Called it too early.

 It seems that I just come in here to whinge, this October.

It's not that there hasn't been shimmers of good amongst the October offerings, but the flinging of merde truly needs to stop of October is to be taken seriously any more.

Image: completely unrelated picture of the beautiful Miss L, our grey tabby cat.

See, we had planned a road trip. Well, we had tried to plan a road trip, my sister and I.

We had time to organise and we indeed spent time in the lead up to talk about organising.

Time was of the essence, but the good news was that we had some and there were things happening up until only a few weeks before so it was fine, we had time.

Image: the beetroot harvest not from October, however the resultant pickle was enjoyed in October so counts!

Until all the things happening happened and then lots of unplanned things kept happening and wouldn't you know it, the week before the road trip arrived and we weren't THAT planned so we decided to get down to the serious business of planning and organised ourselves and itinerary and accommodation and had even got to the heady heights of thinking about logistics.

And then it was the week of and little things kept happening and logistical conundrums kept arising but we were organised and willing to pivot and...

Image: screenshot of a very moist weather map

And then the weather gods entered stage left LAUGHING and dumping great bucketfuls of water between our launch point and the destination but did that deter us?

Not a whit. We possibly wavered but the day before had arrived and my sister was in town and we saw the news of floodwaters but we know our State and storm season and it really is a roll of the dice.

So the gods turned their attention to Paradise #2's roof and just kept it drenched all night.

We met this morning with fading hope and watched the forecast.

"Showers easing" said the weathermen "with possible increases in storm activity" (for an each way bet) and then told us that, quite frankly, Sunday was going to be the main fly in the ointment with "possible hail".

Thank you October. No refund for accommodation.

We will try again as the need to do a job at the end for my Aunt's POA still exists. But we are looking askance at what is left of October.

Image: a meme - text above says "Apparently being a forklift operator at a boatyard is as fun as fairy floss" (I know it doesn't but I try not to swear on here -originally in the fear but nowadays in the hope that Mum might read this). Picture beneath text forklift skewering running people with the caption "NO PEDESTRIANS"

Dirt on the liver

I have been having one of those Octobers. I don't want to say too much, given there is still 10 days to go.

But man, some days I get so over it.

So I shall distract myself.

One of my distractions - myself, my father and my sister - apparently we have changed our heritage over the last few years.

I wonder how long it will take Ancestry to get to primordial soup?

At least my focus is not now snagging on this as I drive around. 

And my old flatmate who cam to visit a fortnight ago didn't spend all of her time in hospital.

The new house does not yet have a proliferation of hippies. I have two bedraggled pots amongst the collection - and only one photo. 

I was proving to V that the dill was no longer a commodity that we could rely on.

(Not really a picture of Paradise #2)

So how is your October going?

Mid-October (and a book review!!)

 It has truly been a beautiful weekend.

As usual, less than any pictures so you will have to rely on my word for most of it.

Friday evening was the Third-Friday-of-the-Month Budding Poets society (although consensus was almost reached that we are now up to Blooming and some of us nearly Spent) at the local little bookshop.

There is a transition of management at the Boutique, but both old and new are doing the transition slowly and with genuine warmth in the transaction.

(I have known the Boutique since its establishment right on lockdown in 2020 - and through several ownerships)

Rob hosted, and the turnout was quite good considering the rain and the work required by a few for the next day's events.

My most memorable thing that evening was 'Salina was not going to read but got inspiration enough that at the break she put her name down for second half and shared two of her short entries, plus an absolute rip-snorter of a piece that she wrote during the break.  

Yesterday was the local Writers Festival that was hatched at The Book Boutique and what a lovely little day.

I did not attend any of the meetings for organisation, as being away at least every second weekend with parents and aunt the last few months it just never happened on a day that I was in town.  But I did volunteer, and many that I know through Poetry and the Boutique were involved.

