Seeing as I'm rather terrible at this whole 'technology' thing . . .
I must reply to Gilda's comment like this. As Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh would say - Oh d d d dear!
Hi Gilda,
Thank you for the feedback on my blog. I’m glad my family isn’t as crazy as I think they are, seeing as you said your grandmother is a lot like mine. Good to know she’s not alone J Family is very important to me so I chose to primarily focus on them in my blog. I hope you have a wonderful Italian Christmas and enjoy your Christmas baking! I will also be sure to send you the apricot ice cream recipe. It’s certainly a good one and it’s very easy to make which makes it even more appealing . . .
Monday, 19 December 2011
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas . . .
Ah Christmas, my favourite time of the year. The time when the whole family comes together to share a huge Christmas feast, have fun in the sun, sit back and relax, drink and be merry. I hang out every Christmas for my favourite Christmas recipe . . . Homemade Apricot Ice cream! Every Christmas eve, mum and I spend our day and most of the evening in the kitchen baking. Some may say what a chore, but I find great delight in Christmas cooking with mum. We collect the Myer Christmas cds every year and every Christmas eve, whilst we bake, we play each cd. Sorry to say that this year’s Myer cd was pretty miserable so we shall stick to Michael Buble's Christmas album instead. It's amazing! If you haven't got it already, I suggest you hunt it down. Well, as I was saying, Christmas eve is rather busy at our house. This Christmas we are heading to my dad's side of the family for Christmas lunch, only to return home that evening to have mum's side up to our place for tea. So very exciting. I still hang out for Christmas day like a child. Obviously, I don’t do the whole Santa thing anymore but Christmas will always be special to me. When I was a child my mum used to encourage my brother and I to believe in Santa and to ensure that we did, mum thought it was a great idea for us to send Santa a letter telling him what we might want for Christmas. My brother and I would go away and think long and hard about what it was exactly that Santa could bring us this year. But as mum always said, "Don’t ask Santa for too much because he has a lot of boys and girls in the world who he has to deliver presents to". This was mum's way of saying choose wisely :)
Anyway, after we had written our letters in our best hand writing, we would neatly seal them in an envelope and give them to mum to post when she went to work the following morning. Approximately 1 week later, we would receive a reply. Each year my brother and I were amazed to see that Santa had actually written back. The envelope would have a north pole stamp in the top right hand corner, inside the envelope was silver 'magic' glitter, the letter was typed and lastly, signed with Santa Claus. Well, my brother and I thought we were so lucky. Little did we know that mum would go to the extreme to create a letter that actually looked like it was from Santa at the north pole. As I look back on it now, I am grateful that mum kept the dream alive for us as long as she did. It’s a wonderful memory to have. Thanks Mum, you're the best!
Anyway, after we had written our letters in our best hand writing, we would neatly seal them in an envelope and give them to mum to post when she went to work the following morning. Approximately 1 week later, we would receive a reply. Each year my brother and I were amazed to see that Santa had actually written back. The envelope would have a north pole stamp in the top right hand corner, inside the envelope was silver 'magic' glitter, the letter was typed and lastly, signed with Santa Claus. Well, my brother and I thought we were so lucky. Little did we know that mum would go to the extreme to create a letter that actually looked like it was from Santa at the north pole. As I look back on it now, I am grateful that mum kept the dream alive for us as long as she did. It’s a wonderful memory to have. Thanks Mum, you're the best!
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Oh so talented!
Once upon a time, my grandad had a dance band, comprised of him and three other friends. They would travel around country towns and play for the locals at their town hall. All the locals would come dressed in their Sunday best for a night out of dancing, drinking and being merry. My grandad just has a knack for singing. As Nan says, "I'm not sure where he got it from because it certainly didn't come from me or his father". So I suppose you could just say that granddads been lucky to be blessed with such a talent. He also plays the accordion, organ and piano. So today I spent my afternoon at Nan’s nursing home listening to grandad sing for the oldies at their Christmas party. He and his friend played plenty of old songs such as 'smile the while' and 'Tennessee waltz'. Once again, I can't help but get that warm, fuzzy feeling knowing that this is my family and how proud of them I am. Grandma joined us too and held Nan’s hand as grandad sang. Safe to say that grandma was on her best behaviour today as usually it’s a different story.
