Best Game of Scrabble.... EVER!

A quick boasting blog - I got 266 in scrabble this afternoon!

Oh My Golly Goodness Me Chocolate Mousse

At the risk of this becoming a food blog (not that there's anything wrong with food blogs by the way), this morning I made the quickest and simplest Chocolate Mousse - so good I've entitled it Oh My Golly Goodness Me Chocolate Mousse - simply, it's a must make - and that's from only licking the spoon!

This past week has been an interesting one. On Tuesday night, mom and I stayed up 'til 12 to finish the first season of Grey's Anatomy (that we started that morning!) and I've slowly been getting my strength back, albeit with naps in the day. I've been told about a job I would simply love to have and shall be praying about it as I start my new job at my old school on Tuesday. It's a simple receptionist role and as I'm feeling much better than when I returned from HK am eager for a bit of a challenge.

Last night mom and I watched the Lake House and a dancing movie called Step Up. Step Up is set in Baltimore, Maryland and it was a bit of a shock to the system to see places that I have been. I'm used to that and the memories that come with it when watching movies of New York, I avoided a book my friend loaned me about a girl returning to Lancaster County PA for the same reason - but I was taken by surprise at the Baltimore Harbour scenes - after all, one of my favorite memories from last Christmas in the US was dancing with Ian at that very harbour.

It's a long process moving on from a relationship.

How long will it last?

Over the past week of convalesence I've been reading cooking blogs and recipe books like they're going out of fashion... adding to that, I've been following up the research with some actual baking! Today for instance I'm making Chocolate Mousse that Maria sent me, and for my best friend who's on a brilliant roll of healthy eating, a Pistachio and Crasin Muesli Slice that I found in an Australian Women's Weekly cookbook.

I've been sooo frustrated though with lost recipes - for instance, I had a brilliant one for Spiced Apple Breakfast Muffins in Hong Kong that I can't find for the life of me in all my web searches (why oh why didn't I bring it home?), and for the past 7 years I've been lamenting the loss of a Cinnamon Sticky Bun recipe I saw in a magazine made 5 times and have now lost :(

Hence today, my search for a recipe book to keep all these gems, with my notes and variations. The only question is, how long will this craze last? Is it worth it??? Will it work for good in my efforts of hospitality, or will I become board in the endeavour?

A pub, a restaurant, a take-a-way and a cocktail

On the way to Brisbane last night with Mom (a quick trip to visit Steve who's in town with work) I realised 4 things. I miss my HK Pub, Restaurant, Take-a-way and the only place I know that serves a decent lychee martini...

So if you're in or around Hong Kong, do me a favour and enjoy while you can take-a-way from MIX (spinach, pumpkin and mushroom quiche fits under the CRI budget), have a beer and nachos from the Inn Side Out bar in Causeway Bay, when you have guests take them to the Peak and delight at Cafe Deco's amazing menu and service (I highly recommend the NZ Venison and Wild Mushroom Risotto), and if you're really splurging have a Lychee Martini at Isola at IFC II's outdoor area (go to the roof area on the 3rd floor where the bar is - it's got a restaurant as well but I can't comment on what I haven' experienced!) ... mmmmm.....

I was drooling so much at the thought of these four delights I almost forgot about my debts and hopped on a plane just to have them again! of course, what is food without friends - I'd need enough to shout some buddies too!!!

"You only cook a carrot cake to eat the icing"

I woke at 6am this morning with the urge to bake a carrot cake.... Only to realise after the cooking that I am indeed a perfectionist with baking. I'm my own worst critic (sound familiar?) . On the way to the doctor this morning though, Mom made the comment above "people only make a carrot cake to eat the cream cheese icing".

My baking thus far has been very healthy, LSA (linseed, soy and almonds) replacing some of the flower, the flower is wholemeal stone-ground and organic, I use 1/4 of the sugar in the recipe or less, etc. etc. etc. But darn! My beloved mother is right - I want that cream cheese icing!!!

It makes one think, what else to we do for the icing - go for a run to feel the endorphines (I for one wouldn't run without them as a bonus!), watch a movie to drift off into someone else's world, work for the cheque, garden for the flowers... bake a carrot cake just to eat the the icing.

Or perhaps it's for the delicious smell wafting past my senses right now?

(note: the carrot cake remains for the meantime un-iced - but we'll see if it gets eaten!)

