Gibberish

I Celebrate the Day by Relient K.

2011-12-19T10:29:00.001+11:00

And with this Christmas wish is missed
The point I could convey
If only I could find the words to say to let You know how much You've touched my life
Because here is where You're finding me, in the exact same place as New Year's eve
And from a lack of my persistency
We're less than half as close as I want to be

And the first time
That You opened Your eyes did You realize that You would be my Savior
And the first breath that left Your lips
Did You know that it would change this world forever

And so this Christmas I'll compare the things I felt in prior years
To what this midnight made so clear
That You have come to meet me here

To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me
In the hope that what You did
That you were born so I might [ really ]live
To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me

And I, I celebrate the day
That You were born to die
So I could one day pray for You to save my life

This is a great Christmas song which really get's me thinking. I especially love the chorus and the last bit. It makes me think that God did a wonderful thing in sending his son to earth, especially because of the reason that he did it - so that we can be made right with God and be his friends for ever. Think on this and let the real meaning of Christmas become special to you.

Suddenly

2011-10-31T10:31:00.000+11:00

She feels lost in her own life
Treading water just to keep from slipping under
And she wonders if she's where she's supposed to be
Tired of trying to do it right
Her dreams are just too far away to see how steps she's making might be taking her to who she'll be

And suddenly it isn't what it used to be
And after all this time it worked out just fine
And suddenly i am where i'm supposed to be
And after all the tears, i was supposed to be here

She feels locked in her own life
Scared of what she might lose
If she moves away from who she was
And she's afraid of being free
There's a way she knows is right
And she can't feel the things she knows and so each step she's taking
Is a step of faith towards who she'll be

And suddenly it isn't what it used to be
And after all this time it worked out just fine
And suddenly i am where i'm supposed to be
And after all the tears, i was supposed to be here

And here where the night is darkest black
She feels the fear
And the light is farthest back
And through her tears
She can see the dawn
Its coming skies will clear
And the light will find her where she's always been

And suddenly it isn't what it used to be
And after all this time it worked out just fine
And suddenly i am where i'm supposed to be
And after all the tears, i was supposed to be here

Of late I have been feeling a bit down, things don't seem to be changing or getting any better. I feel kinda like I'm stuck in a rut or that I am stagnating. Then the other day I was just listening to some random music and this song came on and it spoke to me. Like the girl in the song I feel like I'm treading water and that I am not getting anywhere. I feel like what I'm doing is not getting me anywhere and that I'm gonna be stuck where I am for ever. But then in listening to this song I have gotten the hope that even when I can't see the bigger picture God is there and everything that is happening in my life is leading where he wants me to be.

The Amazing Race

2011-10-28T11:41:00.000+11:00

If you have known me for a while or if you have been reading my blog for a while you probably know that I love The Amazing Race, but if you don't well now you do. Well last I was watching it and was pleasantly surprised to find out that the snowboarding dudes were really strong committed Christians. In one way it wasn't a surprise because they were always so kind and polite to each other and to the other teams. So as the team was setting out for that leg of the race they were talking about how they were Christian and that while they were on the race they were still following him. Then one of the tasks that needed to be completed was the taking down and moving and putting up in another place of a Bhuddist Shrine. While they were doing this Andy and Tommy were saying that it was a little bit hard for them but they had to remember that there is only one God who they follow and that he is stronger than the other Gods. One of the other teams while doing this task was commenting on how they were putting everything back with respect cause they wanted to respect the religion, like they would want someone to respect their religion like the cross if they were visiting their church. But to me this didn't seem as though religion was part of their life.The final thing that mad me really think that that Andy and Tommy were really committed was that there was a stage where they had gotten a bit lost and so they were asking for help, the person that was helping them was taking a long time to come back and Andy and Tommy were saying "We might come in last but whatever happens, happens, If it's God's will then we will finsih here." I just feel that it is really good for Christians, especially committed "life not religion" Christians to be out there and living good lives so that others can see that we are normal and not scary. I think people like Andy and Tommy and Kate from Masterchef do a good thing for Christianity.

Semi Regular Book Review.

2011-10-16T15:05:00.001+11:00

Sultana by Lisa J. Yarde

On the night after her wedding, 8 year old Princess Fatima is kidnapped. Her mother Princess Aisha takes her so that she will escape the wrath of the Ashqilula who are angry that Fatima was not married to one of them as had been the custom for the Sultan's family. Fatima witnesses her mother's murder by the Ashqilula who have found them. She is then helped to escape and manages to get back to the palace where she lives. Fatima over time learns to love her new husband, who is ten years older than her, despite many seperations due to the many battles in the civil war between the many groups of Moors as well as the Christians. There are also many intrigues and incidents back at court involving Fatima and her family.This is a really interesting book set in among the Moors during their time in Spain. It was something that I had heard about before but had never really thought about reading before. However I really enjoyed it and it gave me another point of view on something that had happened in the history of this world that I live in. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone interested in Historical Fiction and especially European History in particular the history of Spain.

Another episode of The Bill and my life collide.

2011-09-15T12:13:00.002+10:00

So another incident occured which made me think of The Bill, but this one was scary. It happened last Wednesday, but the details are a bit hazy since I have left it so long to write about it so instead I will put in a link to where my sister wrote about it.

Over It.

2011-08-30T16:09:00.000+10:00

I am so sick of looking for work and all the rejection that has come with it. I am particularly sick of employers either not getting back to me or just sending a form letter and due to the high number of applicants not having the time to give individual feed back.

I do understand that I do not really have a lot of experience and that may be holding me back but how am I gonna get experience if no one will give me a chance. It's the classic catch 22 situation. I know the volunteering that I am doing is helping but it will help but I would love a job now. I just get really frustrated about the whole thing though.

On the up side, I am having a group assessment with IKEA on Friday, which while it is not my ideal job, it is a job.

More Updates.

2011-07-28T14:28:00.000+10:00

I have an inteerview Tommorow (Friday 29 July). I would appreciate some prayer for this, As I would really like to get the job.

I am also doing the aforementioned Uni course and I would like some prayer about getting everything done especially if I get the job.

Twitter.

2011-07-14T15:46:00.000+10:00

I was resisting twitter, it seems kinda like lots of people just do it and put random things there but I have read a couple blogs about it here so was thinking that maybe I should get a twitter. What do other people think?

Monday Moview and Food on Friday

2011-07-14T15:43:00.000+10:00

I will keep these going but I was thinking it other people can add a movie review or recipe or even something else about food that they would like to share just email them to me at crazy_jedidiah@hotmail.com.

Semi-Regular BookReview : Blood Faerie.

2011-07-14T15:36:00.000+10:00

BLOOD FAERIE (Caledonia Fae, Book 1) by India Drummond

Eilidh, a Faerie, was exiled, for using forbidden magic, from her world a quarter of a century ago, since then she has been living in Perth, Scotland (Not W.A.). A horrific murder occurs right near where Eilidh is living and she can tell that the murder is carried out by magic. Eilidh tries to get the help of her old countrymen to help defeat whoever has performed this murder and the other ones that are found, while making friends with a policeman who is more than he seems. She also must decide whether she is going to learn more about and use the forbidden magic.

This is a fantastic urban fantasy which I really loved. I have not read much urban fantasy in the past, but I have read quite a bit of other fantasy books, especially Historical fantasy. However the other thing that I loved about this book was the element of crime fiction in it, which is another of my favourite Genres. I really loved how Crime fiction and fantasy were blended together in this book.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes either fantasy or crime fiction or who would love to see a blending of the two genres. I would also recommend it to anyone who loves Scotland.

Further update.

2011-06-27T15:16:00.000+10:00

So I have some news for you. I did get accepted into the course I applied for. Woo hoo. However, I was not given credits for the Tafe course I did for the same occupation, which I should have gotten. Anyway, I finally managed to speak to the course co ordinator and he said I should have gotten the credits, and he also said one of the courses I had been enrolled in was not one I should have been enrolled in.
The system at the uni was down for upgrades when I spoke to him, but he was gonna send an email about it and have both things fixed up. He said if if hasn't been fixed up in a couple of weeks to call him again, and he will look in to it. Currently I have not heard anything.

Update.

2011-06-01T12:01:00.000+10:00

So I have applied for the Bachelor of Information Studies at CSU Wagga. I am waiting to hear back from them to see if I have gotten in. I am a little bit worried about whether or not I will get in or not.

I also had an interview with Coles at Earlwood yesterday. Not my ideal job, but hey it's a job.

I have also been in contact with St george Christian School about doing some volunteer work in the library there.

I have some applications for some other positions that I have put in but I'm still waiting to here back from them.

Monday Movies.

2011-05-16T15:04:00.000+10:00

THE DISH.

