Changing a Light Bulb

Amazing jar of fruit pastels.  Note:
coriander trying to get in on the
action in the background

Mystical Roo and I have had a fairly productive day today, stocking up on items for winter and ensuring the cupboards are full of food.  We actually invested in a horse today.  Not a real horse.  A fake horse.  A clothes horse to be precise.  It was a bargain at $20 but as is often the case with these kind of cheap items there was something wrong with it.  It was missing a wheel.  I was initially quite excited about it having wheels but then decided the wheels weren't that important.  And I couldn't have a wonky clothes horse.  Mystical Roos clothes pants might dry at a funny angle and that would never do.  I guess I should have taken it back and demanded my missing wheel but I didn't think it was worth the petrol.  Or the effort.  We'd only spent $20 on the thing after all.  So I decided to remove the wheels instead.  With all wheels removed it would at least stand up straight and that was the main thing.  I found a tool of some description in our drawer of doom and successfully - with no help from Mystical Roo - removed the remaining three wheels.  I was very proud of myself.  As well as our dodgy clothes horse, we also picked up some funky jars for the storage of pasta, sugar and sweets.  Namely fruit pastels.  I now have a massive jar full of fruit pastels.  It looks superb.  Less exciting items of purchase were light bulbs as both the light bulbs in the stairwell had decided to go on strike.  No one likes a dark stairwell.  Except vampires, stalkers and muggers.  Quite frankly we want to discourage their presence.  The trouble with replacing light bulbs in the stairwell is that they're rather high up.  And one can't place a chair on the staircase.  It's just not safe.  As I don't have one of those cool ladders that El Kenco has had her eye on I decided that Mystical Roo and I could team up to change the light bulbs.  So, armed with a new light bulb (an energy saver no less) I settled myself upon Mystical Roo's shoulders and then Mystical Roo stood up so that I could change the light bulb.  A scary experience.  Never have I felt so tall.  But it worked.  On the bottom light bulb at least.  The one at the top of the stairs was not so easy.  Stood on the tallest step, with Mystical Roo and me on his shoulders, we could not reach the light bulb.  Then (Bear Z should stop reading at this point) I had the the genius idea to stand on the banister to reach the light bulb.  I figured if Mystical Roo had a good hold of my waist then I would be supported and in a good position to change the light bulb.  Still on Mystical Roo's shoulders I set about positioning myself on the banister but my body simply wouldn't let me move.  It's like my brain went into sensible mode and decided that standing on the banister was not a good idea.  Finally I made it though and was totally safe because Mystical Roo had his arms around me.  I'm sure he was tempted to give me a shove but held firm.  As Mystical Roo later noted, I moved my arms and nothing else as I went about changing the light bulb, frozen with fear of toppling into the abyss.  With the vampires, stalkers and muggers.  But I successfully completed my light bulb changing task and decided that Mystical Roo and I make a good team.  Now we have light.  And lots of it.  No vampires, stalkers or muggers.  And a massive jar of fruit pastels!  

Snuggie Wearing Stalky Gets her Write On

Amongst other things - receptionist extraordinaire, protector of plants, super snuggie wearing Stalky - I'm also a writer.  Today I've sent a sample of my book off to a publisher in the hope that someone, one day, will want to publish my work.  I've been writing stories since I was very small.  I remember writing adventures on lined paper, which I kept in a folder.  Then I moved on to a computer and started typing out my stories, reading them to El Kenco as they progressed.  This is one of the reasons why I'm now a ridiculously speedy typist and sometimes referred to as "book girl" by narrow minded folk from school who somehow still think it's cool to mock someone who has a passion for writing.  Luckily for me I don't care about those people and don't actually have to bother with them anymore as I now live half way round the world.  This is not the reason why I moved.  The thing is, I don't think I could not write.  I love to write.  I didn't decide one day that I might try to write a book, I just had a need to write a story.  It's like an overwhelming urge that just grips you and sees you sat at your computer for hours on end as you disappear into a world entirely of your making.  I still have the stories that I wrote when I was younger and I cringe when I read them but I remember how much I loved writing them.  I just hope that my current work is of a higher standard.  It's very hard putting your work out there for other people to judge.  Rejection is inevitable and I never expect quick results but every time I send my work off I hold on to a tiny sliver of hope.  That maybe someone will read my book and think it worthy of publishing.  So fingers crossed everyone!  We'll see what happens. 

