Scrumping Kit

The neighbours' grapes are ready for scrumping.

Shoshe - Preservation

Two nights ago we made tomato paste from tomatoes that we grew in our garden plot. Tonight I made elderberry cordial (from elderberries we bought at the farmers' market) and pickles from the Boston Pickling Cucumbers that we grew, using my great-grandfather's recipe.

Ben - 10, 000

The assignment that I'm doing just passed the 10000 word count, and I still have a section and a half to do.

Join the teachers, they said. See the world, they said...

Also, my fridge broke down last week. For a few days I was eating like a king as I chowed my way through everything in the freezer before it went off. But since then I've been living on food made from supplies from my cupboard. It's surprising how quickly you tire of lentils, polenta, plain spaghetti and pea soup without any bacon.

If only I had a cask of fruity lexia and a bad haircut, I'd be a true student cliche.

Anna : Lurgy

Been a busy fortnight but largely wasn't at work. First I had three days at a IT conference and then last week I was in and out of the office with the flu. Starting to feel better and a bit more relaxed after some time off so had a nice weekend. Writers fest, started my Samoa shopping, sushi in the park and then Mexican last night with chilli shots (some spicy and fruity red goo in a shot glass) with a discount coupon that we found on the fridge just before it's expiry date.

Ben - All done

In the last couple of weeks I finished all my work and did my one and only exam.

On a more interesting level, I built a set of shelves. This took a long time. I finally admitted to myself that power tools are less useful than they are fun, and bought a chisel. This made things go a lot faster.


I've also been teaching in a three day video production course for primary students. The Uni paired up primary education students with film students, and it went pretty well, overall. I've seen my group's film, I get to see them all on Friday.

For now, I'm going home to a plate of spaghetti, three longnecks of Resches and Dr. Who and the Silurians. I think I've earned it.

Evelyn - The Dumpling House that wasn't

Tancred and I met up with Jo, V and Lachlan, as well as a couple of other friends (Rachel and Maris) to eat dumplings at the supposedly great dumpling house in World Square. Turned out to be less of a dumpling house, more of a standard restaurant with less than quality service and only OK food. Fortunately, the company made up for it :)

Shannon: Heatwave

Its been very hot lately. Today's high is supposed to be 34 degrees, which could set records for this area. All night I dreampt about Vegemite. For breakfast I had three pieces of toast with butter and vegemite and now my tummy is happy :)

Anna : Can't see straight ...

In the thick of another training project, but this time Hivers get to share my pain because some of them have to attend (hey Jen, hey Joe). Only two days of work to go!

Paul at boxing has re-defined "hard", cutting out most of the breaks we used to enjoy so much. Had a family dinner that went well, olives were a motif, figuring in almost every dish and Guy's dad Steve may have been brought around to the joys of the chickpea.

and deja vu ... just now!

Anna : You have so much to teach me grasshopper!

What happened to the clever little ant who spent two days cooking and preparing food to put in the freezer and pull out over the next fortnight? Midnight power failure.

Xmas Holidays

My company decided to be very nice and give everyone Monday off (without charging us a days hols), and I won an ipod at the company xmas party raffle.

Tancred is sick, so have spent the last two days at home not being a particularly good nurse (can't quite get the hang of Age of Empires), watching Arrested Development, and eating too much (great roast beef, a little over-cooked roast pork but damn that was some fine crackling).

Shoshe: two for two

Yesterday we had people over for a "Christmas pudding making and problem set doing" fest. And we actually did both! We made the pud (plus a figgy pudding so that people would actually get to eat something that they'd made that day), and while it was steaming we actually worked on our assignment! We got two questions done in three hours, which was quite satisfying.

Then today we made super-fast parmesan wafers for a Thanksgiving potluck dinner at my friend's co-op. They were quick and simple and really yummy. We highly recommend the recipe!

Anna : Quino-ings On

My Apple, Sultana and Quinoa pudding is a success (as long as you have it with custard) so I thought I'd celebrate with more mediocre wordplay since I got such good feedback about the last lot. Went to see Bob Brown today launching his education policy at Usyd and making a lot of sense about all the issues, $35 billion in tax cuts or $3.5 billion a year to abolish HECS??

EC - The food. My God, the food!

A much happier Monday this week. Started off a bit weak since we needed to get up at 5:30 or so. Of course that was to show up for the first climb onto the Harbour Bridge which was just spectacular. Weather was perfect and it was a lot more fun than I expected. Essentially my (mini) Uncle Michael is leaving for Canada (Vancouver of all places) for an extended stay so we had a family farewell on the Harbour Bridge. No - no pushing was involved.

This was followed by a nice Yum Cha at the place at the top of Market City. The place has opened up again and the service has improved vastly. Food has and still is good. This was followed by a quick session at Galaxy World where Chuppa Chups were won. Yay!

Nap later, we had a mun yit for my cousin who's had their third kid so celebration was done via a 10 course meal - Chinese style. Much eating was done - epecially since our table was under attended as compared to everyone elses. One observation made was that our table without rugrats running around. Hmm.

3 x Duck & Disappointing Play

I've had duck in a meal for three days in a row by accident. YL's party with peking duck in pancakes, sang choy bow and the duck noodles on Saturday night. A sampled wholemeal duck pancake from the Dank St Festival on Sunday, and Duck Pizza from the Australian Hotel. Dinner tonight? Not duck!

Went to see Riflemind". Sold out season, only standing room tickets available on the night. Hugo Weaving as the lead character; Jeremy Sims & Susie Porter also. I couldn't put it any better than the little old lady sitting next to me, when I heard her say during intermission:"If I were on my own, I'd go home. It's rubbish theatre." I found the characters intensely annoying and disagreeable, and only saw that there could be a human side to "John" (Hugo Weaving) at two points in the piece.

Kit: back to old stamping grounds

Markety, market market. Went to the smh/good living growers markets on Saturday. Pretty much the same stall holders as when I last was there ~ about a year ago. Stocked up on fruit bread, venison mince, willowbrae chevre, darling mills olives. Pretty crowded and busy. Gillie's garlic had sold out by 9am. Heard one woman exclaiming on her phone "These are the best markets I've ever been to!". Um, yeah... if you haven't travelled much.

Anna : No-Choc-tober Progresses

Taking a break, munching on yummy dried figs, trying to forget the taste of chocolate. Also after being woken at 5am this morning by our down stairs neighbour listening to the radio for 15 minutes I'm pondering the phrase "If you can't beat them, join them" ... I should go to the gym more ... and going to very early clases would get my gym for the day out of the way ... mmmmm figs.

Anna : Mmmmm Sushi

I've eaten FIVE sushi rolls today ... FIVE!

Becstarr : From unclean to renewed

In the evening I finally bit the bullet and cleaned my fridge, the contents of which had deteriorated through disuse over the last month or so (lots of sleepovers elsewhere). Most unpleasantness was over in about 30 mins and then there was a thorough wipe-out. I had pledged to put nothing but butterflies and rainbows (cut-out ones, if necessary) in there for a while to celebrate, but frankly I'm too excited about being able to drink milk again to wait! :)

Ahhh.... it feels like paying off a debt. A weight off my shoulders!

Anna : Okami and Moon Watching

Lazy evening last night, playing Okami and popping out to watch a sliver of the eclipse. Preparing for "No C's!!!!" September, no "Coke, Coffee or Cordial" and cutting down on "Cake, Chocolate and Carbs".

Anna : Post City to Surf

Sore calves, time = 213 minutes, best bit? Lamb burger at the end of course! Photos