Merry Christmas

To all my friends and family out there, I miss you and hope to see you again soon.

Christmas Wonder

Much has been made in other blogs, tweets, and articles about kids and Christmas over-anticipation, hype, and excess sugar consumption... in our house so far, the Christmas fuss has been pretty low key. We're not grinches; it's more that we have been a bit slow to gear up. So far the moments of Christmas wonder this season have been:

Anya turning out the lights, pulling a chair to the middle of the room, and sitting down to gaze in awe at the tree, saying, "I could watch this for hours!"

Callum and Anya running around in front of the bubble machine, dancing polar bear, and fog machine at a local Christmas lights contestant's house.

Visiting Santa at Myer's department store and not knowing what to say when Santa asked what they were hoping to get for Christmas.

Anya gravely informing me that Santa has two lists. This following on from discussion of a show, "Little Angels," about a real family with discipline/sleep/naughtiness issues.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle All the Way

I have a very delightful recording of Callum singing his own version of Jingle Bells. But, I had to convert it to a video in order to upload it, and decided to use some photos of Callum from babyhood to toddler. If you don't feel like watching, here is a partial transcription of the recording...

Callum: Jingle tiger - Jingle tiger - Jingle on the tiger
Elaine: On the tiger?!
Callum: /laughs/ Yeah! Jingle tiger - Jingle tiger - Jingle on the bubble
Elaine: On the what?
Callum: On the bubble!
Elaine: On the bubble?!
Callum: /laughs/ Yeah! Jingle bubble - Jingle bubble - Jingle on the bubble

Guest Post: Daddy Bat

For about the last six weeks, first thing in the morning we have been playing the Baby Bat game at our house. I think this began one day when Anya crawled into bed with me and (maybe – I can’t actually remember what started it all) I was explaining about the fruit bats that fly around our house at night. They make a lot of raucous squawking noises as they eat nectar and fruit off the neighbourhood trees. The next thing, it was:

“Dad – let’s pretend that we’re bats, and you’re the daddy bat, and I’m a baby bat, and we’re flying through the forest together, and we’re flying really fast, and you’re squeaking to me like “Squeak! Squeak!” and I squeak back to you like “SQUEAK! Squeak, squeak!” and we fly some more, and ……”

And so on.

From these beginnings, we’ve developed quite a sophisticated storyline for our game. The plot for this is almost entirely spun by Anya. It’s like we’re in the Baby Batverse. It’s usually more fun to describe the plot of today’s game, in one long run-on sentence, than it is to actually play the game. Here’s the plot of this morning’s game.

There’s Baby Bat, Daddy Bat and Baby Bat Boy (Callum joined the game about a week and a half ago.) We live in a big cave with all the other bats, sleeping all day and hanging by our toes. At night we come out and we hunt insects. (We’re not fruit bats; we’ve become insectivorous about a month ago. Occasionally, we dabble in eating fruit when we see a nice pawpaw tree growing in the forest, but it’s been a fair while since that’s happened.)

We fly through the forest, hunting moths. It’s only ever moths we eat – ladybugs are too cute to eat, and butterflies are too lovely. We all catch them quite well now because we’ve practiced so much. When we catch them, we snatch them into our mouths with this sound – “Haraaamph!” Daddy Bat and Baby Bat Boy usually spit out the wings, but Baby Bat likes the wings the best – she always eats them.

Moths are pretty cool, but one thing that puts a cramp in our night-time hunting is our arch nemesis, the Owl. The Owl, you see, likes to eat baby bats. If he sees any, he swoops on them and tries to catch them in his claws. For that reason, although Baby Bat and Baby Bat Boy can fly pretty well, they usually cling on to Daddy Bat’s side as he flies around. This lets them hide under Daddy Bat’s wings if the owl comes, which happens frequently. Quite often, despite all the hiding, there is still some swooping, and Baby Bat has fallen out of the sky onto the ground. Then it’s a mad rush from Daddy Bat to locate her in the forest (she cries out “Help! Help, Daddy Bat!”) and get to her before The Owl does. So far, so good – although the Owl is a really, really fast flier, we’ve outpaced him because we can twist and turn as we fly much better than him. We then fly back to the cave, and the opening is too small for the Owl to come into. Plus, there are thousands of us bats living in there, so he knows if he tries to come in, he’ll get beaten up.

Even when Baby Bat and Baby Bat Boy are hiding really well, the Owl doesn’t stop trying. He flies up to Daddy Bat and says “Hey! Got any baby bats here tonight? I’m hungry!” Daddy Bat always tries to trick the Owl and he says “Oh, no – no baby bats here, no sir! I think I might have seen some over there, though,” pointing somewhere far, far away in the forest. The Owl usually falls for it, although he comes back surprisingly quickly and tells Daddy Bat that he’s been wrong.

So that’s the usual game. I should also mention that the last two times, the Owl’s been getting trickier. Yesterday, he came along when the Baby Bats weren’t hiding – they were right out in the open, playing in a tree! Only some fast thinking from Daddy Bat saved the day. Daddy Bat managed to convince the Owl that the two Baby Bats he was looking at weren’t actually bats. They were toy bats – they looked so terribly lifelike because they were made of rubber. Because they were rubber, you couldn’t eat them, either, because they’d taste just terrible. (Baby Bat snickered when the Owl fell for that one, let me tell you.) And this morning, we had to tell him the same thing again. We even had to fake having an on-off switch on the Baby Bats, and when Daddy Bat switched their switches to ‘off,’ they had to stop moving and pretend that they were battery-powered Baby Bat toys.

The Non-Socratic Dialogues

Counting by Callum (9-Oct-09)
One, two, fwee, four, five, six, sebben, eight, nine, ten, ‘leven, twelve, thirteen.... fzz-teen... fffteen?

Conversation a lá Dora (22-Oct-09)
Anya: Can you say, “Arriba”?
Callum: Reeba!
Anya: Can you say, “Gracias”?
Callum: Rassia!
Elaine: Do you know what gracias means?
Anya: No.
Elaine: It means thank you.
Anya: [silent indifference]

Pleasing Conversation (28-Oct-09)
Anya: You don’t say “please” do you Callum?
Callum: Peeese? (very sweetly)
Anya: No, “please” – not “peese”!
Callum: Peese?

Hair Combing Conversation (1-Nov-09)
Anya: Want me to comb your hair?
Callum: Yeah...
Anya: Well, then – STOP – DOING – WEIRD – THINGS!
[brief silence]
Callum must have kept moving, because next...
Anya: Fine then, I’m not combing your hair EVER AGAIN.
[this conversation then repeated at least three times]

The Button (14-Nov-09)
Callum spots his sword (a collapsible futuristic light-saber style) and grabs it with glee. He starts to brandish it.
Anya: Don’t fight me, I don’t have a sword!
Callum: OK. [turns away]
Anya: Fight the baddies over there. [she points]
Callum: OK. [waves his sword around]
Just a few seconds pass, and she can’t resist getting involved.
Anya: Want me to fight the baddies?
He lets her take over the sword.
Anya: Want me to press the... [she tries to think of what to call it] ...the EVIL SMELL button?

As Experienced by Dad
(Before you read this: we refer to farts as ‘fluffs’ in our household. Not sure why we started doing that – probably because Anya’s child care centre does it. ‘Fart’ is just too uncouth to say aloud, it seems.)

Last Sunday I walked into the kitchen to find Anya clutching at her crotch through her shorts. She looked for all the world like a little boy who urgently needs to go to the toilet. “Do you need to do a wee?” I asked.

Anya looked slightly confused, as if she didn’t understand why I would suddenly ask this. “No,” she answered.

“Then why are you holding your crotch like that?”

She looked a bit sheepish, looked up at me and in a small voice told me. “To squeeze the fluffs out.”

Today, a Non Sequitur

I accidentally spied this item on eBay while looking for Christmas presents. How cool is this? Now if I could only think of a reason that I need a 4GB USB that can transform into a jaguar...

Parental Tricks

I was thinking about writing out the daily routine we have, but realised that most people are not as list-oriented as I am. Therefore, instead I am sketching out a few time management skills (yes, in a list... I couldn’t help myself...) that David and I have developed for getting through each day. Hopefully, they are entertaining...

• We take turns getting to sleep in (every other day). This was really crucial until recently, as Callum tended to get up at 5:30 am whereas the rest of us (Anya included) think it isn’t decent to get up before 6:30, and really like 7:00 the best. Lately sleep-in time hasn’t been as much of an issue, except that our neighbour’s kids tend to start at 6 am, the ensuing brouhaha broadcasting straight at our bedroom window from their rumpus room cum echo chamber. I don’t know how, as they don’t seem to go to bed until 8 or 9 pm (Anya and Callum go to bed at 7:30, or 8 at the latest).

• We race Callum to the toilet, or other places we want him to go. It is important to note that we do NOT get Anya to be in the race, unless she is just joining in to help us get Callum going (which she generously did this morning, allowing him to “win”) because nothing gets Callum crankier than losing out to Anya AGAIN.

• At breakfast, I eat the same thing as the kids do. David has not adopted this tactic, but I’m certainly finding it easier since I realised that serving myself the same items is a lot quicker than thinking up and serving out a completely different meal. Also this has the positive benefit of making my breakfast healthy, not a sugary pastry, like I used to prefer B.K. (before kids). This morning we had mango, banana, blueberries, yogurt and English muffins. I was the only one who had coffee, though.

