Wednesday, April 25, 2012

The Shackette Gets A Ceiling Makeover

Anzac Day
Remembering all those who have served and died for their country, thank you!
Polimeno's flying The Flag
The Week!
Well, Troy Docking and the boys arrived Thursday morning, 0645. Down came the ceiling, up went the new one and they walked out just before 1800. All done! One day, and a lovely job it was too. I'm very impressed. His number is 0411603 481.
Troy Docking & the lads working in the bedroom
The ceiling in the kitchen has come down
There was a bit of mess, but nothing like I had imagined. I wanted to prepare for the painter so called Sam and she dropped everything to come and help for a couple of hours. She cleaned the front porch, then swept down the walls. I followed behind her, mopping the walls. That girl is worth two. If you require some help, call me for her number. We were all done and dusted by that afternoon.
David Maiolo, always with a smile
Davids preparation, very impressive!
Then David Maiolo arrived on time Friday afternoon, a little more work than he had anticipated as Troy had kept the original architraves for me to 'keep the look' and to save me money, he prep'd with a smile and then returned Saturday to a magnificent job. He is a traditional style painter, is very neat with clean drop sheets, and meticulous. His number is 0410 045 391.
Kangaroos and Wallabies, Margaret River
Walking the dogs Margaret River
Early morning in the bush, Margaret River
A big thank you to my girlfriend Noofi for putting me up at hers. Very much appreciated.
South Beach Doggie Beach
Colin and friend, just preparing a chicken curry breakfast for the  gang
Fremantle Yacht Club from the Doggie Beach, South Fremantle
I then had to go to Perth to do some work. That was a change over at the apartment. Full on as always. Managed to catch up with some mates and do a bit of socialising at the doggie beach.
Miss Scarlet, you can see why she gets the pats! That's a loving look for Aunty Cath
This is the cutest little park on Marine Tce, set up for the kids, I love wandering through here.
This seat is the work of one of our favourite local artists, Richard Coldicutt. I have just confirmed with him that it is indeed his work, and you can feature 'The Feet Seat' in your garden also for $2,000 his M:0404 268 038. I think it would look fabbo under my Oak Tree!
What a great little kiddie wonderland?! The locals look after it, a gorgeous lady, Pam seems to be seen doing a bit of pottering around in there. Well done all!
Another big thank you to my girlfriend Mary Q for also putting me up at hers in Fremantle. Very much appreciated also. We had Spag Bol at Ruocco's. Lunch at Il Lido, Cottesloe, would have to be my favourite restaurant. Dins at the Joy Kitchen, we love the Peking Duck Rolls and the Szechuan Chilli Fish. Breakfasts at Aubergines and Xwray and another lunch at Tasty's!
Il Lido Canteen, Cottesloe, just before the lunch rush
Aubergines for breaky
The Aviary, Murray St, Perth, definitely go back. Might try the restaurant next time.
A trip into Perth for a lovely treat at The Aviary. Good fun, a schooner of Pure Blonde 'off the tap' and a Chorizo and Prawn Pizza. And then, a train trip from Maylands to Fremantle. And then, the 3 hour drive home. A delicious takeaway from Chow and in bed by 8.30pm!
I do like some forms of graffiti, like this little fox (or is it a wolf?), South Fremantle  

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

The Shackette A Shambles

Well, we are packing up the shackette! 6 rooms into 3! Today is taping day, yesterday moving day. Adrian from Swiss Antiques deconstructed my timber bed that the removalists had reconstructed in some dodgy manner. And he also helped move other bits of furniture around. Colin from Col's Gardens popped over to discuss the strategy of the fridge. We think best to work around it after covering with cardboard and plastic. The bin has arrived this morning and has been parked on the verge. And, it's raining.


Lunch with Mum at Must. And, then I'm moving out. The ceilings come down tomorrow. And there will be mucho mess. I have bought a throw away Ozito vacuum cleaner for the job of cleaning plaster bits and macadamia nut bits and critter bits. The vac looks like a little ripper. We will soon see. I share these photos of 'the process', must admit, I am feeling a little unsettled, but it will all be much better when I don't have to negotiate that acroprop!


