Narrowboat dreaming....

Cookbooks & recipes

2012-02-25T19:33:00.000+11:00

I've been adding recipes to my blog so that we can cook our favourite meals while we're overseas. I would hardly want to take recipe books with us so this way I have an easy resource to find the recipes we use most. A lot of the recipes come from a series of books (soft cover) called Symply Too good to be True .

When my younger brother moved out of home his mum (my step-mother) gave him the set of 5 cookbooks. They are written by Annette Sym and adapt many popular recipes to make them healthier. When my brother and his now wife moved in together they started cooking most of their meals from these books. I stay with them one night a week so have shared many a dinner with them. I was soon a big fan of "the books" too. A couple of years ago I ordered all five of them for home. There really has been only a couple of dishes that I wouldn't make again.

So now each week I go through the books and mark the recipes for the week. It's easy to add those ingredients to a shopping list and we know what we'll have for dinner each night. A lot of the recipes use common ingredients so we keep stock, spices, curry pastes, tins etc in the pantry. There's many weeks now that I buy nothing but meat and vegetables. It's made life easier with our new work hours.

Passport on it's way

2012-02-24T17:46:00.002+11:00

I had a quick visit to Sydney this week to apply for my Finnish passport. Finally it's on it's way!

I booked flights to allow plenty of time to spare in case of a delay - I didn't want to go all the way to Sydney and run out of time to do what I went there for. As it turned out I needn't have worried. I got a text message from Qantas saying my flight home had been cancelled and I should ring to re-schedule. The passport dealing had already been done so I changed to an earlier flight. Perfect!

Recipe - Moussaka

2012-02-18T19:48:00.001+11:00

We've made this recipe once before and really liked it. Last week we made it again to use up a pile of fresh tomatoes that were no longer quite so fresh. The meat sauce got a bit more cooking and I added a bit more tomato paste and omitted the two tins (crushed & puree). With our square lasagne dish, it fitted in well but we only used about 2/3 of the white sauce. We had dinner 3 nights in a row from this dish and... it was delicious!

From Symply Too Good to be True

INGREDIENTS

2 mediumeggplants, cut lengthways into 1cm slices

½ cup gratedcheese

MEAT SAUCE

500g leanlamb mince

1 cup onion,diced

1 tspcrushed garlic (in jar)

2 tsp beefstock powder

2 tbsptomato paste

410g cantomato puree

425g cancrushed tomatoes

WHITE SAUCE

1 tbspmargarine

3 tbsp plainflour

2 cups skimmilk

1 x 30gsachet Continental 4 cheese sauce

METHOD

Preheat oven200 degrees

Generouslyspray frypan with cooking spray and cook eggplant slices until lightlybrowned. Spray pan between each batch ofeggplant.

MEAT SAUCE

Spray samefrypan with cooking spray and sauté mince. Drain off any liquid. Add onionand garlic and cook 3 minutes. Addremaining ingredients, bring to boil and simmer until beginning to reduce. Set aside.

WHITE SAUCE

In a mediumsaucepan melt margarine, add flour and stir well. Slowly add milk, whisk to avoid lumps. Stircontinuously and once boiled add cheese sauce sachet using a whisk. Set aside.

TO ASSEMBLE

Divideeggplant slices into 3 portions. Coat lasagna dish with cooking spray, placelayer of eggplant slices on base. Cover with ½ the meat sauce then add anotherlayer of eggplant. Top with remaining meat sauce, then last layer of eggplant.Spread white sauce over the top then sprinkle with grated cheese.

Bake 30-35minutes.

Update - new job

2012-02-16T21:10:00.001+11:00

I've had 6 weeks at my new job and so far so good. It has meant a bit of a change to our weekly routine.

Firstly, I only spend one night a week away from home, compared to 2 or 3 for my previous job.

Secondly, I work Fridays which we haven't done for 10 years! So I have Mondays off and Mick has Fridays off.

Finally on Wednesdays to Fridays I work 9 to 5. I haven't done that since 1987!! I'm an early bird and have always started work between 7 and 7.30am and finished before 4pm. It gave me a couple of hours of uninterrupted work time in the mornings so my day was much more productive. Finishing work at 5pm now means I don't get home until 6pm so we need to plan our meals ahead.

Exchange rate - 68p !!

