redhotcentre

Apricot and White Chocolate Truffles

2012-02-14T14:01:00.003+10:30

It’s Valentine’s Day (or lovers’ day): the day set aside to becommercially exploited in the west by purveyors of flowers, cards andchocolate. Never mind, for those who don’t take this day too seriously, here isan image of Hobbes to help share the love around.

Also a recipe for some delicious Apricot and White Chocolate Truffles -to be shared with those you love - whether that be lover, mother, brother, sister or friend! (phototo follow)

Apricot and White Chocolate Truffles

Prep time: 30 mins. This doesn't include chilling in refrigerator overnight. These are indeed, a labour of love!

You will need two lemons for this recipe.

2 ¾ cups (410g) dried apricots

1 cup boiling water

60g butter, softened

½ cup (80g) icing sugar mixture

1 ½ cups (135g) desiccated coconut

1 tablespoon finely grated lemon rind

180g white eating chocolate, melted

4 cups (600g) white chocolate Melts, melted

Grease 20cm x 30cm lamington pan; line base and long sides with bakingpaper.
Combine apricots and the water in medium heatproof bowl. Cover; stand30 minutes, drain.
Blend or process apricots, butter, sugar, coconut, rind and whitechocolate until combined. Spread mixture in prepared pan, cover; refrigerate overnight.
Roll rounded teaspoons of the mixture into balls, place onbaking-paper-lined tray.
Melt a third (200g) of the Melts in a heatproof bowl for 1 minute in the microwave. Stir with a spoon until smooth.
Dip balls in a third of the Melts; roll quickly andgently between palms to coat evenly. Return balls to tray; refrigerate untilfirm. Repeat process twice more with remaining Melts to give balls two morewhite coats.

Makes 65

Tips

Recipe can be made up to 1 week in advance. White chocolate and whitechocolate Melts are suitable to microwave.

Thai Green Fish Curry

2012-02-13T19:41:00.002+10:30

It is well known that one of the keys to a successful relationship isthat of compromise, or “give and take”. Whencooking, I find that hard to do. For instance, it is rare, if not impossible tofind a Thai dish that does not at some point incorporate fish sauce. Alex hatesfish sauce. He has a deep prejudice against it, and it has been impossible to convincehim of its necessity for deliciousness. Last time I cooked Thai (Chicken FriedRice), I used fish sauce, and he refused to eat it! Lesson learned.

His favourite – Thai Green Curry, also lists fish sauce as an essentialingredient. But not this recipe. I’m not sure why, but perhaps with fish youneed to keep the flavours a little lighter. Either way, it keeps me happy, as Ican follow ‘the script’ without hurting Alex’s feelings or being required toeat alone. A ‘win-win’, you might say.

Thai Green Fish Curry

If you want to use tuna, go ahead. I couldn’t find it at my localsupermarket deli, so opted for Pink Ling instead. I also left out the onion (dueto an intolerance) and we didn’t miss it. If you can find chopped lemon grassalready chopped and frozen, as I did, it will mean less wastage. And if youlike a less acidic flavour, I would suggest either cutting back on the lime juice, or adding a teaspoon of sugar. Enjoy!

2 tablespoons peanut oil

750g piece fresh tuna (or other fish), chopped coarsely

2 medium white onions (300g), chopped coarsely (optional)

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh lemon grass

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

2 tablespoons green curry paste

1 2/3 cups (400ml) coconut cream (milk)

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 tablespoon thick tamarind concentrate

1 tablespoon coarsely chopped fresh coriander leaves

1 cup (80g) bean sprouts

250g snow peas, sliced

Heat ½ of the oil in large frying pan; cook fish, in batches, untiljust browned; remove. Heat remaining oil in same pan; cook onion, garlic, lemongrass and ginger, stirring, until onion is soft. Add paste; cook, stirringuntil fragrant.

Return fish to pan with remaining ingredients; cook, stirring gently,until sprouts are just wilted.

Serve over steamed rice.

Maple Huckleberry Coffee Cake

2012-02-11T21:06:00.000+10:30

It’sno secret; I am a big fan of baking cakes and desserts. It’s my first choice ofactivity when I have a few spare hours. In that pursuit, therefore, I havecollected a number of websites in my ‘favourites’ list, which I visitregularly, to read their stories and collect their recipes. This week I found arecipe for Maple Huckleberry Coffee Cake. The ingredients required for this caketend to be somewhat exclusive to Northern America, but this was not a greatimpediment. With a bit of tweaking, it can also be produced with deliciousresults in Australia, and it is the tweaked version you will find below.

Howbetter to amuse oneself on a quiet Saturday, than to throw together a new cakerecipe, and enjoy it warm at dinner?

Maple Huckleberry Coffee Cake Recipe

Adapted for Aussie cooks from http://www.101cookbooks.com/index.html

1 cup plain wholemeal flour
3 tablespoons rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
scant 1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
1/4 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup maple syrup, room temperature
1 large egg, room temperature
zest of one lemon
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup buttermilk or plain yoghurt
1 1/3 cups fresh mulberries (or blueberries), well picked over

Topping:
1/2 cup plain wholemeal flour
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut 1/4-inch cubes
1/3 cup brown sugar (or raw sugar)
1/4 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
1/2 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)

Special equipment: a 6-cup capacity loaf pan

Preheat the oven to 180C degrees, rack in the middle. Grease a 1-poundloaf pan, and line with baking paper. Alternately, you could just butter andflour the pan, but I've found that lining the pan with paper makes removing thecake from the pan after baking no problem.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, baking powder, bakingsoda, salt, thyme, and rosemary. Set aside. In a separate large bowl beat thebutter with an electric mixer or by hand - until light and fluffy. Drizzle inthe maple syrup and beat until well incorporated, scrape down the sides of thebowl a couple times along the way. Beat in the egg, lemon zest, and vanillaextract, scraping the sides again. Add half of the flour, stir just a bit, nowadd a splash of the buttermilk, stir again, but not too much. Add the rest ofthe flour and stir a bit, and now the rest of the buttermilk. Stir untileverything barely comes together and then very gently fold in one cup of the berries.Scrape the batter evenly into the prepared pan and set aside.

To make the streusel topping, place the flour, butter, brown sugar,thyme and pecans in a food processor and pulse 20-30 times or until the toppingis a bit beyond sandy/crumbly. It should be moist-looking - on its way to beingslightly doughy. Crumble 2/3 of it over the cake batter, sprinkle the remaining1/3 cup berries on top of that, and then add the last of the crumble. Barelypat in place with your fingertips.

Place the coffee cake in the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes or untilthe top is golden and a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comesout clean. Let the cake cool for five minutes and then remove it from the panto cool on a rack (this way the cake won't steam in the pan as it's cooling.

Serves 12 - 16 modest slices

Christmas Wish List

2011-12-21T10:19:00.000+10:30

These are things I've thought of as gift ideas this Christmas. Hope it helps!

pyjamas

music CDs – Black Keys, Adele

Lindt mint dark chocolate

hankies

maxi dress for summer

book: The Divine Mentor

A year’s subscription to Notebookmagazine
a new camera

Other - your choice!

Cheesy Cornmeal Crackers

2011-08-01T10:29:00.001+09:30

Disclaimer: This recipe was originally a quiche crust (with a bit of extra parmesan thrown in). But I had some left over, and it seemed too good to waste. So after rolling it out flat, I cut the remainder into love hearts, and baked it while the quiche was also cooking. We vote 'yum'!

Cheesy Cornmeal Crackers

3/4 cup plain flour

1/2 cup cornmeal

1/3 cup parmesan cheese

60g butter, chopped

1 egg yolk

1/4 cup water, approximately

Sift flour into bowl, stir in cornmeal and parmesan cheese, rub in butter. Stir in egg yolk and enough water to make ingredients cling together. Gently knead dough on lightly floured surface until smooth, cover, refrigerate 30 minutes.

Roll dough between sheets of greaseproof paper to 1/4 centimetre thickness, and cut out shapes as desired.

Bake in moderate oven for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on tray.

Makes approximately 30 crackers.

Perfect Rice

2011-06-06T21:04:00.002+09:30

I love perfect rice. There is nothing that brings me quite as much satisfaction as being able to create a pot of what I call, “perfect” rice. It’s just rice cooked by the absorption method; but when it works it’s perfect. And for something that cooks without intervention and is ready to go after 20 minutes, nothing beats it!

Even better cooked in stock (makes it tastier), this is the basic recipe. Make sure you use a heavy-based saucepan, and you’re laughing!

Perfect Rice (by the Absorption Method)

1 cup long grain white rice

1 ½ cups water (or stock)

Place rice in a large bowl and rinse in cold water first, to rinse out the starch. Drain well. Place rice in a heavy based saucepan with 1.5 cups water or stock. Bring to boil, then lower heat to a simmer. Cook covered for 10 minutes, then remove from heat. Leave to steam for a further 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Rice is now ready to eat. Top with your favourite stir-fry or curry and enjoy!

Gnocchi with Eggplant and Feta

2011-06-03T19:43:00.006+09:30

With eggplants being one of my favourite vegetables, and them being in season and all, I decided it was time to put together one of my favourite warming winter dishes. Fresh gnocchi was on special at Coles last week, so that was waiting in the freezer, and a bottle of Bertolli pasta sauce (with Grilled Eggplant and Parmesan) was in the pantry, so all the stars were aligned (so to speak) for this dish.

Because I didn’t want to splash out on fresh basil at the shops, I replaced it with some fresh parsley from the garden. Also, goat’s cheese was by far too expensive, so I opted for feta instead (at about half the price).

Here is the recipe. It was appreciated much in this household, especially on a cold winter’s night.

Penne with Aubergines and Goat’s Cheese

Serves 6

45ml/3 tbsp olive oil

15g/1 tbsp butter

2 eggplants about 275g each, cubed

1 garlic clove, chopped

500ml/2 cups passata (bottled strained tomatoes)

15ml/ 1 tbsp tomato paste

350g/3 cups dried penne

115g firm goat’s cheese, cubed

45ml/3 tbsp shredded fresh basil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat half the olive oil and butter in a large, heavy pan. Add the eggplant cubes and fry, stirring frequently, until just golden on all sides, adding more oil and butter if needed.
Stir in the garlic, passata and tomato paste. Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes until thickened. Season generously.
Bring a large pan of lightly salted water to the boil and cook the pasta until it is al dente. Drain well and tip into a warmed serving bowl.
Add the aubergine sauce, goat’s cheese and basil to the pasta and toss well. Serve immediately.

Poetry that cheers the heart

2010-09-01T18:06:00.003+09:30

I've been hanging out for some good 'ol poetry for a while now, and read this poem today in John Eldredge's "Wild at Heart". Good stuff!

Ballad of the Goodly Fere

Ha' we lost the goodliest fere o' all
For the priests and the gallows tree?
Aye lover he was of brawny men,
O' ships and the open sea.

When they came wi' a host to take Our Man
His smile was good to see,
"First let these go!" quo' our Goodly Fere,
"Or I'll see ye damned," says he.

Aye he sent us out through the crossed high spears
And the scorn of his laugh rang free,
"Why took ye not me when I walked about
Alone in the town?" says he.

Oh we drank his "Hale" in the good red wine
When we last made company,
No capon priest was the Goodly Fere
But a man o' men was he.

I ha' seen him drive a hundred men
Wi' a bundle o' cords swung free,
That they took the high and holy house
For their pawn and treasury.

They'll no' get him a' in a book I think
Though they write it cunningly;
No mouse of the scrolls was the Goodly Fere
But aye loved the open sea.

If they think they ha' snared our Goodly Fere
They are fools to the last degree.
"I'll go to the feast," quo' our Goodly Fere,
"Though I go to the gallows tree."

"Ye ha' seen me heal the lame and blind,
And wake the dead," says he,
"Ye shall see one thing to master all:
'Tis how a brave man dies on the tree."

