Anthony Malloy

It turned out to be a kitchen day today. First off was spying some day old tortillas on the bench just before lunch. Hmmm. A bit of tomato paste, some mozzarella and some parmesan, couple of minutes in the oven and it’s happy kids munching away on Tony’s Tortilla Cheese Pizza.

In the afternoon I baked a banana cake that was promptly demolished by everyone for afternoon tea, although I’ve learned my lesson and I saved a piece for Rae. Then there was the loaf of bread that’s almost done baking and finally a new recipe for Not Fried Rice, which, along with the banana cake, came from this week’s Planning Queens Menu Plan Monday.

That’s three more to add to the roster.

A couple of weeks ago we needed new garbage bags for the kitchen bin (rivetting stuff, I know). So Rae picked up some Glad Wave Top Tie bags. Fair enough, Glad is a good solid brand, they should have no problems holding the rubbish. Or so you’d think. Each and every bag we have used has split and the wave tops tear off with the slightest tug. As the garbage spilled across the kitchen floor (again) this morning I’d had enough so I did what anyone would do, and jumped on their web site to complain.

Okay, there’s the contact form, a drop down for complaints, fill out, press submit. A couple of minutes later the standard ‘thanks for contacting us’ email appeared in my inbox. So far so good. Then another email arrived.

It appears that complaints are meant to be emailed to vicky@tribalddb.com.au who works for Tribal DBB in Sydney (and let’s just ignore the fact that complaints for a major company go to a software developer at their advertising agency) but Vicky’s server is rejecting any incoming email so complaints just disappear in to the internet ether. Way to go Glad. I think Tribal DDB also fail in their goal “to develop truly unique and effective communication solutions”. Ignoring loyal customers may be unique, effective however…

We got to have a look inside the house today and things are progressing, at a glacial speed, but progressing none the less.

All the painting is done so we are hoping the tiling should start this week, then it’s final fit out. They have gone as far as drilling holes in the ceiling for the lights to be connected and all of the doors have holes ready for door handles but there’s still a few major things outstanding like showers, baths, garage doors and the roof needs a little attention.

It’s at the stage now we just want out of this place, it’s time has well and truly passed and we want our new home. They have 11 weeks until the contract says they have to finish and we think they’ll probably use every one of them. Sigh.

Today’s baking was scones. They are my second attempt and didn’t rise as well as the first lot but they are crunchy on top and light and fluffy on the inside so no one had better complain!

Tonight I cooked a recipe from The Planning Queen’s menu plan for this week. It was a dead simple pasta with chicken and spinach (download her recipe) and everybody loved it, with the twins coming back for thirds.

This one goes on to dinner rotation.

On our walk to the PO Box today I noticed something had gone and I’m kicking myself for not taking photos before it did. Recently there was a massive change of bus routes and one which runs nearby had it’s route changed to take it out of a narrow shopping strip. This is a good thing but it meant that the pebble mix bus stop at the end of the street was no longer needed and now it’s gone. Piece by piece the history of this wonderful suburb is disappearing and if it wasn’t for Google Earth I wouldn’t be able to show you what it once looked like.

I love my wife. Not just because she’s beautiful, smart, funny and a wonderful mum. I love my wife because today she bought me a copy of the latest Melway. She knows the way to my heart is best found with a map.

Saturday 4th October, 2008 was one of those days that contained both the best that life can offer and the worse it could possibly dish up.

First, the worst. It came in an SMS message from Daniel. One of my dearest friends, the wonderful Miss Marita, had lost her sister in a car accident on Friday. Just 29 years old, Rose died on her way to lunch with friends. I called Marita but there just aren’t any words for these times that can truly convey how you feel. We  are all thinking of you Marita, and your family.

That afternoon after the clouds of the morning had drifted away we were celebrating the wedding of one of Rae’s dearest friends, Enaksha, in the brilliant Spring afternoon sunshine. Knack and Johnathen were married at the Abbotsford Convent and it was a glorious afternoon to be standing in the gardens. We even got to dress up (I wore a tie for the first time in seven months) and have a great evening at the reception. I know the bride is the focus of any wedding but I think I took more photos of my beautiful wife than Knack. While Richard shouldn’t be worried I was more than happy with some of my wedding snaps.

 

And here’s one of the two of us all dolled up, snapped by mum.

It’s beginning to actually look like a house now.