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!!!

Driving Range Venture

Steve and I went to the driving range today - shock horror, despite my "unorthodox style" as Steve delicately put it, I was hitting some big uns! Delightfully shocking as it was the first time I've attempted to play golf aside from "miniature put put"! I think a lesson or ten might be in order though before I attempt to move off the range on to an actual course.

Loads of fun and topped off with Baskin and Robins. (Considering that everyone keeps on pinching my stomach and saying I've lost too much weight I think I can handle a bit of sugary decadence.)

Maigen's party was quite fun yesterday, although due to a late finish the Tea Shop did not receive the pleasure of our custom, but they do have on-line ordering... hmmm :)

P.s. I was thinking of calling this post "Fun at the Range" but realised that I have my first shooting lesson on Friday at the Charlton Rifle Range!

My Current Quote

I was listening to the radio the other day and heard someone say how their wife had put the following saying on the fridge in an attempt to assist with his dieting goals:

Don't sacrifice what you want for what you think you want.

I'm finding that thought coming back to mind quite often at the moment, especially in light of the post Christmas sales spending spree vs. paying back debts and planning a holiday to visit friends in the UK... instantaneous pleasure vs. success of goals

something to think on

P.s. Heading to Brisbane today for Maigen's birthday party (and a side visit to the Tea Shop! - note well, in light of the above all spending has been budgeted for :)

A Girly movie??

Mom and I went to see Enchanted tonight (believe it or not, 0f the 20 people in the cinema, we knew about 15 of them!) and had a ball. Mom laughed the whole way through it and has described it as a Cinderella Charlie Chaplin - Slapstick Fairy Tales!

I was meaning to write a blog on my Christmas and the wonderful things that did happen (perhaps to balance the blog below), but instead of my usual verbose style I'll summarize as follows:

• Christmas started when we picked Steve up at the airport on Friday. Mom, Dad and I went down to Brisbane (stopping at the fruit shop on the way for Dad to get potatoes and onions, me to get summer fruits and Mom to get veggies!).
  
• Kimberly, Liam and Maigen arrived on Saturday to our great joy and delight (leaving Andrew with Gastroenteritis in Canberra to fly up on Monday)
• Jonno, Steve, Kimbas and I sat out on the porch for a few hours drinking beers and catching up
  
• Jack stayed the night with his cousins and shared my room - when he got homesick we looked at photos of China (Hong Kong) as when he was in Sydney last week to see Billy Elliot he loved China Town.
• Had a fabulous Sunday lunch at the Dentons with Barb and Lynda
• Played Monopoly and Badminton with L & M
• Took L & M to the farm where they rode horses, greeted foals and rode quad bikes - my oh my - they (along with Jack) are the politest and most pleasant kids to be around - it was such a pleasure to spend time with them, and a proud moment when they were just as prettily behaved in front of my friends
• Had dinner with my brothers and their wives at Swish, a delicious 5 course meal (with a different wine to match each course) - a real treat
• and last but not least, Christmas day itself. A traditional Shaw breakfast (with foods from Canada, the Philippines and Australia), opening gifts (with Maigen stealing the show with refreshingly honest reactions to them as only a five year old can give - hilarious!) and at night, an open house for people that didn't have anywhere to go with a traditional meal and watching Amazing Grace to end the night.
  

God has been good

God Keeps His Promises

This Christmas season has been very hard for me as someone very dear to my heart did not keep a special promise. This has tinted so much of my life in the past few months, dimming every aspect of with a dark shade. As Adrian Plass writes a “chilled and sullen sense of loss" that pervades my being. While I understand the Why of their actions, it has not lessened the pain.

After my siblings had left for other engagements today, with that familiar shade creeping back in the quiet of the afternoon, I decided to hide in my room for a nap and quiet brooding.

Picking up the birthday book Barbara gave me, I read the following passage, and was warmed with the peace and comfort that God keeps His promises, even when people don’t. While the pain is still a deep ache when focused on I am comforted beyond words… because God understands. And so do other people as this poem shows. Continuing to bring everything before him, he takes care of us beyond expectations.

The Promise of Christmas – Adrian Plass

I suspect that those of you who do not find this time of year easy will appreciate the poem that follows. Promises are not always kept on this side of the grave. That is the way life is. God will always keep his promises, though, and when we do finally reach heaven, we will be amazed to find that the essence of all the innocent things that we loved most in this world are there. How could not that be so? He made them.

When I’m in heaven

Tell me there’ll be Christmases without the pain

No memories that will not fade

No chilled and sullen sense of loss

That can not face the festive flame

Nor breathe excitement from the ice-cream air

Tell me how the things that Christmas should have been

Will be there for eternity in one long shining dawn

For all of us to share

I love the promises of Christmas

The Facebook Delema - the temptation to be popular

I've joined Facebook and have a growing number of friends within my less than week membership. I'm struggling though with two things, the second of which may seem a contradiction to this blog.

Firstly, do I really need another form of communication in my life?
Secondly, do I want the 69 people who are currently listed as my friends to have access to personal details about my life?

The former is answered easily, no, I don't. However as some people use Facebook as the primary form of communication and staying "in touch" with people it does have the end product of a quicker and easier connect with them.

