mini-break

I've had a lovely week off work, and realised how good it is to be at home all the time. It's a big step for me, who rushed back into a job when G was just five months. Not because we needed the cash, but because I'd always worked before and was lost as to what I was supposed to be doing. But it's easy to see now. I should be at the park, feeding ducks, going to the pool, putting bread out for the birdies (see left. I know- bend your knees, pregnant lady!), checking for doggies over the back fence, taking adventurous walks, climbing through tunnels, sewing, knitting, sorting out piles of baby junk, preparing good lunches and dinners for my starving boys and taking time to look after my own health and well being.

I was also amazed at how quickly we got into a rhythm and the effect it had on G, who adjusted his pattern to one big sleep in the middle of the day. He also passed another milestone, mastering climbing (see left).

The week allowed me to see where I fit into this picture and how life is when I'm there. I know I miss things, working the few hours that I do, but it was much more than that. It was having enough energy to get through the whole day. Feeling on top of the chores and our meals and the washing pile, and still wanting to hit the park or the playground without thinking 'I can't be bothered with this today,'. That's how G (and I) benefit from me being home.

I'm on the countdown to the end of working....Just as my boss needs me to ramp up and take on more work! It's lucky for him we have grand plans for the new house. Currently I have a large 'carpet monkey' on my back and am grabbing every extra hour I can (and calculating the broadloom metres as the clock ticks past each hour.)

the chiropractor

With regard to health, I have natural, holistic leanings, balanced by a respect for Western medicine and its place in the world. I embrace the principles of yoga, even if I am slack in my practice, and read keenly about naturopathic and Chinese medicine. I am probably attracted by their foundations in nutrition and bodily processes as a point of interest. I am lucky, since my sister has studied naturopathy, the texts are lying about Mum and Dad's place.

That said, I have never undertaken an elimination diet of any kind or consulted with anybody to assess my yin-yang balance. I have obviously not suffered an affliction so dire as to resort to drastic measures. 'Cut out wheat? Oh, no, I'm fine...'.

But something that has caught my attention is the 'new' chiropractic. My sister-in-law converted me back to chiropractic care after G was born. While in London I had heard a lot about cranial osteopathy for newborns, it was the 'in' thing for hip London mums. Apparently the gentle manipulation of a newborn's head plates can undo any damage they may have suffered during birth and set right issues such as reflux and crying. But back in Australia, I couldn't find anyone who wanted to talk about it, even my own osteo, and so let it go.

Then my sister-in-law told me of her amazing success with her allergy/asthma kids through chiropractic care. Which I thought was ridiculous. I had given up on chiropractors ages ago, the twice weekly visits and pointless crunching. For physical pain I was into the osteo and the physio as a better solution for me.

But it turns out that chiropractic care is now being used for naturopathic type functions. By encouraging your nervous system ( housed the length of your spine ) to work at optimum levels, your body's own processes can fight reactive conditions such as allergies and asthma. And everything else, they'll say, since the nervous system is central to the functioning of your body. Chiropractic care is then best way to manage your spinal/nervous system.

The more extreme purveyors of this practice will advise you not to immunise and poo-poo germ theory. This attitude flies in the face of my healthy respect for western medicine. But the beauty of our health system is you can take on what you like and avoid what you don't. I am critical and cynical, and read widely before embracing the radical claims of a left of centre practice.

We took little G along for a check-over at six weeks old, and without even getting a history from us, the chiropractor was able to tell us the few issues he had been suffering (feeding difficulty on the left due to a sore neck, unwilling to lie on the floor because his sacrum was 'out', random mild reflux and crying). He was adjusted and we set off wondering how it would all go. Brilliantly, as it happens, and we haven't looked back. An adjustment after each immunisation, and our monthly check-ups hold him in good stead. I can only suggest that it must have helped us avoid the colds and infections that have passed through mother's group. Any time I feel he's very unwell we head off to the regular doctor, who looks at this clear-skinned, sparkly eyed child I have and tells me if he was sick, he'd look sick.

Having embraced the chiro for our son's 'wellness', we have been pretty slack on taking it up ourselves. But this week I bit the bullet and checked both the baker and I in for an assessment. The baker was a bit shocked by his diagnosis, but is on board with having regular treatments and I am loving the neck and shoulder relief, and the chiro telling me we will be avoiding sciatica with this pregnancy. Hooray.

In terms of savings is this another case of spending money to save it? Hmm...well, I haven't cancelled the health insurance yet, since starting this, as it pays back quite well, and I figure since I'm paying for it, use it! But I'm sure we are spending money when two weeks ago we were not. However, maintaining our health is an imperative with the mortgage burden. Visiting the chiro has inspired me to find time for a bit of self-guided yoga practice, good for general living and reinforcing the chiro's work. The government has recently been banging on about preventative medicine, after telling us we are all too drunk and fat to look after ourselves. I'm sticking with it.

