My Word

As I mentioned yesterday on my blog the year 2010 was going guided by the word EMBRACE.  This wonderful concept comes from the fantastic blogger Ali Edwards.  I have thought that now was the time to embrace more of what life has to offer and hopefully make my life more fulfilling.  I look forward to seeing what this means to me.

And so with that here is a quote and image to start me off

“I embrace emerging experience.
I participate in discovery.
I am a butterfly.
I am not a butterfly collector.
I want the experience of the butterfly.”

 

by William Stafford

(the image comes from this free butterfly image sharing site )

Have you chosen a word and what is it.  I would love to know.

Wordless Wednesday 30 December

My Wordless Wednesday contribution for this week.

My DD at leisure.

2009 Reflections.

I have been sitting here and reflecting on the year 2009.  It has had it's ups and downs, what with having greater financial freedom and me discovering a way that I can work and still stay sane.  Well that is only because I stepped over the line of sanity and took on too much but now I know my limit.  Catching up with our great friends from Brunei who have immigrated here from the UK was also fabulous and now we are off camping with them.

Hayden's health has been great too.  His white cell cystine count is under 1 ???whatever the measurement is, which is the desired level for Cystinotic patients, no seizures in 2 years, only one unplanned hospital stay and two fabulous people who helps us out at home, Phyllis who does my after school care so I can work and Paul who helps out at dinner and bedtime.  I cant thank them enough as their help keep our sane more ways than one.  Hayden is now more tolerant of the monthly blood taken out of his portacath and that means no screaming, kicking etc each month which I am grateful for.  Kath and the wonderful nurses at Daystay who take Hayden's bloods, so efficient and knowing when it comes to Hayden.

Andre started school and loved it.  Such a bonus when they love school.  He settled in well and that meant I was home alone for the first time since McKenzie was born in 2000.  I did not know myself. 

McKenzie, my wonderful little girl.  My how she is growing up and how proud she makes us.  Diligent and hardworking both at school and in the sporting arena.  The efforts acknowledged with trophies and awards.

Of course it can go without saying that my DH is wonderful.  Without his support I would not have been able to work or be the person I am today.  He is my best friend, my compliment, my sounding board.  He takes the crap from me and pulls me back onto level with I am dreaming way too much.  He is the love of my life which I cant do without.

The low point really came when my great friend Lee was tragically struck by a car while riding her bike and left of dead on the side of the road.  She left behind a husband and young primary school age son.  My thoughts go out to them ever time I think of Brunei where they were living when this happened.

Life always has its ups and downs.  Each year I try and achieve something new or focus on something I think needs attention.  Last year it was all about time management for me.  This year well it is about embracing life and making sure that we live life to its fullest,( in a sane kind of way).

So now I am off to fine tune what that means to me,what I might be able to do about it and how by me doing this my family will benefit too.

Finally as I always say....there is always someone worse off than you.....and if you think that then life can be so much more positive and forward moving.

Monday Menu December 28

This is the last menu plan for 2009.  I have been total hooked by menu planning.  It is saving me money and helping to make my life more organised.  Thank you to the wonderful Laura who has inspired me.

It is summer here and also the school holidays.  I am taking the laid back approach to food.  Easy to prepare and does not require me to be stuck inside my kitchen.

Here is this week.

Monday  Ham (cold), potatoes and peas

Tuesday  Grilled Tuna on stirfry veges

Wednesday  Beef Sweet and Sour since the children liked it

Thursday  Ham and veg again this time as Ham steaks

Friday   a bbq with bbq veg etc this will be based on the link

Saturday  leftover delight

Sunday  nachos 

Wordless Wednesday 23 December

Here is my Wordless Wednesday contribution.

My favourite time of the year.

Mondays Menu 21 December

The stir fry from last week was a huge success for everyone in my house, even the fussiest of eaters.  So I am sticking with a similar plan and keeping it simple.

Monday    Nachos

Tuesday    Stir Fry - sweat n sour

Wednesday    Stirfry - Thai Style

Thursday    bbq relaxed style

Friday    I have to organise nibbles, salad, drinks.  Not sure what salad yet but it will be an easy one.

Saturday   Chicken and salad


Sunday   Stirfry - creamy coconut

Project 365 week 47 and 48

Another installment.

