Sitting here watching The Railway man, a scene came on where a cut lunch was on the table in the train. It invoked a wave of memories from childhood. This then got me thinking about one of the biggest changes that we go through in our lives - food.
Growing up, we certainly were not well off and at times, not even comfortable. When thinking back to what we took to school for lunches, it was always sandwiches of Vegemite or soggy tomato sandwiches. If we were lucky we had luncheon and I can even remember having spam. Sometimes we also took a boiled egg. A good day was being able to buy a Joe's pie from tuckshop. Lunch time at home on weekends or holidays were pretty much the same.
Dinner was meat and veg, savoury mince or pea and ham soup. The 'meat' was nearly always either sausages or rissoles. Sunday was always a roast dinner. When I was about 10, my mother started working at a butcher shop, doing the books. We then got to experience things like t bone every so often.
When I was 12, my parents bought 16 acre's at Kholo. Here they had fruit trees, a veggie garden, chooks, pigs, cow, sheep and turkey later in the year. All was for food. Turkeys were fattened for Xmas, chooks for eggs and then when off the lay for Sunday roast. From the cow, we got milk which also gave us cream and butter (this was churned by hand), calves that became meat - the same with the pigs. We ate a lot of duck, as dad and I would go shooting. Nothing like spitting pellets out as you eat haha.
Nearly everything we ate, came from home. Our neighbour would help with the kills and he would make sausages - including blood sausage (yuk) - and he also had a smoking room for bacon. Into our normal menu, came pigs trotters and this horrible pressed meat with jelly dish that was for on sandwiches.
We did have take away. Dad would be working on the coal trucks on Friday nights and we would go to the Ebbw Vale takeaway and get fish and potato scallops. Or Chinese from Jimmy Wahs.
Even when I moved out of home at 19, takeaway was fish and chips on a Friday night. Lunch was ham and salad rolls, dinner was meat and vegetables.
I can't remember when I fish got to try pizza or KFC. But these were just a sometimes/rare meal.
The kids all grew up on fresh food. You would make vegetables and freeze them in ice cube trays. It was always things like potato, pumpkin, carrot or choko served with chicken, fish or beef. We still had the Sunday roast but they also got hungry jacks or McDonalds.
Life was still a very 'western' diet.
Through the years Italian came into our diet more in the form of spaghetti and pizza. I was 30 when I tried my first Japanese and in my 40's before I tried it again and also got to try takeaway Thai. Due to working with a Greek girl when I was in my teens, I got to try traditional Greek food.
When I look at our diet now, it is very multi cultural. I cook Asian, Moroccan, Mexican, and more. I see what little kids have as their diet and they are given sushi and fruits and vegetables that we had never heard of. I think it is so exciting for them.
The thing that I feel sorry for those growing up today, is that they will never get to experience the full flavour of fresh food like we did. That tartness of a granny smith apple and the juiciness of it. The taste of preserved cherries and peaches, that have sat on the shelf in a laundry next to an old copper washer. Food with full-bodied flavours all of their own.
I wonder what we will be eating in another 20 years time.
Friday 15 August 2014
Monday 3 February 2014
Where my life has gone.
Well if ever I have wondered what I have done in my life, this afternoon has showed me. In my quest of cleaning out everywhere, I came across a memory box. I didn't realize I did so many courses haha.
Not only do I have a Diploma in Crystal Therapy, I also have done courses in the following.
Not only do I have a Diploma in Crystal Therapy, I also have done courses in the following.
- Autobiography course through carers Qld in 2008,
- A training programme completed to tutor students with their reading 1994
- Certificate of training for lifeline in 1996 and I also have certificate for recognition of service from them as well.
- My first aid certificate I did in 1989 with Veronica. I think it was 1 night a week for 6 weeks back then. Maybe I should update it lol
- Certificate for Natural Healing at Home in 1999.
- Training in Grass Roots Care for Carers in 2004
All of that equipped me to undertake the following voluntary positions.
- Lifeline telephone counsellor
- Vice President for Karalee S.S. P & C
- Fete Convenor for Karalee S.S.
- President for Karalee S.S P & C
- Bookshop convenor for Karalee S.S.