Little Stalky Gets Her Paint On

Today I've been painting.  I've been let loose with a paint brush and a big tin of red paint.  Mystical Roo and Monster Noggin will be doing an expo in Melbourne shortly and I was helping out by painting the stand.  Red.  I'm actually not bad at painting and do rather a neat job.  It's just everything else that gets messed up.  Myself included.  I was looking rather stylish when I left the house this morning in pink jogging bottoms, an over sized red t-shirt borrowed from Mystical Roo and a pair of flip flops.  Then I got to wear pink gloves and use red paint.  How very colour coordinated of me.  So I spent the morning painting the stand, taking extreme care to make sure the paint was even but not noticing the paint I was dripping on the floor and onto my trousers.  Oh well.  I can't be perfect.  At least I'm not as bad as El Kenco who, when helping me to paint my house in England, managed to get gloss paint all over her face.  We're still not sure how it happened but by the end of the day there was definitely more paint on El Kenco than there was on my skirting boards.  When we were kids I must confess that I thought it would be a good idea to cover my hands in blue, gloss paint but then, I was a kid.  I think it took a lot of white spirit to get that lot off.  Not cool.  But I've done a fair bit of painting since then and have learned several valuable tips.  Always sand before you paint.  Wear latex gloves to protect your hands from paint - especially gloss!  Wrap your paintbrushes in clingfilm when you're having a tea break.  And never let El Kenco near your skirting boards! 

Little Stalky: Queen of the Clouds

After recently confirming that I can predict a storm with my headaches I've now started to wonder if I can actually influence the weather with my moods.  Could this actually be possible?  Does Little Stalky really have this kind of power?  Well, lets look at the facts.  Roughly three weeks ago I was super excited that El Kenco would be making her first visit to Australia.  On the day of her arrival the skies were blue, the sun was shining, the birds were singing and the land dwelling sharks were getting their groove on.  I'm not saying I can influence the animals but I guess the weather can in turn influence them.  They were happy.  I was happy.  We were all happy.  Then, three weeks on, the inevitable happens and El Kenco has to return back to England.  Much sadness.  Little Stalky is not happy.  El Kenco is not happy.  So since the day we drove El Kenco to the airport it's been grey and raining.  Grey and raining!  The weather has been as dark as my mood.  I went to bed last night feeling rather low as I was missing El Kenco and also battling with the other inevitable event: heading back to work.  Double whammy.  And all night it absolutely poured with rain.  It was hammering down and was so loud that it woke me up a number of times.  Then I couldn't get back to sleep as I was imagining the balcony flooding again - even though it had been ok all day - and my babies drifting away in an over sized puddle!  Stressful.  This morning I'm trying to get back into routine, setting my alarm, making my sandwiches, but I think it's going to be a long day ahead.  And so the clouds are churning outside, looking dark and menacing, threatening another downpour.  So it seems to me that I do have influence over the weather.  And if this is in fact the case, then I need to cheer up before people start lynching me over the rain.

Sad Stalky

Today is the day I've not been looking forward to.  The day that El Kenco and Biltong Boy return to England.  It's a difficult thing and saying goodbye is always very hard to do.  But as Monster Noggin says, it's not so much goodbye as see you soon and if you keep that in mind it makes things a little easier.  Still, I always hate this part and am bound to get all emotional later on today.  I'll have to try my best not to make El Kenco cry because she's allergic to her own tears.  No, I'm not joking.  But we've had a nice day together, even if the weather has decided to put on a bad show.  Naughty weather, bad!  We've been organising the last few photos for our scrap book, enjoying coffee in our favourite cafe, enjoying booze in our favourite bar and have just returned from a nice long lunch at the Seabreeze restaurant.  We've really enjoyed these last three weeks and have had more new and crazy adventures.  Hopefully El Kenco hasn't been too scared off by the spiders and will plan a return trip in the not too distant future. 