The credits can be found here at Nuts4Digi

week 48

 

 

The credits can be found here at Nuts4digi

Fridays Fabulous 5

I loved the idea that Mel has been doing on her blog so I thought that I would take a leaf from her blog and try this idea.  Thanks Mel.

1.  School is over for the year.  I know that it has been a busy year for us all and of course we are all tired but I cant wait for the holidays and to spend quality time with my children.

Okay it is not that easy to get a great photo of them all but here are the little cherubs.

2.  I am so proud of my daughter.  She won a trophy at prize giving this week.  This was for Dilligence and effort.  Such a wonderful group of attributes for anyone to possess.  Now the photo is not great because she had been crying because we are having to move her out of this school and she got very emotional about it.

3.  I have scrapped.  For the first time in weeks.  I actually cant wait to get back into it now I have time and energy...well almost do.

The credits can be found here.

4.  It is Christmas time.  I am always conscious that our children need to not only get excited about all the trimming and trappings but also to appreciate that Christmas is not such a great time for many.  So this year we are going out to purchase a gift for a needy little boy this Christmas.  We don't know who he is but my children cant wait.  I hope that we will be able to make this some sort of tradition.

5.  Finally a christmas carol to sing along to.

I just love Celines voice.

Wordless Wednesday 16 December

This week I call my photo School Bag Experiment.  My 5 year old has been experimenting.

Enjoy

Monday Menu 14 December

This week I have decided to give stirfry a seriously good try in between a couple of other things.  So I will be seeing how it goes.

Monday  Beef, vege and creamy coconut stirfry  (Scroll down to find the sauce recipe.)

Tuesday  Chicken (bbq) vege and salad.

Wednesday  Chicken, vege and sweet and sour stirfry sauce

Thursday  Beef vege and Thai style stirfry

Friday  Hamburgers homemade

Saturday  Chicken bbq and vege

Sunday Leftovers

If you like stirfry then take a read of the links as they give you lots of lite and easy prepare hints.

Project 365 Weeks 45 and 46

I am still playing catch up with this project but hanging in.  Only a few more weeks to go and I have two more to catch up on.

So here they are.

Week 45

The credits can be found here at Nuts4Digi

Week 46

 

 

The credits can be found here at Nuts4Digi

Wordless Wednesday 9 December

Here I am again with my Wordless Wednesday Photo.

I just love the image I have made.

Monday Menu 7 December

I am hanging out for the last days of the working year.  I cant wait I have to say.  So I have planned ahead for the meals in my house so I dont have to cook too much and the meals can be dragged out of the freezer...yes that type of meal again.

Monday   Wraps with cold meat and salad on the inside.  Very easy and the children love them.


Tuesday   My mum dropped off a frozen meal so that is for tonight.

Wednesday  Frozen caserole potatoes and green vege

Thursday   Homemade pie from the freezer with salad

Friday    DD choice of takeaways as it was her birthday earlier in the week.  She tells me it is Indian takeaways.

Saturday  BBq chicken and vege

Sunday    Leftover banquet.

Just to add to this I have baked 3 birthday cakes and 2 loads of Christmas cookies in the last 7 days.  Oh to be out of the kitchen.

Advent calendar

I came across a fabulous idea from the wonderfully talented Gabs.  so here is my version.  I used white envelopes instead of  brown bags but the idea is the same as you can see here.

Inside is an activity to do, including some gifting and looking at the reason for the season.

Here is the the layout of the page I used.  All the products I used are from Weeds and Wildflowers shop.

And here it is hanging in my house.  We don't have many walls in our house so I had to be a little creative in my hanging.

Hmmm now onto the Christmas baking.

Wordless Wednesday 2 December

The Wordless Wednesday photo

I think that the photo says it all.

The arm

It has been nothing but drama in our for the last 3 weeks, maybe even 4 weeks.  Starting with Hayden in hospital, being burgles and then on Tuesday with DS2 breaking his arm after school.  These things usually happen when DH is away and require and great deal of help from family members.  Thanks to them my other children were all in bed when this when I got home the dishes done and the house tidy.