- Canteen Convenor Ipswich Little Athletics Assoc
- Wish granter for Starlight Children's Foundation and help in Starlight room and with fundraising
- Giving talks to professionals and support care workers for Carers Qld.
- Chairperson for Qld electric wheelchair sports.
- Secretary for Northern Suburbs Rugby League Club
- Smaller things like reading tutor, help with swimming lessons, helping in tuckshop.
Then of course, those that know me from emailcash, know that I had 5 years of organizing Secret Santa and Secret Bunny with up to 300 people.
Boy, no wonder I am tired lol.
Going through the box, I also came across a diary that the kids kept when we went to Sydney Olympics. It gave me a giggle with things they had written. Jade would finish her bits with good night diary lol.
There was a lot of newspaper articles from over the years with Ryan. Him sitting in an F111, photos from fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy Queensland, sports, his 18th and 21st. Photos of Jade from when she was made Arts Captain at High School and her principals 'student of the year' award.
There is a book by an American Woman Constance Foland. Many years ago, Constance joined a site I was a member of. She was writing a book and the man boy in it had Muscular Dystrophy. She would email me with things she would want to write and whether those things were possible and I would reply with yes or give a suggestion. When her book finally got published, she sent me a signed copy.
It really is a great box to take a journey through. Lots of things that I have pushed to the deep recess of my mind, but that bring back some wonderful memories.
P.S. Sitting here thinking and there are all the cooking classes I have done, as well as ceramics and I also use to make porcelain dolls.
P.S. Sitting here thinking and there are all the cooking classes I have done, as well as ceramics and I also use to make porcelain dolls.
Tuesday 21 January 2014
Beliefs
Beliefs are like fingerprints - no two people have the exact same belief system as another. No just belief due to religion, but also politics, parenting and more.
Over time, you develop and change what those beliefs are. What you thought at 20, will more than likely be a lot different at 50 and again at 70. Your life experiences, change the what you believe.
Last night in bed, I was thinking of all this when I couldn't sleep. Just what are my fingerprints on the maze of thoughts.
Religion.
I was brought up Catholic. All but one year of my schooling was done at Catholic schools. I was made to go to church each Sunday, even though my parents never went: well my mother very rarely. As I got older, I would go to the pub while I was suppose to be there.
When I left home, I would go occasionally, when the mood took my fancy. Peter on the other hand, went each week, due to family pressure. When we got married, we went most weekends, unless we thought of a good reason not to.
Getting married in a church was a given, although we didn't have a requiem service. The kids were all baptised and plans were made for them to go to a catholic school. We took them to church, the same way we did when younger.
Since Troy was born as Ryan was being diagnosed, I was determined to have Troy baptised before finding out if he also had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It was almost a frantic bargaining between myself and God.
When things settled down, we realized that school options had to change and that the kids would be going to a state school. Ryan also made his first communion and confirmation early, so that he could walk to do it.
I have to say that through this time, the priests at St Mary's were wonderful. I am sure that there are not many kids who would go to confession, but instead end up running around the church with the priest playing chasey. They were there again, when Ryan first realized that he would die young and wanted to talk to them. Sometimes he hated God and they were there to talk to listen to what he had to say.
Jade went with the flow and put her usual 110% effort into religion classes at school. Troy on the other hand, went for the first couple of years, then refused to go. It was just before this, that we stopped going all the time and it was down to Christmas eve open air mass. But that soon stopped as well.
So back to my beliefs. I don't believe that any one religion is right. I have done a bit of reading on different types and they all have their good and bad. I believe in all 'leaders' and these can be found if you look up Ascended Masters. I do think that above them, is one strong being.
Now to confuse you more. I believe in evolution. But I believe that some being, created the forces that led to to-days universe. It is to this being, that when I do have to go to any type of service, whether it be wedding, funeral or other, that I silently curse, for how life has unfolded.
There are too many things that can't be explained. Just as an example of a couple of incidences with me. Years ago, Ryan was a baby and I was going to visit a friend Belinda at Banyo. Every time I went to see her, I went along Rode Road to Sandgate Road. Every time, I missed the little slip road. Now I would of gone to her place probably around 50 times over the years. Only one time, did I get to take this slip road, without missing it.
