Anyone Game? It’s my Sep 2013 Blog! I'm home; with a TR link in #1189, 10/14

[Minniemum]

I haven't been around for awhile but I'm all caught up now. It seems life's been getting in the way of my DIS reading.

Love that the worldwide search for kecap manis had a happening ending.

Curds and Whey is my favourite cheese shop in the market. They always have great produce.

I'm usually a Bill's Farm girl but on your recommendation I dropped by Curds and Whey yesterday. I was like a kid at a candy store and came home with 8 different cheeses! The service was great. I've got friends over tonight so will give you my review later.

Love seeing pictures of normal life in Australia I've told you before I see the world through your eyes and its pretty amazing I can't imagine ever getting there so this is very exciting to me

I have lived in NY, ME, CA (very very briefly SF area early 1970s) and FL Have spent a lot of time in VA, GA, and VT never saw anything like your market What selections, what freshness Unless I missed something I doubt anyplace I've been has anything like it

Can't wait to try those mushrooms can you figure out a way to pass one through the computer please?? Right now ?? I am slowly changing my opinions on vegan eating looks great to me all the things you have posted re-the pesky vegetarian

I've grown up going to the Queen Victoria Market and still go every week. I'm surprised to hear they're near non-existent in the US.

PIO, if you have trouble getting the mushroom through the computer I'm more than happy to drop over for a taste test! They look delicious.

 

[PrincessInOz]

OMG! Love portobello, love feta, love pesto. I hate myself for not crashing your party.

I think I hate you for not crashing this party as well. Not too late....

Those look very tasty, I hope that they will be small enough so that I can have one of those, some potato salad, cucumber salad, tri tip....

We'll have to go shopping and see what size they are. If we can't find space on the grill, we're going to have to work out plan B.

Love seeing pictures of normal life in Australia I've told you before I see the world through your eyes and its pretty amazing I can't imagine ever getting there so this is very exciting to me

I have lived in NY, ME, CA (very very briefly SF area early 1970s) and FL Have spent a lot of time in VA, GA, and VT never saw anything like your market What selections, what freshness Unless I missed something I doubt anyplace I've been has anything like it

Can't wait to try those mushrooms can you figure out a way to pass one through the computer please?? Right now ?? I am slowly changing my opinions on vegan eating looks great to me all the things you have posted re-the pesky vegetarian

If you and your DH are going to be at this cookout, no need for me to fix my teleport device.

I haven't been around for awhile but I'm all caught up now. It seems life's been getting in the way of my DIS reading.

Love that the worldwide search for kecap manis had a happening ending.




I'm usually a Bill's Farm girl but on your recommendation I dropped by Curds and Whey yesterday. I was like a kid at a candy store and came home with 8 different cheeses! The service was great. I've got friends over tonight so will give you my review later.



I've grown up going to the Queen Victoria Market and still go every week. I'm surprised to hear they're near non-existent in the US.

PIO, if you have trouble getting the mushroom through the computer I'm more than happy to drop over for a taste test! They look delicious.

Glad you enjoyed shopping at Curds and Whey. Hope you like the cheeses.

 

[skier_pete]

The closest thing to the Victoria market I've seen in the states is probably pikes market in Seattle. Still not the same.

 

[PrincessInOz]

The closest thing to the Victoria market I've seen in the states is probably pikes market in Seattle. Still not the same.

I wonder where people go to buy stuff other than the supermarkets and grocery stores?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Reports of my (Aussie Dollar) Death may or may not be Greatly Exaggerated



Over the last two weeks, that little Aussie Battler of our Dollar has been plummeting like a stone. It’s gone from $1.03 to $0.96. This holiday just became 8% more expensive! With the media reports and beat-up or down about the dollar, it seems pretty clear that most pundits believe that the dollar is in a death spiral. Time will tell if that is the case.


Without a doubt: For the last 2 – 3 years, our dollar has been amazingly strong against the US. It’s been great for travel and shopping and I’ve certainly enjoyed the high dollar. And as my crystal ball is not telling me whether the dollar will go back up or not, I’ve decided to try and lock in as much as possible of the remaining items now.


The question is - will a falling dollar stop me from travelling? The answer to that is an emphatic no. I am, first and foremost, a nomad at heart and if I could afford to do so, I would spend my life travelling. I never forget that travel is an experience that broadens my perspective and makes my heart sing. I also accept that I will never be super rich in this life as my philosophy on money is that it is an enabler of the lifestyle you wish to and can afford to lead. Therefore, I will continue to spend every spare cent I can afford on travel; rather than accumulate it to get richer.

