I am feeling rather drained at present.
The Helium contest I entered recently closed this morning. It is such a roller coaster ride of emotions. Currently I am at the better end of the leader board. While this is promising, the rating system can be rather fickle at times.
Apparently me just thinking it is a fantastic article is simply not enough. My fate lays in the hands of the beloved raters. Of which I am a member, though obviously I am unable to rate my own work.
Back to the point.
After the effort of producing enough quality work to enable me to have any chance of winning the contest, combined with the emotional torture of having my work constantly under rating scrutiny and seeing my points go up and down faster than a yo-yo, I am temporarily out of creative juices!
So I am off to find 'my plug' and refill my bath!
Thursday, February 7
Wednesday, February 6
Featured Writer at Helium
I just received a letter from Helium to congratulate me on my featured article!!!
And sure enough there on their homepage about halfway down is an article I have written about modern women It is an article that I have carried around with me for quite some time (nearly four years) and in some ways very close to my heart.
This is all very symbolic in my mind. I see this is as a huge boost to my writing career. Yes to some this is only small, when you started where I did this can be huge! It is like recognition that yes I do have some ability to mold words into feelings that effect others. Which is just what my inner writer needs.
While it now looks very different from the original, I still have how it started and can clearly remember the night that I wrote it. It was a very important time in my life. I was busily preparing for major change. (Getting married)
At the time I just wrote for the sake of writing. There was something inside me that needed to be released, so I released it.
When I first started writing for Helium, back in August 2007, I tried submitting a version of this article. To my utter devastation it was rejected. I was shattered. Thousands of little bits of me tumbled to the ground.
I questioned why I even bothered with the silly notion of being a writer. Naturally I ceased writing (though not for long). I managed to pick myself up and try again. With another version under my belt I submitted again. To my elation it was accepted.
Now it is a feature! Who would have thought? I guess hard work really does pay off in the end hey?
In case you want the link here it is again
Anyway I just wanted to share my joy and excitement here.
And sure enough there on their homepage about halfway down is an article I have written about modern women It is an article that I have carried around with me for quite some time (nearly four years) and in some ways very close to my heart.
This is all very symbolic in my mind. I see this is as a huge boost to my writing career. Yes to some this is only small, when you started where I did this can be huge! It is like recognition that yes I do have some ability to mold words into feelings that effect others. Which is just what my inner writer needs.
While it now looks very different from the original, I still have how it started and can clearly remember the night that I wrote it. It was a very important time in my life. I was busily preparing for major change. (Getting married)
At the time I just wrote for the sake of writing. There was something inside me that needed to be released, so I released it.
When I first started writing for Helium, back in August 2007, I tried submitting a version of this article. To my utter devastation it was rejected. I was shattered. Thousands of little bits of me tumbled to the ground.
I questioned why I even bothered with the silly notion of being a writer. Naturally I ceased writing (though not for long). I managed to pick myself up and try again. With another version under my belt I submitted again. To my elation it was accepted.
Now it is a feature! Who would have thought? I guess hard work really does pay off in the end hey?
In case you want the link here it is again
Anyway I just wanted to share my joy and excitement here.
Monday, February 4
Disappointing Game
Australia and India's first match in the Triseries match turned out to be a white wash and I am very disappointed!
Being a huge cricket fan I was all geared up for the big game. The first half of the Indians innings was living up to my every expectation and the excitement was almost overwhelming.
Then the rain came.
Thankfully it went but not for good.
At least it gave me a chance to do some writing! Check out what I wrote for Helium
Being a huge cricket fan I was all geared up for the big game. The first half of the Indians innings was living up to my every expectation and the excitement was almost overwhelming.
Then the rain came.
Thankfully it went but not for good.
At least it gave me a chance to do some writing! Check out what I wrote for Helium
Sunday, February 3
Dirt and Worms
Meal times are often a battle for many parents. Convincing children to eat a well balanced diet is not always easy but it is not impossible either.
The key to happy eating is to provide children with interesting yet simple meals that are appealing to a child's mind.
Recently as my daughter sat down to eat her spaghetti she termed a new name for this old favorite. It was so ingenious yet simple I have decided to share the recipe here with you.
Worms and DirtIngredients
500 grams premium minced beef
4 slices of diced bacon rashers
2 grated carrots
1 grated zucchini
1 diced onion
2 cloves of garlic grated or crushed
2-3 400 gram tins crushed tomatoes
Grated cheese to serve
Worms (aka Spaghetti pasta) (make sure you leave this nice and long)
Method
Brown mince in large pan, there is no need to add oil
Remove mince from pan and leave to drain any excess fat
Fry onion and bacon in the same pan
Add grated zucchini and carrot, stir well to ensure even cooking
Place meat back in pan and mix in well
Add tinned tomatoes
Leave to simmer on a low heat
Cook pasta according to directions on packet, alternatively I have found you can place pasta in a large microwave container with adequate water and microwave on high for around 15 minutes
Place pasta in bowl and cover with meat sauce. Top with a little grated cheese (optional)
Serve and watch as your children delight in searching through the dirt for their worms!
