the dentist's receptionist

sounds like a movie on sbs doesn't it?  my tooth broke the other night.  it was a back tooth that the dentist did a root canal on last year.  cost megabucks and wasn't much fun.  i was eating a pie.  please don't judge me.  lol.   the crust must have been too crispy but my nephew broke his on chewing gum so you have to wonder.  it wasn't sore just ached a little bit but was cutting my tongue to pieces.  very sharp.  so, i rang the dentist next morning hoping that he could extract it.  he's ok, i don't mind him.  he doesn't give me options usually which really annoys me.  he is my sister's dentist too and as she has been a dental nurse and speaks the lingo he always goes into great detail about her options.  anyhoo, as i said he's ok.  his receptionist on the other hand is a bitch.  she is rude and obnoxious.  after assertaining that i needed to see the dentist after ten minutes of cross examination i finally got my appointment.  she stressed that he's much too busy to do anything about it just make it more comfortable and i would have to make a further appointment in a few months when he is free.  ok.  i was relieved and a little bit surprised that all he did was file it down, a most unpleasant but speedy procedure, and tell me i don't need any follow up.  i'm overdue for a checkup of course.  so after all that i was only half an hour late for work.  it's fine now.  most comfortable.  :)  i rang about six dentists after i made the appointment hoping that someone else could see me but they were all busy.  i must change dentists soon but it's not as easy as you'd think and i have to wonder that as i only see him a few times a year is it worth it?  should i just suck it up and keep going to him?  i don't know what to do, so, for the moment, will do nothing.  :)  

i'd love to see the northern lights one day.

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

a few photos

isn't this the best photo?  

i found some photos on my old phone recently.  this was taken at the butterfly park in bali  about two years ago

i love gadgets and this ugly little thing is possibly one of the best ever.  it opens pull top cans quickly and easily.  i always have trouble with them.  not anymore

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.