Besides, we’ve travelled to the US with exchange rates ranging anywhere from $0.54 - $1.08 and we used to price out holidays based on a $0.64 exchange rate as our standard. So, irrespective of the direction the dollar takes between now and October, I’ll continue with the plan. I’ve been sending a few emails to a few of the places I’m dealing with all weekend to see what I can prepay now. Without a doubt, if it makes sense to do so, I’ll prepay for as much as I possibly can or convert the money so that we’ve got this trip covered.


As you can imagine, the dollar exchange rate has been the subject of discussions between DH and me over the last week or so. We have had quite a few and long discussions over the merits of prepaying for accommodation vs holding on to the cash. It really is a continuation of discussions we’ve been having all year. DH prefers not to prepay in full. And until now, I’ve been striking the balance between the two points of view. Everytime I’ve locked in accommodation and haven’t paid in full, I’ve been making sure that we have the equivalent in US dollars to cover the balance. Turns out it’s been a good thing that I’ve been converting money to US currency for the last 12 months and I think DH has been quite pleased that I’ve done so. So, he’s in agreement that we need to lock in as much as possible and/or convert the money into US currency.


It's all part of the Ups and Downs of Trip Planning!

 

[Luvchefmic]

Yes I can imagine it can be both frustrating and aggravating; an adrenalin rush but the wrong way puts me in mind of people that are at the horse races all the time but gets me sick in the stomach

Sounds like a good plan about pre-pay as much as you can and glad DH is on board with you Smart you've been converting for the past year too

I agree with your philosophy about life and traveling I would want to spend my life doing it too, but the passion for the animals was stronger over the wander lust feelings so that keeps us in one location

Either way its a good life for us all (and I greatly benefit from YOUR travels )

It will all work out; no doubt

 

[zanzibar138]

Ah the joys of foreign currency... We've had a good run with our Aussie dollar, and you've been very clever getting your conversions as you go

 

[dgbg100106]

We are suffering the same, with US Dollars to Euros for our upcoming vacation...

I feel for you.. Some we have pre paid and some we are holding out on. it is just a betting game we play.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Yes I can imagine it can be both frustrating and aggravating; an adrenalin rush but the wrong way puts me in mind of people that are at the horse races all the time but gets me sick in the stomach

Sounds like a good plan about pre-pay as much as you can and glad DH is on board with you Smart you've been converting for the past year too

I agree with your philosophy about life and traveling I would want to spend my life doing it too, but the passion for the animals was stronger over the wander lust feelings so that keeps us in one location

Either way its a good life for us all (and I greatly benefit from YOUR travels )

It will all work out; no doubt

Yes. Strong stomachs required when looking at the Australian currency markets at the moment.

Ah the joys of foreign currency... We've had a good run with our Aussie dollar, and you've been very clever getting your conversions as you go

The joys indeed! Are you looking at getting some for your trip next year?

We are suffering the same, with US Dollars to Euros for our upcoming vacation...

I feel for you.. Some we have pre paid and some we are holding out on. it is just a betting game we play.

I feel for you too. At least your dollar is on the rise.

 

[zanzibar138]

The joys indeed! Are you looking at getting some for your trip next year?

I'm considering it. I don't have much extra in my savings though (don't want to use my airfare!). But I'm not too worried yet. Compared to the days of 50-60 cents to the dollar, 80 or 90 cents is still pretty good

 

[skier_pete]

Tell me about it. I noticed our trip last year got 5 % more expensive while we were there! Very hard to predict the fluctuations in currency. If we could do that, we'd be rich.

Though this reminds me of when we were at Disney in 2009 for Christmas. We were there the week before the holidays started (Dec 10th-20th) and on the Saturday before Christmas, I noticed that they raised all the prices in the food court that day. (A banana went from $1.19 to a $1.49. A bagel from $1.99 to $2.19.) I wondered if they did that everywhere for the holidays, of if it was just a general price increase. Gasoline prices can swing pretty wildly as well. So no matter where you go, price flucuations can bite you.

 

[abbybeth]

that mushroom side dish/appetizer looks wonderful and so simple! Will be adding that to my list of things to make this summer yum!!!

sorry about the exchange rate - I travel to Canada quite a bit for dance and the fluctuations of the US dollar against the Canadian dollar can throw a wrench in things some times. It's been pretty steady the last couple years, though I remember when the US dollar was quite a bit stronger and traveling over there was much cheaper!

 

[rentayenta]

If there was any I could crash it, I would. Joshua's bar mitzvah is October 12 but trust me, I'm going to start crashing some of these girls' trips. I have enjoyed the meets I've been to with my family though.

I'm with you, if I could spend my life traveling, I would.

