Let Me Just Say... Happy Australia Day!

Today, I'm Waltzing Matilda.

Don't worry if you don't know what that means. It's a line from a song. The un-official National Anthem of Australia. My home country. But I'm not in my home country, not this year, not this Australia Day. Still, that doesn't mean it can't be acknowledged.

Yesterday, I did started baking. Today, I finished.

I have have made traditional Aussie food to commerate today. Well, desserts and treats more so than food, but the point is, I made them. I haven't made ANY of these desserts/treats before in my life, but a little bit of help from google, and I managed to follow a recipe!

First up, was the easiest of the recipes - Chocolate Crackles.

I haven't had these since I was about 10 years old and have they gone down a treat with my little Canadian cousins.

They are quick and easy and take about 5 minutes to make. Your hands don't get dirty as you can use a spoon to mix the ingredients together in a bowl. And the washing up takes about 2 minutes. Not bad, for 7 minutes effort. And my, are they tasty!

For those of you after the recipe, enjoy - http://allrecipes.com.au/recipe/8407/chocolate-crackles.aspx

Next on the list was Lamingtons. A personal favourite of mine, I've DEFINITELY had these after the age of 10. This is like a sponge/pound/butter cake covered in chocolate and then rolled in coconut.

Don't know what I'm talking about? Here, take a looksy...

These are popular in Australia, a great afternoon treat for the kids after school or having with that cuppa as you sit and watch the clouds go by.

For those interested, here's the recipe - http://www.joyofbaking.com/Lamingtons.html

Finally, there was the last dessert to make. My biggest mission yet. Something I had never made before in my life (namely, because I don't like cream), so never had the urge to google the recipe. But I thought, just because I don't like it, it doesn't mean my cousins won't. So I went and ahead an made it today.

The Pavlova...

This would be my biggest feat.

The pavola is a merringue base filled with cream and topped with fruit. I have never in my life attempted it. Not even the merringue part. Infact, the merringue is what scared me into thinking I couldn't do it. Thankfully, I didn't listen to the voices in my head. Not this time at least.

I began by beating the egg whites and sugar and gradually saw, over time, how the thickness of the ingredients came about. It took a little while longer than expected to cook in the oven, but it ended up looking just like what my Mum used to make - cracking merringue on the outside, smooth marshmallow centre on the inside.

Unfortunately, they don't have passionfruit in Canada, infact, they don't even know what it is, so I wasn't able to top the Pavlova with this, as my Mum used to do (along with strawberries and kiwi fruit). So instead, I ommited the passionfruit and settled for kiwi fruit, strawberries and blueberries. It looked a treat.

Again, for those of you interested - and daring - here's the recipe - http://www.joyofbaking.com/Pavlova.html

Though you may not be Australian, and especially if you are, I wish you a VERY Happy Australia Day for 2011!

Let Me Just Say... The Weekends Always Go the Fastest.

Why is that?

I know I'm not the only one who suffers from this. That recuring 'Monday-itis' that comes once every 7 days. And so begins the countdown to the weekend. And before you know it, it's over before it's started and suddenly, the calander's reading 'Monday' again.

I had planned on having a quiet weekend. I was told on Thursday that my temp job I'm working for here in Canada was coming to an end a week earlier than expected, so I wouldn't be needed this week. Then, about 2 hours before I finished on Friday I was given a wave of new work. I looked at it and thought 'There's NO WAY this'll be done before I finish'. So I was told to come back on Monday to it.

Thus, my week-long weekend returned to being a regular weekend, just like everyone else is used to.

And here's how it went down -

I am currently living with my cousins while I try and find a permanent career and place to live after having just moved here from Australia and as such, I spend a lot of time with them and seeing my cousin's sporting events.

So, Saturday was filled with a beautiful home made buffet breakfast filled with banana pancackes, fruit, bacon, banana choc-chip muffins and cinnamon rolls - I felt like I'd stepped into a hotel buffet dining room. What a wonderful treat for a Saturday morning and I didn't even have to help with the cooking. The cleaning however, I did volunteer a hand or two.

It was followed by a Grade 9 female Basketball game, which my cousin's team won. It had been snowing earlier that morning, so I went home and took a walk through the forrest, where I managed to take some photos and also walked the family dog. The pictures were quite amazing, and I can't really describe how beautiful it was to see the fresh white snowflakes perched on the tree limbs.