El Kenco Feeds the Birds

El Kenco has been getting in touch with her inner Mary Poppins today, her inner Snow White, and has been feeding the birds.  This started first thing this morning when this monster bird landed on the balcony and appeared to be eyeing up my tomatoes.  El Kenco's solution for deterring the bird?  Feed it some cereal.  Or some Special K to be precise.  My God, that bird did not need any more food.  It was huge.  It was massive.  It was an obese bird.  It should have been wearing a bird moomoo.  It was so plump that it looked like it was about to pop.  It appeared to be having trouble moving.  It was waddling.  I wasn't sure it could fly.  I'm not sure that bird would have made it down to the tomatoes even if it had wanted to.  It didn't seem that interested in the Special K.  By the size of the thing I would say it lives on a diet of cheeseburgers and chocolate.  And possibly other birds.  And land dwelling sharks.  Massive!  After being shunned by the obese bird El Kenco was wooed by the pigeon with the quiff.  A pigeon she promptly dubbed Jedward.  Having been out of England for a few years now, I'd vaguely heard of Jedward but wasn't really sure who - or what - they were.  El Kenco explained that they have weird hair, which was why the pigeon was called Jedward.  El Kenco was determined to feed Jedward the remains of our lunchtime pie and was happily throwing scraps onto the grass.  She was most perturbed by the arrival of some pushy seagulls.  Bullies!  El Kenco set about removing the seagulls by chasing them off and let Jedward eat in peace.  The pigeon with the quiff seemed quite content to sit by our feet, nibbling pieces of pie, whilst El Kenco put the seagulls in their place.  She was disappointed when the pigeon with the quiff decided he was full and flew off into a nearby tree.  She's still looking out the window wondering if Jedward will return.

Happy Birthday Little Stalky

Yes, it's a very special today.  It's Little Stalky's birthday!  And today I shall be turning 26.  A fact that El Kenco likes to taunt me with as she's a whole 18 months younger than me.  Bah!  This year I have El Kenco to keep me company for the day, which I'm really pleased about.  We have plans of going clothes shopping, returning for lunch and drinks at the Blue Diamond cocktail bar before heading off to the Hungry Duck for a birthday dinner.  It's set to be a damned good day.  I'm going to ask the plants if they'll sing happy birthday to me.  You know.  Just as a treat.  We'll see how that goes.  So, 26 years old feels a bit surreal.  I know it's not old - though El Kenco would beg to differ - but it feels like it's come round really fast.  It didn't feel like that long ago that I was turning 18.  My how time flies.  But I feel happy with my achievements and with where I am in my life.  I've had my adventures, battled gremlins and am lucky to have the most amazing family ever, both this side of the world and the other.  No doubt El Kenco and I will be raising a glass of margarita at some point today.  So cheers everybody. 

Joggers in Sydney: They're Freakin' Everywhere!

Today we took El Kenco and Biltong Boy on the compulsory trip to Sydney to see the sights.  It was a bit of an overcast day but that's not necessarily a bad thing when wandering around the city.  We parked up near Darling Harbour, took a water taxi over to Circular Quay and saw the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.  Then we decided to take a walk through the Botanical Gardens before lunch.  We saw many of the notorious bum pinching birds!  Luckily there was no bum pinching today.  But I kept my eye on them.  I know their game.  Anyway, it turned out not to be the bum pinching birds that were the problem today but the ridiculous number of joggers.  There were joggers everywhere.  Absolutely everywhere!  Running this way, that way, on the pavement, over the grass.  Everywhere we looked there were joggers.  Fit joggers, less fit joggers, sweaty joggers, I'm-running-but-I'm-gossiping joggers, hardcore joggers, comedy arm joggers, panting joggers, dribbling joggers.  Joggers.  Freaking everywhere.  We couldn't get away from them.  They were dodging around us at every turn.  A couple of them even chose to let out a loud breath right next to me, causing me to jump in alarm.  Heavy breathing in my ear is never cool dude.  Never cool.  We started to feel out of place because we weren't jogging.  Walking was awkward but when we sat down we got given evils.  The joggers did not approve of our presence.  Damned tourists on their jogging route.  What I wanted to know was why, on a Monday morning, were all of these people not at work?  Maybe it was the official jogging hour or something.  All I know is that trying to get across from one side of the path to the other was like crossing a busy motorway.  I nearly got taken out by a jogger and Biltong Boy got left behind.  Trapped by a sea of joggers.  The insanity of it all.  It was exhausting just watching the buggers.  I'm all for being fit and healthy (well, mostly) but I think I'll stick to the yoga.  