The key to happy eating is to provide children with interesting yet simple meals that are appealing to a child's mind.
Recently as my daughter sat down to eat her spaghetti she termed a new name for this old favorite. It was so ingenious yet simple I have decided to share the recipe here with you.
Worms and DirtIngredients
500 grams premium minced beef
4 slices of diced bacon rashers
2 grated carrots
1 grated zucchini
1 diced onion
2 cloves of garlic grated or crushed
2-3 400 gram tins crushed tomatoes
Grated cheese to serve
Worms (aka Spaghetti pasta) (make sure you leave this nice and long)
Method
Brown mince in large pan, there is no need to add oil
Remove mince from pan and leave to drain any excess fat
Fry onion and bacon in the same pan
Add grated zucchini and carrot, stir well to ensure even cooking
Place meat back in pan and mix in well
Add tinned tomatoes
Leave to simmer on a low heat
Cook pasta according to directions on packet, alternatively I have found you can place pasta in a large microwave container with adequate water and microwave on high for around 15 minutes
Place pasta in bowl and cover with meat sauce. Top with a little grated cheese (optional)
Serve and watch as your children delight in searching through the dirt for their worms!
Friday, February 1
T20 Victory
After a stunning performance in tonight's T20 game, Australia's stand in captain Michael Clark led his team to a solid victory against India at the MCG. In an effort that clearly earned him the man of the match award 'The Pup' showed he was more than ready for the challenges of captaincy.
With regular captain Ricky Ponting out due to 'back pain' twenty 26 year old Michael Clark shone in the leadership role. Using strong bold field placements the Australians quickly bowled out the Indians for only 74 runs.
In his international debut, 30 year David Hussey, younger brother to 'Mr Cricket' (Michael Hussey), found himself on the edge of a hat trick as the Australian bowlers breezed through the Indian batsmen.
Retiring wicket keeper and opening batsman Adam Gilchrist, shared the glory with Clarke as they quickly set about attaining the required total. Together the pair accumulated the better half of the required score with each providing spectators with magnificent sixes.
Where India struggled to find the long boundaries Australia's batsmen repeatedly struck the ball with force and determination. While the 85,000 crowd members were forced to endure two bat breaks due to Australia's power there were no complaints with the brilliant batting display.
The only real disappointment in this fast paced enthralling match were the final overs of Australia's innings. While there was a spectacular catch from a Gilchrist high ball the Indians seemed to have lost all fielding abilities.
Poor communication due to excessive crowd noise saw a collisions between players resulting in a dropped chance. To top it all off the current T20 champions gave the winning run away with a wide.
Despite this is it was a highly enjoyable game proving that cricket is alive and well. The opening one day series game on Sunday should prove to be as equally exciting.
With regular captain Ricky Ponting out due to 'back pain' twenty 26 year old Michael Clark shone in the leadership role. Using strong bold field placements the Australians quickly bowled out the Indians for only 74 runs.
In his international debut, 30 year David Hussey, younger brother to 'Mr Cricket' (Michael Hussey), found himself on the edge of a hat trick as the Australian bowlers breezed through the Indian batsmen.
Retiring wicket keeper and opening batsman Adam Gilchrist, shared the glory with Clarke as they quickly set about attaining the required total. Together the pair accumulated the better half of the required score with each providing spectators with magnificent sixes.
Where India struggled to find the long boundaries Australia's batsmen repeatedly struck the ball with force and determination. While the 85,000 crowd members were forced to endure two bat breaks due to Australia's power there were no complaints with the brilliant batting display.
The only real disappointment in this fast paced enthralling match were the final overs of Australia's innings. While there was a spectacular catch from a Gilchrist high ball the Indians seemed to have lost all fielding abilities.
Poor communication due to excessive crowd noise saw a collisions between players resulting in a dropped chance. To top it all off the current T20 champions gave the winning run away with a wide.
Despite this is it was a highly enjoyable game proving that cricket is alive and well. The opening one day series game on Sunday should prove to be as equally exciting.
Tuesday, January 29
Still here!
It has been an incredibly busy week. The school holidays are all but over (today is the last day) For the most part I have enjoyed the time but I will be glad in some small ways to have the majority of the day back to myself.
For all the joy that children bring they are sure able to double the pain at times. For some reason bed time here is a never ending battle. In fact it is more than a battle it is nothing short of a nightmare!