 

[dgbg100106]

My entire bucket list is traveling, it is enriching, educational, and inspiring. What more do you need?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Tell me about it. I noticed our trip last year got 5 % more expensive while we were there! Very hard to predict the fluctuations in currency. If we could do that, we'd be rich.

Though this reminds me of when we were at Disney in 2009 for Christmas. We were there the week before the holidays started (Dec 10th-20th) and on the Saturday before Christmas, I noticed that they raised all the prices in the food court that day. (A banana went from $1.19 to a $1.49. A bagel from $1.99 to $2.19.) I wondered if they did that everywhere for the holidays, of if it was just a general price increase. Gasoline prices can swing pretty wildly as well. So no matter where you go, price flucuations can bite you.

I'm already building in a 10% swingaround on the currency, and therefore, adding 10% to this trip.

I sure hope that there isn't a price rice at Disney whilst we're there.

that mushroom side dish/appetizer looks wonderful and so simple! Will be adding that to my list of things to make this summer yum!!!

sorry about the exchange rate - I travel to Canada quite a bit for dance and the fluctuations of the US dollar against the Canadian dollar can throw a wrench in things some times. It's been pretty steady the last couple years, though I remember when the US dollar was quite a bit stronger and traveling over there was much cheaper!

Thanks.

I've learnt to accept that exchange rate differences are part and parcel of travel. Otherwise, I'd have no hair left.

If there was any I could crash it, I would. Joshua's bar mitzvah is October 12 but trust me, I'm going to start crashing some of these girls' trips. I have enjoyed the meets I've been to with my family though.

I'm with you, if I could spend my life traveling, I would.

Hope the bar mitzvah goes well.

My entire bucket list is traveling, it is enriching, educational, and inspiring. What more do you need?

Just add food to the list, and I'm happy.

 

[dgbg100106]

Just add food to the list, and I'm happy.

well you know I eat, and drink so I am happy.

 

[PrincessInOz]

well you know I eat, and drink so I am happy.

Yes, let's not forget the drinks!

 

[PrincessInOz]

It was a Dark and Stormy Night



It was a dark and stormy night.


The rain was pelting down and the flash of lightning would bring with it the anticipation of a thunder clap loud enough to shake, rattle and roll the house. It only needed a big, bad wolf to come along to huff and puff immediately after and the house would probably have blown down.
The white cat sat patiently at the door, waiting to be noticed by the family preparing for bed.
Someone sees the cat. The door opens; in between a lightning flash and the thunder clap.


One one hundred, two one hundred, three one hundred.


Oh my gawd! Look what the cat dragged in!
That innocent looking white cat, who had been dumped outside the house some 8 years ago. Where does the time go?


In the dim bedtime light of the house, something flutters.
The cat pounces.


Something flutters again.
The family freaks! What is it?


Something flutters.
The cat pounces.
Someone reaches for something&.anything&..


Where did it go?
Where did it go?
Where did it go?


The family searches high and low.


Nothing flutters.
The cat wants to pounce.
Nothing flutters.


Where did it go?


I settle down on the couch and put my legs up.
Something flutters.


Oh my gawd!
Its up my tracksuit pants.
Something flutters.
What is it?


AAAAARGH!! It flew up my tracksuit to hide.


I can still feel the creepy crawly flutters. OMG!!
I cant see it.
I dont want to see it.
I can feel it.


Something flutters.
I wrap the throw rug over my leg and tracksuit.
Something flutters.
Flutter out %$#Q%#$(!


I have no idea what it is.
But it is completely wrapped up in that throw rug.
I think I might just throw the rug away.


It was a dark and stormy night.
The flash of lightning.
The clap of thunder.
And something flutters!



I can still feel it fluttering now.








On Friday night, during a thunderstorm, my white cat brought something into the house. It disappeared whilst I was trying to find something to capture it and neither the cat nor I could find it. Turns out the fluttering thing found its way up my tracksuit pants. And yes, this actually happened.

I was to find out from DH that he saw the white cat catch a huge moth a little earlier.

 

[dgbg100106]

scary.... but I am sure it was entertaining to watch. Did DS and DH get to enjoy the show?

 

[PrincessInOz]

scary.... but I am sure it was entertaining to watch. Did DS and DH get to enjoy the show?

DH had gone to bed early.

DS had been totally scared from the thunder and lightning and had gotten out of bed. I suggested he join me in the living room and we went to sit on the couch. That's when I felt it fluttering against my leg.

The moth then kinda flew up a little and landed on his hand.

So, there we were.....both of us freaking out in the living room.

How DH slept through the noise is beyond me.