tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31750272853313279542024-03-06T18:15:33.210+11:00Andy's PatchA space for all sort of ideas, from building houses, to easy to make dishesAndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-12413429795403137362020-03-01T07:56:00.003+11:002020-03-01T07:56:36.281+11:00lovely lamb with a thai twist..3 or 4 lamb loin chops, thick cut<br />
thai seasoning - this might be hard to get hold of, but you could google how to make - it's a mix of chilli, sugar, dried shrimp and possibly a few thai herbs and onion/garlic. its a dry mix.<br />
1.5 cups of water<br />
handful of broccoli florets<br />
good dash of thai fish sauce<br />
juice of half an orange<br />
light vegie oil<br />
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here's the drum -<br />
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season the lamb well with the dry rub, lay on a plate and refrigerate for a couple of hours. then bring out of fridge half an hour before cooking.<br />
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heat a heavy fry pan well, and add oil, brown the lamb on both sides<br />
add the broccoli, water, fish sauce and orange juice<br />
cover with tin foil and bake in moderate oven for 8-10minutes<br />
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can be served with steamed rice or thick crusty bread.<br />
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the flavour is complex, spicy, delicious and savoury with just a hint of the fish sauce and a tiny bit of sweetness from the lamb and orange juice.<br />
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give it a go - this is a dish for lovers of asian food and experienced palates (not for kids!) who are willing to try something different - it works!AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-29450406982397037172019-10-28T18:02:00.002+11:002019-10-28T18:12:51.818+11:00yummy veg recipe in the mickey wave..don't discount the easy to make dishes with few ingredients - sometimes they punch above their weight!<br />
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2 cups of diced yellow pumpkin, steamed in the microwave<br />
1 tbsp light curry powder<br />
1 tin of brown lentils, drained and quickly rinsed in the can (just fillup the can with water, tip most out but leave just a little bit left. u want a bit of the flavour and salt the can contains)<br />
handful of washed baby spinach leaves<br />
light vegetable oil (I used a quality peanut oil)<br />
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Method<br />
<br />
once the diced pumpkin has been steamed, season with the curry powder, and just tip the lentils in, drizzle a good couple of tablespoons of light vegetable oil<br />
add the baby spinach leaves and stand for a couple of minutes.<br />
mix together with a spoon and then serve on a platter<br />
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can be eaten as a quick and easy main dish, or as an accompaniment.<br />
serve with crisp breads to soak up the goodness!!<br />
would go really well with baked lambAndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-62420979815558446282019-03-05T13:01:00.003+11:002019-03-05T13:01:48.740+11:00The tastiest meal I've had in months..Served up this little ripper of an asian beef noodle dish last night. It's Indonesian/Malaysian in style as most other south eastern asian nations steer away from beef for religious or other reasons.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
what you need:</div>
<div>
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<div>
packet of good beef bones from coles ($7.50 per kilo)</div>
<div>
packet of mee goreng beef noodle and spice mix (65c)</div>
<div>
packet of salad greens ($2)</div>
<div>
about 1 litre of cold water</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
in a sauce pan brown the beef pieces over medium-high heat, making sure that the meat is moved around so no sticking or burning occurs. There is no need for oil as the meat will render some fat.</div>
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<div>
Once brown, add the spice mix, and stir for 1 minute.</div>
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Add the cold water, then bring to a boil, turn the heat right down and simmer with a lid on for 40 minutes.</div>
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To serve:</div>
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As the meat pieces were on the bone, I served the pieces first and just ate with my fingers. Yummy.</div>
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Then I turned the soup back on the heat, added the noodles and let it simmer for 2 minutes. Then I served back in the bowl with the salad leaves. The soup was deliciously beefy and flavoursome from the spices. The greens just topped it off.</div>
AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-22516137238870422632018-10-05T08:06:00.001+10:002018-10-05T08:06:32.134+10:00How to build a Home Part 4: Design BasicsThere are many aspects of building design that need to be done properly. Put simply, it is worth spending the time and money on getting a good design on paper, rather then having to deal with the expensive consequences of fixing it when building, or even having to live with a poorly designed building.<br />
