The "Gall" of It!

How rude!

I was minding my own business on the weekend, enjoying our usual Friday night pizza and movie with the kids, only to have a bout of "heartburn" take over my weekend.

It progressively got worse, and a quick phone call to mum for a prognosis and medication, and I thought I was rid of it!  Or was I?

NO.

What started out as heartburn, ended up to be so much more!

Now, I have never had heartburn before, so was not sure what I was dealing with.  I basically spent 2 nights pacing up and down trying to divert my attention from the pain.....

One thing about me, my pain thresh-hold is really high, so I could be having a heart attack and be thinking, I will just give it another day and see how it goes, or my leg could be hanging off and I am trying to fix it with a Band-aid!

Side-note....that's the thing about mums, you don't have time to be sick!

So after 2 days of pain, and taking the remedies of heart-burn, I decided to ring Health Direct (a 24 hour online medical advice programme run in Australia)

After a few questions, it was unanimous....GO STRAIGHT TO HOSPITAL....
Oh Stella!

Within minutes I was ushered into Emergency, and had a series of tests done.

First test being I had to drink a liquid, that glows in my body and shows up any abnormalities!  Hmmmm, sounds fun?

Going through this machine, they inject you with a substance that feels like you have just had a drink of acid, and it burns right through your system....YAY...Loved it....NOT!

The big lit up blobby on the left is me...
So after lighting up all of Western Australia, I had my diagnosis.....




GALL STONES!

What The?

Never had it, never heard of it, now it was my problem....WHY?  HOW?  WHEN?  WHAT?  You know, the usual questions....



Well it might have something to do with the fact that I am nearly, you know, (mid life)...and is quite common at this age...GREAT, it's already started and I havn't even turned the big >>>>>>You know!  I am weeks off!  How rude, it hit me early!

So with a big stone in my gall bladder, I am a grumpy "stella" at the moment.  Apparently it won't pass, and after my "duck flying north, Honeymoon", I will have to come back and face the music of having my gall bladder removed!

There could be an advantage to that!  I could lose 500g of weight!  Ha Ha.

So middle age is hitting me square in the face, or in my case the gall bladder!

Stellaaaaa!    The "Gall" of it!

Ducks Flying North!

My DH (Dear Husband) and I are like ducks flying south...or in this case NORTH.....

(2 old ducks...haha)

It's that time again, when we make our annual pilgrimage overseas for our "honeymoon".  My wonderful, fantastic, fabulous, amazing, beautiful mum volunteers to move in and be "mum" to my 4 girls up to 2 times a year!

I know, I know....I am VERY grateful.  And I DO appreciate it....and I KNOW how LUCKY I am!   Now that said...lets get on with it.

So as adventurous as we are, we have decided to chill out in Bali.  We love doing that, and we love the relaxed holiday attitude in Bali.  Not to mention our daily massage....sometimes 2!!!!

And the fact that you have all your meals cooked for you is a favourite of mine!

So very soon, we will be packing to relax around a pool for a week.

Who am I when I am not mum?  Sometimes we forget to relax and be ourselves when we are in Mother Mode.

It takes a couple of days to unwind from motherhood into Kellyhood.  I have forgotten what relaxing looks like, and can irritate my DH by pacing the hotel room not knowing what to do with myself...or making the bed in the morning because I feel the need to be doing something....

Don't worry, by day 3 I promise you I relax and by the end of it, you will hear me say "huh, what kids?"... (mumma loves you girls!)

We have been fortunate enough to do this over the years, and it has been a great time of re-connecting our relationship.

Even the best marriage needs tending.  It is like a garden.  Weeds will constantly grow up trying to choke the life out of it.  And if you don't weed it, water it, tend to it and love it, it will either overgrow or die.

How many times have we seen marriages die?  Too many times as far as I am concerned.  We have to safeguard our marriages with vigilence!

One of the ways we do that is date night once a week.  We have done that since the kids were babies!  Someone older and wiser than us advised us to do that and it has been good advice...then we progressed to our holiday's together.  Having fun has got to be one of the most important things you can do as a couple.

When we first started out, after life and kids took over our time, our first few dates were not fun.  We made a rule not to talk about, politics, kids or religion....hmmmmm that left.....NOTHING!  So our first few dates were awkward silences!  Stella!!!!

