Thursday, January 26, 2012

Smithy's Australia Day poem

Found this on Facebook and couldn't resist posting


Smithy's Australia Day poem 




Australians are a funny lot, you'll often hear one curse,
 How things have started badly, and they'll probably get worse,
 The weathers dry, the sun's so hot it's stolen all the water,
 The Government has never done the things we think they oughta'.

But if we hear a tourist say his home is much more grand,
 They had better be prepared to make a very solid stand.
 For although we Aussies may complain at what's become our lot,
 When someone knocks this country, we defend with all we've got.

We may criticise some teenage brat, may even wish them failure,
 But we stand behind them cheering when they're playing for Australia.
 Because, if this is home to you, the country of your birth,
 Then you back the native player to beat anyone on Earth.

When the cricket bats are swinging or when someone scores a try,
 When a home grown horse has won the cup and made the owner cry,
 When some paralympic athlete hits the front and sets the pace,
 You'll hear "Aussie Aussie Aussie" as the crowd goes off their face.

And although we like to take a break in overseas locations,
 If you take the time to question this nomadic population,
 They will tell you without blinking that wherever they may roam,
 The best part of the journey was the last bit, ....coming home.

For the sun was never brighter on the beach at Waikiki,
 Than it is on all the sandy shores Australia has to see,
 The water never purer nor the air as fresh and clear,
 The people never friendlier than those that we have here.

If you venture to the outback where grass is scarce as snow,
 As you swelter you may wonder what it was that made you go,
 But just look at the locals who have lived there since their birth,
 And I know you will not find a better class of folk on earth.

All across this wide brown country from the Cape to Hobart town,
 There are people who will help you when you find the chips are down,
 And if someone should abuse you, and does it just because,
 Then that person's not Australian, and that person never was.

So when you feel disgruntled just remember this rendition,
 And never blame the country for the acts of politicians,
 Look up and count your blessings when you see our flag unfurled,
 And be grateful that you live in the best country in the world.

By Warren Dakin

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Love a good holiday


A holiday snap to let everyone why I have been away.  Evey the stormy days didn't detract from the hours of fun and laughter with mates.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

In Good Hands -- poem

In Good Hands

In the hands of a gifted teacher
a classroom is a magical place


In the hands of a gifted teacher
There’s a smile on each child's face


In the Hands of a Gifted Teacher
Creative Energy is Everywhere


In the Hands of a Gifted Teacher
There’s a Catalyst who Genuinely Cares


In the Hands of a Gifted Teacher
Desire and Wonder is Awakened


In the Hands of a Gifted Teacher
The Educational Agenda is Shaken


In the Hands of a Gifted Teacher
Self-Management Skills are Modeled


In the Hands of a Gifted Teacher
The Best of Reality is Bottled


In the Hands of a Gifted Teacher
Gifts and Talents are Refined


In the Hands of a Gifted Teacher
The Willed Future is Designed 


By Ultimate Cyan

Friday, January 6, 2012

More desert cakes ... Blackberry chocolate dessert cake


Blackberry chocolate dessert cake

Check Out the Picture on the Taste website

Ingredients (serves 8)
  • 250g butter, chopped
  • 250g good-quality dark chocolate, roughly chopped
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1 cup caster sugar
  • 4 eggs, at room temperature, separated
  • 1/3 cup plain flour
  • 150g frozen blackberries
  • Solid chocolate Easter eggs, extra blackberries and cocoa powder, to serve

Method

1.    Preheat oven to 200°C. Grease and line a 23cm (base) springform pan with baking paper. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Set aside.
2.    Combine chocolate and milk in a large heatproof bowl. Place over a saucepan of simmering water (don't let base of bowl touch water). Heat, stirring with a metal spoon, until melted and smooth. Using an electric hand mixer, beat in sugar. Remove bowl from heat. Set aside for 10 minutes to cool slightly.
3.    Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, to chocolate mixture, beating well after each addition. Add melted butter. Stir until combined.
4.    Sift flour over chocolate mixture. Gently fold in. Whisk eggwhites in a separate bowl until soft peaks form. Gently fold into chocolate mixture. Sprinkle over blackberries. Gently fold in until combined.
5.    Spoon mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until risen. Reduce oven to 160°C. Bake for a further 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool completely in pan (don't worry if cake sinks in centre).
6.    Place cake onto a serving plate. Decorate with chocolate eggs and blackberries. Dust with cocoa. Serve slices with mascarpone or thick cream, if desired.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Some days you want to cry and scream ... Family RANT


Must be nice having other peoples f&&king lives ... while I do every elses hard yards. Others come out smelling like bloody roses. 

IT"S FINE ... I'll be the one to tell that person it's not going to work then get the blame with that person saying I don't love them and I always say they are wrong.  WHATEVER

That's it I am going to sit back and not say a bloody word. If only it was not in my nature to help people. 

Rant moment. Never reflect on the last 6 months when over tired because I just feel even more pissed off. Time for music and a computer game to block the overthinking

Family ... can't shoot them, I've looked into it this week.

If only I wasn't the one everyone came to when someone needs counselling or is depressed and needs fixing.  I am good at and do love it BUT the problem with family cycles is they KEEP going around.  AND I don't want to end up with the same relationship as the generation before has.... dysfunctional.

How many years before I stand up and tell the other it is time to do their part and say what they think rather than telling lies JUST to keep that person happy and keep the peace.
OKAY ... calming down and feeling far less pissed off.

I love my family, all parts but some days they are hard work.


Sunday, January 1, 2012

The door slams...

In my home when Mum's awake everyone is awake.  She is not an early riser but comes out bleary eyed and goes to the toilet slamming 2 doors on the way. 

... of course she still believes it is Dad is the loud one, who over the last 10 years has really worked on sneaking down the passage.  Actually since we shifted the old china cupboard they no longer tink as he walks passed my bedroom door.

I wonder what Mum would say if I told her how loud she was... probably yell at us then sulk (She has low self-esteem and can be difficult at times to manage but is a good person when she is not trying to make everything about herself)

What are you doing today?   

OUTBACK NEW YEARS DAY's are interesting.  Some people stay at home under the air-on catching up on sleep others head to the nearest lake or dam.  Some are still at the local spot or making an excursion to town.

This year for the first time ever are heading to a local lake... normally if we are at home we all have a night of New Years Eve then head home.

What have you done on past New Years? 

Tell me your story? 

Happy New Year

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