 One of the benefits of moving into the nearby big town is that I can be ready at 1/4 to and arrive before an event begins on the hour - which is what I did.  That, the its a small enough big town that parking was not a problem a block back from the main drag.

The feature at our festival was Monica McInernay.  Its amazing how many of her books I have read or listened to over the years.  Its like she has been an easygoing, pleasurable backdrop to my reading pleasure.

Her latest book, When Sullivan met Lola, is cut from her beautifully crafted cloth.  Its hard to know how it would be as a stand alone, only because her characters are so beautifully drawn that you feel comfortable with "knowing them" from the get go.

This book brings two small parts of MM's world together and takes us on a narrative of knowing what power - or disempowerment - situations beyond our control can give and how two major (and several minor, including those who have passed) characters develop through the journey of this book.

 The interview that Dannielle held with Monica (if I may call her that) was so very easygoing.  Dannielle was beautiful.  Her introduction, telling a self-effacing tale of her discovering her love for a book she inadvertenly got from the rival (but a most beautiful rivalry) second-hand store.  (Actually, as an aside, I am so very impressed with the three local booksellers in big town, as they have created events and worked so well together encouraging each other's businesses.)

 A customer of The Boutique came in, and in their discussion with Dannielle was told of her favourite book "Hello from the Gillespies".  To her surprise, the customer told Dannielle that, not only did she know the book and author, she counted her as a friend.

Which led to a signed book which led to a request to be on the itinerary for the latest book which led to the kernel of an idea for a festival which led to committees being formed which led to yesterday.

Monica was such a very graceful interviewee - she is a storyteller and she works to the medium of live interview very well.

The first panel session was The Poet's Perspective, hosted by Rob Parr and his guest were Shelagh Brennand (FB link) and Dr Cornelius (known to all as Kees) Nydam.

Rob's poetry is very heartfelt.  Rob works very much in the field of Men's Mental Health, with his Untamed Mind project and his work Brave Brothers (and also Donate Life Qld)

Shelagh has a very interesting story about her foray into poetry and is so bright with her Yorkshire accent and her zest for life.

Kees' poetry is very much crafted with textures and layers, and having had heard him sing them on occasion and his audience interaction, he is so very skillful.

After the first session I was rostered on to be a volunteer.  I got to man the front desk and sat with a friend and directed many booklovers, old and new.  There were stalls from writers all around the hall and a sectioned off room for the panels.  

The session that I missed through this was a Writing Fantasty session, hosted by Craig Mulhall (insta link) (another Dr and who was very generous of his time when we did his first book at thebook club) with Sue Ellen Pashley, Ren E Gade and Susie Burch (FB link).

 During the next hour I worked my way around 1/2 the room (it was a lunch break for the panels) (some were away from their stalls, else it would have possibly only been 1/3 of the room I got to see)

 

The next panel was Romance Writing hosted by Louise  Richter and with Cynthia Terelest, L M London and J A Garth (the new Boutique manager).

I was meant to be volunteering again for the last hour but luckily another volunteer offered to stay for the last session as she was enjoying a book.

The final session was Getting Published, hosted by Sandy Curtis and featuring S R Silcox (another author who has come to our book club), Jeremy Bates and Monica McInernay. 

And today - today I have had all of my family around for baseball and hot dogs (Tampa Bay Rays won) and its been raining here, on and off.

I was going to go around the stalls, but another day, I think a nap. 

 

It's a philosophical food post

Sometimes life just keeps pitching sliders at you so fast, that all you can think about is food.

Is it a biological imperative, I wonder, to try to deflect what happens (and is happening to) in front of our eyes and instead think of all the senses, and how it pertains to food.

Image: breakfast of champions, two slices of toast, one with black Vegemite and green avocado slathered on and one slice with Dad's grapefruit marmalade 

V's team is the Padres, therefore my team is the Padres (number 23 has always been my lucky number).

Their season unfortunately ended today.

Whilst that does not necessarily mean that the baseball has ended for the year, what is on offer is poor consolation.