Looks like how they loaded up Tutankhamun's burial chambers, and it's only actually my dining room (old sleep out), my office is in the old laundry. It is a shackette after all!
Main Bedroom, that ceiling is coming down and being replaced. The insurance guy suggested that I don't sleep under it. Will be covering the aircon and windows etc with plastic and tape today.
It was a bit cold and lonely, rattling around that kitchen last night. Made a ripper Lentil Soup which did the trick.
Im going to miss that yellow Acroprop! The loo door has on it 'gone to the beach'! I wish!
The dogs look like aliens after their clip and are wondering 'what the hell is going on?!'

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Checking In, 15th April, 2012 @ Margaret River

Good Morning,


What a lovely, sleepy morning it is in town today, very quiet. Looking back at my last week. Often a good thing to do as I find myself hurtling through time like some asteroid through the universe.
I found this behind the little church at the Margaret River Community Centre, how gorgeous is that?
Social Events:
I attended the opening of RedInk Homes Showroom in Margaret River township, a lovely evening, I was pleased to meet Scott Park. I also got to meet some of their clients who were having a happy building experience, always an excellent thing to hear first hand. The showroom is one of it's kind in town, and very well done. Definitely worth a visit. The delicious nibblies were cooked up by Wild Thyme.


I had two catch ups at Settlers Tavern. One with my friend Noofi, we had dinner there one night, sitting outside enjoying the balmy weather, a little disconcerting watching a fire develop on the edge of the forest along the river, apparently a 'prescribed burn'. I had a yummy Lamb Curry, ate the lot (they make their own curry pastes). Noof's choice was the local Groper, Grilled, also very nice apparently. They do have an excellent wine list, I drink red and Noofi drinks white. A good way to go by the glass.


Lunch at Settlers Tavern again this time with with my Fam, they walked past me as 'the hair' is growing and they still expect to find my short cut. We had a couple of the kiddies with us and they loved their chicken or fish with chips, the tavern has a dedicated children's menu.  The crispy squid was apparently a little oily. I had a small chicken satay, with homemade satay sauce, very nice, great for the diet if you omit the sauce. And, the local groper again, just as good as the day before.
Cape Mentelle, the cool room, very cool!
Movies in the Vineyard at Cape Mentelle, it's a great thing to do. I haven't been since last year, and they have upgraded the catering, which looked fabulous. I wasn't expecting to see Duck Breast with Thai Noodles, so I had a bowl of my Lamb Shank and Kale Soup with a huge dollop of Rueben Solomons (blow your head off) Chilli Vinegar before I went (I was quite hungry after all that lawn mowing)! Enjoyed a bottle of their Sangiovese. Movie was good, a good one for the kids also, Hugo.
A selection of Cape Mentelle Wines, looking through to the cool room
Anatol Fritsch & Little Wiener Catering @ Cape Mentelle, Movies In The Vineyard
Galavanting Around The Countryside:
I love these maps, if you click on it, you will see more detail.
A 9 kilometre Stand Up Paddle up the River, from the river mouth, yes, the Margaret River. Well, it was about 9k's up and back, took 2 hours basically non stop. Going down wind was a doddle, paddling back was quite a bit harder, a 10 knot breeze, gusting up to 13 or so knots. A good effort on my behalf. What a great thing to do. You can hire canoes from the river mouth and I would highly recommend it. I am amazed that the dangers are so few. The river mouth is closed off at the moment. The water is briny and at this time of year, there is no water flow. You could expect that the river could be stagnant but it is quite healthy. I cut my foot landing my board on a rock and the foot hasn't fallen off with infection (yet)(just joking!)!

This shot was taken 2 months ago, it has green up alot since then. That is part of the Margaret River I paddled up. 
The river isn't very deep, and apart from no real dangers like sharks, crocodile, I didn't see one snake, not to say they aren't there, the only real danger is falling off the board onto a submerged tree branch and impaling oneself. I didn't fall off once, but had quite a few swims. There was an eagle that swooped above, but it was only interested in it's marsupial prey, dangling from its talons. It's very interesting to see the new regrowth after the fires, very uplifting and strangely picturesque. I wish I could take a camera. Will have to invest in a waterproof camera.


