The cooking 'nerve' (or should that be nervous?) centre

This is where it ALL happens.

Bon Apetite - pie download
Mood:  hungry
all the way down the little red tunnel!

I must be on a roll in the cooking department this week, as we've had three super krissie meals three days in a row I'll have you all know. Could that be a personal record?



and finally the finished product

YUMMY!

Patriotism at the doctors surgery
Made myself an appointment to "see" (well barely can actually) the doctor, but you know what I mean, and took myself there for the consult. The tv is always on for the patients to watch whilst waiting. I didn't have to wait long which was a pleasant change from the mandatory hour on most ocassions.


There was a news programme reporting on the Olympians being welcomed home after arriving back to Australia from Athens. They were all wearing their team and country colours, and the Australian anthem was playing loudly, to a hugely participating audience. Now I am not normally interested in sport, or the Olympics - guess I was just born like that! But suddenly I got this lump in my throat as the words of the Anthem hit home...'cos we are young and free'...etc and just quickly thinking about some of the trouble hot spots in the world, we are truly fortunate to be 'free' in this country.


My eyes filled up momenterally, but I'm sure the eye drops will take care of that!

Oh and I forgot to add
Mood:  happy
a pinch and a punch for the start of a month - and for us down under - a new season. Officially spring starts TODAY! almost summer??(I wish)

This morning
I woke up (sounds like the start of THAT david cassidy record - 'this morning I woke up with this feeling'...etc)


anyways back to the story....thinking that I'd either gone blind during the night or it was incredibly dark this morning at 7 am. I slowly realised that my eyes were glued together, and took a while to prise open.


At this point, Dr. Krissie did a quick self diagnosis and came to the remarkable conclusion that I have conjunctivitis as part and parcel of this horrible virus that still seems to be lingering on.


I won't go into any more gory details on this topic as I don't want to put myself off dinner tonight and the little treat I've downloaded for you to enjoy. So please forget I mentioned my eyes, sit at the table chez Krissie, feel free to pour yourself a little of what you fancy ...and enjoy the meal.

Hang on
For today's post - which is being written as I speak. The bacon and egg pie is just downloading into the computer! See you all later, no time to explain.

Cop out entry
I am rushed, I am rushing, to get this done. I had a look at the first entry for today and decided that it was poor - too poor to just leave as was. So I 'm going to add something. Maybe, just an explanation as to why I'm rushing this today. I always feel rushed when I have to cook supper for the whole family. I think I'm the only person I know that starts on supper and preparation of, just after breakfast.
This partly stems from the fact that I really do NOT enjoy cooking and so when I do I feel stupidly rushed. I feel as if the whole focus of the day is on the 'meal' itself, which is over usually in less than 20 mins max, and then the whole horrible cycle starts over for the next day!
The planning, thinking of what to prepare that will titillate jaded taste buds.....Oh no not chips again....we had that yesterday, and the day before....rings in my ears, and is etched into my memory menu centre.
So tonight we are dining on - pork crumbed chops, mash spuds,steak dianne sauce - well thats what is says on the packet, and peas.

I love frozen peas. I wish some research team would announce that frozen peas are the elixir of good health and longevity. Then I could serve them every day - for health reasons you understand!!
Now you know why I'm rushed...rushing...going, going.....gone!

Painting stones
A few years ago I used to paint stones. Unusual? I've never really seen this hobby featured anywhere, maybe I don't get out enough! Once I'd painted several 'hundred' of them I wasn't sure of how to best display them, till I hit on the idea of putting them into this lamp. The light illuminates the stones beautifully, and makes a cheery display.
Anyone else seen painted stones anywhere out there on their travels?

Getting organised / country craft huntin'
Mood:  happy
The Holiday Grand Plan has begun! Before you look up from your screen and wonder what you've been missing, let me explain. The grand plan is just part of a site that I frequent, and its main thrust is about getting organised for big holidays, ok, mostly Christmas.
Here's the Holiday Grand Planlink.
The ladies on that site put a new meaning to the word organised, but that's ok, because it motivates me to get off my tushy and buy up a few bits and pieces before the holiday panic sets in. I discovered that my gifting cupboard was bare! (loud exclamation here ) For those who have Christmas in the winter colder weather, the warmth of the shops is happy lure to stock up, but put that in the context of a 40c day, add mild sunstroke, dehydration, profusely sweaty crowds and your half way to experiencing Christmas down under style. So being prepared up front is the way to go.
With all this in mind, Dh and I took a leisurely wintery drive to the craft/arty places out in the country. the drive did me good too. I haven't really been out of the house much since last week, and I'm starting to feel much better. It was a freezing cold day - blue skies, hot in the car and absolutely chilly wind, but ideal country crafting huntin' weather!
Driving through the hills and valleys, reminded me of how lovely the scenery is. The trees and grasses are green from the winter rains, and the spring flowers are just starting to hear their wake up calls. Note to self- take my camera everywhere!
Several craft shops later ( Francine you'd be very proud of me) and many packages in hand - we drove to the deli, and stocked up on gourmet buns and saussicon for lunch. we had the whole house to ourselves - the DD's all being out. Peace, sandwiches, lazy sunday conversations = bliss.

Its all a bit of larf
Comedy? what makes YOU laugh?

