Red hat Christmas party

My outfit for our Christmas party, as it was our Christmas get together, the colours were red and I wore my purple skirt as I don't have red pants or a skirt and I didn't really want to wear black like I normally do.

I bought the shoes which have purple straps but not real sure about them, don't think they are really me. I wore them to work today but think they will be banished to the black hole (back of my wardrobe until Red Hat days when I do wear a skirt some times. My flash hat usually only comes out for special occasions too.

We had lunch at the Deception Bay Tavern, $12 meals for seniors and they had set the table nicely with red and green bon bons, it was a nice meal, we had pre ordered and that means we pretty much get our meals at the same time.

We exchange gifts to the value of  $5 and this picture is what I made. Actually I made a bigger one a couple of months ago, it was before 2016 diaries were available to buy . I put it somewhere and then couldn't find where I put it so quickly had to make another with a 2016 diary so that was all good. (The iron mark did brush off!)

Lunch at Woodford Pub.

We both worked really hard this morning, me starting nanowrimo and Warren in the garden raking and shoveling. As a reward for our efforts we decided to take ourselves out for lunch. Problem was where? Morning tea time was spent discussing where, a couple of places were dissed as being too far as we still had things to do, finally we chose Woodford but it would have been too hot at the coffee shop so the pub won out. Its over twelve months since we have been there.

This is the side of the pub, its a bit topsy turvy, I think it probably started as a small building and has been added to and added to over the years.

It was very popular at lunch no tables except either upstairs or on the verandas in front of the rough and ready bar, so called as guys can go there for a drink in their work clothes as long as they are wearing a shirt.

We chose the veranda as it was cool and there were not many smokers.

We ordered two entrees and bread, we have been before and their meals are BIG.

Spring rolls, Salt and pepper calamari and a bread (which came out looking like a pizza. There was a salad on each plate so we shared. It was more than enough. The calamari was thick slices and the best I have ever tasted, it was melt in the mouth.

This was what we brought home of the bread/pizza. With a salad it will go down very nicely for dinner.

Its funny but I realised today that we go out for lunch, rarely if ever we just go down to the local places for lunch. It is a real, go somewhere, if we do lunch. Woodford for us is a nice easy drive about thirty minutes away from home, we travel out the back way so quiet roads for about half the way, bit narrow and windy but its unusual to see more than one car on the way. A nice country drive with a pleasant meal at the end then get up and walk out, no prep, no dishes no hassle, of course the bank card does take a bit of a hit. Yes, it would be cheaper to eat at home but we do that the rest of the week.

Just an update on Nano, I wrote 1707 of my daily quota this morning, did want to do 2000 so may do some more later.

Jamie Oliver's 30 minute meals

When we are both home, we usually have lunch watching some of Ellen, She is on between 12 and 1 pm. Not a bad show, today we were a little later and hadn't finished lunch when the next program came on which was Jamie's 30 minute meals.

I love the way he cooks and I probably have seen this one before plus I do have a couple of his recipe books but I still watched it again. The first thing he made was a fruit "ice cream" using frozen fruit, some yogurt and honey. He put honey in it because the berries were some what tart.I have blue berries in the freezer.

Then he put a few sweet potatoes in the microwave, made some dressing for green vegetables before cooking some bacon and then fish.

I had just about everything except chilli but we don't do chilli, I used red capsicum instead. Oh, he also did a lemon drink with soft drink and sparkling water. I made one with orange and mint.

This was our dinner tonight fashioned on Jamie's program this afternoon. Unfortunately Warren didn't really like the dressing over the broccoli and cauli, it had fish sauce in it. I am trying to introduce more fish into our diet but the fish i have is not that nice, think I need to make the rest into a mornay.

Cruisin'

Two weeks ago we set off on a weeks cruise.

Going under the Gateway Bridge, most people were actually ducking so as we wouldn't hit it. It did look quite close but I'm sure there was no danger.

Everyone was out on deck on the way out and some kids were enjoying the flying fox while we were heading down the Brisbane River and then out to sea.

We left at 2pm and this was the sunset from our balcony.

Truly a stress free holiday, no phones, no internet, no meals to prepare and best of all no dishes, definitely a win win situation.

A Weekend Writers Retreat

For two people! daughter and I did this last year and it is just nice to get away from everything and concentrate on writing. Of course there was a fair bit of chat as well and we enjoyed a couple of meals out that we didn't have to plan prepare and clean after either that was a bonus.

We left our b n B early this morning to try to avoid the heat, its 41 degrees on our back patio. I haven't done any writing since I arrived home, we did do a timed sprint after breakfast so I have 400+ already for the day four more of those and I am done!

I think we achieved 9K and 15K for the weekend, my aim was to do more than last weekend so got that and now I am three days in front. (and out of ideas where to go atm)

Neighbours

We have very good neighbours who live across the road from us, they are the eyes of the street. A couple of years ago they both had a replacement hip operation and recovered pretty well after that. Last week Judy had to have her second hip done and she is due home from hospital today.

I have been cooking some extra meals to take over to them as I'm sure she wont feel like cooking for awhile. So, last night I made pea and ham soup, I haven't made that in ages but I know they don't like a lot of fancy meals so that would be nourishing and easy for them to heat up. I also made a quiche and a beef stew and some sausage rolls. I made double quantities so our freezer has been filled up a bit too. My chicken stock ice cubes  have been used so today I have some chicken carcasses in the crock pot simmering away.

I should be writing a piece for my writing class that starts again tomorrow, lets say I am thinking about it. Two weeks of holidays and I haven't done anything about it yet, shades of high school.