I have had trouble finding things to write about at the moment. Mainly because I feel slightly hypocritical, though some would say it shows I am just human! Most of my articles are basically parenting advice, however at the moment I am asking myself what advice I could possibly have to offer when I can't even get my own kids to go to bed when they are meant to!
For all the joy that children bring they are sure able to double the pain at times. For some reason bed time here is a never ending battle. In fact it is more than a battle it is nothing short of a nightmare!
I have had trouble finding things to write about at the moment. Mainly because I feel slightly hypocritical, though some would say it shows I am just human! Most of my articles are basically parenting advice, however at the moment I am asking myself what advice I could possibly have to offer when I can't even get my own kids to go to bed when they are meant to!
live and learn hey live and learn!
Friday, January 18
Recipe: Potato and tomato delight
The other night I devised this beautiful recipe for potatoes. They are a staple in most people's diet yet it sometimes so difficult to find a new way to serve.
Never fear Chef Rhianna is here!
This is quick and easy, plus it is super, super yummy. I wish I had of thought to take a photo to include, I will next time I make, which I am sure won't be that far away.
When I made this I got 2 large adult serves, and 2 child serves. There was also a heap left for the dog. Adjust quantities to suit your needs
Ingredients
Potatoes (I used 8 small-medium)
Tomatoes (I used 4)
Grated cheese (of which my family loves melted so I used a lot!)
Butter for frying (or whatever you like to cook in)
Method
Scrub potatoes and cook in microwave on high for approx 10 minutes
Cut into bite size cubes and leave to cool
Dice tomato and microwave on high for 1 minute
Add potato to large fry pan with heated butter
Fry till outside of potato is golden and crunchy. Add some rock salt for extra flavor and texture
Combine tomato and potato an place in a ceramic dish
Cover with as much (or little) cheese as you desire
Heat until cheese melts. ( I heated in the microwave on high for 5 minutes and it was perfect but you could get the same (or better) from an oven or under the grill
Never fear Chef Rhianna is here!
This is quick and easy, plus it is super, super yummy. I wish I had of thought to take a photo to include, I will next time I make, which I am sure won't be that far away.
When I made this I got 2 large adult serves, and 2 child serves. There was also a heap left for the dog. Adjust quantities to suit your needs
Ingredients
Potatoes (I used 8 small-medium)
Tomatoes (I used 4)
Grated cheese (of which my family loves melted so I used a lot!)
Butter for frying (or whatever you like to cook in)
Method
Scrub potatoes and cook in microwave on high for approx 10 minutes
Cut into bite size cubes and leave to cool
Dice tomato and microwave on high for 1 minute
Add potato to large fry pan with heated butter
Fry till outside of potato is golden and crunchy. Add some rock salt for extra flavor and texture
Combine tomato and potato an place in a ceramic dish
Cover with as much (or little) cheese as you desire
Heat until cheese melts. ( I heated in the microwave on high for 5 minutes and it was perfect but you could get the same (or better) from an oven or under the grill
Thursday, January 17
That's a lot of cars!
In the aftermaths of cyclone Helen the other week the local rubbish deposit centre (aka the dump), reported over 3000 cars on one day, all with green waste. This is an amazing number given the overall population.
I have heard it reported that over 800 trees fell (literally) victim to the cyclonic winds. Personally I have witnessed a huge number of trees down but that number is huge so I am a bit dubious about the truth to that number. I think perhaps someone may have missed a few, though my sources assure me it is correct.
Anyways, we were one of the 3000 people that ventured out to dispose of plant matter on that day. For a trip to the dump it was pretty amazing and the piles of rubbish that were being created were unlike anything I have seen before.
Lucky for me I had my camera on hand. While it is no prize winning shot, I thought I would include it anyway!
Oh so very happy!
Today started off as holding the promise of sadness. I couldn't put my finger on it but something was just not right. Everything bugged me. My poor girls couldn't do a thing right no matter how hard they tried and believe me they were trying. Plain and simple it was just an off day.
I struggled through as best I could, trying not to take my unexplained frustrations on anyone and everything around me.
However now as I write this I am far from this terrible mood. While it may only have been an incredibly small and insignificant event. One that will probably only hold meaning to myself. I discovered something today that had the ability to erase the worries and troubles of my day instantly.
Upon returning home this afternoon, I decided a quick check of my email was needed. (You never know what publishers may have seen my work and wanted more.) While my inbox was empty of publisher requests it was not completely empty.
To my delight I had a total of 14 responses to my two new myLot posts. Though my joy does not end here. I decided that I would quickly log in and have a quick read of what was said.
The comments were all positive and the black cloud that had covered me all day was slowly lifting, the best was still to come.
