Weekend Activities

The heat was rather horrid here on the Sunny Coast over the weekend, so the main part of the day was spent inside in the air conditioning.  On Friday, from late morning until 5.30 I helped friends put up a "dog proof" fence at their new property. Firstly we had to remove the old netting and barbed wire - I thought that stuff was long gone, but obviously not. I think in NZ it isn't sold anymore. The ants weren't happy with us disturbing their homes in the posts - they can be really aggressive - I don't like them. My friends had already put in new posts within the boundary of the property to make a smaller area for the dogs. It was hot work, but very satisfying to see the finished product. They worked for another 1.5hrs to finish the last little stretch after I left, only to have one of the dogs start to dig out underneath it - little horror. An electric wire is going to be run around the bottom and about 1/3 of the way up as both of them are climbers as well.


On Saturday I returned there after 4pm to watch the "burn" pile be consumed, instead we demolished the walls of the built in back entertainment area. Once again, ants had made their homes between pieces of wood and were very upset to have all their eggs fall down onto the ground. In this area, the previous owner must have been concerned about his building skills and compensated by using 'millions' of nails. It has made such a difference opening the area up. There are still supporting posts to be replaced that are rotting and others to take out completely, then new paving to be laid etc. They'll get there, slowly but surely.

Sunday morning I attended hill sprint and resistant training as part of my Gold Coast Kokoda training - it was brutal, but I'll be back. I definitely need to work on my cardio fitness.

Then I went up to the Noosa Farmers Market for the first time. I had contacted Supernatural Organics about purchasing some garlic corms off them for me to try and grow my own garlic here. Due to the climate being so warm all year around, I wanted to get garlic corms that have been acclimatised to the area. They were so lovely and told me if I couldn't make it to the market they would post a kg down to me, however that would, of course, increase the price. Peter and Wendy were so lovely to meet in person and gave me some very helpful advice. I am looking forward to growing my own garlic this season. While at the markets I found a couple selling salami - plain pork without nitrates and a pistachio and prosciutto salami plus some cheese, one of which they imported from France and was delicious. I had to buy one of each. My lunch today will be consist of some of the pistachio salami and the cheese. There were lots of other tempting goodies to buy, however, I resisted and left before temptation got the better of me.

I finished the day off with grocery shopping and baking - baking for the young adults who live here and for the 'extras' that it appears are living here as well - to take with their lunches - cheaper than buying muesli bars and the likes. I actually enjoy baking, although struggle to not eat it while it is still warm - a real no no for me at the moment as I am not eating any sugar and only low carbs each day. Feel so much better for it too. Then it was dinner, which considered of chicken and a 'fat' salad, made of salad leaves, cucumber, tomato, olives, capsicum and feta cheese with a dressing made with a natural greek yogurt base - delicious. There was hardly any left, so the boys must have liked it.

1 comment Baking, Exercise, Friends

A Snapshot of my week

I'm not sure where the days go and sometimes I can't even remember what I've done on each day - should I worry about that I wonder! Each day started off with some form of exercise, either at Moffat Beach Studio or Plus Fitness in Beerwah, out in the community or at the beach and three times ended up with exercise on the treadmill and rowing machine at the gym.

Monday: Fine weather, so it was in to the gardens at home for me. I started on the back garden, a narrow long one that had 5 Cordyline things and ground cover in it. The Cordyline's are in the wrong place as the washing gets caught in them. I cut them back, dug them out and they will have a new home at Ross and Bernie's. I also saved some of the ground cover for them. The rest went into the garden bin. I also weeded the front garden, put some more compost onto it and planted a capsicum out there. Three chillies and two eggplants went into the 3/4's of the back garden I got completed. I'll finish the rest another day, once my garden bin is emptied. Both it and my compost bin are full at the moment. Lawns also got a mow and I swam a kilometre in the local pool. I was very happy with my time, 32 mins and 11 seconds, the best I've ever done and I didn't have to stop - amazing. I haven't swum since the beginning of the year. I want to try and swim a couple of times a week.

Before

After

Tuesday: Looked after the grand daughter's for the day. They survived and so did I, just. Tamara did not want to sleep - little monkey, so I put them both in the double pushchair and we went for a 5 km walk. Pushing an extra 25 kg's up hills, even if they are small ones, got the sweat running off me.

Wednesday: Moffat Beach for exercise - two classes then a 3 km walk/jog along the beach. I live in a beautiful part of the world. There were lots of dogs out being exercised too. Some swam eagerly, others reluctantly and one I saw wouldn't be tempted near the water at all.

Then I spent a couple of hours with an amazing woman who I have known since high school and who is the mother of my eldest nephew. She is 'actively dying' of Metastasized Breast Cancer and now has (supposedly) weeks to live, with the "pacmen" as she calls them, taking up residence in her brain, liver and lungs as well as all through her bones. We went op shopping. If Leslee has her way, her determination, humour and strength of will, will keep her alive until next year.  She is quite inspirational. 