2012-02-15T07:20:00.000+11:00

Why oh why can't we sell our house. The exchange rate between the Aussie dollar and the British pound is over 68p! We'd never have thought it. I remember reading an article when it was in the high 50's that predicted it could reach 70p. That seemed pretty unbelievable at the time. But, we're not far off right now.

Fingers crossed it holds out long enough for us to sell up and have money to exchange.

Poem - Waltzing Matilda

2012-02-14T07:00:00.000+11:00

This one is best known as a song - a sort of unofficial national anthem of Australia. It was the second choice by public poll when the anthem was changed in the early 1980's. I recall there being some dissent over the suggestion of it being the anthem. How could we have a national anthem about a swaggie stealing a sheep and then drowning himself?!

WALTZING MATILDA by Banjo Patterson

Oh! there once was a swagman camped in the Billabong,
Under the shade of a Coolabah tree;
And he sang as he looked at his old billy boiling,
"Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me."

Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda, my darling,
Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?
Waltzing Matilda and leading a water-bag --
Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?

Down came a jumbuck to drink at the water-hole,
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him in glee;
And he sang as he put him away in his tucker-bag,
"You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me!"

Down came the Squatter a-riding his thorough-bred;
Down came Policemen -- one, two, and three.
"Whose is the jumbuck you've got in the tucker-bag?
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me."

But the swagman, he up and he jumped in the water-hole,
Drowning himself by the Coolabah tree;
And his ghost may be heard as it sings in the Billabong,
"Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?"

Passport application

2012-02-13T16:47:00.001+11:00

Finally today I received confirmation that I'm officially on the Finnish population register as a citizen. All details had to be properly recorded before I could apply for a passport and now it's finally done.

It's a bit of a nuisance really because you have to apply in person at the consulate in Sydney. I don't live in Sydney! I just don't understand why countries in the EU can't have a single office in each capital city for the purpose of collecting biometric details for their passports. Instead, different countries collect data in different cities. I remember Tom (nb Waiouru) having to come to Melbourne from Adelaide to have his biometric details taken for his British visa. Melbourne would be good for me but no, I have to go to Sydney. Oh well. It will all be worth it to have that passport in my hand. My ticket to a year in England.

I better go check out flights to Sydney.

Before and almost finished

2012-02-12T13:19:00.000+11:00

For everyone who has asked for progress photos from the house up the street.... inside is very nearly finished although not quite. I took a couple of photos on my phone today but they aren't the best.

The first two are before and after of the kitchen. Amazing what a good paint job can do! Even the kitchen cupboards are the same ones. They did get new door knobs though. We bought a pair of flat pack drawer units to make up the island and Mick made a benchtop (draped with a drop sheet in the photo!) for it and side panels painted to match the cupboard doors. We haven't bought the rangehood yet.

The pantry got a window, some flat pack cupboards and Mick's made up benchtop. Now there's also a space for a fridge or freezer to the right of the new window.

More later.....

Pick of the week - Griffin

2012-02-11T08:45:00.000+11:00

This one is something different. I don't think we'd buy a boat fitted out in a really modern style but it's worth a look because it's interesting. It looks more like a modern apartment than a narrowboat but that gives it a bright and airy look. I'll keep an eye out and see how long it takes to sell!

nb Griffin - listed with ABNB
nb Griffin - PDF

C'mon.... rain!!!

2012-02-10T19:28:00.001+11:00

Driving home from work this evening the sky was very dark ahead. I could see lightening flashing and knew I was driving into a storm. I was within a few kilometres of our exit from the highway and it was raining heavily. Just ahead I could see flashing police lights and all the cars were pulled over to the sides of the road on both sides of the highway. When I got closer I saw why. The road was awash with hail stones that continued to pelt down. It looked like there was snow everywhere!

The exit was within sight so I carefully crawled along and turned off the highway. It was strange driving with the hail crunching under the tyres.

It was even more nerve wracking on the side road - it's lined with gum trees that arch over the road from both sides. I'm always nervous driving under gums when it's very windy or raining hard. Just the other day a woman had a very close call when a large limb fell on her car as she was driving. She was very lucky.

The hail petered out shortly after leaving the highway but the rain was very heavy. Water was rushing across the road in several places - doing nothing for my nerves. In the floods last year I had a few times where I had to drive through water that was threatening to wash the cars off the road. I was worried that the sections of road ahead that had been under water last year may be in the same state now. But... the rain eased as I drove and by the time I got home was not much more than a drizzle.

