new food blog!

I have been reading and writing about cooking so much recently. It has become a real passion. So I have decided to start a second blog, a blog devoted to cooking at http://www.simplycooked.blogspot.com/ called meals with sarah.

To keep all my recipes in the same place and as a complete, searchable database, I copied all my cooking posts from this blog across to meals with sarah. This blog has not changed at all, but on the new blog I have edited the posts to be more food focused. Also I have made a new set of post labels, for example, desserts, bread, veggies, holidays, and so on, to make finding a recipe you remember easier and quicker.

I'm so excited to be starting this new blog. Please add it to your reading list and pass it on to anyone you think might be interested. As always, I value your feedback. Thanks for reading!

trip to Hong Kong

We had a short stopover in Hong Kong on our way back from Australia. What a good idea! It turns out that our friend Pari has an aunt and uncle there, so we were really blessed to be able to stay with them. We loved talking and eating with them, so we actually ended up doing less sightseeing than planned and spent our evenings with them.

The weather was hot and humid, quite a change from Australia's moderate winter weather. It was between 30 and 32 degrees while we were there and mostly raining, or on the verge of raining. It was hot, steamy weather. How did Ant survive? you ask. All the buses, taxis, and buildings are air conditioned. So we walked a bit, then stepped inside for a bit, all the time we were there. Our stopover was two days and three nights in total.

One of our main plans in Hong Kong was to have suits tailored for us. We got these from Sam's Tailors, quite a famous shop in the Kowloon area of Hong Kong. Ant got a navy pinstripe suit with two pairs of trousers and I got a charcoal suit with a skirt and trousers. This was Ant's first fitting (only six hours after we ordered the suits and were measured). They were complete the next day by the close of business!


Sam's keep your measurements on file for ten years and so if we ever want another suit in the same style (perhaps in a different fabric) was can just contact them and they will make it up and send it to us! I reckon we will get Ant another at some point because his suit just fit so well. He could really use a new suit each year so that he starts to build up a collection for work. But I doubt I will ever need more than one bespoke tailored suit since my work is a little more relaxed. I often wear a blazer with any dress trousers or skirt. But this will be my best suit and I will wear it for interviews and parents' evenings. The suits have our names and reference numbers stitched into the inside of the jackets. Wow, that made me feel so special! Ant says he likes the way I look like I am breezing out of Sam's like a natural!


We had a great journey on a traditional Chinese junk boat.


The views of the Hong Kong skylines were wonderful. The city is bustling, but from the water everything seemed much more calm.


Ant and I discovered over the course of this holiday that our favourite parts were all the things we did that involved being on the water. We loved travelling by ferry in Sydney, and especially kayaking in the Sydney harbour. Last summer we kayaked in Halifax as well. We have decided to keep doing water things, and to try to sea kayak any time it is an option.


On one of our two days we walked around the flower market and the bird market. I loved the flower market. There are several streets of flower and plant shops. I wanted to buy so many things! (But of course, flying with plants is not really an option.) There was one flower and plant store that had four levels!


Down the road is the bird market. Since space is at a premium in Hong Kong and almost everyone lives in a small apartment, birds are a common pet. They are more valuable when they have a delicate voice. The rows of bird salesmen were lined up over several streets. (Pari's uncle said that since bird flu the bird market has become much smaller.) The bird market was very noisy.


The birds on sale were mostly very small and pretty. There were lots of vibrant colours. The stalls also sold dry bird food and live crickets to be fed to the birds.


This mosaic was on a wall between the bird and flower markets.


By this time Ant and I were tired and hungry, so we came upon a conveniently placed cake shop. Ant opted for the mini chocolate mousse, no surprise there.


I chose the mango coconut mousse, also not unusual since I always choose fruit over chocolate.


This was my favourite plant. It reminded me of one I saw at Kew Gardens with Mum and Dad a couple of years ago. The leaves are green on the upper side and purple on the underside. The little plant cost about £1!


There was lots more to Hong Kong we would have liked to see. But we tired easily due to the weather and our time there was really short. It was such a natural stopover between here and Australia and we would definitely go there again. A lot of people spoke English due to the ties with the UK (and the vast number of tourists and business people), so my main fear of being stuck and incomprehensible was avoided.

Blue Mountains

Here are a few photographs from our weekend away (a couple of weeks ago) with Chris and Tamra. We drove out of Sydney to the Blue Mountains and stayed overnight in a cottage in a small village called Leura.


The scenery was beautiful as you can see. It was quite a bit colder there than in Sydney, especially when we went down to the valley floor, where there is a rainforest ecosystem.

We visited a beautiful historic house in Leura called the Everglades. The gardens there were stunning, from formal lawns and lines of trees to a waterfall and swimming hole, and also beautiful views off into the Blue Mountains.


The Everglades house is a beautiful art deco building with some rooms open for tea and others furnished in an original style.


We spent quite a lot of time just relaxing and walking around the village. We had cream tea at a little shop that also houses the largest private collection of teapots in the world. This is just one of the six or seven rooms lined with teapots.