Last Sunday I had an emergency appendectomy, from which I am still recovering, but very glad to be much better than I was. Prior to the surgery I was quite proud of my "no vomiting" status - no matter how sick I was, how big a night, or nauseous I just didn't vomit... bring along an intolerance to Morphine, Pethidine and Digesic later I can now no longer claim that title!

Oh well... probably too much information there!

I woke yesterday with an urge to bake (currently there is a lemon and blueberry bread baking in the oven), and am hoping that the trend continues.

I'm sitting here though on my couch feeling "blah", I have everything in the world to be thankful for, but still that quiet pain that I've spoken of before has once again crept upon me. Unbidden thoughts wondering the "IF", not regretting, not wishing, just wandering through hurtful places - sadistically torturing my mind.

Goodness me though! I've had all these wonderful ideas to write upon this past week, and here I am, finally sitting down for the first time before this page and all that comes to mind are depressing anecdotes! Rest assured though I am doing very well, despite all my ramblings. I've found a peace in the past month that has evaded me and am looking forward to a NEW year. The old has, and will as a continued exercise, been put behind me, and I look forward with hope and anticipation to all my Father has.

Stay tuned - it's going to be an exciting year. Hopefully no romance though :)

The Cross was not Glamorous

In church today I noticed our cross, a humble wooden cross, but with a spotlight on it and a fluorescent light on the back to bounce of the curtain behind. It made me think of how we can glamorise the cruel and humiliating death which Jesus died for our sake. Or even worse, become complacent about it.

Chris Windus preached an awesome message about the Supremacy of Christ, that there is nothing we can do to add to, or make our salvation beyond what he has done. No religious duties, no praying or fasting or going to church or any such thing can add to our salvation, because Christ is supreme and he HAS completed the work already on our behalf. Furthermore, he brought to mind the life that Christ lived - one of Danger and Risk Taking and having fun with mates rather than doing what was expected of him - this is the Jesus we believe in - this is the Jesus I can identify with.

While I liked the sermon and was challenged by it, I really struggled with the "worship". I find it hard to experience freedom in the established form of worship at my church. It's something that's done, and others can connect with, but for me it's by no means my preferred cup of tea. Perhaps it's because of the worship leader, perhaps it's because I dislike blanket statements (even though they may have truth to them!), perhaps it's because I don't know many of the songs and I miss hymns, for whatever reason - I find the time difficult, and I miss my church in Hong Kong that I was so excited to go to each week.

Mashed Potato Mountains and Back to Reality

Back to Reality
My day started in spits and spats as I woke periodically throughout the night, subconsciously realising that today is the beginning of the rest of my life. Holidays are over, reality hit at wee hour of the morning, and the past needs to be put in the past.

I'm not ready to move on.

I don't want to move on.

But move on I must.

Baby steps or with hop skips and jumps, any way my Lord guides as I trust and hold on to his promises - because like I've posted before... even just trusting and believing is enough for him. Like children we hold his hand, enfolded, loved, comforted.


Mashed Potato Mountains
At dinner tonight the six of us (Liam and Maigen have visited for the evening much to our great delight) created Mashed Potato Mountains. Rules being as follows:

• You must eat whatever you put on your plate
• You can't vote for yourself
• Winner's photo gets put on Aunty Liz's blog
• First was Liam's snow mountain, tie for second was Steve's the pass of nevermore and Gran's one tree hill (complete with cars and boat!), third was Maigen's treey mountain with faerie's hiding , and Last but not least was Pop's gravy volcano and Liz's enchanted island.
• as you'll note, the standard of creation was so high it was decided that all should be shown (Liam convinced Aunty Liz that she had to put hers up too! )

The first blog of 2008

On this, the first day of 2008, I'm considering the year ahead. With the past month taken off, I start work tomorrow. (I've got 8 days at the Catholic Education Office, and then a term or two at my old school. Both are beautiful locations with really great people, but the space will be missed.)

While December was certainly a period of R&R, it has also been one of introspection and growth... I feel a bit more able to take on the world again, but am trying not to plan past July 08, up until then will be taking it easy and doing what I can.

As this blog is complimented by my photo journal on Flickr, I thought it appropriate to include these two photos from today - one from our garden at home, and the other from the farm.

God's grace and peace be with you all in the coming year... and me too!!!