Making, Cooking and Other Things

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making

The collection of beads used to make a new necklace. The (sadly) broken white bead was right at the front.

When I was a junior primary teacher, my necklace made from these faux pieces of licorice allsorts was a bit of a hit. Not so much now when I go out to mahjong or shopping and certainly not at yoga! Then I bought a black and white striped shirt. Eying off my necklace collection inspiration struck and I knew I could reuse some of the licorice allsorts pieces and bigger beads from a necklace I dropped on the floor. One of the pieces broke on impact. I wore that necklace often, so hunted down a replacement. Now I will reuse pieces from the original.

Put the large beads from the broken necklace and pink pieces of licorice allsorts and smaller black pieces together. Changed things around a few times. Then I made the new necklace. I already had the string and the catch for this new necklace. There may be more soon. My elderly neighbour can’t be bothered with necklaces or earrings anymore and has given me several necklaces made from glass beads. Very pretty and ripe for reusing.

sourdough

I’ve been making sourdough bread years. My first sourdough starter died when we were away for a long period but the replacement has been bubbling away happily for a long time. Until it didn’t look sprightly at all. Read lots of articles abut reviving runny starter. Followed the instructions and fed it twice, using more flour than water, let it rest between each feeding and it’s back to normal. I will make a loaf tonight and bake it in the morning.

Most online examples of sourdough loaves are boulés, round balls, and are baked in a Dutch oven. I make my loaves in a loaf tin as this results in slices of similar size, which I prefer.

Sourdough baking appeals to a wide range of people. Reading some of the advice was daunting but I found an easy method which worked. Sourdough bakers who post online are totally passionate about their bread and jump through all sorts of hoops to make it and some, like me, use the same recipe and are happy with the outcome.

The newly ‘recovered’ sourdough starter made a very good loaf of bread.

There’s so many recipes for using the discard from feeding the starter and so many for adding things to the bread, too, but what really caught my attention was the names people give their starters! One blog lists 160 potential names, some very funny. Another list included Must-Tang-Sally, Lazarus, Doughkey Pokey, Festus and Sour Seymour. Mine is called The Flour Child!

other things

I’ve read two books this week. I spend quite a bit of time waiting while my husband has treatments and also, there’s not much on TV. Currently we are watching on ABC iview The Secret History of the English Garden. Monty Don is the commentator and it is one of many programs about gardens he’s has visited. It is very interesting and he is a born storyteller. Really enjoying it and learning a lot about the role of gardens in history. Also seeing some amazing gardens.

The first book I read was The Night We Lost Him written by Laura Dave. Like her previous book I wrote about The Last Thing He Told Me, this is a book about lies, intrigue and the secrets of successful men. The families left behind struggle to find out what really happened. A great read.

The second book written by Nadine Williams, an Australian journalist, is about her third marriage (having vowed to never marry again) and how it led her to France. From France With Love, A Story With Baggage details how she met Oliver, how they traveled together to France and then try to sort out their cultural differences on a road trip around the country. I seem to be attracted to books about visiting France, living in France, renovating in France….I enjoyed this book . It is funny, sad and informative. I am looking online for her second book.

Tim Spector’s book Food For Life which I wrote about a few weeks ago makes alot of sense. A diverse diet results in a healthy gut but I’m struggling to eat thirty different foods every week. I was relieved when I read spices and herbs count as different foods as that got me a bit closer to goal. Close but not perfect.

Meanwhile, I have picked my first tomato of the season. Two days later there were many ripe ones. Delicious. Do you grow any food?

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Weeding Books and Paper Rubbish

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bookshelves and weeding

We are a family of keen readers. We are not so keen on throwing things out, and even likely to have a good ‘weed’ of our book collection. When we built the house we have shelves built from the floor to the ceiling on one wall, plus on another wall with windows and a half height return on a third wall. Over the years the shelves have gone from neat and tidy to books two layers thick, books poked in horizontally on other books and books overflowing onto other furniture in the room. Time for a change!

