The year that was... in ten sentences.
1. Celebrated New Years Eve last year with Mother and auntie Mia - all got drunk and danced to ABBA as usual.
2. Went to the Big Day Out on the Gold Coast, vowed to never attend festival again.
3. Did a lot of Yoga, was good at it.
4. Did a lot of gardening, was bad at it.
5. Went to Soundwave in Melbourne, vowed to never attend festival again.
6. Did Dutch taxes - was hell on earth.
7. Saw a great white shark.
8. Saw one of my best friends get married in Sydney.
9. Attended the Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival, came to conclusion that festivals are OK after all.
10. Attended my sister's graduation in Sweden.
This coming year, I will...
1. Meditate
2. Prepare loads of awesome vegan food
3. Go for walks at sunrise
I will not...
1. Get road rage
2. Lose temper over stupid things
3. Be impatient
Friday 30 December 2011
Tuesday 27 December 2011
NYE Resolutions?
Merry Christmas!
That is that for another year. Mind, still have New Years Eve to stress over. But not intending to start stressing about NYE until the 30th. Plenty of time to sort out some food, surely. Especially if do re-run of Christmas Menu. Which, am pleased to say, went without hitch.
After all that. After numerous mishaps and thrown away sand-balls; the Christmas batch of lentil-balls whizzed together and formed perfect looking balls as if to say "what - me..? I never went on strike, what are you talking about. Rubbish."
Have had generally bad weather. But on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day it was beautiful and sunny - went for swims etcetera; made sure to snap some photos to show family and friends in Sweden whilst gloating about our brilliant weather. Meanwhile, am now sitting indoors wearing uggs, scarf and sweater.
Anyhow.
Is it normal to come up with some NYE resolutions? Is that something that people do?
Do not remember doing this, ever. Apart, of course, from drunken heat of the moment ones every year, such as : will definitely drink less, not smoke, lose 5 kilos, call home more often and so on.
Real ones would take a little more thought...
Hmm.
Thinking is not strong point.
Get a tan?
That is that for another year. Mind, still have New Years Eve to stress over. But not intending to start stressing about NYE until the 30th. Plenty of time to sort out some food, surely. Especially if do re-run of Christmas Menu. Which, am pleased to say, went without hitch.
After all that. After numerous mishaps and thrown away sand-balls; the Christmas batch of lentil-balls whizzed together and formed perfect looking balls as if to say "what - me..? I never went on strike, what are you talking about. Rubbish."
Have had generally bad weather. But on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day it was beautiful and sunny - went for swims etcetera; made sure to snap some photos to show family and friends in Sweden whilst gloating about our brilliant weather. Meanwhile, am now sitting indoors wearing uggs, scarf and sweater.
Anyhow.
Is it normal to come up with some NYE resolutions? Is that something that people do?
Do not remember doing this, ever. Apart, of course, from drunken heat of the moment ones every year, such as : will definitely drink less, not smoke, lose 5 kilos, call home more often and so on.
Real ones would take a little more thought...
Hmm.
Thinking is not strong point.
Get a tan?
Tuesday 20 December 2011
Break
Taking little blog-break over the holidays, you see.
But am still sneaking in and reading yours!
X
But am still sneaking in and reading yours!
X
Friday 16 December 2011
Christmas!!! And a word on gift-giving.
Christmas is around the corner!
Have a feeling that I will not be blogging as often as usual over the holidays - will be busy doing other things. Mainly cooking, eating, eating and eating.
Oh, and driving.
Am most excited to see how various relaxation techniques and meditation practises have increased ability to stay calm behind wheel. I shall say as I always say - it's not me, it's them.
We do not do Christmas presents.
Personally I have a long history of detesting the practise of buying useless stuff nobody wants just because you are supposed to have something. In late childhood and early teens the having of something used to consist of bags and bags (seriously - think 30-40 bags and counting) of stuff. Mainly for siblings. A few for me. After hours of fun (sitting around watching everyone open gift after gift) the stuff would inevitably end up in other (or the same, recycled) bags - rest temporarily in basement - and continue on with life at the op-shop.
For the sake of peace-preservation I must now point out that it was not Mother who was responsible for the stuff-mania, rather her parents-in-law. It was very well intended. Don't get me wrong.
But ever since I have a phobia of buying anything which does not have a specific use - particularly around holidays.
Yes. Have lived in the same house for a year, and lo and behold - empty rooms and bare walls - as have not been able to acquire the customary amount of stuff yet. I rest assured it will happen in time.
Hubby is like me. Now.