A son of God was the Goodly Fere
That bade us his brothers be.
I ha' seen him cow a thousand men.
I have seen him upon the tree.

He cried no cry when they drave the nails
And the blood gushed hot and free,
The hounds of the crimson sky gave tongue
But never a cry cried he.

I ha' seen him cow a thousand men
On the hills o' Galilee,
They whined as he walked out calm between,
Wi' his eyes like the grey o' the sea,

Like the sea that brooks no voyaging
With the winds unleashed and free,
Like the sea that he cowed at Genseret
Wi' twey words spoke' suddently.

A master of men was the Goodly Fere,
A mate of the wind and sea,
If they think they ha' slain our Goodly Fere
They are fools eternally.

I ha' seen him eat o' the honey-comb
Sin' they nailed him to the tree.

Ezra Pound

Dream-life

2010-08-24T11:07:00.002+09:30

I hate dreams; images that come in the middle of the night that you have little or no control over, that frequently put you in embarrassing situations or become violent and unwelcome.

Mine almost always involve either camping, dormitory or share house situations, which has pretty much been my experience since primary school. I have no idea why these images keep recurring, but of course they are only background to various new dream stories. For instance, last night I returned to a share house I occupied for close to five years previously, but this time we had a whole family of five occupying one of the rooms. Some of the reason for this dream was a desire to live with people who are actually friends… I’d been considering the dynamics of my current living situation, which, while not bad, is also not ideal. Some people live with friends, others just co-habitate. At the moment, it’s more like co-habitating.

The other night my dream turned violent, but when it does that, I just opt out. Then one night around the election, after a conversation with my brother, I dreamt that my dad had gone mad trying to convince other people of his [conservative] political views! I’d told P that I might vote left, and he warned me, “Don’t tell Dad”. When I laughed, he said, “No, I’m serious. I told him that [friends] are going to vote left, and he got really mad.” And so my dreams reflected a fear that my dad was going ‘over the top’ in his political convictions, expecting everyone to adhere to what he believes is right and true.

I understand that dreams are really only your subconscious trying to make sense of what’s going on in your waking world. But due to their unpredictable nature, I find them unfriendly. What is your take on dreams?

Chocolate-Raspberry Success

2010-08-19T10:22:00.006+09:30

Success!

Ever since visiting Bracegirdles and sampling their wonderful chocolate mud cake with raspberries, I have coveted that particular recipe. Recently, having some time on my hands and a modicum of income, I have been testing a few recipes of my own in order to find the elusive combination.

Some success has been achieved with a couple of flourless chocolate cakes, but this one is the winner (in my books). Simply a brownie recipe with raspberries thrown in, it uses (used) ingredients I already had in the pantry, thereby making it accessible, and inherently more economically viable than any flourless cake. It is also less fuss.

Taken from my favourite birthday present, the Family Circle “Baking – a commonsense guide”, I am pleased to say this will be in my repertoire from here on in. Without further ado, I present:

Chocolate Brownies with Raspberries thrown in

Preparation time 20 min

Total cooking time 25 min

Makes 24 pieces

85g (2/3 cup) self-raising flour

85g (2/3 cup) unsweetened cocoa powder

250g (1 cup) caster sugar

330g unsalted butter, melted

4 eggs, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon natural vanilla extract

250g (1 ½ cups) dark chocolate chips

125g (1 cup) walnut pieces (omitted)

150g frozen raspberries

icing (confectioners’) sugar, to dust

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a 20 x 30 cm (8 x 12 inch) shallow baking tin and line with baking paper, leaving it hanging over the two long sides of the tin.

2. Sift together the flour and cocoa, then add the sugar. Make a well in the centre, then add the butter, eggs and vanilla extract and eat until smooth. Fold in the chocolate chips and (raspberries). Spoon into the tin and smooth the surface.

3. Bake for 25 minutes, or until cake begins to pull away from the sides. Leave in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn onto a wire rack to cool. Dust with icing sugar to serve.

Choc Chip Cookies

2010-08-18T19:15:00.003+09:30

There’s nothing like being paid to do what you love. Not that I have been paid to bake, but I’ve been given money to buy ingredients, which is almost as good!

This Saturday in Australia we have a federal election. And on that day, churches and community groups around town will be using the opportunity to do a little fund-raising. The church I’m currently attending is one of those groups, setting up a bouncy castle, face painting and a trading table in order to make people feel welcome as they attend the polling booth to vote.

When one of the ladies found out that I love baking, and that I’m a little bored during the days (while I look for work), she realised the potential, and asked if I’d be interested in making biscuits and slices for selling if she gave me the money for ingredients. I jumped at the chance, after all I’d decided that all this baking was detrimental to my budget, and it had to stop!

Yesterday I made a large batch of choc chip cookies, with a recipe I’ve had since high school. Hopefully they make a killing, and bring joy to someone’s tummy.

Choc-Chip Cookies

1 lb butter

2 cups dark brown sugar

1 ½ cups white sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla essence

3 eggs

1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

6 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

12 oz choc chips

Method:

Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Cream together butter with sugars until light and fluffy. Mix in egg and flour mixtures alternately. Finally, add the choc chips. The dough should end up dry and sticky. Form into balls and flatten slightly with fingers onto trays lined with baking paper. Cook for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove from oven, allow to cool for a few minutes before transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.

Makes about 100.

Recipes of the Orient

2010-07-30T16:12:00.003+09:30

Of all the recipe books I have bought or been given, this one was a surprise package! Published in 1968, the yellowing pages of an obscure tiny book, “Recipes of the Orient” that I may have found in a second-hand bookstore as a teenager is a source of true yumminess. As is my practice, I scoured it for attractive meal ideas, and noted, “Try” on several that caught my attention. This one, called “Lauk Sayor” (or Curried Vegetables) hails from Malaysia, has relatively few exotic ingredients and an uncomplicated method. Once made, it got the big tick of approval, and I’ve been making it ever since.

A soup for those who like Asian flavours but prefer their curries with less kick.

Lauk Sayor (Curried Vegetables)
Serves 4

Ingredients
½ lb (250g) bowler or chuck steak (I used gravy beef)
½ medium size cabbage
½ lb (250g) French beans (green beans)
1 large potato, diced
1 onion, sliced
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 heaped teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons peanut oil (or other)
2 cups coconut milk, or cow’s milk

Method
1 Add tablespoon of salt to 3 cups of waer and cook beef on low burner for about an hour.
2 In the meantime, clean vegetables and neatly cut them into small pieces.
3 Take the meat from the burner and pour steak stock into deep bowl.
4 Put the (peanut) oil in the empty pan and fry onion and garlic.
5 When half done add curry powder and sugar, and stock and coconut milk.
6 Last of all add vegetables and the shredded meat; when the vegetables are cooked the dish is ready.

This could be eaten with rice, but I prefer to eat it as a soup.

Torta Caprese

2010-07-30T16:11:00.000+09:30

“This, my friends, is a cake to die for. Intensely chocolately, rich and dastardly, it comes from the island of Capri and it is just divine! There’s no flour at all, just a lot of ground almonds, which keep it moist, and an awful lot of chocolate. For perfection, top with crème fraiche, thick Greek yoghurt or some mascarpone.” ~ Sophie Grigson, Food writer and TV presenter

Being in the mood for baking today, specifically something with chocolate, I dug out my recipe books for a change and found a flourless chocolate cake. But it called for ground hazelnuts, when what I already had was ground almonds. My long-forgotten ‘Wicked’ cookbook by Delicious turned up trumps with Torta Caprese, especially considering I had half the ingredients already. I was very careful to follow the recipe, and it has not disappointed. Not demanding of ingredients or method, I believe this one’s a keeper. [Photo to follow.]

Torta Caprese

200g unsalted butter
200g good-quality dark chocolate
4 eggs, separated
170g caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
250g almond meal
Icing sugar and cocoa powder, to dust
Ice-cream, to serve

Preheat the oven to 170°C. Grease and line a 24cm cake pan with non-stick baking paper.
Melt the butter and set aside to cool.
Process the chocolate until finely chopped, but still retaining a little texture. [Alternatively, chop finely with a large knife.]
Place the egg yolks, sugar and vanilla extract in a bowl and beat until pale and thick. Fold in the chocolate, butter and almond meal. [The mixture should be very thick.]
In a separate bowl, whisk the eggwhites until soft peaks form. Gently fold in the chocolate mixture.
Spoon into the cake pan, level the surface and bake for 50-60 minutes, until just firm to the touch.
Set aside to cool in the pan, then turn out.
Serve dusted with icing sugar and a scoop of ice-cream dusted with cocoa.

SERVES 6-8

My favourite mouthfuls of this were enjoyed warm, accompanied by raspberries and a dollop of cream.

Irene's Milk Chocolate Slice

2010-07-21T19:17:00.003+09:30

Irene’s Milk Chocolate slice is ‘the bomb’! I don’t normally make slices, and I haven’t made this one yet, but it’s one that will henceforth be in my repertoire. An unbeatable mix of chocolate, caramel and biscuit, this is one of my favourite combinations! Now I can make my own Twix!

A and I went interstate over the weekend to visit and support a friend. The final event before we left was a church service, followed by a church lunch. I chatted with an elderly guy there, who invited us to drop into his place on our way home. So we did (trusting folks as we are). Ken showed us his orchids and sent us off with some Milo biscuits, an ample supply of Irene’s Milk Chocolate Slice, and most importantly, the recipe. Here it is:

IRENE’S MILK CHOCOLATE SLICE

Filling:
1 packet coffee biscuits
125g butter or margarine
½ tin sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon golden syrup

Topping:
3 oz. Copha
125g Cadbury’s Milk Chocolate

1. Grease slice tin and line with biscuits (trim carefully to fill all space). Crush the remaining biscuits.
2. Place sugar, butter, golden syrup and condensed milk in a medium sized saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally.
3. Remove from heat and add crushed biscuits, stirring until mixed through. Carefully spread mixture over base biscuits. Refrigerate until cool.
4. Melt copha and chocolate together in metal bowl over boiling water. Pour over filling and return to refrigerator until set.
5. Enjoy!

Irene’s tips: remove from fridge for about 10 minutes before cutting into desired slices or squares. This helps prevent the chocolate layer from splitting.

When we were leaving, I asked, “Who’s Irene?” He replied that was his late wife; she was always busy baking cakes for people… I guess he makes this slice now to keep her memory alive. And to make new friends!

Unmerited Injustice

2010-06-28T20:32:00.003+09:30

I found this devotional by Selwyn Hughes quite helpful last week, when I was in the midst of a pity party, and feeling quite bitter and twisted. The trouble is, feeling that way doesn’t actually alleviate the situation. The only way I can start to feel better is to forgive, or to accept the situation as given.

UNMERITED INJUSTICE

For reading and meditation – 1 Peter 2:11-25

… But if you suffer for doing good and endure it, this is commendable before God. (v.20)

Why do bitterness and resentment arise in our hearts? Largely, it is our reaction to what we consider is an unmerited injustice. Many years ago, I was told – make up your mind that in a world of this kind, you are not going to escape injustice and unmerited pain. We say, “Why should this happen to me?” Well, why not? Are you better than Jesus? Almost everything that can happen to a human being on this earth happened to Him.

The Christian life does not promise exemption from injustice and suffering, but it does promise power to make something good out of everything that happens. So forgive everyone who has ever hurt you – now. The Holy Spirit cannot come into the depths when the door to the unconscious is cluttered up with bitterness and resentment.

O Father God, cleanse me now and help me forgive every injustice that has ever been done to me. I do so now, in and through Jesus’ precious Name. Amen.

This cake saved my life

2010-06-24T10:05:00.009+09:30

The other day when life was black and I was blue (haha), I sent a message to my bf, saying, among other things, “Hopefully the cake I made is yummy, or I may have to find a cliff and jump off it.” To which he replied, “I’d hate to lose you, but am not too worried – your cakes are always delicious.”

