Thursday, August 1

I really like Tweety Pie and have some new purple pyjamas with him on them. When I found this signature, how could I resist? I found him at Keith's Animated Signatures. I'll put a graphic link at the bottom of the page too.

I realise I am jumping the gun a little bit by putting this page up now. However it is only a few hours to go and I hope to add to it tomorrow. I was playing around with it and decided to publish it now, so my apologies if you came here because of the latest entry link. You can get to July by going to home page and clicking that link.

Monday, August 5th

I'm sitting here this beautiful morning needing some matchsticks or similar to hold my eyes open! I think it's a combination of a fairly hectic weekend, some late nights and some stress. I was up early too, and had the washing on the line before 7:30 am. It wasn't cold, about 7 degrees by my thermometer, and I had been for a walk too. Now I feel as if the day should be over.

It was Mia's second birthday yesterday and we had a party. Lots and lots of people, family and friends and fourteen small children. Fortunately, it was fine so Bec had set up games, balls, tent, climbing frame etc outside. BBQ with tandoori sausages and chicken and corn. Also marinated chicken wings. Lots of salads, some party pies for the children. Very few lollies. I had about 1.5 glasses of wine, actually one large glass. Didn't eat the nibbles of sheese, cabanossi and so on. MIL started to eat the minute we got there and didn't stop till we left. She plays dumb sometimes and acts as if she can't move or get up. However, someone remarked to me that she had no problems getting herself up to go inside to the table. We left before I wanted to. I was helping clean up. Husband told me he wanted to get his mother back. Rather sarcastically I made a comment that it wouldn't do to miss dinner. He missed the sarcasm and told me that dinner was at 5:00pm for her and she didn't want to be late!.

More stress about MIL's house. He hasn't done much there lately, depite his mad rush to work on it when we moved her out. Now he has some lame duck he wants to rent it to. Sarah and I are very against this. He needs market rent and needs to work through an agent or he will find himself in a mess. He was just going to let this person in, but we informed him that there now has to be lease, by law. He's not very happy about this. He could do the lease by purchasing one from the newsagents, but it really is better handled by an agent. OK, they get paid, but they look after references and all other details too, as well as banking and issuing statements.

When we arrived home, I had heavy guilt trip laid on me about helping the poor and needy and so on. I don't mind helping out, but the whole thing needs to be done properly. Several weeks ago, he was eager to wring the last cent out of the place. Now he has found this person, his codependency thing turns on. I imagine she is grateful now, but I have seen in the past that all he helps can take only so much before they tell him to get lost. Then he wonders what happens. However, I refused to bow to his pressure of guilt. It has taken me years to realise just how he works, but it no longer works with me. I can't stop what he does. It's MIL's house after all, but I can determine my reactions .

Wednesday, 7th August.

An absolutely beautiful day here today, far too good to be at computer too long. I've been fairly busy, washing, vacuuming and tidying etc. I also went to Burwood with Bec, who brought some things down to store under our house. We had lunch there. Mia had McDonalds nuggets and sauce and some of Bec's Oporto chicken roll. I'm not a Mcdonalds fan at all and find it hard to eat anything from there, but all the kids seem to love it. She's only just two, so I don't really think their commercials etc influence her. She actually has generally good taste in food, with a father and uncle who like good stuff. Plenty of pasta and garlic. She has liked chili for many months now and is also an anchovies fan.

I chose a chicken and avocado wrap. The wrap itself was mountain bread which is basically one point/serve. There was supposedly mayonnaise in the chicken, but it was fairly dry, so there could not have been much. I could eat only half of it because it was so filling. The mountain bread is very nice and comes in several flavours. I buy it at Coles supermarkets.

I've decided to try to work some decent cheese into my diet regularly. I've cut down on milk, because I've cut down on coffee, so I need to get adequate dairy products in. I can fit some good cheese into my points and enjoy it much more than the plastic "lite" stuff which is around. I was reading Caroline's journal a few days ago. She mentioned that when she first started "dieting," many years ago, she automatically used artificial sweetener in her coffee, because that was what was done when dieting. The sad part was that she didn't use sugar before! That's a bit how I feel about decent cheese. I never used the processed plastic slices before, so why now? They are lower in points, but their texture is awful and they have no flavour. Better to work the good cheese into the points or have it less frequently and enjoy it. I haven't quite reached using King Island brie or blue cheese. Points are still not too bad for a small piece. It's just rationing out those pieces!

Back to two days babysitting tomorrow. Not sure when I'll be back here.