Anyway back to the lest than dramatic moment when DS2 tripped and broke the two bones in his arm.  Yes just tripped, not pushed or anything dramatic.  He was with my sister at her house just after school.  Thankfully she knew just what to do and we ended up at the local A&E clinic where he was xrayed and given good pain relief before the ride in an ambulance.

Two green stick fractures, one ex rugby player orthopedic pediatric physician, with large biceps,  to put it back into place and the fabulous ED physician to make things run smoothly.  Lets not forget the nurses to make all the wheels keep moving.

All in all broken bone at 3.30pm back home in paster 8.10pm.  Fantastic I say.

So here is the one sad looking little boy the morning after all the drama

4 to 6 weeks of this might become a little tedious I think.

Monday Menu 30 November

Now i know my menu says November but it is full steam ahead into December here and Christmas just around the corner.  More drama in my house this week but that is for my next post tomorrow.

Now to my menu.  It is all about survival for me at the moment.

Monday  Fahija  (as I post this I need to say that is did not happen as I was in at the hospital with DS2)

Tuesday  Chicken and vege.

Wednesday  Crockpot food my recipe.  Filled with leftover vege and meat.

Thursday   Pie, potato and salad.

Friday   Easy meal toasted sandwiches

Saturday  Beef roast with vege to match and salad

Sunday cold meat and salad.

I know my DH will be saying again when it comes to the salad.

Sometimes you just have to laugh

After much effort that has gone into procuring a replacement TV of equal value (see the blog post here)  I was sent this joke.  I had to post it because I think I have found my next burglar alarms.

A burglar broke into a house one night. He shined his flashlight around, looking for valuables when a voice in the dark said,

'Jesus knows you're here.'

He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze.

When he heard nothing more , after a bit, he shook his head and continued.

Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard

'Jesus is watching you.'

Freaked out, he shined his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice.

Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot.


'Did you say that?' he hissed at the parrot.

'Yep', the parrot confessed, then squawked, 'I'm just trying to warn you that he is watching you.'

The burglar relaxed. 'Warn me, huh? Who in the world are you?'

'Moses,' replied the bird.

'Moses?' the burglar laughed. 'What kind of people would name a bird Moses?'

'The kind of people that would name a Rottweiler Jesus.'







Now I feel much better.  There is always someone worse off than you.

Wordless Wednesday 25 November

Welcome to another Wordless Wednesday.  The photo says it all.  I even had to scrapbook it.  I love it so much.

Here is the page I did with this.

The credits can be found here at Nuts4Digi 

Monday Menu 23 November

Now is the time more than ever that I need to make the menu plan.  I am tired and can't wait for the end of the school holidays.  I can't wait for my grumpy children to get a chance to sleep in and relax, for the festive season to be over with so we can slow down life and enjoy the summer break.  None the less late here is my menu

Monday   BBq chicken and veges.

Tuedsay  Crock pot - my special throw together recipe.  Always tastes good.

Wednesday  Leftover chicken and noodles day.  Throw together all the left overs with some flour and an egg.  Meat vege and noodles.

Thurday  steak and vege.  BBq style.  So easy and no demanding my time.

Friday  Homemade pizza.

Saturday.  It will be leftovers again.  DS2 is having a birthday party and I am sure we will be all food out.  If you get my drift.

Sunday.  Easy day.

Roll on the last 15 days until the holidays.

Project 365 weeks 43 and 44

I know I have been a bag blogger life is just getting ahead of me at the moment.  Here is the last installments of Project 365

week 43

The credits can be found here at Nuts4Digi


week 44

The credits can be found here at Nuts4Digi

I am just hanging in here to finish this project.  I plan on getting it printed out.  Looking for a great place to do this in New Zealand.

Wordless Wednesday 18 November

Another installment of Wordless Wednesday. 

Just what was needed.

Monday Menu 16 November

Here is my Menu for this week.  I am starting to fall back on a few of my favourites as I am getting tired.  It is heading towards the end of the school year.

Monday   Spaghetti Bolignaise

Tueday Meatballs and Spaghetti

Wednesday  Frozen meal as there was one left after last weeks effort at using all the pre made meals

Thurdsay  Chicken and Rice Salad

Friday  Homemade Burgers

Saturday  Roast Meat and Salad

Sunday  Cold meat vege and salad.  Thank goodness for summer and easier meals

Have a great week all

Wordless Wednesday 11 November

The photo says it all.  I blogged about it here.