Well, the cake was and is yummy, and I think that's something we can all be grateful for! Here is a photo (apologies for the quality) and the recipe, which did not need any tweaking (yay)!

Apricot Chocolate Chip Cake

1 cup chopped dried apricots
1 cup apricot nectar
125g butter
2/3 cup raw sugar
2 eggs, separated
1 ½ cups dessicated coconut
1 ½ cups self-raising flour
½ cup Choc Bits

1. Grease a deep 20cm round cake pan, line base with paper, grease paper.
2. Combine apricots and nectar in bowl, stand 1 hour.
3. Cream butter and sugar in small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy, beat in egg yolks one at a time, beat until combined. Transfer mixture to large bowl, stir in coconut, then half the sifted flour and half the apricot mixture. Stir in remaining flour and apricots, then Choc Bits.
4. Beat egg whites in small bowl until soft peaks form, fold into mixture, spread into prepared pan.
5. Bake in moderate oven for about 1 ¼ hours. Stand 5 minutes before turning onto wire rack to cool. Dust with sifted icing sugar if desired.

Keeping time: 3 days.

Birthday Wish List

2010-06-21T19:21:00.011+09:30

I've been thinking about making one of these for ages, probably ever since I read Ingrid's. I will be adding to this as I get inspired, but for now I just need to start!

Ali's Birthday Wish List

Foot massage voucher
Tickets for a show at the Festival Theatre
Voucher for buying clothes at Target, or anywhere in Marion Shopping Centre or Rundle Mall
A good quality rain jacket
A winter (i.e. heavy duty) doona
A large square cake container from Tupperware
Subscription for Notebook magazine
A mini tripod for my camera
Vanilla bean pods
A lamington tin
A loaf cake tin
Tart pan with removable bottom

Thai Cauliflower

2010-06-19T10:14:00.002+09:30

Decided to try out some recipes from a cookbook gifted to me last Christmas. I haven't been using cookbooks a lot lately; rather, I've been ‘googling’ recipes as I feel the urge to use a particular ingredient (e.g. eggplant). Yesterday I was in the mood for experimentation, and despite having misgivings about the authenticity of any cookbook published outside of Thailand, decided to give it a crack.

I almost never eat cauliflower or fish, so those were the recipes I chose. One, “Cauliflower and beans with cashew nuts” looked simple and tasty, the other, “Fish curry” used similar flavourings (red curry paste) and neither used too many ingredients that I didn’t already have.

Fish Curry.
I won’t go into the details of this one. Suffice to say, it was a salty disaster. I don’t know why I trust recipes at all, especially ones that ask for 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, plus 4 tablespoons of soy sauce. I should have known. But I wasn’t thinking. Next time (if there is a next time), I will be leaving out the soy sauce altogether. Yuck! On to happier topics…

Cauliflower and Beans with Cashew Nuts.
This was much better! But even then, I cut down on the spices and flavourings. Where it asked for 2 tablespoons of red curry paste, I added one. Where it asked for 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, I added only one. It turned out great! Flavoursome without being overpowering, and the vegetables still crunchy! I don’t mind that the fish is inedible if the vegetables are this good!

Serves 4
1 tbsp vegetable or groundnut oil
1tbsp chili oil (I used sesame oil instead)
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped (or minced garlic)
1 tbsp Red Curry Paste
1 small cauliflower, cut into florets
175g long beans, cut into 3-inch lengths
150ml vegetable stock
1 tbsp Thai soy sauce (light soy sauce)
50g (1/3 cup) toasted cashew nuts, to garnish

1.Heat both the oils in a wok and stir-fry the onion and garlic until softened. Add the curry paste and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes.
2.Add the cauliflower and beans and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes, until softened. Pour in the stock and soy sauce and simmer for 1-2 minutes. Serve immediately, garnished with the cashews.

Raspberry Vanilla Muffins

2010-06-16T11:05:00.005+09:30

Here is my latest attempt at tweaking a recipe; after googling the idea (Raspberry and Vanilla Muffins), I found one but decided to reduce the flour and increase the oil. I hope they're nice!

Raspberry Vanilla Muffins

INGREDIENTS
2 cups SR flour
½ cup sugar
½ tsp. salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup vanilla yogurt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1½ tsp. vanilla extract
1½ cups fresh or frozen raspberries

METHOD
1.In a bowl, combine first five ingredients.
2.Combine next four ingredients in another bowl. Stir in dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in berries.
3.Fill greased muffin cups or paper lined muffin pan ¾ full. Bake at 200 deg C for 18-20 minutes. Serve immediately.

Stellar Service by the Sea

2010-06-14T09:04:00.003+09:30

Early in winter, on a night when the moon was not to be seen, we ventured down to a favourite location by the sea to partake in what we hoped would be a pleasant night of celebration. We were not disappointed.

Stella Restaurant at Henley Beach is a long-term fixture of the Adelaide summer scene. On those long, burning hot evenings, diners’ view of the sea is interspersed with throngs of beach dwellers - families and young people in swimming attire, all there for a respite from the heat of their homes and a treat of fish and chips in the square. But in winter the place is sparsely populated; the restaurants still open but their doors closed against the chill wind. We found Stella’s open for business, with friendly staff ready to greet us, and a table with a view overlooking the sea.

Although the room was not overly warm, the lit candle in its star-shaped holder made us feel welcome; as did the smiling young waiter who proffered both the food and wine menus for our perusal. Declining any wine, we scanned the food list with interest. The Mediterranean-themed menu began with Entrees and Salads, followed by Mains and a Specials list on the last page. Deciding that we wanted to try as many dishes as possible, we went with a choice of two entrees and a soup from the specials list, to share. All three were served promptly and together.

I had ordered Saganaki cheese, a wedge of sheep’s milk cheese fried and topped with rocket greens, compote of cherry tomatoes, and drizzled with basil pesto oil. The salty heaviness of the cheese was appropriately balanced with the sweet acidity of the tomatoes, and the bitterness of the fresh rocket leaves.

Another plate was filled with baby slices of soft white bread, wedges of pita bread, and tiny round dishes filled with an assortment of dips. The selection was composed of a pale orange carrot and coriander dip, tzatziki and balsamic with dukkah. The carrot and coriander dip lacked flavour, but the tzatziki was divine; made with quality yoghurt, with cucumber and some mint as well, it packed a flavourful punch. The third and fourth dishes were a sweet balsamic vinegar mixed with olive oil, and a pistachio dukkah to dip your bread into. My favourite was the balsamic/dukkah combination.

But the real star of the evening was the Cream of Mushroom Soup with a swirl of black truffle oil for decoration. Served with a warm bread roll, this soup hit the spot with its warm richness of flavour; mushroom paired with cream. It was hard to remember we had to share this dish!

Finally, although we were quite sated by this point, we asked for the dessert menu. There were a number of tempting options, but being budget conscious we went with the café option at the other end of the restaurant, and ordered a piece of Lemon Curd Cheesecake to share. This also was divine, with a powerful sweet lemon tang that was pleasing after such a savoury first course.

We had no room by this stage for coffee, but left feeling much pleased with our outing, and only $50.20 poorer. I would give this experience a 4 out of 5.

Carrot & Currant Muffins

2010-05-05T23:08:00.005+09:30

Today I made carrot muffins, and wondered again why I continue to use a recipe that is deificient, that is never quite right...? I already knew it was a dry mix, so used less flour. Now I realise it's also not sweet enough, so next time will add more sugar. It's time to write my own recipe, one that will stand up to the rigorous standard that is my assessment of the perfect muffin. Here is my re-written recipe. It may be tweaked again! Here goes...

Carrot Muffins

Wet Mix:
3 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup oil
1 cup plain yoghurt
1 cup grated carrot
1 cup currants

Dry Mix:
2 cups self-raising flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Method:
Preheat oven and grease the muffin pan. Beat together the eggs, sugar, oil and yoghurt. Add the carrot and currants. Fold in the previously combined dry mix. Place in muffin pans and bake.

Makes 12

Bake: 200 deg C for 20-25 minutes.

Love is in the air...

2010-04-21T10:44:00.003+09:30

A Thousand Years

2010-04-09T21:11:00.002+09:30

A thousand years, a thousand more
A thousand times a million doors to eternity
I may have lived a thousand lives, a thousand times
An endless turning stairway climbs
To a tower of souls
If it takes another thousand years, a thousand wars,
The towers rise to numberless floors in space
I could shed another million tears, a million breaths,
A million names but only one truth to face

A million roads, a million fears
A million suns, ten million years of uncertainty
I could speak a million lies, a million songs,
A million rights, a million wrongs in this balance of time
But if there was a single truth, a single light
A single thought, a singular touch of grace
Then following this single point, this single flame,
This single haunted memory of your face

I still love you
I still want you
A thousand times the mysteries unfold themselves
Like galaxies in my mind

I may be numberless, I may be innocent
I may know many things, I may be ignorant
Or I could ride with kings and conquer many lands
Or win this world at cards and let it slip my hands
I could be cannon food, destroyed a thousand times
Reborn as fortune’s child to judge another’s crimes
Or wear this pilgrim’s cloak, or be a common thief
I’ve kept this single faith, I have but on belief

I still love you
I still want you
A thousand times these mysteries unfold themselves
Like galaxies in my mind
On and on the mysteries unwind themselves
Eternities unsaid
‘Til you love me

Sting

Feelin’ The Same Way

2010-03-31T09:57:00.000+10:30

The sun just slipped its note below my door
And I can’t hide beneath my sheets
I’ve read the words before so now I know
The time has come again for me

And I’m feelin’ the same way all over again
Feelin’ the same way all over again
Singin’ the same lines all over again
No matter how much I pretend

Another day that I can’t find my head
My feet don’t look like they’re my own
I’ll try and find the floor below to stand
And I hope I reach it once again

And I’m feelin’ the same way…

So many times I wonder where I’ve gone
And how I found my way back in
I look around awhile for something lost
Maybe I’ll find it in the end

And I’m feelin’ the same way…

Sung by Norah Jones

A prayer

2010-03-22T13:40:00.001+10:30

God grant me
the serenity to accept the people I cannot change
the courage to change the one I can
and the wisdom to know its me.

An alternative version of the 'Serenity Prayer', from Plan Be by Dave Andrews.

Being in Control

2010-03-13T10:14:00.002+10:30

Have been learning lately that absolutely nothing (that I want to happen) is going to happen until God is ready. My timetable always seems to be way ahead of His, though, so this can be a problem. In the past, if I felt I could make something happen, I most definitely would, and just skip the bit where I ask God what His will is. Or my prayer would go, "God, I'm going to do this, so I pray it's your will. Amen." Now, it turns out there are a number of fronts in my life where I am helpless to make anything happen and it’s been causing me a lot of stress. Using my final teaching prac as an example... It's been 6 weeks now, and nothing has turned up. Even when I try to get some action via friends who are teaching, even then nothing happens. Catherine Marshall describes my situation, when she says, “Faith means that I must let Him do the work. Almost always it takes longer than we think it should. When we grow impatient and try a deliverance of our own, though friends or circumstances, we are taking God’s work out of His hands.” I'm beginning to realise that unless God ordains it, it's not gonna happen. Like that verse I've been memorising, "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain." Psalm 127:1

I read recently a devotional by Selwyn Hughes, who writes about child-like faith: “We would much prefer to do something to save ourselves than to adopt a trusting child-like attitude, because strenuous self-effort gives us a feeling of being in control. The one thing above all others which our human nature abhors is the feeling of not being in control. For some it is easier to struggle than to trust. Easier, but not productive.” I felt like he was describing me! I have been struggling, and it has not been productive. For example, I thought that if I had a friend who could help me to get a placement in a school, that would help. But that ended with nothing. I thought I could get into a school just to observe an ESL class; but they already had commitments to another student teacher. Self-effort does not necessarily produce results! Even when things have started to look up, it wasn’t because of my effort. For example, the job I got last week was totally God. Of course I had to get off my butt and ring the ‘Out of School Hours Care’ programs, but the fact that one of them took my resume and gave me a job that very day is all God. And I’m grateful.

