Mixed bag 1

When I was growing up, one of my favourite things to do was beg my parents for some change, walk up to the corner shop and purchase a mixed bag of lollies. For 10 cents or 20 cents, you’d be given a small white paper bag full of sweets. On the way home, I’d sift through anything thought to be to nutrient dense, and would scoff the rest. Sweet pleasures on the weekend!

Here is a little ‘mixed bag’ of what has been going since I’ve returned to the north:

1. Jet lag

Unlike TSH who usually sleeps poorly for a night or two, then goes back to being his usual charming self, I take a full week before feeling human again. My charm takes a hell of a lot longer to return, as you well know.

It was wonderful to see the kids again and to give TSH a big squeeze. Having had a break from mumming for over 3 weeks, I’ve returned with the love lamp firmly shining on them all. When the four-year-old loses her shit over nothing, I smile inwardly and think, ‘oh she’s so cute!’. I hope the honeymoon phase lasts.

2. The body corporate

Whilst my body corporate was still adjusting to a new time zone, I was once again voted into the body corporate for our little village. Last year, when I was voted in I had nigh on NO idea of what was going on. I am very proud to say, that even with the heavy hand of jet lag on my shoulders, I totally understood everything that was said!

I still feel like I play a rather ‘supportive’ role to the other members who actually possess value-adding real life and language skills. However, I do put on a great spread when meetings are held at our house, which may be the reason for my re-election.

Over 2018 I’ll help keep this place pretty, and not just by my presence.

3. Nordic light

I’ve arrived back into some glimmers of spring. The sun has been shining, birdsong floats around, and I no longer have to do the afternoon school run in the dark. The light is returning, I must have bought it back with me from Sydney, because God knows, everything else was packed into my suitcase. (Full reporting to come.)

 4. ‘Life-changing’ bread

It’s Saturday morning here, and I am in the midst of baking a loaf of bread that claims to be life changing. In my experience of paleo bread making, they have to tell you it’s ‘life changing’, because it is likely not to resemble bread in any way, shape or form. Much like last weekend when I made a ‘never fail pavlova’, which of course, failed.

I’m subbing out the heathen 1 1/2 cup of oats for buckwheat flakes, so it’s totally grain-free. I was given the recipe from a friend of mine, who always seems to have a bevy of fantastic recipes up her sleeve, so I am pinning high hopes on it.

Known as, the ‘second attempt’ Pavlova.

Enjoy the weekend peoples!