July 1969 the town of Parkes in western NSW was put on the world map for it's involvement in the relay of the footage of the moonlanding. This is the story of Cliff Buxton (Sam Niell) and his colleagues who work at the radio telescope who and coordinated with NASA including having someone from NASA come and work with them. It tells how the men worked together to overcome the obstacles in their way to keep the world informed.

This is a great little Aussie movie that I recommend that you see. I particularly reccomend it if you get Aussie humour. If you don't get Aussie humour then you should probably give it a miss as it will probably go over your head.

Food on Fridays

2011-05-13T09:39:00.041+10:00

MACARONI AND CORN PANCAKES.

Serves 4

2 corn on the cob
4 tbsp butter
115 g red capsicums, deseeded and finely diced
275 g dried short cut macaroni
150 ml double cream
25 g plain flour
4 egg yolks
4 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper
TO SERVE
oyster mushrooms
fried leeks

1. Bring a pan of water to the boil over a medium heat. Add the corn on the cobs and cook for about 8 minutes. Drain thoroughly and refresh under cold running water for 3 minutes. Cut away the kernels onto kitchen paper and leave to dry.

2. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a frying pan over a low heat. Add the capsicum and cook for about 4 minutes. Drain and pat dry on kitchen paper.

3. . Bring a large pan of lightly salted water to the boil over medium heat. Add the macaroni and cook until tender, but still firm to the bite. Drain and lean in cold water until required.

4. Beat the cream with the flour, a pinch of salt and the egg yolks in a bowl until smooth. Add the corn and capsicum. Drain the macaroni, then toss into the corn mixture. Season with pepper to taste.

5. Heat the remaining butter with the oil in the frying pan over a medium heat. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture into the pan and press down to form pancakes. Fry until golden on both sides and all the mixture is used up. Serve with mushrooms and leeks.

Thoughts.

2011-05-12T09:18:00.000+10:00

So what I was thinking, I have been doing some regular posting, woot. But I haven't done much just about what has been happening for me.

Basically I am still looking for work.

But what I was really thinking was that I was wanting to do a regular quiz like Ben's. However I don't want it to be the same thing exactly, I want it inspired by but not the same as, at one stage I was thinking of calling it Who, What when Where Why? and having a series of questions starting with one of those words possibly on the same theme for each week. I wanted to know what my readers thought of this idea and if they would partake of such a quiz.

I have also been thinking about doing this course. I feel that it may help to to further my career in the future. I would like to do it but I'm not sure. I don't feel that I am the most academically minded person and I don't feel that I am very good at writing essays which the assessments are. However I did quite well in my Diploma of Library/Information Services at TAFE so I have a basic understanding of the concepts. I have prayed about it and I'm still not sure. I was originally gonna wait until I got a job to maybe apply but getting a job is taking a while so maybe I should just apply for it. I would like to to know the opinions of my readers.

Monday Movies.

2011-05-09T12:14:00.000+10:00

THE PELICAN BRIEF.

Based on a John Grisham novel it is the story of Darby Shaw (Julia Roberts) who is a law student and writes a brief about why two supreme court justices have been killed. She then shows the brief to her lecturer who is also her boyfriend. He then shows it to his friend at the FBI. Shaws boyfriend is then killed in a car explosion and she then turns to the friend at the FBI but he also turns up dead. Shaw then teams up Gray Grantham (Denzel Washington), who is a journalist who is also researching about the deaths of the judges. The two of them then expose who is behind the killings.

It was quite an interesting movie although I found it a bit slow in places and I found the ending a bit contrived. However if you enjoy Detective thrillers especially John Grisham novels then I recommend that you watch it.

Food on Fridays.

2011-05-06T15:48:00.000+10:00

LASAGNE

Serves 6.

2 Tablespoons oil.
1 clove garlic
1 large onion
500 g minced topside steak
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
2 x 140 g tomato paste
3 cups water
1 x 240 g packet instant lasagne sheets
1 x 500 g carton cottage cheese
1 x 250 g packet siss or mozzarella cheese

Heat oil in a very large pan over medium heat, chop onion and fry until transparent. Add meat and crushed garlic and fry until brown. Add salt and pepper, tomato paste, water and rosemary. Stir until well mixed. Lower heat and let the sauce simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 180 C. Spoon a thin layer of sauce onto a pan and cover with half the lasagne sheets. Cover lasagne with more sauce and evenly spread all the cottage cheese over the sauce. Add half the cheese slices. Cover with remaining Lasagne sheets and pour on the rest of the sauce. Finish with the remaining cheese slices.

Monday Movies.

2011-05-02T12:22:00.000+10:00

THE BLACK BALLOON.

16 year old Thomas Mollison (Rhys Wakefield) has many issues to deal with. His dad (Erik Thompson) is in the army and the family has just moved to a new town; his mum (Toni Collette) is pregnant and his older brother, Charlie (Luke Ford) is austic. Thomas meets and falls for Jackie (Gemma Ward), from school, but because Charlie is embarrasing for him this causes obstacles, paricularly when Jackie drops round to their house, when the three kids go for a walk in the bush and when she comes round for a birthday dinner. Can Thomas enter into the world of teen romances or will having to look after Charlie get in the way of his life?

Wow! I found this a really beautiful and powerful movie. I especially loved that it was another Australian movie. I also loved that it dealt with issues that are in the world but not necessarily in the public eye. I really reccomend that you see this movie.

Monday Movies

2011-04-25T14:31:00.000+10:00

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE.

When 7 year old Olive Hoover (Abigail Breslin) gets a chance to be in the Little Miss Sunshine Beauty Pagaent. The only way that Olive can participate is for the whole dysfunctional family, including Olive's mother Sheryl Hoover (Toni Collette) and her brother, Frank (Steve Carrell) who has been released from a mental asylum, her father, (Alan Arkin), who has been kicked out of his retirement village for drug use, Dwayne (Paul Dano) who has taken a vow of silence and Olive's father who is a failed self help guru, to jump into the families old Volkswagen Kombi. Along the way the family has many adventures like the van breaking down and needing to be pushed to start everytime.

This was quite an enjoyable movie and I do think that it is worth seeing for a laugh. The thing that I enjoyed the most about this movie is that it showed that no matter how badly a family might get along, they can band together so to support each othe no matter what the circumstances.

Food on Friday.

2011-04-22T14:18:00.000+10:00

Well I was thinking about the time of year, but I don't have a Hot Cross Bun recipe, so considering that Monday is the 25 April, today's recipe is:

NUTTY ANZAC BISCUITS.

Makes 30-40

1 cup plain flour
1 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup desiccated coconut
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
2 tbsp golden syrup
125 g butter
1 tspn bicarbonate of soda
3 tbsn boiling water

Mix the flour, oats, sugar, coconut and peanuts together. Melt the syrup and butter over a gentle heat. Dissolve the bicarbonate of soda in the boiling water, stir in the syrup mixture, and pour over the dry ingredients, stirring until well mixed.
Put heaped teaspoons of the mixture about 5 cm apart to allow for spreading, on greased oven trays. Bake in a moderately slow oven for about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and leave on the trays a few minutes then lift off with a spatula.

Monday Movies

2011-04-18T10:19:00.000+10:00

MY SISTERS KEEPER

Eleven-year-old Anna (Abigail Breslin) seeks out successful lawyer Campbell Alexander (Alec Baldwin) to get medical emancipation from her mother Sara (Cameron Diaz) who wants her to donate her kidney to her sister. Anna explains to the lawyer that she was concieved by in vitro fertilisation to provide donor organs for her sister Kate (Sofia Vassilieva) when she was diagnosed with leukemia. Anna tells the lawyer about the procedures she has been forced to undergo since she was 5 years old to help her sister. Alexander agrees to take on the case pro bono and Sara takes Anna to court to force her to donate to her sister.

This is an amazing movie and very powerful, I would really reccomend this for everyone to see. However keep a box of tissues near you cause it is a real tear jerker.

Food on Fridays.

2011-04-15T10:43:00.000+10:00

BEEF WITH CAPSICUMS (PEPPERS)

Serves 4

100 g butter
170 g red capsicums, seeded and chopped
90 g flaked almonds
3 onions peeled and chopped
10 cloves garlic peeled and thinly sliced
grated rind 1/2 lemon
salt and pepper
500 ml buttermilk
4 slices of rumpsteak
3 tbsp oil

Melt the butter in a saucepan and saute the chopped capsicums, almonds two thirds of the onion and all the garlic and lemon rind. Season with salt and pepper and add the buttermilk. Cook over a low heat until a thick sauce is obtained.
Cut the rump steak into thin strips. Heat the oil in a frying pan and saute the beef and remaining onion, stirring constantly for 3 minutes. Add to the sauce and heat through without cooking. Serve with a lettuce or tomato salad and creamed potatoes.