Now.....when we go on holidays....as soon as we put the suitcases into the car, and we have cuddled mum and the kids, we are like 2 naughty teenagers sneaking out of the house.....

My catchcry is "Start The Car!"  "WoooHoooo"

And then we mooch around the airport, buy a book, buy a coffee, and Scotch and Coke for the old boy.  And then it's Happy Times!

Having time together, also gives you something to look forward to!

Now I have to explain, that DH and myself were married very young!  I was only 20, and he 22.  So we were thrust into marriage and parenthood quite early.  Not alot of time to play and enjoy life.  So we are making up for it now.

For those of you who don't have the opportunity....I say

"Where There's a Will....There's a WAY"

Go away for 1 night every three months, to a Hotel.  Ask your trusted friends and neighbours, and billet out the kids to different people, with those with 4 or more kids!  (It can be hard with a big family)....

That's how we started out....one night every 3-5 months. 

The weird thing is, I have been married nearly 20 years!  And

I still like the guy!!!!  Go figure!  I actually like him more than I did when we first met, and I didn't think that was possible!

Oh Bless Him!  (I love you DH).........

The Iron Lady!

How do you do it?




Ironing that is!


I am one of those people that actually don't mind ironing!  It's one of those chores that I can do without too much complaining.....Ironing for me, means putting the kids in their room for quiet time, putting the kettle on, and putting on my favourite DVD..(usually a girlie flick that DH (Dear Husband) will NOT watch!)

It only happens once a week, but I actually enjoy it......BUT......


I have recently purchased myself a STEAMER or HISS MACHINE as I like to call it.  


This little green creature was on sale, and I thought, Hmmmmm.....why not?


So I unpacked my little friend and settled him into our household.....


WELL......


I Love Him....That's right, he is the best thing since sliced bread.  You don't even need to put on a DVD, thats right.....there is NO TIME.

Mr Hiss (affectionately known)...is so quick at doing the ironing, you are finished before you begin!


It is the most easy of tasks, and that is from someone who doesn't mind the job.


Hang your garment, wave your magic steam wand over the creases and 


VOILA.....


Creases be gone.....Literally.  You can actually see them disappearing!


Now THAT HAS GOT TO BE WORTH IT!


You can pick these little babies up for around $40 Aussie Dollars....


I promise you it will be the best investment, and save you lots of STELLA moments, burning yourself, standing there, wishing it was over.


The only thing better than this little baby.....is

Having your own ROSIE maid do it for you........STELLA!

Cutting the Apron Strings!

I am in unfamiliar territory!


My boat has sailed off course, and my map is not helping....STELLA!


As a mum of 4 girls, I have always loved being a full time mum, and have taken my role very seriously over the last 18 years....I have used the parental manual over and over again....You know, the one they give you at the Hospital...just before your bring your cherub home!


Well anyway, my manual is sooooooo worn, it's almost unreadable.  

So I was looking up the chapter about, cutting the "Apron Strings", but could not find it in there.


A lot of my friends are in the younger children phase, and so are unable to help guide me through these narrow waters...actually, I think I have arrived at the 
Suez Canal....wow it's alot narrower than I thought....


My DH (Dear Husband) is the sort of man that fiercely guards his 4 girls....picture it....a bull mastif, big head, short stubby legs, screwed up face, lots of grunt, and a collar that says "Rocky" on it..(got the picture?), well that's my DH when it comes to his Girls.

Before my girls could even walk, DH had the "Boyfriend Application" already typed up in readiness for the first boy that "DARED" to come near and fein interest in "HIS GIRLS".....well....the time has come!


I warned DH, and tried to cushion the blow, but his BABY GIRL is about to turn 18!


It's not easy being a parent.  And now I understand what my mum went through with me (an Angel I tells ya!)


I have been wearing my "Apron" for 18 years, and have had the strings tied very tightly all that time, but recently realised that they need to be loosened....I have managed that quite well I think.  My DD (Dear Daughter) has managed to come through these unchartered waters unscathed, so far!  We are very proud of her, and her old fashioned values!  (I might like to think that we had something to do with that!)


But it is time, nonetheless, to start cutting the strings, not just loosening them!


About to start her new phase in her life, DD is starting University, and boy I am so ever grateful that we are living in Australia, and not the USA (I could not stand to send her away to College!).  I feel blessed to have her living at home whilst she is spreading her wings!  I can still cuddle her when she has a BOO BOO!  (Booooo HOOOOOO).......