What it does mean is the "it's time to get serious" moment has come in regards the Dr Pepper and the occasional burger and the hours of hope every week invested in a team?

Alls I know is that I have to find a spot to store the ice bucket.

Image: clockwise from front - a tangle of hose with spraygun attached, two black pots bereft of beetroot, seedpods of basil in background against a corrugated iron fence, a sad tale of Dill's End, a pot with lone tomato plant fruiting o'er the side and a white brick.

Through a series of unfortunate events I will have an unexpected weekend at home this weekend. 

I normally try to get to see Mum and Dad 2 weekends a month, but October is unbelievably busy so in a way this time here is a gift but I won't get to see them there for another month.

Image: proof that sometimes sewing tins do indeed have biscuits 

These biscuits need no metaphorical draping, they offer what they've got - they smell delicious; they look delicious; they are very, very quiet; their touch light and sweet - and they taste divine. Even better with free lemons. The Loopy Whisk's gluten-free-lemon-crinkle-cookies

Image: cartoon of a woman returning from holidays coming in through a white door being greeted by a portly, yellow cat, speech bubble says "Welcome home. Oh, and that automatic cat feeder... niiiice!

Happy to give credit where due but I have realised that doing reverse image search for authentic creators of stuff on the internet is a task that I am not (yet) prepared to instigate - so show yourself if you be the clever one who put the above together.

Breakfast Bio Pic

Boud at Field and Fen posed a quest recentlyLife Story on a Tray 

So, I am not really fancy enough for a tray - and I am not bloggy enough to curate such a thing - but I had taken this photos a little bit ago thinking its a picture of our life.

IMAGE: counter top with marmalade, Dr Pepper cans, dairy spread and vegemite featuring Gout Gout

 My Dad has some prolific citrus trees at their house and he is a man who does NOT LIKE WASTE - and therefore has become a marmalade maker, with MANY jars of his output available.  I am a happy recipient because I do like marmalade of a morning on one of my pieces of toast.

On my other piece of toast, I like vegemite - and it has to be with butter.  This is as far as I will stray from that, where spreadable has been introduced to the concept of butter.  I am not brand loyal, though - it has to be Australian 0-ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.; - - th85e 7-= - apologies for that interlude, apparently Miss L, the cat, considers the laptop merely a viewing post on her way to the windowsill.  As I said, it has to be Australian as foodstuffs is something we do not want to become reliant on imports for if I can help it.  That and the farmers.  I do go for price and whether I can win a cruise (I haven't won one yet and am not sure I would like to cruise, but would welcome the option of trying the experiment).

Vegemite - I grew up on the stuff and cannot imagine life without it.  I did have to try during my first trip to visit my Mother-in-law on the other side of the world, as the little jar I took with me ran out a few days shy of my return.  I take large jars now.  Gout Gout is a phenomenal running talent, only 17 - unfortunately not long after Vegemite released this special commemoration for him he was badly injured, which may be par for the course for an athlete but OUCH.

If you REALLY want to make your vegemite toast that bit extra and have a ripe avocado hanging around with not much to do, mush some of that on, a bit of lemon and cracked pepper and - chef's kiss! 

The Dr Pepper cans are all V I am afraid - I am not a huge fan of softdrink but unfortunately he and Paris have not got that gene.  Dr Pepper is very hard to come by in this town, and every possible outlet is mined during baseball season. These are awaiting final rinse before recycling from the night before when every game that may affect the Padres finals chances has been analysed.

And yes, that countertop is on the list of "things to change in the new house" but it is down a little way. 

I probably need to catch you up on the last 3 weeks (ummm - month) BUT

 instead I need to make phone calls.

To insurance agencies...