There's lots of rumbling thunder and the sky is dark but here at home there isn't much rain. It's just what we need right now too. The garden is looking decidedly sad and we've nearly emptied one of our large water tanks. Come on..... rain......

Update - houses

2012-02-09T20:36:00.000+11:00

I had someone say the other day that I haven't had an "update" post for a while. I haven't felt we have much to tell lately but here's a start, Lucy.

The house up the road is coming along well. The open plan kitchen / living room is looking great. There's a few finishing touches still to go. The carpet will have to wait a bit, the rangehood we're going to buy this weekend and the curtains and light fittings just need to be installed. The bathroom is almost complete, except for a shower screen. I have a vague recollection that in the last mention I made of the house that I said I'd take some photos. I still haven't done that so it must be my weekend task. We had a very large tree at the front fence line split in half. That wasted a weekend with the clean up operation.

We also lost an enormous limb from a gum at the back of our home. Of course it crashed down on the fence which meant more work for Mick. Not an ideal situation to have a section of fence broken down if someone came to look at the house.

As for the sale of our house, it's been very quiet. We just have to wait and hope. Mick saw the real estate agent down the street this week and he said he'd been contacted by someone who is currently overseas. Apparently they are interested in the house. We'll see.

Recipe - Eastern Lamb

2012-02-06T18:02:00.000+11:00

Here's another of our favourites that we want to remember when we're away.

It's from Symply Too Good To Be True - Book 4. Serves 4.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups rawpumpkin, peeled and diced 2cm

500g rawlean lamb leg steaks, cut in thin strips

3 level tbspred curry paste (in jar)

1 tspcrushed garlic (in jar)

1 tspcrushed ginger (in jar)

1 cup redcapsicum, cut into strips

1 cup freshgreen beans, sliced

½ cupshallots cut into 2cm pieces

2 tspchicken stock powder

1 tsp soysauce

1 tbsp freshcoriander, chopped

2 tsp sugar

2 tbspcornflour

375ml canevaporated light milk

½ tspimitation coconut essence

METHOD

Microwavepumpkin in a little water until just cooked but still firm. Drain and setaside.

Coat a largefrypan with cooking spray and sauté lamb with red curry paste, garlic andginger until lamb is almost cooked. Add vegetables and toss with meat untilvegetables cooked to your liking.

Add stock powder, soy sauce, coriander andsugar to pan and stir well. Combine cornflour with evaporated milk and essence and pourinto pan, stirring until brought back to boil. Gently fold pumpkin through, stir gentlyuntil pumpkin heated through.

Serve on Basmati rice.

Pick of the week - Windrush

2012-02-05T09:08:00.000+11:00

nb Windrush - for sale with Wilton Marina

Originally: £44,950, Reduced To: £39,950

This is an older boat but it has sprayfoam insulation so we wouldn't discount it. The price makes it an appealing proposition! There would be a few things we'd want to change or add but there would be money in our budget to do those things.

Boat Type	Traditional Style Narrow Boat
Where Lying	Key 18
When Manufactured	1997
Length	60

Hull Manufacturer	Paul Barber
Plating Specification	10/6/4mm
Flat, V-Hull or Keeled	Flat
Fitted out by	Adrian Hall
Cabin Height	6ft2"
Number Of Berths	Six
Fixed Berths	Cross double
Additional Berths	Double dinette & double sofa bed

Engine Specifications & Components
Engine Make	Duffield Phoenix MC42 2150
No. Of Cylinders	Four
Keel, Water or Air Cooled	Keel cooled
Gearbox Make	TBA
Bow Thruster	Yes
Diesel Tank Capacity	45 Gallons
Hot Water & Heating Systems
Source of Hot Water	Engine
Central Heating	Yes
Solid Fuel Stove	Backboiler
Water Tank Capacity	120 gallons
Material used	Stainless steel
Electrical System & Components
12 Volt Lighting	Yes
Inverter	Sterling 1800 watt
Batteries	3 domestic & 2 starter
Bathroom Specifications
Type Of Toilet	Saniflo macerator & porta potti
Separate Shower Fitted	Yes
Vanity Basin Fitted	Yes
Kitchen Specification
Make & Model Of Cooker	Valor Vanette GG7000
Separate Hob	Vanette 4000/2
Microwave Fitted	Yes
Make & Model Of Fridge	Fridgedaire
Gas, 12 volt or 240 volt	12 volt
Fit Out Materials
Insulation Used	Spray foam
Types Of Wood Used	Oak
Window Types	Hopper
Materials Used	Gold anodised
Bulls Eye, Pigeon Box or Houdini Hatch	Houdini hatch
Exterior Doors	Steel
Side Hatches	Yes
History Of Vessel
Boat Safety Certificate	November 2013
Last Hull Blacking	2009
Anodes	2009
Recent Survey	No survey