We are about to have our first "BOY" over for dinner!  What a weird, wonderful and strange creature he will be, from planet "boy" or testosterone, to planet "pink" or oestrogen. (Too much oestrogen me thinks....it might balance things out!)


I am BOY...I come in peace!

So life is a changing.....Apron strings getting shorter, lots of bursts of tears (me that is)....proudly watching the changes my "BABY" is going through, and never really thinking I would actually get here.....(Did I mention I had ostrich traits, and like to stick my head in the sand?...NO....oh well now you know!)


So with reluctance, and a gentle knowing that I have to release her.....No point crying into my coffee, I just have to accept and trust.....


And cry, and trust, and cry and drink coffee, and cry and stella, and cry, and cry, and cry and cry and cry and cry....did I mention cry?


"(

A Career Change!

Anyone want a new Career? 


If you are looking for something to do this could be for you.


Just a warning the hours are long, and the pay is not that great, BUT, the job is very rewarding.....

If you are interested you will need the following qualifications....


* Must have current Drivers Licence
* A first Aid Certificate highly regarded
* Good Cleaning Skills (light/and heavy cleaning required)
* Cooking an advantage
* Shopping required on fortnightly basis
* Ironing included
* Basic domestic duties/and some non basic ones)
* Must Love Dogs
* Childcare would be included along with Teaching/Tutoring
* Lunch making required, along with breakfast and Dinner daily
* Knowing your way around a washing machine highly regarded
* Floors/Windows/Showers/Toilets/Benches/Patio cleaned & tidied daily
* Must Keep up a Good Appearance
* Plastic surgery not essential, but highly desired
* Must Look young and attractive
* Uniform provided, although High Heels an Advantage!

* Hours 24/7
* Pay - nil


If you are interested, please send your resume to............


Attention : Husband


Job Title : Wife/Mother!

Hello, are you still there?
STELLA!

It's a Dog's Life!

Remember I am the queen of making ends meet?

Well one of the way's our family save money, is by making my own dog food!

Hmmmm, why?  Well it's more nutritious, and costs less, so why not?

There are many recipes you can use to make dog food.  But these are my 2 favourites!

Recipe #1 Dog Food

1kg beef mince (cheapest mince you can find)
3 carrots cut up
1 cup of rice or pasta
2 stock cubes
1 Tbs Peanut Butter or Vegemite (for flavour)
1 cup of vegetables chopped (any you have spare, but not onion or potato)
1.5 Ltr water

Place all ingredients into a pot, and bring to a boil.  Turn down heat and on low heat, boil for about 40 minutes, or until the mixture is cooked and thickened.

Cool down and store into portions.  Enough for 1 dog to eat with dry biscuits.  It freezes well.

I have 2 dogs so this recipe lasts me around 10 meals each dog.  And it's healthy for them, and good for their coat.  Buy the cheapest cut of mince, don't buy pet mince, as it is actually more expensive than human beef mince!

Recipe #2 Dog Biscuits (Treats)

2 cups wholemeal flour
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup powdered milk
1 tspn yeast
2 cups water mixed with 1 Tbs vegemite

*The biscuits take on the vegemite flavour, which most dogs seem to love, but experiment with peanut butter, or stock flavours.

Place all ingredients into breadmachine, thermomix or mixer, or mix by hand.  Form a soft dough that is not too dry.

Roll the dough out flat around 1/2 inch thick.  Cut with "bone" cookie cutter.  Bake in a slow over 170 degrees celcius, or 325 degrees F.  For one hour.  Turn off oven and leave to cool, either overnight or a few hours.

Store into the freezer, or an airtight container.  Can be used as treats, or when you are training.  These biscuits can be made for under $2.00.  They are expensive if you buy them ready made!

There you go.....nothing too hard, and your dogs will love you for it!

Mondayitus!

Do you suffer from it?  Do you have the symptoms?  Are you struck down every week with it?


Mondayitus....(Monday-Eye-tus)....


It's a rare condition that seems to strike people late Sunday night.


Every week without a doubt, Monday is coming!  Yes that's right, you heard me, it comes....even if you don't want it to, even if you try to block it out, it is on its way.