Happy Birthday

2011-04-13T09:14:00.000+10:00

So yesterday was my birthday, I had a great day. I had a picnic in a little nearby park to celebrate. Just my siblings and their families came but it was good to see them, especially Ben and Radz, as I don't see them that often. My Brother who is in Chile didn't come, but he did ring me in the morning, so that was good to hear from him too.

There were some funny things that happened, like Jon was cooking some rissoles on the barbie, and he broke the slide thing, and he blamed Tim (who is in Chile), when Amy, Jon's wife came he told her that Tim had done it, and she took about half an hour to realise that he couldn't possibly have done it.

Monday Movies

2011-04-11T09:52:00.000+10:00

CORALINE.

An animated movie in which, Coraline (Dakota Fanning) and her parents (Teri Hatcher and John Hodgman) move to an old house. Coraline feels neglected by her parents and finds a hidden door which she goes through. The door leads to another world where she finds parents who care for her and all her dreams come true, however everyone in the new world has button eyes. The Other Mother offers Coraline the chance to stay in the other world for ever, but she refuses and discovers that the other world is a trap to lure her away.

I actually found this movie a little scary. That doesn't mean that you will but I would not recommend that you watch it, especially if you are like me.

Food on Friday

2011-04-08T09:18:00.000+10:00

TRADITIONAL SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Serves 4

2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 heaped tablespoon finely chopped fresch rosemary
3 or 4 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped (optional)
6 mushrooms finely chopped
5 skinned chicken giblets finely chopped (optional)
1/2 skinned cacciatore salami , finely choppped (optional)
500 gm rump, round or topside steak finely chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
400 g can diced tomatoes
pinch mixed spice
salt and pepper to taste

Heat most of the oil or butter (reserve 2 teaspoons) in a frying pan - preferably not a nonstick pan because you won't get a good browning on the bottom of the pan. Add the onion, garlic, rosemary and basil. Cook on low until the onion is soft and clear abd the bottom of the pan is slightly brown, but take care not to burn.

Meanwhile, soften the mushrooms in the the reserved oil in a seperate frying pan, then set aside.

Add the chicken giblets and salami (if using) and cook until brown. Add the steak, cook until brown. Stir in the tomato paste, tomatoes, spices and mushrooms.

Add just enough boiling water to cover the mixture (about 2 cups/500ml), then partially cover the frying pan. Cook on low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until nearly all the water is evaporated.

Serve over spaghetti cooked al dente, with a good sprinkling of freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Heaven

2011-04-05T08:59:00.000+10:00

So I read this post and it made me think of the following song by Tobymac. I know the sentiments are completely different but it got me thinking. We do not think about heaven as much as we should and it will be good to find people they we have lost contact with in heaven, but we also need to think about what kind of example we are setting to our friends who don't know God and the state of their spiritual life.

"In The Air"

I had a dream last night about the other side
And I must confess that it was quite the ride
I had a dream last night and the fact that you weren't there
Gave me quite the scare
People were afloat all around me
Yet their weightless state never seemed to astound me
Everything was grand till I noticed one thing
That you, my friend, weren't on the scene

There in the air

I've been workin' all morning trying to spin my dream
Cause I just can't believe you weren't in my dream
Remember you and I said we would paint the sky
And the leaves on the trees and the stars at night
We made beats and we even wrote rhymes
And played golf, I think, a million times
Now we never got around to spiritual matters
But we sure made time for our mindless chatter

[CHORUS]

I wanna see you there
In the the air
One day we'll be singin' (Hallelujah)
I wanna see you there
In the the air
One day we'll be singin' (Hallelujah)

Hello, wassup (wassup), how ya doin' (just fine)
I was sorta wonderin', could we make the time
(Just kick it) why not (at our usual spot)
Latte's in May, mine cold, yours hot
(So where we goin') much deeper than our usual chat
(Like who's beats is weak and who's beats is phat)
Nah, my man, this some next level junk
(Like when we discussed if Tiger Woods could dunk)
Just meet me there, seven o'clock, rain or shine
With a fat cup of bean and a wide open mind

Monday Movies.

2011-04-04T09:52:00.001+10:00

THE YOUNG VICTORIA.

Victoria's (Emily Blunt) mother and her consort, Conroy have tried to dominate her life since childhood, however as a teenager she refuses to let them act as her regent in the last days of her uncle William IV's rule. Her German cousin Albert (Ruper Friend) is encouraged to court her for political reasons, but after her succession to the throne, at age 18, he finds himself falling for her, but does not approve of her reliance on premier Melbourne (Paul Bettany). Victoria is impressed by Albert's philanthropy as she wants to help her subjects. But her loyalty to Melbourne who is a self-seeker, almost causes a crisis of the constitution. Albert is the one who the helps Victoria get back her self-conficence. Victoria proposes to Albert and they marry. He proves that he is not only a devoted husband, who even takes a bullet for his wife, but also an agent of reform.

I really enjoyed this movie, and I would reccomend it to everyone, especially people interested in the History of the UK and the Royal Family.

Food on Fridays

2011-04-01T09:03:00.000+11:00

CHICKEN PEPPERONATA

Serves 4

8 skinless chicken thighs
2 tbsp wholemeal flour
2 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, sliced thinly
1 garlic clove crushed
1 each large red yellow and green capsicums, sliced thinly
400 g can chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano
salt and pepper
fresh oregano leaves to garnish

1. Remove the skin from the chicken thighs and toss in the flour.
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2. Heat the oil in a frying pan over a high heat. Add chicken and fry until browned. Remove from the pan. Add the onion and fry until soft. Add the garlic, capsicums, tomatoes and oregano. Bring to the boil stirring.

3. Arrange the chicken over the vegetables. Season well with salt and pepper, then cover the pan tightly and simmer for 20 - 25 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and the juices run clear when a skewer is inserted into the thickest part of the meat.

4. Season to taste then transfer the chicken to a large serving dish, garnish with oregano leaves and serve.

Monday Movies.

2011-03-28T10:35:00.000+11:00

CHARLIE AND BOOTS

A typical road trip movie, although not that typical as it is not American, but Australian!
Charlie (Paul Hogan) is sitting around the house depressed, and his son 'Boots' (Shane Jacobson) decides to get him out of his misery by taking him on a road trip from Victoria to Cape York, to go fishing. They have many adventures along the way, many of them hilarious.

It was a really enjoyable film and I do reccomend that you see it especially if you are Aussie. It was especially good to see all the Eastern Australian small towns with their small claims to fame. I really think we need more Australian films though.

Food on Fridays.

2011-03-25T09:10:00.001+11:00

BUTTERSCOTCH BROWNIES

Makes 16 squares

1/4 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup walnuts and pecans

Preheat oven to 180C. Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat, cool a little, and beat in the egg and vanilla.
Sift flour, then measure half a cup add baking powder and salt to flour and sift again. Stir butter mixture into flour mixture and mix well.
Chop nuts finely and add to mixture.
Pour batter into 20cm square cake tin. Bake 25 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the centre of the pan comes out clean.
Leave to cool and cut into 16 squares.

Monday Movies.

2011-03-21T09:53:00.000+11:00

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

A young Jewish refugee, Shosanna Dreyfus (Melanie Laurent), in Nazi occupied France, witnesses the slaughter of her family by the German officer Hans Landa (Cristoph Waltz). She manages to escape but plots her revenge. A few years later the war hero Frederick Zoller (Daniel Bruehl)takes an interest in her and insists on screening an illustrious movie at the theatre she now runs. Knowledge of the German officers being at the event reaches the "Basterds", who are a group of Jewish-American guerilla soldiers led by Lt Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt). The paths of the relentless executioners and the conspiring young girl cross to shake the history that everyone knows on that fateful evening.

It was quite an enjoyable movie even though there was quite a bit of blood and gore (although I don't actually mind a bit of blood and gore. I loved the way that such a horrible subject, the Nazis was handled with humour. I would reccomend that you see this movie.

Food on Fridays.

2011-03-18T10:50:00.000+11:00

PORK STROGANOFF

Serves 4

750 g Pork shoulder
2 tablespoons butter
3 onions sliced
Salt and pepper
1 cup beef stock
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons soy sauce

Cut pork into strips. Melt butter and quickly brown pork all over. Add onions, salt and pepper and cook until browned. Stir in beef stock and tomato paste. Cover with a tight fitting lid and cook gently until tender, about 25 minutes.
Stir in sour cream and soy sauce and reheat gently. Serve with rice and crusty bread.