Spare parts

2012-02-04T08:53:00.000+11:00

Our next edition of Waterways World arrived today. I was reading an article about someone who had their narrowboat spring a leak. They mentioned that they always carried a spare bilge pump.

Now that got me thinking about what spare parts you should keep on hand on your boat. Aside from a bilge pump!

I'm off on a mission to see what I can find out. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Pick of the week - Katy Mac

2012-01-29T14:00:00.000+11:00

This week's pick is already sold but it was worth a look for us. She's called nb Katy Mac and was sold through Great Haywood Boat Sales. Ticks all the boxes for us.

Name : Katy Mac
Length : 57ft Trad
Price : £44,950.00
Year : 2004
Plating Specification : Steel 10/6/5/4
Flat V-Hull Or Keeled : Flat
Built by : MMR Fabrications
Fitted out by : Northern Marine Services
Source Of Hot water : Calorifier/ Eberspacher
Central Heating : Eberspacher
Solid fuel stove : Yes
Water tank capacity " 120 gallons approx Stainless steel water tank
Engine make : Beta 43hp (only covered 2030 hours approx)
No of cylinders : 4
Keel, water, air cooled : Keel
Gear box make : PRM
Bow Thruster : Nobels Hydraulic
Diesel tank capacity : 45 gallons
Additional Notes : Twin alternators (40amp & 90amp)
12 Volt : Yes
240V landline : Yes
Inverter : 2.5kw
Generator : n/a
Batteries : 1 starter, 4 leisure
Type of toilet : Thetford cassette with a spare
Bath/Shower fitted : Shower
Vanity Basin : Yes
Additional systems : Walkthrough bathroom
Fixed Berths : Double cross bed
Extra berths : Dinette converts into a double
Cooker : Vanette GG7000 (eye level grill and oven)
Fridge : Yes 12v
Additional systems : Side hatch, washing machine
BSS : February 2012
Maintenance : Blacked 2011
Mooring Available : Yes
Additional Notes : Front cratch cover, 2 x swivel chairs, spray foam insulation, double
wardrobe, one owner from new.

Kangaroo tiller pins

2012-01-28T19:29:00.001+11:00

I'm trying to get some kangaroo tiller pins made up. I have a plastic figurine that I'm hoping they'll be able to use to make a mold.

Is there anybody interested in buying one too? I will order more if there's any interest.

This is the figurine.

Poem - Clancy of the Overflow

2012-01-27T08:00:00.000+11:00

Another poem by Banjo Patterson. Clancy is mentioned in the poem The Man From Snowy River.

CLANCY OF THE OVERFLOW by Banjo Patterson

I had written him a letter which I had, for want of better
Knowledge, sent to where I met him down the Lachlan, years ago,
He was shearing when I knew him, so I sent the letter to him,
Just `on spec', addressed as follows, `Clancy, of The Overflow'.

And an answer came directed in a writing unexpected,
(And I think the same was written with a thumb-nail dipped in tar)
'Twas his shearing mate who wrote it, and verbatim I will quote it: `Clancy's gone to Queensland droving, and we don't know where he are.'

In my wild erratic fancy visions come to me of Clancy
Gone a-droving `down the Cooper' where the Western drovers go;
As the stock are slowly stringing, Clancy rides behind them singing,
For the drover's life has pleasures that the townsfolk never know.

And the bush hath friends to meet him, and their kindly voices greet him
In the murmur of the breezes and the river on its bars,
And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains extended,
And at night the wond'rous glory of the everlasting stars.

I am sitting in my dingy little office, where a stingy
Ray of sunlight struggles feebly down between the houses tall,
And the foetid air and gritty of the dusty, dirty city
Through the open window floating, spreads its foulness over all

And in place of lowing cattle, I can hear the fiendish rattle
Of the tramways and the 'buses making hurry down the street,
And the language uninviting of the gutter children fighting,
Comes fitfully and faintly through the ceaseless tramp of feet.

