My Mum and I booked a holiday over the New Year break to New Zealand way back in August and I have been counting down the months, weeks, days and let's be honest seconds ever since to give myself a break from this pesky little life that keeps kicking me in the butt recently. I was looking forward to scenic views, helicopter rides, whale watching, wine tours and deliciously fresh seafood all with the knowledge that some chef in some restaurant would be cooking me every single meal for two weeks without me having to plan or buy or cook or do anything which I feel is currently ruling this life that I live. Well didn't life have the last laugh as sadly my Grandfather passed away days before we were due to fly out and we of course cancelled our trip. I am obviously incredibly sad that he has left us, but he was 85 and we had a great celebration to commemorate his very colorful life. It's just a shame the cheeky bugger couldn't have timed things a little better!
So apart from the for mentioned kick in the face, what else have I been up to in the last 6 weeks.
As I am sure is the same with most of you at this time of year, I spent more time than usual going to parties and catching up with friends and of course this usually centers around eating! I was incredibly nervous about how I was going to handle eating my way through the silly season but I did pretty well all things considered. After an incredibly tough few weeks of researching recipes and trying new things it was a welcome change to eat out and not have to think too much about it. That was of course until Christmas came around and I spent a lot of time tripping around Victoria then things got a little tricky.
December started off with a trip to the Pleasant St Primary School Christmas markets, one of my favourite evenings of the year. It is a jam packed mix of homemade craft and local fresh produce with plenty of rides and things thrown in for the kids. The whole idea is to do your Christmas shopping but I am pretty good and buying presents for myself it seems. If you haven't been, you should check it out next year, although it seems to get busier and busier every year and it is becoming increasingly hard to get around to all of the stalls! After the market we headed to the Lake View for a well overdue glass of wine and a bite to eat. With a few feasible options on the menu I settled for seafood paella, it admittedly wasn't even close to the best I have had but who cares, I didn't have to cook it!
As the days flew by I ticked off a bunch of other places around town including seafood pasta from The George and then again from Red Peppa, prawn and soba noddle salad from Open Pantry, grains & seeds salad from Websters Market & cafe and pizza from The Forge.
With the exception of Websters, as this is a new cafe, these places are definitely high up on my favourite places to eat around town. I have mentioned them in the past and I am incredibly thankful I can still eat delicious, fresh and local produce from my favourite places.
Websters on the other hand is new so I was interested to see what it was all about. For a tiny little place that isn't even in the CBD it was insanely busy. The menu was really limited but the food was good quality and I would give it another crack.
After trying all of this delicious food I had high spirits for coping through the rest of the Christmas break and I must admit everyone was incredibly accommodating and doing their best to make sure they cater for me too but things became much much harder when you're not in your own kitchen. Armed with bags of groceries which was mainly full of tinned food I did my best to get through with no tears of frustration, although there was plenty of frustration as everyone tucked into yummy leftovers, amazing looking desserts and plenty of BBQs and here I was trying to come up with something to make out of my tinned grocery bags I dragged around everywhere. One of the hardest things is the isolation and lack of access to fresh food, especially fish. I found myself living off tins of tuna for what seemed like meal after meal for a few days until I refused to eat anymore.
I have however cooked up a few things worth mentioning while I have been at home including a pumpkin and chickpea burger, falafel wraps, pizza's (if you have never made your own pizza dough, you need to!) and probably the most successful a crumbed whiting burger and air fried chips. I am looking forward to doing this one again very soon (I can't wait until Ballarat Seafoods open again tomorrow for some fresh fish!).
I feel I have done a lot of ranting and raving in this post so I will finish off with some less gloomy and more relaxing things I have done post Christmas.
I had a beautiful New Years Eve with some of my favourite girls. We had a very causal afternoon and quiet night in the back yard with our first BBQ for the season. A lovely way to bring in the New Year and all I really have to say is farewell 2015! You have kicked my butt in more ways than one and I am glad to see the back of you!
After spending some time back at the farm the moment my brother mentioned the words "river" and "fishing" my ears pricked up. I haven't been fishing in such a long time and I love it. I went for my birthday last year but it was at a trout farm where the fish basically jump out of the pond and into the net so I am not sure that counts. I think this was possibly the best day I have had of this entire break. I had such a fun day out on the boat with my cousin even though we caught snag after snag, knotted line after line and of course I was the only one that didn't catch a fish for the entire day!
Keeping to the water theme, yesterday I spent the day at the beach with my favourite sexy mumma and my main man (sorry Dyl, you can't beat those chubby cheeks!). I have been back in Ballarat for about a week and haven't really achieved a great deal or felt like I have done anything relaxing and this was well and truly needed. We had a great day, the weather was beautiful and my main man was a delight and provided much entertainment as he played in the water and tried to eat sand. I even snuck in a treat meal with delicious deep fried fish and chips.
I am heading to my first T20 Big Bash game tonight, I can't say I am a fan of cricket but looking forward to getting out and doing something and may also head to the tennis on Wednesday before getting back into work on Thursday. Wish me luck, I think I am going to need it.
2016, I hope you bring me, health, happiness and good fortune (fingers crossed for a big tattslotto pay out!). As always, keep smiling, even when/if life kicks you in the face!