Monday Movies

2011-03-14T10:03:00.000+11:00

TOMORROW WHEN THE WAR BEGAN

A group of seven teenage friends from a small Australian country town go on a camping trip into the bush to get away from civilisation. While they are away they see military aircraft flying overhead but think nothing of it. When they get back to their homes they discover that Australia has been invaded by another country. The teenagers then decide, despite their lack of training, to band together to fight the enemy and defend their country.

This was a good movie and it was great to see some great Australian talent. However I am a reader and I have read this book and the rest in the series, and I believe that some of the changes didn't really add anything to the movie. But I would recomend that you see it.

Food on Friday.

2011-03-11T09:50:00.000+11:00

PAD THAI

Serves 2-3
250 g dried rice noodles
1/4 cup fish sauce
1/4 cup sweet chilli sauce
2 teaspoons peanut butter
3 tablespoons safflower oil
1 tablespoon tamar10ind sauce (optional)

3 garlic cloves crushed
1-2 red chillies seeded and finely chopped
1 chicken breast fillet finely sliced
10-12 green prawns peeled tails left in tact
2 eggs lightly beaten
2 spring onions finely sliced
100 g bean sprouts
1/2 cup coriander chopped
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
lime wedges to serve
extra sweet chilli sauce to serve

Place the noodles into a large heatproof bowl, cover with boiling water and soak for 10 minutes. Combine fish sauce, sweet chilli sauce and peanut butter; set aside.

Heat the oil in a large wok, and add the tamarind sauce if using. Stir fry the garlic, chillies, chicken and prawns over high heat for about 3 minutes until cooked through. Add the eggs and stir fry until just set and kind of scrambled.

Add the noodles and sauce mixture to the wok, and stir fry for 1 minute until well combined. Toss through most of the spring onions, bean sprouts, coriander and peanuts reserving some for garnish.

Serve topped with the reserved ingredients, with lime wedges and extra sweet chilli sauce on the side.

Monday Movies.

2011-03-07T13:55:00.000+11:00

INCEPTION

Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is skilled at extraction, or the art of stealing secrets from the subconscious through dreams. He is so well known as a master of extraction that he is coveted in the world of corporate espionage, and for this reason he is a fugitive. Cobb is given the opportunity of redemption if he can pull off the impossible - inception, or the planting of idea into someone's subconcious. He pulls together a team specialists to take the task. However at every move they are thwarted by an enemy that seems to predict their every move.

I found this a really interesting movie, a lot of mind blowing concepts. I thoroughly enjoyed it though. I especially enjoyed the substory about Dom and his wife. It was a little hard to follow what was going on all the time but that added to the interest. I would reccomend that you see it.

ABC TV Recording.

2011-03-04T09:53:00.000+11:00

Yesterday I went to the ABC for the recording of Jennifer Byrne Presents...Fantasy and First Tuesday Book Club. It was a really interesting experience. It was cool to see how television programs are recorded.
There was a bit of a techinical difficulty before the first program so it started late. But it was fun to here all the conversations between the panellists in the programs while they were waiting. It was a really enjoyable day.

Food on Friday.

2011-03-04T09:19:00.000+11:00

MUSTARD BAKED CHICKEN

Serves 4

4 large of 8 small chicken pieces
4 tbsp butter, melted
4 tbsp mild mustard
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp paprika
3 tbsp poppy seeds
400 g dried pasta shells
1 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper

1. Arrange all the chicken pieces in a single layer in a large ovenproof dish.

2. Mix the butter, mustard, lemon juice, sugar and paprika together in a large bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper. Brush the mixture over the upper surfaces of the chicken pieces and bake in a pre-heated oven at 200C for about 15 minutes.

3.Remove the dish from the oven and carefully turn the chicken pieces over with tongs. Coat the upper surfaces of the chicken with the remaining mustard mixture, then sprinkle the chicken pieces with poppy seeds. Return to the oven for a further 15 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, bring a large pan of lightly salted water to the boil over a medium heat. Add the pasta shells and oil and cook for about 8-10 minutes, or until tender, but still firm to the bite.

5. Drain the pasta thoroughly and transfer to 4 warmed serving plates. Top the pasta with 1or 2 of the chicken pieces, pour over the sauce and serve immediately.

A bit of Australian Sarcasm!

2011-03-01T09:34:00.000+11:00

My mum found these when she was looking for information on sarcasm for her students and I just had to share:

These questions about Australia were posted on an Australian

Tourism Website and obviously the answers came from fellow Aussies.

1. Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it

rain on TV, so how do the plants grow? (UK)

A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around

watching them die.

2. Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)

A: Depends how much you've been drinking.

3. Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the

railroad tracks? (Sweden)

A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water...

4. Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Australia? (Sweden)

A: So its true what they say about Swedes.

5. Q: It is imperative that I find the names and addresses of

places to contact for a stuffed porpoise. (Italy)

A: Let's not touch this one.

6. Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send

me a list of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay? (UK)

A: And your last slave died of........?

7. Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in

Australia?(USA)

A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent

south of Europe.Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the

pacific which does not... oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every

Tuesday

night

in Kings Cross. Come naked.

8. Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA)

A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here

and we'll send the rest of the directions.

9. Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK)

A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

10. Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)

A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y,

which is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday

>night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

11. Q: Do you have perfume in Australia? (France)

A: No, WE don't stink.

12. Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of

youth.Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia? (USA)

A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.

13. Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? (UK)

A: You are a British politician, right?

14. Q: Can you tell me the regions in Tasmania where the female >

population is smaller than the male population? (Italy).

A: Yes, gay nightclubs.

15. Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia? (France)

A: Only at Christmas.

17. Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all

year round? (Germany)

A: No, we are a peaceful civilisation of vegan hunter/gatherers.

Milk is illegal.

18. Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can

dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA)

A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All

Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make

good pets.

19. Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I

forget its name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. (USA)

A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop

out of gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You

can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you

go out walking.

21. Q: I was in Australia in 1966 on R+R, and I want to contact the

girl I dated while I was staying in Kings Cross. Can you help? (USA)

A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour.

22. Q: Will I be able to speek English most places I go? (USA)>

A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first.

Monday Movies

2011-02-28T09:46:00.000+11:00

LIFE AS WE KNOW IT.

Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) and Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel) are set up on a blind date by married friends Peter ( Hayes Macarthur) and Alison (Christina Hendricks) Novak. After Peter and Alison are killed in a car accident, Holly and Messer find out that they have been named legal guardians for Sophie the one year old daughter of Peter and Alison. When Holly and Messer move into the Novaks house to honour their friends wishes, they discover how much they do not get along and the commitment it takes to bring up a child.

The ending is once again predictable and it is an enjoyable movie however I would probably not see it again, I would though say that it is not a bad movie to watch.

Food on Friday.

2011-02-25T09:45:00.000+11:00

CALIFORNIAN SALAD

Serves 6

1 small lettuce
3 small tomatoes
1 green capsicum
6 spring onions
6 radishes
1/2 avocado
1/2 cucumber

Vinaigrette dressing
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 small clove garlic
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
salt and pepper

Wash lettuce in cold water to remove dirt. Use a salad spinner or wrap in a tea towel and whirl over your head to dry.
Tear the leaves into smaller pieces and place in a salad bowl.
Cut capsicum in half lengthwise and discard steam and seeds.
Thinly slice cucumber and radishes.
Chop onions and slice peeled avocado, add vegetables to the slad bowl.
Crush garlic into a small screwtop jar, and add a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Add mustard, lemon juice and oil. Put the lid on and shake.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss it all together gently with salad servers.

Monday Movies

2011-02-21T11:11:00.000+11:00

So this is another new regular feature that I am adding to my blog. It will be a review of a movie that I have seen sometime in my life. It will most likely be a recent one but sometimes it may be one that I have seen a while ago.

MORNING GLORY

Becky Fuller (Rachel McAdams) is fired from her job as a producer of a local Morning Television show, and lands a job producing a failing national show. To turn around the ratings Becky brings in news reporter man, Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford) to co-host with Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton). Becky struggles to keep the hosts in order so that the show doesn't completely fail, while falling for Adam Bennett (Patrick Wilson), the news producer.
I would highly reccomend this movie, and not just because of Patrick Wilson, although the ending is a little predictable. I found it highly enjoyable and would watch it again.

Food on Friday.

2011-02-18T10:43:00.000+11:00

EDINBURGH SHORTBREAD

250 g Butter
1/2 cup caster sugar
2 1/4 cups plain flour
1/2 cup rice flour

Cream butter and sugar. Gradually add flour and work with hands into a smooth creamy ball.
Press out on baking paper lined oven trays to form 2 x 20 rounds, 1 cm thick. Pinch a frill around the edge and mark lightly into 8 wedges. Pierce all over with a fork.
Bake in a moderately slow oven 20 minutes until a pale straw colour. Cool slightly then cut through the straw lines.