Chris and Tam's son Ethan is now three months old and absolutely adorable. Ant and I were very impressed with his expressive face. Chris and Tam are such relaxed and comfortable parents; we think this has rubbed off on Ethan because he is a very relaxed and predictable baby.

kayaking

Kayaking on the Sydney harbour was a fantastic experience. Ant and I would completely recommend it. We had a private tour that started at 6:30 am with Patrick from Natural Wanders. Our paddle took us from Lavender Bay, under the Harbour Bridge (avoiding the ferries) and along the shoreline of Kirribilli then around Kirribilli Point opposite the Opera House.


We paddled past Admiralty House (the Governor General's residence) and Kirribilli House (Prime Minister's residence) the along to Neutral Bay. In Neutral Bay we looked at some famous racing yachts and followed the shoreline around Kurabba Point into Shell Cove then along Cremorne Peninsula and around the lighthouse at Robertson Point into Mosman Bay.


After our paddle around Mosman Bay we took a more direct route across the harbour back to Lavender Bay. In total we paddled 12 km. Here we are, tired and happy, returning under the bridge.

the zoo

Ant, Micah, Anna, and I went to the Taronga Zoo today. Micah's favourite were the giraffes. See how the two giraffes (above) both have their back legs crossed? I am not sure why they do this, but we saw that they all did this while standing still. They are so elegant in the way they walk as well.

The giraffe has one more leg joint than we do and this means they can bend over their front legs. This one is doing the splits to reach something on the ground!


These stately sheep were completely motionless.

Micah says it is a differential equations problem to explain the formation of the stripes on the zebra. Even the hair running down their necks fits in with the stripes.

Ant took a break with this huge seal (statue).


There was an Australian habitat, where you could walk right alongside the kangaroos and wallabies. They were very docile.


We also saw lots of animals that were much more difficult to photograph, like the echidnas, my favourite. They are little balls of spikes with a snuffling snout.

the Sydney harbour

A lot of the sight seeing we have been doing centres on the harbour; it is so beautiful! On Saturday Micah and Anna took us to Manly Beach. We went there on the ferry and then we bought some fish and chips and walked along the beach. It is not really warm enough for swimming but there were quite a few people surfing. When we were coming home on the ferry the sun was setting.


Today Ant and I went out for a walk; first we took the train to Circular Quay, where all the ferry wharfs are. The best view of the harbour, Micah says, is to be had from the train station. The view here is from across the platform.


We then took a ferry to Cremorne Point and started to walk along the point. We saw some stunning buildings and very lovely gardens. We saw these beautiful flowers.


And we also saw lots of sailing boats.


And to finish, here is a photo unrelated to the harbour. On Saturday evening we went for a very enjoyable game of Australian rules football at the Sydney cricket ground. It was so much fun! I was astounded. The game was very close and we all lost our voices from cheering and hooting.

Sydney sight seeing

Ant and I have been out several times now to the city. Last week we went into the city and stopped at David Jones foodhall (a posh department store) for a picnic, which we took to the Botanic Gardens near the Opera House. We really enjoyed walking around the Opera House and the harbour and seeing the bridge nearby. Then we walked around the Rocks area of Sydney and then over the bridge. From the bridge we got this great view of the Opera House.


The bridge walk was really excellent--a nice brisk walk with great views. We felt pleasantly energetic afterwards. (We have not been sight seeing every day. On other days we have been relaxed and not doing too much at home with Micah and Anna!)

marriage

Last week my grandparents reached an amazing milestone: sixty years married. They are pictured here with their five children and five children in-law. The picture is taken in the back garden of the house they bought when my dad (standing directly behind Grammie and Grandad) was an infant. I am so pleased for them and hope that I can also reach such a goal. (Although even if I am married for my whole life, we might not reach our sixtieth anniversary!) We feel pleased that we are now quite close to our five year anniversary.

relaxing

Micah and Anna have a big world map on their dining area wall. They have small sticky dots that mark the places they have been (which is defined as at least one night). Ant and I were talking at dinner today about where we have been (Micah and Anna were out so we were on our own.) Until now, we have visited places only in Europe and North America. And this is the first time we have visited the Southern hemisphere. On our return journey we get to spend three days in Hong Kong. This is a picture we took in the Hong Kong airport because of the rising hills behind the plane. We are looking forward to a totally different cultural experience when we go there.


Australia feels like quite a similar culture. The supermarket feels Canadian and the train stations feel English. Today we slept really late and relaxed at the apartment; we didn't go into the city at all. (Daytime TV seems to be the same types of things as well.) We picked up a few things at the grocery store across the road for dinner. On the way back we walked through this small park. Micah and Anna's apartment building is the white brick building hidden behind the trees at the end of the park on the left. (You might need to click on the picture for a bigger view!)


I cooked up a small storm in the small kitchen.