Two days later and about third of the shelves are done.

Our son was here for the long weekend. After breakfast the sorting and tidying began. We packed the discards into boxes to take to the Save the Children Book depot. So far it has taken two days but we will persist. The big bonus of this exercise is discovering forgotten books, in my case, now all shelved together. It became apparent I like to read autobiographies written by people who have lived in foreign lands. I found and am currently reading Marjory McGinn’s Things Can Only Get Feta. Along with her husband and crazy Jack Russell they move to a remote town in southern Peloponnese.

Seventeen boxes done and ready to go.

Marjory has had a passion for Greece since she and her family arrived in Australia from Scotland and her assigned ‘buddy’ at school was from a Greek family. In her twenties she worked in Athens and speaks enough Greek to organise a house, get a car and settle into life in rural Megali Mantineia. There are few foreigners in the area. They soon meet the locals and the scorpians and the hornets. This is a humourous and engaging account of their experiences in rural Greece and some of the hot spots, too. She and her husband decided to stay for a second year despite the difficulties Greece was experiencing during the austerity years.

I really enjoyed this book and set off to see if she’d written a second book about the next year in Greece. Found there are seven more books. The titles all suggest McGinn and her husband, both freelance journalists, stayed in Greece for some years. I will be trying to get some of the other books.

rubbish recycling

Are you still sorting through post Christmas or holiday paper, cards, envelopes and cardboard? All these products can be recycled easily avoiding landfill. Recycling reduces deaforestation and the impact of the processes required to manufacture new paper based products.

Effective recycling relies on ensuring only products suitable for recycling go in the paper/glass recycling bin. Contamination spoils clean paper and means all the materials are sent to landfill. Typical contamination is related to food stuffs, such as pizza boxes and oil stained paper bags and wrapping. Recycling paper means a reduction in landfill gases and reducedCO2. It’s easy, too.

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WHAT SHOULD YOU PUT IN YOUR PAPER RECYCLING BIN?

Brochures, even if they are glossy, but not ones treated with plastic laminate, plus glossy and matte packaging
All envelopes, even if they have a small plastic window, as the processes involved sort them out
Shredded paper so long as staples and paper clips have been removed before shredding
Cardboard boxes, although waxed or greasy boxes are not suitable
Magazines, newspapers, advertising brochures, childrens’ used exercise books if the staples are removed.
Due to the materials used to line paper cups and fruit juice containers, they cannot be recycled.
Recycled paper is used to make more paper for printing on and writing on, cardboard, bags, gift tags, tissues, toilet paper and napkins. Recycled paper is processed to sterilize and remove dye. Paper can be recycled up to seven times before the fibres become too short and too weak to reuse.
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Cook, Grow, Read

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cooking

I need to be well prepared this week. Our days are full of appointments and other jobs. A quick survey of the fridge led me to using up most of the eggs. That involved a crustless quiche. I have made this in the past following recipetineats.com Crustless Quiche recipe and it was very good. This time I based my quiche on her quantities, sort of, but added chives to the spring onions, a tomato for some colour and used sheeps yoghurt instead of cream. No ham left from Christmas! I also used a Spanish goat and sheep cheese (El Hidalgo) because I had it in the fridge.

Aiming for 30 different foods a week.

There were leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch ( I love leftovers for lunch). After lunch we set off to the shops with a rather long shopping list. I like semi-emptying the fridge and getting everything fresh again and have a fair idea what I’ll be preparing this week. I also made a sourdough loaf but that’s going very quickly! I also bought watermelon, because what’s summer without watermelon? It lasted one day.

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grow

Although I don’t have a big garden I make use of all the space I have available. I have a lime tree in the centre of the front courtyard which fruits at a different time from my neighbour’s lime tree, hanging over the fence. Fresh limes are wonderful!