Now to apply these lessons I’ve learned…

Sound track of my life; Angus and Julia Stone

2010-02-27T09:37:00.002+10:30

"Angus And Julia Stone Silver Coin lyrics"

Heard the rattle from the train
Sounds of a hundred people,
Maybe more
Cut through the ropes before you came
I had a dream that you were gone.

I'm in the days of throwing rocks
When I saw your picture on a silver coin
Stole a kiss through your golden locks
I had a dream that you were gone.
Woke up and you were gone

All the love has gone away
Cos I didn't have the heart or strength to say
I'll miss you when you're gone
I'll miss you when you're gone
I'll miss you when you're gone
I'll miss you when you're gone

Heard the rattle from the chains
This goddamn room it gets so small sometimes
I had a dream that you were gone
Woke up and you were gone

Totally Random, but Welcome

2010-02-22T17:41:00.003+10:30

Through our God

Through our God we shall do valiantly
It is he who shall tread down the enemy
We'll sing and shout his victory
Christ is King
For God has won the victory
And set his people free
His word has slain the enemy
The earth shall stand and see that (Repeat)

(To End)
Through our God we shall do valiantly
It is he who shall tread down the enemy
We'll sing and shout his victory
Christ is King, Christ is King, Christ is King.

Scripture in Song, 1997

Another song for the soundtrack

2010-02-06T14:47:00.003+10:30

"Hand In My Pocket" by Alanis Morrisette

I'm broke but I'm happy
I'm poor but I'm kind
I'm short but I'm healthy, yeah
I'm high but I'm grounded
I'm sane but I'm overwhelmed
I'm lost but I'm hopeful baby

What it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be fine fine fine
'cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving a high five

I feel drunk but I'm sober
I'm young and I'm underpaid
I'm tired but I'm working, yeah
I care but I'm restless
I'm here but I'm really gone
I'm wrong and I'm sorry baby

What it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be quite alright
'cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is flicking a cigarette
And what it all comes down to
Is that I haven't got it all figured out just yet
'cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving the peace sign

I'm free but I'm focused
I'm green but I'm wise
I'm hard but I'm friendly baby
I'm sad but I'm laughing
I'm brave but I'm chickenshit
I'm sick but I'm pretty baby

And what it all boils down to
Is that no one's really got it figured out just yet
'cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is playing the piano
And what it all comes down to my friends
Is that everything's just fine fine fine
'cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is hailing a taxi cab

[Harmonica solo]

The Agenda

2010-01-03T20:07:00.003+10:30

I used to think life was about me, about finding fun, love, and adventure. Now I realise it's about Christ; about whatever it takes to become more like Him. This is the agenda, baby!

New Year's Eve

2009-12-31T17:18:00.000+10:30

What to say about 2009? In a word, a disaster.

Relationally, a disaster, which means that all aspects of life were similarly affected. It’s not important to re-hash what went wrong, just to say that I am left without my love, but determined not to let this loss destroy me.

Micah 7:8 “Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.”

Of course I have been tempted to let everything slide, to imagine my situation as the worst that has ever happened to any human being. But that’s a lie. Worse things happen, all the time; death, marital unfaithfulness, and the like. At least Alex still wants to be in contact. Not yet sure whether that’s a good thing, or bad. Will have to wait and see. I’m scared that I could yet make a further mess of my life, by allowing him to confuse me all over again. I’m afraid of that, but trusting the Father to have His sovereign hand over every action, over every motive, over every word written or said. Please, Father do not allow me to return to the mess, to turn back and be hurt again because I don’t respect myself enough to wait for someone who really knows what he wants, and wants me!

I pray for the ability to look ahead, to see beyond my own troubles and sorrow, to be there for others in their grief and trouble, to comfort and console, to give and give and give again. To be gracious, kind and forgiving. To make goals and reach them. To be sociable and loving, to develop deep, strong friendships and most of all to grow more and more in love with God.

All these I pray for the year 2010. Amen.

Looking Forward

2009-12-24T15:05:00.000+10:30

I am getting really excited about seeing what God has for me in 2010!! Part of it might be shedding the burden of 2009, but mostly it’s just looking forward to completing my studies and getting a job. I’m looking forward to being able to make financial goals (like a house deposit), getting a motorbike and motorbike license, gradually becoming less and less sad day by day, learning to listen to God, hearing from Alex occasionally, learning how to be a better ESL teacher, meeting new people, having a real job, being able to volunteer on a regular basis, being able to attend a bible study on a regular basis, etc, etc. Everything changes once you finish studying and start working!!

Beginning in January 2010, these are the things I am looking forward to:
1) Beach mission at Port Vincent (Jan 10-16)
2) Quitting my job at the clinic (Jan 22)
3) Going on holiday to Tasmania and meeting David and Nai’s new baby girl (Jan 23-Feb 5)
4) Getting my final prac out of the way (Feb/March)
5) Getting my registration to teach in SA.
6) Getting a job, or work tutoring, or something similar that pays well.
7) Getting a motorcycle, and practising to get my license
8) Saving for my own place (unit, house, whatever)
9) Regular house meetings at my house, i.e. a greater sense of community.

All these things and more will be new and different in 2010. Thank you, Lord for positive change… Bring it on!!

Creative Therapy

2009-12-03T14:52:00.010+10:30

Have been making Christmas cards lately; well, actually I made them last January, just adding the finishing touches this week and posting them off to a few select friends! ;)

I took the photo while exploring Melbourne city last December, and printed off the photo and even stuff them onto the front of folded card about a year ago, but by then it was too late to send Christmas cards, I think I only gave away a couple. This year they were ready to go, and I just added an excerpt from one of my favourite poems. We studied this in high school with Mrs Brown, and it's been a favourite ever since...

Journey of the Magi

'A cold coming we had of it,
Just the worst time of the year
For a journey, and such a long journey:
The ways deep and the weather sharp,
The very dead of winter.'
And the camels galled, sore-footed, refractory,
Lying down in the melting snow.
There were times when we regretted
The summer palaces on slopes, the terraces,
And the silken girls bringing sherbet.
Then the camel men cursing and grumbling
And running away, and wanting their liquor and women,
And the night-fires going out, and the lack of shelters,
And the cities dirty and the towns unfriendly
And the villages dirty and charging high prices:
A hard time we had of it.
At the end we preferred to travel all night,
Sleeping in snatches,
With the voices singing in our ears, saying
That this was all folly.

Then at dawn we came down to a temperate valley,
Wet, below the snow line, smelling of vegetation;
With a running stream and a water mill beating the darkness,
And three trees on the low sky,
And an old white horse galloped away in the meadow.
Then we came to a tavern with vine-leaves over the lintel,
Six hands at an open door dicing for pieces of silver,
And feet kicking the empty wineskins.
But there was no information, and so we continued
And arrived at evening, not a moment too soon
Finding the place; it was (you may say) satisfactory.

All this was a long time ago, I remember,
And I would do it again, but set down
This set down
This: were we led all that way for
Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly,
We had evidence and no doubt. I had seen birth and death,
But had thought they were different; this Birth was
Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.
We returned to our places, these Kingdoms,
But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation,
With an alien people clutching their gods.
I should be glad of another death.

~ T.S. Eliot

Call this an on-line journal

2009-12-02T09:27:00.002+10:30

This song has been playing through my mind and ministering to my spirit lately; we sang it last Sunday at church. Rather than bother everyone on facebook with my broken spirit, I will share it here, privately with you instead!

Hillsongs - I Am Carried

Verse 1:
Day by day and hour by hour
Your love for me from Heaven flows
Like streams of water in the desert living waters flow
You walk beside me gently guiding leading me through every storm
Everlasting, never changing grace and love divine

Verse 2:
Mercy's healing grace relieving every spot and ev'ry stain
Forgiven freely no more guilty love has conquered shame
The broken mended night has ended leading me through every storm
For I am carried in the arms of grace and love divine

Chorus:
I am carried in the arms of grace and love divine
I am held by hands of healing washed by water pure
Lifting up my heavy heart held in grace scarred hands
I am carried in the arms of grace and love divine

Verse 3:
Never worthy never earning all my works now left behind
Ever onwards ever upwards You've called me on to rise
Above my darkness all my failure every fear and every pain
Always carried always covered by grace and love divine

Chorus again.

Song for Today

2009-12-01T10:43:00.001+10:30

Mike and the Mechanics, “All I need is a Miracle”

I said "go if you wanna go,
Stay if you wanna stay"
I didn't care if you hung around me
I didn't care if you went away
And I know you were never right
I'll admit I was never wrong
I could never make up my mind
I made it up as I went along

And though I treated you like a child
I'm gonna miss you for the rest of my life

All I need is a miracle, all I need is you
All I need is a miracle, all I need is you
All I need is a miracle, all I need is you

I never had any time
And I never had any call
But I went out of my way just to hurt you,
The one I shouldn't hurt at all
I thought I was being cool
Yeah, I thought I was being strong
But it's always the same old story
You never know what you've got 'til it's gone

If I ever catch up with you
I'm gonna love you for the rest of your life

All I need is a miracle, all I need is you (all I need is a miracle)
All I need is a miracle, all I need is you (all I need is a miracle)
All I need is a miracle, all I need is you

And if I ever catch up with you
I'm gonna love you for the rest of your life
All I need is a miracle, all I need is you (all I need is a miracle)
All I need is a miracle, all I need is you (all I need is a miracle)
All I need is a miracle, all I need is you (all I need is a miracle)
All I need is a, all I need is a,
All I need is you (all I need is a miracle)

A Loving Hand on the Helm

2009-11-26T17:28:00.001+10:30

This was the devotional attached to those verses (below): lifted straight out of Selwyn Hughes’ ‘Caring for the Soul’ (copyright CWR 2005).

A Loving Hand on the Helm
Sometimes God denies us a shallow answer so that we may put our roots deeper into eternal reality, and consequently stand tall and strong in any future storm.
A Welsh preacher used to say, “We must learn to live in time and eternity simultaneously.” If the time side of life seems to be full of trouble then the eternity side holds us steady.
A missionary to the Chinese people was asked for the secret of his poise and inner strength. He answered, “Confidence in the goodness of God”. Pressed to expand on that statement, he added, “I have come to a place in my Christian life where I am convinced that in the midst of the worst thing that can happen there is a good and wise purpose at work. Thus I can go on, knowing that love is at the helm of my life. God loves me too much to let anything happen to me that will not work out for good.”

This is something I know I need to practise believing.

Lessons in humility

2009-11-26T17:22:00.001+10:30

Feel like God’s been teaching me a lot lately, summed up in the words, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21b, paraphrased).

This morning, the reading was Isaiah 30:1-18. On second reading, I felt God pointing out these verses to me:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it…
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
O people of Zion… you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Then you will defile your idols overlaid with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you!”

Certainly there have been idols, but I’m tempted to say, “Okay, I get it. Can I have him back now?”

Obviously I still have a ways to go…

A poem that's been running through my head...

2009-11-24T10:18:00.001+10:30

Don't Quit!

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worse, that...
You Must Not Quit.

~ C. W. Longenecker ~

A tree and me

2009-11-05T12:52:00.000+10:30

The desire to give up (on life) is looming large, but…

I saw a tree today
Its trunk and branches covered with scars
Where it had connected with wires that
Interfered with its growth.
There were many scars, but the tree
Was beautiful, covered in green,
Growing strong, growing up
Into the sky and towards the sun.

I am like that tree today,
With a sad old heart carrying scars
Where I have connected with events that
Interfered with my growth.
But, rooted in streams of living water
I am beautiful, covered by grace,
Growing strong, growing up
Into the sky and towards the Son.

Written by Ali 5 Nov. 09

Thoughts

2009-11-03T11:26:00.000+10:30

No dress, no party, no husband. Just a fool who thinks we can still be "friends".

