Sunday, September 21, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
"A toast to Pizza"
Our first evening meal in Tuscany was Gulasch with bread dumplings, with Chianti on the side. Our next evening meal - Mathew's Dad prepared the dough and we spent the evening flattening, rolling, cutting, sprinkling our own personalised pizzas. Then they were gathered up and shoved into the pizza oven. Bottles and glasses of Chianti graced the dining table in the middle of this Tuscan villa, as pizza after pizza passed over our plates. We were even priviledged to have the youngest pizza chef create a Calzone to share. Mathew raised his glass as we began our feast "A toast to Pizza" - how appropriate. His little sister raised her glass and we all clinked glasses. A toast to pizza in this tuscan villa surrounded by family.
Canaling the Thames
Well after many days skyping my sister in Tuscany, after the rest of my extended family joined together in June for a Tuscan family reunion without me, after my eldest sister taught her youngest neice to blow kisses via the internet to me in NZ, after many discussions about celebrating my fathers' 70th in the UK or Tuscany, after my hair dresser said I was mad to not take the plunge - I finally booked a ticket to the UK and Tuscany!!
On the 13th of September, 2008, my eldest sister picked me up from a traumatic flight, and drove me to Goring - the place my father had moored his canal boat. When I knocked on the door of my father's canal boat, he opened the door - stunned. He did not know where he was, who I was, what I was doing there, and as he said later - his jaw fell into the thames and floated away. The surpise birthday present had worked its charm.
I spen the first week of my overseas holiday battling the strong current of the Thames with my parents in their canal boat. It was not the experience I or they had hoped I would one day have in their canal boat, but what I did have I loved. Canaling is me! Mooring one evening, after challenging the 'red boards' and motoring up the thames against the strong current, on the edge of the meadow with the cows munching the grass along the misty bank, I felt like I was in heaven. I awoke early the following morning, camera in hand, and shot the scene.
On the 13th of September, 2008, my eldest sister picked me up from a traumatic flight, and drove me to Goring - the place my father had moored his canal boat. When I knocked on the door of my father's canal boat, he opened the door - stunned. He did not know where he was, who I was, what I was doing there, and as he said later - his jaw fell into the thames and floated away. The surpise birthday present had worked its charm.
I spen the first week of my overseas holiday battling the strong current of the Thames with my parents in their canal boat. It was not the experience I or they had hoped I would one day have in their canal boat, but what I did have I loved. Canaling is me! Mooring one evening, after challenging the 'red boards' and motoring up the thames against the strong current, on the edge of the meadow with the cows munching the grass along the misty bank, I felt like I was in heaven. I awoke early the following morning, camera in hand, and shot the scene.
Friday, September 5, 2008
My extended family's adventures
Its been a long time since I blogged. I guess not much happening in the home life at present - yet. However we have been able to live vicariously through my nephew's and sister's blog as they have ventured to the other side of the world for at least 6months. They, with hubby and baby sister, have rented a Tuscan Villa for 6months before seeking their fortune in the UK for a year or so (or depending on the next plan). Check out their blogs - Mathew has a great writing style and is keeping a very memorable diary of his adventures.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Storm Front
Well - it was deemed the storm of the decade with disastrous south easterly winds and torrential rain. We were told to prepare for a battering and to ensure that we had our survival kits ready. Civil Defense rolled into action, ready for what might eventuate.
Having said that Fiona went into town for a workshop - only to be evacuated and told to go home at lunch time. Being high tide, Fiona still ventured homeward past the narrow ridges next to the rising sea. Fortunately she made it home in one piece. through out the early afternoon we had raincoats and boots handy as we rushed outside and rescued items that flew off our decks. Then a lull. What better time to get into the car and go and see the storms destruction and fury. We drove to Ocean Beach (we didn't take your car Dad - just in case). Wow!! Actually it wasn't as bad as we had anticipated. The harbour appeared ominously calm. Drains had morphed into rivers and whirl pools as they approached drains. Only when we turned onto the Ocean Beach straight did the extent of the storm begin to show its impact with a couple of enormous trees partially blocking the road. We were unperturbed - we wanted to see the waves. Ocean Beach did not disappoint!
Having said all that - on a west facing property the storm did not deliver the excitement that perhaps others enjoyed!
Having said that Fiona went into town for a workshop - only to be evacuated and told to go home at lunch time. Being high tide, Fiona still ventured homeward past the narrow ridges next to the rising sea. Fortunately she made it home in one piece. through out the early afternoon we had raincoats and boots handy as we rushed outside and rescued items that flew off our decks. Then a lull. What better time to get into the car and go and see the storms destruction and fury. We drove to Ocean Beach (we didn't take your car Dad - just in case). Wow!! Actually it wasn't as bad as we had anticipated. The harbour appeared ominously calm. Drains had morphed into rivers and whirl pools as they approached drains. Only when we turned onto the Ocean Beach straight did the extent of the storm begin to show its impact with a couple of enormous trees partially blocking the road. We were unperturbed - we wanted to see the waves. Ocean Beach did not disappoint!