As I logged out and was taken to the home page and my eyes scanned through the most popular discussions. Low and behold, both my discussions were featured!
Black cloud be gone! In an instant it was like today was the most wonderful day ever.
Now I don't care if they were only there because no one else had posted any. The fact of the matter remains that at least for a few hours I was in the limelight.
Stardom here I come.
I struggled through as best I could, trying not to take my unexplained frustrations on anyone and everything around me.
However now as I write this I am far from this terrible mood. While it may only have been an incredibly small and insignificant event. One that will probably only hold meaning to myself. I discovered something today that had the ability to erase the worries and troubles of my day instantly.
Upon returning home this afternoon, I decided a quick check of my email was needed. (You never know what publishers may have seen my work and wanted more.) While my inbox was empty of publisher requests it was not completely empty.
To my delight I had a total of 14 responses to my two new myLot posts. Though my joy does not end here. I decided that I would quickly log in and have a quick read of what was said.
The comments were all positive and the black cloud that had covered me all day was slowly lifting, the best was still to come.
As I logged out and was taken to the home page and my eyes scanned through the most popular discussions. Low and behold, both my discussions were featured!
Black cloud be gone! In an instant it was like today was the most wonderful day ever.
Now I don't care if they were only there because no one else had posted any. The fact of the matter remains that at least for a few hours I was in the limelight.
Stardom here I come.
Sunday, January 13
Quoteable
I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind.
Some come from ahead, and some from behind.
But I've bought a big bat. I'm ready you'll see.
Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me.
Some come from ahead, and some from behind.
But I've bought a big bat. I'm ready you'll see.
Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me.
Dr Seuss
As seen in the Northern Territory News Sat Jan 12 pg25
Even though he writes kids stuff I think there is something in there for all of us!
Live, love and learn. Be all that you can
Live, love and learn. Be all that you can
Decrowd your house!
I have been absent of late due to the fact we decided to decrowd the house. For those of you not familiar with the term it refers to a process which involves relocating or removing unnecessary clutter. The trick though is in ensuring that relocations do not overcrowd another area.
Here is a brief idea of what we had to do
Here is a brief idea of what we had to do
- move child 2 in with child 1
- move small table from bedroom 2 to bedroom 1
- move bed of child 1 to other side of the room (sounds easy hey but this bed is solid timber from a 200 year old tree, it don't move all that well!)
- move drawers upstairs to bedroom 2
- move table down stairs
- move another table upstairs
- move drawers in bedroom 1 to other wall
- move tv in bedroom 1
Monday, January 7
Greetings to one and all
Hi, hello, welcome, G'day, greetings and good tidings to everyone.
I am very excited about the journey on which we are about to embark and I am very pleased to have you on board.
The road ahead is one full of excitement and adventure. You will witness an unveiling of character and strength as one young woman endeavors to achieve a childhood dream.
Becoming a writer has always been my passion. I remember as a teenager making a point of trying to write every day, as that was what all the real did. Unfortunately self discipline was weak, even back then!
Fingers crossed that has all changed now though.
I plan to regularly update this page with fresh and humorous thoughts so subscription is a fantastic idea!
May the rest of your day be all that you want
I am very excited about the journey on which we are about to embark and I am very pleased to have you on board.
The road ahead is one full of excitement and adventure. You will witness an unveiling of character and strength as one young woman endeavors to achieve a childhood dream.
Becoming a writer has always been my passion. I remember as a teenager making a point of trying to write every day, as that was what all the real did. Unfortunately self discipline was weak, even back then!
Fingers crossed that has all changed now though.
I plan to regularly update this page with fresh and humorous thoughts so subscription is a fantastic idea!
May the rest of your day be all that you want
Beware of gusty winds!
So I live in the tropics and cyclones are a part of life at this time of year. While they can be dangerous and deadly they don't occur all that often and generally they seem to pass by without too much hassle.
We just had a cyclone pass through on the weekend. The damage is not too bad, though quite a few big trees have been blown over and there is plant matter every where. All in all where I live was quite lucky, but I know that the damage 100kms away is much worse. Thankfully it is not a highly populated area.
Anyway the point to this rant is.... If I hear another stupid person tell me they wish it was worse I will clobber them one. Why would anyone wish for greater damage to be caused by a natural disaster?
We just had a cyclone pass through on the weekend. The damage is not too bad, though quite a few big trees have been blown over and there is plant matter every where. All in all where I live was quite lucky, but I know that the damage 100kms away is much worse. Thankfully it is not a highly populated area.
Anyway the point to this rant is.... If I hear another stupid person tell me they wish it was worse I will clobber them one. Why would anyone wish for greater damage to be caused by a natural disaster?
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