wrong button

Somehow I managed to publish a half finished post last night, which may have you thinking I've finally lost the plot and gone troppo. Unless under the influence of excitotoxins, I wouldn't usually stop a sentence half way or  leave queer spaces in the middle. Sorry about that; the complete crumpet story will be landing on your plate soon.  Until then, I'm off to paddle my stand-up aimlessly around the lagoon. 

the bottom turn

Aquaman has shed the rubber, put on his faded boardies, picked up a paintbrush and invaded my studio. The painting is a commission from another expat as a gift for a mate's 50th birthday.  The recipient is a goofy footer with a solid bottom turn, hence the subject matter. Tom's choses medium is acrylic, and he likes to use up our teaspoons as his pallet with built in handle.

Commissions welcome - please speak directly to his manager and publicist.  She's the blogger.

pot luck lunch

We don't need any excuse for a get-together, but with a birthday in the camp there is extra cause for a leisurely lunch and discussion about the state of the wind, tide and swell.  Today's guest of honor is Hal (second from left), the son-in-law of our neighbours Colin & Linda, 300 meters to the south.  Hal, Fliss and their three kids are changing down gears from a frantic Queensland pace to a new chapter in Bali - via two weeks of rubber time under the coconuts.

The walkabout vegie ladies delivered ripe mangoes that I added to a salad of lettuce, tomato, rocket and alfalfa.  The lunch spread was a vibrant mix of local produce and Balinese organic red rice and even the tiniest  hands were digging in. 

new babe on the block

John, aka His Royal Tingginess, our esteemed neighbour to the south, left at the end of last year a single man with a dream of love, and returned in August happily wed to a beautiful bride, Amei. The moon, sun, planets and tides alinged over a Japanese ski run, and Tinggi followed his heart to Hawaii where Amei was finishing her MBA.  She knocked back a job with Louis Vuitton, they eloped, and flew off into the sunset on their worldwide extended honeymoon.  Welcome to the island Little Bamboo.

sunday sinners

My laptop was stolen from my desk on Sunday night, less than 15 metres from where we were eating dinner under the stars.  All lights were on and the bamboo blinds down, yet they had the balls to jump the six foot rock wall and sneak in silently.   The locals refer to a thief as “a rat with two legs." How I wish I had had a  dirty big trap set. We are so diligent with security, never leaving the house without all electronic equipment locked away.  More than the loss of the laptop is the sadness I feel over the opportunistic invasion while we were within sight.

 

I am floundering with the loss of my organised folders, words and pictures.  Anything pre-April is backed up in Australia, and most of this season’s photos are saved on Tom’s computer, but little things - lists, quotes, articles, and hundreds of resized images - disappeared into the night. 

My constant mantra for the past 48 hours has been :

And thus I let go of unpleasant feelings, and do not stir up new ones.
Therefore the process of life goes on, 

Blameless, at ease, and in peace.

Bastards.

know when to hold 'em

On a warm dry season afternoon, on an island bound for nowhere

We met up with our neighbours, who were both too tired to sleep

We took turns at staring, across the fence out to the oval

Then hunger overtook us, and we began to eat.

John said, Tom I've made a life

Out of making key investments

 Knowing when to buy up big

Knowing when to sell

But in the end it means sweet f@#k all

If you're not getting any barrels

There'll be time enough for working

When the surfing's done

My apologies to Kenny.

Hotly contested games of "500" and fresh vegan cinnamon raisin scrolls with marmalade. 

Just another great day basking in the glow of un-productivity.

tomato relish farm style

The markets are sporting tomatoes by the bucket full at a very low price, so I called upon my pioneering spirit and the Country Women's Association bible of cookery and household hints to make an old fashioned tomato relish. The aroma taps into my olfactory memory of delivering dad a packed lunch or dinner during seeding and harvest on the farm. Cheese, corned beef and tomato relish eaten beside the tractor; the  moist ground freshly tilled or a cloud of wheat dust hanging in the hot air.

Tomato Relish (No 2)

from page 318, 42nd Edition of CWA Cookbook

1 1/2 kilo ripe tomatoes

1 tablespoon sea salt

250 g raw sugar

500 g onions

1 tablespoon mustard

2 tablespoons plain flour

1 1/2 tablespooons curry powder

brown vinegar

Cut up tomatoes and onions finely and sprinkle with salt. Leave for 6 hours or overnight then drain well. 

Put into saucepan, add sugar and enough vinegar to just cover.  Boil for 5 minutes.

Mix flour, mustard and curry to a paste with a little vinegar.  Add to pan and stir well.

Simmer for 1 hour, or until desired thickness is reached. 

If  you like a sweeter pickle, simply add more sugar. 

Allow to cool, then bottle in clean jars. Refrigerate after opening.