Then I have a side courtyard and a back courtyard. I like fresh flowers in the garden all year round but I also like fresh herbs and vegetables. All my herbs and vegetables are grown in pots. This includes perpetual spinach, which can be added to almost anything savoury and a lot of herbs plus spring onions. At the moment, the entire side and back area are a bit overwhelmed by tomatoes! I have two sorts, one a cherry truss tomato my Mother grew forever and the other an unknown tomato. My friend gave me a tomato to taste when she was given a bag full and it was very good. I harvested the seeds and they are thriving. So, of course, I grow a lot of basil, too!

read

Do you keep some books because they were really engaging and you know you’ll read them again, one day? I have a few books in the category, one I reach for about every six years if I get a cold, and two I’d forgotten about but really enjoyed rereading now. The first book I referred to is Lisa St Aubin de Terran’s A House in Italy. The author is English but loves all things Italian and writes with great affection plus a little frustration about restoring a palazzo in Italy. She writes about her treasured collections being sent from England, Scotland and a few places she’s rented throughout Italy. Amusing to read, but no so funny to experience!

My other two books are both by Karen Wheeler, who writes articles for glossy magazines about beauty and health. After discovering her fiancé was otherwise engaged when he was away on work, she takes some time to consider her future. She travels to France to visit a friends and buys a derelict house in a small, rural town and sets about renovating it. This is a slow process as she still travels to interview famous designers, perfumeriers and grand hotels and spa resorts. It’s called Tout Sweet, Hanging Up My High Heels For A New Life In France’. Very entertaining.

Her third book Sweet Encore, A Road Trip From Paris to Portugal Via Northern Spain. ( I cannot find the second one in the series. All that tidying up!) is about driving through France, Spain and Portugal with her 16 year old niece who lives in the Caymans. A real travelogue. Whilst in Portugal she visits the grave of her long time boyfriend who died as the result of a car accident. She describes Portugal as warm, beautiful and very affordable, and Spain as the exact opposite!

I sympathise with her views on Spain. Even before we lived overseas we liked to travel and have been to some very underdeveloped areas. In forty plus years of traveling independently, Barcelona is the only place someone tried to mug me! I’m sure I’ve been overcharged and my poor language skills have annoyed, but I have never been attacked like I was in Spain. We packed and took the next train to Zurich.

The other book I have read is Kate Atkinson’s Big Sky. If you enjoy a gritty, fast moving ‘who dunnit” this is for you!

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Blue Zones and Other Wellbeing Research and Reading Books

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Did you begin the new year resolving to improve how you eat and wanting to exercise more? I’ve just watched the documentary Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones on Netflix. Although the ages of some of the people interviewed in the series have since been questioned, the film shows evidently older people living well within their communities and always in their own homes, generally surrounded by family members.

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The factors resulting in healthy, engaged older people had several common attributes. In every area studied, everyday living involved a lot of walking, and other activities like chopping wood, tending to gardens and preparing food from scratch. Most areas involved steep steps to get around. The only community investigated in this series where people created opportunities to exercise was in Lomas Linda, where a large group of Seventh Day Adventists live. Several of the communities studied identified devout and regular church attendees.

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Social connections seem to be important in getting to old age with few health challenges. Most people interviewed lived with their families or very close to families and were involved in daily social activities. There were examples of morning chats, eating, singing and dancing together. Everyday contact with family, friends and neighbours was a common factor. Times to rest from work were well defined.

The diets of each community differed depending on the region being studied, but all the Blue Zones studied ate mostly plant based diets with everything made from scratch and often grown nearby. Seasonal produce was grown near to home and tended to, harvested and prepared by family groups including the older members in the studies.

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One of the interesting comments by the researcher was that none of the people in the study showed signs of dementia.

Investigating the latest research into healthy eating led me to Dr Tim Spector, a British epidemiologist, medical doctor and science writer who researches and writes about the relationship between nutrition, the gut biome and health.

He backs all his dietary advice with a lot of research. One of his strong beliefs is eating 30 different fruit, vegetables, fermented products and nuts and seeds every week. I quite like a challenge stareted recording the fruit, vegetables, fermented food (yoghurt, cheese, some pickles) and nuts and spices I ate in a week and fell short. It was easy to begin with, but I really had to focus on adding to the list towards the end of the week. I’m trying again this week.

