I think my watch is telling me that I’m lazy. If you told me a week ago that I’d be going from comfortably walking a minimum of 7.5kms a day to barely being able to manage 7 steps I wouldn’t have believed you. If you’d told me I could sustain a back injury that would leave me wincing in pain from something as simple as straightening a cushion on the lounge I wouldn’t have believed that either. See household chores really are dangerous….just saying. Anyway suffice to say that this week has been a slow week, a very inactive one with recovery and pain minimisation a priority rather than activity. With stay at home orders continuing unabated it’s not a bad time to be restricted. Let’s face it, there is no ‘fear of missing out’ because we can’t do much anyway. So a week in, bed has been my happy place for most of the time. Gladys o’clock helps to determine the time of day as she brings us daily news updates of the virus cases going up and the number of vaccinations that have been placed into arms. The rest of the day is bookmarked by intervals of pain at varying levels of intensity mask by both Panadol and Goanna heat balm, as well as the occasional microwaved wheat pack and lots of loving care from my significant other. It’s the latter that makes it all bearable. He shops, cooks, cleans and nurses as well as attending to our ageing cat that has chosen this week to become incontinent. Oh the timing, a vet visit I feel is imminent. Another job for the significant other.
On the upside, he’s nourishing me with yummy food, some of it wholesome, and some more in the realm of being comforting, like this delicious apple pie swimming in gooey caramel. You can find the recipe here
The best apple pie
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Adam Liaw’s simple to make, but tasty one pan dishes. His Japanese inspired Miso Baked Eggplant doused in sake and mirin and caramelised to perfection in the oven, had me picking the crunchy bits off the bottom of the tray. The recipe can be found here
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However, the real piece de resistance has been the sourdough muffin prepared at home for breakfast, loaded with mixed leaves, free range bacon, a perfectly cooked and oozy free range egg dotted with little slithers of tasty cheese. I’d be happy to have this served up any time of day.
Other things that have caught my eye this week are:
Japanaroo 2021, an initiative to celebrate multiculturalism and promote exchange with Japan in Australia. Running from the 20th August to the 2nd October, it’s an opportunity to experience Japan at your doorstep, in a series of predominantly virtual events, so you can experience Japan without having to leave the house. It includes everything from experiencing a ‘homestay’ in a real Japanese house, virtual tours of famous landmarks like Osaka Castle or Sensoji Temple, virtual walking tours of Harajuku, composing your own Japanese Song with singer/songwriter Naoki Kato, or bringing a taste of Japan into your kitchen with live cooking lessons to learn how to make some easy Japanese dishes. More information can be found at japanaroo.com
Phillip Island Nature Parks Live Penguin TV streamed into our homes at sunset every night from 6pm. Viewers can tune in either on the Nature Parks Facebook page or YouTube channel to watch live as the world’s largest colony of Little Penguins waddle up Phillip Island’s floodlit beaches to their homes and can also ask questions of the rangers in real-time.
Meanwhile back at home out on the garden terrace I’ve noticed some powdery mildew patches on the leaves of my begonia and viola plants. I’ve learned these fuzzy patches on the top side of the leaves are a fungi that cripples the plants ability to photosynthesise by blocking out light and inhibiting the leaf’s gas exchange system. The fungi must be prevented from jumping between nearby plants and a popular remedy is a milk spray prepared with 3 parts full cream milk to 7 parts water applied every ten days. It’s important to spray the plants during bright daytime light to allow the milk to dry and prevent the problem of other diseases that may occur in damp conditions.
I miss my daily walks and the heady perfumes in the gardens as I traverse around the neighbourhood. Hopefully I’ll be back on my feet again soon.
Until next time may your days be both serendipitous and enjoyable.
Eugenia