Needing some comic relief lately I was looking at some old British comedy sites and found some golden oldies that even I had forgotten about. I surmised that among my faves, to rave about ? I would have to include the old Monty Python team. I grew up on their comedy skits and many a joke shared with friends centred on knowing the jokes and punchlines.

I came across many of the newer ones too ? I really enjoyed the AB fab series. And, anyone remember Victoria Wood? A comedienne from Manchester, she had a dry humour that I found very amusing. I don't think she is performing any more, but she was a gem! I thought I would include the lyrics of a song she sang in one of her performances that had me literally on the floor laughing uncontrollably ? or in net terms ? ROTFL!!



More recently ? I found myself hooked to the BBC Linda Green series, loved Only Fools and Horses and off course the cultish following of Gimme Gimme, with the grotesque personna of Linda la Hughes, the voice of whom I borrowed for my previous page - just for a larf off course! I USED to sound like Linda la Hughes when I lived in the UK - we all did. I was once told by a very 'poshe' lady that I should consider changing my accent if I wanted to 'get on in the world' as it were. Yeah right darlin!
Here, have a listen to a bit of Del from only Fools and Horses


Del boy Fools and Horses



SO why do I like fuuny voices, and funny Brit shows? Born and bred in the UK, with all its regional and "funny" acccents, I like doing them too. Nothing stops an argument dead in its tracks like a funny voice or well known comedy punchline to relieve the tension. My fave accent is the Liverpool scouse one, and over here its quite rare to come across someone who speaks broad Scouse. Unless you're the one doing it at your daughters school - yes....boredom has a lot to do with this!! worse still is getting caught out.


I like to 'cheer' up boring stupid situations ( ie ordering at the golden arches, at the checkout in the supermarket, you get the idea) ...with the odd bit of scouse, and picking up my daughter one evening from a function was one of them - and the last. I got out of the car, and sauntered over to a group of mums also waiting for their dd's. I dont know what got into me but I said hello to one of the mums - who I had seen ...but never heard before in one of my broad scouse take offs. I did not know what to do or quite say - luckily the darkness hid my furious embarrasment, as she proceeded to answer and...worse still chat to me in an even broader scouse accent. Ok.....caught out, I carried on talking in the same voice for a while longer and gradually eased into my normal voice.....oh the shame....

The place I originally hail from, has also spawned a famous comedy ? The Office. When you come from the place I come from you'd know why it is so funny and how it got to be so, and why you desperately needed a sense of humour to live there! Ok darlins?



This takes me back to the days of my mispent youth and goin' up the disco on a saturday night with my best friend - so here is a bit of 'Saturday night' - on a Saturday, to cheer you all up... so without further ado - take it away Victoria Wood...


Sung to the tune of what can the matter be



Oh dear! What can the matter be?
Eight o?clock at night on a Saturday,
Tracey Clegg and Nicola Battersby

Coming to town double quick.

They rendezvous in front of a pillar.
Tracey?s tall like Jonathan Miller.
Nicola?s more like Guy the Gorilla,

If Guy the Gorilla were thick.

Their hair?s been done. It?s very expensive.
Their use of mousse and gel is extensive.
As weapons, their heads would be classed as offensive

And put under some kind of a ban.

They?re covered in perfumes, but these are misnomers.
Nicola?s scent could send dogs into comas.
Tracey?s kills insects and dustbin aromas,

And also gets stains off the pan.

Chorus:
But it?s their night out.
It?s what it?s all about,


Looking for lads, looking for fun,
A burger and chips with a sesame bun.
They?re in the mood
For a fabulous interlude

Of living it up, painting the town,
Drinking Barcardi and keeping it down,
But it?s all alright.
It?s what they do of a Saturday night.

Oh dear! What can the matter be?
What can than terrible crunching and clatter be?
It?s the cowboy boots of Nicola Battersby

Leading the way into town.

They hit the pub, and Tracey?s demeanour
Reminds you of a loopy hyena.
They have sixteen gins a rum and Ribena,

And this is before they?ve sat down.

They dare a bloke from Surrey called Murray
To phone the police and order a curry.
He gets locked up. It?s a bit of a worry,

But they won?t have to see him again.

They?re dressed to kill and looking fantastic.
Tracey?s gone for rubber and plastic.
Nicola?s dress is a piece of elastic.

It?s under a heck of a strain.

Chorus:
But it?s their night out.
It?s what it?s all about,

Ordering drinks, ordering cabs,
Making rude gestures with doner kebabs.
They?re in the mood
For a fabulous interlude
Of weeing in parks, treading on plants,
Getting their dresses caught up in their pants,
And it?s all alright.
It?s what they do of a Saturday night

Oh dear! What can the matter be?
What can that terrible slurping and splatter be?
It?s Tracey Clegg and Nicola Battersby

Snogging with Derek and Kurt.

They?re well stuck into heavyish petting.
It?s far too dark to see what you?re getting.
Tracey?s bra flies off, how upsetting,

And several people are hurt.


Oh dear, oh dear,
Oh dear, oh dear,

Oh dear! What can the matter be?
What can that motheaten pile of old tatters be?
It?s Tracey Clegg and Nicola Battersby

Getting chucked off the last Ninety-Two

With miles to go and no chance of hitching,
And Nicola?s boots have bust at the stitching,
Tracey laughs and says, "What?s the point bitching?

I couldn?t give a bugger. Could you?