• For a while, I toyed with applying the requisite sunblock before leaving the house, but now I’ve gone back to doing it after we arrive at Kindercraft. It’s a useful way to spend the hanging out time before I leave them for the day.

• When it’s time for me to go to work, Callum says quite cheerfully, “You go?” with an inquiring look into my eyes. I say, “Yes, who wants to throw me out the gate today?” and everyone in the immediate vicinity (anywhere from 3 to 10 kids) usually says, “ME!!!” At the gate, I dramatically heave myself forward and backward, counting, “One! Two! Three!” and force myself out. Then depending on her mood, Anya either kisses me through the gate, or advises her best friend, “Don’t – she has slobber –” but my lovely son always accepts all kisses.

• Dinner is usually sandwiches and fruit in the car on the way home, and maybe a little treat as well. Yesterday I attended the Artforce award ceremony (painted traffic signal boxes, of which I have accomplished one so far), so we all drove over to New Farm and the kids got to play in the fantastic playground (arguably the best in Brisbane) before heading home with Dad while I went over to the awards shindig at the Powerhouse.

• We love when the kids play together in the bath, but usually they fight when stuck in close quarters, so most of the time bathtimes are separate. They do love being in the bath with either David and me, so sometimes we get in with them. It gets REALLY crowded when both kids get in with one of us! A strong argument for getting a spa when we get a new home...

• TV. I admit defeat. My mother was completely anti-TV, and I inherited that attitude from her (i.e. TV is for your brain, like sugar is bad for your health). But on this front, I have given in. Kids going crazy and you don’t have time to escort them outside? TV. Want to eat your breakfast in peace for a few minutes before loading up the car for work? TV. Time to wind down for the day and get ready for bed? TV. Having said that, David has introduced an interesting twist recently: he uses our TV/PC setup to play songs (not videos) for the kids. It seems to give them the feeling that they are getting the treat of TV, and they enjoy hearing the songs.

• At bedtime, the kids seem to actually prefer a more flexible approach (rather than the extremely predictable routine recommended by most experts). Our only firm goal is to get them into bed by 7:30 with clean teeth and empty bladders. But one staple that seems to remain is the singing. The very last event of their day used to be us singing them a song or two of their choice (Twinkle Twinkle Little Star being the usual favourite). A few weeks ago, they both seemed really grumpy with the singing segment, and I suggested that instead, they could sing to us. This was an instant hit, and is our new routine, although every once in a while, they still ask that we do the singing. Anya really loves it when I surprise David by tickling him while he’s singing, but he really isn’t up for tickles every night.

Two Days in the Sun

To everyone living on the "top side" of the globe: yes, it is glorious summer here! Example: this weekend. Saturday was spent hanging about (literally) at Kangaroo Point, where locals like to rock climb, bike and rollerblade. We managed to do two out of three, and also fit in a barbecue breakfast with friends, as they had organised a 40th birthday celebration. I haven't been up a cliff face in over a year, so it was a slightly nerve-tingling experience. It was also a bit hard to concentrate, as Callum wailed like a banshee the whole time that I was aloft -- he didn't like my going up there! David had a turn as well, and could be heard commenting several times, "I might fall on this bit..." I told his belayer, "Don't worry, he says that all the time."

Anya achieved a personal best, riding her bicycle (with training wheels) along the bike path, making it her first real bike ride -- previous efforts have been cut extremely short with her hopping off her bike after just a few pedal pushes. Callum, meanwhile, tried out his scooter, but has only ever pushed it across the kitchen before, so he soon decided walking was more effective. We were all pretty red-faced after the very hot morning out, and had to cool off with chilled water baths at home.

Sunday was spent over at our in-laws, who have a pool and air-conditioning. Bliss! We had a mid-morning swim, and a big family lunch, then just as I was reluctantly concluding that we ought to head home, I got the brilliant idea of asking permission to stay. Callum had his afternoon nap on the big queen bed, and Anya jumped back into the pool for a second round of swimming. She was in heaven, especially because her cousins and a house guest (3 young teenaged girls + 1 ten-yr-old boy) played with her all day. It is really wonderful to see how confident she is in the water nowadays.

David and I, being the OLDIES we now are, each fell asleep at some point briefly in the afternoon, but that, too, was all to the good.

Beach Time!

We went to beach this weekend, and by happy coincidence, so did our in-laws. They have two sons, aged 5 and 10, and Anya and Callum both had a great time hanging out with their cousins. It was really interesting to see Callum in a different light as he did "boy" things with his cousins like throwing a ball back and forth. We also enjoyed a family dinner all together which felt cosy and homey.

Anya's shining moment was the second day of our mini-holiday, as she got into the waves and caught some "shoots," as the family calls them. She was so thrilled with her achievement that, even though she was shivering violently (it was a somewhat windy day), she insisted on going back in for more.

David was injured -- not while swimming, but rather while reconnecting various devices to the TV. Now he looks as if he's been boxing, with a nifty gash on his eyebrow. Please won't some genius invent a better way to install AV equipment than crawling around the back of the furniture?

Visiting Sodor

Not being a boy, I can't understand the fascination of Thomas the Tank Engine, but Callum totally loves him. This weekend we made it to a free event (provided by a local councillor) featuring life-sized Thomas, the Fat Controller telling stories, a bouncy castle, and mini train rides, hosted at Anzac Park in Toowong, which has some pretty nifty attractions in its own right such as the longest flying fox I've ever seen in a public park. I was dying to try the flying fox, but had to follow Callum as he trundled full speed down to the slides and fort area. All in all, a great morning out for both Anya and Callum (more photos on flickr here, here and here).

Schmap Fame

Last year I was surprised to be contacted about a photo I took at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary – Schmap, an online travel guide, wanted permission to use it on their site. You can see it here: http://www.schmap.com/brisbane/toppicks_attractions/p=131702/i=131702_48.jpg

Recently another photo, from Luna Park in Sydney, was also selected for inclusion. You can see it here: http://www.schmap.com/sydney/entertainment_casinos/#p=116339&i=116339_85.jpg

Makes me feel like our family is achieving a tiny amount of fame!

Best Ribs Ever

We have tried lots of different ways to cook ribs over the last few years. I finally managed to cook some tender, melting, more-ish ribs yesterday and it was really easy! No more worrying about marinating for hours, parboiling, pre-browning, arranging them on a rack over a pan of water, etc! In a nutshell, all I did was:

1. Put the ribs in a bag with some sauce (more about that later), just enough to coat thickly. The bag keeps the sauce nicely surrounding the meat. I did this in the morning and put it in the fridge.
2. About mid-day, I put them in the slow cooker on low. The ribs were ready to eat by about 6 or 7 pm but we didn’t get around to having dinner until 8. If you want to make this recipe by putting the ribs in the cooker in the morning before you go to work, then you probably should add about a half-cup of water to make sure the dish stays moist for the longer cooking period (or maybe just double your sauce!)
3. Browned briefly in the oven just before serving, but I think this was actually unnecessary. I only tried it because of a recipe that I read. They tasted great over rice with some of the sauce spooned over. (This is the other great thing about this recipe – the marinade doesn’t go to waste, and gets reduced to a delicious sauce.)

The sauce I used was just a splash of vermouth, plus a motley crew of five dollops each squirted from five different bottled sauces: ketchup, teriyaki sauce, peri-peri sauce, kecap manis, and oyster sauce. I also included some finely chopped garlic (about 3 cloves). This just goes to prove that you can totally make it up. Mainly you are aiming to have some sort of alcohol (I normally use bourbon but we ran out), some tomato-ish flavor, and a bit of sugar content as well, and the rest of the flavor is up to your imagination. I also usually make sure to include a splash of oil in my marinades but since the ribs are so fatty I didn’t worry about it in this case.

I have read in other sources that slow cooking anything fatty like these ribs ensures that the fat becomes delicious rather than disgustingly greasy, and I can certainly attest that’s what happened in this dish.

Tanglemania

I have to admit, I have been extremely geeky today. The number of portable devices that I carry around on a daily basis is not that huge: just a laptop and a phone. (I don't have an mp3 player, since my phone can play music, although I haven't even gotten around to buying a microSD card for it.) However, it drives me crazy that I have so many accessories for these two items. Headphones for each, mouse, cord for connecting the two devices to each other, power cords, network cable... It wouldn't be so bad if I only had to set up a couple of cords each day but I always end up deploying every single one. My approach so far has been to loop each one into a small ball and throw them all together into the soft pocket in the top of my backpack.

But the tangle drives me crazy and I have been thinking about getting some kind of wire management devices to keep all this under control. I looked around on Amazon and eBay to find a myriad of possibilities: cable turtles, silicone fishbones, earbud keepers, etc. But it was this geek tip, below, that convinced me that I don't need to buy anything. So I thought I would share, since it's pretty cool. Also, it has a fun name.

Geek Tip: Keep Your iPod Cords Untangled For Free ...

How to Grow Up

Poor little Callum. First, at the start of last week, we decreed that dummies (pacifiers) would only be for sleep time. He coped quite well with that change, to my pleasant surprise. Anya told me she does think he is hitting her more often because "he's frustrated about his dummy." I'm not sure if that's true or if he's just being more aggressive generally.