There is nothing you can do to stop Monday.  But you don't HAVE to suffer with Mondayitus!

It's funny, some people suffer Monday's, others like me thrive on Monday's.


Why?


Well to me, Monday represents a clean slate.  A new set of lists and chores!  All those things I failed at last week, I now have a do-over this week.  A fresh start!

I love Monday's because it's my housework day.  The floors, vacuumed, mopped, bathrooms done, roast dinner, rice pudding.....(I'm English), the whole thing!


It's like yesterday the world ended and today is a new beginning.....I appear out of the bomb shelter (messy house!!!)  to a  new and wonderful week.


I am woman hear me ROAR.....

When I first wake up on a Monday, when I first open my eyes, it's a new week, and none of the "stella moments" have hit.....YET!  It's the time before the "stellas"  for those few precious moments nothing has happened to me, I am still in the "clean slate" moment.....then the rest is history.


I wake up, get up, muck up, speak up, then shut up.  For 6 days, then the Monday creeps up again, and its.....a new week, Its Monday!


Unfortunately, for those of you who do suffer Mondayitus....there is no pill to take.  




Wake up, get up, speak up, shut up, and go back to bed!.....stella!

Monday-i-tus!

The Time Bandit!

Has he ever visited you?


I'm sure he does.  I hear you people complaining about time getting away from you, just as it gets away from me...


The Time Bandit!

He visited me today.  I was happily going about my normal day, you know, homeschooling, washing, baking, dishes etc etc.  So far so good.


Then I visited a friend for coffee, great coffee, great friendship, great conversation!  Still so far so good.


Then on the way home I went to my 3 o clock Doctors Appointment!


Waiting,  waiting,  waiting, 1 hour, waiting waiting waiting, 2 hours....


S. T. E. L. L. A...........


Not happy Jan.  The time Bandit, swooped in and stole 3 hours of my life!


Now YES the Doctors surgery leave a lot to be desired, yes their practice stinks!


But the "Time Bandit" can prey on us any time any place, (although the Doctors is quite a common place for him to steal your time!)


If we added up all these stolen moments from "The Time Bandit" how much would it add up to in your life?


A car broken down?  (1 1/2 hours)


Doctors Appointment (3 hours!)


Waiting in the school carpark for the kids (45mins)


Lotto kiosk (5 minutes)


Red Light (3 mins)


Waiting for someone in the family to rub my feet (forever!)

You get my point.  No wonder we are in a harried state all the time....our lives are made up of "stolen moments".....


If I add mine up, I think I and all the rest of us could gain weeks and weeks on our life!


Remember the movie "In Time" with Justin Timberlake.  The movie shows how each person has a number on their arm which represents the amount of time they have left on their life.  Imagine it winding down 3 hours after my Doctors appointment?  Wow!

Wouldn't that make us prioritise our time better?  Wasting my time at the Doctors trying to prolong my life could actually be shortening it!


Stay with me people, I am thinking out loud here...but imagine.


If you knew you only had 3 years, 12 hours, 39 minutes and 16 seconds left to live....how would you live it?  What would you spend your time on?


It certainly makes you wonder what your time is worth?


So it got me thinking.....what do I spend my time on?  Or rather, the question to ask, what am I wasting my time on?


Makes you think?

The Treadmill!

Ever noticed how intertwined the Treadmill is in our lives....or as I like to call it..


THE DREADMILL!


It's one of those pieces of equipment, that when purchased promises to turn you thin and beautiful....until you read the fine-print, and you realise you actually have to use it, and really hard, for it to live up to it's promises.


When I first purchased my "Dreadmill", and as I was handing over my (husbands) hard earned money... I wasn't thinking "What a great clothes horse" this would make, NO, I was thinking thin, fit and beautiful.  


But over time, reality had a different picture as to what I would do with this expensive piece of machinery.


This is more the reality of how it is used.

The "Dreadmill" is also like life....when we are born, we are like a shiny new piece of equipment, as we age and get older, sometimes we get sidetracked and end up being used or function out of our character.  Sometimes life makes us jaded, sometimes it makes us tired, sometimes it rewards us, and sometimes it just plods along for a while.


I guess it's how we use it (our gift of life) that gets us the results we want.  BUT.


There is always a but.  We have to know what we want out of it. 