He did not used to be, though he likes to think that he was.
I beginning of relationship it was not uncommon for me to hold something up (pinched between thumb and index-finger) in front of my then boyfriend and ask in an inquisitive (sour) voice, nose slightly wrinkled and upturned: "What on earth is this..? What do you use it for..? What do you mean nothing..? Can we throw it away?"
Whereupon hubby would answer something about not messing with his awesome rag-doll full of paint and lipstick, with nails all through it - just as an example.
Anna: 0, Hubby: 1 = He still has that doll.*
But I digress!
Was actually just going to say Merry Christmas. Spend your time with friends and family, your money on food, your energy on each other - and don't waste anything on useless procurement, storage and disposal!
xx
*
See! See?!?
Have a feeling that I will not be blogging as often as usual over the holidays - will be busy doing other things. Mainly cooking, eating, eating and eating.
Oh, and driving.
Am most excited to see how various relaxation techniques and meditation practises have increased ability to stay calm behind wheel. I shall say as I always say - it's not me, it's them.
We do not do Christmas presents.
Personally I have a long history of detesting the practise of buying useless stuff nobody wants just because you are supposed to have something. In late childhood and early teens the having of something used to consist of bags and bags (seriously - think 30-40 bags and counting) of stuff. Mainly for siblings. A few for me. After hours of fun (sitting around watching everyone open gift after gift) the stuff would inevitably end up in other (or the same, recycled) bags - rest temporarily in basement - and continue on with life at the op-shop.
For the sake of peace-preservation I must now point out that it was not Mother who was responsible for the stuff-mania, rather her parents-in-law. It was very well intended. Don't get me wrong.
But ever since I have a phobia of buying anything which does not have a specific use - particularly around holidays.
Yes. Have lived in the same house for a year, and lo and behold - empty rooms and bare walls - as have not been able to acquire the customary amount of stuff yet. I rest assured it will happen in time.
Hubby is like me. Now.
He did not used to be, though he likes to think that he was.
I beginning of relationship it was not uncommon for me to hold something up (pinched between thumb and index-finger) in front of my then boyfriend and ask in an inquisitive (sour) voice, nose slightly wrinkled and upturned: "What on earth is this..? What do you use it for..? What do you mean nothing..? Can we throw it away?"
Whereupon hubby would answer something about not messing with his awesome rag-doll full of paint and lipstick, with nails all through it - just as an example.
Anna: 0, Hubby: 1 = He still has that doll.*
But I digress!
Was actually just going to say Merry Christmas. Spend your time with friends and family, your money on food, your energy on each other - and don't waste anything on useless procurement, storage and disposal!
xx
*
See! See?!?
Tuesday 13 December 2011
A Free Chair is a Free Chair
Am so handy, and stuff.
Found on street during council pick-up week (yes, in July):
Had decided that my new hobby was going to be restoring old furniture.
Unfortunately discovered that sanding down old chairs is terribly... well, boring. So it took me a few months to finish.
Woo!!!
Found on street during council pick-up week (yes, in July):
Had decided that my new hobby was going to be restoring old furniture.
Unfortunately discovered that sanding down old chairs is terribly... well, boring. So it took me a few months to finish.
Woo!!!
Monday 12 December 2011
Outcome of Sunday and a Cultural Difference
So after a moderate amount of panicking on Sunday morning - everything went fine. Everyone said they liked the food, including vege-balls*. There were two children of an age during which they speak and are simultaneously unaware of the concept of white lies. The vote, however, was divided. One child wrinkled nose and the other liked it.
*In the later stages of panicking discovered that batter simply refused to form "balls" of any description - so ended up making mini-burgers. Faux-Swedish-Meatball-Mini-Burgers. Actually thought for a second that might cry. But then thought - stuff it, have got champagne - everyone will be happy.
That is how you celebrate here.
Is very interesting to reflect on this peculiar culture-difference between Sweden and Australia - things are quite similar in many ways - and so worlds apart in others. Say for instance you got the idea to consume alcohol in Sweden, in amounts similar to ones you consume in Australia - the result would almost certainly include your family and close friends doing some form of intervention to prevent you from heading down path of disreputable behaviour.
When mother and her husband is here they are always very tired at the end of their couple of weeks Downunder; they ask sternly "you don't live like this all the time do you only when we are here right" and we all laugh sheepishly, nod vigorously and assure them that "of course, you are right, absolutely right - hehehe."
