23 September, 2007

A weekend of activity!

This last couple of days have been somewhat frantic, so we are sorry we have not been about that much...

Firstly, the Circus came to town, or at least the park that is just around the corner from us. Of course, we took the 'hound' with us as he does love a walk...

Circus is in town
Then, Thursday afternoon I was on the 'table (Doctor's of course) as I was having what's known as a Chordal Epidural. This is for my bad back and is used to, rather than target the nerve root directly to alleviate pain by the sciatic nerve being compromised, it 'floods' the entire lower spinal region with a cortisol treatment, OUCH!

Then, on Friday night, L had offered to her 'next sister down' to come over and sit with the baby, oh and B will cook! The cheek of it all... So cook up a storm I did. We had, Creamy Chicken and Pasta, with an Asian Green Bean salad. Quite simple really, brown off some onions and some chicken (125grm/person), a splash of soy (to taste) and add a small tin of Evaporated milk. For about 3-4 mins, stir through pre-cooked pasta that has been lightly drained, as the remaining starch from it will thicken the milk into a sauce. Then, for the Asian Bean Salad, top and tail some beans, and boil so as they can still, snap. Put into a wok (or frypan) with hot, 4:1 of Peanut oil and Sesame oil and toss quickly. Now here is the twist, toss through whilst cooking, a cut of fresh ginger, finely grated, and about 3-4 tablespoons of soy sauce. Serve and enjoy. Now, I think it is an appropriate time to say, I do NOT eat vegetables, but I am told that this is a great Bean Salad... Needless to say, that L was 'hogging' poor Riley, and he was sleeping like a ... well a baby!

Riley sleeping

Riley BW
Saturday, we were off to the Indian Bazaar, which is a school fete that raises (a lot of) money that goes to the missionaries within India. L's family have been going there for years, in fact, it is at the school that her 'favourite brother' went to! After this prestigious event, we had to duck off to an EVEN bigger event, my god-daughter's 2nd birthday! The day had started out so nice, sunny, but was going to change so the weather bureau told us. And change it did... It turned real bitter, windy and down right NASTY! Her dad made the cake, an Australian Wombat, which unfortunately for him, separated at the neck joint, but it still tasted great!

Breanna's Happy B'day Cake side

Breanna's Cake front
She had such a lovely morning, with lots and lots of presents, but on of the things she loved the most, was her sunnies!

Breanna's Shades
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BREANNA!!!

Breanna 2nd B'day


And for all of those who sent well wish's and prayers, L did read them all, and she thanks you. Each and everyone of you, for our recent loss...

22 September, 2007

Sticky post (for now): - UNDER RECONSTRUCTION!!

Hey there people,
Firstly, sorry about the chaos around here lately, you see, I thought that I would do a bit of maintenance around here, since I have a fotoblog and all...
L wanted to keep the same colours, and I wanted (needed) to convert our template over to the new xml version with all the widgets and so on...
I had this down-pat for L on Friday, as I was off, as the afternoon I had a Chordal Epidural and was on a recovery day.
So, in all of the working of it, it didn't want to have the comments, so, I am just going to have to start over again... BEAR WITH US (me...)!

POST EDIT: Ok, I worked it out, it is now 11:17pm, so I am off to bed, take care!!
I will fix the side nars tomorrow, it has been a long day...

18 September, 2007

wordless wednesday #8 Begonias


Begonia Island Gem


Begonia scharfii


Begonia & Grasshopper


Some Australian Fruits & Seeds


Australian Native Seeds
Australian Native Fruits & Seeds

15 September, 2007

A Rustic Bench

Last week when we were up at Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens, west of Sydney in the Blue Mountains, I found this bench, I liked it, so I snapped it...

MTBG Rustic Bench

14 September, 2007

oh please, be ready!!!

I had been asked, weeks ago mind you, to help a friend to move house. I did tell this person, that if I did I could only drive as I can not lift or shift anything heavy, and this was ok. I also told this person, that if they were to get a trailer, I had a tow bar and they can get the trailer. All organised? Nup!!

I had a call on Wednesday, asking for help on Thursday after work, sorted I will be there, BUT YOU HAD BETTER BE READY TO GO, as I do not want to be away from L for to long... Now it is a bit of a drive from home to the place, but off I went yesterday afternoon. When I got there, nothing, and I mean NOTHING was packed or ready to go, except the bed (Queen size) was in bits. I was not impressed and asked what the hell was going on? They were expecting to put it, the mattress and frame, INTO my car!

Now here is the crunch, I drive a Suzuki Vitara (Suzuki Sidekick) Station Wagon 4WD (SUV). It is small. A single mattress would not fit in let alone a Queen size one. And, as we had discussed weeks ago, if they were to get a trailer, it would make things easier, and this was agreed!

So, I left them them to it and off I went back home, sore from the drive in, angry that I had wasted nearly 3 hours driving in and back but I was now going to be late for seeing L as I would be driving back in the peak hour traffic.

So, please, if you are going to ask for help to move, BE READY!!!

Bristol 2004


Bristol 2004
In 2004, we were in the UK, and this is a shot from Bristol!

13 September, 2007

Japanese Gardens Toowoomba Qld


Japanese Gardens Toowoomba Qld

The Japanese Gardens are within the grounds of the University of Southern Queensland, where I am doing a Masters Degree... A larger version can be found here or if you like, in my Flickr account (with lots more)...

11 September, 2007

Wordless Wednesday #7 Purple Daisy


Purple Daisy

Dicksonia (Tree Fern)

Sunday, we went up to Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens, and this is just a shot from the day. for a larger view, click here or have a look at my Flickr photo's!


MTBG Dicksonia, originally uploaded by burntofferings.