His recommendations

1. Commit to a ten hour window when you eat, then fast for 14 hours.

2. Reduce or avoid UPF, ultra processed foods.

3. Adopt mindful drinking, minimal tea, coffee and alcohol, lots of water.

4. Forget counting calories, just eat healthy food.

5. Eat more plants, but eat meat, too, in modest amounts. Meat eaters have better gut flora. Aim for 30 different vegetables, fruits, nuts, herbs, spices and fermented foods each week.

6. Don’t obsess about protein and learn to estimate the amount you should eat at each meal. (Spector suggest 1.6gm meat/kg)

7. Seek quality snacks, such as nuts, fruits, wholegrains, all good for insulin sensitivity and improved gut flora.

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Reading

At the beginning of the year I was impressed by a reviewer whose New Year resolution was to read 100 books. She wrote that she’d tried before and failed, so this year she is aiming to read 85 books. Inspired by her goal, I thought I’d try to read 100 books this year, too. Two and a half weeks into the year I’ve read eight books. We’ve spent time sitting around, waiting for appointments and also keeping cool. I hope I can maintain the momentum.

Have you set yourself a similar goal? I’d love to know!

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Reading and In The Garden

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reading

Are you a reader? This time of the year is good for reading book reviews. Every book distributor, every newspaper and magazine literary editor has reviews of newly published books and old favourites. Interesting to scroll through the lists and see so many ‘old favourite’ authors have new books, but also the long lists of new authors whose books are recommended. Great if you buy from a list you’ve made of ‘interesting books’. Also useful if you belong to a bookclub or like giving books as gifts. I try to get most of my books from the library.

One reviewer, Laura Hackett, Deputy Book Reviewer, for the Sunday Times.UK, writes about her New Year Resolution, made every year, to read a hundred books. She isn’t always successful and thinks she’ll aim for 85 books this year. I gave up on New Year resolutions years ago, but I also read a lot of books, so have decided I’ll try this, too. It’s the first week of January and I have already read two and a half books, so feeling optimistic!

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Hackett also refers to the Book Cover of the Week. Apparently,’ you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover’, but I do like a great cover! Although I scan titles and authors’ names on library shelves, I’ll often pull the book out to read the blurb on the back of the book but also then check out the cover. The font and the images used can suggest a lot about a book, too.

in the garden

It’s a bit hot to spend time in the garden during the day, but really very nice in the evening if there’s a breeze and the fountain is running. I’ve planted two types of tomatoes this year. I don’t know the names of either type because the tiny truss tomatoes came from my Mother years ago and the large bush tomatoes came from a friend. I don’t have very much space so I grow the tomatoes in pots. When you consider the cost of potting mix and fertiliser needed to grow them in pots, it’s probably not so economical but the tomatoes don’t have hard thick skins and they taste of sunshine. I’ve bought lots of tomatoes this summer which haven’t tasted wonderful at all. I stagger planting times to ensure supply over a longer period.

There’s also a pot of perpetual spinach. It’s what it’s called, a cut and come again spinach. I toss a handful of washed leaves in so many savoury things we eat. The wilted leaves add colour and flavour. The more I cut off, the more it grows. Good.

These cannas came from the farm. They just flower and flower and add masses of colour. The Gloriosa Lily is a Himalayan Select and came from a friend. It flowers in the middle of summer but the bloom only lasts a few days. Every year when it reappears, there’s an additional plant. I don’t remove the tubers in winter but it’s recommended in the northern hemisphere. I’m obviously a bit hit and miss removing tubers/corms/bulbs, anyway, as I thought I’d sifted out all the old dahlia corms from a pot I planted tomatoes in, but the tomatoes have company; two dahlias have appeared too!