Current Theory:
Don't try this at home. It's about going with out sunscreen! I wear a Chanel moisturiser, on my face with a 15 spf as a daily standard. And, I was wearing that this day on the board. So, a one piece bathing suit, we call them bathers. And a cap and sunglasses. That's it. No sunscreen on the body - at all. My theory is, that you wont burn if you cool your body and skin down when you feel it getting warm or hot. What I am going to show you will shock you... it's my skin. After two hours in direct Australian sun, I did not burn and I don't even have a criss cross where my straps go across my back?????? This photo was taken the day after the paddle. It's not even red. I was worried about my chest, I did start to feel it getting a little warm at one stage and just slipped off the board and spent time just cooling down, that did get a little touch of colour. But I am amazed.
Look Mum, no sun burn?! not even a bathers strap mark?? 2 hours direct sun!
Have been working on this theory for a while. I haven't worn sunscreen on my body all year and I spend at least a couple of days in the week (every week) on the beach for an hour or so, playing and walking with the dogs. Lots of cooling myself down when I feel even a little warm. I first started thinking about this when I visited the research station on Lizard Island. A long time ago, maybe 18 years ago??? There was a chap there working on the question of why the reef and it's critters don't get burned when the tide goes out and leaves them exposed. Mmmm, yes, why is that? Not sure if he has worked it out, and I certainly haven't, but it has lead to this little theory of avoiding sunburn. I still think if you are prone to skin cancer, you have to do everything you can to avoid the sun. So, I say again, don't try this yourself. (It can't help the wrinkle factor either as my Grandmother warned me - toooo late).


What's Going On At 'The Shack':
The shackette is in a shambles, hate that! I have 6 rooms, 3 of those are having the ceiling completely replaced!! Puck! Those rooms are the kitchen, the main bedroom and the bathroom. I am in the process of taking every thing out of those rooms and taping every thing up.... to be continued. That is suppose to happen at the end of this coming week.


Beach & Bush Walking:
I love this time of year. The weather is so changeable. One day hot, the other day cool. When it's warm, I'm in the water, when it's cool, I'm in the bush. Had a walk, from near Main Break, towards Prevally one afternoon, it was really windy and the waves seemed very powerful, that was when there was a tsunami warning for Bali. I did have a quick dip in the ocean, and to my surprise it was really warm. Not so warm in the wind.
Tree Fungi
Tree Fungi
Have had a couple of bush walks (the toe is still reminding me that something has happened to it) found this amazing tree fungus, beautiful. There is hardly any water in the river near the town. Just little puddles in the mud. We have had a really dry summer unfortunately.
Siesta Park Nature Reserve Beach looking West across Geographe Bay and toward Cape Naturaliste
Siesta Park Nature Reserve Beach looking East and toward Busselton, we were just about to be sprinkled on. Note # no one on the beach!?
Took the dogs for a walk along one of my favourite beaches, Siesta Park, up Busselton way. I love the bay, Geographe Bay. The wind is mostly offshore making for little, little waves and shallow, crystal clear water. Only thing up there are the stingers (oh, and the sharks!). Weren't any yesterday (not sure about the sharks, in Australia, there will always be sharks, I have a theory about them as well!).


Technology:
This week downloaded a couple of magazines on to the ipad:
Wired UK (I love it, my favourite, everything digital) This month a very good article on Creativity.
Gourmet Traveller (very good)
Harpers Bazaar
Women's Weekly
(not really into the WW but wanting to see how they are putting it together as there aren't many mags on line yet)


Loving Triple MMM for Ipad, it's rock, out of Sydney, my kind of music, only disconcerting thing is the time difference, but its good to hear people talking about peak hour traffic and I look out and see the odd car drive past! A good reminder of the benefits of living in a country town and not in 'the big smoke' (cough cough). Triple J and Triple J Unearthed are really good as well.


The ABC, SBS and SMH are also very good digitally. Have packed the televisions for the ceiling reno, and have been watching Gardening Australia on my laptop. (I call it garden porn)


Weather Apps, I have found Accuweather to be better than Weatherzone. WZ don't do Margaret River, they say they do, but they use Busselton, and the temp can be 5 degrees cooler down here, and completely different conditions. Even the temp between town and the beach can be 5 degrees different.
Forest Grove Olive Farms, Bacon & Egg Tart from The Margaret River Farmers Markets
Eating:
Have been eating my Lamb Shank & Kale Soup, love it. Trying to eat & drink everything in the fridge to get ready to move it. Smoked Salmon and Salad or Organic Rice Cakes. A bit of Pecorino on a cracker. Red wine. Yesterday for breaky I had one of Forest Grove Olive Farms, Bacon & Egg tarts plus a Plum Tart!!! YUM! This morning I had a piece of RAW KY's Raw Carrot Cake! YUM again, I am living in foodie and wino heaven. Oh, and those beautiful local Fuji Apples.
Forest Grove Olive Farms, Plum Frangipani Tartlets
And after all of that, weighing in at 64.5kgs.
RAW KY's Stall at The Margaret River Farmers Markets yesterday 
RAW KYs Raw Carrot Cake, my breakfast this morning!
Raw Carrot Cake