Like I said before, when I was handing over that cash, I wasn't thinking this would be great to hang my washing on, I was thinking fit and fab.  It's also an attitude.  


When did my attitude towards how I use the "Dreadmill" change?  Was it on the first day, as soon as I got it home?  NO.  Infact, from memory, I worked that machine for a good while before I felt jaded and tired by it.  Then life got in the way and now....well....you know the rest....HANGING WASHING!


So, I have decided not to waste or squander the function and meaning for the machine.  I am going to dust it off, and use it according to it's purpose.


Just like life....am I on track?  Well no, I guess there are always things to improve.  When the rut of life hits, and believe me it hits, not always a rhyme or reason, but it hits, I like to wallow and sook, and then write up a plan.  That's right, a perfectionist always makes a list.  It's great because even if you don't actually achieve what's on the list, you have still written it, so it feels like you've done something!


So my friends, where are you on the "Dreadmill" of life?  Are you running, facing the wind, your hair billowing behind you, the birds chirping, the breeze a blowing, the sun a shining?  Or, are you dragging your heels, one foot infront of the other trying to hang on, with the stench of "stella" hanging in the air?

Sidenote, the "stench of stella" in this case is bad, but it can be good...just keep that in mind for future!


So if you are on the "Dreadmill" that stinks, it's time to take stock my friends, you can change direction and have a new attitude, the new attitude can take you places you never dreamed of...after all we all have a plan and purpose to our lives..


So pull that washing off, dust off your shoes, write that list, and function the way a "Dreadmill" should function.....Shake your "stella" free....

Be My Valentine!

Ok, so it's Valentines Day.  What does that mean?  Well in my house, not much.  But somewhere in the world...its beer o clock and valentines day.


My DH (Dear Husbands) idea of Valentines Day is to really pamper me.  That's right, I am the luckiest woman on the fa fa face of the earth!


He is Mr Smoothy when it comes to Valentines Day.  


He're is how it goes......


He goes to work....and......NOTHING!


Oh, it must be something exciting at the end of the day maybe?


So during the day....NOTHING!  Don't worry, I say....something big is going to happen around 5pm....that's when the real Valentines Day starts!


or does it?


So....he get's home....wait for it.....


NOTHING....


Well, not nothing.  I get his dirty lunchbox.  His dirty uniform handed to me.  I get him a drink and ask how his day was.  I follow him around while he's leaving his stuff all around the house...you know....a drill on the kitchen bench...boots by the front door....sunnies and wallet on another bench....dirty sox left on the floor...hard hat on the couch....

and then, just when I can't stand the excitement,  he sits down and puts the news on!


All the while, I am cooking his tea, washing his clothes, picking up his stuff, raising his kids, darning his sox, making his lunch, ironing the uniform, handing him his Valentines Card.....and then clearing up his dinner........

I told you...I am the luckiest woman on the fa fa face of the earth!


Who say's Valentines day is not popular???


S..T..E..L..L..AAAAAAAAA!




Ok, not exactly true, he did ask if I would like to go see a movie!  Of course I said YES!!!

Beached Is

How lucky are we living in this beautiful country of ours?  Summer in Australia is the best.  Most Aussie's flock the to beach in one way or another, we walk along it, we swim in it, we sit in our boats, we jet ski, be sunbathe, we skydive over it, we eat lunch and dinner on it, and raise our families along side it.

The beach!  It's one of those places you can go to clear your head.  Everytime I look at the ocean, I feel better.  If I am having a bad day, a walk down the beach can turn everything around.

The beach even tones you up when you exercise down there.  Running in the sand, climbing stairs, swimming, it free exercise.  No need to join the gym!

The beach is FREE!  That's right, one of those places you can go with the kids, that does not cost a cent.

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to take time to smell the roses and enjoy the little moments in every day....well each and every morning, before we start homeschooling, the kids and I and the dogs go for a walk down to the beach just to inject some nature into our day.

The dog's are happy, the kids' are happy, which makes me happy. 

My old dog "Lu Lu" smiles every time I take her to the beach!  She grins from ear to ear, and just loves going for a walk.  She plods along as she is an old lady now.  At the ripe old age of 13, her back legs are very weak and she has trouble getting up and down.  But take her to the beach, and all her troubles seem to melt away.  It's a beautiful thing to watch a dog enjoying the simplicity of a walk.