The Low Life that Broke into my House.

I am grumpy.  Some low life kicked our front door in and took our TV.  I know that it could have been much worse, we could have lost a lot more, had damage and worse but .....  Now my space feels violated and my safely compromised.

My husband is away with work and I am at home alone with the children.  I wonder now if the low life will be back for more so I am busy making sure my computer is backed up and any other temptations are out of sight.  Who knows what else might go.  My husband is not back from his long haul trip until Thursday so fingers crossed nothing else will happens.

So here is the space for the TV

Here is the temporary fix for the front door.  All I can say is that the door is quite dated and door knob is broken.  We were not going to replace it but now we have to get a new front door as this one is broken and we really have little choice but to replace the knob.  That was not in the budget.

 

I hope that they do not come back as I could not go through this a second time while DH is away.  Wont his txt message give him a surprise when he lands in Hong Kong latter tonight.

So to the low life that came uninvited into my house and stole from us.  I hope you enjoy our TV.  I hope you put the money you make from it to good use and don't waste it on meaningless life activities such as feeding a habit. 

Monday Menu 9 November

Welcome to my Monday Menu.  This week I am trying to use up the leftover and frozen meals in my house.  They are accumulating and need using so the menu will be an easy prepare.

Monday.  Frozen Pie and salad  of course it wont be frozen when we eat it.

Tuesday  Leftover chicken with homemade chips and peas

Wednesday  From the freezer sheppards pie and frozen mixed veges

Thursday  More of yesterdays with more veges.

Friday  Hamburgers

Saturday  Cranking up the bbq and having a traditional bbq with the children.

Sunday Any leftovers.

I will be all frozen mealed out by the end of the week.

Wordless Wednesday 5 November

I know it is Thursday but I did not know what time zone the Wordless Wednesday blog was in so here I am participating on a Thursday. Next week it will be a Wednesday.

Today

My job

Since we have returned back from living in Brunei I haven't really had a job. Well actually since McKenzie was born and she will be 9 next month. The reasons have been simple. While in Brunei we had no financial need for me to work making it the perfect environment to live while our children were pre schoolers. Since we have been back in New Zealand money has been much tighter but I have said that I have not been able to work because of Hayden, because of Andre as he was not yet at school etc etc. Okay I had a list of excuses and it was full and comprehensive.

Perhaps I was persuading myself that I couldn't run life and work, perhaps I was just trying to get on top of how life had significantly changed for us or just maybe I was good at making up excuses. Whatever it was, it was not until the middle of 2007 did I first go and do a little day to day relief teaching. I am a Primary School teacher. I only worked when DH was home and only when a school rang me. I was not proactive at all. Just enough to get out of the house every now and again.

2008 arrived and I saw that if I worked an average of two days a week I could cover the groceries and a little more. I was really contributing but staying on top of life.

This year saw our car enter its final stages of time on the road. It's our everyday family car and costing us more to keep on the road than is worth. So I took a deep breath and decided to try and work everyday of term 3. It took a lot of organising what with how to get children to two different schools and after school care for Hayden (and that is not easy) and all the winter sport after school to manage on my own when DH is away working.

Luckily I worked about 9 out of every 10 school days of term 3, all in the aid of a new to us car. This was exhausting but needs meant that I needed to be dedicated.

This term is the final push for the cash. I had taken on one permanent day till the end of the term. Then I was offered a classroom of new to school 5 year olds until the end of the year. Newly set up class. I boldly took the job. I have to say that I must have been either very brave, very blinded by the $$$$ or simply stupid. I am now in the position to pull the cash out and go car shopping starting next weekend. As for the class I am tired. I haven't worked so hard for a long time. The after hours stuff is enough to keep me busy until mid night every night this term. I guess that it is all for the greater good.

I don't know what I will do next year. Hopefully the day to day stuff maybe a day or two more permanent, who knows. Just let me survive this term and have holiday, another bonus of me working.

Monday Menu 2 November

I am late with with but my plan has been in place since Sunday.

Monday My fabulous mother made me a freeze meal. So thats tonights surprise.

