ah, blogging, that thing i used to do.
such is life in balmain…
we went to the toyshop the other day, and while i paid for the kid’s latest booty: two paintbrushes and a fetching nylon smock, the counter lady asked if i was a member of their loyalty scheme. she went on to explain that the scheme was: for every dollar i spend “on toys”, i get a point, and when i have collected 400 points, i get a $40 voucher.
thing is, i actually do like to collect points and get vouchers (and the like), but i also like to be realistic, and so i asked if the points had an expiry date. she hesitated, looked momentarily bashful, and then said that i would have six months.
“wow. um, i don’t think i could spend $400 on toys in six months,” i said.
“people say that,” the counter lady said encouragingly, “but then they do!”
“it’s true!” said a lithe woman who had just entered the shop. “you’d be surprised! it all adds up!”
i paid the counter lady $20.45, and she printed out my receipt and showed me where i could see my points balance. “only 380 points to go!” i exclaimed gamely… except it wasn’t — the computer had only given me 19 points. i’ve barely begun and already it’s a losing battle.
then we walked a block up the street to a café for some orange-ginger juice and a babycino, and the counter guy was steve bisley.
but the reason why there’s been no time for anything else is that for the last couple of weeks, i’ve been immersed in the eye-straining, RSI-inducing, yet educational world of laying out (and proofreading, and copyediting) a manual on wound care. oh the three different numbering/labelling systems in the same chapter! oh the glamourous photographs of sliced-open toes! oh the email of amendments that arrived yesterday, which says: “page 225 should be relocated to page 180. urgosterile is a dressing! you may have to renumber the pages! sorry lah!”
quite.
so.
now for something completely different. my head is in sandwich mode, and springtime, and picnics! these last couple days i have washed many mixing bowls, and many things have been mixed in-between. i’m waiting for a pot of chocolate ganache to cool down. and already there is a sweet and tart by-product of yesterday’s eggwhites: today’s lemon curd.
7 Comments
Teehee I have been momentarily surprised by Steve Bisley in Balmain too.
Have fun at sandwiches tomorrow whilst we stuff our faces with har gao
aaah those frequent point thingies. i cannae believe its for $400! is this the toy shop next to common ground bakery? if so, it may put an end to your patronage to that purple shop across the street!
thank you for mixing up such yummy treats today… i really enjoy the ricotta sandwich!
Oh yummy chocolate ganache. I just had my souvenir macaroon sandwich from today’s picnic as a slowly savoured after-dinner dessert.
The last mouthful was a sad one indeed (but the ones before it were truly grin-inducing)
sue: perhaps we’ll see *you* in balmain sometime? am definitely up for the orange grovers market once the deadlines die off.
deb: nevah!! the purple shop is top of the hierarchy. i’ve been meaning to pop in and see if they have good deals on berries. i am considering an encore of the ricotta sandwich (i used frozen berries for sunday)… but might wait a little while before i give the bread another go. i think you should make a loaf too — i am curious to see if you get a soft wet dough like TK mentioned.
helen: hurrah! i am pleased the biscuits turned out well for everyone in the end, and not just the kiddies. 🙂 your squares of lindt are perched invitingly on my desk. i doubt they will last past my next post.
do tell if there are berries for sale. i’ve only been admiring the blueberries at harris farm because they were at $14.99 a pop!
i will give the chocolate bread a shot. i am tempted to add things to it like hazelnuts or berries or mandarin zest. did it yield a very big loaf?
mm. it crossed my mind to add some nuts or berries to the dough too. all your ideas sound good, so you will have to make three loaves! i don’t think that my dough turned out like tessa’s… and my tin was a small one, only half the size of the one she recommended. so who knows? i shall try again one day.
three loaves! i think i’ll have to open a bakery…. but not before i buy a real loaf tin. one of those high top ones … and stell tin beauty.