Then I headed up to my Aunts for the night. Each evening, a strong sea breeze gets up and the kite surfers have a ball out in the entrance to the Maroochy River. This was our view from her apartment.

I counted 13 Kite Surfers at one stage. 

Thursday I went for a bike ride, walk along the beach, swim and bike ride back home again with my Aunt and some of her very fit "young" 70 something year old friends. It was a beautiful day and the water was delightful, once in. Getting in took a little bit though. I was very pleasantly surprised at how warm the water was.

Friday: Beach session, then to the Community Gardens to give them a good watering. The hot days and drying winds have removed all the moisture from the ground that the days of rain we had deposited. Then I met up with my old Team Leader for lunch, bought some preserving jars so I can bottle some of the beetroot out of the community gardens, made another batch of mango chutney (no more mangoes in the freezer now), bottled the Kombucha and baked some Lemon and Macadamia Biscuits. I sure I have done other things as well, like vacuuming, washing floors, laundry, grocery shopping etc, but they are just the normal day to day things that occur, no matter what else I am attempting to squeeze into my days.

2 comments Baking, family, Fitness, Friends, leisure, Preserving

The EKKA

On Sunday I went to The Ekka for the first time. I was expecting a bit like a NZ Agricultural Show, with animals, Country Woman's Institute competitions, side shows and rides, but I was really blown away by the size of the Ekka. It certainly is larger than any Royal Show I've been to in NZ, similar, just on a grander scale.

I went with a friends - a girls day out. We traveled down to Brisbane by train, which can be an experience in itself, depending on who you are sharing the carriage with. Travelling by train, with pre-purchased Ekka tickets is the cheapest way to get there and takes the stress out of driving into Brisbane, trying to find a park, etc, etc.

Our first port of call once at Ekka was the animals, well, second actually, the first was food and beverage :) I'm a country girl at heart, having grown up spending school holidays and weekends on my Aunts and Uncles farms, so the smells of cattle, horses and sheep, and their by-products does not worry me, nor the size some of the bulls get too. We did have a giggle hearing an obviously 'townie' lady saying 'look at the big dairy cow, she must give lots of milk' - it was a bull! The photo above and to the left is a Brahman Angus cross bull who was as gentle as a lamb. He loved a scratch behind the ear, especially from the ladies, as you can see from the photo on the right.  I am on the left and my friend Helen on the right.

I could have spent a lot longer looking at the art work, all the competition cakes, pikelets, scones, smocked dresses etc. The quilts were amazing. I wish I could have taken photos of them to share with you, however that was not allowed. I can't begin to imagine the hours and hours and patience needed to complete these quilts. Some were as large as a king sized bed - just mind blowing. I managed to get some photos of the horticultural society displays. Having a horticultural background, I worked in horticulture in NZ for 18 years, I would have loved to seen more of these, but we had limited time and lots of ground to cover.

Called "A bed of flowers" and it was in a bed frame

A floral display in one of the horticultural displays.

I was absolutely gobsmacked when I got taken to the  "show bag" building. I thought 'show bags' were plastic bags that you had to pay exorbitant amounts for, containing lollies and other junk. I was so very wrong. I ended up buying an exercise based one - the leg weights in it were worth the amount I paid and they were only the beginning of the goodies the "gym" bag that was the 'show bag' contained. I could have done my Xmas Shopping there, if only I had known - oh well, there is always next year.




We stayed to watch the "family fireworks". I have to admit to being a bit disappointed in them, but I was told they are only the "early ones" and to see the really big display, you have to come on closing night. Still, I got a couple of semi-descent photos.

All in all, I had a good time, and wouldn't hesitate to go again next year. I'd go on the Saturday though and get there at opening time, so I could sit at the main arena and watch some of the show jumping as well as see some of the cattle being judged.  I'd also make sure I was better prepared for the monetary outlay that attending a show likes this entails. Everything, food, water, rides, side shows seems to cost an arm and a leg, not that I'm interested in the rides or sideshows.

We did find and buy these amazing scarf things that you wet with cold tap water, wring out, shake vigorously 5 or 6 times and then wrap around your neck - they are cold and when they get a bit warm, just re-shake and they are instantly cold again - marvelous for us menopausal, hot flushing ladies, or just because it is a hot day and you want to cool down. We also tasted Balsamic Reductions, all different flavours - I got a card of them and will be ordering some on-line. The dessert Salted Caramel, I could have just drunk from the bottle. I tried again, and this time like some beef jerky. I even bought a bag of the Teriyaki flavoured one and will take on my big walks as a light, easy to eat, low fat protein.

I'll leave you with a photo of this wool fellow, who wasn't sporting an incredible fleece like his camera shy mate in the pen next door. We don't see merino's like this where I come from in the North Island of NZ, so he rather took my fancy. NZ does breed and produce very fine fleeced merino wool in the South Island and there is nothing nicer to wear on a cold winters day than an NZ merino/possum jersey. I wouldn't like to come in contact with those horns though.

Leave a Comment Animals, Fireworks, Flowers, Friends, Fun, leisure