Random Monday bits and pieces.

When we last spoke, I was off to have a gin and make a courgette (zucchini) and rice gratin for dinner... here's the result:

It was okay. Only okay mind you, I've decided that courgettes are best eaten in small quantities - a whole gratin was taking things a bit far..

In other kitchen news, I've been making a fair bit of my own toasted muesli:


It has been very yummy - with lots of almonds, coconut and dried cranberries (and much cheaper than what you can buy in the shops these days).

We had a fairly sedate weekend - Matt was a bit sickly on Saturday (oh no! the attack of swine flu!), but Sunday was reasonably productive - we looked at two houses which were for sale (I don't think we've ever looked at two in one day that were actually on the market) and found a couple more which aren't for sale but look promising. I am now well and truly over the country life, the social isolation is becoming unbearable and driving our old cars over 500km per week is definitely not cool. There are a couple of absolute gems in Christchurch (house wise), but we just can't convince the people who own them to sell them to us! AAAarrrghh!! It is starting to do my head in.

My five week stint of work is drawing to a close as well, but I've got a couple more weeks lined up after that, taking me to the middle of July. Then hopefully I will pop up to Auckland for a visit and then maybe even over to Melbourne for a few days - Ikea is calling to me.

Righto, time to walk Boo again (her third walk for the day). Ciao.

Christchurch morning

I had a mammoth 11.5 hours day working yesterday during which I was tending a very sick rat and a very scared Labrador amongst other things. Somehow I managed to stab a steel tooth extractor through my thumbnail and into my thumb while I was trying to take a dog's tooth out too which was pretty silly and now very sore...

Anyway, we stayed in town last night which meant Boo got to have a walk in Hagley Park this morning - there was frost on the ground and it was very chilly but the sunshine made it all seem not too bad...

We followed it up with a coffee at Underground where she bumped into her new best friend - I think her name is Winona, and her favourite phrase right now is "I love you Boo".

Now I'm back on the farm enjoying a sunny Friday afternoon, I'm going to crack out the gin soon, but before I go I thought I'd share a photo of some winter garden action:

A broad bean shoot. Yay! The garden has been dormant for a few weeks and I thought these little guys woud never stick their heads up but they're all growing well.

I'm off to make a courgette and rice gratin for dinner now (while enjoying a gin). We really know how to party on a Friday night in Sefton.

My leisurely life.

I have had many people ask me how it is being a lady of leisure, and I have to say that I am surprisingly busy. The garden is in good nick, the washing is all done and the house is relatively tidy. I have been fielding emails with job offers - we live in a small place and fortunately there are lots of vet jobs. Many people refuse to believe that I could possibly not want to work for the next few months. I suppose it's better than struggling to find work.

Anyway, Matt took this photo demonstrating my fine multitasking skills which I utilise in order to fit in as many of my favourite activities at one time:


Basically I am: knitting, drinking gin, eating cherries, reading a book and (although you can't see it) listening to music. Not bad eh?

I only feel that my break has started this week as I have had two weddings to attend in the past week. Now that they are done I can concentrate on finishing off my Christmas presents, and continuing my Elderflower Cordial production line (which we had yesterday with gin and soda and lemon - not bad at all).

Our house is looking particularly spring like right now - I have somehow managed to decorate with large numbers of lovely roses. The kitchen table has lilac ones from one of the weddings (my bridesmaid bouquet) and pink peonies from our friends Jo and Alistair...

The mantelpiece and the sideboard has wild roses from Dot's garden:



Only six days left of spring then summer is here. I can't believe how time flies.