*In the later stages of panicking discovered that batter simply refused to form "balls" of any description - so ended up making mini-burgers. Faux-Swedish-Meatball-Mini-Burgers. Actually thought for a second that might cry. But then thought - stuff it, have got champagne - everyone will be happy.
That is how you celebrate here.
Is very interesting to reflect on this peculiar culture-difference between Sweden and Australia - things are quite similar in many ways - and so worlds apart in others. Say for instance you got the idea to consume alcohol in Sweden, in amounts similar to ones you consume in Australia - the result would almost certainly include your family and close friends doing some form of intervention to prevent you from heading down path of disreputable behaviour.
When mother and her husband is here they are always very tired at the end of their couple of weeks Downunder; they ask sternly "you don't live like this all the time do you only when we are here right" and we all laugh sheepishly, nod vigorously and assure them that "of course, you are right, absolutely right - hehehe."
Saturday 10 December 2011
Time to Run Away?
Designed them to look like Swedish Meatballs. Made them in manner similar to how one might make Swedish Meatballs.
(Apart, of course, from the ground up animals.)
In midst of all this creativity, something unfortunately got over-looked.
Taste.
Panic-mode.
OH MY GOD HAVE GUESTS COMING TOMORROW WHAT WILL I DO CANNOT POSSIBLY serve guests potato-bake, salad and bread and pretend like those are the main dishes... or can I?
Will I just heat up the saw-dust-crossed-with-sand inspired balls and act like all is normal?
Will I text everyone in morning saying event cancelled as have just come down with cholera?
Will I go down to White Shop in morning and purchase pre-made vege-balls of some description for like a 100 bucks and pretend I cooked them myself?
Will I, perhaps, emigrate back to Sweden as a matter of urgency and never cook again..?
Think is now safe to say that have greatly over-estimated my abilities in the kitchen.
Friday 9 December 2011
Swedish...
Hittade en liten enkät på Duktiga Tjejens blogg häromdagen - gillade iden så tänkte låna den och skriva lite på Swedish idag...
1) VAD GJORDE DU FÖR TIO ÅR SEDAN?
Låt se.
Nu är det December 2011, alltså ska jag dra mig till minnes December 2001. Hmm... Det var faktiskt en period på cirka 9 månader när jag bodde i Stockholm! Hade just avlutat ett år i USA - kom hem och bestämde mig för att flytta till Stockholm där jag skulle jobba ett tag och sen plugga till psykolog (hade jag tänkt).
Haha. Icke! Kunde inte ens hitta vettigt boende i Stockholm! Kämpade ett tag och bodde ute i Spånga, två timmar till jobbet och två hem. Gjorde lite efterforskningar och insåg till min förtvivlan att jag inte hade en chans att komma in på psykolog-linjen. Inte för att jag hade dåliga betyg! Men jag hade heller inte perfekta.
Alltså, tänkte jag - ska jag stanna här och hyra i tredjehand ute i Spånga eller liknande och plugga socionomi eller något annat sexigt - eller ska jag åka härifrån?
Det blev "åka härifrån."
Har alltid vart lite sådan. Path of least resistance, ni vet. Varför göra livet svårare än vad det egentligen är, etcetera. Said and done. Åkte till Sydney med ett två-årigt visum för att plugga till en Business Degree majoring in Tourism and Hospitality!
2) VAD GJORDE DU FÖR ETT ÅR SEDAN?
December förra året hade vi just flyttat upp till Byron Bay - och lämnat Sydney därhän!
3) FEM SNACKS DU GILLAR?
Mörk Choklad, mango, banan, äpplen, chips med saltsmak.
4) FEM SÅNGER DU KAN HELA TEXTEN TILL?
Ingen - jag har katastrofalt dåligt minne.
Men om de spelas högt så kan jag sjunga med till I will survive (Gloria Gaynor), Survivor (Destiny's Child), Thank You (Dido), Closing Time (Leonard Cohen) och What you waiting for (Gwen Stefani). Ganska okaraktäristiska sånger för mig, men konstigt nog är det så det ligger till.
5) FEM SAKER DU SKULLE GÖRA OM DU BLEV MILJARDÄR?
För det första undrar jag - varför Miljardär och inte Miljonär..? Har vi inte blivit lite giriga nu..?
Hur som helst, jag skulle adoptera minst 10 barn från olika länder och resa massor i de länderna.
1) VAD GJORDE DU FÖR TIO ÅR SEDAN?
Låt se.