<br />
Here is a checklist of the most important design aspects for a successful home:<br />
<br />
1. Site plan - sun angles, winter, summer; prevailing winds (eg sea breezes), hot northerly, or cool southerlies (this is for southern Australia); size of site, other site constraints eg building setbacks<br />
<br />
2. the number of rooms, and their intended uses<br />
<br />
3. style of home - exterior look, internal flow for example open plan, construction method (eg single or double storey), cladding of home - brick veneer, weatherboard, modern designer boards etc.<br />
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4. 'features' of the home - 'designer' kitchen, multiple garages, granny flats, work/study spaces etc.<br />
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5. Budget. I've put this last, but it really dictates all the above, and in fact it is one of the areas that demands a lot of time, effort and research, and perhaps is the one that many people fail to get right.<br />
<br />
As you can see there are many aspects of good building design to get right. A good design contributes to the 'livability' of the home, a poor design can mean a cold, dark home in winter, or a home with poor airflow in summer. Good designs minimise noise, allow light and warmth into the home.<br />
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Many many homes are poorly sited, and have the orientation wrong. It usually comes from buying a project home from a plan, and putting it on a site that it doesn't suit. I don't wish to be too critical here, just merely making an observation. Sometimes people are overly concerned with the street view. This usually means having living spaces and living room windows facing the street. But what happens if the house front is facing south? Well you don't get any light or warmth into the living space in winter. A better design has the living spaces on the northern side of the home, and carefully designed street view that incorporates the sleeping and other non living areas into it. Perhaps with landscaping if privacy is an issue.<br />
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Another issue I have seen is the garage placement. Why would you place a garage in the sunniest corner of the house? It doesn't make sense! Good design eliminates these problems.<br />
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So spend your time and your money wisely. Engage an architect or a skilled building designer who is familiar with your area - especially if it is your first build or renovation. The pay-off will be a much better designed home that will suit your needs for now, and perhaps well into the future.AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-63894781986793136962018-10-02T07:52:00.002+10:002018-10-02T07:52:42.499+10:00How to build a home Part 3: Ask questions<br />
How do I do it? I am lucky that I am good with ideas. I understand how things go together or a made - whether it is a car engine, a building or sometimes an obscure piece of art. I seem to be able to understand these things that to others might seem complicated. Sometimes it is just a matter of looking - observation is the word - observing how the professionals do things. What do they do? What do they use? How do they use it? Ask yourself these question. By breaking something down into smaller pieces, and asking these questions, we can start to understand how to make things.<br />
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Another tip - if I am not sure about something, I usually ask the professionals. If you are nice, and don't ask too many questions they will tell you quite a bit. For example, the other day I asked a builder why he was using a special type of framing timber, for the construction of walls. He replied because they are nice and straight and you don't have to spend 3 days straightening everything. Makes sense ha?<br />
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<b>I have applied this technique to my own building and saved myself tens of thousands of dollars.</b><br />
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Not only can I build a home, I can work on my car, I can fix things for friends and neighbours. I can have a go at most things. I can (sort of) weld. I can knock pieces of timber together. I can wire a light switch, plumb gas line, dig footings, lay insulation, gyprock a ceiling, mix concrete, make windows and doors from scratch. Many of these tasks are not that 'hard' or require the hands of a surgeon. Most just simply come with the reading of installation guides, looking on the internet, asking the right questions of professionals, and just simply 'having a go.'<br />
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PS: if you are not sure about building your own home - ask me and I will do my best to answer!<br />