I then returned home after an hour where I sat and warmed myself up by the fire as I read a book for a couple of hours then headed out to watch my cousin's friend play in an Ice Hockey match. It wouldn't be a Canadian weekend without a game of Ice Hockey! Her team won and after briefly celebrating that and congratulating her, we headed off to my cousin's cousin's place where his son was celebrating his 17th birthday.

Of course, as soon as I stepped out of the car at about 8pm, I was hit with an immense dizziness wave, which refused to subside. After staying for a couple of hours, we headed off as I was unable to stand upright without losing my balance. I have had vertigo before, but this was one of the worst cases of it. I was smashing into walls and unable to walk in a straight line. If this is what it's like to be drunk, I'm thankful I don't drink!

So, upon being helped downstairs when we got home, I promptly went to sleep where I woke up on Sunday morning with a headache, though the diziness subsided. If only for a little while. It seemed to return, so I took a tablet for nausea and proceeded to sleep on the couch for the next few hours.

After having a late lunch, I sat down and watched the NFL football as my favourite team - the New England Patriots - were playing. Sadly, they lost. C'est la vie.

By the time that was over, my vertigo wasn't, but dinner was and this was followed by a roasting session of Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes. Who, despite what's been said, I actually found him to be amusingly honest. I mean, if Hollywood can't laugh at themselves, there are others who'll gladly do it for them.

That wrapped up at about 11pm.

And so to bed.

And therein lies my weekend, having slipped through my fingers in a meager 48 hours. I honestly don't know where the time went. Not that I'm complaining. It's nice to have things to do with my time off and spend them with loved ones and friends and doing activities that I enjoy. But why can't the week go faster than the weekend?

Still, I'm thankful for the days that I have.

'The days are long, but the years are short'.

Let Me Just Say... How Much I Like the Snow.

Yes, you read that right... I LIKE the snow.

I like the cold. The variations in the seasons. Seeing a change in the leaves instead of them being a constant evergreen. Constant.

I grew up in the southern hempisphere. Australia, if we're going to be specific. And in Australia, the leaves don't change colours, the seasons rarely change, there's never a noticeable change in the annual renovation. Not the part of Australia I grew up in anyway.

Granted, Australia has THE biggest ski field in the southern hempisphere, so yeah, it snows there. Just not where I live. Not anywhere close. I would have to jump in the car and drive for a good 12 hours before I saw snow in the winter.

But here in Canada - which is where I've just moved to - I am enjoying the change in the seasons; the fact that the trees are bare and the leaves have fallen. I like the snow. I like the cold.

Granted, it wasn't super fun to sludge through this morning on my way to work and it did make the traffic incredibly late. So late, my 80 minute door to door morning commute came in at a mere 2hours and 40 minutes today (one way). But I wasn't annoyed. Or angy. Or put out of place. I was simply thankful. Thankful to bare witness to the changing of the seasons. God's paintbrush, if you will.

As I sit here from my desk at work, I can see the snow falling. The soft white flakes that lay dormant on the ground. While the pedestrians of this Canadian city might be bundled up in long winter coats, scarves, gloves and 'tuques', it is refreshing to see the streets below clad in the wonder that is winter.

Yes, it can be a little cold - I believe it's a balmy -8C at the moment - but for me, I don't mind. I'm enjoying seeing something that I'm not used to. My senses are relishing in all this new wonder that exists around me.

I'm sure in a month, after I'm sick and tired of the snowflakes, the freezing temperature, the muddy sludge, that opinion will change, but for now... I like the snow.

Let Me Just Say... The Blog Title Design Took Longer Than You'd Think.

A lot longer.

I have literally only just finished working on it. It's taken me almost two hours. Possibly even slightly more, just to get the title of my blog, the description and the rain picture together.

I didn't like the plain basic font and style that came with the blog, so I set about playing around with 'Word' and trying different fonts. I knew I wanted a cursive style of writing, I just wasn't sure which one. I knew I wanted a picture of the rain, to go with the background template of the blog. Again, I just wasn't sure which one.

I thought I could just save the picture of the rain in 'Paint' and add in the words. It wasn't that simple. I tried doing it in 'Word', but it wouldn't take. Then I remembered PowerPoint and I found my answer. I just had to paste the picture in there, then insert the text box, then copy the photo and save it to 'paint' to upload the image. This sounds simple enough. But it wasn't. Not for me. Not on a Monday morning.

I found about 5 pictures of the rain and after playing around with them for a few hours, changing the font, the colour - black, white, grey, - changing the title colour, then the paragraph colour. Do I want them the same? Different? Alternating? What size do I want? Small? Big? Bigger? So many options.