Sunday, 11th August

Just a very quick entry tonight and hopefully more tomorrow. Congratulations to Jo on completing the City to Surf Run today. Jo was one of over 60,000 competitors on a lovely sunny morning to run the 14 km from Sydney city to Bondi Beach. Well done!

Monday, 12th August

I'm making salad as part of my evening meal tonight. Even though the weather has returned to much colder than yesterday, I still enjoy having salad with my main meal. The hot part will be a small amount of pasta, some vegetables and an easy chicken dish which I made on Saturday.

I cut up some chicken breasts and browned them with some onion. Then used a 250ml bottle of prune juice(!) and almost the same amount of apple juice. I added a couple of tablespoons of dry vermouth. The recipe actually called for cider. Cider these days is the alcoholic version, not the sweet, fizzy, carbonated apple juice. I didn't have any of that and wasn't buying it for one dish. Hence the substitution of vermouth. To this was added a tablespoon of honey and all was simmered, uncovered, for about 20 minutes. Recipe said to stir in some cream, I used extra lite, and cook 5 minutes more. It was very nice, but a bit sweet. I'd use less honey next time. This made enough for four people, so we are really having leftovers. I've put a little bit of lemonjuice in to cut the sweetness. And no, I didn't notice any ill effects from the prune juice.

I've been experimenting with making different types of bread, as has one DIL. I made two loaves at the weekend. We had quite a large number of people to lunch yesterday, so I haven't eaten too much of it myself. I have been using a book simply called "Hot Bread" which I bought in KMart for about $25. I've seen it in several shops. It's hardcover, but when opened, it lies flat with a spiral backing. Lots of good recipes. Sarah bought another and I was looking at it at her place. It mentioned spelt which is an ancient grain, related to wheat. It is often accepted by those who have an intolerance to wheat. I was interested in some of the recipes and thought I might try some. Then on Saturday, the cooking page of the Sydney Morning Herald Magazine had a recipe for spelt pastry in it. We went shopping, and I stopped to buy some more bread improver in Coles and right in front of me was a 2 kg pack of organic spelt flour. Of course I bought it.

The bread was really nice. The flour was not white but rather had an unbleached look to it. It rose well and had a sweetish, sort of nutty flavour to it. Quite different to both sourdough and even to normal white bread. Husband enjoyed it, although he usually refuses to eat anything but grain, which is what I normally make.

Off to warm up chicken and cook veges. Catch you tomorrow.

I was going to update yesterday, but just couldn't make myself do it. Actually, I don't feel much better today, but need to get on top of things. I feel really flat and stale. I was going to go for a walk, even though it is quite cold and very windy today, but heavy clouds have come up. Rain was promised for late afternoon, but it looks as if it will come much sooner. I've put the washing in the drier, rather than having to keep an eye on the weather and running out if it rains. More than a few stressful moments at home here lately and I imagine that is contributing to the way I feel.

I've taken some veal steaks out of the freezer to defrost for tonight. I think I will brown them quickly and then make a sauce to stop them drying out. I bought some frozen asparagus the other day, so will try that out. I haven't seen it before and am not sure what it will be like. To me, asparagus may not freeze too well. We'll see. I was home alone,yet again, last night. I had some high quality egg fettucine, so cooked two small rolls of that. I cooked some onion and leek and some capsicum. Drained the pasta, stirred everything together with a tablespoon of extra lite sour cream. Then added some sliced smoked salmon. I had a very small glass of red wine and thoroughly enjoyed everything. All up, about 4 points and very filling as well as good to eat.

I've been hankering for one of those delicious tiny lemon tarts which are served at cafes. The really lemony ones. When I had a cup of coffee yesterday, I even asked if they had any. What a pity!! They were sold out. The waitress offered me one of the small Portuguese tarts. They too are really yummy, but I could quite easily refuse one. I have a lot of lemons on the tree. I might make some lemon cheese, even though it has butter and eggs in it. A small scrape on toast is very nice. I use a recipe from a Mrs Beeton's cookbook which I bought many years ago. Three eggs, proper butter, sugar and lemon juice and rind. Not worth making if you don't use butter. Perhaps thats a job for Saturday when I come back from babysitting.

Saturday,17th August

Another day gone. I was back last night early but was just too tired to update then. Today has been busy. Made two cakes, did lots of washing, cooked bread, cleaned up kitchen and did quite a bit of painting in the bedroom. It's really coming together now and looks good. Woodwork painting is about ¼ done. It's driving me mad. Our house is mid-Victorian era and all the wood work has lots of curves and curly bits on it. Painting a door or a door frame takes ages. Sanding it in the first place is a nightmare. Still, we are getting there. We fitted the new centre light. It looks great. It's a long brass rod with a very large milky sphere at end. Sphere is etched with a delicate design. It really suits the era of the house and also the dark colour of the new paint. Looks good. I think I will look around and see if I can find two bedside lights which are a reasonable match for it.

