Cloudbusting moments

When I started this blog I was thinking of my life in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, Victoria, Australia. I have since come to realise that life is a series of hills of varying topographical detail; some a barely bumps, others are the hill climb of the Tour de France that the faint-heartened never approximate. I have also come to appreciate the distinct advantage of setting hills in my sights with the aim of seeing life from the other side with a raised heart-rate. My 'comfort-zone' exists to be busted, and I intend to continue venturing far away and beyond my comfort-zones for as long as I have a reason to live. From the foothills of the Dandenongs to the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges, and still cloudbusting, I hope. It's what I want my kids to do, so I'd better show them a bit about how it's done, and how to push up and over the hills they'd otherwise avoid...

Friday 11 February 2011

Bread matters

We're fine - we're living in a caravan, annex and shed, our dogs roam free, the kids do the same and I buy food from an independent supermarket when there's no farmers market. That's more than fine by me!
My biggest kid started kinder this week and loves it. He'll be fine.
My smallest kid is loved wherever I take her round these parts and that bodes well. She'll be fine.
My big fella is down here with us on leave from work, before heading back to wind up work and metro life. Plenty of work down here. He'll be fine.
I've started Zumba here, I've joined a riding club, I've met some people from my prospective new fire brigade, I already know some great chicks from the local Booby Club, I have a friend in Inverloch who's invited us for a meal (I did the Horse Property Management course with her), and, well, I'm only looking up from here in my new town. I've also learned that cooking in an electric frypan offers a world of possibilities (pasta, french toast, beans and rice).

I'll be fine.
I've already lost some girth from the week I was here with the kids by myself - a couple of walks up and down the road each day (one of those is the evening constitutional, or, "The Wombat Hunt", as Small Boy knows it) and some trips up the hill have seen to that. Nice surprise, actually - I can fit into that little skirt I bought, with much optimism, a couple of months ago...that's always pleasant.
It's the little things. The bakery in town has a daily bread specialty. Mondays is Irish Soda Bread...well, THAT makes me very happy! Of course, I could always ask my dad for his recipe...such memories eating this bread evokes! My dad used to bake this on a Sunday (when he was on shore leave) and we'd have a massive loaf for the whole week. It keeps very well, unsliced, and tastes great when toasted. One sandwich of this bread would be very filling for lunch at school, where two sangas of the supermarket variety always left wanting. This, and Small Boy's new favourite bread, Malti-Oat Bran loaf, make living here just that extra bit better. We have two very good bakeries in town, and Burra Hot Breads is my hands down favourite. Great muffins, great breads and fabulous pies. Love my new life.