Smashing idols

2009-10-31T18:26:00.003+10:30

Amazing revelation this morning! I get it now! I understand (some of) the reason for the pain of the past five years! I said in another post that God has been smashing dreams. I know now that He has been smashing idols;
1) missionary service,
2) Burnside Christian Church (the perfect church), and
3) marriage.
In at least two of these cases, I have rushed ahead of God and not waited for His timing, his leading. Deciding on a path (good but not perfect) and pursuing it without waiting on God first, has been to my destruction. I have been bitterly disappointed, and there is a lesson in it.

My devotion (by Selwyn Hughes) this morning had these words: “So from now on let there be no trucking with idols, no substitutes, no less gods, no god-shelf on which Jesus stands as one among many other gods. Sweep every idol from your life. There must be no substitute for Him. Let your resolve be “Him only”. Make these powerful words of the hymnist your constant prayer:

“The dearest idol I have ever known,
Whatever that idol be,
Help me to tear it from its throne,
And worship only Thee.
Amen.”

P.S. I am praying that with this ‘smashing of idols’ I will learn now to be more humble, more patient and willing to wait on God’s timing, His will for any situation.

Sunshine on My Shoulders

2009-10-21T10:48:00.003+10:30

I find that my brain tends to give me songs that match my mood. Today it's "Sunshine on My Shoulders". I found the lyrics on the internet.

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a day that I could give you
I'd give to you a day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
I'd sing a song to make you feel this way

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
If I had a tale that I could tell you
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I'd make a wish for sunshine all the while

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
Sunshine almost all the time makes me high
Sunshine almost always

Words by John Denver, music by John Denver, Dick Kniss and Mike tTaylor

Lentil dhal for poverty lunch

2009-10-17T21:23:00.004+10:30

I was asked to make one lentil dhal for a 'poverty lunch' at church tomorrow. It's Micah Sunday, and so we are remembering the poor in the service and in the sermon, but also in the way we eat together over lunch. On the menu is rice and dahl, water and fruit. Pretty simple, but even more luxurious than some people eat most days.

Micah Challenge is a global movement of Christian agencies, churches, groups and individuals which aims to deepen people's engagement with the poor and to help reduce poverty as an integral part of our Christian faith. Micah Challenge takes its name from the prophet Micah, who wrote, "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God" Micah 6:8

Okay, so here's the recipe, taken straight off the web: Lentil dhal at Taste. com.au

Lentil dhal

Preparation Time 10 minutes

Cooking Time 20 minutes

Ingredients (serves 4)
1 cup (300g) red lentils, rinsed well
3cm fresh ginger, sliced
2 bay leaves
1 cinnamon stick
2 tbs (40g) butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garam marsala
1/2 tsp chilli flakes
2 tbs lemon juice
1/2-1 tsp salt
1 tbs chopped coriander leaves
Naan bread or pappadums, to serve

Method
Place lentils, ginger, bay leaves and cinnamon in a large saucepan with 3 cups of cold water. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring to prevent sticking for 10-12 minutes. Discard spices and set aside.

Heat the butter in a large frying pan over a medium high heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic, turmeric, cumin, garam marsala and chilli flakes and cook for a further minute or until fragrant. Stir in the lemon juice and season to taste with salt.

Add the lentils to the pan and mix well. Cook for a further 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat. Stir in coriander and serve hot with naan bread or pappadums.

Grateful List Project

2009-10-17T17:30:00.002+10:30

Okay, I'm going to try posting the 'Grateful List Project' here instead or as well as on facebook, at Ingrid's suggestion.

The 'Grateful List Project' is something that I've started doing recently, just a way of practising thankfulness. A friend got me onto this, though I think the concept had occurred to me at some stage before. For me, the basic principle comes from this verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." and Romans 12:2, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." I know that I am far too negative and critical, and would like to be less so. This is one way of addressing that problem, and turning it around. Here goes...

Grateful List Project 17/10
1) For Sarah and Steve’s friendship and the opportunity to stay over and help out with their garage sale.
2) For two 2-year old boys to entertain and be entertained by!
3) A ‘new’ second-hand book to read. (“The Spirit-Controlled Woman” by Beverly LaHaye)
4) That bad haircuts don’t last forever.

Risk

2009-10-16T17:25:00.004+10:30

Found this on the net today, and liked it. Think I will make it my new "life motto".

“Risk” by Hugh Prather

To laugh, is to risk playing the fool
To weep, is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out for another, is to risk involvement
To expose feelings, is to risk exposing our true selves
To put your ideas, your dreams, before the crowd is to risk loss
To love, is to risk not being loved in return
To live, is to risk dying
To hope, is to risk despair
To try at all, is to risk failure.

But risk must be taken
Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing
They may avoid suffering and sorrow,
but they simply cannot learn, change, feel, grow, love, live…
Chained by their attitudes they are slaves
Only the person who risks is free!

Chats with God

2009-10-14T14:53:00.005+10:30

God and I had a chat today, as we are want to do... actually, it's usually me doing all the talking, and not much listening. Today was a little different. It went something like this...
Ali: "Why? Why me, Lord? What did I do to deserve this? I must be doing something wrong, coz You keep smashing my dreams... First, the dream of missions work: SMASH! then the dream of being happily married: SMASH! I'm not getting what I want, so I must be wanting the wrong things. What am I supposed to be wanting?"
God: "Me. You're supposed to be wanting me."
Ali : "I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Are these other things not compatible with loving You?"
[Later...]
God: "Do you believe I can bring amazing, incredibly good things out of this 'tragedy'?"
Ali: "NO! I FREAKING WELL DON'T! NOW, GO AWAY!! " [then] "maybe...?"
God: "I need you to work with me; believe and trust that I am Big and Loving and Powerful enough to bring good out of bad..."
Ali: "I'll think about it..."

Still thinking...

A Prayer

2009-10-13T14:30:00.004+10:30

Dear God, I miss Alex. It's not a great, stinging pain today, or even fresh tears. Just a dull ache around the edges of my mind; an empty hollow in my heart where something (or someone) I loved used to be, but is no more...
Please bless him, dear Lord. Amen

Bitter Sweet

2009-10-03T23:20:00.004+09:30

Just read through a book by John Piper, called "When the Darkness will not Lift". Haydi recommended it. There was a lot of good stuff in it, but here is a poem by George Herbert with which the book ended:

Bitter-Sweet

Ah, my dear angry Lord,
Since thou dost love, yet strike;
Cast down, yet help afford;
Sure I will do the like.

I will complain, yet praise;
I will bewail, approve;
And all my sour-sweet days
I will lament and love.

George Herbert

Date and Ginger Oatmeal Cookies (a.k.a. Anzacs with bits)

2009-09-14T14:14:00.003+09:30

Last week I went for a walk and coffee with T, and was tempted by the 'Sticky Date and Ginger' cookies on sale at the cafe, so bought one. So yum! Now I want to be able to make my own. Did a Google search and found a recipe I could work with. Only, I found it was almost exactly the same as my Anzac biscuit recipe, without bi-carb (baking) soda, and with dates and ginger added.

I only realised this when they were already mixed, or I would have added the bi-carb. As a result, they didn't colour as I would have liked. But with a bit of glace ginger chopped and thrown in, the flavour's sensational! My own adaption below:

Date and Ginger Oat Cookies
25 min 10 min prep

1 cup plain flour
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup coconut
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup dates, chopped
100g glace ginger, chopped (optional)
1 teaspoon ground ginger
125 g butter
2 tablespoons golden syrup
½ teaspoon bi-carb soda, dissolved in
2 tablespoons water

1. Sift flour into bowl, stir in oats, coconut, sugar, dates and ginger.
2. Combine butter and golden syrup in pan, stir over low heat until butter is melted, then add bi-carb mixed with water.
3. Stir butter mixture into flour mixture.
4. Roll into balls (1 tablespoon), place on prepared cookie trays, flattening slightly, allow room for spreading between each cookie. Bake in moderately slow oven for about 20 minutes or until lightly browned, cool on trays.

Curried Cream of Vegetable Soup

2009-09-01T11:44:00.006+09:30

I was so thrilled with the ease and no fuss and deliciousness of this recipe, that I've decided to share it on-line. The recipe uses ingredients that you would normally have at home (save perhaps the leeks), and is a cinch to throw together. I had it cooked and blended within an hour and a half, and during the 30 min cooking time you can do the dishes! We didn't have any cream, but a dash of milk did the job. I have filched a photo off the internet to illustrate, but it looked very much like this!

Curried Cream of Vegetable Soup

30g butter
2 leeks
250g zucchini
1 clove garlic
1 stick celery
4 sprigs parsley
1 teaspoon curry powder
2 medium potatoes
1 litre chicken stock
salt, pepper
1/3 cup cream

Melt butter in large pan, add sliced leeks, sliced zucchini, crushed garlic, chopped celery, parsley and curry powder; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Chop potatoes into large dice, add to pan. Add chicken stock, bring to boil, reduce heat, simmer covered 30 minutes. Puree in blender or food processor in batches, or push through sieve. Return soup to saucepan, season with salt and pepper, stir in cream and reheat without boiling.

Serves 4.

Extra Black Teriyaki Meatballs

2009-03-01T19:10:00.000+10:30

Today I experimented by combining two recipes, one Teriyaki Meatballs, with my favourite, Yummy Meatballs. The original Teriyaki recipe had pure mincemeat, with no additions apart from spice, so I added an egg and breadcrumbs, as from experience these two additions make for softer, yummier meatballs. I used a dark soy sauce, but would not recommend it, as the sauce turns out far too strong.

Extra Black Teriyaki Meatballs

500g minced beef
1 egg, beaten
1 cup breadcrumbs
3 spring onions, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
¼ cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
½ cup water
1 tablespoon cornflour

Pre-heat oven to 200deg C. In a bowl mix shallots, garlic, ginger, soy sauce and sugar. Put minced beef into another, larger bowl, add beaten egg and breadcrumbs. Pour in half the soy mixture, and combine well. Shape into 20 meatballs. Bake 15 minutes in hot oven in open baking dish.

Mix water and cornflour into remaining soy mixture, place in large pot and heat, stirring continually until sauce thickens and bubbles. Add meatballs, and heat through. Serve over rice with stir-fried vegetables.

Serves 4

What I learned this Christmas

2009-01-19T11:06:00.004+10:30

I learned a few things about Australians this Christmas just past. "What?" you say, "Aren’t you Australian? What do you mean you learned about Australians?" Fact is, I’m still learning what it means to be Australian. Having grown up overseas, a large percentage of my enculturation has had to occur consciously and deliberately, since I came back at the age of 18 and a half. And so I look at my own culture sometimes with an outsider’s view, and this is what happened this Christmas. I learned there are a few (precisely three) things that Australians take for granted at Christmas-time. I learned these because I was not in fact doing them… I was acting in contradiction to accepted norms, and people seemed surprised…

I have chats with clients at the clinic where I work as a receptionist, and this is how it goes,

A: “So, are you all ready for Christmas this year?” (One week before the day).

C: “Oh, no, gotta head down to Marion on the weekend to get my presents… How about you? You organised?”

A: “Yep, I did some shopping last month; I think I’m pretty much ready to go now.”

A: “How’s your Christmas looking?”

C: “Good, yours?”

A: “Oh, I’m really looking forward to seeing family, haven’t seen them almost all year! Are you having family around?”

C: “No, we’ve organised to stay at the shack over Christmas. No family get-togethers for us these days!”

C: “I really need to get some weight off, ate too much over Christmas.”

A: “Oh? I ended up hungry on Christmas Day evening, because there wasn’t enough Christmas pudding!”

Australians’ expectations of Christmas:

1) Must do last minute Christmas shopping. Christmas eve, preferably, just to get into the stress of the season.
2) Must grumble about hanging with the in-laws at Christmas. If possible, find ways of spending Christmas without the family.
3) Must over-eat at Christmas. Over-eating is yet another Christmas tradition.

