a few things

i haven't posted anything for a while so thought i'd do a small catch up.  i had two procedures last wednesday and they went smoothly.  minor problem found, nothing serious.  i'm back at work now and nothing much changes there.  bedlam.  new staff, new positions, we are not holding our breaths.  supervisor comes back from europe soon, she's been away for a month.  we've been a little bit 'relaxed' at work while she's been gone.  they've put up the date for the start of the new library system.  no big surprises there.
i had lunch today with the g/kids and my daughter.  i bought the kids a mobile phone each.  they were half price and they are really nice little touch phones.  i sat at lunch with the three of them on their phones. i may as well have had lunch alone.  not quite.  i exaggerate just a tad.  i just made some pumpkin soup which isn't too bad so having that and some toast for dinner.  working tomorrow and you know how much i enjoy that.  :)  it's been our coldest june for 25 or so years.  lots of rain too.  i should have gotten some washing done today but it was too wet.  tomorrow maybe

lotus in friend's garden pond

i like the late afternoon sun reflected on the building and in the trees and clouds

Cookie made cupcakes last weekend. they were yum 

i saw a program on the teev the other day about people picking up old thongs (flip flops) from the beach and recycling them into sellable items.  it's a great way to increase their meagre income and they have a website - http://www.theffrc.com/  it's a program about the indian ocean and it's really good.  i think it's on sbs1

delicious

honey, ginger chicken.  whilst i was in bali i went to one of my fave eating places, basil leaves.  i have several favourite eating places in bali.  no surprises there.  they serve vietnamese, thai and indonesian delights. i've never had a bad meal there.  it's such a simple little place.  it's in a back lane next to a club that plays 60s favourites (really badly). my favourite dish is the honey, ginger chicken and the lovely friendly people that work there let me watch it being made.  i should have videoed it but i took notes instead.  i looked through a small window into the kitchen which was absolutely tiny.  here is the recipe:

1 chicken breast cut into bite size pieces
1 onion sliced
1 tbs ginger, finely chopped or grated
2 or 3 cloves of garlic, chopped finely or crushed
1 tbs oyster sauce (i used hp coz i don't eat oysters and ran out of the vegetarian version)
1 tbs kecip manis (thick, sweet soy sauce)
1 tbs soy sauce
1 tbs honey
1tsp sugar
pinch salt

stirfry the chicken and onion in peanut oil until well done.  the cook used about a cupful of oil but i just used about 1 tbs.  she did remove some after the chicken and onions were cooked though. i tried to ask what kind of oil but didn't really get an answer coz she didn't understand my indonesian.
add the sugar, salt, garlic and ginger and cook for a minute or two.  add the sauces and honey and add a little bit of water if necessary to make the sauce a nice consistency. it should be thickish, not too runny.  i also cooked some broccoli and served both on steamed rice.

mine was so different to the original but it tasted very similar and was really delicious.  maybe i will add a tiny bit more honey and ginger next time.  if you give it a go i hope you enjoy.  pics below are of warung indonesia and a few other great eateries in bal.

i'm back

https://picasaweb.google.com/princessyevisha/May272012

click link above for a few photos.  nice to be back actually.  three weeks in the same room/hotel with my sister was enough.  we should have stayed in a few hotels.  next time.  i had a fab time.  some highlights/lowlights:

• got my suitcase off the carousel and it had a broken wheel.  not good. bought a new one.  i hate it. it's too small
• broke my camera. bought a new one.  old one works perfectly now.  two cameras :)
• kuta is a building site.  a new modern hotel going up on every other corner
• i really miss having my washing/ironing done.  my meals cooked for me.  delicious food.  and someone coming in to clean my room.  
• we went up to git git waterfall which is spectacular.  clean gorgeous air.  so green.  noisy too.  :)
• bedugul, the water temple, is wonderful.  i had a pic of it on my computer, now i've seen it in person.
• gorgeous happy people everywhere.  i went shopping when i got back and no-one smiled at me and pulled me into their shop.  go figure?
• fab flight over.  smoothest landing ever.  thanks Bev
• lovely to get home and see the kids and grandchildren.  missed them so much
• got to save up for next time
• very small,  tiny motor bike incidence.  small graze.  i'm fine :)
• broke my glasses.  fixed my glasses.
• sister finally got prescription glasses.  two pairs
• shopping, lots of shopping
• we were underweight coming home  
• three hours shoe shopping with my sister was three hours too much.  
• juice.  fresh juice.  watermelon, avocado, mango etc etc
• noodles
• bali  coffee
• swimming and going to the beach most days
• oh i nearly forgot, massages and more massages.  i can't believe the price.  even the bad ones were good
• temples and culture so different from ours