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AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-86432636392998551332018-09-29T12:36:00.000+10:002018-09-29T12:36:35.641+10:00How to Build a Home Part 2: Where to BuildThis is often a very difficult decision to make. At first glance, you might just think - build where you want to live. But where is that exactly? How do you want to live? Is it affordable to buy land in your desired area? Are there jobs? What sort of land should I be looking for..big/small, in town, out of town, close to friends and relations. There are many factors that go into the decision making. There might be many trade offs for example, building further out where it is more affordable as land is cheaper. But then the commute might be longer?<br />
<br />
In my case I decided upon a small country town about half an hour from a regional city. I could not afford to buy in that city, and I like the natural environment of my town, which the bigger city lacks. There are other towns nearby which have cheap land as well, but don't have the same natural environment. My town is nestled beside a river and there are beautiful gum trees. I can swim in the river, and walk in the bush. There are kangaroos and lots of birds. A lovely small public swimming pool is down the road. All 5 minutes walk from home. But what suits me might not suit you.<br />
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You might want to write up a list of all the desirable features that you want in a location -close to this or that, near a school or close to transport. Try and narrow down the list to be specific about what you want or what you think you want. Being more specific will help narrow down the search quite a bit. Costs need to be considered. Land is cheaper in location X, but location X is further (from work or family). Can you live with that, or do you need to 'think outside the square'? Perhaps for a first build, maybe a small block with a modest home is best. That way you are getting into the market, and off the rental road.<br />
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If you are living in one of the bigger cities, and wish to remain there, the choice might be dictated largely by land availability. Land availability is one of the key drivers of cost. Other factors include parcel size, location, proximity to services, building constraints etc.<br />
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Look around, and see what is available. I am a big believer in research. Research the available land market as you would any other market. If you are set on building a new home, stick to that. If you are not sure, then perhaps you can look at all options such as renovating, or buying a ready made home, or even a flat. There are advantages and disadvantages of each of these options.<br />
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Do your homework, and work out what you can afford to pay.<br />
<br />
Here's an example of doing research based on the Sydney land market:<br />
<ul>
<li>at time of writing (September 2018) the median price of land in Sydney is around $467,500 HIA-CoreLogic Residential Land Report (reported in https://www.businessinsider.com.au/australia-housing-affordability-population-growth-property-prices-2018-7). Remember the median price is not the average or mean price, it is the midpoint of all the sales over a period of time - in this case the March 2018 quarter)</li>
<li>at time of writing, a quick search of the cheapest land in Sydney is a very small 250 sq. metre block in the suburb of Marsden Park at $349,000. There are a few blocks around this price, but they vary in size. The biggest block around this price looked to be 500 sq.m.</li>
</ul>
<br />
The Melbourne market appears to be catching up to the Sydney market. Prices there are as follows:<br />
<ul>
<li>Median price is $359,000 (Sept. 2018, sources as above)</li>
<li>at time of writing (Sept. 2018), the cheapest block appears to be in Koo Wee Rup at $195,000. It's right at the outer limits of what I call the metro area at around 74km to Melbourne CBD, hence the price. It is 800 sq. m. though.</li>
<li>There are several other small properties available at places like Wallan (52km) around $277,000, but land size is much smaller.</li>
</ul>
Other options may include buying land that nobody else wants - it might be steep, or have other constraints. A friend of mine bought a big block that had a big slope on it - making it hard to build on. The solution was to use his relative's engineering skills to correct the slope so that a house on slab could be put down. The end result was still cheaper then a comparatively sized level block.<br />
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Also don't forget land is only one side of the coin. You might be able to pay a little more for land, and a little less for the home you put on it. It's all about being smart - or financially canny. In my case the problem of not being able to afford anything in Sydney was solved by a move and a change of lifestyle. When somebody rings and asks if I am a renter, mortgagor, or home owner, I can proudly say I am a home owner!<br />