Pesto Chicken

2008-12-15T10:08:00.002+10:30

My flat-mate has a signature dish; if she's cooking chicken, she's cooking this. But she hasn't cooked in a long time, and I was hankering for some Pesto Chicken. She wasn't home; I didn't have the recipe, but decided to throw it together anyway. All the ingredients were at hand, even cream, which had been bought to put on scones with jam (but I scrounged some anyway)! Here is the recipe, at least my version of it: very yum! Sorry no photo, but it's not a pretty dish (actually I forgot to take photos...)

Pesto Chicken

500grams chicken fillets (thigh or breast) cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 onion, chopped (optional)
2 cloves garlic, minced
400g mixed chopped vegetables (we like to use mushrooms, zucchini and peas)
1/2 cup lite cream
1 tablespoon basil pesto
Olive oil, for frying

Fry onion and garlic in a little oil until onion is translucent. Add chicken and cook on high heat until well browned. Add vegetables, pesto and cream, cover and simmer until vegetables are just cooked. Serve atop steamed rice or mixed through pasta.

Enjoy!

Friday Fill-ins #102

2008-12-12T14:16:00.000+10:30

1. Friends are one of my favourite things! Especially friends with kids!
2. I am very grateful for good health; it's a blessing.
3. I'm ready for it to be hot, hot, hot! Bring on summer!
4. Hot baked bread is one of my favourite smells.
5. The oldest ornament I have is a tiny, pink china jewellery box I inherited from my mum.
6. Take some sunshine, sand, sea, bathers and sunscreen; mix it all together and you have an Adelaide summer!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a work Christmas dinner, tomorrow my plans include meeting a friend for lunch and Sunday, I want to sleep!

Thankful

2008-12-08T11:26:00.003+10:30

Just read in my devotional this morning, of the importance of being thankful. Apparently, Sir John Templeton, a financier and philanthropist, believes that until you can recognise the good things that are going on around you, you do not have a proper basis for handling life. It was a timely reminder, as I have certainly not been thankful for certain things lately. The other quote from this morning, says, "The most foolish person in the world is that person who complains about what he does not have instead of being thankful for what he does have." I've been the most foolish person, then. Time to rectify that status. Prompted by a friend on facebook, I will begin with today:

Today I am thankful for:
- Good friends and lunch dates
- money to buy lunch with
- friends with kids
- babies to cuddle
- my family, and time to hang out with them
- God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) who is very patient with me, always faithful and waiting until I am ready to come and hang out for a while
- a good place to live
- sunshine
- holidays
- a part-time job

That will do for now, but perhaps this can be a regular blogging activity; I think an important one!

Goodbye, my love!

2008-12-03T15:38:00.001+10:30

Saw Alex off at Melbourne aiport early this morning. He'll be working as an AVI volunteer with Bahay Tuluyan for the next two months, in and around metro Manila. I think he's gonna have heaps of fun; praying for good friendships, good fun and good health.

Friday fill-ins

2008-12-02T11:05:00.003+10:30

1. My stomach is (mostly) flat, and I'm glad about that.
2. I really can't remember what I ate the most of on Thursday, but it probably included copious cups of hot tea.
3. The yard is low maintenance.
4. With Alex is where I'd rather be at any given time.
5. The smell of grease, diesel and car oil reminds me of my dad, when he used to work as a motor mechanic.
6. Lots of dark chocolate is what I need right now!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to packing, tomorrow my plans include flying to Melbourne and Sunday, I want to explore Melbourne!

2008

2008-11-27T12:25:00.001+10:30

Right, so I haven’t blogged this year at all so far! Truth is, I am able to keep in touch with all ‘my people’ without a blog. But it has been a great year, a massive year. The absolute best thing that happened in 2008 was (is) Alex. That’s why I haven’t posted; getting to know him has been the main deal, and romance is not something you want to shout out to the world. Not because it’s not great to love and be loved, just that it’s a private thing… He’s going overseas next week for two months, and I am going to miss him really, really bad!

The other great thing that has happened is that I have completed my degree! The Bachelor of Arts I started in 2003, and put on hold while I lived in Thailand, is now complete! I actually really enjoyed the learning, and don’t regret one minute of the time I spent at university. That said, I’ve got one year to go, studying a Diploma of Education, and really would just like to be done already! I look forward to having qualifications that I can use in the long-term, both here in Australia and possibly overseas as well.

It’s now the long Christmas break, and without Alex and without study, it was all looking rather bleak, to put it mildly. But with a little bit of work, and lots of time for friends and family, it isn’t looking so bad after all! I’ve even begun getting a bit creative. The other day I spent at the parents’ place, and began doing some cutting and glueing, creating Christmas cards of my own design. That felt good! I haven’t been at all creative for a very long time, and I miss that. So perhaps this is the beginning of something more in that line… I certainly hope so!

This weekend Alex and I fly to Melbourne, to stay with his sister and family while Alex does some ‘pre-field training’. I’m really looking forward to catching up with Natasha and Hans, Eric and Zachary. I also have plans to meet up with an SA friend who now lives in Castlemaine. She will travel down to Melbourne, and we’ll go shopping with the kids! Fun! And on Sunday Alex and I will meet up with an old, old friend of mine from boarding school days – Tim Olsen. Haven’t seen him in decades (almost 16 years), so that will be fun, too.

It’s been a good year, a full year, a fun year. Looking forward to Christmas, then Beach Mission, then Alex getting back… then getting on with 2009!

Ali's Wishlist

2007-11-05T14:15:00.000+10:30

Prompted by Ingrid, and now that I have some time free of the constant demands of tertiary study, I have decided to attempt a "wish list". This list entails all those things I wish I could have, but can't or won't provide for myself. Here goes...

a soft heart
empathic attitude
ipod nano
hiking boots
hairless legs
an eternal summer
Urthboy CD
Gotye
a career as an editor
clothes vouchers
shoes
facial treatment
back & neck massage
perfume (anything expensive will do)
a life partner

Any or all of the above would be welcome!

Love the lyrics

2007-09-17T10:36:00.000+09:30

I absolutely adore this song!

Regina Spektor - Real Love

All my little plots and schemes,
lost like some forgotten dreams,
seems like all I was really doing
was waiting for for you.

And all the little girls and boys
playing with their little toys
seems like all they really would do
is wait for love

no need to be alone
no need to be alone
its you I love

From on this moment on I know
exactly where my life will go
seems like all i really was doing
was waiting for love

no need to be afraid
no need to be afraid
it's you I love

thought I'd been in love before
but in my heart I'd wanted more
Seems like that all I really was doing
was waiting for you

no need to be afraid
no need to be afraid
it's you I love

sound track in my brain

2007-09-17T10:27:00.000+09:30

KLAXONS LYRICS "It's Not Over Yet"

I'll live for you
I'd die for you
Do what you want me to
I'll cry for you
My tears will show
That I can't let you go

It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet
You still want me, don't you
It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet
Cos I can see through you
It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet
You still want me, don't you
It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet

Don't let me down
Don't make a sound
Don't throw it all away
Remember me
So tenderly
Don't let it slip away

It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet
You still want me, don't you
It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet
Cos I can see through you
It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet
You still want me, don't you
It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet

It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet
You still want me, don't you
It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet
Cos I can see through you
It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet
You still want me, don't you
It's not over, not over, not over, not over yet

[ http://www.azlyrics.com/ ]

Current favourite song

2007-09-05T11:41:00.000+09:30

Big Girls Don't Cry lyrics by Fergie

Da Da Da Da
The smell of your skin lingers on me now
You're probably on your flight back to your home town
I need some shelter of my own protection baby
To be with myself and center, clarity
Peace, Serenity

[CHORUS]
I hope you know, I hope you know
That this has nothing to do with you
It's personal, Myself and I
We've got some straightenin' out to do
And I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket
But Ive got to get a move on with my life
It's time to be a big girl now
And big girls don't cry
Don't cry
Don't cry
Don't cry

The path that I'm walking
I must go alone
I must take the baby steps 'til I'm full grown
Fairytales don't always have a happy ending, do they
And I foresee the dark ahead if I stay

[CHORUS]
I hope you know, I hope you know
That this has nothing to do with you
It's personal, Myself and I
We've got some straightenin' out to do
And I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket
But I've got to get a move on with my life
It's time to be a big girl now
And big girls don't cry

Like the little school mate in the school yard
We'll play jacks and uno cards
I'll be your best friend and you'll be mine
Valentine
Yes, you can hold my hand if u want to
'Cause I want to hold yours too
We'll be playmates and lovers and share our secret worlds
But it's time for me to go home
It's getting late, dark outside
I need to be with myself and center, clarity
Peace, Serenity

[CHORUS]
I hope you know, I hope you know
That this has nothing to do with you
It's personal, Myself and I
We've got some straightenin' out to do
And I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket
But I've got to get a move on with my life
It's time to be a big girl now
And big girls don't cry
Don't cry
Don't cry
Don't cry

La Da Da Da Da Da

Previous favourite song

2007-09-05T11:37:00.000+09:30

Lyrics to James Morrison You Give Me Something

You want to stay with me in the morning
You only hold me when I sleep,
I was meant to tread the water
Now I've gotten in too deep,
For every piece of me that wants you
Another piece backs away.

'Cause you give me something
That makes me scared, alright,
This could be nothing
But I'm willing to give it a try,
Please give me something
'Cause someday I might know my heart.

You already waited up for hours
Just to spend a little time alone with me,
And I can say I've never bought you flowers
I can't work out what they mean,
I never thought that I'd love someone,
That was someone else's dream.

'Cause you give me something
That makes me scared, alright,
This could be nothing
But I'm willing to give it a try,
Please give me something,
'Cause someday I might call you from my heart,

But it might be a second too late,
And the words I could never say
Gonna come out anyway.

'Cause you give me something
That makes me scared, alright,
This could be nothing
But I'm willing to give it a try,
Please give me something,
'Cause you give me something
That makes me scared, alright,
This could be nothing
But I'm willing to give it a try,
Please give me something
'Cause someday I might know my heart.
Know my heart, know my heart, know my heart.

[these lyrics found on http://www.completealbumlyrics.com ]

Extending Grace

2007-02-25T18:20:00.000+10:30

Just found a great post at Simply Simon's blog, which was perfect for this moment. I have moved back to Australia, and am now living with 3 other beautiful young women. These girls, while being wonderful people, friends and dear to me, have areas of glaring fault, which being imperfect myself, brings some degree of comfort. There are other feelings associated, like frustration when like this afternoon, I arrive home to find the dishes still not touched from last night's dinner, and mess all over from someone's attempt at making lunch. I admit this is a 'bug bear' for me (pet peeve), so bear with me. I decided to just ditch in and clean it up, despite being aware that this is not good for their long-term training in building a sense of responsibility for their own mess. Today I didn't care. The mess is now cleared, and I am somewhat happier, but still annoyed. We were talking last night about shutting the door when you go out (the screen door, that is). Some people have values (like shutting the door) while others have values like 'freedom', for instance. Shutting the door may be high on the list of priorities for one person, while freedom is of equal value on someone else's list. And so, the dishes. To spend unhindered time relaxing instead of cleaning may be one person's idea of happiness, while for me, it still is and always will be, a clean and sparkling kitchen.

