It Was Tempting

Saturday 6th April, 2013

The weather has been on the improve here over the last couple of days and we are going to have temperatures of around 27C - 29C until next Thursday at least.  This is what I call perfect weather.  The nights are beginning to get cool but at least it makes for some good sleeping and getting cosy under the blankets.

This weekend daylight saving ends.  I love daylight saving but for the past month it has been hard getting out of bed early as it is still dark until way after 7.00am.  I think sunrise this morning was closer to 7.30am.  I'll be counting the days until it starts again as that means warmer weather for us.

Yesterday evening I went into town to meet Tony.  While in there we went off to Rundle Place as I wanted to see this wardrobe made completely of chocolate.  WOW! absolutely amazing is all I can say!!!

The chocolate was sourced from the Fruchocs (Robern Menz) factory here in Adelaide and more than 300 kilos was used.  

Prudence Staite, from the UK, was brought out by Harris Scarfes to sculpt the chocolate.  She has done an amazing job.  Her website can be found at "www.food is art.co.uk"

They wouldn't notice if I broke off a small piece from the models dresses would they......believe me it was tempting!

This display is expected to be at Rundle Place for several more weeks.  I wonder what will happen to all of the chocolate.  Surely it won't be made into Fruchocs and resold .......ugh!

Yes Sir, No Sir, Anything Else Sir?

Friday 5th April, 2013

Why does this country bend over backwards to satisfy other countries and/or religious demands?  Take today for example, Qantas, our international airline which recently joined forces with the Emirates airline company have taken pork off their inflight menu along with any alcohol based meals because it is against the teachings of Islam.

 Qantas no longer flies to Singapore on its way to Europe, instead they now fly through Dubai.  Why is it that these Arab countries and/or their people have so much say in what we do?  Who the hell are these people?  Why are we so scared of upsetting them? 

We personally don't eat pork so it doesn't bother me if they serve it or not, but for the people who do enjoy it why can't they still eat it.  If you don't eat it, order something else or let them know at the time of booking your tickets that you don't eat certain foods and I'm sure they will cater to your requirements.

If they don't like the food we serve up on our planes let them fly Emirates or Etihad.  Before long the domestic flights will be adopting the same catering rules, if they haven't already.

This country's freedoms are slowly being eroded away.  I shudder to think what sort of country Katie and her children will be living in in another 30 or so years.

Easter Over For Another Year

Monday 1st April, 2012

Easter is over for another year and I trust that everyone has had a lovely Easter with family and friends.

Good Friday was a lazy day for us.  Easter Saturday we went out for lunch to celebrate Kahra's birthday, which was on the Wednesday.  Katie came back with us to spend the remainder of Easter.
  

After lunch we took a drive down to Sempahore.  The annual kite festival was being held there.  Just as we arrived so too did the showers.  We didn't stay for long.  A lot of the kites were not flying, there wasn't too much of a breeze plus it started to rain.

We went off to do some food shopping and then decided to go home.  We ended up watching the movie, Narnia....The Witch, The Lion and The Wardrobe on Saturday night.  Katie mentioned that they were learning about it at school.  

Katie didn't seem to be as excited for Easter Bunny to come as she has in previous years.  I don't think she believes anymore but is too scared to say anything just in case she doesn't get anything.......lol.  She did ask whether Easter Bunny was going to come tonight.

In the morning when she woke up she looked by the side of her bed but there was nothing.  She got up and went out to the family /dining room and there was nothing there either.  She came back into her bedroom with a disappointed look on her face, but it quickly turned into a smile when she saw her Easter goodies on the cupboard.  She was happy with her eggs and bunny candle and she also got a hair straightener.

Sunday Katie wanted to go-kart racing.  Firstly we took a quick trip up to Woodside and Melba's Chocolate Factory.  We had been given some Easter goodies by some friends and so I thought we had better get them some too.  

We came back and Tony and Katie went racing.  We couldn't stay too long as we had to go back home and get ourselves dressed to go out for dinner.  We picked up Robyn and Bob, and then drove to Lyndoch Hill (previously known as Barossa Chateau) for dinner.  

This was the first time Katie had experienced 5 star dining.  She said she felt very special, especially when the waitress placed the cloths (napkins) on her.  She loved the way they kept coming over to refill her glass with water and how fancy they served the meals.   "It wan't like a pub meal, was it Nanna?" she commented later.

The food was absolutely fantastic!  We enjoyed every course.  Katie even tried foods she had never eaten before, like asparagus, mashed swede, and avocado.  For dessert she wanted to try the Blood Orange Sorbet but at the last minute decided to go for the baked chocolate mousse instead.  Tony ordered it instead so at least she could get to try it.  She said it was nice but whether she would have eaten it if she'd ordered it was another matter.

$396.00 later we decided it was worth every cent.  It's not a place you'd go to once a month, maybe not even once a year, but for a special occasion I would highly recommend it.  It was surprising the number of diners that were there.  The dining room was full and they ended up taking people upstairs where tables had been set up. 

