This little villiage above has been in the news for the wrong reasons lately, 5 rock fishermen drown here a few weeks ago. Coal is exported from here into large tankers.
Now for pics around the Lake.





















How about a spot of fishing by the lake, basking the the morning sun.

I hope you liked the pics I took for you this morning around Lake MacQuarie. The lake is huge, with small "Towns" right around it. So worth going to for a weekend.
Until nexttime when I put on the tour guide uniform.
Rina

Update on weekend

The weather was shocking driving up, we did it slowly without rushing at great speeds. A few idiots came short ... speed is the worst thing in rain esp when you hit a patch of water over the road, you just don't have full control of your vehicle. One driver skidded and landed in the middle section between the two highways. Him and his ute were fine! but needed a towtruck to get out again.

Another car and trailer hit the ditch on the left and was stuck there. He would have been OK until the tow truck driver gave him a bill for towing him out.



A little bit of privacy screening for our neighbours, but I think Des needs a veggie patch. The fence is to keep Miss Daisy out. More fencing next weekend and painting.



Galangha is a rhinzone, used in thai cooking. Plant looks like ginger and grows about 1 mt high with lovely white flowers.



We gonna have lots of passion soon, thats passionfruit. some where I found a great recipe for cordial, so I thinks we going to try making it.

We left very early this morning, only cause we had no idea what time it was until we got into the ute. Normally I wait for the Neighbour's rooster to go off but never heard him. We drove the scenic route, to Lake Macquarie and I got some good pics for you in the next post.

See ya
Rina

Ok just a little update on jerky and the weekend.

It's looking good, that jerky,a few more days to go.


Smelly the cat gives his approval, another 2 days atleast Mom.

The weather has turned fowl here, rain, cyclone and water spouts up at Lennox Beach/Ballina, That's on the east coast, just North of Coffs Harbour and it moving down the coast. Bellbrook is in the mountains 60 kms from Kempsey,we had 24mms rain last night. Heavy rain forcast for the next 2 days, showers Sat/Sonday the rain for the next few days after that. Clearing for the long weekend.!!! Southwest Rocks had 140mms yesterday, just 60 kms towards the sea. We are just about packed and ready to move out again, trailer is loaded with 2x4 inch studs/timber for the walls of the cottages and corragated roofing for Lavender Cottage, and a garden table and chairs for rose cottage is going up too.

Now why did I joke that rose cottage would float with all the wood used to build it! But we better check that the roof is still on and alls well there. Weather permitting we may dig 4/5 holes for fencing posts, concrete them in and screw a few rails on the main fence. This trip is really just about taking stuff up and checking on the cottages.
I did a little shopping on Sonday for Rose Cottage, wanna see what I bought, really hope Nilo is going to like it. The bed is a double so this should hang down nicely being a queen size. Got a few more little bits and pieces to decorate with.



Have a lovely weekend everyone
See ya
Rina
PS I got a little funny story over at my other blog about beef jerky if you want to read it.

It's that time of the year again ...

Winter time and it's Beef Jerky time (us South Africans call it Biltong)! Now I have posted before about making Jerky and really it's quite different to what the Americans do and tastes different to. We find it a little on the sweet side could be the hickery taste, well that's the little packets you can buy at the servo and bottle shops. But first I have to show you my meat slicer, now this new baby is going to make it very easy to cut the jerky. You poke the meat in this side an crank the handle and there you got thin slices, ready to enjoy.And yeh I brought it back with me from South Africa when I was there last year.

Now I use rump steak but some other folk use cheaper cuts of meat. I buy whole rump and have the butcher slice it for me (it free so why not), paid $7.99 a kilo Sonday. A pickle mix of rock salt 500gr packet, lightly roasted colliander seeds crushed, ground black pepper and 1 bottle of MaCormick Bush spices. I make this big bottle up at the beginning of the season and just keep adding to it. exact quantities are difficult to give you.



So now I trim off any bits of meat that could be used for Beef Stroganoff or curry, normally I get one good sized meal or just add a few mushrooms ... yummmy ... Back to the jerky, I sprinkle a little mix in the bottom of my container and start layering the meat, sprinkling mix on every layer, careful you don't overdo it otherwize you going to need more than a gallon of water to quench your thirst cause it will be too salty. Lightly sprinkle a little more bush spice if you like spicy foods. Cover with a lid or dish cloth and place on the benchtop or fridge for 24hrs. Remove and repack the top to the bottom in the juice. My container seals and I just flip it over without unpacking it. Do not throw the pickle juices away!!! Rest in the fridge for a futher 8/12 hrs.

The Bush Spices is an Ozzie thing contains garlic,pepper,paprika,nutneg,rosemary,origano,lemon murtle,mountain pepper and lemon aspin. Great sprinkled on meat and chicken. But you could use a steak and chop spice if you like.



After the meat has marinaded in the "pickle" I hang it up to wind dry ... Instant wind compliments of the Fan blowing full blast 24/7 for 4/5 days on the meat if you like it a little pink or 6/7 days if you like it Dry(overdone). It turns blackish in colour, No It's not off!! just dried. George made me an old fashioned meat safe with fly screen on 3 sides and with 3 rods under the shelf to hang the little hooks from. (Click on Beef Jerky under labels there's a pic of the meat safe.)


Now I must mention that there are a few people that would like to wager on the best Beff Jerky this year, I am up for the challenge ... bring it on boys. Saturday afternoon we celebrated all three Boy's "Month of May" birthdays , with a Bbq in Nick's garage cause the weather was so bad, rain and wind forecasts for this weekend. We had a great time, good food and good friends what more do you want.