The Week Before...

Taking inspiration from Karen at Bookbath's 'The Week that Was' - where she posts photo's from the previous week... here are some photo's of my previous weeks journeys to Brisbane and Melbourne....

Sofitel Brisbane

Melbourne - South Bank

Dinner Party

Authentic Lebanese Fattoush Salad

Spiced Rice

Hazelnut Date Loaf

After spending the last few weeks away from home for various different work functions and training, I was home this weekend - yeh! And I spent most of Saturday cleaning the house, and preparing a Lebanese Feast for my partners Birthday celebrations with friends. I enjoy the challenge of finding a theme and creating things I've not done before. I have to say this was a simple challenge - the Lebanese use a yummy mix of lemons, garlics and soft spices like Cinnamon and nutmeg...it's simple to prepare, and there's plenty of opportunity to be a bit creative. I also simply enjoyed going to the garden to collect the salad ingredients.

The meal was delicious!!

Menu

1. Flat bread and home made Hommous
2. Fattoush Salad
3. Spiced Rice
4. Marinated Chicken skewers
5. Hazelnut Date Loaf

Lest we forget

It's the 11th day of the 11th month, and this year is also the 11th year of the millennium - 11/11/11. In Australia, we Remember them on the 11th hour.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
between the crosses, row on row,
that mark our place, and in the sky
the larks, still bravely singing, fly
scarce heard amid the guns below.

we are the dead. short days ago
we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
loved and were loved, and now we lie,
in Flanders Fields.

Take up your quarrel with the foe:
to you from failing hands we throw
the torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
we shall not sleep, though poppies grow
in Flanders Fields.

John McCrae

Friday Fillins

1. In November, I most look forward to roses blooming, parrots in the garden, and eating strawberries from the the bush.

2. Today the sun is shinning...phew!

3. It's right there, in the window....... (the one with the wagging tail)
4. Today. I wish you all peace of mind.

5. Water, taken in moderation, can not hurt anyone (Mark Twain)

6. Take one, but don't tell your mother.....is what my grandmother used to say!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to resting well, tomorrow my plans include going for a bike ride, eating strawberries from the bush, and Sunday, I want to go to the beach!

To see more Friday Fillins click here.

Visiting the Gong

I've had a strange couple of weeks, travelling with work and busy with my voluntary roles, and living without the modern technology of TV's, stereos and portable telephones. I had the computer replaced by insurance and the other electricals are on their way. So things are becoming normal again (what ever that means as we lead up to Christmas!)

Anyway - this weekend I've been in 'The Gong' (Wollongong) for some training, and I took these photo's this morning on my phone while I was out walking. Thought I'd share this beautiful coastline with you too. It was a lovely way to spend the morning, and to allow the rolling waves to take away the cares of the world, so I could just sit with the creator and be in awe!

Off line for a week or two

I want to apologise for my recent absence. Our house was recently hit by an electrical serge and many of our communication devices were damaged. Just waiting for WiFi to get up again. Until then I can only post when I'm out at a WiFI Hot Spot. More Soon.

Monsoon Wedding

In 2007 and 2009 I travelled to India with my friend Chris to volunteer as an english teacher at this girls school and hostel in Tamil Nadu. (The school is managed by ODAM and receives part government funding for students up to 8th standard). We fell in love with these beautiful girls and made a commitment to continue to support the school as we could. Since 2007 Chris and I have hostel an annual fund raising event, either an Indian dinner or Indian Movies to raise enough money to fund the girls school uniforms and other necessary school items.

Next week Chris is off to school again, this time without me and with a new recruit. It's both sad and exciting for me to help them in their preparations. I'm really excited that Chris is able to go again and Lin wants to go also. I'm sad that I wont be there with them.

So this week we held our annual event, and so far we've raised the same amount of money we did last year. This year our money will be going to fund the purchase of bunks and mattresses for the older girls who have for the past 5 years been sleeping on the floor.

We had 75 people come to see Monsoon Wedding in a local art house theatre where we could start the evening with Indian nibbles, make a small presentation about our school and draw our raffle before the movie started.

Monsoon Wedding was a fantastic movie, with all the colour of Indian Weddings, and three (maybe more) love stories being threaded together. The arranged marriage of a fathers only daughter brings him untold amount of stress, however his love for his daughter and her orhpaned cousin is just beautifully portrayed. The Bride coming to terms with changes in her life realises her soon to be husband is the right man for her. And the wedding decorator discovers his own love for the family's servant as the chaos of the wedding unfolds.



You too can donate to ODAM here.....