Next, we cut his hair ourselves. This went all right until he got the urge to rub his nose, and the hair-covered cape was in the way -- you guessed it, the hair got rubbed all over his nose and lips and drove him wild while we tried to finish the haircut.

Last, we bought him some undies and had him wearing them as much as possible. This has resulted in some specatacular puddles, but still is a massive improvement over changing his nappies and handling a smelly nappy bucket. The slogan we are emphasising is "You don't wee on Ben 10!" (His undies feature Ben 10 in a different fist-punching pose on each one.)

So, our little boy is growing up. My heart just melted looking at him this weekend while he was watching TV: undies on, hair cut short, and leaning casually against the lounge with one leg crossed over.

Hungry?

If you know me at all, you know that I love food. Unlike most people who love food, I don't even have a love-hate relationship with food, just love (and mutual respect). There was a time when having lunch out was an essential part of my day, and I also loved having dinner out when I could swing it. I like to think that some of my reviews got into the LA Zagat Guide.

However, I am finding that with my current work-life balance, although it's generally working out well, there doesn't seem to be time for food.

This is what I find myself doing lately: in the morning, I stand in the kitchen sipping my coffee and snatching bites of breakfast, partly because I am barraged with a continuous interrupting stream of requests for more food or drink or intervention from our kids, and partly because if I sit down, I am very likely not going to get to eat all of it (food on grown-ups' plates is oh so much tastier!) The only way out of this maze is to either prepare a giant quantity of something that we can all eat at the same time (pancakes are great for that but really only plausible on weekends), or skip it altogether and wait until I can eat in the relative tranquility of my office.

At work, where I only have six hours to focus, I tend to feel so far behind all the time that I just make a sandwich on the spot (I keep supplies at work to make going-home sandwiches for the kids), or I duck out and buy something that I bring back, or worst of all, I forget about eating until about 3 pm by which time it is too late to get food from anywhere so I just have a snack.

Luckily, at home we share the meal prep work, so there is a much higher likelihood of my eating a proper meal. If not for this I would probably start to disintegrate with this "food on the run" craziness!

Farewell, Clouds of Kisses

Before I knew it, they were gone. I used to receive kisses in generous amounts from Callum when he first learned the right way to kiss (he used to think that kissing involved making a clucking sound with his tongue). Once mastered, his kisses were usually bestowed in a profuse display of technique: first one cheek, then the other, then lips, nose, and even my forehead, and sometimes a second time around the face. David's favorite part was when Callum would proclaim "I kiss nose" before pulling your face toward him with his hands on your cheeks. Then without my noticing it, he just stopped. /Sob! Now he just gives me one kiss on the lips, although kissing me on the nose sometimes still creeps in.

School Lunch Mix-n-Match

As I was contemplating the upcoming "Lunch Box Days" which Kindercraft has scheduled to introduce the older kids to the idea of packed lunches (since Anya and her friends will all be starting school next year), I stumbled across this excellent article: What Do Other Countries Eat For School Lunch

This article, too, was quite interesting: What Chef's Kids Eat

I was very inspired by another site about Japanese lunches, Bento Gallery, which says that Japanese often plan the dinner meal around what would make good leftovers for including in the lunch box. I wish I had the nerve to give Anya a bento lunch (rice! vegetables! chicken!) but I fear she would much prefer a sandwich like all the other little Aussies. Maybe I can make her an Aussie bento lunch with her favorites to introduce the concept: boiled egg, avocado, pasta shapes, cheese & fruit pieces.

Let's Go Swimming!

Swimming weather is definitely upon us. This weekend we went swimming at Don's (the family was actually away so we just went to the back yard) and both kids loved getting a dip after a hot and dusty day, even though the water was so cold. I encouraged them to swim around but they mainly enjoyed jumping in over and over. They also were too tempted by the inflatable boat I'd brought along, so we only had a short swim before they were shivering violently (while still wanting to stay in).

Last weekend we went to the beach and Anya started catching waves -- very exciting. She was just in the very shallow water but it was thrilling that she was getting into it, instead of fussing about the waves hitting her. David loves to bodysurf. Personally I find the waves a bit strong here and prefer what David calls "boring" days (when the waves are very small). I also love when I can just float in the water without worrying about getting saltwater up my nose or a rip tide pulling me away -- I'm not really into the surfing part, I just like to relax in the water. I was embarassed (during the weekend) to be asked by a young surfer if I needed help -- he misinterpreted my lolling about for inexpert swimming.

Tales from the B Side

(or, "Further Evidence of a Y Chromosome")

My sweet little boy climbed into bed with me for our customary morning snuggle. He had his Wags the Dog and Anthony toys -- it has always surprised me how much more he likes stuffed toys than his sister. We nestled in together, and then he clashed his toys against each other, and yelled, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Freaky Weather in Brisbane

I've been tapping away at my computer since arriving at work this morning, and had no idea this was going on outside:

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/dust-storm-covers-brisbane-in-haze-20090923-g0wm.html

And here is my own contribution to the pool of photos:

The Positions One Finds Oneself In

Tonight I looked after the kids on my own -- David went rock climbing after work -- and they just went NUTS. Driving home: OK. Dinner (during the drive): OK. Checking the mailbox (a ritual they love): OK. Anya was thrilled to receive a letter from me and we duly headed inside to open it.

It was after this that the trouble began. Or maybe slightly before this, because I noticed it was about to rain, and detoured briefly to take some laundry off the line. Callum didn't like this, because when he is reunited with me after a few hours apart, he needs to be carried or sit in my lap for a LONG time before he is topped up again and happy to wander out of close physical contact with me.

But I grabbed the laundry pretty quickly, and got him to hold it while I held him; this was OK. We went inside and somehow or another, instead of getting Callum undressed and into a bath, this degenerated into a nude roly-poly on the kitchen floor. First, Anya got me to draw her a picture (while Callum climbed all over me and interfered as best he could) which she started colouring in while I undressed Callum. He kept saying, "No bath! No bath!" so the undressing happened in stages, in between crawling between my legs, hiding behind me and pretending to pop out, then ultimately, climbing on my back and yelling "NEIGH!" (by which time he was fully nude).

Anya found this too good an idea to resist, so then there was some pushing and shoving and wailing about whose turn it was to ride up top. I found it completely ludicrous to be hunched over on all fours, while one nude little boy screamed and one fully dressed little girl sobbed... (I eventually solved it by giving them each one more turn, then briskly saying it was BATHTIME NOW.)

the zen of parenting

just a short thought for today. realised today that when I am with Anya or Callum, I make a conscious effort to be "in the now." focussing purely on how it feels to be with them. funny, because at the same time, at this age it is crucial to be aware at all times of the clock so that they get to eat, sleep, etc at the right times.

Circus Stuff

I can do an Amazon, Mermaid, Monkey Roll, Gazelle and Shoulder Stand, among other things. Don't know what I'm talking about? Check out my latest obsession at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaguarish/tags/circa/

You can also check out the training centre at:
http://www.rocknrollcircus.com/

Queen of the Non Sequitur

Here are two recent conversations with Anya, both of which made me think, "What the?!"

First, in the car as we all were starting the day (kids going to Kindercraft, us going to work)...

Anya: Dad, why do you have a purple shirt?
David: Does this look purple to you? It looks blue to me.
(I look over. Yep, baby blue with yellow pinstripes.)
Anya: DAD, why do you have a purple shirt?
David: I don't have a purple shirt, I have a blue shirt.
Anya: No Dad, why do you have a purple shirt AT HOME?

Second, in the car as I was taking Anya to circus class (David and Callum stayed home)...

Elaine: You know Anya, I am a little sad that you're growing up. Do you know why?
Anya: Mmmm?
Elaine: I miss taking care of you - when you were little. I miss my baby Anya, even though I'm proud of my big strong Anya.
(Long pause, during which I imagine Anya is pondering this and coming up with a poignant response.)
Anya: If a big giant comes, I will bop him on the nose!

Six Days Without Dad

Last Tuesday, David left for a fishing trip with his brothers and some other guys. We had a pretty busy time of it at home, as well, since Wednesday was a public holiday – for Brisbane-ites to attend the "Ekka" (Royal Exhibition, like a State Fair). Thursday I worked, then Friday is my usual day off, followed by the weekend, of course. Raema (David's mum) stayed with us for a lot of the time, which eased the pressure on me somewhat. Below is a potted history of what we got up to.

Wednesday: We had already gone to the Ekka on Sunday, so instead we went to Kmart Arana Hills Plaza, where they put on a mini-Ekka for the kids. Anya had a free pony ride (outside), then waited in line quite a while for her face to be painted (I also snuck Callum into the seat for a quick dash of paint). Luckily, Callum and Anya didn't get impatient, as Po (Kung Fu Panda) appeared nearby and we watched him greeting all the kids. We managed to get painted faces *and* meet Po as well afterward, so all in all it worked out well. Anya had a rainbow around her face and Callum had tiger stripes and ears. There was also a small animal petting area, for which Raema kindly held our place in line while Anya and Callum played on the usual shopping centre coin rides, until we could get in for a pat. Last, we went back outside intending to try some of the amusement rides, but the queue at the ticket booth was enormous, so I enticed them away to McDonald's where they had more play time in the fort after lunch. All in all, a hugely successful outing, and Raema even got to have the traditional Ekka treat, strawberry ice cream (courtesy of Cold Rock Ice Cream).