She asked Robyn and Bob if they would like to come 10 pin bowling with us on the Monday.  They said yes and so she was happy.  They came around 1.30pm  and so we walked up to the Bowling centre.  I didn't bowl, Katie, Robyn, Bob and Tony did.  I think they all need a lot of practise......lol.  No-one got over 100 points.  Still it was a great afternoon.

By the time we got back home, it was time to leave and take Katie to meet Kahra.  After dropping her off we came back home, had dinner and put our feet up.  We have just had another great Easter!

April Fool's Day

Monday 1st April, 2013

I wonder how many people fell for this and have gone to Monarto Zoo today hoping for a glimpse. 

This morning while reading the Adelaide Now website I came across this............it was an article about a baby "Zebracorn" that had been seen at Monarto Zoo last Friday.

"The mythical creature appears to have a horn-like growth on it's
forehead.

Zoo keepers were surprised and shocked when they found the unusual
arrival on Friday, giving the filly a befitting name, "Zebracorn",  for its
unicorn-like similarities.

Monarto Zoo curator, Beth Pohl, said it was an unbelievable sight.

"This is the type of  thing you only read about in children's
stories," she said.

The bub is already displaying it's cheeky nature after it was captured
poking its tongue out exclusively for the Adelaide Now readers."

Easter Greetings!

Thursday 28th March, 2013

I would like to wish you all a very Happy Easter.  If you are travelling please drive carefully.  Too many lives are lost on the roads at this time of year.  I hope you all have a wonderful time with your family and friends. 

I must say I prefer Easter over Christmas.  This time of year is so much more relaxing, no rushing around attending Christmas parties, having to plan a banquet feast, or shopping for gifts.  Easter eggs and chocolate are so much easier to buy.

A Lot Of Hoo-Haa About Nothing

Tuesday 26th March, 2013

Today saw the unveiling of the new Harris Scarfes' store in Rundle Mall.  It was rebuilt on the old Harris Scarfes site and is now known as Rundle Place, consisting of 2 floors of Harris Scarfes, a food court, Coles, 70 Specialty shops and offices.

I decided to go in and meet Tony after work and go and check it out.  What a lot of hoo-haa about nothing! But then again I suppose it is the media's and HS publicity department to talk it up seeing that shop retail sales is dwindling.  Buying online seems to be most peoples preferred way of shopping these days.

Yeah it was busy in there, a lot of nosey people like us I presume.  With Harris Scarfes having only 2 floors, all their stock and departments seemed to be piled on top of each other and it looked very cluttered. Most of the specialty shops are on the ground floor.  A new Apple store is opening later and some of the other stores were Pandora, Crabtree & Evelyn, David Lawrence, Jigsaw, La Vie En Rose, Serafina, Ted Baker and Florsheim.

Let's hope that in a few years it doesn't turn into a white elephant like the Myer Centre.

We went down to the lower ground floor to see what the food court was like.  Hmm I wonder how long some of these places will stay in business.  Will it be like the food court in David Jones?  Some of the eateries were Fasta Pasta, Salsa (mexican), Subway, Warong, The House Yum Cha, T-Bar, Rheinland Bakery, Yiros, Fresh Junction, Sushi and Tepinyaki. 

Tony and I decided to try the Mexican and so we had Nachos.  The best Nachos we've ever had was while we were in Sydney and so we seem to compare all others to them.  These weren't too bad, a bit too much tomato for my liking. 

A stage had been set up out the front of  Rundle Place and so we decided to hang around and watch the free concert.  Justice Crew and The Collective were the two acts.  Both groups were great but I loved The Collective.  These were a group of young guys that had been put together while auditioning for the X Factor last year.  They are supposed to be Australia's answer to One Direction!

-

Justice Crew

The Collective

Justice Crew are a hip hop band who won Australia's Got Talent last year.  Not really our kind of sound but they were good too.  Lucky for Katie and her music, at least we knew most of the songs they performed.  In between the acts they had a DJ and it was like listening to Katie's play list from the car.  Tony and I were way out of our depth with all the screaming girls, but it took me back to my day when I did the same for Normie Rowe, Johnny Farnham, and Ronnie Burns.

Now "put your hands in the air, get your hands in the air......" seemed to be the catchcry of the evening.

Happy Birthday Tony!

Monday March 25th, 2013

Happy Birthday to my sweetheart.  I hope your day is as wonderful as you and that the year ahead is overflowing with oodles of love, laughter and happiness.  I Love You!!!

                                                          Although your channel hopping
                                            Tends to drive me to distraction

                                            Although you'd rather take a nap
                                            Than take some form of action

                                            Although you'll leave the seat up
                                            Even when I raise objection

                                           Although you'll never stop and say
                                           "Perhaps I need directions......"

                                           Although you make strange noises
                                           When I try to sleep at night

                                           Although you sometimes fail to see
                                           that I am always right

                                           Although you make me crazy
                                           With so many things you do....

                                           Not a day goes by when I know
                                           I am so glad I married you

That was written on his card that I gave him.  I can relate to just about all of it, he especially picked out the bit where it says I am always right......lol.  After reading his card he wanted to know when John Sands rang and interviewed me for what I wanted printed on it.............hahahahaha