Possum Sneak Attack

Well, we've returned from our camping trip, unscathed and with El Kenco still relatively sane.  We had an excellent weekend with Australia truly on top form, providing us with beautiful sunshine and an array of wildlife.  We arrived at Pretty Beach camping grounds in the afternoon and were met by a horde of kangaroos.  They were incredible and just everywhere.  Even in people's gardens!  We had to stop a couple of times to let them cross the road.  It was just amazing to see.  We set up our tent and promptly went in search of firewood so that we could have a campfire and heat up our curry.  Excellent fun.  The curry was a huge success and with darkness quickly approaching we settled outside of our tent with beer and snacks.  Then came the rustling.  The rustling?  Yes, the rustling.  Up in the trees the branches were shaking, the leaves rustling as something descended towards the camp.  Not a kangaroo.  Kangaroos don't climb.  Not a bird.  Too big to be a bird.  A tree dwelling shark?  Unlikely.  No.  It turned out to be a possum.  An actual real life possum.  I've never seen a possum in the wild before and was fascinated to watch this creature sneaking it's way down the tree and towards the camp.  Adorable creatures!  So cute.  Admittedly some people see them as pests, but with a face like that I would have let the possum get away with anything.  He shuffled his way down the tree, pausing every time we made eye contact before perching on the fence.  Mystical Roo approached, wondering what the possum would do next.  The possum stared him out and Mystical Roo returned to his chair.  Then, the next thing we know, the possum is making a break for it and heading towards the tent!  Hardcore possum.  He wasn't scared of us.  He knew his cuteness had us distracted.  And in the meantime he was headed for the food.  Ahhhhhhh!  When he realised he couldn't get into the tent the possum moved on into the camp.  Then, about five minutes later there was more rustling.  More rustling?  Yes!  And a second possum.  It took exactly the same route as the first.  Down the tree, on the fence, over the fence and towards the tent.  We established that if you shine a torch in their direction they freeze.  So we've seen the possum in the tree, hanging upside down from the tree by his tail, hanging over the fence by it's paws, hanging upside down from the fence by it's paws.  Hugely entertaining.  That night we retired to our respective sleeping bags, ready for a night's sleep.  But whilst we were ready for bed, the animals were just waking up.  Truly the night belongs to the Australian wildlife and they were having a whale of a time outside of the tent.  The possums and the kangaroos were out in force and we could hear them scurrying around outside of the tent, trying to find a way in and generally making a hell of a racket.  At one point I'm pretty sure there was a fight between a possum and a kangaroo with much grunting and screeching.  I'm not sure who won but it was a hell of a fight.  El Kenco admitted to needing the loo in the night but she was too scared to leave the tent.  The night belongs to the animals and she wasn't sure what she would find if she stepped outside.  A possum conga line.  Who knows.  When the possums and kangaroos moved on at dawn the birds awoke and started to sing to the sun.  Who needs an alarm clock when you've got kookaburras.  But it was fantastic.  Camping in the Australian bush with the weather at it's best and the animals roaming freely.  We'll definitely be back.

 

Mystical Roo and Biltong Boy go Surfing

Ok, I'll admit it.  I wrote this one in advance.  But I knew I was going to be parted from my laptop on Saturday so thought I'd try and be organised.  My laptop, bless it's little cotton socks, cannot cope without being plugged in, leaving my battery to splutter along for about ten minutes before failing totally.  Needless to say, I can't take my laptop anywhere where it can't be plugged in.  And as I've booked us an unpowered site for the weekend, I don't think it's going to get much juice.  But then, when out camping, you don't really want to be lugging around all your technology.  You want to get back to nature.  Be at one with the kangaroos!  And what not.  But anyway, as you read this we will either be on our way to, having, or finished surf lessons.  When I say we, I refer solely to Mystical Roo and Biltong Boy.  Wimps that we are, El Kenco and I have resigned ourselves to sitting on the beach and watching.  I like the idea of being able to surf but I'm not a strong swimmer and the idea of getting tumbled under a huge wave does not appeal.  Mystical Roo and Biltong boy are both very excited about learning to surf and so I've booked them a two hour session at a beach in South Durras.  The surfing dude who I booked it with promised me it was a fifteen minute drive from our camp.  Google maps tells me it's more like forty minutes from the camp.  Who to believe?  The surfer dude or Google maps.  Monster Noggin assures me that in surfer dude land that fifteen minutes is certainly more like an hour.  Google maps it is then.  Though it could have been my ears letting me down again.  Maybe the surfer dude said fifty minutes and I heard fifteen minutes.  Either way I've informed the troops that we shall be departing camp at 09.00 and if we're there early then oh well, there are worse things than having to sit on the beach waiting for a surfer dude.  El Kenco and I will be armed with cameras, ready to watch them do their thing.  I'll be able to report back about this and the rest of the camping trip on my return.  We should be back at some point on Sunday.  As long as we don't get taken captive by a horde of kangaroos...