Having said all that - on a west facing property the storm did not deliver the excitement that perhaps others enjoyed!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Pizza Making
Fiona, Tayla, Justin and I were inspired by my nephew's blog. Living in Italy for 6 months, Mathew is becoming an expert chef, making pizza's in a genuine pizza oven.. he is also creating other culinary delights which you can check out on his blog My Tuscany OE.
As a result of reading Mathew's Blog, we decided to give pizza making a go. We did not have a pizza oven but decided to make our pizza as authentic as possible.
We followed Jamie Oliver's Pizza Dough recipe. A granite kitchen bench definitely helped!
We sieved the flour onto the bench.
We mixed the other ingredients in a jug - water, oil, sugar and yeast. We then made a well in our flour and slowly poured in the water mixture. Justin and Tayla then began to mix the liquid into the flour - determined not to let the flour wall cave in - they had to work hard. 
Little by little the mixture became thicker and tackier - then we would add more of the water and mix mix mix. Eventually the wall had to cave and mix in with the rest of the mixture.
When the fork was not longer useful, Tayla and Justin rolled up their sleeves and began to knead. They practiced, added flour, kneaded, rolled and turned the dough. There was flour all over the bench and we decided to enjoy the mess and just stay at it until the dough was ready to roll into bowls.
The bowls were placed next to the fire to rise.
Unfortunately the whole process took longer than we had imagined so decided to eat it for brunch the next day instead of dinner that night.
The next morning the dough was twice its size and ready to knock back and roll into balls.
Another enjoyable time with flour and dough then rolling the dough into flat pizza shapes.
Most of the morning was spent chopping ingredients for the top of our pizza.
Keira joined in as well - an expert at chopping with a very sharp knife (only a little nick in her finger which she recovered from and continued to chop).
What awesome pizza's we had for dinner. Next time we felt we might need more cheese on our pizza's and more tomato base. Any advice welcome to make a pizza more moist. The base was great, the topping tasty, the experience - priceless!
As a result of reading Mathew's Blog, we decided to give pizza making a go. We did not have a pizza oven but decided to make our pizza as authentic as possible.
We followed Jamie Oliver's Pizza Dough recipe. A granite kitchen bench definitely helped!We sieved the flour onto the bench.
We mixed the other ingredients in a jug - water, oil, sugar and yeast. We then made a well in our flour and slowly poured in the water mixture. Justin and Tayla then began to mix the liquid into the flour - determined not to let the flour wall cave in - they had to work hard. 
Little by little the mixture became thicker and tackier - then we would add more of the water and mix mix mix. Eventually the wall had to cave and mix in with the rest of the mixture.
When the fork was not longer useful, Tayla and Justin rolled up their sleeves and began to knead. They practiced, added flour, kneaded, rolled and turned the dough. There was flour all over the bench and we decided to enjoy the mess and just stay at it until the dough was ready to roll into bowls.
The bowls were placed next to the fire to rise.Unfortunately the whole process took longer than we had imagined so decided to eat it for brunch the next day instead of dinner that night.
The next morning the dough was twice its size and ready to knock back and roll into balls.
Another enjoyable time with flour and dough then rolling the dough into flat pizza shapes.Most of the morning was spent chopping ingredients for the top of our pizza.
Keira joined in as well - an expert at chopping with a very sharp knife (only a little nick in her finger which she recovered from and continued to chop).
What awesome pizza's we had for dinner. Next time we felt we might need more cheese on our pizza's and more tomato base. Any advice welcome to make a pizza more moist. The base was great, the topping tasty, the experience - priceless!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
winter solstice
It is officially the middle of winter - and here I am sitting in the lounge this relaxing Sunday morning - in my summer pjs!
What a wonderfully warm winter this has been albeit a bit wet - but not enough to keep the hydro dams full. So all in all - a very pleasant winter.
The sad part of this year was the departure of Rachael, Ralph, Mathew and Ana to Italy for their year plus adventure. I miss them all heaps but technology today keeps us in contact with Skype chat and video discussions. Their blogs are also worth a read (see in right hand panel).
For those remaining in the southern hemisphere, this winter solstice brought a beautiful sunny saturday. Fiona and I took a wonderful walk along the coastal cliffs with my parents. The jackets were a precaution against the black clouds on the horizon - and ofcourse because we wore them the sun remained shining.
What a wonderfully warm winter this has been albeit a bit wet - but not enough to keep the hydro dams full. So all in all - a very pleasant winter.
The sad part of this year was the departure of Rachael, Ralph, Mathew and Ana to Italy for their year plus adventure. I miss them all heaps but technology today keeps us in contact with Skype chat and video discussions. Their blogs are also worth a read (see in right hand panel).
For those remaining in the southern hemisphere, this winter solstice brought a beautiful sunny saturday. Fiona and I took a wonderful walk along the coastal cliffs with my parents. The jackets were a precaution against the black clouds on the horizon - and ofcourse because we wore them the sun remained shining.
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