Hello mi lovelies, hope you're all doing well. We are, even though 33% of us are unconscious and at least another 33% (namely myself) are fast going that way, the only thing left moving is the fingers, brain has long since switched off. OH but my whiskey is safely on the table today and I'm sitting quite securely, so I tweak my nose in the fate of disdainful fortune that robbed me of my nightcap last night. Besides, most of it's in my tummy already anyway. I wonder if anyone will kindly top me up.
Well one hell of a day. It's really an extension of our discovery of just how un-cheap used cars are in this country, and our re-think on whether we'd automatically purchase two cars, as per previously. Well, when we realised that even used cars are pretty pricey, we thought - perhaps we can have just one, drop the Mr at work in the morning rather like the school run, pick him up in the evening. Well, today was the first day we tried. Hmm. One COULD do it - whether it would be entirely sane to do so is another matter. It's a good 30 minutes each way (from where we are currently at least - I don't see the distance being shortened much in the future either). That means 2 hours in the car per day, with the Non. I think I'd rather pay for another car - mind you it's not me earning that cash to do so with but I think the consensus might be general. We'll see, early days. Anyway, after almost no driving at all I was all over the place today (well, in a good way, not sprawlingly). Dropped the Mr at work (and we stopped off to see the workplace as well, all nice, very not-done-yet but it all looks potentially acceptable and reassuringly reeking of agar), and then went off the the fish market to search for dinner. At this point I enlisted the sterling help of my Chief FishSpotter (namely, the Non), who homed in on the Red Gurnard and declared this and no other was the comestible of the day. So we did. May I tell you, Red Gurnard is EXCELLENT. I will always trust that girl's judgement. Very large flakes, few bones (and what there is is large), fresh, exceptionally firm and delicious. Detriments possibly that it may be prone to drying out (not oily at all) and doesn't have a great deal of it's own flavour- but then if you want a really good textured fish that lends itself deliriously to being flavoured with pretty much anything you feel inclined to on the day, I think Mr Red Gurnard is your man. Your fish. Whatever. Anyway, much better than the Bully Mullet of last time - I'd remembered them as somewhat muddy and not exciting - well it was better than I'd remembered but actually even the large fat fresh ones in Australia are essentially ... muddy. I think it's just in their nature.
Here endeth the Fish Lecture of the day. Where was I. Still at the fish market? Blimey, I need another drink. Well, back home for a brisk Non-work (I have to tell you guys, she did very well today, really barely any wandering - I think she knew there was a reason to get going), I packed her a sandwich to eat in the car and we rolled off to the 'Fur and Feathers' promised at the Hunter Mall - random kiddy-holiday event. They had some animals in pens for petting, usual stuff - always enjoyed. Goats, a calf, a small (very small) horse, a very protective mother hen with chicks, some ducks - you get the picture. We reckoned we'd exhausted the possibilities of the pens and headed on to the bookstore nearby - Lara's finished a few more workbooks and we just can't be having her spinning on empty. So we spent some time getting just-the-right-one (there was quite a choice) and then there was a sudden cry and Fish-Spotter / Camel Spotter gesticulated wildly at the entrance as three large dromedaries sailed majestically past the opening. Now, I'd read that there would be camel rides, but alas we hadn't spotted them so far (they must have been further up), and by the time we finished off our bookstore business and hared up the street in the direction they were headed in, the time for the rides had finished. Alas. However, silver linings, they let the Non have a sit on a camel anyway, who also obligingly and very entertainingly let loose a '"dromedary camel pooooooo!!!!" which was almost fluorescent green and of the highest olfactory setting, so not all was lost. Also I jotted down the location where the same guys visit a beach with camel rides every Sunday, so we might be seeing more of the same some time in the near future.
So where to. Back to car, back home, quick superman-type-dash-into-phonebox-type-change-of-clothes (only ended up looking rather less silly that the eponymous superhero), and down to the beach. Large splashes, ball games, chasings, all the usual, tightly packed into less than a single hour and back up to go and pick the Daddymonster up. Quite breathless just thinking about it all. Picked him up, back down, then BACK to beach with said Monster, more splashing (on a grander scale, and I got to laze back and ready my book), then he delights of Mr Gurnard. Oh, and he was very delightful.