Food on Friday

2011-02-11T14:18:00.002+11:00

HONEY-ICED COFFEE CAKE

Serves 8 - 10
3 teaspoons instant coffee powder
1 tablespoon hot water
125 g chopped butter ar room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
3/4 cup of brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup self raising flour
1/4 cup of custard powder
1/3 cup of milk

Honey Icing
30 g butter
1 teaspoon instant coffee
3 teaspoons hot water
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 cup icing sugar, sifted

Preheat the oven to 180C. Grease a 20 cm ring tin with melted butter, and line the base with non stick baking paper. Dissolve the coffee in the hot water and combine in a large bowl with the butter, vanilla essence, sugar and eggs. Sift flour and custard powder into the bowl and add the milk.

Using electric beaters, beat on low speed until the ingredients are combined, then increase speed to medium. Beat for about 3 minutes until very smooth and lighter in colour. Spoon into the prepared tin.

Bake for about 30 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the cake. Stand for 5 minutes before turning onto a rack to cool.

When cold transfer to a serving plate and spread with the icing.

To make the honey icing melt the butter, then stir in combined water and coffee, the honey, vanilla essence and half the icing sugar. Gradually stir in the remaining iceing sugar to mix a spreadable consistency

Food on Friday

2011-02-04T14:54:00.000+11:00

I have decided to add some regular features to my blog to make it more interesting and more regular. So the first one I have decided to implement is Food on Friday, basically on Fridays I will add a recipe.

PASTICCIO (Greek lasagne)

Serves 6

225 g dried fusilli or other short pasta shapes
4 tbsp double cream
salt and pepper
fresh rosemary sprigs to garnish

Sauce

2 tbsp olive oil plus extra for brushing
1 onion sliced thinly
1 red capsicum deseeded and chopped
2 garlic cloves chopped
625 g lean minced beef
400 g can chopped tomatoes
125 ml dry white wine
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
50 g can anchovy fillets, drained and chopped

Topping

300 ml natural yoghurt
3 eggs
pinch freshly grated nutmeg
55 g freshly grated Parmesan Cheese.

1. To make the sauce, heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and capsicum and fry for 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the beef and cook stirring until browned.

2. Add the tomatoes and wine,stir well and bring to the boil over a medium heat Simmer for 20 minutes or until the sauce is fairly thick. Stir in the parsley and anchovies. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

3. Bring a large pan of lightly salted water to the boil over a medium heat. Add the pasta and cook for about 8-10 minutes, or until tender but still firm to the bite. Drain then transfer to a bowl. Stir in the cream and reserve.

4. To make the topping beat the yoghurt with the eggs and nutmeg until well mixed and season to taste.

5. Brush a large shallow ovenproof dish with oil. Spoon in half the pasta mixture and cover with half the meat sauce. Repeat these layers, then spread the topping over the final layer. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese on top.

6. Bake in a preheated oven at 190C for about 25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and bubbling. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs and serve.

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Tap Man.

2011-01-18T09:25:00.000+11:00

So on Saturday we had a sausage sizzle for the community at the front of our church. There is a building across the road that has a tap on the side. Now there was a homeless guy hanging out across the road where the tap was. This guy decided that he needed to turn the tap on full blast. My mother saw the tap was on and went and turned it off. Then the homeless turned it back on again. So another guy from our church went and turned it off. This kept happening the homeless man would turn it on then we would turn it off. Eventually we used a wrench to turn it off and he couldn't turn it on again.
The next day I had to go up the street and on my way back I came across the tap man. He tried to talk to me. But he was not speaking English so I could not understand what he was saying.

Book Update.

2010-12-23T11:52:00.000+11:00

So anyway I have been reading a few books lately I thought I might tell you about them.

The Miracles of Prato.
It was an interesting book but probably not one I would have chosen myself. You can find out what I thought about it here.

The Book Thief.
This is a book about a young girl named Liesel Meminger living in Germany in the late 30s and early 40s. She starts to take books and learns to read, from these books. It also portrays her relationships with those who live around her and how her foster family hides a Jewish fist-fighter from the Nazis. As well as her growing up.
I found this book really interesting as it gives a different perspective on that era not least because the narrator of the book is Death.

The Secret Life of Bees.
Lily Owens runs away from home with her black housekeeper in the summer of '64 when race riots where breaking out cause of the new Civil Rights Act. She stays with the Boatwright sisters who teach her about bee keeping and she learns about her mother whom Lily believed she had killed when she was 4.
It was an interesting book because of the racial aspects but I thought there was too much wierd religion. The sisters were Catholic but with there own rituals added in and it seemed to me that it was completely devoid of God and the whole focus was on Mary, like she had God's power. I googled the author and found out she had journeyed into feminine spirituality and I found it kind of wierd.

So the next book I will read is The Time Traveler's Wife.

This is quite amusing.

2010-12-19T15:25:00.000+11:00

I found this on you tube and thought I would share it with my blog readers.

30 days of blogging - Day 30 - Your favourite song.

2010-12-17T15:17:00.000+11:00

My favourite song is hard to decide so I'll tell you a list of my faourite songs.
If you believe me - Relient K
Deathbed - Relient K
More than Useless - Relient K
I am understood - Relient K
Gone - Switchfoot
In the light - DC Talk
I can't think of any more at the moment.

30 days of blogging - Day 29 - In this past month, what have you learned

2010-12-16T20:55:00.000+11:00

In the past month I learnt thaqt I am still a private person there are some things that I don't like to share, and that I feel uncomfortable sharing. I also learnt that I still have trouble keeping up with things I have committed to sometimes, especially if they are not essential.

I also realised again that I love my family and that they are really important to me.

30 days of blogging - Day 28 - A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?

2010-12-15T10:01:00.000+11:00

So how have I changed well I've had my ears pierced. I think I've lost some weight. I have finished my TAFE course. My mother told me that I have matured a whole heap in the last 12 months. I guess I also feel a lot better about myself ( most of the time ).

30 Days of Blogging - Day 27 - Why are you doing this 30 day challenge

2010-12-14T09:48:00.001+11:00

I am doing this challenge because I have been highly irregular about doing posts on my blog and I thought that if I did this then it would get me into the habit of blogging more regularly. It has been interesting and I will try and more regularly post now.

30 days of blogging - Day 26 - What you think about your friends

2010-12-13T09:41:00.001+11:00

I love my friends or else why would I be friends with them?
I think they are loyal and funny and just great to be around. They are always coming up with great ideas and good just to be with cause they make me laugh.

30 days of Blogging - Day 25 - What I would find in your bag

2010-12-12T16:06:00.000+11:00

Depending on which bag you looked in you would find
my waller, my phone, receipts and move tickets, keys, pens, random bits of paper, a $2 coin, note pad, lip balm, other stuff I can't think of right now.

30 days of blogging - Day 24 - A letter to your parents

2010-12-11T13:51:00.000+11:00

Dear Mum and Dad,
I just wanted to say thank you for being my parents I love you guys so much. I also wanted to thank you for introducing me to God who is perfect and understand's everything that is happening.
I know that you love me and that you want what's best for me but sometimes I feel that you are expecting me to do things your way and that you are not letting me work out the way that is right for me to do things. Yes, you are older that me and therefore have more experience in this world that I do but we all need to learn our own way even if that does include making mistakes.
I'm sorry that I don't always show you that I love you but I want you to know that I really do, and I just have to work out how to do things myself.
God bless
Elizabeth

30 Days of blogging - Day 23 - Something you crave for a lot

2010-12-10T14:31:00.000+11:00

I often feel hungry so I get wierd food cravings.
I also often crave getting out and doing something different, like getting out of the rut that I am in.
I suppose I also crave a job.

30 Days of Blogging - Day 22 - What makes you different from everyone else

2010-12-09T14:28:00.001+11:00

Well everyone is unique so I'm different from everyone else in that way.
Also I have a harmless pattern on my rettinas but it is different from the other ones that people have but it is most similar to bear track pattern.
I had a benign cancer removed from my chin a while ago and it was very unusual, the doctor had never seen it before and had to look it up in his book.
I read an interesting range of books, fantasy, historical fantasy, (Christian) Chick Lit, biographies, Christian Self help and anything else that takes my fancy.

30 days of blogging - Day 21 - A picture of something that makes you happy

2010-12-08T14:28:00.000+11:00

This is my gorgeous niece and she is getting so big. It makes me happy to watch her grow and develop and see all the new things she is learning.

30 days of blogging - Day 20 - Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future

2010-12-07T16:36:00.000+11:00

I don't really know who I would like to be with/marry in the future. I would like to get married someday though. I'm just trusting God that he will bring along the right person at the right time.

