I've always been fascinated by the natural world and the influence it has on humans. Sunday was the Southern Hemisphere's longest night - the Winter Solstice, and yet it isn't that cold here yet. We've had a few grey days though and I'm missing the sunshine. This photo was taken on a walk through Brisbane's Southbank.
Some days, I wish I lived in a world less dependent on instant connectivity and more dependent on taking notice of what's happening outside. Imagine planning your year based on Solstices and Equinoxes, or your month based on the phases of the moon. Or even planning your day based on how many hours of sunlight you have. Most of my futuristic worlds have some element of natural timekeeping or navigation built in, irrespective of their technology. Your day and year length all depend on your position in relation to your sun and the size of your planet. The pattern of stars you see at night depend on your position in the universe. So on another planet, the star signs we know and love, aren't visible. It's on my writing "to do list" to put an Earth Astrologist onto a space ship to a far away planet and watch what happens when she has to try and interpret new constellations. I'd pair her with a scientific type, who didn't believe and see what happened. (Jots notes, puts in project folder...). So many ideas... So Little Time. In November last year we welcomed Jade, a Lab cross Shepherd puppy into our lives. Now eight months old, she's a teenager and boy is that fun! She's a happy boisterous girl who loves plants (above), digging holes, pulling the stuffing out of everything and generally having fun (as you can see below). She's nearly as tall as our older dog, Misty, but nowhere near as solid. Misty spends days wishing she was an only dog, especially on rainy days like today. Jade has spent most of the day squeaking her toys, pulling their throats out, and trying to get Misty and I to play with her.
I'm about to saddle Jade up and take her for a nice long walk. Misty, who is hiding near my desk, isn't happy she's being left at home, but she's happy to have some peace and quiet. That's Misty on the left, and Jade on the right (below). Well, the year is almost half way through and I'm still plugging away at my goals. Here's how its travelling:
1. Futuristic in Edit - has been printed for its final edit. I've just finished a RWA online learning course on scene, and am enrolled in one on character, so I'm looking at it with fresh eyes. Deadline to send is 30th June. 2. Year of the Novel - course work is up to date and I have about 6000 words written. Finally, this one is starting to come together. 3. Writing Day - The backlog of appointments that has been plaguing me all year has finally cleared, and my writing day is actually a writing day. Cue treating it like any other work day and working all day. 4. Running - I was reading one of Denise Austin's books - one with a 12 minute workout each day and the requirement to travel 12 miles/week in gym clothes (running, walking etc). That's 20km for us Aussies. Over the weekend I downloaded a map and jogged from home to my favourite beachside suburb. It's 10.26km according to Runmeter. I needed a pickup at the other end, but I'm going to work my way towards making this one a return journey. 5. Balance - A few weeks ago, I added in a regular early morning walk. It means getting up an hour earlier, coaxing the puppy into her harness (she doesn't love her harness) and taking her first, then the senior dog. Somedays its chaos taking one and not the other, but regardless, that morning walk seems to set my day up for success. To make it work, I have to be more organised - with lunches, with breakfast choices, with ironed work clothes. So by adding in an additional activity, I've actually helped create balance in my already chaotic world. Who knew? Wish me luck with my futuristic. This time next month, I should be reporting it was submitted. If I had a signature dish, this slice would be it. I take it to every writing retreat, use it as my birthday cake at work and take it to most family functions. It comes from a 1980's Woman's Weekly Biscuit and Slice Book and its so simple.
Ingredients: 60 g butter 1 tablespoon Golden Syrup 1 cup self-raising flour 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of ginger (and I double this quantity compared to everything else for a gingery taste) 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup coconut 1 egg. Melt the butter and syrup on low heat. Combine sugar, coconut and lightly beaten egg and add this to the sifted flour and ginger. Pour in cooled butter and syrup mix. When combined, bake in a 28cm x 18cm slice pan at 180 degrees Celsius for 20-25mins. When cold, ice with lemon icing and cut into 24. Lemon Icing 1 cup icing sugar 30g butter 2 teaspoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind 1 teaspoon hot water Mix room temperature butter into the icing sugar. Add lemon juice and rind and mix. Add hot water to get an icing consistency. Ice, and sprinkle with additional coconut. I generally double the quantities for a nice thick slice. The tin (pictured above) is the sole survivor of my biscuit/cake tin collection. It's the only one left because it fits this slice in exactly. What's your favourite recipe? |
Fiona Greene AuthorWhen you set out on a journey and night falls, that's when you will discover the stars." Archives
November 2022
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