Australia Day 1010

On Australia Day, Tuesday 26 January, a public holiday, many people have a tradition of the good old Aussie BBQ or as we call it a barbie.  We love this tradition so we invited the family around and fired up the barbie for a relaxing lunch. 

It is mid summer in Australia and today the temperature was around 30C (86F).  It was a perfect day though to sit outside and enjoy the garden, the company of family and have a nice BBQ lunch. We cooked lamb chops, sausages and onions on the BBQ and had assorted salads and herb bread.  I also made Anzac biscuits to have with coffee.

It was a great day, and we celebrated it the way we wanted, but many communities started with breakfast in parks all over Australia today.  There are many activities on all over Australia, for example there will be a concert in the Domain and Fireworks at Darling Harbour in Sydney tonight.  There is nothing like a fireworks spectacular over beautiful Sydney Harbour.

We celebrate today the landing of the First Fleet by Captain Arthur Philip although aboriginal communities have lived in this land for over 50,000 years.  People from all lands have come here to start a new life and today we also celebrate Australia as a great place to live and our pride in being Australian.

Please see video below which has lovely images of Australia and the song "We are Australian" explains perfectly what it is to be Australian.

My summer garden

It is summer in Australia and the garden is looking lovely with all the flowers.  I thought I might share some of the pics with you especially those who need a little color and light in their wintery, snowy lives. 

My partner has been working in the garden and has planted many pots of flowers as well as herbs this year.  Gardening is his hobby now he has retired, and the garden is thanking him for it. It really is a pleasure to sit out there now and we even bought ourselves a large umbrella so we can spend more time out there in the middle of the day.

We tend to spend more time in the garden now and enjoy having a BBQ on the weekends when we really can enjoy it and eating out of doors. My grandchildren love to go out and look and smell the herbs and pick flowers to take home to their mother.

The garden is a lovely place to retreat to, just sitting under a tree to read or just relax.  I hope you like my summer garden.  The only thing missing are some fruit trees especially a lemon tree and I will try and plant one this year.  The front garden is a disaster so that is due for a makeover before winter.

Cooking with Nana

My granddaughter likes to come visit and cook with me.  She also likes to shop with me too :)  She has been doing that since she was about 2 or 3 years old and she is 6 now.  It's our time together and we enjoy it.

I bought her an apron last year so she brings that with her when she comes over.  She had been wearing one of mine and it was just too big.  Now she has her own pretty pink one and it is the same style as mine.

We like to make slices and cakes as well as helping me with cooking my Crock Pot Meals. She doesn't seem to tire from helping me in the kitchen and I love to have her there with me. It would be nice if she grew up to be a good cook and is making a good start so far.

Yesterday we made a cake in the crock pot and as she was staying for dinner that night with her parents and brother, we had the cake as dessert while it was still warm. See the picture in this post for an action shot of her mixing the cake. Note thought she is not wearing her pretty apron as she forgot to bring it with her.

Time with grandchildren is so precious and I am so happy I can spend time like this with her.  I wonder if my grandson will want to cook with me too when he gets old enough?

7 rules to keep healthy and happy

These are my 7 rules to keep healthy and happy that I will try to follow this year.  I want to stay healthy so I can keep on traveling, and when I am traveling I am happy :)

Some are easier than others eg learn to relax is always going to be something I need to practice as well as getting enough exercise. 

If you have others to add to list then let me know but until then I will stick with these.  Now I should get off to bed so I can say I was following rule no. 6.  Here are the rules:

1. Laughter is one of the best things for your mental and physical state
2. Recognize that stress is a killer
3. Dont worry
   
4. Get plenty of exercise
5. Eat healthy foods
6. Get proper sleep
7. Learn to relax

Dont leave home without the following

 I saw this sign in the Cook Islands and had to take a photo of it to share with you.  It was outside the Women's Health Center and on the side of the main loop road of the island.

A very visual sign to remind women especially that they need to stay safe and be responsible for their own health.  This looks like a sign for the modern woman of today except for the mention of cash instead of keycard but then it was an island.  :)