Nothing that dramatic though - just a windscreen repair from a tiny stone out of nowhere last week to this which will cost me $800 unless insurance come to the party;

 

IMAGE: crack in the windscreen - whilst not in driver view (because we drive on the right side of our car and the left side of the road here) it will only get worse and apparently become less likely to be a one piece windscreen) 

 (When I got the initial quote, they asked whether it had rain sensors - as the car is only old enough to scold when not wearing seatbelts but not so young as to think for me when it rains, I answered no - apparently the wrong answer, as the manufacturer (founder Henry) installed the more expensive rain sensoring screens but not the rain sensoring software so twice as much dosh is required.  The initial quote would have saved me having to think about insurance input.)

getting paperwork organised for a little altercation that my 87 year old father had with a log;

 IMAGE: as I don't have a photo of the log or the vehicle, I submit a photo of my Mum and Dad.  As you can see, he emerged relatively unscathed.  He was showing his cousin and her husband some scenery and telling tales of yore, no doubt.  The log had not been across the road last time he drove down that dirt track.  He does not "DO" paperwork.

and get some advice on what to do about the earth moving.  

IMAGE: the line diagonal is what I am concerned about.  The vertical line in the corner is a cord.  I am not asking about the cord.

(I started with this one first and oh. em. gee.  It wants me to make a claim, make a complaint, email and stamp my feet.  How hard is it to just get advice once you muddle through their directions of go to the app, go to this page, go to this form - please, for the love of mike, a 2 minute call with the advice required is all that I need!!!)

Instead of spending my "day off" telling you all about this.

IMAGE: lots of things that I have taken photos of in the last month

 Next day off then? 

 

Image:  johnathan edward durham's most excellent wit:  Look, I can offer you awkward silence or awkward conversation the choice is yours.

Upside down junket

 Oh good start blogger, I do a photo dump and dump you do. So here goes my last little while, as it happened, but backwards.

Image: the flying kangaroo insignia above the agricultural patchwork of Inland Paradise.

It was the second time we had seen that viewing our return flight this morning.

Image: not the postcard view of Brisbane aka the Big Smoke 

An hour earlier, we had left the Big Smoke. 

I know, aren't I lah-di-dah?!

Image: a rich vein of headlights through a viscous urban morning.

This is how the Big Smoke wakes up, 5.30am on a late Winter's day.

Image: the rising of the sun silhouetting the skyline of cement.

You gotta agree, 18 floors above the lobby is quite a view!

Image: some bloke on the telly in the corner of my apartment - how swank!

The biggest luxury as a wife and mother is a night of complete control of the remote and no-one to judge your choices. 

Heck, I didn't even care what I was watching! Bliss!!!

Image: the night is a little more gaudy in it's approach 

I did actually try to move the hand thing along too, by the way. I won't document it here because it's confusing enough when trying to piece it together in general, but long story short, nowhere nearer having an appointment with the elusive Dr, but the bloddy thing is turning into some Odyssean drama.

Image: to the South from Room 1802 last night - buildings, lights in golds, silvers and blues.

The new cooktop is another drama requiring more money, a shell game, thoughts about retail ethics and at least one more phone call.

Image: Asian soup in a China bowl with noodles and greens and cabbage and mushrooms and beef with a chilli oil (medium semi-adventurous white girl strength) and fried shallot, garlic and coriander - all the fun things - and a mango coconut smoothie. D has a stir-fry (the other option was they would make it into a curry.

My only suggestion was smaller pieces please?

White girl with chopsticks and a spoon - and even one of those useless wooden forks - was no match for some of the vegetable matter. I thought that they would chop it? which apparently is a pretty dumb thought to just think - that don't work.

Absolute yum though, and relatively good value for this day and age (& Big Smoke prices).

Image: plane propeller in mist morning prior 

Forty minutes prior I had been standing in line at Qantas check in. System down so manual check in. Flight delayed 20 minutes. At least better off than this poor girl who had missed her earlier flight, luggage locked in the house of her host who is in detention because she assaulted said guest instead of the promised trip to the Great Barrier Reef. 

I mean, what the heck world!