Thursday: This is the day when Raema looks after Anya and Callum at home. She also said it was OK for me to go to circus class as usual in the evening, but I came home in between to give her a rest. I'd hurried in to work to meet a colleague at my office – but he arrived an hour late because his wife asked him to drop her off at the Ekka and he wasted a lot of time circling around and getting on the wrong roads etc. So instead of going home early-ish as intended, I ended up getting home about 4:30... just in time for a big spat between Anya and Callum. But apparently, before that they were good little lambs all day. Raema took them on a walk down to a local park, then after lunch Anya and Charlie (neighbour the same age as Anya) played together most of the afternoon with Anya hopping back and forth over the fence. I headed out to circus class after giving Anya and Callum their dinner.

Friday: We dashed off to swimming and Raema went to attend a funeral... and we forgot the lock the house! I thought she was going to do it (didn't realise she was leaving right at the same time) and she thought I'd done it (she saw me go back in for something and assumed I'd locked up as well) – my fault of course, I should have made sure to check what was happening. Imagine my shock when I got home and found the two back doors wide open. Luckily, nobody wandered in, and I wasn't gone long, because I was expecting a visit from Jodi Meynell (realtor), about listing our house with them. Callum was resisting naptime for the start of my talk with Jodi and I kept having to run back into his room to supply tissues, sing songs, and get kisses. Eventually he settled down, but it was a complete change from his usually easy naptimes.

Saturday: Callum was extremely reluctant to let me go out without him (taking Anya to her circus class) – I think he's been extra attached to me this week because David's missing. He has been a bit restless at night as well. But Anya absolutely loved having me to herself all morning. We went grocery shopping as well after circus class, and she was so happy and well behaved and helpful. In the afternoon, she started playing with Charlie again, who came over to our place this time. Alyssia (Charlie's older sister) appeared after a while, and then they all asked, "Can we put our togs on?" (Togs are swimsuits, for you non-Aussies.) I had the sprinkler on, you see! You should have heard them running around and giggling. They got containers and kept collecting the water and tossing it up in the air in unison. By dusk they were all shivering while still insisting they weren't cold. Alyssia went home to have a warm bath and Anya and Charlie had a bath together in our bathroom. Then they asked if Charlie could sleep over! I was thinking that it was possible, but worried a little about the extra activity and disruption (and how crowded it would get in the bedroom), and luckily Nicole (her mum) told Charlie no.

Sunday: We went to GoMA (Gallery of Modern Art), the Science Museum, and the Art Gallery. GoMA's children's area has a "bat experience" at the moment. The room is decorated with paper folded cutouts of bats, flowers, leaves, cicadas, praying mantises, snakes, and other creatures that they've provided makings for (trace a template, cut it out, and follow folding instructions). One end also has a city skyline with glowing windows, and you can draw on yellow paper that fits in the window spaces. We ended up at the Science Museum by accident as my preferred cafe (at the State Library) said we couldn't eat any of our own food there (although I was planning to order coffee and my own lunch there). So we wandered around and ended up at the Museum Cafe.

After lunch, we briefly walked through the main parts of the Museum, the highlight being the room that feels like you're inside an aquarium – Callum was particularly taken with the turtles, and Anya really like them too. She also delighted in pointing out the sea snake to Raema (we all know that Raema hates snakes and frogs). At the Art Gallery there was a bank of TVs and headphones showing various old style animations. Anya made herself very comfortable there. Callum and I read some of the books on offer, then we started wandering around a little and had to drag Anya away. It was getting rather late (2 pm) and we should have left sooner, but both kids were having such a nice time.

Callum only slept for half an hour (in the car) then was his normal self for the rest of the day – I couldn't believe it. He got a new best friend (briefly) because for some reason, Anya switched allegiances and was playing mainly with Alyssia. So Charlie decided she would play with Callum instead. (I imagine it was a little disappointing for her, though.) Jack (eldest from next door) also came over the fence and played with the girls, who were pretending they were fairies (he said he was a pixie).

And that was our six days without Dad...

Eating Well

Tonight I made Hainan Chicken and veggie stir fry. Delicious. I am still so in love with the simplicity and intense but subtle flavour of Hainan Chicken. If you have never tried this dish, here is a short version of the recipe (but please do look up "proper" recipes on the internet which will include fancier directions for the rice and sauces!)

Half fill a stockpot with water (or chicken stock), sliced fresh ginger, smashed garlic cloves, and 1 teaspoon salt (or 1 tablespoon soy sauce and/or fish sauce). There needs to be enough liquid to cover your chicken. Bring to a boil, add a whole chicken or chicken pieces (preferably with the bone in - my favorite is the Maryland), turn down to a simmer and cover. Simmer gently for 20 minutes. Turn heat off and leave for a further 20 minutes.

You can use the stock from the chicken pot to cook the rice, for even more flavor in your dish, but save some for the sauce (see below).

Meanwhile, to make the sauce, grate or finely mince fresh ginger to make 2 tablespoons. Also finely mince garlic or put through a garlic press to make 1 tablespoon. Mix together with 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, and 1 tablespoon of the stock from the chicken pot. This is enough for 2 serves, so scale up accordingly!

Serve the chicken over rice with the sauce drizzled over. Optionally also drizzle over some hot sauce (such as sambal oelek).

Potty Season

I have been rather slack about potty training the second time around. Anya was placed on a potty repeatedly from 18 months of age (months and months of extra work and stress!) but didn't become fully trained until one day I decided to try the "no nappy" technique (requires an easy-cleaning house or staying outside). From there it only took TWO DAYS and she was trained. With Callum, I have been waiting for warmer weather so I can do the same thing. Well, Anya has pre-empted me! I heard from Raema that yesterday, Callum followed Anya into the toilet (the bathroom). The next thing she knew, Anya bustled out of the toilet, got the potty, ran back, and when Raema came along to investigate, she found that Anya had removed Callum's nappy (diaper) and sat him on the potty, and was coaching him!

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Callum just turned two this week and it seems like he is maturing faster every day. (I will laugh the day that he starts properly arguing with Anya... she *really* has all the answers!)

The actual birthday was a Tuesday, so I brought cupcakes and balloons into Kindercraft and stayed with Callum for about two hours. As well, in the morning he opened one of his presents which he immediately played with over and over -- very gratifying. We saved the rest of the presents for the evening, when his grandma came over. All in all he had a lovely day and relished every present. Ever since the day, he's been randomly breaking out with a "hip, hip, hooray!"

A Big Serve of Yuck

I’ve been out of commission recently due to a revolting stomach bug. I never realised how much of my time I spend thinking about food, anticipating what to buy, cook and eat next, until I was limited to “plain food” which I hate and which was making me sick anyway. I was thrilled tonight to sit down with a proper serving of pasta with Bolognese sauce (although I put on much less sauce, butter and oil than usual, to be on the safe side). If I made a mistake in doing this, I’ll know in about an hour...

Meanwhile, Anya has been making up for me, by eating about three times as much as she normally does. I thought at first that she was just being greedy about snacks, but she was happy to have second and third helpings of the meals themselves, and seems to be eating all day. I wonder if she will suddenly shoot up in size next week (like Jack’s beanstalk)?

Callum, of course, has always been a big eater. He reportedly had three helpings of pumpkin and spinach pasta at Kindercraft yesterday, so I begged Pin (the chef) for the recipe: mashed pumpkin, thickened cream, salt & pepper for the sauce, with baby spinach mixed in. Amazing! She is a great cook and always seems to come up with dishes the kids all like. She even makes mild curry for them!

In other developments (not to talk about food endlessly!) Callum has still been trying to learn how to jump. He pumps up and down but doesn’t quite get that he is supposed to bend his legs first. (Maybe if I dangled some food on a stick above him!) He loves trying to do the same circus tricks that Anya and I practice at home: flying (my feet on her hips while I hold her hands), rolling (he did some great sideways rolling in a rage this evening), even holding a chair up with his legs (when he saw Anya doing it, he immediately carried the other small chair in from the other room, and tried to do the same thing).

Broccoli Souffle with Tapenade Sauce

This wonderful recipe from one of my favourite cookbooks, The Impoverished Gastronome by David Chater, was our dinner last night.  I’m pretty sure I’ve made this before, as broccoli is one of my favourite foods, but I think I made the mistake of leaving out the sauce last time.  The soufflé is very mild tasting on its own (milk, butter, eggs, flour, cheese, almonds), so the tapenade really makes the difference.  Interestingly, the tapenade itself is slightly different from the usual, as it includes mustard.

I won’t give the full recipe here, as it’s probably not that hard to find a recipe for a broccoli soufflé.  The main things that make this dish are the combination of the soufflé with the tapenade, and the inclusion of mustard in the tapenade.  I tweaked the recipe a little too, as I couldn’t bring myself to boil the broccoli (just seems like a travesty to treat broccoli that way!) and instead I sautéed it in a little butter, then added a dash of water, covered the pan and steamed it until soft.  If you do this just right, the broccoli keeps its bright green color.

For the cheese I used finely grated Romano, but I toyed briefly with the idea of putting in some blue cheese for a stronger flavour.  I left it out because David doesn’t like blue cheese, but it’s probably worth trying.  Also I wondered if some fresh herbs (tarragon? coriander?) might be tasty.

