A little bit of kiwi - part 2

[sibble]

Hi Guys

Have started us a new thread, hope you don't mind. With my dinosaur it takes me forever to scroll down to the bottom to post! (Don't ask)

Papillon - I am so happy for you. I hope things work out for you all. I am monitoring (auditing) drug trials atm (not for long I hope!!) Luckily Hastings HC is a smooth centre, the staff lovely and of course a great place to visit so it makes the trip worth while. Last time it was too hard to organise the boys for an overnight trip so I caught the first plane out, the last plane back and spent all day in a room with no windows going cross eyed counting drugs and checking records while the sun shone outside. NOw DH is practised in teh art of child care I will stay at least 1 night and hopfully see more than 4 walls.

ssshakethechi - you just have to come and join the ever growing band of NZ mumsnetters, we are growing by the day.

Oh Sibble he does sound stressed, hope he can get his working life and the stress factors in that into a better place, so you can continue enjoying your new life and place of Being. Moving is such an upheaval, the grass is not necessarily greener! A mate of mine moved recently, her DH hates his job, and she feels really low, cos he is always at work with long commute. Good plan to lay low.

Beautiful day here, autumn has been lovely

Oh Sibble my thoughts are with you, I really hope your DH's boss can be reasoned with, it's amazing how much influence one person can have on your life and he's probably the type to be totally clueless about it, best of luck.

Ah I can just see your Ds running around Papillon, I'm sorry you didn't see it but hey you've got so many other landmarks to experience with him and I can tell with your Ds he's the sort of character who will be up to all sorts now he can walk!!!

I have decided that for Ds's party I am going to make 'healthy' food for the kids, well party healthy IYKWIM, for example I shall bake mini pizza's with organic flour and cheese, fruit dipped in chocolate, sausage rolls with home made sausage...anyone got any recipes or suggestions for me?

oooh last year I made all sorts........ mice by cutting boiled eggs in half then attaching tails (raw carrot cut finely), ears and eyes (raisons) on a platter of cheese cubes. we made our own pizzas (there were only 5 boys so do-able) I use mini tortillas as base, then let them put their own toppings on, the usual dips and crudites except mixed cake colouring into the dips so they were purple and blue (amazing what boys will eat when it looks like swamp slime!!!) The usual hedgehog with healthy treats at the end of the cocktail stick spikes. I'll try to think of some more. We did however have toxic red sausages and ketchup......DH's request!!!!!! no prizes for guessing sadly which plate emptied first

thanks sibble, the mice sound fantastic, Ds loves eggs and mice, so he sould go for that. keep them coming

Marriage breakups really suck

Hope you got some good ideas from the thread you started KJM about party food for kids (saw the thread )

kids are here atm so gotta go play the 3 year old way!

oh Papillon, I wish there was something I could say to make it easier for you but all I can do is send you >> thinking of you....

big hugs from me too. I don't envy you, a huge decision I know. I hope you are making time for nice things for yourself while enjoying your DC being around

Oh paps Hang in there hon. So did you meet up with then when you were picking up the dc?

Hey everyone, thanks for your warm support DH has been staying at the house, been here since Sunday. tbh at the moment I am finding it very difficult because there is alot of grief coming out for me due to our discussions bringing it all up to the surface. He has offered to go and leave the kids if I want. I am gonna sleep on it.

on the lighter side of life... ds has learnt to "puka up" his lips for a kiss today, which is very funny and much nicer than big wet mouth.

Anyone would find it really hard to share a house with their ex. It's all still raw and I bet you both feel regret that it hasn't worked out. Has he really accepted that it's over or do you think he is still hoping to get back together?

Your ds sounds adorable. Hope you're taking plenty of photos!

KJM a recipe for KJ's party perhaps? dd loves them, and making them today for lunch!