30 Days of Blogging - Day 19 - Nicknames you have; why do you have them

2010-12-06T14:16:00.000+11:00

Blizzard - cause when my sister was little she used to call Blizabeth and so the rest of the family called me Blizzard.

Feth/Feth-a-leth - my brother sometimes doesn't like to say the letter B.

Biff - mhy other brother likes to play around with being Kiwi and stuff

Fliz/Flizabeth - my sister had to do a biography on someone she knew for school and she chose to do me when she was writing it in her book she accidentally put an F at the beginning instead of and E and since then she sometimes calls me that ... and she is the only one who is allowed to.

30 Days of Blogging - Day 18 - Plans/dreams/goals you have

2010-12-05T17:00:00.000+11:00

Some of the Plans Dreams and Goals that I have:
Get a job - full time/permanent position.
I would also love to to get a Librarian degree at uni.
One day I would also love to travel around Australia and the world especially Europe.
I can't think of anything else right now.

30 Days of Blogging - Day 17 - Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

2010-12-04T09:53:00.000+11:00

Keeley Hawes - cause then I could be married to Matthew McFadyen ... jokes!
I can't really think of anyone, my life is not perfect but anyone else I think of does not have a perfect life, so I just want to be thankful for what God has given me and where he has put me.

30 Days of Blogging - Day 16 - Another picture of yourself

2010-12-03T19:54:00.000+11:00

This is from 2007 but it is still me.

30 Days of Blogging - Day 15 - Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play

2010-12-02T16:05:00.000+11:00

Angels We have heard on high - Chris Tomlin (Unexpected Gifts)
All My Tears - Jars of Clay
Change My Ways - Antiskeptic
Everything You Ever Wanted - Hawk Nelson
College Kids - Relient K
Apathetic Way to Be - Relient K
Bring 'Em Out - Hawk Nelson
Adding to the Noise - Switchfool
Remnant - The Fold
Coming Attractions - Steven Curtis Chapman

30 days of blogging - Day 14 - A picture of you and your family.

2010-12-01T23:39:00.001+11:00

I know that this Pic has more than just my immediate family but it is one I could find with my whole immediate family.

30 Days of blogging - Day 14 - A letter to someone who has hurt you recentl.

2010-11-30T17:39:00.000+11:00

I can't think of anyone who has hurt me recently that I want to write a letter to.

30 Days of blogging - Day 12 - How you found out about blogger and why you made one.

2010-11-29T10:36:00.000+11:00

Well I googled a friend who I had lost contact with and wanted to get back in contact with her. I found her blog and the only way I could comment on her blog was by starting my own so I did.

30 Days of blogging - Day 11 - Another picture of you and your friends.

2010-11-28T15:52:00.000+11:00

Another old one but I like it.

30 days of Blogging - Day 10 - Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad.

2010-11-27T12:04:00.000+11:00

Happy - something up lifting probably Relient K but not the latest album.
Sad - Something that will let me wallow for a while but then makes me happy - latest Relient K album, or Deathbed, Unglued.
Bored - Just whatever I feel like at that moment, mostlikely what is in the cd player.
Hyped - something with good rhythm etc, relient K, Stellar Kart, Hawk Nelson.
Mad - Probably something like TFK or Antiskeptic, that will let me thrash it out.

30 Days of Blogging - Day 09 - Something you are proud of in the last few days.

2010-11-26T11:53:00.006+11:00

I am proud of finishing off my Christmas Shopping, I did most of taking advantage of sales that have been happening recently.

I'm proud of getting an interview for next Wednesday.

30 Days of blogging - Day 08 - Short term goals for this monthe and why?

2010-11-25T11:48:00.011+11:00

I hope to get a job, not sure that it will happen by the end of the month but in the near future I hope it will happen.

Can't think of any other short term goals that I have.

30 Days of Blogging - Day 07 - Picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you.

2010-11-24T11:37:00.007+11:00

Well this is a picture of a random church but it to me represents God and how I try to live my life for him and doing what he wants me to do.

30 Days of blogging - Day 06 - Favourite Superhero and why.

2010-11-23T15:11:00.000+11:00

Jesus! He saved me from my sins, and now I can live with God in Heaven for eternity. He died for me while I was still a sinner and I know that I still sin but he forgives me.

Really I'm not into superheroes but I love what Jesus has done for me.

30 Days of blogging - Day 05 - A picture of a place you've been to.

2010-11-22T09:18:00.000+11:00

Here are some pictures of from my 2009 trip to Eden the top one is of the Killer Whale Museum and the bottom one is of me in Ben Boyd's Tower.

30 Days of blogging - Day 04 - A habit that you wish you didn't have.

2010-11-21T20:14:00.000+11:00

One habit that I wish I didn't have was that I say sorry way too much, everyone is always telling me off for always saying sorry. I try to stop but it is quite difficult.

Something else is that I think that people are picking on me when they are not and then I react to this the wrong way. I really need to work on this and would appreciate some prayer.

30 Days of Blogging - Day 03 - A picture of you and your friends.

2010-11-20T09:47:00.001+11:00

That one is a joke!

This was the only one I could find of me and friends even though it is a bit old!

30 days of blooging Day 02 - The meaning behind your blog name.

2010-11-19T19:14:00.001+11:00

It's a kinda random name and a complicated story. Well I found the blog of I friend I hadn't seen/spoken to in ages and I wanted to get back in contact with her. I decided to leave a comment on her blog to get in touch, but I couldn't comment anonymously so I decided to make my own blog. I couldn't think what to call it at first but then I thought the blog would be about my life and random things I thought of. Kind of a bit like nonsensical Gibberish. I also thought of a song by my favourite band, Relient K, which is called Gibberish. The verses are random sounds and the chorus is saying that you shouldn't speak in Gibberish. That also explains the blurb under the heading, which is the first verse and chorus.

30 Days of Blogging - Day 01 - Recent Picture of yourself and 15 interesting facts

2010-11-18T10:20:00.000+11:00

1 I completed my Diploma in Library/Information Services in June.
2 I run the nursery Sunday School at my church.
3 I like to read fantasy books but especially Historical fantasy.
4 I mostly listen to Christian music/bands/artists.
5 I have a theory that everyone in the world is crazy, but in different ways, I mean how boring would the world be if everyone was 'normal' or the same. And I go around telling people that they are crazy.
6 I don't really like to eat fruit, I particularly don't like bananas, apples and oranges. The fruits that I do like are apricots, plums, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, rock melon and honeydew.
7 I like all the vegetables that no one else likes, like broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, celery, spinach, and cabbage.
8 I have 3 brothers and 1 sister as well as two sisters-in-law and a niece (who is absolutely gorgeous)
9 I don't like hot weather.
10 I spent a year in Tasmania in 2007 working at a bible college for missionaries looking after the children of students in the small childcare centre there.
11 While in Tassie, I met a lot of German speakers so when I got back to Sydney I learnt German at the local community college, but now I have forgottern nearly all of it.
12 I finished High School ten years ago.
13 The majority of non fiction books that I read are biographies because they are like narratives
14 I like to have a pile of books that I plan to read, and a book cannot go on the book shelf until I have read it.
15 I hate Maths and Science.

30 days of Blogging.

2010-11-18T09:46:00.000+11:00

So I came across this idea for getting more regular with writing on my blog more regularly. I find it hard to think of things to write about often so this hopefully, will get me into the habit of writing more so that those who read my blog will find it more interesting.
So basically these are the guidelines for the posts each day.

Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

Day 02- The meaning behind your Blog name
Day 03- A picture of you and your friends
Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have
Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to
Day 06- Favorite super hero and why
Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why
Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days
Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad
Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends
Day 12- How you found out about Blogger and why you made one
Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
Day 14- A picture of you and your family
Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play
Day 16- Another picture of yourself
Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have
Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them
Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future
Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else
Day 23- Something you crave for a lot
Day 24- A letter to your parents
Day 25- What I would find in your bag
Day 26- What you think about your friends
Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned
Day 30- Your favorite song.

Hospital.

2010-11-17T09:50:00.000+11:00

No it wasn't me in Hospital. I've just been lazy. But I was at the hospital a couple of weeks ago.
So my sister had something happen again that had previously happened and she went and saw the doctor. The doctor referred her on to someone else which ended up meaning that my sister had to have day surgery the next day.
My mother and I went in with her so that there would be someone to take her home when it was finished. My mother had prior commitments for the afternoon which is why I went too, in case sis was ready while mum had to be elsewhere.
My sister was told to be at the hospital at 10 am so we got there before 10 and she was called to go in to pre op just after 10. Mum told her to leave her bag when she went in.
Just before one my mother checked what was happening with my sister and she hadn't even gone in yet. You see she had been a late adition to the theatre lists so she was gonna be the last on of the day. So my mother decided she should go home and get ready for the afternoon.
I stayed at the hospital for the rest of the afternoon until around 5 and then my mum rang and told me that she found out my sister wouldn't be ready till 7. So I went home and my mum came back in to take her home.
It was a kinda boring day but at least I had my book with me, unlike my poor sister who's book was in her bag which mum had got her to leave with us.