Little Stalky and Co. Go Camping



Pretty Beach - I can see the kangaroos already!



Today is the day of the camping trip!  Two nights in the Murramarang National Park where I've been told we can expect to see an abundance of Eastern Grey Kangaroos, swamp wallabies (what the?), brushtail possums and a variety of birds.  I've selected Pretty Beach as our destination, which is about two hours South of where we're currently based.  I've no idea what it will be like but with a name like Pretty Beach, surely it's got to be, well, pretty.  The pictures indicate it has views of the beach and also, providing the weather is right, the opportunity to have little campfires.  How cool!  We'd originally hoped to camp at Pebbly Beach, which is renowned for it's sightings of wild kangaroos, but when I phoned them they said I couldn't book and it was a case of first come, first served.  I didn't like the idea of turning up, only to be told that there was no room.  I have to be a bit more organised than that.  El Kenco was pleased to discover that our newly selected camping ground will actually have hot showers.  So we've got our tent, sleeping bags and camping chairs.  Mystical Roo has cooked and frozen a curry ready for tonight.  We've got bacon and eggs ready for the morning.  We've got beer and cards for the evening.  Now as long as somone's packed the mallet, we should be fine!

Magical Woolworths Bags and Why You Shouldn't Use Your Brother-In-Law as a Donkey

Whilst showing El Kenco and Biltong Boy the wonders of Australia, I did of course have to show them the wonders of Woolworths.  They couldn't travel half way round the world and not see the wonders of Woolworths.  Especially my Woolworths.  So, in the absence of Mystical Roo (yes, he's working again), and a car, the three of us took a wander up to Woolworths.  Trolley dude was there and everything!  I was thrilled and made sure to point out trolley dude.  The lady who served us today was actually very nice and polite, which was a total shock to the system.  Also, the fresh food people song was not playing, which I think caused some disappointment.  But still.  We did our shop, loaded up the conveyor belt - which I've always wanted to take a ride on - and then realised we didn't have a car.  Oh bugger.  Yes, we'd loaded up the trolley with loads of treats.  Cans of ginger beer.  Bottles of coke.  Bottles of milk.  Basically a lot of heavy stuff.  Fear not!  I announced that we would be fine.  After all there were three of us.  I may have suggested using Biltong Boy as a kind of donkey but have since revoked this comment.  Anyway, we managed to get all of our shopping home with relative ease.  El Kenco took some of the lighter bags and Biltong Boy and I shared the weight of the bottles by each taking one handle of the specially bought, Woolworths own, carrier bag.  Tidy!  And very handy.  We also established this is an excellent way to get people to move out of your path.  No one's going to question two people and their magic Woolworths bag.  Ha ha!  We did get a number of looks whilst walking back through the town but I thought we were being rather resourceful.  Not everyone has constant access to a car you know.  And in the absence of a car one has to make alternative arrangements!  And if you can't use your brother-in-law as a donkey then you just have to create a chain of people carrying magical Woolworths bags.  And that is all I have to say on the matter.

Preparing for the Camping Trip

I think we've finally persuaded El Kenco that she does indeed want to come camping with us.  She was nervous about spiders and snakes and other such beasties but I've reassured her with tales of an everything proof tent.  Yes, nothing is getting in through the tent.  It will be fine.  I've also lured her with the promise of beautiful beaches and wild kangaroos.  Very Australian.  I did, however, have to break the news that there would be cold showers...It will be fun to see El Kenco on a camping trip.  This is the girl who takes several hours getting ready in the morning, washing her hair before going in the sea and putting on make up to hit the beach.  She's assured me that she'll find a way, even if she is hunkered over a puddle just to use it as a mirror.  It could be an interesting trip!