On that day, while I was looking to see if any traffic was coming. The car that was in front of me, but that went to the lights, ran the red light. A semi coming the other way, collected the VW and it fell apart like a pack of cards. From the truck trying to stop, it swerved. If I had of not gotten that slip road, we would of been hit badly. I also cannot recall any sound from that day and couldn't even straight after it happened. Every sight memory is still in tact, but sound never.
The second incident, was that Peter and I were going to go to a wedding. We were going to catch a bus, down to NSW to it. A couple of nights beforehand, I had what could only be described as a vision. I saw a guy in our bedroom, telling me not to go or we would be hurt. It freaked me out big time. We didn't go and the bus that we were going on, had an accident and a lot of passengers were badly hurt.
Now you might say that these things were just luck. That's fine, that is what you believe. I believe it was a higher power, looking out for us. I also believe in the power of crystals, oils and nature for grounding.
Politics.
Boy covering all the taboo subjects today lol.
I have yet to see a politician that is in it to help 'the people'. I think a lot might start out like that, but by the time we get to see them, that has changed somewhat.
I have only once, voted for one of the two major parties. Normally it is greens or independents. I think the Greens now though, are far removed from the party they use to be. With the other two parties, I think it is more a point scoring competition, than running the country to the best of their abilities.
Imagine how great the country could be, if they all worked in unison and left egos at the door.
Immigration.
I think Australia should help refugees. I also believe that refugees should come by the correct channels. There are a lot of genuine ones, but there are some that aren't.
I love the diversity that they bring to Australia and that there is a lot our kids can learn from them.
I had even looked into the government scheme of taking in a refugee. For those that aren't familiar with it, you take in someone and help them get set up. Things like opening a bank account, getting a medicare card etc. The reason I didn't go further, was that our house wouldn't of been set up enough for what you had to supply.
When you read the crap online of how much they are given, stop and do some research and you will find it all false. It annoys me when people spread it around before checking out the facts.
Child Raising.
Teach your children to respect others and you will have well behaved kids.
I look some of the kids of today and wonder just what their parents are doing. Mine never would of dreamt to run around a restaurant, even Maccas. They would sit and eat, then be allowed in the playground under supervision.
Going shopping, meant that they stayed either beside or in the shopping trolley, not touching stock. If we went to visit a friend, then I went with a bag that contained toys, a small blanket and they would sit and play on it. Not opening cupboards or touching someone else's possessions.
They were by no means angels, but they knew what was expected of them. Their behaviour out was very different to home haha. Now they didn't get belted, they did get the occasional smack, but more often than not, they got time out. It was not any of this super nanny minute per age. It was stand with your nose to the wall until mum calms down. They do laugh and tell others, how I would sometimes forget they were there and doze off lol.
They are not scarred, but they will like me, go mad at your kids if you don't.
So that is a run down on my beliefs. Peter's are different to mine, as are my kids. I love that we have a pope and a queen and never want that to change - well we could skip Charles. I believe in this system and maybe that is the history buff in me.
No one else believes in all I do, and so that is my fingerprint on the world.
Over time, you develop and change what those beliefs are. What you thought at 20, will more than likely be a lot different at 50 and again at 70. Your life experiences, change the what you believe.
Last night in bed, I was thinking of all this when I couldn't sleep. Just what are my fingerprints on the maze of thoughts.
Religion.
I was brought up Catholic. All but one year of my schooling was done at Catholic schools. I was made to go to church each Sunday, even though my parents never went: well my mother very rarely. As I got older, I would go to the pub while I was suppose to be there.
When I left home, I would go occasionally, when the mood took my fancy. Peter on the other hand, went each week, due to family pressure. When we got married, we went most weekends, unless we thought of a good reason not to.
Getting married in a church was a given, although we didn't have a requiem service. The kids were all baptised and plans were made for them to go to a catholic school. We took them to church, the same way we did when younger.
Since Troy was born as Ryan was being diagnosed, I was determined to have Troy baptised before finding out if he also had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It was almost a frantic bargaining between myself and God.
When things settled down, we realized that school options had to change and that the kids would be going to a state school. Ryan also made his first communion and confirmation early, so that he could walk to do it.
I have to say that through this time, the priests at St Mary's were wonderful. I am sure that there are not many kids who would go to confession, but instead end up running around the church with the priest playing chasey. They were there again, when Ryan first realized that he would die young and wanted to talk to them. Sometimes he hated God and they were there to talk to listen to what he had to say.