Sherlock.

2010-10-25T17:22:00.000+11:00

Wow! we watched this new program/miniseries and thought that it was amazing.
So basically it is a modern day version of good old Sherlock Holmes. The basics are the same as the originally the detective (consulting detective) works with his new friend and room mate, Dr. John Watson, who has come back from Afghanistan. However in this show they use the modern conveniences to help solve the crimes, like mobile phones and modern science. Watson still writes up the stories of Holmes but instead of writing for the papers he writes in his blog.
I just love how they have taken these stories and made them modern but the characters are still them same. It is a much better way in my opinion of making them more palatable for modern audiences than the movie Sherlock Holmes which came out earlier this year.

Qualified!

2010-10-23T11:38:00.000+11:00

So you may have picked up that I had finished my Diploma in Library/Information Services. Well yes I did finish it in June. However there was an issue with one subject and I had to resubmit an assessment. This meant that when I recieved my transcript for the last semester I had one deferred result, and therefore the course was not finished.

After the break the teacher marked the resubmitted assessment and told me that I had passed, he told me that he would send it through to the records and get it fixed up. A few weeks later I checked and it had not been fixed. So I sent him an email asking him what had happened and he said he must have stuffed up and he would have to get the head teacher to fix it up. Nothing had happened after a couple of weeks, so I contacted the head teacher about it myself. She said she would get it fixed up and have them send a new transcript. Well it did get fixed up and I waited a couple of weeks and not new transcript came. So I decided to go in and get a copy of my transcript, which I did.

The result of all this is that I am eligible to recieve a Diploma in Library/Information Services with Distinction.

Ben and Radz Wedding.

2010-10-11T10:22:00.000+11:00

Well last weekend on Saturday (2 October) my brother Ben got married to the beautiful Radhika (Radz). It was a really great day and I enjoyed it. The brides dress was beautiful. And it was really good to catch up with family members that we don't see that often.
My sister got to be part of the band and she did a pretty good job. I held up the banner with my older brother, for the couple to run through (I believe that Ben was the only one who ran through it though). The banner said No draws just two winners.

I'm Back.

2010-07-27T14:23:00.000+10:00

So once again it has been a while since I have blogged but I'm back now.
So what's been happening you may ask.
Well I have finished my Library Course now. I really enjoyed it learnt lots of interesting things. I also did an industry placement as part of my course at the NSW Teachers Federation Library, Which was really interesting.
So now that I have finished I am now looking for work in a library. There's a bit around but not necessarily that much. But it's interesting seeing what is out there.

Been a while

2010-04-16T11:50:00.003+10:00

It has been a while since i wrote on my blog and you may be wondering what i have been up to. Well here goes:
1. I have nearly completed (finish in June) a Library Technician course at TAFE.
2. I have now got a most gorgeous excellent cute adorable niece.

3. I have had trips to Perth and Eden for cousins weddings and engagement parties.

4. I started running the nursery sunday school at church.

This has all been keeping me pretty busy.

Books

2008-12-18T09:09:00.002+11:00

I have been reading some pretty interesting books of late so I thought I would share some of them with you.

How Sweet the Sound.

This was a really good book by Meredith Resce. It is an Allegory of Jesus. It is set in a made up place which has a country with a king and an island that is under the control of the king but is many weeks journey from the country. The island is taken over by the enemy of the king and the king loses contact with the island. I recognised a lot of similarities with stuff from the Bible. It's a good book and well worth reading (although I don't necessarily agree with everything in it).

the organic God.

This book is by Margaret Feinberg. It is about having a proper relationship with God, which is free from additives and pollutants. Encouraging us to discover God in a refreshing way. It is a new perspective on how to have a relationship with God. Another book worth reading.

The Reluctant Journey of David Connors.

This is a book by Don Locke. It is about a man who is separated from his wife, and his life is falling apart. He is about to end his life when he finds a carpet bag, which magically gives gifts for people that need them. He meets a lady named Maggie and the bag takes the two of them on a journey, where they discover something from their past which they need to let go of to move on with their lives. This is a really powerful book which i would recommend to anyone to read.

Decisions

2008-11-11T22:06:00.001+11:00

Despite the lack of reponse to my last post, I have decided to keep on going with my blog (although I might not do it all that regularly, I will continue to do it). Well I have been thinking about what i should write about and I do have ideas but i seem to forget them. I will see if I can remember them to post in the future.

Experiment.

2008-10-06T09:23:00.001+11:00

I have been wondering about who actually reads my blog. So I decided to do a little experiment. If you read my blog leave a comment and state your name and how regularly you read it.

Don't You Just Love 'Bruce-ism's'?

2008-08-16T17:09:00.003+10:00

So it's that time again... Olympics. One of the best things about the olympics is hearing Bruce McAvaney and his lovely comments. One of the best was in the women's 4 by 200 freestyle relay with about 10m to go he says 'their home, their home and hosed'. It was pretty certain that we were going to win but anything could have happened. I'm sure he's had some other golden moments but i can't think right now. The best thing about Bruce this time around though is that I have not heard him say 'special' once this time around I have heard some of the others saying it but not Bruce.

Some of the other good things about the olympics have been Stephanie Rice. Wow! She has been amazing! And it has been cool watching Eamon Sullivan especially his 'battle' with Alain Bernard.

Be My Escape

2008-07-18T21:56:00.003+10:00

"Be My Escape"

I’ve given up on giving up slowly, I’m blending in so
You won’t even know me apart from this whole world that shares my fate
This one last bullet you mention is my one last shot at redemption
because I know to live you must give your life away
And I’ve been housing all this doubt and insecurity and
I’ve been locked inside that house all the while You hold the key
And I’ve been dying to get out and that might be the death of me
And even though, there’s no way in knowing where to go, promise I’m going because
I gotta get outta here
I’m stuck inside this rut that I fell into by mistake
I gotta get outta here
And I’m begging You, I’m begging You, I’m begging You to be my escape.

I’m giving up on doing this alone now
Cause I’ve failed and I’m ready to be shown how
He’s told me the way and I’m trying to get there
And this life sentence that I’m serving
I admit that I’m every bit deserving
But the beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair

Cause I’ve been housing all this doubt and insecurity and
I’ve been locked inside that house all the while You hold the key
And I’ve been dying to get out and that might be the death of me
And even though, there’s no way in knowing where to go, promise I’m going because
I gotta get outta here
Cause I’m afraid that this complacency is something I can’t shake
I gotta get outta here
And I’m begging You, I’m begging You, I’m begging You to be my escape.

I am a hostage to my own humanity
Self detained and forced to live in this mess I’ve made
And all I’m asking is for You to do what You can with me
But I can’t ask You to give what You already gave

Cause I’ve been housing all this doubt and insecurity and
I’ve been locked inside that house all the while you hold the key
And I’ve been dying to get out and that might be the death of me
And even though, there’s no way in knowing where to go, promise I’m going because
I’ve gotta get outta here
I’m stuck inside this rut that I fell into by mistake
I’ve gotta get outta here
And I’m begging You, I’m begging You, I’m begging
You to be my escape.

I fought You for so long
I should have let You in
Oh how we regret those things we do
And all I was trying to do was save my own skin
But so were You

So were You

I think that this clip of Be My Escape by Relient K misses the point of the song entirely. To me the song is about our humanness and wanting to escape it, we are all human and therefore we all make mistakes, so therefore we need to 'beg him to be [our] escape' from ourselves and the wrong things we do so that we can be like him. The clip is about the girlfriends house falling down around him or something, like he is trying to escape from a bad relationship. I want to know your thoughts on this.

If You Don't Like Chicken There's Something Wrong With You...

2008-07-10T11:33:00.003+10:00

Ingham Chicken has recently launched a series of ads which (most of) my family thinks is very funny. Why? My older brother is one of "the 0.001% of Australians" who don't like chicken, so obviously there is something wrong with him.

The Good Weekend

2008-06-16T15:38:00.002+10:00

I had a really good weekend.

On Saturday I went and visited some old friends. They used to lead a youth group that I used to go to. They were missionaries in Ethiopia for a couple of years at a school. And are planning to return in a couple of years. They now have 4 children, and it was great to meet them. Those kids are very funny. It was a really good time.

Then that night I went and baby sat the next door neighbours kids, who are adoreable (most of the time). We watched Robots, which is a pretty good movie. Then they went to bed, and the two year old really didn't want to but i could see that he was tired and i didn't give in, and he basically went straight to sleep.

