Poppycock

Have you ever been to a dietician?

Neither had I. Until my hospital specialist referred me.

Contrary to popular belief (liams) I actually eat less carbs than most people. And my diet is pretty good. With some tweaks....

Apparently for mid afternoon snacks nutella on rice cakes is bad. Vitawheat crackers with light Philadelphia or another piece of fruit is better.

That tablespoon of oil I use to brown off the chicken or to pop the popcorn in - an extra doughnut added to the meal each time.

I was quite educated. So off Liam and I trotted to target to buy me a popcorn machine (as advised by anorexic looking dietician) and voilà. Poppycorn in seconds.

When we first bought it I didn't have any kernels. But there was a microwave popcorn bag hiding in a cupboard. Don't ask why - as we don't have a microwave. So clever me though I would split that open and use the kernels from that....

You know how it feels cardboardy before they pop? That is the slab of lard/fat/butter that the kernels are set in which heats up and starts the popping. It is DISGUSTING.

If you or anyone you know have a microwave popcorn addiction I have a simple cure. Step 1 - open up an unpopped bag of microwave popcorn.
Step 2 - just keep looking at the slab of lard and contemplate your actions!

Shhhh!

Don't tell anyone. But in 17 days I turn 31. So I will officially be 'in' my 30's. Yey...?

So anyhoo my first present has arrived. Which is really frustrating as I hate unopened presents. Presents are for opening!

But thank you tish for my pressie. Even though I don't know what it is. But it is wrapped in my favourite colour so it must be fab. x

The most expensive brekky ever

Hotels are known for ripping us off at breakfast. Continental ends up being a few dry looking rolls and a basket of obscure jams and maybe some honey or vegemite. It's easier to just head for a local cafe. And the coffee will be better too.

But if you're in a strange exotic land for too long then you may just miss a home comfort or two. And so appears the most expensive brekky cereal ever! Actually I'm sure there are others. But for a small box of familiarity it's pretty pricey. My Alpen.

I've seen it a few times, calling my name across the aisle when I'm picking up my uncle toby's oats (ready brek) but I've always resisted. And even when I went to check out the English shop downtown a box sat there next to the weetabix and they both called out to me in their newly acquired posh accents (that's what happens to cereal when it's given a high price tag). Yes, I still resisted.

In these exotic lands there are no crunchy nut clusters, no alpen, a strange weetabix cousin called weetbix (NOT the same), and other strange foods. sometimes we have to suck it up and fork out for the posh, imported stuffs.

Let me assure you though my alpen was worth every cent. And I may buy some more... And some weetabix too while I'm at it :o)

From the beach towel

I hadn't been to Sydney since 2003. After leaving sonj with the mcdonnells I flew back for a few days before the return flight to the uk.

So when Liam said he was off there with work and did I want a ticket - how could I say no. It was a similar agreement to the Madrid trip for his work Liam reminded me "don't expect to see me. I'll be working the whole time. I can't guarantee I'll be there for dinner..." etc etc blah blah blah.

I'll be in Sydney. Why would I care?!

As much as I am fond of Melbourne, it lacks a certain something. And Sydney has that. I pottered around art galleries. Walked EvERYWHERE. Took a stroll along the coast between Bondi and Bronte. The opera house. The botanical gardens. 2 different westfields (and I only bought 1 cardigan). Over the bridge (several times). Under the bridge (a few times). I sunbathed. I burnt. I slept. I walked some more. And saw Annie Liebowitz's photo exhibition (NOT coming to melbourne - this is one of the things Melbourne lacks). And caught up with The fabulous Hollie and her new baby Mitchell. When I say baby I do mean a 4 legged friend. Which is a baby once you're over the age of 30! There was more to the weekend but the list is endless. My feets are recovering. But fortunately not one blister!

I forgot how much I loved Sydney. Although I don't know if I could live there permanently. But it is a bit more culturally 'big city' than Melbourne. And I do miss pottering around the Tate on a free afternoon with a coffee...

I think we should go to Sydney more often...

Ello Sydney!

Bee-bee-cue

Yum. It may be cooler. And we may have to eat indoors. But our new spit attachment for the BBQ is fab.

This was yet another fandangled gadget that will never be used were my first thoughts when Liam first talked about it. Fortunately it was an online purchase that delivered to the door. So I had no opportunity to be in a shop stropping.

Liam then dropped it in to the butchers on Thursday and They layered it up. 50% chicken. 50% lamb. And seasoned it for us too. Yum.

The best thing about any dinner/BBQ are the left overs. And we still have potato salad (my mums recipe) and lamb in the fridge. So a disgustingly large roll stuffed with both the lamb and potato salad is definitely called for this evening.

May I suggest that the whole world invests in a good spit attachment for their bbq's. You'll never look back.