Baby Banana

Mysteriously, Callum’s latest thing is to get a drink or piece of food, and just hold it for an hour or more without actually drinking or eating it, while steadfastly refusing to give up the item. His appetite has been very small lately compared to usual, because of colds and teething, but normally before now he would have just been uninterested in having anything. This magpie-like behaviour is perplexing and frustrating. I’ve gotten to the point where I am wary of giving him anything squishable, crumbly, or tip-out-able. While I am quite happy to clean up afterwards when he actually eats, this new habit of festooning our carpet and sofa with perishables for no purpose (he usually eventually abandons the item) just drives me crazy.

We have all been gradually getting well after a week of snuffling and coughing, so I took it as a positive sign last night that after eating some pasta, Callum asked for a banana. Like a fool, I actually gave him a piece. You guessed it: he then clutched it, wandered back and forth, clambered over my legs and into my lap and out again, all the while applying just enough pressure to the banana to render the surface slimy. Eventually, it popped out of his hand on to the carpet.

It didn’t rest there for long, because Callum spotted a washcloth on our side table, so he picked up the banana, placed it on the table, and draped the washcloth over it. Next he patted it, and said, “Baby.” This went on for a little while longer, and then he picked up the banana again, this time with the cloth around it, and continued climbing over my legs and lap. He even gave the banana an experimental nibble, so that I teased him that he was eating his baby, but he never did eat it.

But at least I got an amusing blog-able moment out of it…

Ouch! My feelings!

Lately when I drop Anya and Callum off at daycare, Anya is quite happy to immediately start playing with her friends, and barely shows any interest in me. There is a fun little thing she likes when I leave, though (after handing a loudly protesting Callum over to one of the extremely kind staff). I close the gate to her room, then she comes over and gets a kiss through the bars.

If her friend Amelia is there, Anya invites her to come get a kiss too. The last time this happened, Anya warned her, "After you get a kiss, wipe the slobber off." (Fact check: I actually have very dry lips, which David has complained about more than once.) Also a few times she's said, "No, I don't want a kiss today, I don't want to get your smell on me." (!!! I have no idea what this one means!)

Cooking the Chef

David had the brilliant idea for a dinner party where each guest would bring a dish from The Cook and The Chef. We decided his birthday was the perfect excuse, and invited everyone over this Saturday evening. The eclectic, but tasty, menu included:

Beetroot, Cannellini & Pear Dip with Rosemary Chickpea Crispbread
Bitter Green Salad
Treasure's Lamb and Pickled Quince Pies
Thai Chicken Stir Fry
Buffalo Mozzarella Souffle
Chocolate Almond and Prune Slab
Vietnamese Coffee

We also brought out several bottles that have been "cellared" under our house in the crawl space (like most timber Queensland homes, our house is elevated about 3 ft above the ground, which helps it stay cool and also deters termites). Yummm... there was a 1996 Jamieson's Run, a 1995 Wynn's Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, and to finish, we shared a port that David bought in Solvang, the year that we started our relationship (1996). The Jamieson's Run was stunning. I can't believe we originally bought it for $10/bottle.

Anya and Callum slept over at their grandma's house, so they had a special time as well (and we got to stay up late and sleep in!)

Visit to Sydney + Roadtrip

Thanks to the lingering vestiges of royal government, Australia celebrated the Queen's birthday on June 8th, so we took advantage and went to Sydney to hang out with Paul, Teresa and Heather for the week (Paul wrote an excellent blog entry about our visit, and so did Teresa). At first we thought about flying -- then taking the train -- but in the end, I'm not sure how, we decided to drive. So then we had to buy a car... (see my previous post)

In addition to the new car, we also had a new camera with us, so I've been waiting for David to figure out how to download the photos and videos, so I could show them here. But since getting home, we've barely had time to breathe, eat and sleep, so today is the first time we've been able to get them off the camera's hard disk. Hopefully over the next few days we'll get it sorted and I'll have more to show -- so far I've just uploaded a few photos to flickr.

We left home on Friday (5th), drove for about six hours, and stopped overnight at Coffs Harbour. I would have loved to stop and linger along the way at all the scenic spots and foodie attractions, but we only stopped a few times for snacks and to let the kids run around. Their favorite activity of the day was probably chasing bubbles around, blowing from a perfume shop next to Sirocco Cafe in Ballina. They also enjoyed playing in the park by the river. We saw, unexpectedly, quite a lot of beautiful Ballina as we traipsed all over going to lunch, a bookshop, Rivers (to buy Callum sandals that we then lost the next day...), the park, and circling back to pick up a hat we lost along the way.

The kids amazed me with how well they coped with the car trip. Callum slept for a long time in the morning, and Anya was great all day until about 3:30 when she started saying she wanted to go home. She fell asleep as soon as I gave her the dummy. Callum held her hand (in her sleep) and to my surprise he fell asleep too. They woke up when we stopped to check out motel prices in Coffs Harbour. I thought they'd be full of beans after that, but after dinner, we settled them at the usual time, got into bed ourselves with the reading lights on, and they fell asleep without any dramas. I guess they probably liked us all being together for a change. It brought back memories of my childhood road trips with my parents lurking at the far end of the hotel room while they waited for us kids to fall asleep.

The second day, we made less stops -- admiring the gorgeous scenery the whole way -- and arrived in Sydney by 5:30, conferring with Paul about the best route -- we'd heard about the dangers of getting sucked into the Lane Cove Tunnel. Sydney seems to be covered with tollways that can take you very far in the wrong direction if you're not careful. We arrived without mishap and didn't even have much trouble with rush hour traffic, probably because we were going counter-flow.

Anya kicked off our grand re-union with Paul, Teresa & Heather by saying, "Come on, Heather!" and all three kids immediately ran off to another room to play. They also had dinner together at a low table, which Heather wasn't too interested in eating, but she joined in to be social. Meanwhile, Paul grilled up some garlic prawns (yummmm) and burgers for our dinner.

The next day, we went to the Sydney Aquatic Centre which has a variety of heated pools and water slides, all indoors. We spent a lot of time going around and around in a circular channel that has jets propelling you along like submerged rapids. Really cool. After lunch, back home, all three kids enjoying tooling around the parking area on tricycles for a long time -- Anya pedalling on Heather's tricycle, Heather on a scooter style with no pedals, and Callum on a neighbor's scooter tricycle. David and I were agog, as Anya has been very uninterested in riding her tricycle at home. Maybe she just needs a big area to ride around in circles, rather than the bike paths we've been bringing her to.

On the Queen's Birthday, we went to Taronga Zoo. Tons of people were there, but we couldn't really tell after we went in, because it is so spacious. The zoo has a prime position along the harbour as well, so if only they would build some treehouses... (they do have an overnight stay program called "Snore and Roar" but I don't know where the guests stay). We spent hours at the zoo and barely saw a quarter of the exhibits. If I lived in Sydney I would probably get an annual pass to the zoo! There was so much to see. Right after lunch we were lucky to see the "Elephants' Playtime." I have a particular fondness for snakes, so I loved getting to pet an olive python. But we all agreed our favorite was the giraffes -- they just look so elegant and gentle.


The following day, Paul and Teresa went to work -- we stayed out of their way while they managed to compress a whole morning routine into just an hour. (We don't seem able to do that, I'm not sure why... 2 x kids = 4 x time?) David and I took the kids for a long walk along the shoreline, around to Luna Park. We visited there in 2007, when we last came to Sydney, and Anya said that this time she would not be afraid of the clowns and she was really looking forward to meeting them. Unfortunately, we didn't think about the fact that it was a cold, windy, winter workday -- the park was closed! We got a good walk out of it anyway, and took a "sequel" photo in front of the Luna Park gate. The outing tuckered out the kids quite well and I dashed off for a few hours to meet my replacement at the DHI Sydney office (I have handed off my Software Sales role and am going back to project work).


On Wednesday, we packed up and drove out to my Uncle Felix & Aunt Yuk Kuen's home in Pennant Hills. (Unfortunately, this involved driving halfway to Penrith, passing through several tollways, before I realised my mistake.) Uncle Felix & Aunt Yuk Kuen have a beautiful home ("just a cottage") in Cherrybrook where we were warmly welcomed. I last saw them at our wedding (1997) and before that I'd only seen them few times in the past, so this was a long overdue family reunion. We really enjoyed staying with them and the kids felt right at home almost from the beginning (Aunt Yuk Kuen really pulled out all the stops with providing toys, movies and treats).

On Thursday, we set out for Darling Harbour, intending to visit various museums, parks and other attractions around the area, but as soon as we arrived at the Powerhouse Museum, the kids were rapt and we spent the whole morning there. The first activity of the day was chasing pigeons around the plaza outside the entrance... then playing with techno toys... examining a spread of musical instruments... "Zoe's House" where they donned miniature construction hats and safety vests and carted around rubbery "bricks"... wandering around a futuristic exhibit of robots and computers downstairs... and finally visiting an outdoor play area where we had lunch as well. I must admit, David and I got pretty bored with the museum but clearly the kids loved it.