Tuesday Fajita

Wednesday Mince meatloaf potato and peas

Thursday Crockpot based on my own recipe, tomato based

Friday Tuna (tinned) Hamburgers

Saturday Lamb Wrap

Sunday leftovers.

It is nice easy weeks so that I can survive while my DH is away.

Working and much more.

I have been a slack blogger of late. Life has had me really busy and my husband has been home. Yes. I blog mainly when he is away and he has just gone away on a 12 day trip Auckland (home) Hong Kong London Hong Kong and back.

Life has thrown a lot our way in the last couple of weeks. Firstly everyone, except me, got a bad gastro bug. McKenzie really only caught the 24 hour variety, DH and Andre caught the 4 day bug and of course Hayden and this bug do not sit nicely together. In fact this is the bug that cause the brain atrophy all those year ago. Of course it is not the identical bug but you know what I mean.

I must say once Andre fell ill we tried really hard to sanitize our house etc etc but without fail. By the Saturday morning about 10am, Hayden was showing all the symptoms of a vomiting bug. I quickly finished mowing the lawns and had a shower, as you do in these situations, dragged the hospital bag out of the cupboard, checked the list twice and off we went. Now I know that it might see strange that I took time to finish were I was and have the shower but I have been caught short in hospital no shower, bag anything for the night and I did wonder if we were going to be admitted.

Middlemore hospital is our closed and with open letter in hand we are allocated a bed. By now Hayden is showing all the signs of dehydration but I know he has a port a cath so not a problem. Instant access to a vein so fluid can be administered. Alas not to be. This hospital rarely has to deal with such technology so two hours later discharged and sent to Starship Hospital down the road.

By now it is 2pm and the following 6 hours entail plenty of IV fluids, blood tests etc etc while still in ED. Surprise surprise we are sent home. Hmmmmm it is to good to be true and by 9am the next morning we are back at hospital, his consultant is called and by 930am we know a night in hospital is in store.

Much more of the same...more fluids, blood tests and anti nausea drugs. By 4pm finally we are in a ward, an Orthopedic ward no less, in isolation. More fluids, blood tests more more more. At least isolation means a room of your own and I get a bed not a mattress on the floor.

Sunday is now well on its last hours and the nurse has woken me 5 times before midnight. (I am due to start a new job the next day does she not know this.)

Monday morning and the vomiting has stopped but now the other end is going. Haydens electrolytes are still well out of kilter and I have to ring my new job and say I am going to be late, persuade my ill husband that hospital is a good place for him too so I can go to work for half a day.

Finally at 7pm Monday Hayden is home with a medical plan and the bug.

Nothing like a little drama in our life.




credits can be found here at Nuts4Digi

Imitation

Isn't it funny how life sometimes is imitated. Children can be caught imitating their parents both the good and the bad. Sometimes I think that children can provide their parents with a timely look at ourselves and other times are really something to smile about. I took these photos of Hayden, even though life has given him many challenges to overcome, he was busy imitating Dad in the bathroom.



The credits are here at Nuts4Digi

I smile because I know that the back of the shaving cream will be the closest that Hayden will ever get to holding his own shaver, because the imitation really was just done perfectly and the power of observation should never be under estimated no matter what the cognitive capacity is, and finally it was just one of those perfect father and son moment.

Here's hoping there will be many more.

P365 week 41 and 42

It is just incredible to think that I now only have 10 weeks worth of photos to scrap. I find that I am now thinking about how I will get my book published and bound for prosperity and if there is anything about 2009 I should photograph for further reference. I anyone can think of anything that would be great to look back on and should include post a comment on my blog.

Anyway on to the pages.

week 41


The credits can be found here at Nuts4Digi


week 42



The credits can be found here at Nuts4Digi

MIA and Monday Menu October 24

I am sorry to my loyal blog readers that I have been missing in action. It has been one challenging week that has just past what with everyone, except me having had the V&D bug, DS2 in hospital and me starting a new job. But that is all another story.

Here is this weeks menu. I miss last week due to life and me trying to catch up. i have to say I really missed being so organised.

Monday Chicken potato and salad ( something easy as it is a public holiday)

Tuedsay Chicken and vege udon noodles

Wednesday raisin and walnut brown rice salad

Thursday meatloaf potato and salad

Friday Pizza

Saturday corn fritters with advocado salsa.

