Minestrone Soup

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Hot off the Press – 16th October 2017

Published October 16, 2017 by helentastic67

Hot off the Press 1610

Hot off the Press

Sweet Mary Mother of God! Monday and I’ve been such a zombie! Still managed 2,000 steps, but absolutely knackered! I have a feeling you will not want to Google that word, so I just mean I felt wiped out all day. I was actually hungry for lunch before what I deem lunchtime. Made it home in one-piece by tram and walking. Then had my medicine, and a serious hit of sugar…..

Knackered

Turned out, upon sending a shout out to my Kinesiologist friend it was a full moon last Friday. Now, my crazy-lady hormones are not in sync with the full moon and I don’t want to go out and howl at the moon (meow?) but I do notice my energy is completely zapped at the full moon. And the 1AM curfew kinda goes out the window, as does the anti-Pre-Dinner kip. Managed to avoid the kip but just barely. Oh, heard back from the real estate about the property I found online last night……AND it’s already gone! Really hating the whole house hunting thing.

Full moon

Tuesday, a spanner in the works for my normal program, it’s the day I actually enjoyed last week’s foodie good mental health day post. Saw my Chiro a day early to make room for a different appointment on Wednesday. Got to get to the Community Health Centre for a massage so that was a bonus. Ate a delicious chicken salad there I had picked up earlier. I forgot to do some food styling so no photo. Went for a big walk to the bank and back and was lucky to be given a lift home. Arrived home to discover I left my phone in Michael’s car. Before questions arise, yes! I’m that person who feels like they have had an arm cut off without their phone. You can have the left one, it doesn’t work!

Lost phone

My phone was likely on silent! So, if I rang it he wasn’t likely to hear it and I otherwise didn’t have numbers stored anywhere else. It’s the problem with technology. Messages via social media and was happy to hear within a few hours my phone was safely with Michael. Hope to be reunited tomorrow amongst the chaos.

Thursday, still feeling like a complete zombie. After a few hours of trying to get in touch with the lovely Young John, he took me to where my phone was to collect it. It was a very efficient trip there and home again. I felt a little jet-lagged even. No speed limits broken but I got home and my cup of tea was still warm enough to drink as I had to leave my breakfast, to not put Young John’s schedule out. Checked my pedometer and Michael did nothing to boost my digits. Sadly. Got to rest a little before I went out again for my first appointment for the day.

Zombies 1

Back to the dreaded dentist! I had my first 2 fillings to be mended done, as they only needed some of the existing filling drilled away, cleaned up, dried off and refilled I bare-knuckled it. The teeth were right next to each other making it easier and we agreed if I felt any pain I would raise my left hand. No! I reminded her it would be my right hand. (Again!) I worked out this time what it is that makes me squirm. (Irony) it’s all the packing they wedge down against my tongue that makes me feel nauseous and then, there’s that exciting ‘drowning’ sensation. The packing is obviously meant for her not me.

Dentist

Anyway, left there on foot and walked (got some steps in) to the tram. Trammed it to my neighbourhood and as I had not had lunch yet (it was 3.30pm) and I had 30 minutes to spare so I had a coffee and a French donut. Not photo worthy but got me through. Made it to acupuncture, fell asleep waiting. Got stabbed, caught up on messages and after about 20 minutes I couldn’t wait any longer to get to the bathroom, took out my 8 needles and got a taxi home. The weather had gotten rather untrustworthy by then.

Acupunture needles

The zombie feeling kicked back in and I vowed to get to bed early. Sat on the couch, felt a bit of a migraine coming on but by the time I caught up on some admin the night progressed as usual.
Stop Press! I made it to bed last night by 1. 30am……..At least it was close to my self-imposed curfew! Now you should appreciate why I didn’t make the time earlier which is what Ms Jillian (my Shrink) wanted me to achieve. She is clearly dreaming. As much I have told her.

Dreaming

Spent the day making calls, locked in the date for my NDIS review. Can’t believe it’s taken 6 months. Now to get new quotes for things I am trying to get funded, new letters of support. Fingers crossed, if I get everything I need I might not need to move.

Now I’m dreaming.

Managed not to have a kip. Ok, helped that I had a visit from the famous Aunty Christine.  Who told me she has never seen my hair look so messy. I have a million pins up there right now. Let’s see if I can get a before and after photo tomorrow?
Lucky, unlucky, you be the judge.

Helen's hair before 1

And look, here is another few……
(I just want you to know this was without any notice or preparation, from my blind-side.)

 

Helen's hair before 2Helen's hair after

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then even posing, I still look hungover and stoned!

 

Helen sitting on couch

I consider this my default-look. (At times referred to as my ‘Resting Bitch Face)
So despite not drinking or smoking I guess it is what it is. A little insight into my look. Again, got to bed again last night by 1.30am. (I don’t like to think at all related to my default look!)

Helen Resting Bitch faceResting Bitch Face
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, my adventure with my lovely young carer Jennifer, got to K-Mart, Aldi, Coles, the bakery, the butchers and Lincraft.

I’ve started getting Christmas presents………I can’t help myself. Home and (never say I don’t know how to motivate, Jennifer never needs motivating). Together we made a big batch of minestrone and I also marinated some chicken in Portuguese marinade and while Jennifer my carer departed around 6.30…….. I finally had my custard scroll and my coffee around 7.30pm, dinner even later. Bottled the minestrone (yield;8 Passatta bottles) around midnight. Then got to finishing my admin and emails. Now 2am Saturday morning I’m going off-grid or I’m going to try.