That night David and I had a long talk with Uncle Felix & Aunt Yuk Kuen about family stuff and I asked Uncle Felix to write out the family tree for me. My grandfather had 3 wives (my father was his eldest son) and I knew all the names from my grandmother's part of the tree, but I only know one aunt from the other part of the family. The funny thing is, after looking at the diagram, I realised that there were more people in my dad's generation than in mine! I have nine aunts and uncles, but just six cousins.

On our last day with Uncle Felix & Aunt Yuk Kuen, we went for a short walk in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Our time there was frustratingly short, since we were limited by how soon we could get the kids ready in the morning, and how soon they got tired after lunch, but it was nice to visit such a major national park -- it's on the Australian National Heritage List.


In the evening, we drove back to North Sydney (along with my aunt & uncle) and all had dinner together at Lee's Fortuna Court for a surprise birthday dinner for David (his birthday being the next day). Teresa kindly organised the whole thing and brought a huge chocolate cake, which David got to cut with a sword (the restaurant's).


On David's birthday, we left Sydney at 9 am, and David drove with determination all day (I spelled him briefly in the afternoon so he could nap). We got home at 11:30 pm! Thank you David; I never could have done it... and what a way to spend your birthday. It was good to wake up in our own beds in the morning and have a day to reset ourselves (and do laundry!)

New, and Slightly Mad

So the big news of the day is: we have a new car! Why? Because we are planning to drive to Sydney (departing this Friday), and only found out last Friday that our old car’s transmission is on its last legs. Talk about putting the pressure on… To fix the transmission would have cost as much as the value of the car, and we’ve been talking about getting a new car for a while now, so luckily we had some car models in mind.

David put in a Herculean effort over the last four days and says, “I would rather get my skull drilled open than go through this again, but it looks like we have a car.” Yay! (Not only that, he got them to accept our old car, which would have been a pain to get rid of, so, YAY again!) At 4:30, after a whole day of teeth-grinding negotiations (about road-worthiness) and driving back and forth across Brisbane (to see the car & get it checked out), the seller really flabbergasted us by reneging on the sale. David even asked me to check with the Office of Fair Trading to see if we had any recourse. But later, after David called them to see if they *really* meant to pull out, they said they were going ahead with the sale (phew!) Now our fingers are crossed that they deliver as promised and we get a road-worthy car tomorrow.

And a big thank you goes out to our mechanic who really helped us with advice on whether the model we liked was sound, and squeezed us into his busy schedule at short notice to inspect the car we picked.

Kangaroo Fillet with Basil Garlic Paste

I was doubtful whether to post this recipe but a quick search of available kangaroo recipes revealed a theme to me: kangaroo is imagined to be tough and/or gamey, and recipes tend to focus on making it super spicy (eg. curry) or stewing it for a long time or both. Horrors! I just don't see the point of having a lovely, exotic meat, and burying the flavor.

My recipe does the complete opposite: you don't cook the meat for any longer than you like (I prefer medium rare) and it stays moist and tender. It's pretty simple, and I imagine this recipe would also work well for other meats:

Make a paste of garlic, fresh basil, nuts, olive oil and salt to taste. (Sort of like pesto without the cheese.) Spread in a layer over the kangaroo fillets, coating all over (about the thickness of peanut butter on a sandwich). I did this a few hours before cooking to let the flavors go through the meat. When ready to cook, roll the fillets in cornflake crumbs or breadcrumbs and fry on both sides.

To serve, slice diagonally.

Let Us Count the Ways to Say... NO!

1. When mama is changing the TV channels, and goes past the ABC Kids program, shout, "NO!" until she changes back. (Then you might say, quietly in relief, "There you go.")

2. In the middle of the night. Darn it! Why did we wake up? (Oh, there's that dummy.)

3. For about twenty or thirty minutes, over and over, and for no particular reason.

4. When your big sister picks up something that you had your eye on.

5. At sleeptime, after having been read two lovely stories and had "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" in a family sing-along, you have to shout, "NO!" and get off the bed as quick as a wink to let everyone know: it surely can't be time to lie down quietly yet.

6. In the bath, when it's time to wash your hair.

7. Any time you feel like it (or don't feel like it). It's a fun sound!

Green Curry

We make Thai curry quite often, but this one turned out especially well, so I thought I'd share the recipe, since it was fairly simple with not too many ingredients:

1. Fry one sliced onion on medium-high heat until starting to brown.
2. Add meat of your choice (I used pork mince; chicken would taste similar), tossing to ensure even cooking, until surfaces look cooked (the meat will continue to saute or simmer in the following steps).
3. Add several slices of belacan (compressed shrimp paste), stirring into the pan juices to dissolve.
4. Add 1 small tin of green curry paste (about 115 g) and a generous handful of curry leaves (optional) and stir through, cooking for about 2 minutes.
5. Stir in 2 cans (400 ml each) of coconut milk and 1 can of bamboo shoots, baby corn, or a combination.
6. Stir in thickly sliced zucchini or eggplant pieces and simmer until cooked (careful not to overcook!) I used 2 zucchinis.
7. Serve over rice, garnished with fresh basil and friend shallot (a condiment available from Asian grocers).

Me = Callum

I noticed this week that when I asked Callum, "Can you say Callum? Who are you?" He says, "Me!" I told David about this, and we have been trying to get him to say his name ever since, with no luck so far.

We tried to illustrate the concept this way, on our drive into town yesterday:

"Who's this?" -- "Daddy!"
-- "Yes! Who's this?" -- "Mama!"
-- "Very good! And who's this?" -- "Ah-wa!" (smiles all around)
-- "OK, so who's this?" -- "Me!" (peals of laughter from everyone)

Nothing Fancy

This was tonight's dinner, and although simple, it all tasted good together and I received more compliments for this than for many other fancy meals.

PORK - SCOTCH CUT: sprinked with salt, freshly ground pepper, and liberally applied olive oil, baked until done through (juices running clear)

APPLES AND ONIONS: slice 2 onions and 4 apples, saute the onions until soft but not brown, place apple slices on top, sprinkle with a little sugar to taste (about 1 tsp) and dot with butter to taste (about 1 tablespoon), wait until onions start to brown, then stir together and cook on medium low heat (stirring occasionally) until soft (if I had been more organised, this probably would have worked well as an oven dish alongside the pork)

CHEESY CAULIFLOWER: steam cauliflower florets, then place in an ovenproof dish and sprinkle with cheese of your choice (I used a combination of Romano & mozzarella, but I think a little blue cheese would have tasted great), place under a grill until lightly browned

Anya Turns Four

Yes, our little girl turned four yesterday and I DIDN"T TAKE ANY PICTURES. David is mighty disappointed, but I was too busy being in it! First, the night before, I made THIRTY cupcakes (staying up late, since I had to do it after circus class). Then, in the morning, we brought the cupcakes in, plus chocolate frosting and mini marshmallows. Anya carried the cake holder and was very proud to do it. I was happy that I had decided not to frost the cupcakes beforehand, because then it didn't matter that they got tumbled end over end during their journey in Anya's care. :)

On arrival at Kindercraft, we paused in the lunchroom (which always makes me smile, as it's furnished with miniature tables and chairs) and I applied the frosting while Anya placed a marshmallow on each one. She chastised me when I tried to help and didn't place the marshmallow exactly upright. She also kept Callum pacified by passing a marshmallow to him every few minutes. We had the cupcakes all on a tray, and carefully decorated the central cupcake with four candles, then paraded into Anya's room. Luckily, the various age groups had gone back to their own rooms for the second half of the morning, so we didn't have more kids than cakes.

I lit the candles, then everyone sang Happy Birthday while Anya smiled to herself with pleasure.

A few minutes later, I was sitting to one side with Callum, and I asked, "Would anyone like a ballooon?" and a whole crowd of chocolatey faces looked solemnly at me and nobody answered. Too busy eating...

I spent most of the day there (from arrival to the post-lunch naptime), which pleased Anya and Callum no end. At story time, Anya sat in the front row, and I sat in the back with Callum (who spent the whole day sitting in my lap as much as possible). Every few minutes, Anya would turn around and wave at me, and soon, all her friends were also turning and waving with her. The other kids were somewhat puzzled by my continued presence, and variously said to me, "You're still here?!"

In the evening, Anya had so many presents to open it was like her own private Christmas. Her Grandma was there, as it was the usual routine for her to come over and stay Wednesday night. Her Uncle Rob also came around with a present, and earlier, her Aunt Ann Maree had dropped a present off as well.

All in all, a pretty great birthday.

I Got Dem Blues

Callum plays the blues... the tough way.

Jack in the Box

"What was that about -blblskljdlbhhh- Jack in the Box?" David demanded.

I turned my head and looked at him in complete bewilderment. "What?"

"Never mind, I fell asleep for a minute."

Yes, we are becoming those oldies who drowse in front of the TV and wake up shouting nonsense.

Babycino at Grub St Cafe, Gaythorne

Game No. 2

Until now, our main game (which I might have mentioned before) has been to re-enact scenes from Jack and the Beanstalk. Even David has been roped in, often to proclaim, "Fee fi fo fum!" Today we did the story from start to finish, with Anya changing horses mid-stream to play whichever role she felt was having the best action, even becoming the beanstalk a couple of times. Callum watched the whole play, and joined in by offering me food whenever Anya (as the giant's wife) offered me (Jack) food.