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<br />AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-72793033088940198302018-09-25T08:12:00.000+10:002018-09-25T08:12:05.641+10:00How to build a home on a budget Part 1: My story.So many people are put off building by the enormous costs. Land is expensive, materials add up, the labour cost is out of this world. Add to that the stress, the decision making, the hard work, dealing with headaches, making stuff-ups..the list of negatives seem endless.<br />
<br />
What if there was another way? Is it even possible to have a place that you can call your own?<br />
<br />
But lets turn that around - what about the positives - creating a space that you can truly call home, learning new skills, making good decisions, fixing stuffups etc. All positive, and incredibly rewarding.<br />
Anyway, enough of the deep stuff, and more about me.<br />
<br />
I am an owner builder, with no special skills in building or carpentry. Before building my current (humble) home, I had never used a hammer for more then 5 minutes. But I do have a can-do attitude, and the ability to learn. I call myself an 'economic refugee' from one of the major cities. I was never able to afford anything in the major cities and was just existing week to week - paying enormous rents for a small apartments in a sea of similar (boring) buildings.<br />
<br />
So about 8 years ago I moved to the country, got out of the rat race, and found cheap land I could afford. And yes there are jobs in the bush! I have found many types of work, made new friends, and learnt many new skills. Because it is so much cheaper in the country I can afford to build a home on a low income.<br />
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So where to start? For me, I just started looking around where I lived in regional NSW. I found some cheap houses and land, in places which I thought wasn't that attractive - out of the way, in small towns or with distances to travel. I even found one small house for $69,000 (in 2011) that I nearly bought. Yes, house prices are that cheap in the country! I ended up buying a quarter acre in a small country town by a river for less then $20K. When you move to the country, it opens up possibilities that don't exist in the cities.<br />
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But saying that, not everybody wants to live and work in the country. But for now that is me.<br />
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<br />AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-9091566181811333572018-08-20T18:14:00.001+10:002018-08-20T18:14:16.820+10:00Cooking the humble snag..in the ovenSaw this in today's online Good Food Guide <a href="https://www.goodfood.com.au/recipes/news/the-surprising-secret-to-perfectly-cooked-sausages-20180815-h140co.html">https://www.goodfood.com.au/recipes/news/the-surprising-secret-to-perfectly-cooked-sausages-20180815-h140co.html</a><br />
<br />
good tip - use an oven.<br />
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But I will add the following:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>best done with the really thick english beef sausages, and I like to brown first in a hot pan then transfer to the oven for 15-20minutes. I would use a light vegetable oil to brown, and drain off excess. Some herbs sprinkled over the top will add flavour.</li>
<li>Pork sausages I like to bake with white beans, fennel and tomato, again browning first in olive oil.</li>
<li>Baked chicken sausages - never done, but you could experiment with flavours such as apricots, pine nuts. I generally find chicken snags a bit bland.</li>
<li>I'm sure there are plenty of other styles of sausages that can be baked!</li>
</ol>
AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-58361975143017593542018-08-19T12:00:00.001+10:002018-08-19T12:00:42.037+10:00Warm Tuna, Brown Rice and Quinoa Saladthis is so easy, literally takes 5 minutes to prepare. Serve as a side dish, or a meal for 2 on it's own.<br />
1 packet Uncle Ben's 90second Brown Rice, Tomato, Basil and Quinoa<br />
1 200g tin of good tuna in olive oil<br />
1 tomato, diced finely<br />
handfull of fresh chopped parsley<br />
<br />
heat the rice in the microwave, according to directions<br />
In a bowl, place all ingredients, mix together.<br />
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Serve.<br />
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It's that simple! And sooo tasty!!AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-58790379305305563702018-08-11T18:40:00.001+10:002018-08-11T18:40:48.639+10:00Braised steak, onions and carrotsthis dish is really simple, uses only 3 ingredients (ok not including olive oil and salt/pepper).<br />
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The secret is to colour the vegies and steak in the dish before slow cooking.<br />
<br />
You will need<br />
<br />
1kg of chuck steak (whole steaks, not diced)<br />
3 or 4 carrots, sliced lengthways<br />
1 or 2 brown onions, cut into pieces<br />
olive oil<br />
sea salt<br />
cracked black pepper<br />
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roasting pan, tin foil.<br />
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Brown the onions, carrots and steak in olive oil in a good roasting dish. seasoning with salt and pepper as it browns.<br />
