Bits and Pieces. Floods. Soap. What eva!

Slade Point Lookout.

It's cool. It's cloudy with a lovely breeze blowing.  Just the right day for making a new batch of soap with the gorgeous colours I ordered on line from Heirloom Cosmetics.   If I want to sell my soaps at the markets I need to make lots of stock so that it has time to cure.    If I don't run out of steam, I can make a few batches.

older batches of home made soap.

I would take photos to show you BUT.   My 3 month old camera has now gone back to Nikon to get fixed or Nikon will probably  say it was dropped, it had sand in it, grass in it, your fault!  
The guys from the retailer warned me that this is Nikon's usual stance.   What a mob of bastards!!!   I'll wait and see.  
To make matters worse, could not buy a charger for my other camera at 2 big retail outlets.      Also, couldn't buy a phone battery from where we bought the phones!  The world is going down the tubes to Agenda 21.

Another lot of very yummy Mango Chutney was made here.  It is so nice that we could eat it by the spoonful!  I put a little extra mixed spice in and a little more garlic too and this has given it that extra hit of flavour.  Let me know if you would like the recipe posted.

   This is my first attempt at  sealing the jars in a simmering hotwater bath.  It worked and each of the jar's lids popped in.  I'm going to get out the Fowlers Vacola stuff and do it properly for the  next lot of jam making.       Storage is a huge problem for me due to the smallness of the home and my lovely collection habits!

We have had horrendous flooding in Australia, AGAIN!!  

The wonderful local  Coates Hire in Mackay, QLD  is taking their tilt  tray truck with 2 containers of donated goods and clothing etc,   down to Bundaberg to be there for any one in need. 

Believe me... that's a lot of people.   We took our donations in.  The containers were filled within a few days!!!    I love kind and generous people.   I had made a heap of kids clothes from fabric that a friend had given me a year ago and   I was going to sell it very cheap on my market stall.     Nah.... this is a far better use for them all.  Now, I can sew up some more and diminish that stash.



Also dropped my car off to get the damage fixed from the October incident!   Hell no.. don't want to rush these things...

The body is failing!

               I'm  a wreck! 

 I went to consult the doctor again last week after having a dodgy knee for about 2 months.  
 An X ray the week before had shown 'mild arthritis'.

We all know X rays do not show up soft tissue very well and I don't know why she went that way.  Maybe to keep the guy in business.         So,  the diagnosis is " Runner's Knee" !!!!   I must have got this from many years ago when I actually ran.   I knew it was tendon related because I'm  like that.
  I can self diagnose pretty damn good!      I have a few sensible exercises to do twice a day.  [sometimes].     There is improvement.

I was optimistic about being pain free so started to look through some travel brochures,  planning a trip over seas.  Dreaming is good for your spirit.   I was drooling over a 21 days coach trip to the UK and wondering if this is the way to go and easier than hiring a car and doing the B & B thing.
B & B's are NOT cheap any more!!!   A tent might be a better idea.

Nek minnit!!!   I wake up with a very sore big toe joint that then progressively worsens.   I consult Dr. Google with my suspicions and sure enough......   Feckin  GOUT!!!       I thought only people that drank alcohol got that....  wrong.    After a lovely hot soak in various herbs and spices, it felt better.
3 painkillers  helped  get a good sleep.  This morning it's improved but is swollen with the tell tale red mark.       The toe pain totally puts the knee pain in the 'minor' category.     This too shall pass.

It's Sunday here and I plan on making  a batch of soap.  The sun is out with a vengeance, drying up the puddles and it's too bloody hot to be doing too much work.    Soap making is ideal.  See how I'll go with the standing needed to do this.     The humidity  has made my unwrapped soaps sweat.   They may all have to go in the oven to gently dry off.  I'm hoping that this will happen naturally when  the weather changes. 
We've just received an invitation to go to a friend's for lunch so I'm going to take a bowl of lightly stewed mango and look around the pantry for something else to go with it. 
Take care. xo