While "Jack" is good fun, since the story is so classic, I was pleased this week that Anya seemed to start a new interest in pirates and treasure hunting. This afternoon we took turns being blindfolded and "hunting" for treasure strewn on the rug (everyday objects we had designated as "treasure"). After finding the treasure a few times, Anya then gathered them up and "buried" them (under my desk) and I helped her make a Pirate Treasure Map. Then we followed the map to find the treasure.

The amusing part is, she didn't quite understand that a dotted line just means a path on a map, so she pretended she was seeing each dot on the floor as we walked around, and pointed them out as landmarks that we were on the right trail.

Mixed Messages

The scene: Callum’s just had a bottle instead of finishing his dinner (pasta, which he normally loves, but this time started flinging around the room) because I thought he needed to get something in his tummy to calm him down. Afterwards, I thought perhaps some proper food would help.

Elaine: Would you like some bread? Or cheese?

Callum: Bed.

Elaine: Okay, I’ll get you some bread. [Starts to get the bag open.]

Callum: Chee.

Elaine: Cheese? You want cheese? [Pauses bread maneuver.]

Callum: Bed.

Elaine: Bread? So you DO want some bread?

Callum: Chee.

Elaine: Here you go, here’s some bread.

Callum: T'ank-oo. [Takes the bread and wanders back to his spot in the lounge room, where he gobbles up the bread like a POW.]

Happy Easter!

We had a great time watching Anya and Callum hunting around the house this morning for hidden Easter eggs. One got the biggest laugh when it was found under "Jingly Bunny" (Anya's current favorite toy). It was really nice to see the kids so excited and cooperating: Anya would hang back when we asked her to let Callum "find" the eggs, and Callum was very good about putting all the ones he found into the carry bag that Anya was collecting them all into. Anya then surprised us by finding more when we thought all the eggs had been discovered.

After breakfast, it was time for the Giant's lunch... Sandwiches! This is one of our favorite games, where the giant's wife (usually me) makes lunch for the giant, and he comes stomping in, "Fee fi fo fum, where's my lunch?" Then the lunch runs away...



The rest of the Rees are up the coast at Peregian Beach, but we don't feel that we're missing out that much, since it has been drizzly all weekend. Tomorrow a lot of friends are coming over for brunch, which will be a lovely way to finish off the four-day weekend.

Ah-wa

Lately Callum has been saying all sorts of words, too many to remember as they come bursting out in the course of the day, but one that I really noticed this week is that he's started saying Anya's name. He can't pronouce it properly yet, instead saying, "Ah-wa" but it is clearly referring to Anya. For example, looking through the box where we keep both their shoes: "Ah-wa shoes... my shoes..."

Gross, Tacky and Just Plain Icky

Seen on a church billboard yesterday evening:

FOR ALL YOU DO
HIS BLOOD'S FOR YOU

(Readers take note: Budweiser is not even sold in Australia!)

Memory Lane

This week, my mother's cousin, whom I know as Aunt Jo, came to visit, as part of a longish holiday she and Uncle Chuck were taking around Australia. She first visited her mother's sister, who lives on the far south side of Brisbane (read: as far from us as possible while still being within the Brisbane region). After spending a few days with Aunt Marion, they met us for dinner, drove Aunt Marion back to the convent (Aunt Marion is a retired sister) and came to stay with us for a few days.

Aunt Jo brought a packet of photos and talked to Aunt Marion about family stories (in between excursions to the Gold Coast) and on their last night with us, she in turn shared those photos and some family stories with me. It was a very special experience, as I have never known very much about the family history on my mother's side.

Usually we see all David's family on a regular basis, but hardly any of my family. So it was also special to have some family from my side spending time with the kids.

Melbourne Foodspot

I was in Melbourne last week for a conference and since then have composed this blog entry in my mind about a thousand times. Should it be about being away from home & family? Should it be about the quirks of corporate travel?

I decided it all comes down to food. Melbourne is widely recognised as the food and wine capital of Australia, although now I'm sure I will hear strong protests from Sydney and other capital cities. However, as a self-accredited foodie, I can definitely support Melbourne's claim. Every meal I had in Melbourne was good, even though I was not expecting it -- for example, the catering at the conference was good. So was the dinner at a corner pub, which normally would (by its appearance and location) have led me to expect a stodgy steak and potato menu, unenthusiastically dished out. And I mean good by foodie standards, not just "good enough" for non-foodies. I wonder if Melburnians feel disappointed when they eat in other cities?

On my last evening in Melbourne, I was left to my own devices, so I decided to seek out the Greek precinct. Melbourne once had the second largest Greek population of any city in the world, exceeded only by Athens. Considering Melbourne's food reputation, I thought that I would easily find a restaurant to surpass my favorite Greek restaurant (ever), Sofi's in LA.

Unfortunately, the Greek precinct (one block of Lonsdale Street) is now embedded within the Asian restaurant scene which sprawls like wild ivy creeping out from Chinatown just a block away, taking over streets in all directions. Therefore, during my quest, I passed by many crowded and delicious smelling Asian restaurants -- Korean, Thai, Japanese, Indonesian and Chinese, to name a few. In addition, on my way to Lonsdale Street, I happened across Hardware Lane, with busy Italian cafes on either side of the pedestrian-only laneway. Feeling amazed at how many restaurants there were, and how full they all were, especially for a Tuesday night, I steeled my resolve and continued along Lonsdale Street.

I found a paltry three Greek restaurants in a row and one Greek bakery. The bakery looked scrumptious, but hardly dinner-worthy. I saved the thought for later. Going window to window, I compared the menus of all three restaurants and peered at the empty rooms with only two or three tables taken in each one. Nothing looked terribly inspiring. I thought about the Chinese restaurant that had snagged my attention earlier, with a photo of the chef making handmade noodles. Noodles, especially handmade ones, are one of my favorite foods.

Circling the neighborhood, I considered various Asian offerings, but in the end went back to the place with the handmade noodles: Dumplings Plus. It broke several of my rules around restaurant selection, with decor (too fancy for a lowbrow Asian restaurant), name (sounds like a franchise), and signage (big plastic monstrosity) but I couldn't resist the appeal of handmade noodles. I ordered Northern style noodles (served in a sour spicy broth and garnished with pork mince and pickled vegetables), stir fried mushrooms and seasonal vegetables (a lovely assortment of mushrooms, not just button mushrooms), and steamed man tou.

And, of course, it was good.

Me! Mine!

Having mastered important basic words such as "bye-bye" and "more please" (which at this stage sounds more like "moh pee"), this week Callum has started shouting out "me!" and "mine!" For example when I say, "Who wants some grapes?" it's hard to know whether Callum or Anya is quicker to shout out "Me!" And of course, when playing with just about anything (toys, pens, gadgets, bowls) it is now common to hear Callum insisting "mine!"

On the weekend we set up his new bed in Anya's room and showed it to him. He was not terribly interested -- sat on it briefly then wandered away -- but when I invited Anya to try it out, he knew it was his bed, and immediately cried out, "Mine!" (By the way, he slept in his new bed last night... very exciting for David and me!)

Meanwhile, for the last few weeks, Anya has been writing letters. Or perhaps I should say, she dictates the words to me, then signs her own name and adds artwork. It started with a letter to Grandma because she was missing her. When Anya realised how the postal system works (what?! someone ELSE takes the letter to Grandma after I put the letter in the box? AND we use a special sticker stamp? whee!) and received a letter addressed to her (wow! a letter for ME!) the floodgates opened. So far she has written a letter to her Aunty Wenda, and her cousins Lauren and Jessica. Yesterday she received a letter packed with replies from Lauren, Jessica and a bonus "BOO!" note from her Uncle Don (Lauren and Jessica's dad). I wonder who's next?

Suffering for Art

I enrolled in circus classes through Circa a few weeks ago: "Conditioning" on Monday evenings and "Beginner Aerials" on Wednesday evenings. (Thanks, David, for singly shouldering the evening duties!) The Conditioning class has been truly the toughest and most challenging class I have ever done, and I don't just mean in a boot camp sort of way. To impart acrobatic fitness, the class includes a lot of flexibility moves combined with strength -- like Pilates on steroids. I was really worried that I would get injured in the "warm-up" part of the class, which involves first running up and down four flights of stairs, then hopping up them on one leg.

Instead, I got injured in the kind, gentle Wednesday class! Normally they just get us to play a game that will warm us up, such as throwing around a fitness ball. Last week, the instructors swung a long rope while the students skipped in and out of it, initially hopping three times before moving off, then twice, then once, then graduating to other more challenging moves such as crossing over in front of each other, tumbling into the skipping area, cartwheeling out, and so on.

I, however, did none of these things. I couldn't get the hang of simply running in and starting to jump, and the rope would stop dead on me every time. After several rounds, the instructors gave me the advice that I needed to start jumping immediately when I walked into the skipping spot. On my next try, I ran eagerly in, all set to jump on cue, and... rolled my ankle.

I spent the next fifteen minutes watching everyone else get more and more proficient at skipping while icing and elevating my ankle. It didn't feel that bad and looked OK (the ice was doing a great job), so I decided to stay for the actual aerials training. To my horror, the next morning I was in excrutiating pain. Had I made a foolish decision and exercised a broken ankle?

