<< As a result of THAT habit I AM getting older and....wider! >>

Haaahahaha!!

I’ve got rosies in my backyard too Ginx… pale-headed rosellas, that is. They love getting into the green Sorghum seedheads. A resident pair of bush stone-curlews have raised numerous youngns over the years and all manner of other birds are local residents or regular visitors. That’s what I love most about my home environment.

Hasbeen, I love to explore my wild hinterland. I’ve done it to a huge extent over the last 25 years, hiking up the ranges and out into the back country where no other non-Aboriginal human has probably ever been.

I’m an avid botanical explorer, which has really paid off in terms of many great discoveries, within a short distance of Townsville.

Ginx, that's decadent, almost.

I like to spread it in fresh bread, & let it soak in for an hour or so, before eating it. I am not getting much wider, but it is somewhat further from my front to my back.

Foxy, your post was almost cruel, for a bloke who's been batching for a week or more. Since the grand kids started my wife has gone somewhat clucky. She is down in Sydney, minding our son after his operation.

I've been living on toasted ham sandwiches, & stake. Not much veggies, but some fruit, & your post has my mouth watering. I used to eat at a little restaurant in Balmain, Sydney, run by a not young Hungarian lady. She had a weekly menu of just such food. It was great, she would fuss around her people, most of whom were regulars, while her husband did the cooking out back.

Ludwig, I used to anchor quite often in Island Head Creek, just north of the Broad Sound army training ground. Miles pf pristine beaches,. where we would find black coral washed up, & thousands of acres of near virgin scrub to explore. Always something new to find, but you needed a good sense of direction.

It was a regular anchorage for a few prawn trawlers. They fish all night, then anchor up all day, staying "out" for a number of days. They had always drunk any alcohol they had started with, so a bucket offered with couple of bottles of cold beer in it, would always come back at least half full of prawns. Heaven

Lovely stuff here!

(I might add that my reference to a little light relief was in no way directed to other matters I'm currently involved in on OLO...!! But to highlight that OLO is a serious debating forum, and it is a breath of fresh air to have threads like this. Thanks again).

There is nothing nicer that watching friends or family enjoy what is put before them;-to appreciate the food and the ambiance-nice one Fox!
(I have just done a leg of pork in cider, a throwback from my ancient cookery school days-but delish!).

Ludders: I have those flashy glaring type Rosella's. They really tickle me! They are so noisy-yet try to sneak into the apple trees!!
I actually say to them-"I know you're there". A colourful little face will pop into vision, looking down at me, and for all the world looking as if he/she is saying-"what?,-I'm not doing anything."

These are things of value to us.

Hasbeen: I saw a recipe online whereby the condensed milk is put into a LARGE (it boils up) microwave bowl-and brought to boiling until REALLY thick (NOT the caramel thing-boiling in the tin). You then chill in the fridge-and role into decadent balls. (Important: click micro on an off as this stuff heats up, watch it carefully).

These are the Portuguese?? Dolce a Leche type truffles.

I HAVE tried to do this but have got no further than opening the can with spoon in hand...

All these reveries about condensed milk reminded me that my mother resorted to feeding it to me when I was a baby - apparently there was nothing else that seemed to agree with me. I was a quite a healthy child so it must have set me up all right. In fact, I feel as if I'm missing out on something here - will have to give it another tasting.

I'm slow-cooking a Italian casserole at the moment, as my mother, daughter and her partner are coming for lunch. We all take turns at preparing a meal most Saturdays, depending on whose house it's at. Thoroughly enjoyable.

I've got a beaut recipe for
Semolina Pudding:

Try this for a finicky breakfaster.

Boil:

2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar

Add:

1/2 cup semolina
Stir and cook the semolina over low heat
until thick.

Add and stir until melted:

1 tablespoon butter

Remove saucepan from heat. Beat in one
at a time:

2 egg yolks
Cool. Add:

1 teaspoon vanilla

Place on a platter and whip until stiff, but
not dry:

2 egg whites.

Fold into the semolina mixture.

This can be used as a dessert and served cold with:

Cream, stewed fruit, or crushed sweetened berries.

My children were raised on this - they and my husband
love it to this day. As well as French toast, and
American pancakes... ;-)

Another wonderful thread Hasbeen.

Renovating my home, saving the money to complete little tasks week by week, month by month, given am starting all over after 18 years. The excitement of completing the huge front garden [last winter], the anticipation of knowing that I will have concrete or pavers as a driveway by next winter and not keep paddling my way to the front door in a foot of icy water lol. The exhilaration of installing three security screen doors to keep the flies out during summer, and have a beautiful back verandah completed by this summer to entertain family and friends with my barbeques! I have waited a long time to entertain and enjoy barbeques in a place of my own!

By Christmas time hopefully will have replaced the rotted parquetry and ruined tiles.

Next year...an extension to lease out a granny flat!

Mid next year, after enjoying my completed home efforts, I intend enjoying a vietnamese mountain bike tour for my first holiday in many many years.