Image: photo credit to my sister.  ,(I will update with her link)

A womans hand holding two fingers of a man - both belonging to older people.

Mum and Dad both had birthdays in the last week. They have one week a year of being the same age - 87 - and 61 of those together. Isn't it a beautiful picture?

The week before my sister, brother, spouses and village moved them into the local "Resort". We were, as alluded to a few posts ago, in the Big Smoke dealing with other things.

Image: the back of the crucifix given to my aunt by a friend of her faith 

The good news is that my aunt is not only alive but survived the operation that has a slim chance of allowing her a little independence - such a relative term 

Image: words in page.

Hi, sorry it took me 

five days to get back

to your text.

I myself am 

understaffed at the 

moment.

An oldie previously used - I don't have time to harvest memes as well.

Heading out to see the folk at the resort tomorrow. Back next week.

You?

A surprisingly great, surprising, great weekend

 What a world away from last Thursday.

Image: not my wrist! Screenshot of some weird-a** AI generated movie promo for a movie that doesn't actually exist but leads you down a pathway on a - ? If Elizabeth had Elizabethan Era and George Georgian Era then is Charles Charlian? Serious question!

Sought medical advice.

Sent for CT scan.

Whilst awaiting being diagnosed with hypochondria, a condition that I had already self-imposed, I was surprised by a call from the GP, confirming instead the diagnosis foretold on initial verbal description given on Day One by  my big sister.

Image: flowers for my aunt organised by said big sister

No success as yet of a date to see a hand surgeon. After a circular phone call bingo bust on Friday I heard of my Aunt's very resolute (if slightly confused) recovery of mind and put into progress a plan of connection.

I drove back to the big smoke with 'Salina yesterday morning, met with an absolute blessing of a friend who ferried me, fed me, made possible for me to spend time with my aunt, my friends and I got to meet her admired family member and she a special clan of mine.

Image: the most amazing poached chicken  which has fennel and radish and garlic and goodness and parsley and vegetables and yummy, yummy comfort food she threw together in less than 40 minutes 

I laughed much with my aunt and she got to talk with me and discuss with each other our wishes and plans and her options and pragmatic hopes and she got communion and a video call with many extended family and, oh my goodness flowers and the most amazing superwoman who is the embroidered cushion epistolated with "when you want something done, ask a busy woman". I am in awe of the amazing women that I was around this weekend.

Many "I am not a do nothing sort of woman" in each their own ways.

Image: just a bit of the divine crazy that was my time 

Then I drove, had pizza, drove, heard podcasts, dozed (don't worry, had a driver), burgered, showered, connected with Paris and crashed. There were a few great blokes in but parts too. But some absolute crackers of women.

Goodnight.

Beetroot, busted and the blonde bombshells

 So it's been a time.

Image: sunrise from the sunroom at New Paradise 

We have a ripening crop of beetroot in the garden. No picture which is pretty dumb because it looks amazing.

Image: Hill End corner of the Brisbane River 

I would tell you the yarn of my early conversion to the magenta side, but I busted my wrist while on my way to a specialist appointment behind a fake Eiffel Tower last Tuesday. 

Image:  Cranes on the horizon at sunset - P A hospital August 2026 - not a player in any of the story except scenery

I was obviously suffering main character syndrome, as we were in the big smoke for other medical stuff for another of my clan whilst 'Salina minded the cats.

Image: Miss G and - hmmmm, she has not yet got a blog name, what do you think?

I would also tell you of the blonde bombshell with the mathematical brain and the burning desire for justice and her amazing life drama with highs and lows and anecdotes galore who tonight is entering her final drama but the night is late and the thumb now aches.

Image: their mother and our mother once upon a time 

She is wanting to see her Bob and her Mum and her Dad who she hasn't seen in so long and I pray that her pathway from here to there is as trauma free as possible.

((((( Senator K-Katy )))))

Late edit: Katy is still going strong, although the hips are not so resilient...