Dinner tonight was vegetable soup, homemade, and some fresh bread. Sort of made up for lunch which was pastizzi. I haven't had them for ages, but the pastry is so fatty. Nice, but not very good food. I enjoyed them, but it could well be another 8 or 9 months or longer before I have them again.

I'm very tired tonight and have a big day tomorrow. Might have a bath and a bit of a soak and an early night.

Tuesday 20th August

My birthday today and I have had many good wishes and cards sent to me by my online friends. It's too early in the day for the postman to have arrived, but I doubt whether there will be cards in the mail for me. As I've said before, I really appreciate my online friends. I've met only some of them, but they are all good friends. We joke and cry together and generally encourage each other.

Tim and Bec took me to lunch yesterday because Bec works today and can't go out. We went to a cafe in Chatswood and I had an entrée size angel hair spinach pasta with pipis and calamari. Very nice as the pipis were extremely fresh. Some pink grapefruit juice and a coffee to finish. I'm having lunch today with my sister and mother. They are both counting points (at least most of the time,) so that shouldn't be too bad as far as points are concerned. Tonight we are supposed to be going out to dinner. My husband wants to go to the local Thai place. I want something a bit more upmarket for my birthday. This place is not much more than the hole-in-the-wall type sort of thing in Ashfield. Certainly, the food is quite nice and the place is cheap, but I don't feel it's a birthday celebration place. I'd rather go Vietnamese than this.

Last year, I cooked my own birthday dinner and chose exactly what I wanted. Just can't be bothered doing it this year.

Little Mya looked cute yesterday. She wore a pair of new blue floral jeans my mother bought her. They came from Hornsby to Chatswood by train and she kept telling me all about her trip. It's the first time she has been in a train that she knew anything about.

I need to go and get ready. It'sa lovely sunny day, but I'm not sure how warm it will be out.

Well, let's just forget about yesterday. If it didn't exist,I didn't eat,did I? Well,it was my birthday after all. Actually,lunch was quite reasonable. The day was beautiful and we had a drink outside overlooking the river for morning tea. By drink, I should have said coffee. Then we walked up the street to a largish cafe which had a lunch deal. We passed a slightly cheaper one, but my mother doesn't eat pasta, so had to keep going. We sat outside in the sun under an umbrella. I ordered chicken tenderloins marinated in honey and mustard and cooked. An enormous salad, full of interesting bits and pieces. A glass of wine and another coffee. So far so good. Possibly about 5 -6 points for lunch.

However, dinner was another matter. We walked down the street to the pizzeria near us. They have always served pasta too, but since opening in the city as well, they have other dishes. I almost ordered the veal with lemon and will do so if we go again. Had chicken breast which was steamed and only part of the breast. Six or seven king prawns and half an enormous avocado hiding the chicken. All covered with a very creamy sauce. More salad and also small serves of several steamed veges.

Ok, not the best, but as the saying goes, "Wait,there's more." My husband ordered herb bread. This is made flat on pizza dough, tasted wonderful, but was very oily. And I ate quite a bit of it. I was so full when I got home that I felt awful. I've exercised today but will have to put yesterday down to an over-the-top aberration. I may not always eat totally well, but I rarely eat as I did yesterday. Life goes on.

Back to babysitting tomorrow. Might get some extra steps in.

Back again on a chilly wet evening. Actually, it would be good if it rained for a week. we really need it. My family birthday evening went really well. The boys decided we would have Indian. That morning I asked if it was takeaway or eat out. Although they had booked, we rang and cancelled the booking and put in an order for the evening. Much easier with two toddlers and a six week old baby to eat at home. The atmosphere's not quite the same, but then who knows? That could be a good thing.

There were almost a dozen of us and plenty of food. I tried to choose wisely and also just had one beer. I was offered wine, but beer goes better with indian food. I didn't eat a lot, but really enjoyed what I had.

It is quite a while since we have had the family together like that. It was great. I love my boys and their partners and adore the grandchildren. At the beginning of the meal, Peter announced that the whole meal was on him. While it was not an enormous amount, Indian for that many wasn't cheap either. He refused any money from his brothers later.

Thanks for the journalled birthday wishes from my friends too. I appreciate them and you.