Place 1 cup of hot water in with the steak and veg.<br />
Cover the pan tightly with tin foil, place in a hot oven (say 250C) for 10 minutes, then turn the oven down to 160C.<br />
Cook for 2 hours<br />
Remove from oven and let the dish rest in a warm place, covered with a tea towel for 10 minutes.<br />
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Just help the meat fall apart into chunks, and serve with green vegetables and nicely mashed potato.<br />
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Bon Appetit!AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-65502593290394095232017-12-10T14:30:00.002+11:002017-12-10T15:48:46.948+11:00Houses in Thailand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkwgsrfk1PTQfsYCzBrtXMF2paBTfWK7rRZ7pp2UPI8ezLskT9nHu5VXoHRn1MvCSgZohyrq_saFDP07CPoB814e-_hL_Wt0TcHB0cfT6M1drTJrVvRNpD0uDfzoiTY4CrBDSfpsiTcU/s1600/193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkwgsrfk1PTQfsYCzBrtXMF2paBTfWK7rRZ7pp2UPI8ezLskT9nHu5VXoHRn1MvCSgZohyrq_saFDP07CPoB814e-_hL_Wt0TcHB0cfT6M1drTJrVvRNpD0uDfzoiTY4CrBDSfpsiTcU/s320/193.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Just a snapshot of houses in Thailand on a recent trip there. They are often on 2 levels, with the ground floor given over to carparking in a tight block, unenclosed or as enclosed living space. Older style homes have wide eaves for shade.</div>
<br />AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-22960711669405172912015-07-26T19:20:00.000+10:002015-07-26T19:23:14.275+10:00Red-Capped Robin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfJb75bhF1wFbmHtcoNPAME5ShmNrrHIG9f4zIDvzlI3oXZXphydaisR228tu31a6UlAJp-3X9KSVb2nL4ISwO8NqJES08mLaqZaOARTN07Owu1upftEKRDnRDgFr8U3UdHKVHR1GCOg/s1600/Red-capped-Robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfJb75bhF1wFbmHtcoNPAME5ShmNrrHIG9f4zIDvzlI3oXZXphydaisR228tu31a6UlAJp-3X9KSVb2nL4ISwO8NqJES08mLaqZaOARTN07Owu1upftEKRDnRDgFr8U3UdHKVHR1GCOg/s320/Red-capped-Robin.jpg" /></a></div>
Gaye spotted one of these today in Darlington Point...beautiful little bird
AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-26059685535407485972015-07-07T15:42:00.003+10:002015-07-07T15:42:59.776+10:00Jupiter and Venusanybody being looking up at night lately? Jupiter and Venus are the two bright planets in the western sky after dark..they are incredibly bright at the moment. Tomorrow night the International Space Station is going to pass close by them around 5.30pm, so there will be 3 bright objects in the same part of the night sky. Interesting hey?AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-36498185336511280242015-07-03T22:31:00.000+10:002015-07-03T22:31:15.970+10:00Biggles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuSEbiP3n9-BKg5137cA4sU0gj3QctJZWTrdgcpwd3dFBaqTLCS5JBjGc1mTIXTUH6KtUfSkd3CYfWICMfkB2B3nfovf8dGVWny0ONhHuc1Ear8CLW6on6yXFm69EgwmzId6Zei43TWU/s1600/6593480-3x2-700x467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuSEbiP3n9-BKg5137cA4sU0gj3QctJZWTrdgcpwd3dFBaqTLCS5JBjGc1mTIXTUH6KtUfSkd3CYfWICMfkB2B3nfovf8dGVWny0ONhHuc1Ear8CLW6on6yXFm69EgwmzId6Zei43TWU/s320/6593480-3x2-700x467.jpg" /></a></div>Since when does the Australian Prime Minister wear a uniform?
This looks suspiciously like a kind of uniform that our PM was wearing when appearing on the US Naval ship today.
AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-67282633476619020482015-06-29T14:42:00.000+10:002015-06-29T14:42:02.253+10:00Tomato Ripening<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfQ0ytzgQudD1PCRFEV9vBBK0tkCvSyCclku_9zoCPBTIwsvj9EUoX1GrGww9Kyahen4QAWZ6L8TxUac23olYkfQDEEXJvzB-qhQj5yitEkzhXl135p-Kp-uZofHVhYRXpxl_i_pOUtM/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfQ0ytzgQudD1PCRFEV9vBBK0tkCvSyCclku_9zoCPBTIwsvj9EUoX1GrGww9Kyahen4QAWZ6L8TxUac23olYkfQDEEXJvzB-qhQj5yitEkzhXl135p-Kp-uZofHVhYRXpxl_i_pOUtM/s320/001.JPG" /></a></div>I've been wondering for a while how I could ripen my tomatoes in Winter. I think I have hit upon the answer...AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-57603472532358813562014-05-08T11:21:00.002+10:002014-05-08T11:36:33.837+10:00El Nino on the HorizonI don't want to be unnecessarily alarmist, but it does appear as though another El Nino event is looming in South Eastern Australia. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, there is a current warming trend across the tropical Pacific Ocean.
If the warmer conditions persist over the Tropical Pacific, this can interrupt the trade winds around the equator, resulting in cloud build up, and a change in ocean temperatures.
The El Nino occurs when there are differences between the Ocean Temperature in the
Western Pacific around Australia, and the Eastern Pacific around South America. This difference causes a change in weather patterns, with higher rainfall in the East, and lower in the West. Past El Ninos have been associated with droughts in Australia.
At the moment, the BOM is saying that an El Nino could develop as early as July, with warnings at an alert level. WHilst it is early days in the modelling, watch the Bureau at http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/ as the conditions develop.