CFD* - nuttelex pumpkin risotto

 CFD* - Comfort food discovery

I am 18 miles into a marathon here and it seems it's been uphill all the way. ...

Me time? Those moments caught generally within my car with podcast or audiobook or my own thoughts and silence.  Or in the kitchen.

...

I am currently in love with a pumpkin risotto from an advertisement within a free supermarket magazine.

I am sure that the advertising worked as far as brand awareness goes. However I am a girl for the substitute and so it won't translate into sales.

I made it tonight. It's dead easy. If the originator of this wants acknowledgement I will gladly do so because yum.

First, remember to have ingredients. I mean I had the main ingredient - pumpkin in the form of a beaut little pumpkin from my Dad's.

Onion, however, was in short supply when sought. A half of a large red onion was found in the good round container with the screw-top in the fridge. And luckily I only needed 2 cloves of garlic, because that's what we had.

When I peeled and deseeded and diced the pumpkin, I had 660g.

30g nuttelex (substitute butter if you are a filthy cardio-clog-loving foodie afraid of fats from vats of numbers type) melted in an ovenproof pan with a lid (I have a beauty).

Then add onion and garlic and cook to translucent. (Until the new cooktop comes in and we get someone to install said new cooktop, we have to cook on the existing cooktop and it only has one speed and that's gallop like hell.) (This is why I would never tell you how hot to cook something - how the heck would I know?)

I use brown rice. Sorry Italians. I steal your perfectly good cuisine and adulterate to the inner -1970s- crunchy-hippie wannabe palate. Chuck in 1 1/2 cups - I gave it a little rinse for the dust and stuff (and a silent prayer for the potential chemicals) (and the taste) and let it sizzle the moisture out rather than use white wine (dry July - and V was having some).

Then put in pumpkin and 3 1/2 cups of veg stock (it says nuttelex because again, they paid for the ad but nobody's checking.)

I used to have containers of frozen stock in the deep freeze - and prior to that jars of stock vacuum sealed. Who is this woman with store bought stock?

So yes, put the lid on and put it in the oven. 1/2 an hour on the timer.

While that was happening, I needed to get together some vegan parmesan - again, V, but as I am pretty lactose intolerant these days, me too.

I had some cashew pieces, so reserving a handful I put the rest - a bit more than about a cup - in the whizzer and whizzed to powder. Then I chucked in some nutritional yeast - magic stuff! Maybe a few tablespoons? 

I also got 20 sage leaves from the garden and roughly chopped them and those reserved cashew pieces (the recipe had hazelnuts) and fried then in a little pan with 30g of the outcome of the earlier moral dilemma until crispy.

At the 30 minute ding, take the pan out of the oven. Put it on a heatproof surface (turned off stove works a treat) and remove the lid. 

Admire the fact that it's pretty well cooked to perfection. Then take another dollop of your fat of choice and a cup of previously slapped together vegan parmesan and mix through, squishing the pumpkin a bit. You can add a little water if you need a bit more glug.

Put the crispy sage, nuts and oil on top as a garnish and serve.

Verdict? Yum.

Good night.

Five photos

 Over the last fifteen days (in no particular order) (well, in the order that hopefully makes sense to some bot in blogger else it's mad)

Being the school holidays for the last two weeks and a specialist appointment for Dad, I have been going to work early, and one morning this coincided with a decent fog. I work across the road from a cemetery.

It seemed like a good idea at the time. I got all thinking that I perhaps had hidden talents as a modern art architect-y photographer, but turns out not unhidden, unbidden.

We are still in the market for a few key items of furniture. This cupboard will not be joining our household no matter how often it it enters my feed.

As I said when I shared this link on Facebook "Oh my freaking good-ness - deliciousness with a capital cious!!" - Link. When enticed to try, Paris' review was "eww no, tastes like felafel" so not everyone is a fan.

Yes G. It does need sorting.