What seemed like a simple task, turned out to be a lengthy one. But now that it's complete, I feel quite rewarded and the result is what you see at the top of this web page. A new title and deign for 'Let Me Just Say...'.

It may not mean much to you, but it's a relief on my part to have it done and I feel quite pleased with myself for figuring it out.

If you could please excuse me, I'm off to go pat myself on the back...

Let Me Just Say... How Much I Like To Read.

I love it. Just love it.

Most especially on a Sunday morning. Like today.

I am ashamed to say that on Thursday I judged a book by it's cover. The title grabbed me. The cover is blue, my favourite colour, so of course that added to winning me over. But the title was definitely what grabbed me. I'd not heard anything about this book. Had no idea the author had a blog she'd kept online progressing her work, which later resulted in the book. I didn't even know it was a 'Number 1 International Best Seller'. I actually only noticed this was written on the book as I pulled it out of the bag on the train ride home.

The book is called 'The Happiness Project' and it's written by Gretchin Rubin. Apparently, it's a big deal. The next 'Eat, Pray, Love'. I'm sorry Gretchin, but until I stumbled across it at the local big book store, I'd never even heard of it and would've gone on being oblivious to it had I not decided to stop by on my lunch break.

http://www.happiness-project.com/

But this morning I read for 3 hours. I've only just stopped. There's something about reading on a Sunday morning that I find so... fulfilling. As well as being incredibly relaxing.

I've recently been asked why I don't get a Kindle or some other kind of e-reader. Perhaps that'll be on the cards in the future, I mean, what with the way technology is and all, but for now, I'm going to pass. I like the feeling of holding a book in my hands. I like to re-read the cover title and the blurb on the back. I like the the feel of the the paper as it slides across my fingers. I like the smell of the pages. I like the look of the pristine cover as I remove it from the shopping bag. I like to absorb the cover, the contents and the edges as I move it around in my hands. And I especially like the sound that gets made when the page is turned. This is one of my favourite sounds in the world. I can't get that on an e-reader. Well, I probably could, those things probably have sound... but it simply wouldn't be the same.

I've already ordered my next set of books to read online last Thursday and can't wait to get those in my hot little hands, as I'm close to finishing 'The Happiness Project'. My next set of books is 'The Percy Jackson' series, by Rick Riordan. I saw the film last year and heard the book is so much better. I can't wait to read them. I'm not ashamed to admit I like to read novels aimed at the younger generation. I love the 'Harry Potter' books and my signed copy when I met J.K. Rowling is one of my most treasured items.

But for now, I just love to read. For me. Not for anyone else. Not because I need to do it for english or an assignment or a book report. Those days are long behind me. Now, I have discovered the joy and simple pleasure of what exists within print... and what I dare to bring to life in my imagination.

As Einstein said... 'Your imagination is worth more than you imagine'.

Let Me Just Say... How Much I Dislike Cell Phones.

Mobile Phones. Smart Phones. The Blackberry. The iPhone. The Androids.

You know what I mean. If you don't, then please, crawl out from whatever rock it is that you've been so naively living under and come join the rest of us here in the present.

I don't like to use the word 'hate'. Infact, I hate to say 'hate'. It's a very strong word. Once it's said, you can't take it back. But here's the thing... I HATE cell phones. With a passion.

No-one needs to be that contactable. All the time. 24/7. No-one. Not even God. Well, maybe God, but he certainly doesn't need a mobile phone to be reached. Besides, that's a whole other blog post if we're going to start on him anyway.

I really don't believe that people need to use phones the way that they use phones. Don't get me wrong, they're great for emergencies. Infact, I believe in this regard they've actually saved a lot of lives. So yes, for that, then kudos to the cell phone. They're good for the quick 'Honey, we need milk/bread/eggs' phone calls that we so often make when a loved one is either on their way home or currently shopping at the grocery store. They're good for text messages - 'Running late. Be there in 10'. Simple. Effective. Precise.

Here's what they're not good for - phone calls. In public. Which are overheard by other people. Namely people, who simply don't want to hear your conversation and really don't give a shit about what's going on in your life at the moment. Yet, some people seem so damn keen on sharing. Selfishly.

Take today for example - today I took the bus to go from Point A to Point B. I normally have my iPod with me, but decided instead to take in my surroundings today to see what life had on offer. Oh my gosh... did I regret it!

There was a lady that got on the bus at the same stop as me, who wasn't on her phone when she boarded, but as soon as she sat down, well, out came the phone. She then proceeded to chat away on her cell for the next 15-20 minutes. I think it was the latter. Either way, here's the thing... me and the other 20 passengers on the bus did NOT need to hear this conversation. I know I for one could've done without it. Besides, what on earth could possibly be so important you HAVE to have this conversation while in public, on the local bus?

