Dust, dogs and desserts

I have been away in Canberra the last three days for work. Returned home today to a dusty and dirty house. Not due to it being neglected while I was away, but rather from the major works still being done under our townhouse, as well as painters spreading plaster-dust everywhere. I don’t think there’s anything worse than dust from concrete and plaster.

Hopefully by the end of tomorrow it will all be finished and we can do a thorough top-to-toe clean to start the weekend and have a sense of normality again without contractors hovering in and out of our space.

What else has happened whilst I was away? Well, my little man Beau decided to go for a wander. He was taken out the front to run around in the little park and decided it was time for him to go on his own adventure. It doesn’t help that he’s a black dog and so gets lost in the shadows of the night, but while I was working on my laptop in my Canberra hotel room, I received a call from an unknown number on my mobile. This was about 6:30pm so it was an unexpected phone call and it was a lovely lady from the Woolworths Northbridge across the road calling to say she had my dog, Beau!! Hamish was straight across the road to collect him and apparently he was fairly sheepish for the rest of the night!

I bailed on touch rugby tonight, which I perhaps should have gone to play, but after a few nights away I am just keen to relax at home. I’ll go for a run at Tunks Park tomorrow with Beau and then I’m playing as well as umpiring netball this Saturday, so that’s still good fitness for me.

Contemplating making Mars Bars Slice and Snickers Slice tomorrow as sweet treats for the weekend ….

Extracurricular activities

I enjoy extacurricular activities after work. It’s a way for me to enjoy some ‘me’ time and do something for ‘me’ that I can express myself in.

I have previously enjoyed courses such as :
* Beginners Salsa
* Easy Entertaining Cooking
* French Taste – cooking recipes from the Champagne region
* Guitar – Stage 1
* Kickboxing for fun & fitness
* Meditation

The time has come again where the Mosman Community College course book arrived in our mailbox. Everyone knows that I’m the only one in the household really interested in this otherwise piece of ‘junkmail’ so I am pleased it was left on my desk before being sent to the recycling bin, especially since we have a new flatmate who seems to have taken it upon himself to decide what is ‘junk’ and what is not!!

There are a several courses I am immediately interested in and pages are ear-marked. Although upon further reading this morning, I have narrowed my choice down to just a few:
* Cupcake Tier Workshop
* Bake It, Bottle It, Sell It
* Mindful Marketing Plans
* Amazing Cup Cakes
* Great Dinner Parties
* Fusion of Eastern & Western Style Home Cooking
* Grape To Glass Wine Appreciation
* Firm up! Fitness Class
* Fabulous Abs!
* Global Dance Exercise and Zumba Fitness
* Kickboxing Fitness Intermediate
* Latin Jazz Hop Hop & Zumba Fitness

Ok, so maybe that was more than just ‘several’ course I am interested in …. the decision is so difficult!

It is a shame that there are a few other one day workshops that interest me, however they are on a Saturday so would clash with netball and you know how important fitness is to me!

I think the easiest thing for me to do will look at timing of each, as perhaps I can do two whereby they may both be on the same evening at the same location with one immediately following the other. Hmmm … decisions decisions.

Oh and this morning, home made crepes for brekkie with lemon, banana and honey …. yum yum 🙂 Coupled with a coffee from Gloria Jeans across the road in Northbridge Plaza. Perfect way to start my Sunday. We’ve since taken Beau for a run at the park and plan to have a late lunch at Not Bread Alone.

I feel like chicken tonight

Today was the first game of netball for the season.

I felt match fit and ready to go, especially after bonding with the team at Monday night’s Round Robin. Wearing my new uniform (unflattering cut and rather short!) and new Adidas Net-burners we were ready to go get ’em! Unfortunately we had two mediocre umpires who missed many calls and even when they did make a call, most of the time it seemed the incorrect decision. To the point where it resulted in me getting a warning for contesting an umpires’ decision in the last quarter …

We lost, although it was a close, competetive game and we played well as a team.

A quiet night in tonight with a DVD – Matching Jack. A pizza to be ordered from Pizza Tutti’s at Northbridge- I’m going to try their Smoked Chicken pizza tonight and very excited about that. Their pizzas are amazing. Good size, very reasonably priced and fresh, well proportioned ingredients. My preference to date has been the Tandoori Chicken so I’m tryign something new tonight.

Dessert tonight? I shouldn’t. Perhaps a little tub of yoghurt but nothing more. I say that as I munch on a handful of Red Rock Deli ‘Lime & Black Pepper’ crisps 😉

Everyone seemed to love my Lemon & Coconut Slice last week and the chocolate crackles were a real hit at the party too.

Food, glorious food

Beef liver sashimi

Hamish cooking our food at Kashiwa Yakiniku Japanese BBQ

Dinner on Saturday night was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I would highly recommend Kashiwa Yakiniku Japanese BBQ at Crows Nest if you want to try something different. We ordered a range of dishes including prawns, chicken thigh fillet, gyoza (japanese dumplings), wagyu beef skirt and for something completely random – beef liver sashimi and pork neck. Here’s how it works: you arrive, communal-style seating, order a few items off the menu and your personal BBQ is delivered to your table. Cook the meat when you want it. Brilliant! BYO wine/beer and there’s a fridge in the restaurant so you can chill it without it taking up space at your table. Total bill was $90 for two of us including a tip and we walked away feeling full and very satisfied, certain that we would make a return with a few friends for a fun experience.

On that note, I must say that I am still shocked by the devastation in Japan. I have twice visited Japan and it is such a beautiful country with so much to offer and to see complete cities wiped out by the tsunami especially, combined with the damage caused by the earthquake is so sad.