Little Stalky Goes to Jamberoo

Today we've been up to Jamberoo action park, the biggest park in NSW, the only park in NSW, the water park.  And we cunningly selected a midweek day, outside of school holidays and when it was overcast to avoid the queues and have the rides all to ourselves.  Ok, we were hoping for seriously hot weather but what can you do.  It was amazingly quiet though and we didn't have to queue for a single thing.  It was like we had the run of the park, picking and choosing our rides without having to wait.  And I'm impatient so I was very happy.  We went on Surf Hill, which is one of those slides where you go down head first on mats.  It's also a race so appealed to my competitive side.  Unfortunately, being a Little Stalky does not make for a speedy ride.  In fact, being a Little Stalky normally means you're a whole hump behind everyone else unless you cheat and sneak off before the lights show green.  Even when cheating I only stay ahead for a few seconds.  The heavier you are, the faster you go.  I might have lost, constantly, but it's still my favourite ride.  We forced El Kenco to jump off The Rock.  Mystical Roo, Biltong Boy and I had already leapt into the water but El Kenco kept wimping out!  And she's meant to be the brave one.  We were all egging her on from below, telling her it was fine, that it wasn't scary, that her bikini would stay on, that the small child who'd just resurfaced wasn't balling her eyes out.  Finally she took the plunge but I don't think she thanked us for it.  So, El Kenco doesn't do jumping off of rocks but she does go on the biggest, scariest ride, in the world.  Ever.  The Taipan.  I refused to go on this ride, despite much cajoling from the others.  I went on it once before and swore I would never do it again.  I should have listened to the signs.  Extreme thrill ride.  Do not go on if you're pregnant, have  high blood pressure, have heart issues, are of a nervous disposition, are physically or intellectually challenged (what the?), etc. etc.  But Mystical Roo assured me it was great fun.  Not scary at all.  Monster Noggin had remarked that it was slow.  These are the same people who forced me to go on the dreaded Air roller coaster at Alton Towers so God knows why I trusted them again.  I literally went foetal on that ride.  I had my head in Mystical Roo's lap and my feet in the lap of some poor soul and I screamed all the way down.  It was awful.  So today, as much as everyone persuaded me I wanted to hop in the rubber ring and enjoy the Taipan, I simply refused.  El Kenco even tried to lure me with the promise of a warm breeze.  A warm breeze?  I was happy to wait for them at the end and listen to El Kenco's screams as they descended.  We bobbed along the river rapids, entertaining ourselves with comical poses and avoiding - unsuccessfully I might add - Mystical Roo who was intent on directing my rubber ring into the path of jets of water, waterfalls and other such wet things.  After a day in the water we dried off and decided to try out the go-karts.  We hadn't bothered last time as the queue was silly, but today there was no one there, so we figured, why not.  These go-karts were the most rickety and juddery things in the world, but I took the lead and held it until the race was cut short.  Cut short because of some dingbat (a word we should all use more often) who decided to drive his go-kart across the grass in an attempt at some sort of tom foolery.  Stupid man.  He nearly crashed into El Kenco, who I can tell you would not have been happy.  She's feisty!  The attendant called off the race and we all had to leave.  All because of some dingbat.  I like to think I won though.  It was a good day and everyone seemed to have fun.  I think we're all exhausted though.  As I write this I've got Mystical Roo asleep next to me - with his feet on the laptop - , El Kenco asleep on the other sofa and Biltong Boy, somewhere, also asleep.  I feel a bit left out.  Maybe I should have a nap too.  Nap and then dinner.  Sounds good to me!

Little Stalky's Pestle and Mortar



Which is the pestle and which is the
mortar?