now it's back to work on friday for me and the dreaming starts planning the next one.  maybe we should go to thailand next time :)

packing

i am packing.  ahhh.  i have too much stuff.  my new specky purple suitcase is smaller than my old now out of service red one. we have a 23kg limit and atm it only weighs 17 but it's chockers.  my sister just rang and she's slimmed down her stuff considerably. i still have tomorrow to get my act together.  packing is part of the fun of course but it's also a pain.  i will get there.  yes, i will.  nothing like a bit of positive thinking.  i have a few errands to run tomorrow and that's it.  my sister is bringing down my nephew as he leaves about 10.30 am.  it's all good.
i took the g/kids out for lunch and shopping today. i won't see them for a while.  i'll miss them.  we had a fab day.  i saw the puppies again.  there  are only 2 left and they are keeping one.  very cute.   i have a list of presents to bring back.  tshirts, so easy, for son and family and maybe the same for the kids.  ants asked for  a skate board but i said maybe it would be better to get it here.   i'll have a look though.  it might be doable.  :)  enjoy the rest of your weekend wherever you are.  it's chilly here and i'm just about to settle down and watch a movie with a hot cup of milo.

a burnt sausage anyone?

very cool

cute

hello

a few things have happened since my last blog.  let me fill you in...
i got my galaxy s2 at last.  i know it's bad to like a phone so much.  the only thing i don't like is the way it displays my contacts.  no biggie.  and the alarm clock doesn't work if the phone is off.  slightly bigger biggie.

i had a lovely  lunch with maz today.  we went to greek on halifax.  i love greek food.  very nice to catch up.  we exchanged christmas presents.  yes, i know that's pathetic.  we live about 10 kms from each other and speak on the phone for hours two or three times a week but we hardly ever catch up.  it's her birthday while i'm away too.  we are going to catch up when i get back. that's the plan anyway.

i saw this (photo below) at my local shops the other day but it was nothing compared to the sight  i saw at the local supermaket the same day.  i didn't have my phone handy.  a tattooed young girl in a  fairy costume.  she looked quite colourful.

please note the blue bintang tshirt on the left

i'm having the kids over tomorrow for a day or  two.  i'm looking forward to that.  i'm minding my other granddaughter on monday.  i hope my friend Carol can come over on sunday for lunch.  i can't  get used to the end of daylight saving just yet.  on sunday night i went to bed exhausted and looked at the clock and noticed it was only 9.30 pm.  unheard of for me to be in bed so early.  i worked sunday so that would  have made me tired too.  

i also noticed that the 'edit' function is back on blogger.  thank goodness for that.  

enjoy your Easter break wherever you are.  i'm lucky enough to have days off until wednesday.  lovely  

bug run 2

bug run march 2012

we went on another bug run today.  up into the hills, down to the beach and cafe primo for lunch.  we are all pooped.  my son made a short video. the backing music is by his band khatrun.  i have to put it in as a link above.  apologies.  we had a lovely day.  the club members are all very friendly people and a good time was had by all.  i'm off tomorrow and then back to work on tuesday.  ewwwww  :)

a pic from the last bug run. i forgot my camera today :(

the weather today was perfect.

yesterday i went up to see my daughter and g/kids.  their dog had nine puppies.  the pups are too cute and have their eyes open now.  we had a nice day.  a little lunch and a little shopping.  we went to about four garage sales too and had a great day.   i hope you enjoyed your weekend