And the hurrying people daunt me, and their pallid faces haunt me
As they shoulder one another in their rush and nervous haste,
With their eager eyes and greedy, and their stunted forms and weedy,
For townsfolk have no time to grow, they have no time to waste.

And I somehow rather fancy that I'd like to change with Clancy,
Like to take a turn at droving where the seasons come and go,
While he faced the round eternal of the cash-book and the journal --
But I doubt he'd suit the office, Clancy, of `The Overflow'.

Should the bottom of a narrowboat be painted?

2012-01-26T18:46:00.001+11:00

I have stumbled across a question that I didn't even know was an issue. Should the bottom of a narrowboat be painted? I've been doing some reading about this and it does seem there are (surprise, surprise) two opposing camps on the matter.

It seems many aren't painted. It is believed that as the base plate of a narrowboat never sees the light of day, it won't rust. There isn't sufficient oxygen in the water for rust to form - according to the "no need to paint the bottom" camp. There are comments of people with 20+ year old boats with bottoms as good as new, so they claim.

Then there is the other side of the story - those that are determined you should paint the bottom of the boat.

I do recall reading something a couple of years ago that said boats in marinas are more prone to pitting of the hull than those on inline moorings or cruising.

Would like to hear your thoughts.

Poem - The Man from Snowy River

2012-01-26T10:51:00.000+11:00

I had a teacher in primary school (I can't for the life of me remember her name now) who liked poetry. We spent time in class learning our favourites by heart. She must have been particularly interested in Australiana poems as they are the ones I remember best. I should thank her because there's many I still remember.

Yesterday I saw an interview with Tom Burlinson. They were in the high country. The interviewer, Grant Denyer, asked him a question about the movie "The Man From Snowy River" and it immediately reminded me of the poem by Banjo Patterson. After the interview Grant Denyer said that the night before, around the campfire, Tom Burlinson had recited the poem from beginning to end. Look how long this poem is! "Clancy" has his own poem - I'll find that one and post it next time.

THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER by Banjo Patterson

There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around
That the colt from old Regret had got away,
And had joined the wild bush horses -- he was worth a thousand pound,
So all the cracks had gathered to the fray.

All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far
Had mustered at the homestead overnight,
For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are,
And the stock-horse snuffs the battle with delight.

There was Harrison, who made his pile when Pardon won the cup,
The old man with his hair as white as snow;
But few could ride beside him when his blood was fairly up --
He would go wherever horse and man could go.

And Clancy of the Overflow came down to lend a hand,
No better horseman ever held the reins;
For never horse could throw him while the saddle-girths would stand,
He learnt to ride while droving on the plains.

And one was there, a stripling on a small and weedy beast,
He was something like a racehorse undersized,
With a touch of Timor pony -- three parts thoroughbred at least --
And such as are by mountain horsemen prized.

He was hard and tough and wiry -- just the sort that won't say die --
There was courage in his quick impatient tread;
And he bore the badge of gameness in his bright and fiery eye,
And the proud and lofty carriage of his head.

But still so slight and weedy, one would doubt his power to stay,
And the old man said, `That horse will never do
For a long and tiring gallop -- lad, you'd better stop away,
Those hills are far too rough for such as you.'

So he waited sad and wistful -- only Clancy stood his friend --
`I think we ought to let him come,' he said;
`I warrant he'll be with us when he's wanted at the end,
For both his horse and he are mountain bred.

`He hails from Snowy River, up by Kosciusko's side,
Where the hills are twice as steep and twice as rough,
Where a horse's hoofs strike firelight from the flint stones every stride,
The man that holds his own is good enough.

And the Snowy River riders on the mountains make their home,
Where the river runs those giant hills between;
I have seen full many horsemen since I first commenced to roam,
But nowhere yet such horsemen have I seen.'

So he went -- they found the horses by the big mimosa clump --
They raced away towards the mountain's brow,
And the old man gave his orders, `Boys, go at them from the jump,
No use to try for fancy riding now.

And, Clancy, you must wheel them, try and wheel them to the right.
Ride boldly, lad, and never fear the spills,
For never yet was rider that could keep the mob in sight,
If once they gain the shelter of those hills.'

