10am woman prepares a lazy Sunday in the cave.

Harissa

J made homemade harissa today. Total succcess, love it!!!
No sis, not at all so spicy, you'd be surprised - can eat it on crackers. No worries!!

Ingredients

10 large red chillies, half the seeds removed and cut into six
3 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon cumin seeds, pan roasted & then ground
2 dessertspoons red wine vinegar
3 dessertspoons olive oil
¼ teaspoon salt
½ lemon juiced

Preparation
Blend the chillies, garlic, lemon juice and vinegar together to a thick paste. Then fold in the oil, cumin and salt.

Store in a jar in the refrigerator and use as required.



This beautiful sallad is the reason J made harissa....
Gourmet dinner tonight - just adding the roast lamb that is frolicking in the oven, hehe!!!

Frida and the Jasmine

I thought it would be great to have a big jasmine on the front decking.
The idea is of course that is grows up and around the front of the decking so that we can sit out there and smell the lovely jas at night...
I hope that it will grow quickly, can't wait for it to climb up!!

Plans....

Oh dear. Some friends of ours are getting married. They have started a blog, with so many details my heart is now racing.
Don't get me wrong, this is a great idea. I am impressed! This is a great idea, we all know what is going on, it is perfection, they have a plan....
Now.... it is just that I am certainly not the kind of person who thinks about what colour straws I need for my wedding day drinks or what color ribbons that go with the table...
Does that mean my wedding is going to be bland? Boring? Not remembered?
Looking forward to being married, I am looking forward to a marriage, I am however not at all looking forward to all the planning and details that are needed before hand. Sis, thank god you are an expert on the matter!!!! :)

My sister!

My little sis and her family just got back from a hols os.  They all got a stomach bug but they were of course mostly worried about W (he is only 18 months).
Sis got it too and passed out on the tiles in the bathroom (whilst S looked after W) and hurt her hand, knees, chin and teeth...
Poor sis, hope you feel better!!!
She is the best sister one can ask for and nothing must happen to her!
Love you! x x

Jacaranda

It's spring!!! The jacarandas are in bloom and it is so wonderful to run when this is what you see....

Times are changing!

I hate public transport. I always have. Spent a fortune on cabs and seldom feel guilty about it. Cabs is freedom, cabs are easy, cabs take you where you want to go without having to be squeezed between 5 people on a train.
I have more confessions to make - in some cases I have been known to take a cab short distances due to high heels.... I know it's vain, but hey, beautiful shoes should not be destroyed in escalators! Oh and I need to add - vanity is NOT the reason I hate public transport...!
It is the closeness of other people in a confined area that is... let me just say...  not appealing..!  I just don't like it! The few times I find myself on a train or bus in rush hour, then I get all stressed and in the end, taking a cab would have been worth its price!
Come on I am not just lazy – I usually have a pair of runners at work so that I can walk or run places I want to go.. Anything to avoid public transport...
HOWEVER I think my habits are about to change.. Lalala!
I have found a bus (30 seconds from my door) that takes me into Bne City in 15min. Yes, door to door, very handy and seems not many people use this line. I have yet to find myself standing up for the ride, never been late and always aircon on full blast. Not too bad! I admit that I have only taken the bus 6 times, but I confess; so far so good. I am actually enjoying it! :)

Weekend

We did a car boot sale on Saturday.  Up at the crack and packed up the car. Frida came along as well - of course.
Now, I was under the impression that this market would be more like the Bondi markets, or Paddington markets.  Hence I had packed items for this type of sale. i.e. brand new dresses from Wayne Cooper, vintage jackets, hand made bed covers from India... Ehh, we did make some money but frankly, we were at the wrong place at the wrong time.  The average person were 55 and they did not want to spend any money at all! I was never going to give it away,  so we made less than we could have.  Just no point in selling for nothing..
However, J found out about a funky market in town I might go to. I have a million things that I have never worn or that does not fit me.  New clothes, new things...  Over the years I have given away clothes to Vinnies for thousands of dollaars, maybe I should try ebay... :)
 

Look who's coming to town!

Stuff you have time to do...

when you are not working...
1. make your own bread

2. make an organic chicken soup from scratch, including making the stock on organic ingredients
3. walk / run with the dog for 60 minutes, twice a day

4. water all the plants daily and make sure the herb garden is up to scratch
5. always have an empty laundry basket....

River walk

Started the morning with a long walk by the river with Frida. The weather is not great today, grey and drizzling rain.... However it is warm (as usual) and a great temperature  to be outside. 
I feel better today after a few days of cold/flu symptoms.... Had 9 hours sleep and that always helps! :)

Brekkie: porridge with almonds, goji berries, raisins, honey and milk.  Ready for a day of job hunting!!

Time for change...

It's time for a change. It's time for a new blog. it's time for a new pair of ruby slippers!!!
New city, new people, new challenges. We have left the country and we are back in town. I am so pleased!
Finally I feel normal again! Refreshing!!
Not that we know Brisbane well yet, but I have a good feelign about it.... :)