Monday, April 9, 2012

The New Year Diet Project, Monday Weigh In, 9th of April, 2012

Good Morning :) It has been a very happy Easter down here in Margaret River. I hope everyone has enjoyed the same happiness.
In situ. This morning, a photo from where I am sitting in bed, writing this blog. This is the guest bedroom/my wardrobe. I have moved into it as I have the ceiling being replaced in my bedroom. Yes, I collect Barbie Dolls.

The Diet

Right, the diet. The diet is no more. I have decided that it must be boring people more than it is boring me. My weight is just sliding sideways, I have lost it, gained it, lost it, gained it. I think it's gonna keep going that way. I suspect and know that the majority of others who started the diet have done much the same. There are a few stand out dieters that have pushed themselves through the pain and managed to lose a decent amount. Well done, and congratulations. It is no mean feat. Ramping up the exercise, cutting out the wine and keeping the carbohydrates at a minimum and upping the protein, seems to be the key. I certainly don't deserve to have maintained mine as I have been eating to many yummy things like pizza, pasta, chocolate & drinking wine. Tut Tut. I am fitter, and so am happy about that. I feel better. So, something was learned in that process. We shall see how it goes.

Old Friends

I have to tell you about my very first friend, Kenneth. I woke up the other morning, thinking, 'that bugger hasn't replied to my email wishing him a happy birthday!!!' I rolled over under my fluffy warm doona, checked the emails that had come through during the night and there it was, an email from Kenneth! I must be psychic :)
Singapore. I'm the short one. Aren't they a beautiful couple?
Anyway, I really think this is special. Kenneth and I went to kindergarden together in Singapore and became best of mates. I lived there for 4 years as a little kiddy, from the ages of 2 to 6. I left Singers, returned to Australia and left Kenneth behind. So, that was the last time we saw each other.


I never forgot him. He was my very first, best friend. A couple of years ago, I started to search for him. Google helped a little, as I got a sense that he was somewhere in the UK and working in finance, but they were old leads and I just could not find him. It took a couple more years before the family grape vine came across him in Singapore and mentioned me to him. Did he still remember me? Oh course, he said, he had apparently enquired as to my whereabouts also, through the school head mistress, and had never forgotten me either.


We have obviously gone our own ways, he has a lovely family in the UK and travels between there and Singapore still, pursuing a life of finance and politics. And I have settled here in Margaret River after a life of galavanting around the Australian country side. We have corresponded via email like the old fashioned 'pen pals', the internet bringing us closer. But, I just think it's amazing that, a bond that is forged at such a young age still remains. We may never meet in person again, but, good to know we have not lost that connection. Never under estimate the power of a friendship, male or female.

The Easter Holidays

One of my Blue Tongue Lizards, I couldn't bear hurting one with a whipper snipper! They have been know to live to 20 years in captivity. That's longer than my dogs.
Oh dear, the Easter holidays have been alot of fun. I have mowed the lawn - again, and, have had my first ever experience using a whipper snipper (after psychoanalysing myself, realised my reluctance to pick it up was that I thought I might end up chopping up a little critter in the grass! A real possiblility as that's where they like to hide, I am not talking little ones, I am talking about my chunky Blue Tongue Lizards, weighing in at about 200 - 250gs each). Apart from inadvertently trimming a couple of plants in the front garden, I think I did quite well. Have also used my reciprocating saw on cutting back part of the Macadamia Tree to get my car under. http://www.ryobi.com.au/Products/PowerGarden I love my Ryobi, 36V tools, easy to start, no petrol or oil, no smell, not as noisy, and amazingly powerful. They do the job very happily. The lawn mower conks out if half way if the lawn is too long, or wet, but, it's just a matter of putting it back on charge, whilst getting around with the whipper snipper. Very satisfying.
This morning. This is the 'after' shot of the lawn mowing and whipper snippering, note arount the compost bins, I was impressed with myself!
Social occasions.... there are a few. A BBQ at my girlfriends place on Saturday. Had to leave the car and get a lift home. It was a lovely, afternoon. A classic, where you truly chill out in good company with good food & wine.