Well I think I've said about as much as I possibly can without alcoholic refreshment, and I'm pretty sure that once the refreshment comes along I'll be in no position to type further so I'll bid you all goodnight and try and add a few photos. Love, V x
Well one hell of a day. It's really an extension of our discovery of just how un-cheap used cars are in this country, and our re-think on whether we'd automatically purchase two cars, as per previously. Well, when we realised that even used cars are pretty pricey, we thought - perhaps we can have just one, drop the Mr at work in the morning rather like the school run, pick him up in the evening. Well, today was the first day we tried. Hmm. One COULD do it - whether it would be entirely sane to do so is another matter. It's a good 30 minutes each way (from where we are currently at least - I don't see the distance being shortened much in the future either). That means 2 hours in the car per day, with the Non. I think I'd rather pay for another car - mind you it's not me earning that cash to do so with but I think the consensus might be general. We'll see, early days. Anyway, after almost no driving at all I was all over the place today (well, in a good way, not sprawlingly). Dropped the Mr at work (and we stopped off to see the workplace as well, all nice, very not-done-yet but it all looks potentially acceptable and reassuringly reeking of agar), and then went off the the fish market to search for dinner. At this point I enlisted the sterling help of my Chief FishSpotter (namely, the Non), who homed in on the Red Gurnard and declared this and no other was the comestible of the day. So we did. May I tell you, Red Gurnard is EXCELLENT. I will always trust that girl's judgement. Very large flakes, few bones (and what there is is large), fresh, exceptionally firm and delicious. Detriments possibly that it may be prone to drying out (not oily at all) and doesn't have a great deal of it's own flavour- but then if you want a really good textured fish that lends itself deliriously to being flavoured with pretty much anything you feel inclined to on the day, I think Mr Red Gurnard is your man. Your fish. Whatever. Anyway, much better than the Bully Mullet of last time - I'd remembered them as somewhat muddy and not exciting - well it was better than I'd remembered but actually even the large fat fresh ones in Australia are essentially ... muddy. I think it's just in their nature.
Here endeth the Fish Lecture of the day. Where was I. Still at the fish market? Blimey, I need another drink. Well, back home for a brisk Non-work (I have to tell you guys, she did very well today, really barely any wandering - I think she knew there was a reason to get going), I packed her a sandwich to eat in the car and we rolled off to the 'Fur and Feathers' promised at the Hunter Mall - random kiddy-holiday event. They had some animals in pens for petting, usual stuff - always enjoyed. Goats, a calf, a small (very small) horse, a very protective mother hen with chicks, some ducks - you get the picture. We reckoned we'd exhausted the possibilities of the pens and headed on to the bookstore nearby - Lara's finished a few more workbooks and we just can't be having her spinning on empty. So we spent some time getting just-the-right-one (there was quite a choice) and then there was a sudden cry and Fish-Spotter / Camel Spotter gesticulated wildly at the entrance as three large dromedaries sailed majestically past the opening. Now, I'd read that there would be camel rides, but alas we hadn't spotted them so far (they must have been further up), and by the time we finished off our bookstore business and hared up the street in the direction they were headed in, the time for the rides had finished. Alas. However, silver linings, they let the Non have a sit on a camel anyway, who also obligingly and very entertainingly let loose a '"dromedary camel pooooooo!!!!" which was almost fluorescent green and of the highest olfactory setting, so not all was lost. Also I jotted down the location where the same guys visit a beach with camel rides every Sunday, so we might be seeing more of the same some time in the near future.
So where to. Back to car, back home, quick superman-type-dash-into-phonebox-type-change-of-clothes (only ended up looking rather less silly that the eponymous superhero), and down to the beach. Large splashes, ball games, chasings, all the usual, tightly packed into less than a single hour and back up to go and pick the Daddymonster up. Quite breathless just thinking about it all. Picked him up, back down, then BACK to beach with said Monster, more splashing (on a grander scale, and I got to laze back and ready my book), then he delights of Mr Gurnard. Oh, and he was very delightful.
Well I think I've said about as much as I possibly can without alcoholic refreshment, and I'm pretty sure that once the refreshment comes along I'll be in no position to type further so I'll bid you all goodnight and try and add a few photos. Love, V x
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