Christmas present

Putting my jam present to shame today we received our Christmas gift at work. I was completely overwhelmed:


See if you can spot:

• Large chocolate hamper
• 2kg box cherries
• Cake stand
• Salad bowl
• Wine decanter
• 2L water jug
• 4 dessert bowls
• Glass lazy susan
• cheese platter
  

Wow! The cake stand is going to be perfect for trying out the pavlova with balsamic cherries and dark chocolate cream that I saw on Better Homes and Gardens (while I was procrastinating from study okay!).

The Adventures of Making Jam

So you've had a big year and finally that last exam is out of the way. You could get drunk, or make jam. I chose getting a little bit drunk, and then making a lot of jam...

Step 1: Cut up everything and weight everything.

2. Cook the jam. Don't be impatient, or your jam will be tasty, but runny (this was learnt with the test batch of strawberry jam earlier in the week).


3. Do the wrinkle test. If you ARE going to be impatient you can use the freezer instead of the fridge.


4. Put it in the jars you sterilized earlier. Use the kitchen floor if you kitchen benches are too poky and/or there is too much mess from aforementioned preparation.


5. Fill it right to the rim so it seals properly and keeps for ages.


My jam varieties so far: peach, nectarine, apricot and cherry.


All wrapped up and pretty for the people at work.

PS- Other jam making tip: try not to 'try' too much jam while making four seperate batches in a row, unless you want a sugar high followed by a sugar low.

Kevin 07

We were partying with Kevin 07 before he was famous (taken at my spa and pizza night early birthday party in Radelaide on Melbourne Cup weekend). Better late than never Hayley!

Eight sleeps til freedom

Well it has been a nice week living under the new regime of Kevin 07 (that one's for you Uncle Corey- if you are not boycotting my Labor loving blog now).

Anyhow, there is nothing I hate more that this little period of trying to be a super-studier, while all the time being distracted by all the things I can finally do once I am free of study. As all exam-sitter's know it is a vicious cycle: don't spend any time dreaming and you have no incentive to study...spend too much time dreaming and you'll spend the two months after the exam (waiting for the marks to come out) stressing that you didn't pass.

I like to think I've found the fine and perfect balance (although onto my third straight day of studying full time I may now be slipping a little), and here is what I have coming up so far (as those who know me know I like to plan ahead):

• BBQ to celebrate no more study (thanks to those who replied and said they can come...I'm going to email out a proper invite later today)
• Work Christmas functions: not only do we have an all-day event magical mystery tour to goodness knows where, we also have a pre-work BBQ. I better prepare all my small-talk topics in advance.
• Moonlight cinema: I want to go to 'The Darjeeling Limited' on opening night...any takers?
• Mum and Dad and Moni coming for pre-Christmas Christmas dinner before flying out to Bali (Moni is staying...so we can go to....)
• Camping on Phillip Island, and then...
• Pyramid Rock Festival
• Visiting Cassie in Elliston

Also on a random note, I am going to make peach or nectarine jam after my exam, so if you have any tips let me know!