Kibbeh (or kibbe, or kufta, or köfte

1. Put 1 cup hulled red lentils (red dal) in a saucepan with 2 1/2 cups of salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat and skim off the foam that collects on the surface. Turn the heat to low and simmer until the lentils are yellow and very mushy, 20-30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, put 1/2 cup of fine-grain bulgur (see above) in a sizeable bowl.
3. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons of tomato paste (I like to buy the kind that comes in a metal tube) and the same amount of hot red pepper paste (there is a Hungarian brand of "paprika mix" in a jar that I've been using). Turn the heat back up to high and bring this mixture to a boil. Once it's boiling, turn off the heat and pour it over the bulgar. Stir well and set aside for half an hour.
4. Meanwhile, chop one large onion quite fine and saute it in two tablespoons of olive oil. When it begins to get golden brown, add two minced cloves of garlic, 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground cumin, and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Cook about two minutes more.
5. Once the bulgur and lentils have sat for their full half hour, add the contents of the skillet, oil and all. Mix very well, kneading everything together. Add 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh tarragon, a pinch of dried red pepper, and a little lemon juice. Mix again and adjust for salt.
6. Preheat the oven to 350. Use wet hands to pick up what Paula Wolfert calls "plum-size pieces fo the mixture". She seems to have in mind the very small plums sometimes called sugar plums or prune plums. Think something about 3/4 the size of a golf ball. Shape each piece into an oval and arrange these on a baking sheet, preferably one lined with parchment. You only need to leave a tiny bit of space between them. Better cooks than I would make smoother, more beautiful, and more consistant ovals, but mine still taste just fine.
7. Bake for 10-15 minutes. They shouldn't get brown, just form a bit of a firmer crust. Let them cool on the sheet, then transfer to a plate. Make sure they are completely cool, then cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.

I think these would be excellent with a yogurt sauce of the type made with just yogurt, garlic, and salt. But we never get quite to the point of testing this theory, as we wind up eating them all out of hand.

mmmmmmm, thanks lolli, shall defo try them, they sould yum. So you must be pretty close to moving in now, have you got all the furniture you need? I had some luck on trade me last week, have sussed out it's easier if there is a buy now price, so we scored a really brill entertainment unit for a steal and a bookcase which turned out to be not so pretty on pick up by highly practical and better now full of books.
Got to go crash now, Me and Dp had a night out in Wellie last night and ended up out very late, I'm knackered now, can't take the pace no more, glad I don't make a habit of it.
Still really hoping we shall so you on the weekend of the 20th. We won't be at home on the Friday night as we are going to a show, called heavenly burlesque, sounds pretty cool. Shall be back on early on the Sat though to do party prep.

hi, thought I'd pop in a say hello as we all have been pretty quiet on here of late (I've had sick children). Just wanted to let you all know, DH and I went to see Maui on Sat evening, if it comes your way it's fantastic, well worth the ticket price if you like the theatre. Even Dh loved it and he usually moans or falls asleep at the theatre. Catch you all soon.

ooh I'd love to see it I shall check out when it's on down here, we have just booked some tickets to see a show called Heavenly Bulesque which is part of the comedy festival down here but I want to see Maui also, shall do my best thanks for the nudge, sibble

I most untheatre like humbly am impressed - Napier has had the Weta Beauty and the Beast atm, but I am up in Tauranga slouching about.

So get the keys for the teeny weeny bach either tomorrow or Saturday! Then it will be unpack time and where can everything be squished in (40metres square living space). One day it will be bigger, at least it will not take much to heat!

ds enjoyed the kofte balls, had about 4 of them. dd loves them even before they are rolled up and baked
Made another healthy snack for dd the other day, one I used to often make for her Switzerland. Toasted linseed (popped like popcorn but in fry pan with lid) then while still hot add grated cheese. The cheese sticks to the linseed. She loves it I give it to her in a container with a spoon and off she goes

hope your kids are better Sibble, are you still planning on heading down my way end of May?

hi, you've changed your name, how did I miss that and is it permanent? I will probably be in your neck of the woods first week of June, although I handed my notice in today. I need to wait until they find a replacement and they were hardly queueing to replace me so I think we can safely say I will be doing the trip. WIll let you know the dates when they are confirmed as it would be lovely to meet you at last.

Not a permanent name change Was gonna post a thread and did want to use my name, never got around to doing the thread, nor change back to paps.

Hope you can make it down, are you in the market for a new job yet?

Someone else is cooking dinner, my days are numbered before duties in the kitchen will be on a daily basis again.