Minestrone

Over the weekend, nice weather in Melbourne, over the week, I’ve had some t-shirt days and some wool days. More t-shirt days coming. A very lazy weekend making me a very happy girl. Monday is going to be a crazy day, even going to see a potential new home. Keeping in mind, I move house, I have some financial flexibility and can get my new fur-baby. Here’s hoping.

Cheers,
H

Happy Monday

Hot off the Press – 3rd July 2017

Published July 3, 2017 by helentastic67

Hot off the Press 030717

Another weird week has passed! Finished three comics and felt a moment of joy at this until I saw an advert for a Comic Con, in the States. The advert stating “Coming in September in 2015!” Growl!

Comic Con

Went out for dinner Tuesday night with some friends. Damo and my Boo. More later on Damo, however my Boo is one of my lovely gay friends who takes us out every now and again for adventures. We went to a ‘Place’ for dinner, prompting me to give people a pop quiz.

What suburb was this place in and what food did they specialise in? It was called Coburger and Co. Hint: There is a suburb in the North of Melbourne called Coburg. This pop quiz really threw a few people and they live here.

Coburger

It’s going to be a monthly adventure ongoing as it’s good to catch up with friends and have a laugh. My chicken burger with Kim chi set my mouth on Fire!

Wednesday for some crazy reason, I had a weird song in my head that I proceeded to share with Young John and Maria my Chiro who I’ve been seeing for over 12 years.

This song is a bit of an ear-worm so it quickly prompted her to thank me because she couldn’t get it out of her head either. Your welcome! Try the link at the bottom for a taste of Aussie/wog culture from the 80’s! As I prompted Young John….feel free to join in!

 

This week I decided to call my father. I only see him once a year. The only time I speak to him is if and when I call him. I attempted to express how much I needed his help. How I’ve spent money on new pants in time for winter ($24). How often I do my laundry so I can utilise my warmest tops. I even attempted to express how my fur-baby had been good for my mental health. Let me just say I used to be much better at guilting my father into helping me, because it would seem that’s my role in our family. I will also say it was half an hour of my life I will never get back!

Thought I would have a nice Thursday at home, but while I was at home I instead spent the afternoon chasing up services that didn’t just happen. Really wish my service providers would get their shit together to do their jobs.

Friday morning, I had a visit from a vampire. Taking my blood for a barrage of tests. Said vampire asked when I would see my GP again? It’s ok, if there’s anything noteworthy he will call me. Just checking up on the iron levels and such and the crazy lady hormones.

Vampire

Not sure if I’ve expressed sufficiently how cold my home is in winter or the cheek I have with my carers however, Friday I gave my carer the Coo-Wee! That signalled I was ready for her help in the bathroom and after a deafening silence I heard the doorbell. Not uncommon however Aunty Christine was in the house this day and she has been one of my regulars for over 4 years. So, only able to throw a towel over one shoulder I padded bare ass naked really to the front door to let her back in. Steam coming off my very warm body and prompting Aunty Christine that she was not yet ready for her apprenticeship to be done.

Doorbell

Come a September I lose these carers I’ve had for the longest. I don’t have any new girls who I imagine will take their place.

Had an extra visit to my favourite cafe with my Friday afternoon carer so that was nice. Home again and smashed out a large slow cooker batch of minestrone the yield was about 8 Passatta bottles (300mls each). It’s always nice to gift someone a bottle of soup in winter when they have done something nice for me. I’m such a Nonna. (BT Dubs, that’s an Italian Grandmother!) I now need to offload half of the minestrone so I can make a batch of bolognaise sauce. Have I mentioned I don’t know how to cook for just one?

Minestrone soup

Now, despite my best efforts at times at avoiding lifting my slow cooker there are times carers don’t turn up or I can’t find someone to lift the very heavy ceramic bowl up onto the bench or to the sink to soak before washing etc. I imagine I lifted it about five times, which is about half the amount of times it moved in order for me to use it and empty every last drop of the minestrone soup from it. I shouldn’t lift it at all obviously so I do love when I have a carer my age who complains about how heavy it is. I nip their cries in the bud quickly stating “Tell me about it. I moved it one-handed!”

Slow cooker

I don’t make a habit of lifting heavy things one handed anymore as I think I can blame doing this for my disc-bulge surgery back in 2011. There are times now when I forget how long that year was getting diagnosed, suitably medicated and eventually surgery on 11/11/11, when I get some stabbing sensation in my lower back and I realise I’ve got to stop lifting heavy things and I’m really not ready for another year existing only by spending all my time lying on my bed.

Single girl date night I watched Trainspotting 2, the sequel to the 90’s film Trainspotting. Not as shocking as the first but a 20-year reunion to see what happened to these characters.

trainspotting 2

Meanwhile, another week passes and a nice busy week coming. Winter in Melbourne and wet. Super!

Should mention the best way to survive winter in Melbourne is layers, layers and layers. Oh, wool jacket, umbrella and great coffee! Handy hint if coming to town! I’ve been wearing wool under my jackets for months, I can only go one further by wearing my long-sleeved wool jacket under my heavier jacket. It’s already next Level.

Melbourne weather

The only upside is the very brilliant TV series filmed in Melbourne called Offspring has returned. If you have the opportunity watch it!

Offspring

Cheers H

Have a great weekMelbourne

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