My grandma and I have many moments of love and laughter. My mum and I take her away on regular trips interstate to go shopping and sightseeing. Our three favourite destinations are the sunshine coast, Melbourne and cairns. Each and every time we head away grandma and I get up to plenty of mischief, as mum says, we are "partners in crime". My grandma means the absolute world to me and I can honestly say that I am not sure what I would do without her. I suppose she won't mind me saying this, but she is the only person who farts in a shopping isle and runs away, buys grapes from the supermarket and eats them on the way around and then goes back for a top up before she leaves, laughs until she cries, swears when she isn't suppose to, pinches you on the bum in the most inappropriate places (church), says crude and rude jokes and so very much more. Suppose some things never change though because when my grandma was a little girl she would walk down the street to her neighbours house, pick beautiful big flowers from their garden without them knowing , run back to her house, tie them in bunches with string and place them for sale out the front of her house to get pocket money. One day, Nan found out what she was up to so she made grandma walk the flowers back to her neighbours house, apologise to them and then Nan told grandma that if she ever did that again she would tie her to the apricot tree in the backyard for the afternoon. Grandma thought this was hilarious, but she certainly never stole flowers again. But hey, she's still naughty.
Mum gets annoyed that no one can do it like Grandma. For instance, no one can cook like grandma. I think a lot of people think the same though? I’m not alone on this one. Grandma's food always tastes ten times better than anyone else’s. When I was a child and I had to stay home from school because I was sick, which by the way, very rarely happened, I basically had to be dying to stay home from school. Anyway, I would be sent down the road to my grandad and grandma's house for the day. Here I had my all time favourite 'vegemite soldiers' and 'coffee milk'. Your probably wondering what vegemite soldiers are, well I must say that there is a real art to making vegemite soldiers, it’s very difficult. Well its vegemite toast cut into three pieces. Yes, sounds very easy I know. But it most definitely isn't because grandma's always tastes better. Might be the butter she uses or even the way she spreads the vegemite, I don't know. Still to this day, it’s a mystery! Suppose I will just have to keep practicing . . .
My grandma and I have many moments of love and laughter. My mum and I take her away on regular trips interstate to go shopping and sightseeing. Our three favourite destinations are the sunshine coast, Melbourne and cairns. Each and every time we head away grandma and I get up to plenty of mischief, as mum says, we are "partners in crime". My grandma means the absolute world to me and I can honestly say that I am not sure what I would do without her. I suppose she won't mind me saying this, but she is the only person who farts in a shopping isle and runs away, buys grapes from the supermarket and eats them on the way around and then goes back for a top up before she leaves, laughs until she cries, swears when she isn't suppose to, pinches you on the bum in the most inappropriate places (church), says crude and rude jokes and so very much more. Suppose some things never change though because when my grandma was a little girl she would walk down the street to her neighbours house, pick beautiful big flowers from their garden without them knowing , run back to her house, tie them in bunches with string and place them for sale out the front of her house to get pocket money. One day, Nan found out what she was up to so she made grandma walk the flowers back to her neighbours house, apologise to them and then Nan told grandma that if she ever did that again she would tie her to the apricot tree in the backyard for the afternoon. Grandma thought this was hilarious, but she certainly never stole flowers again. But hey, she's still naughty.
Mum gets annoyed that no one can do it like Grandma. For instance, no one can cook like grandma. I think a lot of people think the same though? I’m not alone on this one. Grandma's food always tastes ten times better than anyone else’s. When I was a child and I had to stay home from school because I was sick, which by the way, very rarely happened, I basically had to be dying to stay home from school. Anyway, I would be sent down the road to my grandad and grandma's house for the day. Here I had my all time favourite 'vegemite soldiers' and 'coffee milk'. Your probably wondering what vegemite soldiers are, well I must say that there is a real art to making vegemite soldiers, it’s very difficult. Well its vegemite toast cut into three pieces. Yes, sounds very easy I know. But it most definitely isn't because grandma's always tastes better. Might be the butter she uses or even the way she spreads the vegemite, I don't know. Still to this day, it’s a mystery! Suppose I will just have to keep practicing . . .
Saturday, 17 December 2011
Family
Who are you? you might ask. Well . . .
I am a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a great granddaughter, a niece, a cousin, a partner, a friend, a university student, a teacher assistant and a child carer. These roles are what provide me with my moments of love and laughter.
Some may say it's far too cliché, but I like to think of myself as extremely lucky to have such amazing people in my life, especially my family and friends. Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, my family, specifically my grandma and great grandmother (nanny) have become famous amongst my friends and co-workers for their many weird and wonderful stories, which will always keep you laughing.