Our tiling is done

At long last our bathroom is looking like it is nearly finished. The last 3 hour final push to adhere the tiles to our bathroom wall finally is paying off. Not to mention to week of preparation that DH put into everything before the cutting of tiles could take place.

So the before I blogged about the bathroom with the bath had just been removed and the walls were bare too.

Now, if you dont look too closely you get to see the lovely tiles glistening in our newly nearly finished bathroom.



Not a great photo and the tap ware still needs to be fitted along with the towel rail but we think it is looking great. Thanks to You Tube for the tutorials.

Monday Menu 12 October

Another week gone and it is the first of the last term of the school year. This week is calf club at my children's school and we will be busy getting ready for that.

Here is my weeks menu.

Monday mince baked potato and peas.

Tuesday vege Thai red curry with noodles.

Wednesday Meatballs and spaghetti

Thursday Chicken rice salad

Friday Homemade pizza

Saturday Middle Eastern lamb wrap

Sunday Leftovers

Have a great week everyone.

P365 week 39 and 40

With only 12 weeks to go I am determine to complete the years pages. So without further ado here is my next installment.

week 39



The credits can be found here at Nuts4Digi

week 40


The credits can be found here at Nuts4Digi

On Holiday in Rotorua

I have been on holiday. Well it really was a dual purpose holiday but a holiday none the less. We went to the sulphur smelling tourist destination of Rotorua, New Zealand. We spent the first 3 days watch DD play hockey in an inter provincial competition and the last few days playing the tourist and catching up with friends.

Hayden was in Respite Care for a week so that the whole family could go and participate in life as ordinary families do. I get a chance to sleep in and sleep through the night and the children get to things without having the restraints that Hayden brings upon us. I know this might sound harsh to some but that is just how it is with Hayden in our life. I work really hard to protect and unite the rest of us as it would be very easy for Hayden to unwittingly pull us apart.

Anyway the first three days were full of hockey. We were very proud of DD and her efforts playing hockey. She is only 8 and is playing up against girls more likely to be 10 or 11 years old. Size is a serious issue for her as she is small for her age and young again many of the others but really persued excellence in her game. She has learnt just so much about the game of hockey this year and is passionate about it too. So here she is in action.

Sweeping the ball to another team member


In action with the opposition


It was the first time our children had been to Rotorua. It is a very touristy place. People go there to experience traditional Maori culture and the geothermal activity that takes place. Then there is the adventure tourism. All just so much fun. It is very iconic New Zealand really. So here are some photos just to show a little of what we did.

Rock climbing



A lovely afternoon luging. Adventure tourism for children and adults alike. The photo is not a good one but you can get the idea. Put one or two on a toboggan like machine and use gravity to go down hill as fast as you can.


Then a morning looking at the geothermal activity. As you can see from the photo the children as exaggerating the smell and behind them is the steam being produced from the boiling mud.






Naturally it was raining while we did the walking around the geothermal events.

Later that day we went swimming in a nature warm mineral pool. It was found out in the forest and free. Two and a half hours later we emerged from the water. What a fun day. I will put some photos up about this soon.

Well that's it. Our trip in summary.

Homemade Fish and Chips

Last week one of my readers asked how the homemade fish and chips went so I thought for a change I would put a recipe up.

A little while ago my husband was up in Rarotonga with work and bought us home some fish. For some reason I could not cook it up that night and reduced the fish to being frozen. Now I am not a fish connoisseur by any means but what I do know is that fish is best eaten fresh. By the time the fish got back to New Zealand it was not more than 5 hours out of the water. Lucky us.

Finally after a number of weeks I get round to looking into what to now do to the fish especially since it has been in the freezer and came a cross a nice simple kiddy friendly recipe that not only would they eat but could make with a little help from adults.

So here is the recipe.

Fish Fingers

4 fillets fleshy white fish
1/2 cup flour
1 cup dried breadcrumbs
salt and pepper
1 egg
1 Tbl low fat milk
1 1/2 tablespoons oil
4 lemon wedges to serve

Serves 4

1. cut your fish fillets into finger length strips.

2. Spread the flour and breadcrumbs out on two separate plates, and season the flour with salt and pepper.

3. Beak the egg into a bowl, add the milk and mix together using a fork or whisk.

4. Coat the fish fingers with flour, then dip them into the egg mixture. Then coat them well on both sides with the breadcrumbs.