Jade went with the flow and put her usual 110% effort into religion classes at school. Troy on the other hand, went for the first couple of years, then refused to go. It was just before this, that we stopped going all the time and it was down to Christmas eve open air mass. But that soon stopped as well.
So back to my beliefs. I don't believe that any one religion is right. I have done a bit of reading on different types and they all have their good and bad. I believe in all 'leaders' and these can be found if you look up Ascended Masters. I do think that above them, is one strong being.
Now to confuse you more. I believe in evolution. But I believe that some being, created the forces that led to to-days universe. It is to this being, that when I do have to go to any type of service, whether it be wedding, funeral or other, that I silently curse, for how life has unfolded.
There are too many things that can't be explained. Just as an example of a couple of incidences with me. Years ago, Ryan was a baby and I was going to visit a friend Belinda at Banyo. Every time I went to see her, I went along Rode Road to Sandgate Road. Every time, I missed the little slip road. Now I would of gone to her place probably around 50 times over the years. Only one time, did I get to take this slip road, without missing it.
On that day, while I was looking to see if any traffic was coming. The car that was in front of me, but that went to the lights, ran the red light. A semi coming the other way, collected the VW and it fell apart like a pack of cards. From the truck trying to stop, it swerved. If I had of not gotten that slip road, we would of been hit badly. I also cannot recall any sound from that day and couldn't even straight after it happened. Every sight memory is still in tact, but sound never.
The second incident, was that Peter and I were going to go to a wedding. We were going to catch a bus, down to NSW to it. A couple of nights beforehand, I had what could only be described as a vision. I saw a guy in our bedroom, telling me not to go or we would be hurt. It freaked me out big time. We didn't go and the bus that we were going on, had an accident and a lot of passengers were badly hurt.
Now you might say that these things were just luck. That's fine, that is what you believe. I believe it was a higher power, looking out for us. I also believe in the power of crystals, oils and nature for grounding.
Politics.
Boy covering all the taboo subjects today lol.
I have yet to see a politician that is in it to help 'the people'. I think a lot might start out like that, but by the time we get to see them, that has changed somewhat.
I have only once, voted for one of the two major parties. Normally it is greens or independents. I think the Greens now though, are far removed from the party they use to be. With the other two parties, I think it is more a point scoring competition, than running the country to the best of their abilities.
Imagine how great the country could be, if they all worked in unison and left egos at the door.
Immigration.
I think Australia should help refugees. I also believe that refugees should come by the correct channels. There are a lot of genuine ones, but there are some that aren't.
I love the diversity that they bring to Australia and that there is a lot our kids can learn from them.
I had even looked into the government scheme of taking in a refugee. For those that aren't familiar with it, you take in someone and help them get set up. Things like opening a bank account, getting a medicare card etc. The reason I didn't go further, was that our house wouldn't of been set up enough for what you had to supply.
When you read the crap online of how much they are given, stop and do some research and you will find it all false. It annoys me when people spread it around before checking out the facts.
Child Raising.
Teach your children to respect others and you will have well behaved kids.
I look some of the kids of today and wonder just what their parents are doing. Mine never would of dreamt to run around a restaurant, even Maccas. They would sit and eat, then be allowed in the playground under supervision.
Going shopping, meant that they stayed either beside or in the shopping trolley, not touching stock. If we went to visit a friend, then I went with a bag that contained toys, a small blanket and they would sit and play on it. Not opening cupboards or touching someone else's possessions.
They were by no means angels, but they knew what was expected of them. Their behaviour out was very different to home haha. Now they didn't get belted, they did get the occasional smack, but more often than not, they got time out. It was not any of this super nanny minute per age. It was stand with your nose to the wall until mum calms down. They do laugh and tell others, how I would sometimes forget they were there and doze off lol.
They are not scarred, but they will like me, go mad at your kids if you don't.
So that is a run down on my beliefs. Peter's are different to mine, as are my kids. I love that we have a pope and a queen and never want that to change - well we could skip Charles. I believe in this system and maybe that is the history buff in me.
No one else believes in all I do, and so that is my fingerprint on the world.
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