There aren't too many people who can say that they were privileged enough to meet their great grandparents, nor spend many years with them by your side. My nanny is scheduled to turn 102 years of age in February. My, my what a mighty feat that it. Here was I as a young child wondering how long I would have Nan in my life, well safe to say she's sticking around for a while longer. I admire my Nan’s love of life and all it's simply pleasures. Nan holds her family in the highest regard, and so do we with her. She moved into a nursing home a few years ago as her ability to car for herself appropriately deteriorated. Although she was sad to leave her home of many years she quickly adjusted to her life in the nursing home and openly said "well, I love my home and I will miss being there, but I know that this is the best for everyone. I can't expect you all to look after me". Nanny is most definitely a glass half full kind of lady, seeing the brighter side of life and placing others before herself.
I visit Nan regularly in the nursing home and spend my afternoons with her. So, it's only fair that you take her her favourite party food: lemonade, toffee's or spearmints and Savoy biscuits. Nan and I will catch up on the latest gossip and she will usually tell me a story or two. When I was a child, Nan would walk from her place to ours every Sunday for a cup of tea and a biscuit. Nan would walk the country road with her scarf tied around her head to keep her hair set, a walking stick in one hand and a present of some sort in the other. Nan did this every week up until her mid 90's. Nan would never come empty handed as she would either bring us a homemade sponge cake (leaving cream out of a quarter of the cake for me), kiss biscuits with sprinkles on top, coffee biscuits joined together with butter, OR on that one day when food supplies were running a little low, Nan walked to our place with a brown paper bag containing one big ripe tomato. She came inside and handed it to us saying "Well, I didn't have too much in the pantry today so I bought him up for you. I know it's not much but he sure is a 'gooden'." We never expected anything of Nan, her presence was more than enough, but she refused to go anywhere empty handed.
I have a few stories to share with you. Mind you, I say a few because there are simply too many to put into writing. Well let’s see . . .
One day, when Nan and pop had not long been married, they made a trip to the races, Nan wore a gold bracelet on her wrist. When it came time to cheer, she shook her arm high in the air, spurring on her horse, only to realise later that her bracelet had gone. How disappointed she was. Nan was convinced that someone had stolen it. So, if you wear a bracelet to see Nan, expect to hear this story.
Nan regularly tells me to zip up my handbag so no one steals my wallet. Seeing as my grandma's wallet was stolen from her handbag whilst on a holiday in Melbourne. Mind you, grandma wasn't too worried about her money being stolen, nor her credit cards, no, not my grandma. Grandma was more worried at that fact that grandad's photo was in that wallet and "it's sad to think now that he's going to be put in a bin somewhere". Nan now feels it’s her duty to inform others of this unfortunate event and how they can avoid this happening to them.
Nan regularly speaks of her husband, who passed away in his mid 70's. Nan and pop were so in love and devoted to one another. Although Nan loves to tell you many a story about pop, after she finishes, you can see a tear at the corner of her eyes. Nan and pop created a life on the farm, milking cows and breeding sheep. In the early days, when times were rough, pop was required to go away for months at a time, rabbit trapping. He would write to nan regularly and speak of how he missed her so, always ending his letters with an 'I love you'. My grandad, their son, has these hand written letters tucked away safely. A wonderful family heirloom.
Every Christmas, Nan tells us the story of when she was a child and how she had picked a bucket full of cherries and put them in the laundry on Christmas eve. Only to wake the next morning to find that Santa had taken her cherries. Still to this day, Nan can't understand why Santa would do such a thing. As she says "I suppose 'Santi' felt like eating a few cherries. Suppose you can't blame him aye".
Nan drove her white ford escort (with the red vinyl seats) up until her mid 90’s. I can honestly say though that I was not game enough to take a ride with nanny. Taking a ride with Nan would require you to wear a helmet, purely for safety reasons. Nan would drive up our road at approx 40kms, however, she was very reluctant to put the car into 2nd gear. Therefore, the poor escort would sound as though it was dying a slow and painful death, forever stuck in 1st gear. On the odd occasion when she would change gears, you would see Nan zooming up the road, the clutch would go in, the car would roll back a little, changed to 2nd gear and she would be off again. Oh what fun my brother and I had watching Nan’s driving.
Well there it is, that’s my nanny in a nut shell.
I am a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a great granddaughter, a niece, a cousin, a partner, a friend, a university student, a teacher assistant and a child carer. These roles are what provide me with my moments of love and laughter.