So Clancy rode to wheel them -- he was racing on the wing
Where the best and boldest riders take their place,
And he raced his stock-horse past them, and he made the ranges ring
With the stockwhip, as he met them face to face.

Then they halted for a moment, while he swung the dreaded lash,
But they saw their well-loved mountain full in view,
And they charged beneath the stockwhip with a sharp and sudden dash,
And off into the mountain scrub they flew.

Then fast the horsemen followed, where the gorges deep and black
Resounded to the thunder of their tread,
And the stockwhips woke the echoes, and they fiercely answered back
From cliffs and crags that beetled overhead.

And upward, ever upward, the wild horses held their way,
Where mountain ash and kurrajong grew wide;
And the old man muttered fiercely, `We may bid the mob good day,
NO man can hold them down the other side.'

When they reached the mountain's summit, even Clancy took a pull,
It well might make the boldest hold their breath,
The wild hop scrub grew thickly, and the hidden ground was full
Of wombat holes, and any slip was death.

But the man from Snowy River let the pony have his head,
And he swung his stockwhip round and gave a cheer,
And he raced him down the mountain like a torrent down its bed,
While the others stood and watched in very fear.

He sent the flint stones flying, but the pony kept his feet,
He cleared the fallen timber in his stride,
And the man from Snowy River never shifted in his seat --
It was grand to see that mountain horseman ride.

Through the stringy barks and saplings, on the rough and broken ground,
Down the hillside at a racing pace he went;
And he never drew the bridle till he landed safe and sound,
At the bottom of that terrible descent.

He was right among the horses as they climbed the further hill,
And the watchers on the mountain standing mute,
Saw him ply the stockwhip fiercely, he was right among them still,
As he raced across the clearing in pursuit.

Then they lost him for a moment, where two mountain gullies met
In the ranges, but a final glimpse reveals
On a dim and distant hillside the wild horses racing yet,
With the man from Snowy River at their heels.

And he ran them single-handed till their sides were white with foam.
He followed like a bloodhound on their track,
Till they halted cowed and beaten, then he turned their heads for home,
And alone and unassisted brought them back.

But his hardy mountain pony he could scarcely raise a trot,
He was blood from hip to shoulder from the spur;
But his pluck was still undaunted, and his courage fiery hot,
For never yet was mountain horse a cur.

And down by Kosciusko, where the pine-clad ridges raise
Their torn and rugged battlements on high,
Where the air is clear as crystal, and the white stars fairly blaze
At midnight in the cold and frosty sky,

And where around the Overflow the reedbeds sweep and sway
To the breezes, and the rolling plains are wide,
The man from Snowy River is a household word to-day,
And the stockmen tell the story of his ride.

Recipe - Mexican Meatballs

2012-01-25T18:10:00.000+11:00

These make great finger food and as they are cooked in the oven on a tray it's easier to make larger quantities. They were a hit at my sewing group when I took them once, and they're good served with couscous or salad.

I whizz the onion and parsley up in my little food processor to save chopping.

From : Symply Too Good To Be True, Book1

INGREDIENTS

½ cup driedbreadcrumbs

½ cup skimmilk

500g leanbeef mince

1 packettaco seasoning

1 smallonion, diced

¼ cup tomatosauce

½ cup freshchopped parsley

1 egg white

Pepper totaste

METHOD

Preheat ovento 190 degrees

Mixbreadcrumbs and milk in a small bowl, leave for 2 minutes.

In a largebowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Roll into 18 small meatballs. Place them on a baking tray sprayed with cooking spray. Bake 30-40minutes, turning once.

Serve hot or coldwith tomato salsa.

The Fox and Kangaroo

2012-01-24T09:22:00.000+11:00

The Fox and Kangaroo - does that sound like the name of an English pub in Australia?

Actually, it's nothing to do with pubs. I was awake in the middle of the night and we had our bedroom blinds tilted to let in the breeze. I got up and looked out to the street and thought I was seeing things. In the light of the street lamp I saw a large grey kangaroo slowly heading along the street in front of our house. It was amazing to see how it used it's tail for moving at such a slow pace. Behind it was a fox! It almost looked like the fox was sneaking up behind the roo but I don't think that was the case. They were just heading down the road together in no particular hurry. The fox passed the kangaroo just as they were obscured by the shrubs in our front yard. I'm sure I'll never see such a thing again.