Then, a party at Valmai's. That was hectic, prawn pizza's, wine, good music, dancing, yummy vodka jelly shooters, a fire, more wine, music and dancing. I did the right thing and took myself off about midnight. Valmai crashing about 5. I still have a few other social occasions for the holidays and needed to preserve my liver. The next morning, I made some of Bill Grangers Corn Cakes with an Avocado Salsa and took them back around to Valmai's for lunch. They were yummy, I used the corn bought from the Margaret River Farmers Markets. The sweet, heavy corn normally doesn't make it to the cooking stage, as I just sit on the back step and eat it fresh off the cob. I had one corn cake at home, straight out of the pan, hot with mascarpone and smoked salmon, delish.


The hectic social life continues; a curry night tonight, a catch up with Noofi tomorrow, and the family, also arrives tomorrow. Poor old liver. None of my family or friends are tea totallers!

Recipes

I also made a batch of Rueben Solomon's Chilli Vinegar as a gift for Valmai's Hubby, whose birthday it is. I think I found it in a Gourmet Traveller Magazine (click here to go to their website, which is very good)
Ruebens Chilli Vinegar, If you can't read this old recipe send me a note
* Note: I have noticed I have gone from a dieting headset to a cooking headset. Mmmmm, interesting! Back on that rower!

Thursday, April 5, 2012

It's Easter In Margaret River

Well, I've already eaten my Easter egg! Days ago, I thought I could control myself and only eat the bunny ears for desert after my Beef Shin, Kale Soup. I couldn't stop at the ears..... the rest is history.. it was a lovely bunny.
Driving through the Peppermint trees @ Every Day Potted Plants
Tried Mike's - Garlic & Roses, smoked garlic last night. It wasn't what I expected. And, I wasn't sure what to do as I haven't done any research. I pulled it out of the little brown paper bag that Mike handed to me. The garlic skin was papery and a beautiful burnished brown. The garlic cloves some soft, some chewy, a little smokey. Yummy. My friend suggested we grind the garlic in a mortal and pestle with some Maldon sea salt, a ha,,, very good, I then made a fig balsamic, olive oil dressing. The balsamic was not the usual product that I normally use and I had to use some lemon juice to cut its sweetness. But never the less it was still delicious. That just went over a simple salad and baked salmon.
A toothy yawn from the nursery's newest addition
The nursery's oldest, still doing his best at guarding, although these days for his comfy mat
You know winter is on its way when the Ugg boots and the fluffy dressing gown are pulled out of the cupboard. Tip of the season, always check your hibernating boots for spiders before pulling them over your tootsies. Its only a fear of mine, I haven't had a close encounter with any eight legged critters in my boots - yet!
Check out this Acacia Cognata! @ Every Day Potted Plants
Headed back down to Everyday Potted Plant Nursery today. I love that place, so quirky but ordered, I think they have a great range. We walked away with a mass of native plants, they are to form a hedge and provide habitat for the little birds.
http://www.everydaypottedplants.com/?page_id=146
Revive, my Sesame Burger being lovingly made
I also have to recommend the health food shop in town, Revive, had a really delish sesame burger. They also sell some beautiful cakes. Worth a visit. I noticed that others had discovered this little secret. A customer also recommended Blue Ginger for a good vege burger. Last weekend I met my brother and his family in Cowaramup at La Vaca Loca, part of the Noble Grape Guest House, located just behind the main street. Cath and I had an amazing Grilled Haloumi Salad, Bro and the girls a mushroom fettucine and Tob's had what he said was a very yummy Lentil Burger. http://www.noblegrape.com.au/ 
Revive Health Food Shop
The next couple of weeks are 'chock a block' with events in Margaret River. There is a sensational 'long table lunch @ Leeuwin Estate', sold out, I will be waiting for some feed back. Sounds like fun. Check out more events at http://www.margaretriverfestival.com/.


This Saturday is big at the Community Centre, the Farmers Markets AND the Hand Made Markets are on, one after the other. Looking forward to it.


Happy Easter everyone... I wish you lots of love, chocolate & hot cross buns.
This is a 'before' photo, the lawn mowing, and a digging out of the rubber I have found under the vege patch, are only a couple of jobs on the weekends list!

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