Thursday, October 27, 2005

Wedding Planning

Hurrah!!!!!!

Matt told me last night that his contract at work will be renewed for at least another 6 months, which was the go-ahead for me to start the wedding plans! It is so exciting and a little bit surreal because it always seemed like this wonderful thing I kept dreaming of but didn't feel like it would ever happen. It feels much more real now and I am so excited!!!

Today I called Armstrongs restaurant at The Inchcolm Hotel and booked our reception.

Put this date into your calenders/diaries, people:

Friday 29th September 2006

as this is now our confirmed wedding date. I am waiting on an email with all the details from the restaurant and they are even going to bring us in for a meal and to chat to the chef about what we want. How cool is that?

I have emailed Brisbane City Council about the ceremony location, but haven't heard back yet. We decided our first preference is New Farm Park, and our second preference is Bowen Park. I just hope at least one is available for our wedding date, otherwise we have to start thinking of something else!

I have also made an appointment at Peter Crichton Photography to talk to the photographer about what we want and possibly book a package.

Oh, and last night we sat looking through catalouges about where we think we might want to go on our honeymoon. So far the top of the list is Radisson Treetops Resort in Port Douglas, but we are not sure yet. To look at the package we were thinking of, go here. You will need to download the pdf file, and then scroll down until you see the info for Radisson Treetops.

As you can tell, I am really excited about being able to start planning for real and to have a confirmed date to look forward to. Stay tuned for more info as it comes to hand (you never know, I might even be able to talk Matt into doing up a special page just for the wedding information!).

Monday, October 24, 2005

Idiot Parents Part 2

I have decided that anytime one of the parents from the school where I teach does or says something stupid, or blames me for something that isn't my fault, or expects that I do all the work of raising the child they brought into the world, then I will post it here. I have a lot of stories from the past to write about, but here's one that happened today:

I got a note from one of the kids who was away on Friday. It said: "Jane (name changed so I don't get into trouble) was away on Friday because she had a bad head cold, probably from swimming in the rain on Thursday, signed, Jane's Dad (a.k.a. stupid moron idiot wanker).

Now, as I am not allowed to reply to this letter and tell this guy that he must have been dropped on his head as a child, I will reply on here because, well, it makes me feel better.

a) Colds are not caused by being cold or wet. They are caused by something called a VIRUS. Have you ever heard of a virus? Or is that word too big for you?
b) Yes, it was raining on Thursday when the kids went swimming. It may have escaped your attention, but THEY GET WET ANYWAY. They are not going to be any more wet because it is raining (their teacher, standing at the side of the pool in full clothing with no umbrella, well that is another story)
c) Yes, it was cold. But I didn't pick them up and throw them into the pool. I had a couple of kids in my group say they were cold and wanted to get out, and of course I said that was fine! They went and got changed into their schoolclothes and sat in the covered area and watched. At least they were dry, not like me who was standing beside the pool with no umbrella (or did I mention that already?). In fact most of the kids whinged when I told them it was time to get out of the pool.

So there. It is not my fault your child got a VIRUS. And as far as I know, the common cold has a longer incubation period than a few hours.

I don't really feel that much better, but I guess I have vented a little. Stay tuned for more idiot parents!! (I'm sure there will be more of them!).

Sunday, October 16, 2005

Andrew James Beckitt

Our good friends Jules and Dan welcomed their new baby, Andrew James Beckitt, into the world early on Friday morning.

Matt and I were lucky enough to go and visit them in the hospital yesterday.






Isn't he beautiful?

Both mother and baby are doing well, and you can read all about it on Dan's Blog.

We can't wait to visit them again!

Oh, and the first thing my mum asked was "when's my turn?". It will be a while yet. We want the wedding and the house first!

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Craft and C.R.A.F.T.

I am an idiot.
Most of you know that already, but for those of you who don't, here is an example of my stupidity.

Tonight (as most Thursday nights) I went to Denise's place for scrapbooking. Had a lovely evening chatting and getting some scrapbooking done (although I only got the sewing done on half a page - that's another story). Matt was at uni late tonight so I was to pick him up at the train station between 8:30 and 9 after scrapping. I get ready to leave in time to go to the station. We take care to put a towel over my bag of scrapping stuff as it was raining reasonably heavy and I didn't want anything ruined. Denise handed me my tupperware container from the food I brought. I said my goodbyes, and left. I get half way up the street and think: Holy Crap. Where is my handbag? I remembered that I was worrying about my scrapping bag, and that I was holding it with two hands because it was so heavy, and couldn't remember having my handbag at all!