The latter... No - in honesty I don't. I'm uncomfortable with some people knowing about my life and having access to it. Not necessarily because I'm ashamed, but more so that this blog is an expression of my life which is at times quite personal. While I don't state many specifics, reading in between the lines you can gather quite a lot. Having acquaintances logging on to this section of my life is more uncomfortable then those who wander here periodically because they genuinely care about me or what I write - rather than the former friend or schoolmate who is looking for the latest goss.

So, with that having been said, I've taken the blog link off my Facebook page.

Which leads me to the title of this post: Facebook is a popularity contest. Yes, you want to be in contact with people who you count as your friends... but how many people do you honestly want to know that you're now single (which I recently saw on my news page as my friend had changed her relationship status). How many people do you Not people who log in to see how YOU are going, but just working on other things and see that at the same time?

I added my blog post with a vague, ill thought prideful action that more people might come to my blog and I'd get more dots on my visitor's wall - again - a popularity contest. Then I realised that I was actually thinking "oh, what will ... think about me if they read this", which is in direct opposition to the premise on which I write this blog: to be honest, both with myself and others and through that either encourage others, or look back in times to come and see my journey more clearly.

I know I'm contradicting myself here... with one breath I'm saying "blow what anyone else thinks, I'm going to stay the course I've set" and with another I'm second guessing my vulnerability.

Be all that as it may, I've limited my Facebook profile and taken my email address of it (for the first time ever I'm starting to get junk mail - I started getting it about 6 minutes after I joined up)

AGHHHR!!!

Clever me locked herself out of her computer.. i.e. I completely and utterly forgot my password. As such, I've had to go somewhere to get it fixed (thanks Greg) but in the process have lost my morning, all my saved Skype chats and sent emails.

So - if anyone's sent me a Skype in the last day which I haven't replied to.. SORRY! Chances are I won't see it.

Almost over

Today has been a highly productive, although somewhat emotional day.

Following my interview (which I got - I'm temping but still need to interview and shall be at a Catholic Education HQ for the next 3.5 weeks from Wednesday) I came home to continue the task I set for myself today - sorting out my photo album!

I'm going through all of my digital photos since 2005 and am going to get them printed in a professional book. Of course, as those who have seen my photos will know, there is a great deal of weeding going on as not a lot of em are all that good! I also finally transferred my NZ shots from 2004 on to my laptop.

I'm quite looking forward to continuing this project, and while I haven't started the layout I have compiled the main list of photos. It's hard to know which ones to put in and which ones not to though in some respects. Some are of a life that is no longer... do I put them in or is it best to move on and edit them out? Not the time, but just the more personal shots. I'm leaning towards that option.

And also, when do I stop? I know clearly when I'm starting... but do I finish the album with my return to Australia or do I keep it going until the end of October? At least that way I get to incorporate some flower and horse shots into the picture.

It is fun to have a creative project going - other than my sister-in-law's christmas present (curious still Kimbas? - with all this hype I better make sure it's good!)

The storm if you were wondering was uneventful - filled with much needed rain but no lightning or hail in our area.

Off to bed - one more day's holiday tomorrow then back to work... ahhh... it's a tough life!

Silence is golden

We're about to have a massive storm so I'll only be quick.

Quick update though:
Finished up with my job on Friday (and got a phonecall this morning to say can I pay back the $366 that I was overpaid in Tax!)
Have an interview at 2pm for a temp job with Catholic Education
Have joined Facebook... jury is still out if it is good or bad (I'm horrible keeping in communication without ANOTHER method!)
I went to St Luke's on Sunday (a local Anglican church) and loved it

Fare thee well - huge hail storm etc. about to hit and I must batten down the hatches

Toast and Honey

is very Yummy :P

Some Photos from Sunday

Down at the farm today I took the following photos, thankfully, Lynda didn't take one of my face whilst I held a mare being served by the stallion... I just didn't know where to look! I'm a professional now though and will make a much better (blushless) assistant next time

I also have some great sequence shots that I don't want to put up on Flickr as they are though - so if anyone has any suggestions I'd gladly take them.

My Saturday

After a productive morning of housework, Lynda and I spent the afternoon handling horses. I was astounded as I reflected on the ages of the foals and how they acted compared to humans or other mammals at the same stage in life.

For instance - They're thinking. Creatures with an already defined personality - some are curious & friendly, others are stubborn, some are snobbish and still others are brash and bossy. At only ten days old one foal impressed me with her calm presence when under pressure. Being asked to walk for the first time with a rope around her neck, never handled by humans before, she was patted and pushed and kept away from mommy and milk - keeping her head where others have failed. My favourite, a young cold of 23 days age after three small sessions of under five minutes, now lets me approach and pat him in the paddock and scratch him all over.

I'm just blown away that these creatures are so young, and not so long ago were still gestating in their mother's womb. Now, out in the world they're coping marvellously. I can only wonder at the difference between this and humans with my mind bursting with comparisons and lessons to be learnt.

A funny anecdote though - our stallion was tempted by a mare coming on heat so we moved her out of his paddock considering the danger of him becoming permanently injured while attempting to "perform" when she's not quite as eager as he is. We switched her with another mare and for the next few hours could observe him trying to prove his male dominance by keeping her penned in different parts of the paddock. What was funny though is no matter how many times he got kicked, or how hard (I heard the impact of a few 100 meters away) he didn't give up - nor did he forget the more desirable and in season mare just across the road - just goes to show, men really do have thick skulls!

- and yes, for those who are concerned with his welfare, he was put in a smaller enclosure by himself overnight, with only food and water for company. You can't help them that don't want help!