Some may say it's far too cliché, but I like to think of myself as extremely lucky to have such amazing people in my life, especially my family and friends. Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, my family, specifically my grandma and great grandmother (nanny) have become famous amongst my friends and co-workers for their many weird and wonderful stories, which will always keep you laughing.
There aren't too many people who can say that they were privileged enough to meet their great grandparents, nor spend many years with them by your side. My nanny is scheduled to turn 102 years of age in February. My, my what a mighty feat that it. Here was I as a young child wondering how long I would have Nan in my life, well safe to say she's sticking around for a while longer. I admire my Nan’s love of life and all it's simply pleasures. Nan holds her family in the highest regard, and so do we with her. She moved into a nursing home a few years ago as her ability to car for herself appropriately deteriorated. Although she was sad to leave her home of many years she quickly adjusted to her life in the nursing home and openly said "well, I love my home and I will miss being there, but I know that this is the best for everyone. I can't expect you all to look after me". Nanny is most definitely a glass half full kind of lady, seeing the brighter side of life and placing others before herself.
I visit Nan regularly in the nursing home and spend my afternoons with her. So, it's only fair that you take her her favourite party food: lemonade, toffee's or spearmints and Savoy biscuits. Nan and I will catch up on the latest gossip and she will usually tell me a story or two. When I was a child, Nan would walk from her place to ours every Sunday for a cup of tea and a biscuit. Nan would walk the country road with her scarf tied around her head to keep her hair set, a walking stick in one hand and a present of some sort in the other. Nan did this every week up until her mid 90's. Nan would never come empty handed as she would either bring us a homemade sponge cake (leaving cream out of a quarter of the cake for me), kiss biscuits with sprinkles on top, coffee biscuits joined together with butter, OR on that one day when food supplies were running a little low, Nan walked to our place with a brown paper bag containing one big ripe tomato. She came inside and handed it to us saying "Well, I didn't have too much in the pantry today so I bought him up for you. I know it's not much but he sure is a 'gooden'." We never expected anything of Nan, her presence was more than enough, but she refused to go anywhere empty handed.
I have a few stories to share with you. Mind you, I say a few because there are simply too many to put into writing. Well let’s see . . .
One day, when Nan and pop had not long been married, they made a trip to the races, Nan wore a gold bracelet on her wrist. When it came time to cheer, she shook her arm high in the air, spurring on her horse, only to realise later that her bracelet had gone. How disappointed she was. Nan was convinced that someone had stolen it. So, if you wear a bracelet to see Nan, expect to hear this story.
Nan regularly tells me to zip up my handbag so no one steals my wallet. Seeing as my grandma's wallet was stolen from her handbag whilst on a holiday in Melbourne. Mind you, grandma wasn't too worried about her money being stolen, nor her credit cards, no, not my grandma. Grandma was more worried at that fact that grandad's photo was in that wallet and "it's sad to think now that he's going to be put in a bin somewhere". Nan now feels it’s her duty to inform others of this unfortunate event and how they can avoid this happening to them.
Nan regularly speaks of her husband, who passed away in his mid 70's. Nan and pop were so in love and devoted to one another. Although Nan loves to tell you many a story about pop, after she finishes, you can see a tear at the corner of her eyes. Nan and pop created a life on the farm, milking cows and breeding sheep. In the early days, when times were rough, pop was required to go away for months at a time, rabbit trapping. He would write to nan regularly and speak of how he missed her so, always ending his letters with an 'I love you'. My grandad, their son, has these hand written letters tucked away safely. A wonderful family heirloom.
Every Christmas, Nan tells us the story of when she was a child and how she had picked a bucket full of cherries and put them in the laundry on Christmas eve. Only to wake the next morning to find that Santa had taken her cherries. Still to this day, Nan can't understand why Santa would do such a thing. As she says "I suppose 'Santi' felt like eating a few cherries. Suppose you can't blame him aye".
Nan drove her white ford escort (with the red vinyl seats) up until her mid 90’s. I can honestly say though that I was not game enough to take a ride with nanny. Taking a ride with Nan would require you to wear a helmet, purely for safety reasons. Nan would drive up our road at approx 40kms, however, she was very reluctant to put the car into 2nd gear. Therefore, the poor escort would sound as though it was dying a slow and painful death, forever stuck in 1st gear. On the odd occasion when she would change gears, you would see Nan zooming up the road, the clutch would go in, the car would roll back a little, changed to 2nd gear and she would be off again. Oh what fun my brother and I had watching Nan’s driving.
Well there it is, that’s my nanny in a nut shell.
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