Gloriosa lily

The outdoors table is a sheet of travertine on a wrought iron frame. The glue holding the top on had begun to fail and the top felt loose. We took the top off, used a flap disc to remove the old glue and rust from the frame. I picked, poked and peeled the glue off the travertine. New glue, top back on, scrubbed it clean. Now stable and back in use. Lovely sitting out there in the evening.

Flap disk for removing old glue and rust. Very efficient.

Metal frame cleaned of glue and rust, wiped down. Later we reapplied glue and positioned the travertine top and left it to dry.

Scrubbed the travertine. The table was back in use the next day.

If you’re interested in growing some herbs that flourish in full sun, plant thyme, basil, rosemary and mint. Coriander will just go to seed until it is a little cooler. Except the rosemary, all my herbs are planted in pots.

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The hydrangeas are thriving, too. I hope you’re enjoying your garden, too!

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Calming Occupations, Screen Time and New Year Resolutions

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calming occupations

After the rush of Christmas shopping and celebrating you might be thinking about some activities which will help you slow down. Mindful activities are relaxing and the finished product can be very satisfying. Consider these: gardening, tending indoor plants, knitting, crocheting, growing your own herbs, reading, keeping a journal, sewing, birdwatching, walking, drawing and painting and tai chi or yoga.

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All require some concentration and the outcome can be very rewarding. Now is the time to slow down and enjoy some relaxed time!

screen time

Researchers are considering the impact of screen time on small children aged between 0-3 years of age. Research from 2014 reveals children spending an average of five hours a week on devices had elevated BMIs (Body Mass Index). Worldwide, the incidence of myopia (short sightedness) is the fastest growing problem for children. Another area considered was sleeping habits. Children who don’t have access to devices sleep better. All things to consider before giving a small child a screen for any length of time.

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happy new year!

Do you write New Year Resolutions? Do you list the same things year after year but never quite get there? I just read on an American site about Quitters Week, usually about the third week of January when the weather makes a morning run unpleasant, or you’re fed up with salads or the gym is hot and a bit stinky. Maybe your goals are more focused on your home as you plan to sort out the junk room/cupboard/drawer but just don’t get around to doing it. Or you plan to sort out insurance policies or healthcare but never get it sorted.

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The same site suggested listing goals, journaling (writing detailed plans) or making a vision board. The vision board requires images cut from magazines, brochures or similar sources that resonate with your goals, stuck onto a board and then left where you’ll see it regularly. The samples online look like a lot of work but they are very attractive and popular!

If you’re keen on new year resolutions, the science offers these four steps to success. Just choose one thing to change, not a long list as this will be overwhelming and soon discarded.

1. Start small. The pre-frontal cortex, the change making part of the brain, is easily overwhelmed. Try one small step at a time, building momentum each day, works.

2. Be specific, such as ‘I will save $500 by the beginning of February’ rather than ‘I want to save money’. List how to achieve you goal, then break the steps down into clear and achievable steps.

3. Reward yourself with little treats to mark each success. Make it easy to succeed.

4. Make sure you know what success will look like. Describe your goal clearly. Revisit your plan regularly. Be realistic about how you can achieve your goal.

Regardless of your plans and how you present them, I wish you a happy and healthy new year.

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Post Christmas

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post christmas

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! Everybody’s idea of a great Christmas is different, but many are based on family and friends eating together, exchanging presents and having a break from work! Christmas is no longer a simple affair where children get one big gift and a few little treats in a stocking or pillow case hung from their bed. No roasted chicken and Christmas pudding, perhaps a beer or two, certainly ginger beer. I think Christmas menus have become better suited to the Australian climate over time.

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Gone are the school plays with a doll in the manger, Mary and Joseph, the three wise men and the angels. The local farmer no longer is asked to provide a lamb or two. The birth of Jesus doesn’t really feature in the public arena. It’s all about Father Christmas/Santa, elves and Disney characters. And bulk spending. Children no longer learn Christmas carols. We used to sing them at school, at home and on the school bus. No devices to tempt us!