Poetry Thursday - walls talking

2006-11-30T15:28:00.000+10:30

As soon as I read about this week's prompt on Poetry Thursday, I knew what I would post. A favourite song of mine from quite a few years ago, features the line, "If these walls could speak". I find it a sad, wistful song, one that tugs at the heart strings, but encourages at the same time. It speaks of a mature relationship, one that is not just starting, and not ending either, but perhaps going through a rough patch. Anyway, you can read it yourself and come to your own conclusions. Oh, and I figure many a song is just a poem written to music. Here 'tis:

AMY GRANT: "If These Walls Could Speak" Lyrics

If these old walls
If these old walls could speak
Of things that they remembered well
Stories and faces dearly held
A couple in love
Livin' week to week
Rooms full of laughter
If these walls could speak

If these old halls
If hallowed halls could talk
These would have a tale to tell
Of sun goin' down and dinner bell
And children playing at hide and seek
From floor to rafter
If these halls could speak

They would tell you that I'm sorry
For bein' cold and blind and weak
They would tell you that it's only
That I have a stubborn streak
If these walls could speak

If these old fashioned window panes were eyes
I guess they would have seen it all
Each little tear and sigh and footfall
And every dream that we came to seek
Or followed after If these walls could speak

They would tell you that I owe you
More than I could ever pay
Here's someone who really loves you
Don't ever go away
That's what these walls would say

They would tell you that I owe you
More than I could ever pay
Here's someone who really loves you
Don't ever go away
That's what these walls would say
That's what these walls would say
That's what these walls would say

Haven for frogs

2006-11-19T16:20:00.001+10:30

My bathroom seems to have become the latest desired destination for frogs. In the past month, we have been visited almost daily by one, two or three frogs per night, most of them ending up in my bathroom. Then, when I go to dump them unceremoniously out the back door, I will often find one more waiting for its chance to jump inside. I seriously do not know the reason for this influx, but it’s beginning to “gross me out”! I have begun trying to think of ways to end their lives humanely. Therefore, I can tell you that I wasn’t really very sorry to have accidentally flushed one down the loo this afternoon.

Poetry Thursday - artist's date

2006-11-09T11:40:00.000+10:30

See you anon

She wrote
I’ll be travelling on streets
Remade as gold
I’ll see you anon
But not soon
How does one get a smile like that –
So gentle, so calm, so serene?

The only chance for replenishing lately has been sleep. No artist's date as yet, but it's something I will definitely plan for a free afternoon sometime soon! The poem above came to me in a dream, or rather, just as I woke up, it was with me, in my mind. I wrote it down just as it came, and it is still rather a mystery to me. Enjoy!

Poetry Thursday - My favourite line

2006-11-03T19:24:00.000+10:30

I think I first fell in love with poetry when studying English literature in Year 12 at high school. We studied quite a few novels and plays, but the only poetry I clearly remember studying was that by T.S. Eliot. I loved the cryptic imagery that I found in his poems, and absolutely fell in love with ‘Journey of the Magi’ once it was explained to me.

Ever since I was a small child I have known the story of Christmas, of Christ’s birth and of the visit of the ‘three wise men’. But to have the story told from their imagined perspective was a totally new concept, and inspiring to me. I still remember learning for the first time what ‘dispensation’ meant. So I guess the whole of the last stanza is important to me. I love how he plays with the ideas of Birth and Death. It makes me think. But if I were forced to choose, I would choose this: “no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation, with an alien people clutching their gods”.

Journey of the Magi

'A cold coming we had of it,
Just the worst time of the year
For a journey, and such a journey:
The ways deep and the weather sharp,
The very dead of winter.'
And the camels galled, sore-footed, refractory,
Lying down in the melting snow.
There were times we regretted
The summer palaces on slopes, the terraces,
And the silken girls bringing sherbet.
Then the camel men cursing and grumbling
And running away, and wanting their liquor and women,
And the night-fires going out, and the lack of shelters,
And the cities hostile and the towns unfriendly
And the villages dirty and charging high prices:
A hard time we had of it.
At the end we preferred to travel all night,
Sleeping in snatches,
With the voices in our ears, saying
That this was all folly.

Then at dawn we came down to a temperate valley,
Wet, below the snow line, smelling of vegetation;
With a running stream and a water-mill beating the darkness,
And three trees on the low sky,
And an old white horse galloped away in the meadow.
Then we came to a tavern with vine-leaves over the lintel,
Six hands at an open door dicing for pieces of silver,
And feet kicking the empty wine-skins.
But there was no information, and so we continued
And arrived at evening, not a moment too soon
Finding the place; it was (you may say) satisfactory.

All this was a long time ago, I remember,
And I would do it again, but set down
This set down
This: were we led all that way for
Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly,
We had evidence and no doubt. I had seen birth and death,
But had thought they were different; this Birth was
Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.
We returned to our places, these Kingdoms,
But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation,
With an alien people clutching their gods.
I should be glad of another death.

T. S. Eliot

Poetry Thursday - Avoidance

2006-10-20T12:53:00.000+09:30

I'm rather too new to poetry to really know what styles I avoid - although I do tend to skip over the longer poems - the ballad type. And, to tell the truth, I dislike political poems as well. Nevertheless, I knew what I was trying to avoid this week, and so I wrote 'Suppression'. Not a very positive title, but there ya go! I don't really like it yet, just wrote what came out first. It needs some polish, so if anyone has any advice, I would welcome your comments.

Suppression

Trying to ignore the fact
That my heart has been snagged
By your clear brown eyes
Trying to tell my heart not to feel
What I know it feels
And what my face can’t hide
Trying to ignore the fact
That I am impressed
By your youth, your clarity, your charm
Trying to tell my heart not to feel
What I know it feels
To realise I’ve fallen for one so young.

Crazy poem writer

2006-10-18T14:01:00.000+09:30

Yes, it's a silly little ditty, but I had to write, and it had to be written! It's not even about anyone or any real situation, but I figure that if I am feeling the need to write something (anything!), then perhaps it helps somewhere deep down in my subconscious. Enjoy!

A little death

I died a little death that day
The day you went away
I’ve died a bit every day since then
I’m dying to see you again

Fashion

2006-10-12T23:37:00.000+09:30

Poetry Thursday’s prompt this week was to ‘pick up a newspaper or magazine and use something that catches your eye as the jumping off point for a poem’. This time the topic was easy to pick. I have been thinking about fashion, or more specifically, the fashion industry. I loved the movie, “The Devil wears Prada”. It was funny, smart, and glamorous, but at the same time thought-provoking. I read a critic who said the movie both glorifies fashion and glamour, at the same time as being apologetic for its surpluses. These are two angles I want to keep in balance.

I enjoy flicking through magazines such as Vogue, and checking out what fashion is being displayed on the catwalks this week (or last year, depending on how old the magazine is). This week I’ve been reading the fashion appendix to the latest Time magazine. It is an interest for me, but, I like to think, a detached interest, like an infatuation with a distant star. I don’t have the money or inclination to spend on these things, but find them fascinating nonetheless.

While my interest is piqued, my friend’s response is anger. She asks how so much time and money can be invested in such superficial pursuits, when millions of people around the world can barely get enough to eat. Recently, I read that a new law in India bans hiring children under age 14 as servants in homes or as workers in restaurants, tea shops, hotels and spas. The children of India's tens of millions of poor families are expected to work and in many cases they are the sole breadwinners. Now they must go to school, and their families will starve.

How does one keep these two opposing facts in balance: the excesses of the rich and famous, and the abject poverty of the masses in developing countries around the world? If you have seen the movie, you will remember the scene where Meryl Streep’s character explains that even op-shop trash is at the end of a long process of design that began in the upper echelons of power and glamour in Paris. This somehow helps me to appreciate that though there seems to be a lot in that world of privilege that revolts against my higher ideals, it does take all kinds to make a world.

GLITZ & GLAMOUR

Glitz and glamour, beauty, gorgeous
Painted face and waif-like, thin
Cats that pace the bridge of cultus
Drape creations meant for kings

Slim and slender, solemn, stately
Pause and turn, vogue on parade
Blinding flashes laud her briefly
Clotheshorse for the garment trade

Designer jeans or haute couture
Fashion labels bought and sold
All who value wealth and power
Hail to the glint of gold

Meanwhile, families in India are forced to send their children to work long hours in a local café or a neighbour’s home. Often the sole breadwinner in their family, they forfeit their education in order to survive.

Who is richer, who is poorer?
Who is right and who is wrong?
Tempted to be judge and juror
Takes all kinds to make a world

Lamingtons

2006-10-11T22:05:00.000+09:30

Living in an international community means that sometimes one has to explain and illustrate one’s own culture for the benefit and education of others! To that end, therefore, I volunteered to make Lamingtons. These fundraiser favourites are one of only a handful of dishes that Australia can claim as their own; part of an authentic Aussie-designed cuisine. All else has been handed down from each migrant group as they arrived and made Australia home.

So, Lamingtons – what are they? Cubes of stale cake (butter, sponge) coated in chocolate icing and coconut. I found the recipe here, and decided to go with the easy option. I found that the local bakery had a frozen butter cake all ready to go – yay! The rest is fairly straightforward. Make a chocolate icing and dip cubes of cake in that first, then in desiccated coconut, and let drip-dry on a cooling rack. Store a while before serving, to let icing sink into cake. Yum!

Maple Syrup Muffins

2006-10-07T20:14:00.000+09:30

Okay, so I tried the Gâteau Sirop Muffins from the Chocolate & Zucchini site, using Canadian maple syrup instead. They weren’t very impressive. The mix was far too thin; they therefore popped out on top and did not make the promised 12 muffins. But never mind - I have now had the pleasure of adjusting the recipe, that they may be more like muffins should be (healthy), and turn out good-looking as well as good tasting!

The first thing to do was translate the recipe into terms I could understand. The cane syrup becomes maple syrup, the unrefined cane sugar becomes brown sugar, and the French spice becomes allspice.

The second thing to do was make the mixture thicker. This was done incrementally by reducing the liquid. When the recipe called for ½ cup water in which to dissolve the baking powder, I changed it to 2 tablespoons (less than half, and plenty in which to dissolve 1 teaspoon of baking soda). Even this change only produced 7 medium muffins. Then what I haven’t done yet, but will next chance I get, is to add 1/3 cup grated carrot to the mix. I’m convinced this is the missing ingredient. I have a recipe in my files that has a very similar brown sugar based mixture, but also makes the most delectable carrot cake recipe I have ever eaten!

Maple Syrup Muffins
125 mL (1/2 cup) maple syrup
85 grams (1/2 cup, packed) brown sugar
125 mL (1/2 cup) vegetable oil
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon allspice
120 grams (1 cup) all-purpose flour, sifted
A fat pinch of fine sea salt
75 grams (1/2 cup) pecan or walnut halves, roughly chopped

Makes 7 medium muffins

(Note: To make a 20-cm / 8-inch round cake, double the recipe and bake for 35 to 40 minutes.)
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and grease a tray of medium muffin molds (don't bother if they're silicon).

In a large mixing-bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, sugar, and oil. In a small bowl, combine the baking soda and 60 mL (3 tablespoons) water and stir to dissolve. Add to the maple syrup mixture and whisk until combined. Add the egg and whisk until well combined. Add the spices, flour, and salt, and whisk until just combined. Don't over mix -- it's okay if a few lumps remain.

Pour the batter into the muffin molds, filling them almost to the top, and sprinkle with chopped pecans. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the tops spring back to the touch. Transfer to a rack to cool for 10 minutes, unmold, and serve warm or at room temperature.

NB. Add 1/3 cup grated carrot, to make it thicker and to go further.

Clarity, at last!

2006-10-05T22:28:00.000+09:30

This has got to be the most awesome day in the recent history of my life!! Ticker-tape, and all that! I have finally, finally worked out how to get a clear picture with my digital camera. Tips to remember:
1) Use books, tripod, something immoveable, coz in the hands just doesn’t cut it
2) Use natural light
3) Use large aperture when light is bad, coz large aperture means the hole is larger, lets in more light.
4) Large aperture means 2.8, which also means that close up is focussed, and background is fuzzy (perfect)!
5) In Automatic mode, unlock AF/MF button.
6) Press to S-AF, and focus on object (press button ½ way and release)
7) Press to M-F, and then press button with +/-, and using the W/T button, click away either side until clarity is assured.
8) SHOOT!
9) The first perfect picture ever!

This is REVELATORY for me! This clarity has been eluding me for so long, but I never really took the time to find out how to make it. Then yesterday I noticed some excellent close up shots on the web, and longed to be able to shoot photos like that myself. Now I know! The aperture thing has also long been a mystery, but now I know!! I’m so happy, you have no idea! These things have long been a mystery, but now I can make it happen again! Absolutely marvellous!