I drove to the next roundabout and turned around, went back to Denise's. I checked the back of the car carefully and looked on the floor on the passenger side, then went running up the driveway (which isn't sealed yet and so was nice and muddy!). I tell Denise I think I left my handbag. We can't find it there. We call my mobile and can't hear it, so the bag must be in the car. Sure enough I go back and check again. Yep. It is on the passenger seat.

In my defense, the light in our car is broken and my handbag is dark brown. And it was sitting in shadow.

Yeah, I know, that's no excuse. I am an idiot. So anyway I was late picking Matt up, and felt pretty damn stupid. Hopefully I at least gave Denise a laugh!

I suffer from C.R.A.F.T. - I Can't Remember A F.... Thing (I couldn't even remember where my handbag was, but this is only a relapse of a pre-existing C.R.A.F.T. disorder. I think I caught it from my mother).

Monday, October 10, 2005

School Stuff

Bad Stuff

My school was hit by vandals again over the weekend. They had already been the weekend before and trashed a classroom - threw paint all over *everything*, including the computers, and basically made an enormous mess. They sprayed a fire extinguisher around as well, and that got into everything too. This time they hit the tuckshop. They wrecked everything again and again sprayed the fire extinguisher around. Who knows how long it will take to clean up. Bastards. Why is it some arseholes take so much pleasure out of other people's pain? I hope they get caught. And I hope my classroom isn't next. I would be devastated.

Good Stuff

Definately need to talk about some good stuff now. Today was a student free day (although don't get me started about how pointless I think it is to have one three weeks into the new term!). This is always a good thing as it means no-one has playground duty (although I don't anyway on Monday) and everyone can get a nice long lunch. Plus it is a lot quieter around the school and you don't have to get there as early! The really great thing this term though was that we celebrated World Teacher's Day. World Teacher's Day is technically on the 5th of October, and Australia officially celebrates it on Friday the 28th of October (to ensure no clashes with holidays), but we celebrated today seeing as there was no playground duty and everyone could join in. The support staff (teacher aides, admin people, etc) put on a fantastic morning tea for us (I ate so much I didn't really need any lunch!), which was really nice. They also gave everyone certificates which had things that the support staff had written about each person.

My "words of appreciation" were:
* Cheerful, friendly
* So creative! I am in awe of her scrapbooking skills
* Caring and helpful to others
* Friendly, has a great personality
* Always polite
* Youthful and keen
* Thanks for your contributions to curriculum, development and implementation in year 4.

I think a few of the teachers laughed about the certificate thing and thought it was a bit cheesy, but I thought it was a nice gesture, and it is always good to hear nice things people have said about you. Makes me think this sort of thing should happen more often, in all professions. Wouldn't it be great if everyone felt appreciated and valued in their job?

Sunday, October 09, 2005

Recipe of the... Whatever

We all know it isn't the recipe of the week anymore!

CHOCOLATE RICOTTA TART

(You know me - anything with 'chocolate' in the title and I'm sold!)

Ingredients

1/2 cup self-raising flour
2 tablespoons caster sugar
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
30g low-fat dairy-free spread
2 teaspoons water
1 egg yolk

Ricotta Filling

150g low-fat ricotta (DON'T do what I did and accidentally buy the one with spinach in it! Or you too will have to send your significant other to the shops in the middle of the recipe. What a shame I will have to make those puff pastry things with ricotta and spinach in them. Maybe not a disaster after all!)
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1/4 cup low fat yoghurt (I used vanilla flavoured since the recipe didn't specify)
1/4 cup caster sugar
2 teaspoons plain white flour
2 teaspoons coffee-flavoured liqueur

Method

1. Grease 18cm-round loose-based flan tin (I didn't have one so used a pyrex pie dish and it worked out fine)
2. Process flours, sugar, sifted cocoa and spread until crumbly; add the water and egg yolk, process until ingredients just cling together. Knead dough gently on lightly floured surface until smooth, cover; refrigerate 30 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to moderatly hot (200-210 degrees c)
4. Press dough into prepared tin; cover with baking paper large enough to extend 5cm over edge, fill with dried beans or rice. Bake, on oven tray, in moderately hot oven 10 mins; remove beans and paper. Bake further 5 mins or until pastry is lightly browned; cool.
5. Reduce temperature to moderate. Pour ricotta filling into tin; bake, uncovered, in moderate oven about 20 mins. Cool; refrigerate until firm.

Ricotta Filling

Using electric mixer, beat ricotta, egg, egg yolk, yoghurt, sugar and flour in medium bowl until smooth. Stir in Choc bits and liqueur.


This tart is really nice and reasonably low in fat considering how yummy it tastes (unless, that is, you polish off the rest of the packet of choc bits by yourself. ahem.)