I'm not joking about my second trimester energy levels. They are just soaring at the moment. And I can think again. I think about how I feel and what I want to do and eat, whereas before now, I was a zombie. I couldn't decide toast or tea, let alone make it!

I made myself some muesli, as I crave high energy, high nutrient, slow release food. I make it without all the awful, shriveled, inappropriate fruit they put in. Mango and paw-paw, I mean, really? And no fluffy, puffed bits, or oatbran noodles either. Old school- oats, wheatgerm, toasted with honey and all the good nuts and seeds. A few natural sultanas and a packet of dried blueberries I found in the back of the pantry. It's a comparably cheap but luxurious breakfast. Also there's a secret twist in the recipe, learnt from a lovely B'n'B lady in Byron Bay many years ago. I'd love to tell you, but I won't. Unless you ask.

Recently I received a gift of some gorgeous Meredith blue cheese, purchased before the giver knew I was pregnant. Not being one willing to miss out, today I decided to make it into cheesy biscuits, so everyone could enjoy it, though I will of course eat the lions share. They are flaky and melting, with a hint of mustard and freshly ground pepper. Divine.


The final highlight of another high energy day- I took baby G to the pool for the first time. What a ball we had! First we checked out the pelicans at the pier, fed our old bread to the swarming seagulls and then headed in to splash away a bit of time. Not long though, swimming totally knocks him out, and he was all ready for a morning sleep by the time we got dressed and walked back to the car. Which was all part of my cunning plan. Except that I was all tuckered out too! I going to make this a regular weekly date for us. He swims for free and I pay less than $5. Another item to factor into the budget, but happily.

Just a quick reminder- the last episode of Doc Martin tomorrow night. I'm going to curl up on the couch, barrel of cheesy bikkies and cold glass of Maggie Beer's Desert Pearl wine (non-alcoholic, another thoughtful gift, purchased when the giver did know I was pregnant!) and giggle and sob for an hour. Have a lovely weekend.

Golden, luscious love.

The colder weather has invigorated my appetite for cheap home-made puddings. Over the past two weeks we have had Lemon Delicious (using up lemons from the heaving tree), Chocolate Self-Saucing Pudding (trying a new recipe from a 'cooking for toddlers book', but that much sugar is NOT for a toddler!) and tonight, Golden Syrup Dumplings. Except that we had no golden syrup, so they were brown sugar and treacle dumplings. No matter. Still so good.

I actually made them today at work, to sell tomorrow. My boss thinks we won't sell many, but I know he's wrong. Our first customer today demonstrated this for me. Harriet is a lady of a certain age with flair, a lust for life and a yellow Peugeot. The farmhouse kitchen I work in is right at the end of a rutted dirt road past a turn off to nowhere. I'm amazed we have any customers, let alone ones who would find getting there such a challenge. But she's a devoted regular and she interested in the more unusual things we cook. She wants tagines, not casseroles, rhubarb pudding, not fruit cake. She loves the flavour of juniper in her pork pie, as it goes with her taste for gin, she says. I get her.

Today she came in and once she'd collected together her purchases, I asked if she likes Golden Syrup Dumplings.
'Ohh, hmmm,' she said, eyes widening.
I said 'Great, I've just made some, but I bet you don't make it home with them, they're still warm,' and at that, she surged past the counter, around to my bench, fished out one fluffy, sweet orb of dumpling, still hot from its pan and promptly gobbled it up. An eighty-something old woman, twin-set, tweeds and sturdy shoes, cheekily swiping one of my dumplings, dripping syrup on the bench and grinning like a sugared-up loony!

It made my day. And since today is my wedding anniversary, I decided to make my husband's day, too.

Golden Syrup Dumplings.
It may feel a bit daunting, but just think of these as scones baked in a pot of syrup. Easy-peasy.
I wish I had a photo, but it would be of the empty pot. Sorry, next time.

for dumplings-
1 cup self raising flour
40gm softened butter
pinch salt
1 egg
50ml milk
Rub together the flour, salt and butter. Stir together the egg and milk and pour into a well in the middle of the flour mix. Stir together with your fingertips until a dough forms. Don't knead it, just bring it together.

for syrup-
2 cups water
1 cup sugar
4 tablespoons golden syrup
squeeze of lemon
Place all ingredients in a wide bottomed pot and stir over heat to dissolve the sugar. Bring to the boil and drop in golf ball sized pieces of dumpling dough. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Cook for 20 mins or until a skewer comes out clean. Serve at once with dollops of heavy cream. Do not mention to anyone if there are leftovers, you'll be kicking yourself when there's none for a late supper.

Happy Anniversary, baker man.