All beautiful you are my darling

2006-10-05T22:06:00.000+09:30

As soon as I saw the prompt for Poetry Thursday this week, I knew that I wouldn't be writing anything in response. Disinclined as I am to consider my own body, I thought instead to post something by an ancient writer, as he waxed lyrical about his latest lover. You decide whether you think his descriptions are complimentary, or not!

How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful!
Your eyes behind your veil are doves.
Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead.
Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing.
Each has its twin; not one of them is alone.
Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon; your mouth is lovely.
Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate.
Your neck is like the tower of David, built with elegance; on it hand a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors.
Your two breasts are like two fawns, like twin fawns of a gazelle that browse among the lilies.
Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of incense.
All beautiful you are my darling; there is no flaw in you.

King Solomon, in the 10th century B.C.

The Ring

2006-10-03T23:17:00.000+09:30

It has been handed down you might say, from mother to daughter –a keepsake, a symbol of loved that’s matured since then and a symbol of something that remains, but in a older, more mature form. The ring was at the beginning, the first promise, then replaced by other rings, other promises, more lasting, more binding. This ring got forgotten, as children were born, and life swept on, hectic, demanding. The daughter was at an age for romance herself when the ring was discovered again, brushed off, handed down. Your dad gave this to me when we began going steady she said. Would you like it? It fit perfectly, and has prompted many a stranger to ask, are you married? It looks like a wedding band. No, not yet. It remains a symbol of hope, once a symbol of promise, of new love, of hope, now also a cherished memory of their enduring love, and a symbol of hope for myself, without the promise, just the hope. It prefers the sun, by which to catch the rays and glint – a flash of gold, a prism of diamond.

Poetry Thursday - synaethesia

2006-09-29T21:46:00.000+09:30

This week's prompt from Poetry Thursday was synaethesia: a condition whereby some folks have the unusual gift of intermingling the senses. This condition might result in a person experiencing certain numbers as colours, or a word as a distinct taste on the tongue. Interesting concept, but try as I might, I just couldn't imagine what that might be like. But I did wake up in the night rhyming lines. This is what transpired. Don't laugh!

B&W

What comes in black and white, you ask
Newspaper, zebra, tux
A print of memories getting old
A penguin in the cold.

Cookies and cream; onyx and pearl
Dalmatian dog as well
And I today, though not as neat
As these, I blame the heat.

Speed and the law

2006-09-29T16:20:00.000+09:30

Almost had an accident this morning, driving to work. But I blame myself – I was going too fast. As I was coming up to a narrow passage in the road, there was a white car coming the other way, and a black pick up parked on my left. Too late, I saw the pickup was about to pull out just when the white car was right across from it, which would leave me no room to get through. Not going slow enough to let the pickup go first, I jammed on the horn, and passed through the gap of about 2 feet that was left, with the pick up already halfway into the lane. Close! But I already felt intuitively that I was going too fast for such a narrow section of road. Here in Thailand, you never know who’s going to pull out on you, or when or where. This necessitates a need for going “the right speed”, to quote a friend. I never really knew what he meant until today. Now I understand. Reflecting on my near miss, it occurred to me that not having a speed limit (here) is quite advantageous, in that it allows people to pick the ‘right speed’, rather than having to follow the one given by law. In Australia, I and others like me, insist on going at least as fast as we are allowed to by the signs, if not faster. If anyone goes slower, we get impatient and give them a hard time. The law gives no opportunity for us to use our common sense. Somehow the system in Thailand, where you go whatever speed you think is right for the situation (or what you feel like at the time – let’s be honest), seems a lot more ‘adult’ by giving folks the responsibility to do the thinking and deciding themselves. In Australia we are not trusted with that responsibility, and therefore we push the limits. The result is juvenile behaviour. Thoughts, anyone?

Poet: Ogden Nash

2006-09-27T14:44:00.000+09:30

I've just recently discovered the crazy humour and short, witty poems of Ogden Nash. He writes mostly for and about his children, and has a way of playing with words that means he can make anything rhyme. There are many of his verses that bring a smile, but this is one of the best:

Song of the Open Road

I think that I shall never see
A billboard lovely as a tree
Indeed, unless the billboards fall
I'll never see a tree at all.

Ogden Nash

Worst Housemate ever

2006-09-25T22:22:00.000+09:30

I had a lot of fun putting this one together. This story actually happened a few years ago, and was one of many incidents that made it hard to live with her. But I realise now, more than ever, what a b*** I was also at that time… it takes two! But it’s nice to be able to laugh about things now that were terribly aggravating or painful once upon a time…

She Said

To be totally honest
I’m really tired and
Can’t be bothered washing the dishes tonight.
Do you mind?
I’ll do them tomorrow
She said.
But tomorrow came and went and they still hadn’t been done.
So I did them myself, as I needed the pots
To cook dinner with anyway.
Later she came home and said
You didn’t need to do that.
Oh, yes I did I replied.
I needed the pots.

Laugh

2006-09-21T16:53:00.000+09:30

Laugh.
Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful
though you have considered all the facts.
- Wendell Berry

Time

2006-09-14T23:29:00.000+09:30

Two weeks' ago, the prompt from Poetry Thursday was on the theme of 'time'. Time is such an ever-present issue, the lack of it, the rush, the bother, the ageing effects. It occurred to me that time is only a product of the Fall, and once Jesus has returned, and we live with Him forever, time will not longer be relevant. Hence, this poem:

We will not always be slaves

We will not always be slaves
Fearful, watching time fly
Afraid of its march
Concerned for its loss

We will not always be slaves
Ever watching the clock
Now work’s finally over
The weekend’s begun

We will not always be slaves
Anxiously checking our watch
Impatient feet tapping
And ready to rush

We will not always be slaves
To the loss of our youth
Masking the wrinkles
And denying our age

We will not always be slaves
Fearful, clutching at life
Afraid of its end
And the loss of what’s known

We will not always be slaves
One day we’ll be free

Poetry Thursday - Blue

2006-09-12T10:37:00.000+09:30

So, there's this great blogsite, set up to encourage amateur poets to write, providing a new topic each week. 'Poetry Thursday' is the name of the site, go here to check it out!

This one, thrown together - my very first poem - the prompt this week was the colour 'blue'.

Blue

Blue as the sky, clear after the rain
Every leaf glistening, everything's clean

Blue as his eyes, the bluest I’ve seen
A longing once nurtured, now finally free

Blue as my mood, here missing you now
If only you knew it, if only you’d call

Blue as the sapphire, at one with the gold
My joy knows no limits, my heart is the world.

Hotan

2006-07-09T21:29:00.000+09:30

Hey, so we’re hanging out at Hotan now, till Wednesday. Arrived last Thursday night, and Friday afternoon traveled a bumpy road out to the farm, which is a project that David is quite heavily involved with. We didn’t stay long, but dropped off some food, and arranged to come back on Saturday night. We drove another hour to the village where we had been invited to stay with the family of an older man just retired from working at the farm. They were so lovely to us, so generous and giving, though we could hardly say a word to each other. We ate some watermelon, and sat around while they made fresh ‘lagmad’, a fresh noodle dish with veg and meat on top. Actually, we played games while we waited, coz Ike (9 yrs) is hyper-active, and couldn’t sit quiet that long. The food was good, and then Dave led us on a moonlit walk through the fields. It ended up a very long walk! We slept in the courtyard, all in a row like sardines, and it was fun.

Saturday morning we all had naan and tea for breakfast, then went out to a reservoir (about one hour’s drive) so that Ike could go for a swim. When we arrived back at the house, it was about 12 noon, and they began preparations for roast lamb. That very morning they had slaughtered the poor animal, drained its blood, skinned it and taken out the innards and washed them, ready to sell at the bazaar. We watched them make a fire in the oven, coat the carcus in a flour/egg batter, then get the temperature right, and put a lid on it. We played games while we waited for it to roast. We ate around 2pm, fresh roast lamb, crispy batter, and more naan and watermelon. What a feast!

After lunch, Dave took us to the local bazaar, where we stared as much as we were stared at, and Henry practiced beating a dead cow (don’t ask)! It was SO hot, and dusty, and crowded, that we were fairly glad to be going back. We said goodbye and thank you to our hosts, and set off back to the farm. At the farm, Dave gave us a tour of the orchard, which was fascinating, peaches, plums and apples, then we sat around waiting for the women to prepare soup for dinner. I got to hold and play with the cutest little Uyhgur baby, so I was happy. Even Lexi and Henry wanted a hold! We ate quickly, and then headed back on bumpy roads to finally, finally, reach our air conditioned hotel rooms and hot showers about 9.30pm that night. We were extremely grateful for these luxuries, after a day and a night without them!

Today has been a ‘day off’, so we’ve slept in, walked around town to explore, and are having hamburgers at Parshalls place tonight. Tomorrow we go to the desert!

Travelling

2006-07-07T00:59:00.000+09:30

So, from Chiang Mai to Bangkok 8.00pm Saturday, 1st July. Left BKK at 3.00am, arrived in Chengdu 6.30am Beijing time. Spent the day with the Chengdu cluster, then flew out of there about 6.00pm. Arrived in Urumqi around 9.00pm Beijing time, 7pm local time, and Pam met me to take me to the hotel. The next day the rest of the team - Kara, Lexi, Henry, Prudence - and I were taken to the railway station for the 23-hour ride. We got on at 10.50 local time, and arrived in Kashgar about 9.50am the next day (4th July, my birthday). Susan and Ike and Aziz met us and took us to our hotel, and then later, out for a special Uyghur-style dinner and dance at a really nice restaurant that night. They even ordered a huge cake and sang 'Happy Birthday', so that was fun. Wednesday we spent looking around Kashgar, orientation and shopping, etc. Thursday we travelled by air-conditioned bus 8 hours here to Hotan, where the Parshall family live. We settled into our rooms, and tonight had dinner at their home, which is where I'm writing from. Phew! Obviously, there is a stack of detail I have had to miss out, but I will try to include more vignettes in the coming month or so. And photos!

I miss Chiang Mai, but it's okay out here. Really hot and dusty, and a very distinct, Uyghur culture, wherever you look. They follow Islam, so think Arab influences, culture, language etc. I learned Arabic script a few years ago, so found today that the Uyghur alphabet seems familiar. We had our first 'language lesson' today, and chose Uyghur names. In order of appearance, we are: Prudence = Perri, Lexi = Batur, Henry hasn't decided, Kara = Guzzelle, and I = Rahila. So! That should do it for now, and promise more detail in the future.

Kashgar STEP

2006-06-30T16:14:00.000+09:30

FOC has agreed to send me on a 6-week short-term trip to Kashgar, in far north-west China this northern ‘summer’. I will be away from 1st July to 17th August, joining four North Americans all coming from California, and an FOC family who already live in Xinjiang (Province). For the first two weeks, we will be learning Uyghur language full time, and the rest of the time we will be teaching English, hosting English corners and generally getting to know folks.

Kashgar is in Xinjiang Province, in the far north-west of the People's Republic of China. Xinjiang is also known as the Xinjiang Autonomous Region. The majority people group is Uyghur, and they are more Turkic in religion, language and culture than they are Chinese. In recent times, there has been a struggle for independence, and some Uyghurs prefer to call that area "Turkestan". Kashgar is a well-known market town, located on the ancient trail called "The Silk Road". For more information, go here and for photos of the bazaar, go here

Is this a good idea?

2006-06-29T13:16:00.000+09:30

Hey guys! This is my attempt to keep a travelogue for the next 6 weeks in China. This period away from home will be a probationary period for my hosting a blogsite. The purpose is to keep you all informed of my / the team's experiences day to day or week to week. I also hope to post a lot of interesting photos. Depending on internet availability, though, this may all actually occur after the event! Either way, it might be a cool way to share what happens on the Kashgar STEP 2006!