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Things change with time, we age and feel nostalgia for ‘the good old days’ but we forget the heat, the strain of elderly relatives needing to be accommodated and attended to all day when really you wanted to play with the new doll, the Lego or the new cricket bat. As the only girl, I was expected to dry up and put away a massive amount of ‘good’ china unpacked for the big day. Cutlery, too, which I have now inherited and doubt I will ever clean and use. I hope your Christmas Day was everything you wished and you had a wonderful day!

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Post Christmas was always a huge shopping day. Boxing Day sales were all about bargains. You stocked up on Christmas decorations, bought gifts to give throughout the year and generally spent time ‘just looking’. I think the run of cyber sales has redirected people from Boxing Day sales to other online events. The cost of living crisis in Australia may have some impact on spending, too. I ducked into the local shopping centre yesterday, expecting crowds and long queues at the checkout, but there was hardly anyone there!Got what I wanted and was out in less than 10 minutes.

Do you plan New Year’s resolutions? Do you share them with other people? I scan through the lists in magazines and they never relate to any of my plans, but do make interesting reading. You never see useful resolutions such as ‘leave the shallots until they’re ready before pulling them out’ or ‘do everything you can to avoid going into the Post Office because there will be 100 people in front of you’. It’s all about decluttering, losing weight, digitizing your photos and getting fit.Just like last year and the year before, too!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Dogs, More About EV Cars and Blue and White China

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dogs

Louis didn’t like going to the groomer, would eat anything, with or without a designer label and made it quite clear early on that he wasn’t wearing a waterproof coat to the park.

Do you own a dog? A quick scroll through Instagram shows the explosion in dog ownership. It also highlights how important dogs are to their owners. Once you ‘owned a dog’ now you’re a dog parents. Dogs were once ‘pets’ now they are members of the family. Dogs are being targeted by high end marketing. There’s a plethora of perfumes, prebiotics, pupcups, massages and other spa treatments, icecream ( roast chicken flavour) and ‘super foods’ being created by vets. These treats are now available in luxury establishments, such as Hôtel de Paris (Monaco) and Le Château de la Messardière (Saint-Tropaz. Matching outfits are also popular, with matching nail polish, too.

At the end of 2023, the Xerpi Institute reported sales of pet products had reached 5.8 billion euros in France, which is a 48% increase in a decade. And before you think this is just a French things, a quick scroll online reveals so many dogs dressed in designer brands, eating above mentioned treats and enjoying designer beds, toys and snacks. Dogs being taken out in backpacks and prams (I recently read more dog strollers were bought this year in Korea than baby strollers) into cafes and restaurants where their meal is ordered from a separate menu. Then off to the spa from a few treatments. I hope the dogs enjoy them!

blue and white china

Double happiness ginger jar from an antique market in Guangzhou. Although images of Mao were everywhere in the markets there were other beautiful finds, too, ginger jars, woven fabrics, wooden ornaments and other china pieces, such as teapots and cups.

Some English, some Chinese, some very old, some a lot newer.

Three ginger jars, a lovely gift from my cousin.

I grew up surrounded by pieces of blue and white china, mostly English, and I also collected a few pieces myself. Then we began traveling in Asia before finally moving to China and I had plenty of opportunities to buy both antique and more recently made pieces of blue and white china. Our driver quickly realised I was interested in both old and new pieces and took me to fascinating antique markets and small scale manufacturers. I also collected Japanese and Korean pieces.

This collection, in the upstairs bathroom, from many different places is about to get a lot bigger as I have many beautiful plates I inherited from my Mother.

So, I couldn’t resist when I saw these miniature ginger jar Christmas decorations. They are so lovely! Last year I made blue and white baubles. Blue and white decorations are becoming a bit of a theme. I have also just inherited my Mother’s collection of blue and white china but have had no time to sort it. There are no small children coming here for Christmas so I haven’t decorated a tree but like to display decorations around the house.