I didn't want to hear about her adventures from the evening before. I didn't want to hear about her recent appointment at the nail salon. I didn't want to hear about her upcoming trip to England. (Well, this part I especially didn't want to hear as I still have a soft spot for London after living there for 2 years and I miss it terribly). I didn't want to hear how she got a really good price on her flight (though, I must say, it was a REALLY good price). I didn't want to hear about the upcoming movie night in the hotel. None of this was of any interest to me and I'm pretty sure it was of no interest to the other passengers on the bus. But yet, she wouldn't shut up. And nor would she speak at a soft and respectable level. When she finally exited the bus, I muffled under my breath as she walked past 'Oh, Thank God!'. And then she had the audacity to glare at me as she left. What the hell, woman!?

On the way back from Point B, I encountered a similar case with another passanger. Granted, her conversation was only about 7 minutes in length, but it wasn't in english. Which, I'm still not sure is more or less frustrating. Either way, her pitch was far too high for my liking and alas, I had to hear her conversation too.

What is it that gives people the right to be so selfish in their actions nowadays and not take into account those around them? What makes them think that every single person wants to hear excerpts of their conversations? 'Oh, guess what Jenny, you won't believe what happened last night...', 'Hey man, you know that chick I slept with last night? I think she gave me something. I got an itch.', 'Bitch! What the hell you talkin' about? That mother fucker be playin' you for a fool. Tell him you ain't gonna put up with none a dat!'.

I mean seriously, is this something I want to hear? Is it something you want to hear? Raise your hand if it is. Yeah, that's what I thought. Private conversations are for private places.

Respect is so far out the window, it's burned a hole in the ground.

If I ever meet the man who invented them, then let him know this - my fist will be clenched. Tightly. It WILL connect with your jaw. And I WILL feel good about it.

I really do hate cell phones.

Let Me Just Say... Hello.

And welcome.

I see you found me alright. Good to know. I'll try my best to entertain you. To keep you interested. To steal a piece of your time.

Know that I will steal it. You won't get it back. Know that I'm sorry for taking it, but if you didn't want to lose it, you shouldn't have offered it in the first place. If I could, I'd give it back to you, but now that I've taken it and grabbed your attention, if it's ok with you, I'd like to take some more. Of your time that is, and not give it back. At least, just this once.

You see, I've done this whole blogging thing before. I've tried it and failed it. Twice. Well, the first one wasn't too bad. I was living in London at the time and wrote about this and that. Things I thought other people would like to read about. About a hobby that was interesting enough, but far too time consuming. Turns out some people enjoyed that blog and even stopped by to visit more than once.

The second blog, well, that one only had one posting. Granted, my intentions were all well and good, I just never took the time. That and the fact that I forgot my password to log into my blog. I hadn't posted on it in two years and then I remembered about it one day, because yes, it seems, I had forgotten about writing on it. My poor little blog. Floating lifelessly in cyberspace. I bought it back to life for about a month, but it didn't last. Sad to say.

And now there's this one. Blog number three. They say things happen in three's. Well, I'm daring to find out if you are too. The only difference here is there's no link to my other blogs. You don't know me. I live only in the thoughts of the words you read before you. And if it's ok with you, I'd like to keep it that way. For now, at least.

I'm not sure what I'll write about here. They say you should blog everyday. (Who are 'they' anyway?). I can tell you right away that won't be happening. Not from my end. It's best you know I won't hold up that end of the bargain, not that we've made one. I'm just forewarning you. It's only fair. If I post on here three times a week , I'll be pleased with myself. Who knows, I might even surprise us both and post on here five times, or dare I say it... six! Who's to say. If my fingers can keep up with my brain, I'll be back as often as I can. If I have a lull - and it happens to the best of us - I'll just visit when I get the chance.

But I will say this... what you find here, is just ramblings. Ideas. Thoughts. Things that bug me, or irritate me or annoy me. Things that I find joy in. Take comfort in. Find solace in. It'll be about anything and everything. With any luck, I'll remember my password this time around as well as my marbles.

I would, however, like to thank you for visiting. I hope you weren't bored. If you were, well, I'm sorry it was fleeting.

But then, so is life.

If you enjoyed what you read, and I can only imagine you did seem as how you got this far, then once again, I thank you.

Please, come again. Don't be a stranger. I'll try not to.