Have been spending a lot of time with dh the last two weeks, we are having a good time together, he is him, but light years from the guy who I lived with in Bern. So we give life together another go... the bonus of this separation is that making up is fresh, frequent and fun

Thanks again everyone for your support and caring words xxx

oh paps aka llpops, it's so nice to hear you sound happy I wish you all the best.

as for a new job, no I'm going to concentrate on my home business and see if I can build it. I have just been a bit overwhelmed lately with what amounts to 2 jobs and 2 small children, I was turning into very grumpy tired mummy with a messy house and no ironed clothes. Not much in some people's books but being a true Libran, I can't function in disharmony (is that a word!?!?) Anyway, something had to give so in a way I am closing the door (well I'm leaving it slightly ajar they will have me back ) on my old, pre-children life and starting a new(ish) venture. I am both excited and vervous. In my mind I plan to do nothing but child related things from 3-7 every night instead of making business calls, checking emails etc while trying to cook dinner, tidy the house, supervise homework, chauffeur boys to various activities and have a house full of their friends. Oh the joys of children

wow, what can I say, congratulations Paps and good luck, sounds like you succeeded in opening the eyes of someone so close to you that they couldn't see what was happening, I really hope lasts for all of you aaahhhhh (breaths sigh of relief )
New home too how exciting, hope you've got your wood in for your bot belly. Will your dad let you borrow Bertha when the weather is warmer so you can have visiters? Talking of visits does this excellent news mean we shall be getting a visit from the whole family for Ds's birthday... I do hope so!?
Sibble I don't know how you do it, I only have my precious one and only and I found it hard to study for my driving test recently (getting more Kiwi by the day ) I suppose you get back into the swing of having your own life going on but it sounds like your swing was a bit out of control!! What line is your business if you don't mind me nosing? I am toying with some business plans of my own at the moment.
I am going to listen to Dianne Levi speak next week, she wrote 'of course I love you now go to your room' I was very impressed by this book and unlike a few others I've read, I keep it onhand for reference, she is supposed to be a very good speaker.

Told Dp your news Paps, he is really happy for you guys

kjaysmum ...
Diane Levy is a good speaker ... quite entertaining, with sensible advice - worth going to if you are into that sort of thing. Her tv show wasn't much cop though ... she isn't that great on the telly ...
I was having a bit of a shocker with DS when DD was born and out of desperation I emailed her. The next day, out of the blue I got a phone call from her - she must have found my number on her mailing list or something from one of her talks. She gave me a whole hour 1 to 1 ... it was like talking to a favourite auntie or my mum or something.

Thanks ghosty it's good to know what to expect. It sounds like the evening will be a meet up for the local mums anyhow, so should be a giggle. I'm just looking into the 'highly sensitive child' theory and have ordered Elain.N.Aron's book, it's easy for me to get into the book thing as that's my Partners business, I can't resist. Anyhow I am becoming more aware of my Ds's highly sensitive reactions and I think it may have come from me, it's quite an eye opener and yet again I have been made aware of my own character traits through his behaviour, an amazing phenomenom I think and a massive self learning experience.

tbh I am sometimes happy, often still have heartache. We gonna do councelling which starts later in the week.

Having some freedom of choice issues.

got my NZ driving licence renewed the other day, and finally have a good mug shot on the card.

Anyway big day here today, the keys to the house are in my hands which is very cool. Have a family wedding celebration to go to today, dd and her cousin who are the same age are wearing white frocks made by an aunt with one lavender bow, one pink. Its a blue sky and will be a nice day

hope to get down to you for the birthday bash, will let you know and you (or anyone else up for it) can come stay in Bertha the camper anytime

complete hijack of the post i'm afraid. i am yet another new nz mumsnetter. fresh from london - although i'm originally from nz. have brough english partner and ds1 and ds2 with me and its all pretty overwhelming. staying with parents in chch but hoping to be in wellington for partners new job in a few weeks. if... we can find somewhere to rent. is trademe the best place to look?

Welcome shells, there are a few mnetters here in the Wellington area who I'm sure will be able to help. I'm up in AUckland and didn't know about Trade me when I arrived, if I had I would definately have given it a go, I just rang every real estate agent and asked to go on their list, I also drove around the streets of where I wanted to rent to see if I could see any boards outside then phoned.
Good luck and welcome to our thread