Then last night my brother and his wife came over for dinner. It was a welcome back/celebration dinner for my brother. He had just returned from 10 days in England where he was having his oral examination for his Phd thesis. He has finished his Phd and will soon be Dr Dixon. It was great to have everyone around.

I'm Back

2008-06-11T10:00:00.005+10:00

Well it been a while since I have posted anything here. What have i been doing?

My Birthday.
Well back in April I had my 25th birthday, which was pretty cool. We went out for dinner and my grandmother came too, because it was the completion of 25, 50, 75. Meaning that my mother turned 50 earlier this year and her mother also turned 75 so we all thought that was a pretty cool thing to celebrate.

WALK4BIBLES

Every year The Bible League puts on a series of walk a thons in different cities in Australia to raise money for Bibles for people in countries where it is hard to get Bibles. This year in Sydney it was on the 10th of May. A group of us from church went and did it, there was a choice between 7km and 14km (guess which one i did). It was fun but tiring,

Goodbye Aunty Janet.
My Aunt went to Africa as a missionary in the middle of May. She was there before with her husband but he got sick so they had to return to Australia. My uncle died and then my aunt had to get further qualifications so she could return.
We had a big farewell do with my mother's family up at her aunts place a couple of hours from Sydney. It was a really good day and good to catch up with everyone.
The day before she left there was a special farewell service for my aunt at her church which we went to. Then we had a lunch at my grandmothers place.
The next day a whole lot of us went to the airport to say good bye to her. It was very sad but good. Everyone that was in her family cried except my brother and my father.

What else has been happening?
Well I have been doing a bit of casual work, around the place, but that seems to have dried up lately. But I do have a job interview tommorrow for a full time position. I will post about what has happened with that at a later date hopefully it won't be so long between posts though.

Easter

2008-03-26T10:27:00.002+11:00

Well my Victorian relatives (and the one that is studying in Adelaide) came up for Easter.
My Adelaidian cousin came up by plane and on Thursday, and stayed at our place Thursday night cause we live close to the airport. Her plane was meant to be arriving at 8:40 on Thursday, so she was up at 4:30 but there was a hydraulic leak or something on the engine so the plane was cancelled. She didn't end up arriving till 12 in sydney.
My brother met her at the airport and they were catching the bus back but my brother forgot to check which direction the bus was going in so they went the wrong way and didn't arrive at home till 2.

All my mother's side of the family got together on Friday evening at my mother's sister's place. It was really good for everyone to be together especially when everyone is spread so far and wide.

On Sunday afternoon we went and visited my father's mother. that was a nice time too.

We also had some good church services, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday with the Easter Feaster. I think that everyone who came enjoyed the time. Lot's of yummy food and celebrative time for the service.

Changi

2008-02-13T11:14:00.001+11:00

A fantastic miniseries which was first aired in 2000 on ABC and which i recently bought on dvd, follows a group of 6 Australian prisoners of war in the Changi Japanese prisoner of war camp in Singapore. These friends form a society called the Secret 9 and agree to meet up every 9 years after the war is over.
There is an episode dedicated to each of the friends, which has them as old men look back at something that happened during their time at the camp. Their memories are jogged by the approaching reunion, which is probably the last, and by something that is happening to them in their life.
It shows the importance of mateship in getting you through tough times, and the horrificness of war, and how it brings out the best and worst of people.
I reccomend that everyone watches this

What have i been doing lately...

2008-02-12T15:34:00.000+11:00

I have been slack with this of late, but i will rectify that. I have been back in Sydney for a little over two months, you may be wondering what i have been up to...

Christmas
Well we had our annual Dinkum/Aussie carols, wish was really good, we had 43 people attend, and everybody enjoyed it.
We had 31 people come to our Christmas day service, which was good, and everyone who came enjoyed our service.
The Christmas Lunch was a succes we had 49 people come and we had enough to eat and there was even a little left over.

I spent christmas evening at my aunt's house, which was a fun evening, and included the watching of Merry Christmas Mr bean, and a good catch up time. We went together to the family gathering at my grandmothers house, prior to which we chopped up the fruit salad for lunch. It was a lovely time at granny's house including playing Uno Attack and Disney Trivial Pursuit.

Mum's Birthday and Australia Day.
Just before Oz day my mother had her 50th birthday, it was a good day doing exciting things, like palying the game that my brother gave her called backwords, where you either have to work out what a word said backwards is or turn a forwards word backwards. Hilarious fun.
The best present that my mother got though was that my brother and sister in law returned from England that day, which was exciting for all of us.
As the birthday was so close to australia day we had the big party on that day, it was also a welcome home for jon and amy. It was a lot of work but it was an enjoyable time, especailly seeing all the rellies.

What about the day to day?
Well I am looking for work again it's not always easy but God is here and i know that he has a plan for me, i just have to trust him. It's good to be back with my family, but i do miss Tassie sometimes especially the people.

Update

2007-11-17T22:21:00.000+11:00

Well many things have happened since i last wrote on my blog. A family here at college had a new baby, he is absolutely gorgeous.

I have also been to the Tasmanian Craft Fair at Deloraine, which was fantastic, it is the largest in the southern hemisphere, there were 13 diffent sites all over Deloraine, with shuttle buses between the sites. They had so many things ranging from woodcraft, to jewellery, to hand made soaps, candles, furniture, paper craft, hand made paper.

We also had a two part surprise 40th birthday for the father of the new baby. First of all we went on a cruise on the river, and discovered about the history of Launceston, it was fun to be there, and discover it all, as well as to be with everyone (and hold the baby). Then we had a bbq at the gorge. The birthday boy was surprised when he turned up to both parts, he was especially amazed that with so many people knowing about it he still didn't find out.

It has been a lovely time here in launceston, but i will be leaving in 16 days which i am extremely excited about. woo hoo!!!!!

JESUS. All About Life.

2007-09-13T22:05:00.000+10:00

This campaign started in Tasmania yesterday. It is a series of adds on the television, on the radio and on billboards etc. There are three adds on the television, one aimed at youth, one aimed at parents and one aimed at baby boomers. Basically they are to get people thinking about Jesus and ringing the number or visiting the website for more info and to get a booklet, which is one of the gospels, as well as helping churches to connect with people who do not attend regularly.

This is the first time that it has been done on a state wide scale, in the past it has been done in Canberra and Adelaide, it was originally going to be just Hobart or something, but due to the lack of people in tassie they decided to do it for the whole state. I believe that sometime next year it will be run in WA but i am not sure if that is the whole state or just Perth.

Pray for this campaign, that it will get people interested and attending local churches, that churches will get behind the campaign, pray for the call centre, that the staff working there will have good relationships, and be friendly etc, especially pray for that because the call centre is at the college.

If you want to find out more about it www.jesusallaboutlife.com.au

There's a bear in there

2007-09-01T19:48:00.001+10:00

We recently took the kids to see the Play School concert. It was so much fun, for us adults as well as for the kids. They have it balanced so well plenty of funny stuff that the kids will get and also a sprinkling of stuff for the adults as well. The children were talking about it for days afterwards it is an experience to remember. The one thing that is amazing is that Benita is still doing the concerts, I remember watching her as a little kid on the tv. She still does it so well, she should still be on the tv. Teo was also good but he didn't hold the same memories that Benita did for me. It was a fantastic time.

Goodbye...

2007-09-01T19:48:00.000+10:00

Well it was a very sad time recently, not only did my grandfather died, but some very good friends of mine who were students here at the college, returned to England because the husband was unwell and was not improving. I will miss them so much, they were such good friends to me, so generous and welcoming. I will also miss there two little girls who were such a pleasure to have in the play centre, so happy and fun to be with.
Goodbye, God bless you.

He Has Gone Home

2007-07-30T22:34:00.000+10:00

The next day after going to the snow I got some very sad news. That was that my Grandfather had died. So I have had a sad time lately. I have been back in Sydney since Wednesday and returned to Launceston this afternoon.

It was great to see all my family again, but it was sad at the same time. I also really enjoyed seeing my cousins etc that i have not seen in a while. We had people come from all over Australia, Perth, The Sunshine Coast, Mt Isa, Eden and of course Launceston.

I think that one of the hardest things about it was that it was such a long time since i had seen my grandfather. I think that the last time that I saw him was in January. He was such a faithful Christian and he helped so many people. He was so loving and he cared for us and what we were doing. He also cared about the people that we had knew, even though he didn't know them himself he had a list and would pray for the people in the church or that we had contact with. He will be missed. But the good thing is that his suffering is over and that he has gone to be with His Heavenly Father. R.I.P. (Rise In Perfection)