 We popped into the dreaded shopping centre earlier on today, to print some photos for our scrapbook.  Whilst Mystical Roo and I were arguing with a computer, El Kenco and Biltong Boy slipped off unoticed.  When they returned I noticed that El Kenco was holding a bag.  It was a gift.  A gift?  For Little Stalky and Mystical Roo.  For Little Stalky and Mystical Roo!  How delightful.  But what could it be.  We got back to the car and I revealed the gift to be a granite pestle and mortar.  I was over the moon.  I've been coveting a pestle and mortar for as long as I can remember and El Kenco had obviously picked up on this.  I've attached a photograph of my wonderful new pestle and mortar. It's wonderfully heavy and really looks the part.  I've been grinding fennel seeds just because I can.  In fact, I can't stop grinding fennel seeds.  We have no need for fennel seeds at the moment, won't be using them in any recipes, but honesly I don't care.  I was just so happy that I could grind, regardless of any need to grind.  Previously, when I've needed a pestle and mortar, I've used a wooden spoon in a bowl.  It just doesn't cut it.  It takes ages and there's the added risk of getting a fennel seed in the eye.  The pestle and mortar does the job in seconds.  It's straight down to business and there's no flying seeds!  Not one.  It's perfect.  It will be given pride of place on the kitchen counter because I don't just want to use it, I want to flaunt it!  Now if someone can just tell me which bit is the pestle and which bit is the mortar then I'll be really happy.

Little Stalky Gets Car Sick

With Mystical Roo back from Brisbane we decided to take El Kenco and Biltong Boy on a drive to see some nearby waterfalls.  An excellent idea.  Except for one problem.  The dreaded road known as Jamberoo Mountain Road.  It's steep, it's bendy, it's narrow and if you're in a caravan then you're in serious trouble.  So caravans and such had better beware.  And if you're a Little Stalky prone to car sickness then you'd better brace yourself.  I've been up and down that road before and suffered as much.  This time I tried to prepare myself.  I sat in the front.  I made sure I wasn't hungry (an empty stomach never seems to help.)  I had my little sea bands on.  I had water.  I had the window open.  But still, by the time we'd reached the top and pulled over at a look out point I was curled up in a whimpering little ball, shaking and wondering if I would have to be sick out the window.  Car sickness is one of the most horrible feelings and as I the older the get the worse I seem to suffer.  Is there such a thing as age related car sickness?  Honestly!  Everyone else was fine and I was just a mess.  My head was dizzy, my stomach was flip flopping and I just wanted to make it all go away.  Horrid.  But worth it when we got to see the waterfalls, which were magnificent.  On the return trip we decided it would be best if I drove back as this somehow seems to thwart the carsickness.  Indeed it did and I was happily winding my way down Jamberoo Mountain Road without a care in the world.  I'm not sure how happy the others were though...

Random Sunburn

I do try my best to look after my skin in the sun.  You have to be careful for health reasons and honestly, no one likes the leather look.  I prefer the snowman look - slathered in so much suntan lotion you can't tell if it's a girl or perhaps some giant albino rabbit...I must say I don't much resemble a rabbit.  Not really.  Anyway, after spending the day on the beach yesterday with El Kenco and Biltong Boy I managed to get myself a most random patch of sunburn on my thigh.  And it was really sore!  I haven't burnt myself in a long time so I'm not really sure what went wrong yesterday.  I'm fairly sure I didn't miss a patch - what with the slathering and all.  I can only think that I must have been sat in one position far too long and had the sun focus it's fury on that one patch of my skin.  I was not amused and have been complaining about it ever since.  I put on some after sun and awaited the pain of the next morning.  But oddly, the pain never came.  In fact, I woke up this morning and the red had pretty much gone brown and it was like the burning had never occurred.  Even more random!  I wasn't complaining though.  Pain gone = good.  Bright red skin gone = good.  Now I'm even more cautious and have been layering it on really thick today.  The suntan lotion that is.  I'm pretty sure I now have a second skin of sunscreen.  No wonder I slid right off my body board.

Pelicans are Massive

One of the things that still amaze me about living here is seeing the pelicans that live by the harbour.  They're such beautiful birds and spectacular to watch.  They're also massive!  I remember seeing one in a wildlife park in England and it seemed very offended every time I got close.  I would walk over to have a look and it would just flap it's wings at me and snap it's beak.  Mystical Roo would do the same and generated no reaction.  Mystical Roo is obviously at one with the birds.  I was therefore a little nervous when seeing the pelicans out in the wild but am pleased to report that so far there have been no incidents.  Today, when I took a walk around the harbour with El Kenco and Biltong Boy, we saw the pelicans in their normal spot near the boat ramp.  There were a few seagulls out trying to get attention but as usual the pelicans were in control.  They're the silent strong types, but quite obviously the dominant bird.  We watched them for a while as they sat and stretched and looked effortlessly cool.  And I kept thinking that pelicans are really massive.  I mean, really, really massive.  I'm pretty sure I could hitch a lift on the back of one.  Not that I would ever try.  After that we wandered off in search of Sting, who remains as elusive as ever.  If I find him, I shall photograph him and post his picture here.  As long as I don't fall in the water. 