Fine again here today, after I did the washing and put it in the dryer yesterday! That's life. I was up early because I thought the new wardrobes were being delivered today. I hate the thought of not being ready for things like that. However, it was not to be. Despite the fact that it was arranged last Saturday, the delivery manager hadn't been informed, so the extra men hadn't been detailed. He now assures me it will be tomorrow and tells me he lives just down the street. I suggested that I could easily complain if things didn't go right if he was that close. So he has rung back and yes, they will definitely be here tomorrow. Now I have to get ready and go out today instead.

Chinese style dinner last night with a bit of BBQ pork and lots of vegetables with some Udon noodles. Soy sauce, oyster sauce and a bit of blackbean. Tasted good and was more vegetables than anything else.

I am really looking forward to spring weather. Arthritis is really bad in one shoulder and when I walk. The sole of my foot swells so it feels as if I am walking on a rocking horse runner. Not good. Hopefully warmer weather will help.

I really am having trouble getting motivated properly. Lots of things happening here. Sister-in-law's oncologist has said that there is nothing that can be done for the cancer in her liver which is growing rapidly. It's just very sad.

It feels like spring here today and my little chicken (thanks Rhonda), personifies that. It's quite mild and I've had two loads of washing out before 7:30am. I noticed my cliveas are just coming into flower and the briar rose near the clothesline dropped petals on me as I hung out the sheets. There have been several lots of sulphur crested cockatoos flying over and the currawongs are singing loudly.

I noticed an article in this morning's Herald about the vanishing species called woman. What it was actually talking about was the emphasis in society on thinness. Not necessarily healthy weight loss, but the need to be thin at all costs. I know that I will never reach that state. I like good food too much. However, that has never been my aim. I need to lose weight for health reasoons. High blood pressure has gone down somewhat but I would like it to be lower. Arthritis is not helped by being overweight. I will almost certainly need an operation on my ear in the near future and I would like to lose some more before I have an anaesthetic.

Side benefits include more energy and looking better. Buying clothes is easier too, when one is thinner. However the emphasis on thinness is just plain unhealthy. It mentioned that the "ideal" size for a budding actress is (American) size 0!!! Now I know that their sizes are different to ours,but that is plain ridiculous. My niece who eats very healthily and more than adequately is a natural size 6 here. I cannot imagine anyone being smaller than she is.

What messages are we sending to our young people when they see these stick figures? I know this has been mentioned many times by many people, but we need to get things into perspective. Health, once ruined is difficult to regain. Metabolism, once screwed up is difficult to straighten out. "Woman" does not need to be a vanishing species, just a healthy one. Attractiveness needs to be redefined in terms that young girls can relate to.

OK. Will step off soapbox for today. Rant over.

Saturday, 31st August

What a lovely day today. Much warmer outside than in my house. Sun is shining and the birds are singing. I'm just back from investigating some book shops with my friend. Fascinating pastime and one that could lead to a lot of money being spent. I was horrified and astounded at the price of some books which I already own. Bought not too long ago, many of them have nearly doubled in price. I suppose the weak Australian dollar is to blame for that. However, I was able to find a book I had long wanted but never been able to afford. It was marked down 50% from $79.95 to $39.95. Too good to leave on the shelf. My friend used his academic (lecturer's) discount card and was able to get a further 15% off the $39.95. He bought several books too.

Haven't done too well lately. I seemed to be very hungry while babysitting the last couple of days. Not that I'm blaming the babysitting, just using it as a point of reference. I kept wanting to eat biscuits and cheese, carbs and protein. Not too sure why, but eventually I had some savoury biscuits and a tiny amount of a creamy blue vein cheese spread thinly on them. I added some tomato as well,and I sat outside in the sun and looked at the gum trees and listened to the birds and thoroughly enjoyed every mouthful of it.

Houdini lives again! My little grandaughter is turning into an escape artist! On Friday, I put her into her cot and left her happily reading a story to Eeyore. When I decided it was time she should wake up so she could get to bed at a reasonable hour, I quietly opened the bedroom door. There was a plastic chair behind the door which wasn't there when I went out. She had pulled out the mattress from the little lounge, pulled the towel off her change table and was fast asleep on the mattress on the floor, covered with the towel. She had obviously spent quite a bit of time trashing her room. Her father had come home early, so when she woke up, we set about tidying up. We put her back in the cot and watched as we tidied. She had a miniature shopping basket in the cot, full of plastic fruit and vegetables. This was upended in one corner and she used it to get one tiny leg up onto the edge of the cot side. She is very good at climbing, she has to be because she is tiny. She pulled herself up and leant against the window which is floor to ceiling height. It was open at the top and slides really well. She put her hands on the bar halfway up the window, grabbed it and swung. The window slid all the way down and she just fell the last little bit! Very easy when she showed us. She is about to graduate to a bed, so they are going to get it this weekend.