I would suggest to farmers and growers in South Eastern Australia, start planning for dry conditions, and plant your crops early to take advantage of Autumn soil moisture.AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-78037913018144616362014-03-05T11:03:00.000+11:002014-03-05T11:03:04.719+11:00Logging of TasmaniaWhat planet is the PM on? He is supporting the logging of old growth tassie forests. It must be Venus, where there are no trees, and it's hotter then hell..AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-16981505844103350542014-02-27T12:56:00.000+11:002014-02-27T12:56:01.527+11:00PenaltiesNo I'm not talking the upcoming World Cup, but the debate taking place, mainly by the right wing media on penalty rates.
I did a bit of searching, and you know what, the established award rates seem pretty fair to me. Here they are:
Hospitality Award (covers hotels, motels)
Sat - 125%
Sun - 175%
Pub Hol - 250%
(casuals get an additional 25% loading to cover sick/annual leave etc)
Restaurant Award (self explanatory)
Sat -125%
Sun - 150%
Pub Hol - 250%
(casuals + 25% loading except the Pub Hols, which is the same)
Registered Club Award
Sat - 150%
Sun - 175%
Pub Hol - 250%
(casuals + 25% loading only on Mon - Fri, no extra on Weekends or Pub Hols for being a temporary gun for hire)
Retail Award
M-F after 6pm - 125%
Sat - 125%
Sun - 200%
Pub Hol - 250% or time in lieu based upon hours worked
casuals + 25%, and + 10% on Saturday, but on Sunday they get 200% including the 25% loading ie the penaly rate is in effect 175%
so we can see from the above, penalty rates are reasonable, time and a quarter to time and three quarters, and double time and a half for working on Christmas Day, Anzac Day, Boxing Day, when the rest of us are at home catching up with family that we don't see the rest of the year cause we are too busy working!
note that many people are employed casually in the services or retail sector, and these casuals are not getting any extra for weekends or public holidays for working at the RSL..AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-62687040527475097512014-02-18T12:06:00.001+11:002014-02-18T12:06:38.934+11:00Politics, politics, POLITICS!Why does it have to be so divisive? Why can't there be more unity amongst our leaders, on issues of (inter-) national importance.
Climate change?
Refugees?
Globalisation?
Borders are just boundaries on a map. Parties are just parties. How about reaching across the divides, and working together? Politics, politics, POLITICS!AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-17243834497252800582014-02-08T09:46:00.000+11:002014-02-08T09:54:01.876+11:00Rustic SpaghettiI was chatting with a new friend at work yesterday, he originates from Calabria in Southern Italy. Italian food is one I like to cook, as it is so fresh, seasonal and CHEAP!
I conjured up this recipe last nite, using my friend Ross's freshly made chilli sauce.
1/2 packet of wholemeals spag, about $2 from the super
1 bottle of passata (italian tomato pasta sauce), about the same
2 or 3 diced home grown tomatoes
1 home grown capsicum
1 tsp chilli sauce, home grown of course!
2 cloves coarsely sliced garlic
sea salt
olive oil, extra virgin if u can afford it. i have bottles given to me by a friend
basil leaves fresh from the garden
cook your spaghetti according to instructions, and set aside to keep warm
in a hot sauce pan, add 3 tbsp olive oil, passata, capsicum, tomatoes, chilli, garlic slices and a good pinch of sea salt. pretty much everything!
let it bubble away for about 45mins, while opening and consuming a bottle of local wine.
serve with fresh basil leaves sliced, crusty bread, more olive oil and the rest of the wine!!!!!!!!! so fresh, healthy, tasty and wholesome. Gotta love the Italians!AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-7495787081581513212014-01-25T14:55:00.004+11:002014-01-25T14:55:58.876+11:00When is a Parliamentary Political Party meetingactually a meeting?
is there a quorum? do a majority of members have to attend? is an agenda worked out before hand, or is it just bring your own knife? I wonder how they work..
because
on 22nd and 23rd of March 2013, some of the Queensland Liberal and National Party Senators and Members have claimed travel allowance for attending a parliamentary political party meeting at Rockhampton. However, the majority haven't claimed TA, and don't appear to have attended.
It seems to be like this
likely number of senators and members of QLD Lib/Nats at that time, 24
actual people attending, or claiming for attendance 6.
one member, Paul Neville seems to have got his dates wrong, and claimed for 1st May 2013 instead. if that is the case the select 6 becomes the secret 7. The only other person also claiming for the 1st May 2013 for staying at Rockie, is their leader, Warren Truss. I wonder if 2 people having coffee constitutes a party meeting?
all in all it looks like a few thousand have been spent on this meeting, when they could possibly have met in Canberra the day or week before hand, as Parliament was sitting..
AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-53847196683338512322014-01-15T14:06:00.000+11:002014-01-15T14:06:02.067+11:00It's officially a stinkerSouthern Australia is in the middle of a 5 day heatwave
at 2pm Eastern Daily Saving Time
Adelaide is 45 deg
Melbourne is 43
all parts in between 40-44degrees
even Canberra is getting up there...38 degrees!
Keep cool and carry on..AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-20944882597236131052014-01-10T11:12:00.000+11:002014-01-10T11:12:30.083+11:00Basic Risotto RecipeI was chatting with friends last nite, and the subject of risotto came up. I have been making risotto for years, using this method, and these basic ingredients.
It does take a bit of practice, to get it right. but persevere!
U need
1 leek, quarted (sliced down the guts), and washed carefully to remove the dirt. slice finely
1 -2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 cup of white wine
about 1 litre of warm chicken or vegie stock
handful of sliced brown mushrooms, cleaned first
1/2 cup of frozen peas
1 good handful of arborio rice
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
good amount of olive oil, extra virgin is best
freshly chopped italian parsley
in a large stainless steel saucepan, finely slice the leek, and saute in a good amount of olive oil on medium heat, stiring continuously
add your garlic, saute for a couple of minutes on low heat, careful not to burn the garlic and small bits of leek
add your arborio rice, and sliced mushies, and coat well with the olive oil, and cook for a couple of minutes on medium heat. Add a tiny bit sea salt, and finely ground black pepper.
deglaze the pan with the white wine
1 soup ladlefull at a time, add the stock and stir the risotto, so it absorbs the liquid.
Keep adding stock by the ladle, and stir until the rice absorbs the liquid. The whole process of adding stock, stirring and absorbing takes about 25 minutes. The rice should be soft, and creamy, and the rissoto should be the consistency of a thick oat porridge with similar creaminess. Adjust salt carefully!
Add your garden peas, parmesan, and put a lid on the saucepan, to let it rest, while u prepare the salad!
I also like to add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, chopped parsley, parmesan and a little more stock over the top of the finished dish..
AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-21547153041835673612014-01-09T09:49:00.001+11:002014-01-09T09:49:12.131+11:00Ayan's PlightRecently I became aware of Ayan, a Somali woman who's face was badly disfigured by a bullet when she was a child. She was to be flown to Australia by Rotary and operated on by a surgical team who was to donate their services. No cost to the taxpayer. A genuine case of need. It all sounded extremely positive, in this age of doom and gloom. Only 1 problem: Scott Morrison. As Immigration Minister, Mr Morrison denied her access to Australia, citing her as a 'non genuine visitor'. Now, in response to a 40,000 strong petition, and coverage by Channel 10's The Project, he has relented. Ayan Mohamed will be allowed in. Thank God.
more info here
https://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/ayan-s-mutilated-face-can-be-repaired-scott-morrison-let-ayan-have-the-life-she-deserves
AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3175027285331327954.post-8888460498169841792014-01-08T12:02:00.001+11:002014-01-08T12:02:23.100+11:00Biodiesel - The Way of the Future?My friend Mick, has cottoned on to a source of bio fuel for his diesel landcruiser...olive oil!
Now that makes me think..what is biodiesel, and how can we use it?
Biodiesel is a form of fuel created from plant or animal oils, as opposed to regular diesel, which is refined from mineral oil.
There are many sources of plant or animal based biodiesel, from vegetable oils such as soybean oil, or from waste vegetable oil (fish and chip shop waste oil). Animal fat sources are typically from fish oil, this has been used as a biodiesel in Canada.
Biodiesel is one kind of biofuel, other kinds of biofuels include plant derived ethanol. One commercial example of biofuel is the E10 fuel that is widely available here in Australia.
There are claims that using biodiesel can reduce emissions at the engine exhaust, my reading on this suggests these claims should be read with caution. It does appear that the fuel can have some benefit for modern diesel engine protection, provided fuel systems are cleaned regularly (the injectors and filters).
As mineral oil is a finite resource, the world does need to look for alternative fuels. Also mineral oil production is controlled by a handful of countries, meaning if non producing countries can reduce their dependence on the producers, they can become more self sufficient. In my book, that has to be a good thing.
AndyPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01492012547826126917noreply@blogger.com0