20 Jan 2010 1:15 PM

Because we are contemplating going for a short break to Perth, on the West Coast of Australia, it occured to me that I really should visit my dear Mum in New Zealand...so... at the drop of a hat we flew there 2 Thursdays ago & spent a long weekend of quality time with mum, who will be 99....yes 99, with all her marbles  & sharp as a tack!

She recently, all by herself, upgraded from living at home alone & watching the traffic go by her window, to a most comfortable retirement village with lots of people, a gym, theatre, coach excursion outings & all the comforts of home!

On the Sunday we borrowed my brother's car & we went off to a winery (Pegasys Bay) one hour away from her domicile.
Had lunch on the way back at a seaside pier & generally enjoyed each other.

Monday morning early flight dropped us right back in Sydney, to then go to work.

We will do it again when her birthday comes at the end of June.
I am sure Mum will receive a "telegram" from the Queen when she reaches "the ton".

I think I shall write to the Royal Family to remind them.

Happy New Year everyone!  xxx

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20 Oct 2009 2:35 PM

THUMPER, the water feature [behind me with the "Beemer"] is part of the 2000 Olympics held here in Sydney.
It stands at the far northern end of the Grand Boulevarde created to cater for the massive crowds that attended.
Nearby (you can just see it in the background), they also built a pointy gently sloping grassed mountain  (sort of like a ziggurat), for people to meet up (as a reference point) with their friends.
The water feature is a fountain of a series of sloping sculptured tubes jettisoning water under pressure.
Hope you enjoy.

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20 Oct 2009 2:35 PM

THUMPER, the water feature [behind me with the "Beemer"] is part of the 2000 Olympics held here in Sydney.
It stands at the far northern end of the Grand Boulevarde created to cater for the massive crowds that attended.
Nearby (you can just see it in the background), they also built a pointy gently sloping grassed mountain  (sort of like a ziggurat), for people to meet up (as a reference point) with their friends.
The water feature is a fountain of a series of sloping sculptured tubes jettisoning water under pressure.
Hope you enjoy.

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15 Oct 2009 8:14 PM

Deva, Iceberg & Oracle.
The 'bike is a 2003 BMW, an 1150cc RT "boxer" & seats 2 for wonderful cruising/holidays.
We have also an older one, a 1983 BMW 1000cc RS/T, also a cruiser, both of  which we have taken on 4000k holidays around Victoria & New South Wales, taking "the long way" to get to Phillip Island for the motorcycle races twice a year.  My wife is "The Pillion in a Million" who I thought would never get on the back! But she loves it & can't wait for the next getaway! Thanks for your interest. xx

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15 Oct 2009 3:17 PM

This way of preparing black mussels over pasta we find to be the most simple & delicious of meals.
Ingredients: (for 2 people or 1 guts!)

1kg black mussels, scrubbed clean & de-bearded.
Handful of garlic cloves (5 or 7)
1 spanish onion (large)
2 fresh tomatoes
1 can of diced tomatoes
olive oil for cooking
Tobasco to taste (we use 5 or 7 drops)
glass of wine (white or red) + some to slurp whilst creating!
Sprig of parsley (Italian preferably)
1 packet of linguini or spaghettini.

Method:
Prepare sauce by finely chopping garlic & onion & adding to a heated pot with olive oil (about 1/2 a cup).
Heat until onions are clear, then add fresh chopped tomatoes & can of diced tomatoes.
Add wine, tobasco & ground pepper to taste, a sprig of broad leaf parsley, bring  to boil & let simmer a few minutes.
At the same time as (separately) putting the pasta into boiling salted water, add the mussels to the sauce.
It will now take 12 or so minutes to cook the pasta (to al dente) at the same time cooking the mussels in the sauce.
Drain & serve pasta in a deep bowl, with the mussels in sauce ladeled over!  Yum-Yum! Enjoy with your favourite imbibing fluid and thee!

We buy our mussels fresh from the Sydney fish markets, but I believe vacuum sealed packs are available already cleaned & de-bearded. (a bit dearer)

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