The fox was probably doing it's rounds of the area - checking if any of us had forgotten to lock up our chickens. It reminds me of a time we were visiting friends of Mick's in New Zealand. At the end of the first day we stayed with them I offered to help Marie with the barbeque dinner and she waved me away saying it wall all under control. So I offered to lock up her chickens for her. She looked at me in surprise saying "What for?". It turned out they didn't ever lock up their chickens. They didn't need to! In New Zealand they don't have a problem with foxes taking their chickens.

As for the kangaroo - they have been around the street a bit lately. Mick has seen one a few times in the morning near the house up the street. The front yard has several piles of roo poo since Mick removed the front fence up there. We have areas of crown land around this house and both behind and across the road from the house up the street. We've seen kangaroos on numerous occasions in our street but not in the middle of the bitumen road.

Pick of the week - Dreamweaver

2012-01-23T18:32:00.000+11:00

Some weeks we find a boat that would be suitable for our purposes and some weeks we find a boat that we'd really love to buy! We have no idea whether when the time comes, the boats for sale at the time will include an exciting one or just something we can live with.

This boat is for sale with Great Haywood and it's a name I quite like : nb Dreamweaver. I think it's a name that suits us after being "narrowboat dreamers" for so long.

I really like this one.

Name : Dreamweaver

Length: 58.5ft

Stern :Semi Trad

Price :£57,500.00

Year : 2004

PlatingSpecification : Steel 10/6/4

FlatV-Hull Or Keeled : Flat

Builtby : Alexander

Fittedout by : River View

Cabinsides : Oak ply

Flooring: Solid oak

Insulation: Spray foam

SourceOf Hot water : Calorifier/ Immersion heater

CentralHeating : Mikuni

Solidfuel stove : Bubble diesel stove

Watertank capacity : 120 gallons approx (stainless steel tank)

Enginemake : ISUZU

No ofcylinders : 4

Keel,water, air cooled : Keel

Gearbox make : Hurth

BowThruster : Yes

Dieseltank capacity : 65 gallons & 28 gallons for the stove

AdditionalNotes : Twin alternator

12 Volt: Yes

240Vlandline : Yes

Inverter: 2.5kw & charger

Generator: n/a

Batteries: 1 starter, 6 leisure & 2 for the bow thruster

AdditionalSystems : Battery management system

Type of toilet : Pump out & porta potti

Bath/Shower fitted : Shower

Vanity Basin : Yes

Fixed Berths : Double (extends to 5ft)

Extra berths : L shaped dinette converts into a double

Cooker : Yes

Fridge : Yes

Gas, 12 Volt or 240 volt : 240v

Additional systems : Washing machine, microwave, side hatch

Maintenance : Engine serviced every 250 hours, blacked every year fromnew

AdditionalNotes : Front and rear cratch cover, galvanic isolator

Exchange rate

2012-01-22T07:06:00.000+11:00

With the exchange rate between the Aussie dollar and the British pound hitting a 27 year high we're hoping it holds out until we can get going! The exchange rate is hovering around the 67p mark - that is one Australian dollar will buy 67 pence. The other day it reached 68p before easing back again.

I remember thinking how lucky Ray and Diane were to be able to take advantage of the good exchange rate in mid 2010 and go and buy their boat before they were actually ready to start their life aboard. Now Paul and Elaine are doing the same. In mid 2010 the exchange rate was 55p and that seemed absolutely fantastic compared to the 40p we got on our trip in 2007 but here we are now with it at 67p.

I read an article that suggested the dollar would continue to strengthen against the pound. It would be one positive thing about not having been able to sell our house so far!

Lorikeets in the garden

2012-01-21T11:29:00.000+11:00

We get a lot of bird life in our garden - mainly to compete for our fruit crops. The other day we were amazed to see at least 50 or more birds in the pear tree. They were a bird we hadn't seen in our garden before so I raced inside to look in our bird book for what type they were. The book's already packed away but a quick search on the internet and we discovered they were "Musk Lorikeets" . Those birds all but destroyed the entire crop of pears.

This morning was a much more familiar sight. Two pairs of Rainbow Lorikeets were making a meal of the leftovers. We often see Rainbow Lorikeets in our garden.

Here's the Wiki photo of a Musk Lorikeet.

Recipe - Porcupine Casserole

2012-01-19T21:09:00.003+11:00

This recipe is from Simply Too Good To Be True - Book 3.