Olly on the other hand is supposed to be a pure cocker spaniel NOT.  As he grew we realised we had been duped, and is not a pure spaniel, but infact a cocker spaniel, red setter cross.  That's right, he is more red setter!  Do you know what that means?  Basically he is a NUTTER on legs!  He runs rings around LuLu, and us!  Whilst down the beach he is constantly running.  In the water, out the water, up the beach, down the beach, the whole time!  And I still have to take him out again at the end of the day, just to burn some of his energy off!!!   STELLAAAAAAA..........

Yes, bless him, he keeps us on our toes!

Another thing I have noticed is, since starting homeschooling the girls have grown closer.  They only have eachother during the day, so they do everything together. 

Yes, even get stung by the same jellyfish together!!!  STELLAAAA....

Ok, so it's not all fun and roses at the beach, but you get my drift.  You have to look past the dog pooh on the beach, to see the sun set.  But it's still worth it.

Take time this week to do something like that....watch the sun set, walk the beach, sit by a stream, stare at the clouds in the sky and watch them make pictures....get with nature....it can really make your day STELLA!

The "China" Story!

Part of the reason I started this blog "stella moments" is because I am always having embarassing things happen to me.  You know, those awkward moments you wish you never had.  Well, I am the Queen of Awkward Moments!

"STELLA MOMENTS", and after confiding some of these secret embarassing moments with family and friends, (after they had finished rolling around on the floor, tears rolling down their faces, laughing their heads off), they said I should write a book about them! Hmmm!

So instead I thought I would throw them out into the Universe for all to read.  Reason being?  Well, I have discovered over the years, that everyone else is having secret embarrassing moments, but they are too embarrassed to share them!

Yell it from the roof-tops I say!

Now I must add.  This "China" story at one time made me cringe so much I was not able to discuss it, but after a while, time seems to blend away the sharp image, and replace it with more of a "clouded" view of what really happened.  Either that, or my dignity went with it!  Anyway, the story remains the same!

A few years back DH (Dear Hubby) and I went on a 2 week trip to China.  It was a business trip, wrapped up in a holiday.  Business being 1 day out of the 2 weeks !
(ha ha).  As you can imagine, coming from Australia, China would be a very different culture, and we were really looking forward to checking out the Far East!

Let's just say it was an eye opener!

A very different experience to our laid back Aussie Culture.

China is a very busy place, with very busy people.

Anyway, being a very dignified Aussie girl, very private, very proper, I have to make a private admission.  When I go on holiday, my whole routine gets mucked around.....

You know what I mean?  Not the home routine....my, let's just say, toilet habits!  (Don't laugh, we all have them!)

Anyway, when I go on holiday, my bowels seem to take the wrong plane, and end up somewhere else....like lost luggage!

So I'm in China, and they are in....well who knows!

So after 4 days....(stay with me people), of eating 3 meals a day (chinese food by the way, no western culture....and I mean bugs on a stick, frogs, snails, snake, dog, rat...you name it!) The earth was in imminent danger.  I needed to go.....and had a backlog of work to do...if you get my drift.

So, we are in a posh hotel in China, and I use my posh toilet in china, (actually it was a bidet...great!)  Now what I forgot to mention to you all earlier, is that you can imagine the plumbing in China would be difficult, due to the overwhelming number of people living in one area.  So the plumbing in not like in Australia.  Infact, alot of high rise buildings (which there are many), have a local public toilet at the end of the block for all the public to use, in place of having private toilets in their own homes!.....I guess it saves on more plumbing!

Anyway, needless to say, that night I blocked China.

That's right.....the whole of China.

I could not flush, it would not flush, it did not flush,  there was no flush.....!

"oh dear"

Not only did it not go down, it came up!

All the way to the rim!

Remember the song...."I just died in your arms tonight"?  Well that was me.

As a perfectionist, the most awful thing in the world to happen to you, is allowing other people to see your vulnerability shine through.

It was late at night, and I was tired, on so many levels!  But I could not go to bed knowing the toilet bowl would not flush and be free.  So running out of the bathroom and yelling to DH (Dear Husband) to help me, he just rolled over and said shut the lid and get to bed, we have a long day tomorrow....(we were booked on a tour!).  He also suggested that I put the lid down, wait 10 minutes and try flushing again...that would work!  Did I mention DH, doesn't always stand for Dear Husband?  Anyway.....