Sunday, perfect weather again. While Hamish played cricket, I briskly walked two laps around Centennial Park with Beau. Home to get ready then for a family dinner at Tony Roma’s restaurant in the city to feast on yummy , well-cooked ribs with a to-die-for sauce. A special from cudo.com.au for $15 per person for all-you-can-eat ribs served with a side of fries or rice – you can’t go wrong.

So what’s on my dinner menu this week? Last night was Lamb with potatoes, corn, peas and broccoli. Tonight’s dinner was a hot thai green curry chicken. Tomorrow will be nachos served with guocomale and sour cream, then chicken wraps for Thursday night. Thursday night always needs to be a quick and easy dinner before I head to touch rugby.

I’m feeling rather fit at the moment with my missin to go for a run every day or at least every second day, then touch rugby Thursday nights. Netball starts with a round robin on 28th March and competition from 2nd April. Definitely looking forward to that!

I’m keen to try making some new desserts – let me know if you want to suggest something for me to try!

What a day!

What a day for a daydream ….
Weather has been brilliant today and the perfect opportunity to spend time outdoors in the sun.

Home-made crepes to start the day with summer berries, banana and honey with a squeeze of fresh lemon, yum! Then off to Primrose Park at Cammeray for a run around and a doggy swim.

Easily tempted to head down to a park in Waverton, the Joseph Bugler Playing Field for a run around and kick with the rugby ball. After working up a sweat and feeling great in doing so, homebound for a freshly made sandwich and banana & berry smoothie.

Dinner tonight at Kashiwa Yakiniku Hapanese BBQ in Crows Nest which I am very excited about. I’ve been eyeing it off for months and have decided that tonight will finally be the night to give it a go. My shout as it was Hamish’s birthday yesterday so it’s a little treat for him 🙂

Long time, No speak

I admit, I have been lazy. I have been busy too. It’s a crazy time of year for me with work and just starting to settle again now, however no excuses for not adding new posts!

2011 to date has been an absolute whirlwind. I can’t believe it’s already well into March.

So what have I been up to this year? Work, work, work, booking holidays. The latter has been the most enjoyable of course 🙂

Working in the travel industry, most of my weekends have been consumed with travelling and participation at expos including 10 days in New Zealand.

On a positive note, my fitness goals have been kickstarted! I’m running at the park most afternoons. On Sunday I power-walked two laps around Centennial Park and I have committed to Thursday night touch rugby. All preparation for my winter netball and my goal to maintain a great level of fitness throughout 2011. The encouragement is in the results I can see and feel already.

March is a month of birthdays in our family. It’s Hamish’s (my partner) birthday this Friday, Ash’s birthday (my brother’s girlfriend) on Monday and my Dad’s birthday on 29th March. We’ve also celebrated my Mum’s birthday in January and my sister’s boyfriend and Hamish’s Mum’s birthdays in February. Busy start to the year and a lot to celebrate in the first quarter!

What have I been cooking lately? I made yummy individual carrot cakes last week with a delicious cream cheese icing. Massamun Beef has been in the slow cooker today so looking forward to devouring that for dinner tonight. On Sunday I improved on my previous attempt at Bacon & Egg Pie and produced a delicious bake. Want the recipes? Let me know and I’ll upload them in the Food & Drink section!

I am also excited for the holidays I have planned for the year – Thailand hopefully for May/June (a special offer at the Outrigger Koh Samui with thanks to Cudo.com.au that we couldn’t resist!) and tickets booked for Christmas & New Year in New Zealand.

With so much to do, so much happening around us it is important to remember to take time to enjoy and appreciate the little things in life that are so precious and often go unnoticed – such beautiful things as seeing a butterfly floating amonst the flowers in our rear courtyard on the weekend, feeling overjoyed at the affection shown by my dog, waking up happy and healthy in the morning, regular phone calls and lovely messages from many family and friends 🙂

Summer holidays

Today is my last official ‘holiday’ day. Then there is the weekend. Then I’m back to work.

I had lunch with my Mum today and it is always so nice to catch up with her and have a bit of mother-daughter time. She mentioned how beautiful Christmas/New Year holidays are when they’re so relaxing and allows you time to ‘reflect’ on the year that was.

So I thought I’d look back at what I wrote in early 2010 and have pinned up above my work desk:
2010 Is The Year For Me To …
* Learn to play guitar
* Learn how to meditate and to utilise this profound skill
* Get fit, stay fit
* Do more things for me
* Be organised and keep on top of things – be one step ahead
* Set things up to take me through the rest of my life
* Don’t be afraid to say ‘no’
* Take time out to enjoy the little things
* Enjoy spontaneity – not everything has to be planned and not everything has to stay to plan
* Work within your means, spend within your budget
* Be happy being ME!

And the results are in …
* I did a beginners guitar course to learn the basic chords, how to play the chorus of a few songs, etc (note that one of my 2011 goals is to practice the guitar twice a week!)
* I did a meditation course and really enjoyed it
* I played winter netball on Saturdays for the first time in 10 years!
* I’ve enjoyed time out to myself and catching up with more friends again
* I’m always organised, sometimes too organised, so I’ve also come to appreciate that some things need not be organised but rather I need to just go with the flow
* I’ve got my apartment currently being tenanted which is a great little investment for me
* I’ve saved a small sum of money which I can put towards building an internal laundry in my apartment (rather than having to use the shared laundry in the courtyard) and I have set up a savings plan to lead me into 2011
* I enjoyed a five week holiday in Europe including a Topdeck tour from Barcelona to Rome and a 7 day Croatia sailing trip

So all in all, I feel I can confidently say I’ve had a successful 2010 and I am so excited for what 2011 has in store for me!

I’m looking forward to getting stuck back into work, maintaining a fitness schedule and experimenting even more in the kitchen. Oh, this is going to be a fun year … bring it on!