Ginger jar Christmas ornaments

ev ownership and charging arrangements

I’ve had a couple of interesting discussions with people about EV cars since I wrote about them a week ago. Then I read an article (ABC News, Dec 17th James Purtill) outlining the new problem for EV owners living in strata titled apartments. Strata owners are increasingly banning EVs from recharging in apartment basements due to the risk of battery fires. Strata owners have have wide-ranging powers to ban EVs and EV charging within their buildings.

The risk of batteries igniting and the subsequent damage to surrounding vehicles and the concrete structure is becoming a problem. The Australian Codes Board and EV fire safety experts insist these batteries are no more likely to ignite than petrol or diesel vehicles. At the same time, state fire authorities says buildings with charging facilities should be given the same hazard warnings as chemical plants and firework factories.

Fire and Rescue NSW recommend EV charging points only be available in open air. If EVs ignite they burn hotter than other battery fires and are impossible to put out. If a lithium battery ignites, internal cells decompose, liberating the heat, which causes more cells to decompose. These fires cannot be extinguished by water or oxygen starvation (foam). Another article referred to ‘catastrophic’ fires caused by end-of-life lithium batteries wrongly dumped into landfill sites. Fires in rubbish trucks are now regularly reported. More work to be done.

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EV Cars, Home Fire Safety and Other Things

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EV Cars in australia

A report by McKinsey & Company, released in June 2024 summarised surveys from almost 37 000 consumers across 15 countries, concerning EV cars. For several years, interest in EV cars was high, but the above report indicated 49% of EV owners in Australia would like to switch back to diesel or petrol.

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Globally, reasons for abandoning EVs included poor public charging infrastructure (35%), the high cost of ownership (34%) and the impact on long trips of no charging opportunities. (32%) Range anxiety is a big thing in Australia!

In the first half of 2024, according to The Australian Automobile’s Electric Vehicle Index, sales of petrol and diesel cars represented more than 75% of all cars sold. The article also mentions the surge in sales of hybrid electric vehicle sales. These vehicles have a battery which charges while the vehicle is running. Another limiting factor is the popularity of utes and SUVs in Australia. Passenger vehicles represent 15% of sales in Australia, SUVs account for 57.5% and light commercial vehicles, utes, dual cab utes and vans represent 22.9% of sales.

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The RAC (Royal Automobile Club ) list consumer concerns about EV vehicles as too expensive (66%), poor access to charging infrastructure, range anxiety and concerns about the life of the battery. Interestingly, there is no mention of the difficulties in disposing of, or reusing any parts of the battery once it is exhausted. Neither is the extraordinary high cost of repairs to electric vehicles.

Based on an article published in the Horizon magazine, by the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia, Summer edition 2025

household fires during summer

The same magazine has an article about household fires, not just in summer, but generally. When we had a light fitting hung by an electrician recently, we got him to check the smoke alarms upstairs and downstairs. They were over ten years old and needing replacing. He wrote the date of replacement inside the cover of each alarm. Apparently, an out of date smoke alarm can effect any insurance claim relating to fire damage.

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This is a quick summary of the points raised in the article. The lack of cleaning of indoor and outdoor appliances and general maintenance can lead to increased fire risk. Second/party fridges stored in garages or sheds can over heat and ignite. Be aware that the coolants in newer fridges are more flammable than older models.

The biggest issue is lithium-ion-batteries. The number of fires linked to cheap batteries made in countries with poor quality control is increasing. The article suggests you never leave the battery charging overnight or while you are away from home, make sure you only use the cables and accessories recommended or supplied by the manufacturer, buy only batteries which meet Australian standards and avoid cheap replacements.

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There is also a warning to avoid overloading powerboards and keeping unused points on the board free of dust as this can accumulate and become a fire hazard.

Interestingly, in researching EVs I found the majority of Chinese manufacturing of EVs rely on coal fired power.

and other things

This has been a very difficult year for my family. Moving our Mother into care and then her passing was very distressing. The last twelve months of traveling to visit her, helping her move and sorting out small problems in care required a four hour round trip. We tried to accommodate our own interests and activities but that wasn’t always possible.