I did just that, every 10 minutes, until about 2 o clock in the morning!  Begging..Pleading....Crying.....Please flush!  Please Flush!  PLEASE FLUSH!!!!

But NO.  China was blocked!

I went to bed....not sleeping well at all.  And was up earlier than usual getting ready to walk the Great Wall of China for the day.  I grabbed my laptop out, and googled "Blocked Toilet, in English", as the Chinese do not speak much English, even in big Hotels.  So as I am learning "Blocked Toilet in room 12" in Chinese, I am busting for the morning toilet run, and have to bolt downstairs to reception to announce to them....."Duset, she she".   Which roughly means toilet block thank you!  (Thanks Google)

After 5 minutes of quizzical looks from reception, she finally worked out and nodded politely, and in broken English said "we fix".....PHEW!

I went away relieved!  But still embarrassed!

We had a lovely day on the Great Wall of China.  But the whole event was marred for me....(its my personality type....)

"What will the plumber find when he fixes it" 
"Will they know it's me"
"Will they put it on the 6 o clock news"

You know that sort of thing!

So worrying out loud to a Husband that couldn't care less, is NOT the way to go.

He joked all day and had a great time....

"Those shitty Australian's"
"We will have to close our boarders, before they kill the crap out of us"
"Oh Mr Hart What A Mess!"

SIDE STEP.....Isn't God good putting 2 opposite personalities together in a marriage.......! (It's like he's sitting up there in Heaven burning the wings off a fly with a magnifying glass sometimes....!)

DH (Dear Hubby) is Ying!  and I am Yang!

Anyway, I tried to see the funny side of it all day long.....it was hard.  But at the end of the day, I noticed my anxiety levels rising....

What would we find?   Would the police be waiting for us?  Were our bags going to be packed at reception with a Taxi waiting?

I had to summon the strength to walk past reception and up to room 12.

Would I be brave and hold my head high?  DEFINATELY NO.
I pulled my hat down over my face, wrapped my scarf around by neck and face, and walked briskly ahead down to the elevator.

Room 12......

AHHHHHHHHHH!  It was like a clean flowing stream at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, infact birds were singing and the crickets were chirping.....


China was free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, it was free at last!
Stellaaaaaaa!

ANGRY Lady in my Car!

The day started as any other.  2 cups of Coffee, and the morning routine done.  Kids all packed up with school books ready to homeschool in the car....not a normal way to school, but an option if I need to go out and run errands etc.

I was on the freeway heading toward my destination, kids in the back quietly doing their schoolwork....BLISS. 

It was Serendipity (I love that word....S E R E N D I P I T Y)

You know, everything comes together in that one moment, well that was me having a serendipity moment (not a stella one at that stage).

It's not often the wheel of life runs completely smoothly, but I was in the moment.

Then out of the blue....This really angry lady was in my car shouting her head off.

I couldn't believe it!  She startled me at first.  I wasn't sure what was happening.

One minute I was driving, having my serendipity moment, the next she's in the car with me yelling and screaming.....

Who was she?  

Well it was me!  That's right....ME.  I was happily driving along the freeway, and then this "person" infront of me was on his mobile phone swerving over the white line, about to take me and my family out! 

Now as you can imagine, this all happened very quickly.  In that moment I didn't know he was on a mobile phone. 

In turn I swerved to avoid him and was pushed to the edge of the freeway.

Obviously I was shaken up, and this all happened within 3 seconds.

But it was the "angry" lady in my car that surprised me the most......

"Son of a bing..... Son of a bang.....etc....

I am known to be quite a laid back kind of person, and in the past I have been one of those people who is nodding "yes" and inside screaming "no".
(A natural people pleaser.....(who me?)

My sneaky suspicion is that I may be about to go through my MC.

I don't like to say it out loud....but you know the MC.

The thing you have in midlife.....

Some might call it a crisis.....?

I am still in my 30's for a little longer (and milking it for all it's worth), but have noticed some little things that have changed over time....

Things I would never have done in my 20's and 30's, but as I am rounding that corner (did I mention very soon?), I have these episodes....I call them my Tourettes episodes....You know those involuntary outbursts!

I seem to be having them....like today in my car....or the other day when someone cut infront of me at the Supermarket!  Hmmm.....how rude!