David stayed home and shepherded me to the doctor, the x-ray clinic, and the doctor again (amazingly this took almost all day). Anya tagged along and loved shopping and lunching with David while they waited for me. Callum stayed home with his grandma (it being a "grandma day" anyway). Luckily it turned out that my ankle was not broken, which was a huge relief.

Today I am back to class for more aerials, but I've dropped out of conditioning for the rest of the term - still can't walk at normal speed, much less run and hop up the stairs!

Traffic Signal Box (TSB): finished!

I finished most of this painting before Christmas, except the gravel around the bottom of the aquarium. This weekend, I finally found some time when the weather cooperated (not raining and not too hot) and did the last part . I also went over all the rest of the box checking for touch ups -- for example, by some incredible oversight, I had left out the white stripe next to the tail, on both clownfish. Shocking!

David is still voting for painting a black border around all the fish, but I decided not to do it, as that is a complete change of painting technique. Besides, this whole effort was done "rustically" using Anya's paintbrushes. Next time (assuming I get the chance to do this again) I think I will opt for a non-rustic approach, as I found it frustrating to have all the random feathering of edges. Maybe I will apply my t-shirt screening techniques and use a stencilling approach.

If you click on the photo here, you can go through to flickr and see all the other photos of the TSB including progress photos. You can also see my listing (with this same photo) and rate it (for the annual prize!) on the Artforce website at: http://svc189.bne146v.server-web.com/artforce/rating.asp?id=1034

Jasmine Sends Us to the Dump

Anya told David this week, "When I'm queen, I'll have the power to get rid of you!" (like Princess Jasmine, in Aladdin)

"Oh? How will you do that?"

"I have a special truck that will take you to the dump!" (the way the pigs got rid of the dingrel in The Three Little Bush Pigs)

He got Anya to tell me about this while we were driving in to town, and she added, "You too, mum."

I then boo-hooed and said, "But who will take care of you -- and kiss you -- and hug you?"

She relented, and said, "I changed my mind -- not you, Dad." (So I would still be taken to the dump.)

David gloated later, "I get to stay, and you don't!"

Bye, Bye

Our little boy has started saying, "bye, bye" this week and is very pleased with himself about it. He is also much more clearly repeating other words, but "bye, bye" is his favorite. Tonight he looked so sleepy before bedtime, but once laid down with his satin comforter, rather than settle in, he spent half an hour saying "bye, bye," then perked up when his sister came into the room. I had to take him with me for her bedtime story, then start again and listen to another half hour of "bye, bye" before he fell asleep. I even spent part of this time saying, "sleepy time... close your eyes... bye, bye" which normally prompts him to make a genuine attempt to close his eyes and sleep, but tonight only fueled the "bye, bye" madness.

Sydney Opera House Graphic

I made up this graphic yesterday, because I was not happy with the graphics out there (that I could find, anyway). So, just thought I'd share...

When I had the logo made which was meant to incorporate this, we ended up doing something totally different (to my disappointment, but I don't really have time to mess around):

http://www.dhigroup.com.au/Training/TWeek09.aspx

Stats

A snapshot of Callum's growth so far -- about 13 kg (43.3 lb) and an estimated 108 cm tall (42.6 in) and how he compares to Anya at the same age (about 1.5 kg heavier and about the same height). From my aching shoulder blades I was so sure he would weigh even more than this!

Anya weighs 18 kg now and is 3-3/4 years old.

A Milestone of Sorts

I have been reading other parental blogs lately and feel quite insufficiently amusing and witty and wry. Must remind myself that I am not writing this in order to gather fans, but to share some warm moments with faraway family and friends.

So get ready to feel all warm and fuzzy as I tell you that... Callum has now successfully used the potty twice in the last week. I have no idea what is going on, as we are not actually trying to potty train him right now. But just by chance, twice now I have happened to guess that he was about to poo, and sat him on the potty. Meanwhile, he is still happily weeing on the floor when left nude for more than two or three minutes, and certainly doesn't seem inclined to let us know when he needs to do some business.

As for talking -- he has been getting more and more vocal, but still talking his own language most of the time. Lately he's started saying "uh-oh!" quite often, which sounds very cute. Other than that, he tends to blurt out words when surrounded by a few other people talking, as if he's been following the conversation in his head and couldn't help joining in. I feel as if one day, he will suddenly break out with a fully fledged sentence.

Simple Baked Chicken

I made up this recipe tonight based on what I had in the fridge, and how much time I had, but it turned out pretty well. The beauty of it is, it has no seasonings, so you can dress it how you like afterwards. Tonight I served it atop coconut rice and garnished it with freshly chopped coriander and dollops of sambal barjak (chili lemongrass relish). I can equally well imagine it served on plain rice or pasta and drizzled with olive oil, and italian flavors such as chopped kalamata olives, sundried or fresh tomatoes, and fresh herbs. Or go Moroccan and serve with couscous, preserved lemon & harissa... or dress with cheese sauce...

2 onions, sliced & browned in some oil on low heat
3 or 4 cloves garlic, sliced & browned (throw into onion pan, when onions are nearly done)
1 large red capsicum (bell pepper), sliced
1 large carrot, julienne
1 large zucchini, cut into large chunks
1/2 eggplant, sliced (1 cm thick) & browned in oil
3 or 4 chicken thighs

Toss together all the ingredients except the eggplant and season with salt and pepper. Add oil if needed to moisten all items. Place in a baking dish, making sure the chicken is buried. Place slices of eggplant over the top to cover. Cut some baking paper or foil to the shape of the baking dish, to act as a lid without sealing around the edges. Place on top. Bake at 180C (350F) for at least an hour. (I baked mine for an hour and a half because I was busy doing other things.) The resulting dish should have a lovely broth developed from the chicken and vegetables, so it tastes great with rice.

Here is my easy recipe for coconut rice, by the way:
1 cup jasmine rice
1 cup coconut cream
1 cup water
1 tablespoon fried onion (Asian condiment, or if you don't keep this in stock, simply sliver some onion and fry it gently until well browned)
pinch salt

Bring to a boil and allow to boil gently (not vigorously) for about 4 minutes until the liquid has evaporated to the same level as the top of the rice. Cover, and turn heat to low. The rice should be done in about 8 more minutes. Note if you prefer brown rice, use 2 cups water and adjust the timings accordingly.

Australia Day 2009

We visited Government House (also known as "Fernberg") today and enjoyed looking at historic items and relaxing on the grounds. As the weather continues to be extremely warm & humid, I was happy to cool down on the slightly damp grass under a wedding-style marquee, complete with chandeliers and a small stage. The kids loved the stage, and strangely, most people stayed on other parts of the grounds, so there was lots of room to run around. I used the "fashion shoot" setting on the camera (I don't know its real name, but that's how I think of it) to capture several action shots of Anya, airborne as she twirled and hopped around Callum on stage. Anya soon started playing with another little girl and as they ran back and forth, squealing, Callum followed them this way and that, clutching his chicken drumstick tightly.

Gung hay fat choy!

Yeasty Goodness

This recipe was so delicious and easy, I immediately made some more the very next day after trying it for the first time.

2 tsp dried yeast (1 small packet)
100 ml warm milk
100 g plain flour, sieved
Mix together & knead for 2-3 minutes (speed 2 on Kenwood mixer). Cover with plastic wrap or damp cloth and set in warm place to rise until doubled in size.
150 g plain flour, sieved
½ tsp salt
50 g caster sugar
25 g butter
1 egg, beaten
Mix together and add to the risen dough. Knead for 3 minutes. Roll out to 13" × 18" on a non-stick surface (baking paper, or plastic board).
40 g brown sugar
40 g butter, softened
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
30 g dried fruit (eg. currants, sultanas, craisins, etc)
Mix together the sugar, butter and spices, and spread across the dough. Sprinkle the fruit over the surface evenly. Roll up the dough from the long edge. Slice into pieces 4 cm thick, making about 12 scrolls. Place scrolls into a deep, greased baking tray. Cover with plastic wrap or damp cloth and set in warm place to rise until doubled in size and spongy to the touch. Bake at 200°C for 15 to 20 minutes. Glaze while hot (50 g sugar dissolved in 80 ml water on low heat).

The dough is also supposedly suitable for making doughnuts (simply fry and roll in sugar/cinnamon mixture) but I haven't tried it yet.

Fun With Homonyms

I walked into the kitchen this evening just in time to hear David say, "No Callum, don't put poo on your penis."

I stepped closer and realised he meant Winnie the Pooh, whom Callum was clutching in one hand.

Making Choices

This morning I asked Anya, "Would you like Weetbix, or corn flakes for breakfast?" She didn't answer me, so I said, "Shall I choose? I guess I'll choose Weetbix."

Then she piped up, "No, no, don't choose Weetbix. You can choose corn flakes -- with honey."

Urgent Matters

Mid-afternoon, Anya raced up to me and asked anxiously, "When are we going home?" I thought, "Oh dear, is she having a bad day?" (She'd just had a long play with Rebecca from next door, who is completely her match in bossiness.) I said calmly, "In about a week -- why?"

She hopped in place and answered, "I have this money, and I need to put it in my money box!"

Laughing Boy

Callum has developed quite a sense of humor -- initiated peek-a-boo with Raema (grandma) over the end of the bed, and again at dinnertime he played peek-a-boo with me by ducking his head under the table and meeting my gaze when I ducked under as well.