It's a good basic dinner that doesn't require a lot of effort. It's a good one to sneak extra vegetables in. I often put carrot, celery, zucchini and/or broccoli into the food processor and add to this type of sauce. The sauce would be a bit thicker so you'd have to watch if it needed more water.

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

Sauce

1 can tomato soup (420g)

1 can crushed tomatoes (420g)

½ cup finely diced onion

1 cup water

2 tsp chicken stock powder

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp garlic (in jar)

Meat balls

500g lean beef

1/3 cup raw long grain rice, raw

1 tsp chicken stock powder

1 egg white

METHOD

Sauce

Combine all ingredients and pour into large casserole dish

Meat balls

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and shape into about 12 roundballs.

Add them to the sauce in the casserole dish.

Bake for 1 hour @ 190 degrees.

Serve with mashed potato.

Update - Not Quite 20 Questions

2012-01-18T20:56:00.001+11:00

Here's a few replies to my "Not Quite 20 Questions" from the other day.

Interesting!

Carol said...

boat name -rock n roll
year - 2008
Stern - semi-trad
length - 62'
colour - midnight blue/cream stripe/roof
windows
loo - pump out
washer - candy 'smart'
bathroom - side
bed - cross
dinette - separate/converts to double bed
side hatches - in galley
covers - cratch and pram hood
bikes - used to but took too much room - some towpaths not suitable
groceries - tesco on-line
love winter cruising!

nb Chancesaid...

Boat name :Chance
Year : 2011
Stern : Cruiser
Length : 58ft
Colour : Blue
Windows or Portholes : mixture
The loo : Pump out
Washing machine? : 6kg 1200 spin
Bathroom (side or walk thru) : walk thru
Bed (in line or cross): in line as taller than 5ft8"
Dinette type : l shape
Heating : mikuni and squirrell stove
Side hatches : 2
Cratch / stern covers : no
Do you carry bicycles on board? :yes 1 x fold up
Do you order groceries online? : occasionally
Do you cruise in Winter or moor in a marina? : moor for 4 months but cruise ingood weather

Carrie said...

Boat name :Blackbird
Year : 1986
Stern : trad
Length : 52"
Colour : dark blue and cream
Windows or Portholes : windows (ports in engine room)
The loo : sawdust compost
Washing machine? : washboard & mangle
Bathroom (side or walk thru) : side
Bed (in line or cross): in line
Dinette type : separate room, converts to double bed
Heating : stove (wood and coal)
Side hatches : 1
Cratch / stern covers : cratch
Do you carry bicycles on board? : yes, a folding bike inside
Do you order groceries online? : No. You can always walk/cycle to a shop fromthe canal!
Do you cruise in Winter or moor in a marina? : All-year cruising.

BigJohn said...

Boat name :Epiphany
Year : 2006
Stern : Semitrad (Correction : Epiphany is a trad stern!)
Length : 57'
Colour : Blue /cream/red
Windows or Portholes : portholes
The loo : cassette
Washing machine? : Zanussi
Bathroom (side or walk thru) : thru
Bed (in line or cross): cross
Dinette type : none
Heating : coal stove / Webasto
Side hatches : both sides
Cratch / stern covers : cratch
Do you carry bicycles on board? : no (just a wheelchair!)
Do you order groceries online? : seldom (Tesco)
Do you cruise in Winter or moor in a marina? Continuous cruising

Narrowboat dreaming....

Cookbooks & recipes

Passport on it's way

Recipe - Moussaka

Update - new job

Exchange rate - 68p !!

Poem - Waltzing Matilda

Passport application

Before and almost finished

Pick of the week - Griffin

C'mon.... rain!!!

Update - houses

Recipe - Eastern Lamb

Pick of the week - Windrush

Engine Specifications & Components

Hot Water & Heating Systems

Electrical System & Components

Bathroom Specifications

Kitchen Specification

Fit Out Materials

History Of Vessel

Spare parts

Pick of the week - Katy Mac

Kangaroo tiller pins

Poem - Clancy of the Overflow

Should the bottom of a narrowboat be painted?

Poem - The Man from Snowy River

Recipe - Mexican Meatballs

The Fox and Kangaroo

Pick of the week - Dreamweaver

Exchange rate

Lorikeets in the garden

Recipe - Porcupine Casserole

Update - Not Quite 20 Questions