Nu är det December 2011, alltså ska jag dra mig till minnes December 2001. Hmm... Det var faktiskt en period på cirka 9 månader när jag bodde i Stockholm! Hade just avlutat ett år i USA - kom hem och bestämde mig för att flytta till Stockholm där jag skulle jobba ett tag och sen plugga till psykolog (hade jag tänkt).
Haha. Icke! Kunde inte ens hitta vettigt boende i Stockholm! Kämpade ett tag och bodde ute i Spånga, två timmar till jobbet och två hem. Gjorde lite efterforskningar och insåg till min förtvivlan att jag inte hade en chans att komma in på psykolog-linjen. Inte för att jag hade dåliga betyg! Men jag hade heller inte perfekta.
Alltså, tänkte jag - ska jag stanna här och hyra i tredjehand ute i Spånga eller liknande och plugga socionomi eller något annat sexigt - eller ska jag åka härifrån?
Det blev "åka härifrån."
Har alltid vart lite sådan. Path of least resistance, ni vet. Varför göra livet svårare än vad det egentligen är, etcetera. Said and done. Åkte till Sydney med ett två-årigt visum för att plugga till en Business Degree majoring in Tourism and Hospitality!
2) VAD GJORDE DU FÖR ETT ÅR SEDAN?
December förra året hade vi just flyttat upp till Byron Bay - och lämnat Sydney därhän!
3) FEM SNACKS DU GILLAR?
Mörk Choklad, mango, banan, äpplen, chips med saltsmak.
4) FEM SÅNGER DU KAN HELA TEXTEN TILL?
Ingen - jag har katastrofalt dåligt minne.
Men om de spelas högt så kan jag sjunga med till I will survive (Gloria Gaynor), Survivor (Destiny's Child), Thank You (Dido), Closing Time (Leonard Cohen) och What you waiting for (Gwen Stefani). Ganska okaraktäristiska sånger för mig, men konstigt nog är det så det ligger till.
5) FEM SAKER DU SKULLE GÖRA OM DU BLEV MILJARDÄR?
För det första undrar jag - varför Miljardär och inte Miljonär..? Har vi inte blivit lite giriga nu..?
Hur som helst, jag skulle adoptera minst 10 barn från olika länder och resa massor i de länderna.
Tuesday 6 December 2011
Menu
Have arrived at solution (to non-meatball-issue).
Good old-fashioned canned lentils, mixed with some ginger and spices - fried in some cinnamon - and we have the perfect looking and decent tasting Swedish Vege-Balls! Phew!
However, going to have to shelve idea of vegan potato-bake. In Sweden one can find vast arrays of vegan cream-substitutes - the only thing could find in White Shop here in Byron was a tiny old dusty carton from Germany containing soycream and loads of additives. Oatcream, unheard of. Even in White Shop.
So this Christmas we may look forward to indulging in some cow-creamy potato and some cow-creamy beetroot salad.
Next year - am thinking of taking the path of least resistance and cancel whole Christmas Food tradition.
Swedish Christmas Food is not vegan. It is not vegetarian. It is not appropriate in 30 degree heat.
Have adamantly prepared it for the past 10 years - is it time to let go..?
How important is it that we maintain our traditions? How does something become a tradition? If I make, say, quinoa-salad with peanut sauce every Christmas for 20 years, is that then tradition?
In any case, this Christmas am making the following:
Lentil Balls with Gravy and Cranberry Sauce (vegan)
Potato Bake (Janssons)(vegetarian)
Beetroot Salad (vegetarian)
Eggplant Mustard Sill (vegetarian)
Gingered carrots (vegan)
Chocolate and Coconut Balls (vegan)
In Swedish:
Jag inser att chokladbollar inte traditionellt sätt är att betrakta som julmat. Men jag ställer mig för sjutton inte och kokar knäck - nån måtta får det vara!
Good old-fashioned canned lentils, mixed with some ginger and spices - fried in some cinnamon - and we have the perfect looking and decent tasting Swedish Vege-Balls! Phew!
However, going to have to shelve idea of vegan potato-bake. In Sweden one can find vast arrays of vegan cream-substitutes - the only thing could find in White Shop here in Byron was a tiny old dusty carton from Germany containing soycream and loads of additives. Oatcream, unheard of. Even in White Shop.
So this Christmas we may look forward to indulging in some cow-creamy potato and some cow-creamy beetroot salad.
Next year - am thinking of taking the path of least resistance and cancel whole Christmas Food tradition.
Swedish Christmas Food is not vegan. It is not vegetarian. It is not appropriate in 30 degree heat.
Have adamantly prepared it for the past 10 years - is it time to let go..?