A Surreal Start Can Only Lead to Trouble



photographed against a green chopping board

 Well it's been a surreal day today.  Firstly because of an unusual wake up call in the form of a random man.  And I'm not talking Mystical Roo because he was up at the crack of dawn to fly back to Brisbane again.  No.  This was an unidentified random man.  I awoke to a strange sound that seemed to me to be a mixture of someone slamming the wardrobe doors - very enthusiastically I might add - and slamming the shower door.  I couldn't understand why anyone would be marching about the house slamming doors.  I immediately blamed the bamboo loving neighbours.  Who else could it be?  But when the blur of sleep finally cleared I realised that it was someone outside my bedroom window.  Outside my bedroom window?  What on earth?!  Just outside the bedroom window is a tin roof, which overhangs the entrance to the hairdressers.  And this morning there was someone thundering around on my tin roof at approximately 07.30.  Again, what on earth?!  The sound of heavy boots mixed with the tin roof did not make for a polite wake up call.  Intrigued, I went to peer out of the curtains.  And almost fell over when I came face to face with a random man and his hosepipe.  There is nothing dodgy about this.  He really was holding a hosepipe.  Then I realised I was in my nightie and should probably back away from the window.  Which I promptly did.  But I had several questions.  Who was this man on the roof?  Why had no one told us there would be a random man on the roof?  Why was the random man on the roof, on the roof so early in the morning?  Why did the random man have a hosepipe?  All in all it was a strange start to the day.  So with a strange start it only seems appropriate to have a strange end.  Therefore I give you Kevin the Carrot (as pictured).  The result of El Kenco + Little Stalky + beer / left over carrot from lunch + hand crafted sunglasses - Mystical Roo.  There has been much giggling.  

Trumpeting Camels and Stalking Peacocks



Henry the koala - he smells like lemons!



 Today, the three of us (Mystical Roo was at work) took a trip to Nowra Wildlife Park and I'm pleased to report that I successfully drove us there - and back - without getting lost once and without satnav.  I was so proud.  I was excited to show El Kenco and Biltong Boy the beautiful park and it's collection of Aussie animals.  We had a good day for it with the weather behaving itself and cunningly selected a midweek visit for maximum avoidance of children.  We met Henry the koala (pictured) who we were able to stroke and smell.  Yes, he smells like lemons.  El Kenco and Biltong Boy had their photo taken with Henry and then El Kenco and I had our photo taken with a massive python.  Very cool.  Even if he was trying to escape!  We fed the roos, started a chorus of howling amongst the dingoes and made a camel trumpet.  Truly hilarious.  We met some very excited goats who were overly pleased to see us and when I mentioned looking at the emus, heard a goat actually say - in a goat voice of course - nooooooo.  Oh, how we laughed.  There were wombats and crocodiles (not in the same enclosure), a tortoise who was rolling in poo, lizards, chooks and monkeys.  I managed to persuade El Kenco and Biltong Boy to take a ride on the slippery dip - that'll be a slide for most of us - we effectively avoided the Americans (no offense) and enjoyed the beautiful location.  El Kenco had a stalker.  In the form of a peacock (also pictured).  Everywhere we looked the peacock was lurking.  I'm pretty sure he followed us around the whole park.  I think he could smell the roo feed.  El Kenco was sure to hide behind me.  I am the "big" sister after all.  Even if she is like a whole foot taller than me.  The peacock was not to be deterred and kept turning up, peeking around a tree, sneaking up the track, pretending to be a roo.  Damned crazy, attention seeking peacock.  I took his picture to try and make him feel better.  I can't be sure that he didn't sneak into the car for the ride back.  For all I know he might be in the back seat as we speak.  Or sneaking up the stairs...But stalking birds aside, we all had a good time.  Now we just need to see a koala in the wild and we'll all be happy.  I won't hold my breath. 

Peacock - He's a stalker!