it's been that kind of week

There is less harm to be suffered in being mad among madmen than in being sane all by oneself.
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Men are so necessarily mad, that not to be mad would amount to another form of madness.                
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)

'But I don’t want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked. 'Oh, you can’t help that,' said the Cat. 'We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.' 'How do you know I’m mad?' said Alice. 'You must be,” said the Cat. 'or you wouldn’t have come here.'

Lewis Carroll The whole world's mad except me an' thee and I'm not so sure about thee. anon

Photos, memories, stuff and A RECIPE (as requested!)

I was going through photos and found these.

This was Bonnie as a wee pup.  Yes, I "pinked" her!  I didn't have a daughter. 



Angus got to the bed and decided that the mattress was good to play with.  And then Tom decided that this would be a good place to sleep. 



I had forgotten how tiny Bonnie was and, in comparison, how big was Tom.

I think The Stig is a big boy but he is nothing yet. 

I love The Stig and The Ninja and they are always making me smile but, jeez, I miss Tom and Sheba.  More than any other pets we've had.



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So.  Himself is still on the job hunt.  He missed out on another last week after the company decided to employ from in house.  But he was a close second.  Cold comfort.

Another interview today with an agency so now we wait to see if he gets to client interview and then, please please please, a job offer.

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I have a new personal trainer.  I LOVED my old one but she took another role.  The new one, though, will get results.  She won't take any shit and I am good at shit!!

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Lime Cheesecake (adapted from Women's Weekly Old Fashioned Desserts)

250g packet plain sweet biscuits (I use Marie or arrowroot)

125g butter, melted

250g cream cheese, softened

395g sweetened condensed milk

(I didn't say this was low fat, did I?)

2 teaspoons finely grated lime rind (be careful not to get the pith cos it's far more bitter than lemon pith and lime rind seems to be finer than lemon)

80ml (1/3 cup) lime jiuce

1 teaspoon gelatine

1 tablespoon water

Blend or process biscuits until misture resmbles fine breadcrumbs.  Add butter and process til combined.  Press mixtureevenly over base and side of 20cm springform tin, place on oven tray and refrigerate for approx 30 minutes.

Whilst chilling, beat cream cheese in small bowl with electric mixer until smooth.  Beat in condensed milk, rind and juice and beat til smooth.  (Make sure you get all the mixture off the bottom of the bowl or you'll have to rebeat later cos it will be lumpy)

Sprinkle gelatine over water in small heatproof jug.  Stand jug in small saucepan of simmering water and stir til gelatine dissolves.  Cool 5 minutes.

Stir gelatine mixture into lime mixture. Pout mixture into crumb crust.  Cover and refrigerate til set or overnight.

I have found the lime makes it a bit more grown up than lemon but I love them both.  How could you not with cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk?!

Now to cook baked mushrooms with a beetroot and almond salad for dinner.



Call me Priscilla

Himself interviewed yesterday for a position that had his name written all over it.  Yet again he came in "a close second".

This is getting really hard.

And on that note we're out for dinner with friends.   Every fortnight we go to a different house and take either dessert or starters.  The host does main.  Tonight I'm Queen of the Dessert.  Lime cheesecake - requested by the host.  One of those accidents that turned out well.  I was making the old philly cream cheese lemon cheesecake (courtesy of Women's Weekly) and didn't have enough lemons so used limes!  The rest, as they say, is history.

Saturday

Himself is a bit brighter today.  There is a job in the wings.  Unfortunately this is the pattern.  Abject misery ... applies for job ... gets put forward ... waits for response ... mood a bit better ... goes for interview ... mood very positive - starts to plan life around job ... gets rejected ... falls further than before.

Today we went to Ikea to buy some floor lamps for Mum and Dad so she can see to knit and he can change his hearing aid batteries.

Then we came home and I started sewing prep.  Drew up 2 patterns and then cut out 8 garments which I'll start tomorrow.  Most will be quick and easy. Then I shall start fiddling a bit more with my crafty stuff. 

Last night I finished reading Chocolat.  I didn't see the film (part of me wishes I had but I loved the book so would have hated to be disappointed).  A friend has lent me a stack of the author's books (read "they're on my bedside table and I'm too lazy to go and check the name!") and I can't wait to read the sequel and then the others which aren't related.

I love doggy school but I'm hoping it's going to be miserable in the weather department tomorrow so I can get a bit of sewing in before we have to go and see mothers.  Even better would be if Himself went and saw his mother on his own (with dogs!!).  Then I will go and see mine.

The Stig is helping me type so will go and do something else.  He helped me cut out patterns today.  Just as well I had him pulling out the pins or I might have cut a straight line!

kittens make the world better

Having said that, I do NOT believe that cats (or dogs) should be allowed to be free to breed willy-nilly. Own a cat or dog ... get it desexed or register as a breeder.  Just saying!

The Stig as a wee kitten

Himself is really struggling to find a job.  So many knock backs with feeble excuses.  We need a plan B but he's not quite there yet.

Alex (One) had a car accident this morning.  Legally, it's his fault (he ran up  the back of someone) BUT the person he ran up the back of (of whom he ran up the back) admitted that a) it was his fault b) it's the FIFTH similar accident he's had in 2 years and c) he doesn't know how to drive a manual, missed the gear and braked just as Alex was moving into his lane.

Alex's car is a write off.

But at least neither he nor Ebs were hurt.



Pictures and stuff

KITTEN IN A BASIN!!!

My sewing cabinet set up  in the living area. 
For the first time since the depression hit hard nearly 2 years ago I sewed something.  PJs for Himself!  I had to get the book of words out to work out how to use the machine!  My overlocker is under the chair hidden behind the quilt that a dear friend made for me. 

Count the cats!!

Find the kitten in the basket

The mirror.

And Himself's laptop.  Mine is to the right and bright pink.  Another photo for another day.

Alex and Ebs popped in.  The ring looks perfect on her and they are so happy.

We went to dog school.  The dogs are fine ... we might fail!

Left over tagine for dinner.  Home made quacamole for nibbles. I'm becoming domesticated again. 

And that makes me, and those around me, happy. 

An engagement

 


Alex (One) has proposed to Ebony (Ebs)!!!

We are so happy for both of them.