I was trying out a recipe I read online today, Butternut Squash and Red Lentil Dal. Yum. Micah and Anna have the biggest and most diverse spice and herb collection I have ever seen. I could make anything using their supplies.

welcome to Sydney

Wow--the massive journey is over. And actually we don't feel too bad. What I thought might be 24 hours of continuous, awake travelling was actually two night flights with a short day in between. We took off from Heathrow at about 11 pm Friday night. We were served a nice meal and then we straight away took sleeping tablets and nodded off. (Ant and I were both determined to sleep and Ant had also survived an extremely busy week at work.) I think we managed to sleep for about seven hours! Then we had breakfast and the flight landed in Hong Kong at 5 pm local time: Saturday. We walked around the airport while the plane was refuelling. Then we boarded again and took off for our second night flight. Another evening meal and then sleeping tablets and off to sleep. We slept for another five hours and then landed in Sydney: Sunday morning!

Micah came to pick us up at the airport and helped us get to his apartment. It's so great to see Micah and Anna again! Their apartment looks like a real home. Here is their photo wall (all held up with velcro!).


We walked over to the shopping centre over the road and got Micah and Anna a TV set top box so Ant can watch the Grand Prix tonight. Micah enjoyed reading the translated instruction manual.


We are going to have a little nap now. Hopefully then we will be able to stay up for the rest of the day. So far, so good with the jet lag.

packing and away!

Well, we leave for the airport shortly. Ant and I have had a hard time filling these suitcases. They are so roomy and virtually weightless. We are also more modest packers than ever before. So in an effort to fill up my case I added extra pyjama bottoms, and a completely frivolous pair of shoes.


We have checked over and over which airport it is from which we are leaving. I feel confident we will go to the right one this time! I am more than a bit nervous about the long flight. I have got two audiobooks (The Most Wanted Man by John le Carre and Fortune's Rocks by Anita Shreve), one very large novel (The Constant Gardener, by John le Carre) and one book of short stories (by Carol Shields). I have a Healthy magazine that I have been saving as well. I have my iPod and my computer. Ant brought his own reading and also cribbage and Flux (card games). And there will of course be movies and music on the plane. I also have a supply of Nytol, a sleeping aid. I am determined to get some sleep on this flight. I am sure we will be exhausted, but any sleep is worth it! We arrive early on Sunday morning, so we have the difficult task of staying awake all day when we first get there. I hope Micah will poke me!

a day of rest

I spent a lovely Sunday today. A few weeks ago we were studying the Sabbath in our home group. I think we all become much more convinced that a day of rest, worship, and serving God was an essential part of our lives. Today I really had a good day or rest. After church I bought The Observer (the Sunday version of the Guardian). I had planned to do this because of the Observer Food Monthly magazine that I wanted to read. After lunch Ant was trying out his new Wii game and I was curled up on the couch with my many newspaper sections, including the Food Monthly. I think I sat there, reading, for about an hour and a half. It was so nice to relax properly--quite often I am quite driven to do chores when I am at home, or to worry about them if not actually do them. This was a nice change that I think I will repeat again soon.

Other parts of my nice Sunday included a great church service, veggie laden food, baking a loaf of Irish Brown Soda Bread (below), and doing a little clearing of clutter. How was your Sunday?

getting ready for the holidays

Ant and I went out and did a handful of errands today. The most important thing was that we needed new suitcases. We are travelling to Australia next weekend and the baggage restrictions are tighter than on our usual flights to Canada. So we bought the Domo Sub-0-G cases--apparently the lightest suitcases in the world! The two cases we bought were the same outside measurements as our current big cases (although the shop sold a bigger size!) and they only weigh 2.65 kg each. Our current big cases weigh 4.6 kg (American Tourister) and 5.6 kg (Samsonite). The luggage allowance is one 20 kg bag each--so the bag is now only 13% of the allowance instead of up to 25%.

We also got some earplugs, and we intend to try them out this week. We got a small luggage spring scale, so we can take it with us and weigh our luggage before our return trip as well (we are so nerdy!). Ant got some books for the trip. We bought two compression bags to try out--they hold about two sweaters, and they have a one-way valve so you can squish all the air out after sealing the bag.

We are starting to get really excited. We are both desperately in need of a relaxing break from work. We can't wait to see Micah and Anna and a few other friends as well!

happy birthday to Ant!

Last week it was my wonderful husband's birthday. It was the ninth anniversary of his twenty first birthday...! I love his big smile and how he makes me laugh. He always knows how to perk me up and he's so supportive of me. I love him. x

upcoming baking?

I have never been a big baker. But I am starting to warm to the idea of making some bread (Mum, are you proud?). Here are a few recipes I reckon I could try since they are all rated easy in some aspect--time spent or work involved.

Irish Brown Bread--It's a quick bread, so I think it will suit me. No proving time required. And it's whole wheat.

No-Knead Bread--You mix it in the evening and bake it the next morning, in a pot. Sounds strange. It is talked about on every food blog.

Faster No Knead Bread--An adaptation that takes a lot less time.

Mother, don't be too proud, though. I am still just thinking about making bread. No dough has yet been made!

career building

This week I spent a day at a maths teaching conference at the University of Hertfordshire, just north of London. I presented this poster stand during coffee breaks and also got to attend some sessions and lectures. The stand next to mine was a lot more colourful and this meant I didn't get into too many conversations with the delegates! But it was fun to go there and learn a few things.