At one time in my life I would have smiled and said nothing...all the while stewing on the inside, but the beauty of turning...you know.....the number after 39, is that you get a license.

Oh, didn't they tell you?  You are given a license when you turn......you know!

A license to speak out people.  Yes, yell at the "crazy" driver who talks on his mobile phone whilst driving (and not too well might I add), politely but firmly tell that person who has cut infront of you, uh sorry, but I was here first!

Its SO LIBERATING....It's like swimming naked in your pool at night when no one is watching....(woops, did I say that out loud?)....that doesn't really happen by the way...no really. 

By being in the moment, and taking stock, and speaking out, it really does make you feel good!

 Unfortunately, there is an unwritten rule that you really shouldn't abuse people in the moment.  Really!  It's not nice. 

So with girly restraint, Smile and Wave Boys, Smile and Wave!

STELLLLLLLAAAAAAAA!!!!!

To Lebanon and Back Before Lunch!

Morning's are so busy for me.  I seem to be getting up earlier and earlier, so I can fit everything in.  I'm only coherent after my second mug of Joe.  But even my coffee machine doesn't want to work at 5am!  I like getting up before everyone else so I can think and be still, before the chaos of the family morning routine. 


DH (Dear Husband) is gone by 5am, so it's just me and the silence ( and the cat, 2 dogs, and 4 kids), but still silence for a while.


So the busyness has increased for me since deciding to homeschool 2 of my daughters....My hands are tied pretty much all morning, making sure I am around during schooling.  But in that time, there is alot going on....


Washing on the go, toilets wiped over, animals fed, walked (and poop a scooped), bread made, meat out to thaw for dinner, some sort of baking done for morning tea, beds made, me dressed and coherent (2nd coffee), lunches made, and if I'm really lucky, time to pick my nose!


Phew!  I'm exhausted just writing all that!  Do I really do it all....YES BECAUSE


I'm Superwoman!  Or Martyr Woman is more like it!


So today I decided to take a quick trip to Lebanon and make sure I was back by lunchtime!


That's right, I made lebanese bread.  It took me 20 minutes all up and the result....hmmmm  you decide!

If you are like me (a frugalist) you might balk at paying $5 for 4 pieces of lebanese bread, or if you are lucky pick some up on special.  Mind you, I always have to buy 2 packets, as 6 only does one round of lunches or dinners.


So I searched high and low for a recipe, and found one.


YOU WILL LOVE THIS....


I make around 8 flatbreads for around $1.50 if that!


Yep,   you heard correctly....HOW?


Let me tell you.


There are three types of flour you can use #1 Atta Flour (found in Pantry Man, its a mixture of fine wholemeal and spelt flours, middle eastern)
#2 plain flour, #3 plain wholemeal flour.


Here's the recipe


500g Flour
1 Tbs Oil
1 tsp dry yeast
2 tsp salt


Directions


Place all ingredients into either a "Thermomix","Bread machine", "Mixer"

Mix into a dough, and mix (knead) for 3 minutes.
Form into a round ball and wrap in a clean t towel (rest 5 minutes)
While resting you are heating up a non stick pan on the stove, but don't oil it
Divide dough into 8 round balls and roll out with a roller until paper thin and flat
Place flat round into a pan (medium heat), place lid or alfoil over the top to steam it while its cooking
Flip it over and cook the other side
Store it between a clean t towel so it keeps on steaming after you've cooked it
You will know it's done when its brown on both sides but not stiff and burnt

Voila......Fresh Lebanese bread ready for lunch in 20 minutes.


Then what?


Well, I made pizza wraps for lunch.  Dolmio sauce spread over the bread, add cheese, ham, pineapple, tomato, olives and anchovies (if you like them YUM)
roll it up and cook in a press or pan on the stove till crispy.

 Or


A lebanese roll with salad, Cheese, Ham, whatever filling you like.


Then for afternoon Tea when the kids are starving again, cut a lebanese up into  triangles, bake in an over for 10 minutes and have dip and chips for a quick snack, or nachos.


Place the left over ones in a large zip bag and into the freezer.

Easy Peasy.   To Lebanon and Back all before lunch.........


Now, I have one left after all that, and I am looking forward to having it to myself today....
Hang on a minute, it's gone.....Whoever ate it, put the empty packet into the freezer.....S T E L L A !!!!!