Charlie's Bird
living the dream with Charlie and Thandi and chirping all the way back to the nest.Archive for April, 2010
Buongiorno!
What an evening, and what fabulous food the chef lady made! I woke up still thinking in Italian! Fabulous!
There were 6 dishes she did, Pears stuffed with mozzarella, wrapped in Parma ham, Gnocci with spinach, in a gorgonzola cream sauce, meatballs in tomato sauce, served with polenta (my fave of the night), fresh ravioli, stuffed with ricotta and smoked salmon, with a cream and fennel sauce, osso bucco 9very goog) and then she showed as Affogato, which is simply vanilla icecream, with an espresso poured over it, too yummy! I think my next dinner party will definitely be a walk down old Italy way. It was a fab evening, and she had some fab Italian wines too. On top of it all, chef lady is such a lekker girl, I really enjoy her sense of humour, and her ‘geselige’ nature. And a nice time for Charlie and I to reconnect a little!
a busy day!
5 theatre cases, done to the gentle strains of Norah Jones and Sipho Gumede, a run around doing some chores in the half an hour I had free, and then busy rooms this afternoon, but its ok to be busy, stops me mulling. Although I did have a little moment after delivering a babe this morning, a moment of pure unadulterated heartache, but that disappeared after I got a blister on my toe, while running my chores. Damn the shoes with the bit between the toes!
Off to a Northern Italian cooking course tonight, and the recipes look divine! Update yall tomorrow!
Tired tuesday
Today I am a tired bird. I feel like its been such a long, long year already. So much has happened, so much horrible stuff, and I am tired of it all. I can’t keep apologising, so I’m going to stop. I just wish I had a few answers or assurances of better times.
An ode to my Charlie
How do I love him, let me count the ways….
1. He’s made of rhino hide, so when I throw barbs of annoyance at him, he deflects them without a flinch
2. He has the patience of Job, and that’s a good thing, one of us has to be patient and that ain’t me
3. He’s the soother of my ravaged soul
4. He’s the oil on my troubled waters
5. He’s blessed with big shoulders (and sexy arms)
6. He’s a handyman of note
7. He’s such a boy (with puppy dog enthusiasm), but is a man when I need him to be one
8. He’s probably my biggest fan
9. He is my port of refuge, my sheltering harbour when the storms of life overwhelm me
10. He’s my eternity
My love, you are more than I believed I would ever have, you amaze and astound me, I am overwhelmed by my love for you. Thanks for everything you are!
TGI…
…friday!
My brother is visiting from JHB, so getting lots of playtime with my nieces, 11 and 7, they are such precious girls. Well done Boet, I couldn’t have made better girls myself! One of my favourite niece stories was when Gumpa (the eldest) was 18 months I looked after her for a couple of days when my brother and sister-in-law went hiking; until that point I had always wanted a little boy – one day (I was young and very single then), and after 4 days I was besotted with this beautiful child. Every day I’d ask her what we were going to do, and she’d tell me ‘shopping’ (girl after my own heart) and when I asked what we would buy, she’d tell me ‘lunch, yogie and shoes’, tell me that’s not fantastic! I remember saying goodbye, as they returned to JHB, crying long tears, ‘because I’ll never have one,’ Ironic…
And Donzil is coming home – YAY! I miss my old friend so much! I hope she managed to find some brioche tins in the big city!
So a busy weekend ahead, filled with social stuff – can’t wait to be out of the office! Have a blast!
Grateful
I have had an over whelming feeling of gratefulness of late. Grateful for my friends and their love, and my family and their support.
Yesterday 2 old friends took me out to lunch, and while they haven’t battled any fertility issues, they have shown only love, prayers and support. Its been so nice to know how many friends are being patient with me at this time. I have become somewhat distracted and ‘isolated’ of late, but the messages of support keep rolling in, and lunch yesterday epitomised what great friends I have. Thanks Jack’s mom and Luke&Dominic’s mom – lunch was a treat and your love was wonderful!
Last night my brother arrived in town for a quick visit at the end of the school holidays, bringing my gorgeous nieces with! So nice to see them, although yesterday really was a meet and greet, tonight we hope to have a meal with them, and catch up properly.
I know this is a brief catch up, its just been chaotic of late! Have great thursdays!
The long weekend that was…
aah, and what a nice weekend it was. Even though I worked, it still managed to be a very special time.
Friday was one of the nicest days we have had all year, calm, not a breathe of wind, no clouds, and just gorgeous. We spent a bit of time next to the pool, and I got stuck into some artwork for my office. For dinner, Charlie did a fabulous little braai, after making salad himself, and really indulging me. We had a tender piece of steak, and some marinated ribs – yummy! And then it was an early night for us, which we both needed.
Saturday morning started with a bit of a bang, with me catching up on some patients in the rooms. By this time I had discharged everyone from hospital, and we retreated home, after a few groceries and chores. I carried on with my art projects, loved those, and made another batch of Nigella’s hot cross bun. I fiddled a bit with her recipe, and have now made the superior bun – perfect taste and texture (the texture used to be rather dense) Then it was off to my goddaughter’s 5th birthday. Not only is she the daughter of one of my oldest friends, she is also one of the first babies I delivered in private practice – can’t believe she is 5 already! H had a whale of a time, and seemed to enjoy decorating her own cupcakes. Saturday night, Charlie and I again had a very relaxed evening at home, I made a delicious fish pie for dinner – an old family special when I was growing up. Good comfort food. And then the rain started – beautiful!
Easter sunday dawned, with more rain and dense clouds – just what we need in this part of the world. I headed off to church, and then it was home to start working on our dinner! We’d invited one of Charlie’s recently divorced single friends over, and he so enjoys eating a good meal, its always good to feed him. I started with soem grilled haloumi – a personal favourite of mine, and then it was onto a roast lamb, with a difference (I used a Gordon Ramsay inspired idea, deboned leg, stuffed with loads of mint and a mature gouda, roasted off with loads of rosemary) to accompany the lamb, roast potatoes, califlower cheese and roasted pumpkin. For pud, a diet breaker from heaven – a gorgeous chocolate tart – watch out book club, this is coming your way next. Frankie was the perfect guest, left early, so Char;lie and I hit the sack for the mammoth 3 hour nap. What a pleasure!!!!!! After a visit to Charlie’s family, it was back home for us, in front of the TV, with the rain coming down – just heavenly. I got out my watercolours, and fiddled withn 2 pictures, which I haven’t done in ages. And on the TV, we watched My sister’s keeper and The international. Both enjoyable flicks.
Monday was another overcast and rainy day, after a little work in the morning, it was another lazy, lazy day. In the afternoon, I did a little more work, then we had Angel and her family over for a casual dinner and a game of 30 seconds. What a hoot! A great end to a great weekend. And now work is awaiting…
On the eve of a miracle…
… and what are we hoping for?
I trust that you are all having a great long weekend. I am on call, but surviving. Tomorrow its roast lamb with all the trimmings, yummy! And a gorgeous looking chocolate tart for pud – hmmmm….
I also hope that easter’s peace is with you. I always feel like this weekend is such an intense one spiritually, and by sunday, the relief of the resurrection, the restoration of hope is all just such a wonderful relief, one can only celebrate it with laughter and chocolate! I really hope I manage to feel some of that. I have felt really isolated and very remote from a god of love and mercy lately, almost abandoned, so I am praying to hear God’s voice in the still of a sunday morning.
Charlie's Bird 