How important is it that we maintain our traditions? How does something become a tradition? If I make, say, quinoa-salad with peanut sauce every Christmas for 20 years, is that then tradition?
In any case, this Christmas am making the following:
Lentil Balls with Gravy and Cranberry Sauce (vegan)
Potato Bake (Janssons)(vegetarian)
Beetroot Salad (vegetarian)
Eggplant Mustard Sill (vegetarian)
Gingered carrots (vegan)
Chocolate and Coconut Balls (vegan)
In Swedish:
Jag inser att chokladbollar inte traditionellt sätt är att betrakta som julmat. Men jag ställer mig för sjutton inte och kokar knäck - nån måtta får det vara!
Sunday 4 December 2011
Form Slump
Oh dear.
The soy-balls that I have told EVERYONE that I am making for Christmas (and for next weekend) - are... are... a DISASTER!!!
Really. Bad.
Going through form slump.
Soy-balls terrible. Gravy terrible - unless you love salt. Can probably be rectified - use less salt.
The soy-balls, however, are beyond salvation.
They taste like revolting mess fed as child - tinned fish-balls, or fiskbullar. They look like fiskbullar!!!
Childhood Trauma relived yesterday at dinner. Today tried to disguise horrible colour, consistency and flavour by adding tomato-paste and BBQ-sauce.
Result = fiskbullar with BBQ flavour!
WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY????
The soy-balls that I have told EVERYONE that I am making for Christmas (and for next weekend) - are... are... a DISASTER!!!
Really. Bad.
Going through form slump.
Soy-balls terrible. Gravy terrible - unless you love salt. Can probably be rectified - use less salt.
The soy-balls, however, are beyond salvation.
They taste like revolting mess fed as child - tinned fish-balls, or fiskbullar. They look like fiskbullar!!!
Childhood Trauma relived yesterday at dinner. Today tried to disguise horrible colour, consistency and flavour by adding tomato-paste and BBQ-sauce.
Result = fiskbullar with BBQ flavour!
WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY????
Saturday 3 December 2011
Lennox Head and a Trial Run
Took a little drive to Lennox Head this morning, just south of Byron Bay:
Am in this very moment attempting to make Soy-balls in the image of "Swedish Meatballs" - which am going to prepare for Christmas Eve. Pressure is on. Often congratulate self on being most accomplished at cooking, but something happens when trying to cook for other people... it just does not come together. Does not taste as amazing as had imagined.
Something, incidentally, happened today whilst preparing the recipe. Realised soy-beans need to boil for THREE hours. THREE! No yoga for Anna today then. Kitchen duty. Wish the White Shop in town would stock tinned soy-beans.
So, anyway, this Christmas am not taking any chances. Today is trial run. Doing second trial-run WITH OTHER PEOPLE next weekend. Other People being Swedish Neighbour and her hubby plus kids - as well as Louise plus kid. These guys are all "gluten intolerant."
Well.
Sorry guys, hard enough being practically vegan and all organic - I am not even sure what "gluten" is. Hopefully it will not kill you.
Have provided everyone with warnings that food may or may not be edible. We shall see.
Am in this very moment attempting to make Soy-balls in the image of "Swedish Meatballs" - which am going to prepare for Christmas Eve. Pressure is on. Often congratulate self on being most accomplished at cooking, but something happens when trying to cook for other people... it just does not come together. Does not taste as amazing as had imagined.
Something, incidentally, happened today whilst preparing the recipe. Realised soy-beans need to boil for THREE hours. THREE! No yoga for Anna today then. Kitchen duty. Wish the White Shop in town would stock tinned soy-beans.
So, anyway, this Christmas am not taking any chances. Today is trial run. Doing second trial-run WITH OTHER PEOPLE next weekend. Other People being Swedish Neighbour and her hubby plus kids - as well as Louise plus kid. These guys are all "gluten intolerant."
Well.
Sorry guys, hard enough being practically vegan and all organic - I am not even sure what "gluten" is. Hopefully it will not kill you.
Have provided everyone with warnings that food may or may not be edible. We shall see.
Thursday 1 December 2011
Whites Beach
Love it how every little town around here is based around the same theme. That is - as long as you have petrol, booze and some basic supplies (like newspapers and smokes) - it's all good.
Newrybar Towncentre:
Visited Whites Beach (just south of Byron Bay) for the first time yesterday, gorgeous.
It's photo day on the blog...
Newrybar Towncentre:
Visited Whites Beach (just south of Byron Bay) for the first time yesterday, gorgeous.
It's photo day on the blog...
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