When my parents moved from the farm to their new house they took so much stuff with them. I think my Mother thought she’d sort through the four generations of paperwork, photographs, tools, maps, sporting gear and furniture. Time ran out. Luckily she’d sent an enormous amount of historical records to various museums and collections all over Australia.

During the emptying of the shed (bigger than most country fire stations) other members of the family contacted local museums who took a lot of information and equipment. I still have boxes of photos to sort and get digitalized. I need the dining table for that, but with Christmas coming it has other things on it!

Eventually the shed, garage and house were emptied, with help from other family members. We are having a break from traveling down the Forrest Highway for a few weeks. Our son came down last weekend and we marveled at what have been achieved. We marked the end of an era with champagne and chocolate, because you should eat something if you’re drinking.

Our son has also taken care of our Christmas celebration needs, too.

I hope your Christmas plans, if you celebrate, are progressing well.

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NAPLAN, A Wreath, Curried Egg Sandwiches and Herbs

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NAPLAN

After abandoning teaching fads and adopting old style ‘direct instruction’ a cluster of Catholic schools (56 schools) in the ACT and Goulburn have shot to the top of NAPLAN this year. Catholic schools that have underperformed for years were directed in 2020 by the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn to adopt explicit teaching methods.

Explicit teaching requires the teacher to

1. Introduce a new concept,

2. Children practice or repeat concept,

3. The teacher tests for success, and

4. Reteaches where necessary.

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Within four years the schools have delivered their best ever NAPLAN outcomes. These schools are recognised by ACARA ( Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority) as making a difference in the ACT. ACARA compares schools where students come from households with similar incomes, education and occupations.

Based on an article written by Natasha Bita, 04/12/2024 the australian.com.au

making a gate wreath

I want to freshen up our Christmas decorations this year, but don’t have a lot of time to spare. I found a bag of Christmas bits and pieces in a cupboard when I was looking for something else and knew I could incorporate them on a very plain wreath I already had but hadn’t used in the past. The wreath had clusters of red berries and little lights run off batteries and could easily be attached to our front gate.

Arranged the decorations on the wreath and contemplated how I would secure them. The wreath had a wire frame and the decorations had wire stems, so I decided to twist the decorations onto the frame. Went to work on it. Poked the clusters in place, did a bit of rearranging and a lot of twisting and the decorations were secure. Finished. Added batteries to see if the lights worked. All good.

end of year yoga

I’ve been going to the same yoga class for about six years, although the sessions were patchy and sometimes on Zoom during the pandemic. We end each year with a Christmas party. Our class is made up of an eclectic group of people, some with dietary restrictions, so I took curried egg sandwiches to the first party. They disappeared in no time. Now, I am reminded frequently before the party each year that I’m expected to take curried egg sandwiches. So easy! And a lovely morning, too.

herbs

I frequently use herbs in cooking. Years ago I used to buy them from the supermarket or the green grocer but preparing food for two people meant there was a lot of waste. They either went limp in the fridge or slimy in a glass of water. Either outcome meant they were thrown out.

The solution was obvious! I needed to grow my own. Made a list of the herbs I commonly used and either planted seeds, or in the case of the mint and parsley, got some from my Mother. I grew spring onions from the cut off white bit on the end with roots attached and they have been providing us with fresh spring onions for about 20 years.

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I also grow chives (from seed) and basil, also from seeds collected at the end of the season. I have shallots, grown from seed, as I use them in a great David Lebovitz dressing, (not including the recipe as I’ve tweaked it to suit us but you can see similar by searching his name and FRENCH VINAGRETTE), plus perennial spinach. The spinach isn’t a herb but adds a dash of green and lovely flavour added to so many things. I have three plants which feed two people regularly.

The other flavours I rely on regularly are lemons and limes. The juice or zest adds to both sweet and savoury dishes. I have a lime tree in the courtyard at the front and lemons out the back. I really like passionfruit, too, but the vines never thrived and I eventually pulled them out. Disappointing.

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