5. Heat the oil ina fry pan over a medium heat and add the fish firngers. Fry for 3-4 munutes on each side un til browned on the outside but cooked in the middle. The fish fingers are cooked when the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork and the flesh has turned white.


As for the chips.

You will need

two large potatoes
spray oil
flavour of your choice.

Cut the potatoes into even bite sized pieces. Lay them flat on a baking tray that is lined with baking paper. Spray lightly with oil and sprinkle with your flavour.

Bake in an 200 degree C oven for 20 minutes.

My children just loved the result and can't wait for Dad to go to Rarotonga again. If I says so myself the fish was just perfectly light and flaky.

Monday Menu 5 October

I have been away and a bad blogger because the cost of internet access was astronomical. So here I am back today and with the menu ready to go.

This week I am trying to make do with the pantry and freezer items until Wednesday when I get paid. It will take a little doing but be worth it.

Monday Pie (from freezer) baked potato and peas

Tuesday Pie (from freezer) baked potato and peas

Wednesday Meatloaf, home made oven fries and salad

Thursday Chicken and vegie udon noodles from weight watchers

Friday Homemade pizza with vege topping

Saturday Corn fritters with advocao salsa and grilled tomato

Sunday Leftovers

I will be back tomorrow with a recipe

P365 week 37 and 38

Here are my next pages in my Project 365. I cant believe that I am currently working on week 39. Just incredible and I cant wait to see how my book turns out. Anybody got any hints for great printing and binding services in New Zealand?

week 37



The credits can be found here at Nuts4Digi

Week 38



Here are the credits for this page at Nuts4Digi

Monday Menu 28 September

My menu for this week is going to be a little small as we are going away for 5 days.

So here it is.

Monday Fish and chip home made by my children. Fish bought in from Raratonga and then frozen. Okay I know this is not ideal for fresh fish but it is just how things happened this time.

Tuesday Chicken cooked on the bbq, baked potatoes and salad.

Now we are away and trying to do things financially carefully, so this is roughly the plan.

Wednesday Pie from freezer with salad

Thursday Pre Cooked hot chicken from supermarket with potatoes and salad

Friday Pre Cooked hot chicken from supermarket with potatoes and salad

Saturday Pizza and salad

Sunday Eating out

Hmmmm I hope that is easily achieved. We are staying in an apartment and I am trying for take a little break from too much time in the kitchen.

It's the Holidays.

The the third of four school terms is over and we are on a two week break from all the rushing around. The last of the hockey will be over come next weekend and the tournament in Rotorua, spring is well here with all the variable weather and in general we will all be able to catch up on sleep.

So this holidays I have a few goals in mind.

1. Find some new fun and cheap holiday activities that give our family some quality time.

2. Attack the garden, moss, mould and gunge, lawns, house etc to ensure everything is looking perfect before I go back to work.

3. Help DH finish the bathroom renovation. There is only the tiling to go. That means come the end of the holidays it will be ready for sale.

4. Find some time to chill out and catch up with my life.

5. Make a date or two with DH. It is something I have been thinking we should do more of and there is no time like the present to get started on it.


You can see why it all needs a little attention.

A New Fence.

Our neighbours have been subdividing their section. I was not a very happy house owner to find this our but there was nothing I could do about this.

We share a long fence line with this property and it enable me to feel safe about where my children are when they play around the front of the house. Now this long fence has gone, temporarily, right on the arrival of the school holidays. Now there is nothing to stop the children from entering the building site and going even further a field. Normally this would not matter with most children but Hayden is not most children.

I do not feel particularly happy about this timing of events but naturally there was nothing I could do about it. Instead this is what I have to try and keep the children away from. Hmmm don't like my chances much.

Haydens Birthday

I thought that it was just the right time to show a little more of the photos from Hayden's birthday. Good photos with him are hard because of his inability to sit still for long periods of time.

So here you can see

Bugs. My boys are playing with the new toys and very happily sharing.


The Credits can be found here.

What would a birthday be without blowing the candles. So here is 7 Years Old



The credits for Lindsay Janes Design can be found here.

Finally another look at the candles being blown out.




The credits are here.